Watch This, Not That By Lisa

We've made no secret about the fact that we love TV. All kinds of TV. From the good to the really, really bad (in a good way) kind. And we've also never had a problem hopping up on our soapboxes and giving our two cents about shows like The Bachelor. So...our love of TV + our love of sharing our opinion= our latest feature, Watch this Not that.

Watch this:

Say Yes to the Dress I'm not sure if it's the fact that my wedding is *gulp* TEN days away or that I'm just strangely obsessed with brides and their entourages as they shop a gown that makes them "look like a princess", but I'm in LOVE.  I. Can't. Stop. Watching.  I've even got my fiance hooked (don't tell him I told you!) and scratching his head as he tries to figure out why so many grooms-to-be have an opinion on what type of dress their fiance should buy. I say a groom who knows what a mermaid dress is= gay.

The Bachelor First of all, I don't know about you, but when I picked up this week's Us Weekly and saw "Vienna's Secret" on the cover, I thought I was going to read that someone finally uncovered a picture of her penis because she IS A MAN. Not that she used to dance topless (bore-ring). When dull Jake was picked as the Bachelor, I thought this season was going to suck ass. But thanks to the women, it's been one mental breakdown after another. (um, Ali, you work in ad sales for Facebook, not in the White House) And now that it's down to the Penis and Tenley, I'm wondering if Jake picks the Penis and then reveals that he's gay. And then he'd suddenly become very interesting. So...I say even though we all want to slit our wrists with the overplaying of "On the Wings of Love" hang in there and keep watching- especially Monday's "The Women Tell All" when crazy pants Michelle, a.k.a. "Um, Jake, I know we just met five seconds ago, but I need you to know that I'm ready to get married and give my mother grandchildren" is baaaack!

Not that:

Grey's Anatomy Okay, so I have a confession. I broke up with Grey's earlier this season. But then Ugly Betty got canceled (how am I going to live without bitchy Mark's one-liners?) and it freed up some space in my DVR and I gave Grey's a second chance. Well, just like you shouldn't take an ex-boyfriend back when he comes a beggin', you should not get sucked back in by a show that's clearly jumped the shark. No need to doubt me on this. The highlights are: Bailey still gives about five speeches an episode that are all some version of I'm angry, single and did I mention angry? The Chief is in rehab and Derek is taking his place (yawn, snore) and little Grey died her hair blonde. Um, yeah, they don't really do medicine on the show anymore.

Dating in the Dark I just read that it got renewed. Now, I'm into the good kind of bad TV as much as the next gal (um, even I got sucked in by Snooki). But  I have to draw the line somewhere. And I'm sorry, but are we really supposed to believe that even though people are tugging on each others love handles and going through their underwear drawers, that they're really basing their decisions solely on their personalities? Sorry, but if you're going to be so shallow, can you at least give me some better lighting while you do it?

xoxo, Lisa

5k, 5k go away, come back another day.

Truth be told, I've never been much of a "runner".  While my friends were off running track in high school, I could usually be found up on the tennis court flirting with boys in my short skirt and favorite orange and green Nikes.  Even when it came to exercise, I demanded that there be some sort of social component. But part of me has always envied those joggers as I sat at the stoplight, sipping my Starbucks, watching them run in place while impatiently waiting to cross the intersection.  And each time we would cheer on my brother-in-law in his latest marathon, part of me would think, I could do this!  Even though I get winded after walking up three flights up stairs, I COULD complete 26.2 miles without any body parts breaking and/or falling off. And because I also tend to be a bit lazy, I also thought, And you know what? I probably wouldn't even have to train that much!

So when my Brother-in-law announced his intention to run the  Surf City half marathon, I jumped at the chance to do the 5k.  I mean, everyone's got to start somewhere, right?  I formulated my training plan, bought that thing that holds your iPod on your arm and the only flattering pair of runners shorts this side of the Mississippi. I even purchased a choke chain so my unsociable German Shepard could train at my side without traumatizing every cat and small dog in the neighborhood.  I. Was. Ready.

But then something strange happened.  It began to RAIN in Southern California.  And for those of you familiar with the weather patterns out here, you know how rare it is to get more than a few inches per year, let alone a few inches per storm.  And by the time it finally stopped, my 5k training schedule, much like that show, Conveyor Belt of Love, was just a distant memory.

So, on race day, I decided to do what I do best-fake my way through it.  I pushed away the memory of getting winded walking to the registration tent the day before and did my best impersonation of someone who knew how to stretch their muscles by lifting my leg repeatedly.  And with my iPod firmly secured on my arm and bib fastened on my shirt, I was pretty damn sure that no one knew my secret. That I was going to FAIL MISERABLY.

Well, except for my husband.  I didn't miss the small smirk on his face as we ran in place waiting for the race to start.  After all, I was the one who dragged him over to the "Twelve minute Mile and WALKERS"  section.  And at the time, I mistakenly thought they were referring to people WITH walkers, not people walking.

Although I literally did not jog ONE STEP before the day of the race, I did finish, thanks to my plan to WOG. (walk and jog, emphasis on WALK.)  And while I will admit to *thinking* about taking the kids 1 mile U turn because my lungs felt as if they would collapse, I didn't do it. Even though my end time was a completely shiteous 38 minutes, a part of me was really proud of myself.  Because as I heaved and gasped did that arm thing that people on  The Biggest Loser do when they're forced to run a mile on the first show, I knew that all my humiliation would provide excellent blog material!

YOU KNOW IT'S TIME TO HANG UP YOUR RACING BIB WHEN:

1. An overweight guy wearing jorts and Converse passes you like you're standing still.

2. When you stop all conversation around you by shouting that your going to "kick all the people with walkers asses" at the start line. (Note to self: take headphones off before speaking!)

3.  When Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga just aren't providing the inspiration you've hoped they would.

4. When you realize that if you double the time it took you to run the 5k, it almost equals your brother-in-laws's HALF-MARATHON finish time.

5.  When you dramatically tell your husband to "save himself" at the two mile marker when you realize a nine-year old just lapped you.

6. When you are unable to bend your legs for THREE DAYS after completing a 3.2 mile wog.

See you in April at the Seach Beach 5k!  Hopefully this time I'll actually break in my running shoes before hitting the course!

xo, Liz

Writing Wednesdays By Lisa

Happy Hump Day! We’re excited to be debuting our feature, Writing Wednesdays where we’ll, well, write about writing. On Wednesdays.

And to celebrate, we're giving away five HeartThreads t-shirts with messages about love, wisdom, faith and inspiration worn close to the heart! Get it? Just leave a comment on this post (like how much you love us and our writing! *wink* *wink* ) and be entered to win.

So, back to Writing Wednesdays. As much as we LOVE to bag on The Bachelor and spout off about our relationships here at CLIND, "wax poetic" about books for Barnes and Noble and She Knows and make quips about parenting for Real Moms Guide, writing books is our #1 passion.

As many of you know, we’re in the homestretch of completing The D Word, our dual narrative novel about two women who walked away from their relationships because they thought they wanted more. But when more turns out to be the complicated world of divorce, they begin to second-guess everything.

And as we prepare to plunge head first into the pool with all of the other hungry writers hoping to find the perfect agent and publisher for his/her book, we hope you’ll follow along with us as we reveal the good, the bad and undoubtedly, very ugly parts of our literary journey.

We’re proud to report that so far, it’s been mostly good with just a tiny bit bad and one part fugly mixed in!

104,000 words

6 months

3 days at a “writing retreat” in Palm Springs (shout out to our cabana boys!)

2 plot changes

1 virtual door slam=

Our nearly completed manuscript.

We’re almost there. So close. We can smell the paper of the final draft as it’s coming off the printer. We can see the manuscript being sent to prospective agents that have requested a partial or *crossing fingers* a full! But it’s just out of reach because we’re still in the editing process. A place we could live for the rest of our lives if we’re, or should I say “I’m”, not careful.

Which brings me back to the virtual door slam. Which I can say I deserved. Liz was fed up with my editing tactics and basically hung up on me over email. If I was my own writing partner, I would’ve done the same. Because there comes a time when you just have to let go and accept that you’re officially done tweaking your ms. Or you run the risk of ending up like my eyebrows did after I finally discovered tweezers- with not much left. And without getting into all the “gory” details of  the angry email Liz wrote to me, I can tell you it was something along the lines of: You. Have. To. Freakin’. Stop. Now. (Okay, so maybe she used a different variation of freakin’-one that rhymes with plucking.)

But it’s just so hard. I’m like a crack addict trying not to hit the pipe. Like the woman on a diet who swears she won’t break into the leftover Halloween candy. Like the shopaholic who convinces herself that “online” shopping isn’t as bad. I go into the ms with the intention of only looking for missing words or punctuation errors. But then I notice a sentence that maybe if I worded it just a little differently, could be even better. And before I know it, I’ve re-written two paragraphs! And Liz is using variations of freakin’ all over again.

So I’ve now made an official promise to Liz that I’m letting go. This week, we’re doing our final read through and unless there’s an entire chapter missing, I’m really not allowed to touch it. And this is why it’s good to have a writing partner. You can balance each other out. Her weaknesses (remembering not to write emails before caffeine) are often my strengths (remembering not to read her emails before 10:30 a.m. CST) and vice versa.

Wish us luck reaching our editing deadline in one piece! Although I’m assuming that if we haven’t killed each other so far (and believe me, there have been opportunities that could have sent even Gandhi down the violent path), we’re really in no serious danger of a death by Chick Lit manuscript anytime soon.

xoxo, Lisa

Mommy Monday! Battle of the Sexes-Parent Edition

Welcome to CLIND's first ever MOMMY MONDAY! And to celebrate, we're giving away three copies of Kristin Hannah's latest release, WINTER GARDEN, a story about mothers and daughters.  Just leave a comment to enter! Today, I'm going to be bitching discussing how gender roles come into play when parenting.  Or in simpler terms, Why Daddy always gets to be the good guy.

I've always known that my husband was higher up on the fun-o-meter than me.  His willingness to act as a human submarine in the pool and ability to hold the children on his shoulders for hours were constant reminders.  And for the most part, I've always kind of accepted the fact that, well, the kids seem to like him better than me.

I've learned the hard way that cooking their food, purchasing their clothes and, oh, what was the other thing?  Oh yeah, GIVING BIRTH TO THEM just didn't hold the same weight as playing Chutes and Ladders twenty times in a row. Or that I didn't go on the pool slide as much as Daddy while vacationing in Maui.  Hmm, is this where I bring up that we WOULDN'T be on vacation if it weren't for Mommy?  Should I mention the hours Mommy spent scouring the internet for those legendary yet impossible to find internet travel bargains? (Well, I *might*  have squeezed in a little Facebook time too. But you see my point.)

Not that I don't spend quality time with the kids-I do.  In fact, nothing makes me happier than taking them to the Farmers market or reading their favorite books at bedtime.  But I'm never going to build structurally sound tent cities or Lincoln log houses the way my hubby does.  Just in the same way that he can barely operate the microwave and starts sweating the minute he's tasked to purchase items unsupervised at the store. (He learned the hard way why you don't purchase the fruit with the "manager's special" sticker on them!)

Don't get me wrong -I'm incredibly thankful that my husband is a wonderful father. I just wish we could share the glory from all of our hard work. Now I know how the Vice President must feel. Or that guy that only got to host American Idol the first year. Or the people who actually sang those Milli Vanilli songs.

So the next time my daughter tells me that I'm not fun like Daddy because I won't play Memory a third time, (Which, btw, is more due to an actual lack of memory than playfulness...) I'll show her this.  I like to call it my Mommies needs love too list.

• I'm so happy that you and Daddy had fun playing superheroes all morning. It's too bad that Mommy's the one that needs to be burning  calories.  But the only running Mommy seems to do these days is into Starbucks when she's late for work.

• I understand that you love playing  tee ball with Daddy in the backyard, but does he let you stir the cupcake batter or let you roll the homemade pizza dough like Mommy?  On second thought, Does Daddy even know how to turn on the oven?

• Yes, it's so fun to play with Daddy in the pool for hours. But isn't it nice to have a Mommy doesn't look like a HOT MESS with her air-dried hair? And on that note, Did you see Mommy's belly button last time she wore a bikini? Not. Right. At. All. Mommy loves you so much that she was willing to give up ever feeling comfortable in a bathing suit ever again.

• Thank you so much for reminding me that Daddy is PERFECT when I put you to bed last night. I'll try to keep that in mind the next time we receive a "special gift" for being such loyal customers to Sportsbook.com.

xoxo, Liz

5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about... Kristin Hannah

How lucky are we?  First we kicked off February with our new look (woo hoo!).  And now, we're excited to discover 5 Things we didn't know about NYT bestselling author Kristin Hannah! Although lawyer turned writer Hannah has written a staggering EIGHTEEN novels, we just happened upon her work last year when Liz picked up a copy of FIREFLY LANE.  Blown away by the story of the journey of two lifelong friends, (sound like anyone you know?)  she broke her long standing rule to not read books that make her cry. FIREFLY LANE was so engaging that she couldn't help herself-she was bawling like a baby by page 150. (Damn you Kristin Hannah!)

Hannah's latest novel, WINTER GARDEN, focuses on Meredith and Nina Whitson, two adult sisters who were denied any real affection from their icy European mother while growing up. After their beloved father's death and mother's illness, they attempt to discover the truth about their mother's past through the Russian fairy tales she told them as children. (Click here for a sneak peek!) WINTER GARDEN is in bookstores TODAY and you can buy your copy here.

We LOVED learning more about the lovely Kristin.  Like us, she's addicted to The Biggest Loser and loves The Food Network.  But we were surprised to discover that she, well, how do we say this? SHE WRITES HER NOVELS ON A LEGAL PAD. WITH A PEN. You'll  have to read on to discover why...

Five things Liz & Lisa didn’t know about Kristin Hannah...

1. I'm a Food Network junkie.  I’ll admit it: I love everything about food.  I spend hours watching programs on the food network, as well as pouring over the recipes on their website.  Several times a week, I quit work early and make a recipe that challenges me.  Sometimes they work out beautifully, and sometimes, not so much, but I always enjoy the process.  While I was writing Winter Garden, I focused on Russian food for the first time, and I have to say it was delicious.  I wouldn’t be surprised if readers found that the book made them hungry!

2. The Biggest Loser inspired me to take up spinning.  I know I’m not alone in watching the Biggest Loser.  Honestly, I find the show inspiring, week after week.  Well, after years of watching the contestants sweat on their spinning bikes, I finally decided to give it a try myself.  I was really nervous about it.  The first time I walked into the gym’s “spinning room,” I moved pretty slowly.  I was afraid I’d fall off the bike or sweat so hard, I wouldn’t be able see.  And it was hard; I won’t lie to you.  But when the speakers blared out with Heartbreaker, I was in heaven.  I love it!

3. I write my novels longhand.  I know it seems impossible in these computer-driven days, but I’m an old school girl.  Years ago, I used a computer, but I simply found that my body couldn’t handle sitting in a chair for the hours required to write an entire novel.  Now, I write on yellow legal pads, and I can write anywhere.  On the beach, on my deck, on a boat.  Anywhere.  How great is that?

4. If I wasn't a writer, I'd want to be a Supreme Court Justice. Why not dream big, I say?  Obviously, there’s nothing I’d rather be than a writer.  I absolutely adore my chosen profession.  In fact, it’s almost an obsession.  But if, for some reason, I had to do something else, I’d love to sit on the Big Bench.  I adore the entire idea of searching for justice, untangling facts, and determining how our laws should be written to best protect us and preserve our rights.  Although I’m an attorney, I have rarely gone there in my fiction.  True Colors is the one real exception.  I was spurred to write that novel by a perceived injustice in the current legal system.

5. I'm funny.  Really. I’m still not entirely sure how I became known as a writer of tearjerkers.  I never  set out to write “sad” novels.  Rather, I intend to write emotional fiction with real-to-life characters who face intensely difficult situations; that goal often takes me into dark and complex landscapes, and thus…the sadness.  But I also try to have uplifting, life affirming endings.  Occasionally that kind of ending doesn’t fit the novel, but I try to end my books in a way that makes the reader smile.  Even if she's blinking back tears at the same time.

To read more about the fabulous and talented Kristin Hannah, head on over to her website.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

Extreme Makeover: Chick Lit Is Not Dead Edition

We are SO excited to be celebrating our ONE YEAR anniversary here at Chick Lit is not Dead.

*clinks champagne glasses together*

It seems like just yesterday that Liz was writing about the State Of The Union and Lisa was proclaiming her Facebook Whoreness to the world. From Xoxo to Potty Peril to Should You Friend Your Ex on Facebook?, we're so thankful that you've been with us for every blog post along the way. THANK YOU!

And what better way to celebrate than to give ourselves a complete MAKEOVER?  A little nip here, a tuck there and CLIND feels like a whole new site!

Huge props to the very talented Betsy Cohen at Positive Element and Debbie Friedrich at Debbie Friedrich Photography for helping us get ready for our close-up. (Be sure to click through all our pages to see her beautiful photos!) And, as always, we are indebted to the fabulous and talented Crystal Patriarche at BookSparksPR, the best publicist we could ever ask for!

And it's not just our look that's changed.  This year, we'll be stepping up our game, not only by bringing you more interviews with Bestselling Authors, but we also hope to keep you laughing with new features. Like...

Mommy Mondays Writing about the trials and tribulations of parenting, Liz will do her best impersonation of a Mommy blogger. (Don't worry, she'll do her best to avoid any and all "poopy" references.)

Writing Wednesdays Come with us on our journey to finding an agent and publisher for our second novel. We'll simultaneously overload you with our borderline obsession with affirmations and the power of positive thinking (It. Will. Happen. It. Will. Happen. It. Will. Happen.)

Watch this, not that We'll be sure to let you know what's worth Tivoing that week. (For example: we'll watch 650 pound Virgin so you don't have to!)

But don't worry, we'll still have plenty of time to do what we do best-make lists about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.

And to celebrate, we're giving away a BLACKBERRY PEARL flip phone.  All you have to do is leave a comment letting us know what you think of our new look and you could be a winner. No pressure, but you better LOVE. IT! And if you want to post a link to let your Facebook friends or tweeps know about our new look, we'd be eternally grateful! =)

Thank you again for all of your love and support this past year.  We're having a blast and we hope you are too!

xoxo,

Liz & Lisa

Bachelor, I can't quit you by Liz

The girl who preferred  the cameraman. That crazy bitch from Anaheim.

The hawt non-kissing nanny.

Bachelor, I can't quit you.

Since that faithful day back in March of 2002, The Bachelor had me at Will you accept this rose? Feminism be damned, I ate up every moment of this newest reality trainwreck.  And when Trista burst onto the scene in all her post-cheerleading glory, I was cheering at my TV screen as she and  sensitive firefighter Ryan (Does anyone else remember those pictures he used to draw for her?) tied the knot while dozens of helicopters circled their ceremony. And I think I might have been the only one that watched that lame ass special about their (incredibly boring!) bachelor and bachelorette parties.

I drooled over winemaker Andrew Firestone (still my all-time fave!)  and chuckled with funny guy turned kissing bandit Bob Guiney. I crossed my fingers that older bachelor Byron would choose one of the Cougars rather than one of the twenty-somethings brought in to create drama and even held my breath as  super boring Bachelorette Meredith gave her final rose to Ian. I was officially a Bachelor junkie.

However, my interest started to dwindle around season seven.  I wasn't quite sure if it was due to the recent birth of my first child or Charlie O'Connell's overall lameness. But either way, I fell off the wagon for a few years, leaving diehard fans like Lisa to fend for themselves on Mondays nights. (Sorry about that!)  I just couldn't sign off on that fake prince, the football player or the guy with the accent.  To my husband's delight, I declared I was done with The Bachelor forever.

But then came single dad and complete DOUCHEBAG Jason Mesnick.  I was drawn in all over again, fascinated why an attractive man with a young child would choose such a path to meet their soulmate. How in the world his ex could have ever signed off on such a thing. I was so pissed that I even put it on my official "If I Go-Go this is a No-No" list. But even in all my righteousness, I recognized damn good TV when I saw it.  And I think we can all agree that, for once, Chris Harrison wasn't exaggerating when he stated that it was going to be THE MOST DRAMATIC AFTER THE FINAL ROSE CEREMONY EVER.

So I was back. The next season, I found myself screaming at my TV every time Jillian gave hot two-timing asshole Wes a rose and stifling a giggle as Jake cried over the balcony in his high-waisted pants. It was too good not to blog about.

I'll be honest- I wasn't thrilled when I heard that the producers had chosen Jake, the previously mentioned high-waisted pants wearing crybaby.  I had been hoping for Reid, who I had harbored a secret crush on the previous season. So I was pleasantly surprised as Jake was introduced to all the new girls moving into what I like to now call "Crazytown".

But what surprised me the most wasn't the fact that they cast someone like Michelle from Anaheim, who seems clearly unbalanced, but that Jake wasn't the complete snoozefest I'd thought he'd be. It was what kept me coming back for more, despite that RIDICULOUS amount of flying puns during the first cocktail party.  And must we even bring up the "On the Wings of Love" flying montage? *Gag*

Despite that, he earned my respect (the term "respect" being used loosely here) by kicking that nut Michelle to the curb immediately after she demanded to kiss him and then deemed it unworthy when no tongue was involved. And I couldn't have been happier than when he called that Mary Poppins wannabe Elizabeth out on her cock-teasing and then sent her packing.

And as I anxiously await the knowledge of which two women will be shamed when their precious roses are thrown in the fire and to witness the next Ali/Vienna catfight, I realize that I've reached an all-new low in my reality TV watching. (Well, unless you count that Jersey Shore marathon when I was sick.)   But I don't care.  I'm proud to say you'll find me sitting in front of my television each Monday at 8pm.  You know you want to join me!

xoxo, Liz

5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about Irene Zutell

So far, 2010 is starting off to be pretty damn fabulous! We're almost done editing our second book and are also getting ready to celebrate CLIND'S one year anniversary with a complete website makeover. (Get Tim Gunn on the phone STAT!) But before we roll out our fabu new look, we wanted to take a minute to learn five new things about author Irene Zutell and her latest book, PIECES OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER.  It's a sweet and sassy novel about what happens when your happily ever after doesn't turn out quite the way you thought it would.  We really enjoyed this heartwarming story about Alice's journey to find herself again after her husband strays. And we're not the only ones who thought it was awesome.  Sheknows.com just announced PIECES OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER as their first book club pick. You can also pick up a copy at your local Target beginning February 1st! Click here to check out the book trailer.

And we're giving away THREE copies!  Just leave a comment to enter!

5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about Irene Zutell

1. I'm a former celebrity journalist for People Magazine and US Weekly who has interviewed the likes of Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Jessica Simpson.

2. I'm no stranger to scandal! My neighbor - Vera Moder - was married to Danny Moder (as in Mr. Julia Roberts!) up until he left his wife for the movie star. My latest novel, Pieces of Happily Ever After, is based on this scandal - a woman, Alice, finds herself picking up the pieces after her husband leaves her for Hollywood's Sexiest Woman Alive. Enter in a sexy papparzzo, a former high school flame, an aging mother and a super sweet 5 year old daughter, and it's the tale of what happens after Happily Ever After.

3. I'm a native New Yorker who moved to L.A. - to the San Fernando Valley - which just happens to be the porn capital of the world! Made for some funny side stories in my new book.

4. The aging mother in the book is based off of my real mother-in-law who battled Alzheimer's. You can read my essay on this story: A Love Story by Irene Zutell.

5. My editors didn't think the dialogue of 5 year old Olivia in the book was realistic -but I took many of the words right out of my own daughter's mouth!

To read more about the lovely Irene Zutell, head on over to her website or click here to follow her on Twitter.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

Manage your money with a little sass By Liz and Lisa

We'll be the first to tell you that we're not exactly the best at watching our wallets. (shh..don't tell our hubbies we just admitted that!) In our defense, it's just really, really hard to resist those cute ankle boots or even that sassy dress that demands to have a spot in our closet next to all the other sassy dresses. So when we discovered LIVE IT, LOVE IT, EARN IT: A Woman's Guide to Financial Freedom by Marianna Olszewski--a smart, flirty and fun book (that yes, we found while shopping) that gives great money tips, we devoured it. First, points for its faboo cover-- a sassy girl wearing a pencil skirt! (As Chick Lit lovers, we heart cute covers!) We also love her interviews with amazing female designers--Tory Burch, Tamara Mellon (hello... Jimmy Choos!) and Diane Von Furstenberg! And, the book is FUN-it covers everything from cleaning out your underwear drawer (when was the last time any of us did that?) to keeping a gratitude journal. (we should all be doing that!)

Live it, Love it, Earn it is a great read for anyone whose eyes normally glaze over at the thought of even cracking open a book about money and finance (BOR-ING!) So, check this one out! You'll be happy you did. Plus, you can feel better about doing something to improve yourself in 2010. (you know those resolutions we all made,  um, just two weeks ago?!)

Click here to follow Marianna on Twitter!

xoxo

Crisis of Geography By Lisa

Throughout the years, Liz and I have had our share of crises. First there was our identity crisis.  (Ask Liz about her meltdown in college when everyone called BOTH OF US Lisa.)

Then there was our quarterlife crisis. (Don't EVUH buy one of those close-up lighted vanity mirrors after age 35. Trust me on this one ladies.)

And now, I'm in the middle of  a geography crisis. A major one.

I can't decide where I live. Chicago, IL or Long Beach, CA?

Seems like a no-brainer, right? Well....

As many of you know, about six months ago I "shmoved" to Chicago be with my soon-to-be fiance.  I chose to use the word "shmove" over "move" because it was, well, less "I no longer live in California" sounding. After all, I still had a car and my furnished condo in Long Beach , my driver's license still said Cali and, c'mon, could I ever really be a Midwestern girl?

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Midwestern people. In fact, they're nicer than most. But, when you technically have two residences, you can pick and choose where you want to live based on who's asking.  And most of the time, you're going to say California mostly in order to avoid the weird, squinty look people give you when they try to process why on God's green Earth you'd ever choose to go from the West to the Midwest. So, I'm not really lying when I say Long Beach... even though all my Hanky Pankys are in Illinois and my Long Beach condo has now been rented.

Right?

But since it's a New Year and I'm about to marry the man I've been shmiving with for the past six months, it's probably time to make a few confessions:

1. I confess: I'm still using a California driver's license. Okay, so here's the deal. I went into the DMV and I was ready to bite the bullet, I swear. Well, that is until I started sweating through my "I love California" t-shirt. As I looked around at the long line of wool coat and scarf wearing people, I knew that if I went through with my application for a driver's license that I'd officially be an Illinois resident. Which meant...

I could no longer hand my California ID to the lady at Target and have her "ooh and ahh" over the great, warm life I must have back there.

I could no longer get comments from the cute boys behind the counter at Cubs games when they saw my ID. I'd officially be a Midwesterner.

So, I turned on my North Face snow boot heel and walked out of there faster than you could say Go Cubs!

2.  I confess: I still watch TV on West Coast time! I still watch the Bachelor at the time my West Coast friends do. Half the fun of watching shows like these is the sideline banter I have with Liz during the show.  And now, even though I have to wait TWO FULL HOURS  so we can write on each other's walls about the 24 year old with fake ta-tas who's only known Jake for 11 seconds but is ready to marry him and have his babies, it's worth it.

3. I confess: I'm f***ing freezing my ever-expanding ass off! In order to keep my Midwestern cred with my new Midwestern friends, I LIE about how the cold is affecting me. I tell them that this Cali girl is A-okay and that the cold isn't anything a North Face coat and a good pair of gloves can't handle! But the truth is, I'm freezing my ass off! It's not like I haven't been around cold before...I love to ski and snowboard. But...this is ridiculous.  It was NINE degrees here on Sunday. And when I checked the weather in Long Beach on my Iphone (something I do at least once a day I guess to torture myself) it was SEVENTY TWO!  So, to warm myself up, I've turned the thermostat up to 75 and gone through an entire forest of firewood trying to turn "brutal cold" nights into "warm hearth" evenings.  But I'm still cold...And the only thing I've actually succeeded in is making my fiance's head spin off each time the heating bill arrives in the mail.

4.  I confess: When I fly back to Cali, I  tell the person in the seat next to me that I'm "on my way home." The minute I buckle myself into my seat and head to Cali, I'm often asked "do you live in California?" And I usually say, "Why, yes I do!" Then the person will say "what part?" and I'll happily respond "Long Beach" and they'll nod with approval. What can I say? I get homesick for the sun as soon as I make sure my Louis is stowed away properly and my tray table is in its upright position. I know that when I land I'm going to remember what I've been missing. How glorious it will be when I'll be able to walk outside to the taxi line WITHOUT needing thermal underwear and a face mask.  How people will be wearing flip flops in the seventy five degree January weather.

Don't believe me?  Want to see my ID?!

xoxo, Lisa

How to be Zen in 2010 by Liz & Lisa

2010? Really? How did another decade pass so quickly? It seems like just yesterday that we were LOLing over Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction at the Superbowl and shaking our own heads full of hair when Britney Spears shaved hers. Do we even need to bring up that fake British accent?

When the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve last week, Lisa grabbed her iPhone and kept up our yearly tradition of ringing in the first minutes of the new year, no matter how far we may be from each other.  And after a few awkward moments of slurred screaming, Liz drunkenly declared that 2010 was going to be OUR year.

The year we land an awesome agent!

The year that we get our just-finished manuscript published!

The year we TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

Okay, so forget that last one.  It was probably the Champagne talking.  But the other ones?   So. Happening.

So being the Type-A bitches that we are, we decided to set up some serious resolutions to make sure our dreams come true in 2010.

LIZ'S RESOLUTIONS

I couldn't WAIT to say sayonara to 2009.  Between my brother's brush with death to the stress of trying to finish our manuscript, it was a crazy year!  I woke up January 1st with a feeling of peace (and not just because I was still buzzed from my bellinis!) and a feeling that 2010 will be the year that we attain our goals.  Here  are the things I'm resolving to change in 2010...

1. Lose the *gulp* six pounds I gained this holiday season. I promise to never again stand at my kitchen counter and devour 1800 calories of Costco lobster spread and  stale baguette while the Say Yes to the Dress Christmas marathon blares in the family room.

2. Refuse to even crack a smile the next time my husband makes a Jersey Shore joke when the words "The Situation" are used in normal conversation.

3. To start jogging at least three times a week in preparation for the Huntington Beach Superbowl Sunday 5K.  Related Resolution: Stop letting the kids use my unused Bosu ball as a trampoline.

4. Resist making multiple embarrassing references about Lisa's dating past during my Matron of Honor speech at her wedding next month. And make sure to get official MOH dress properly fitted so that my cleavage is not the main attraction at the reception. Related resolution: To control urges to repeatedly request Lady GaGa songs while intoxicated.

5. To try to figure out a better cursing system since my five year old seems to have developed an affinity for spelling.  Damn you California public school system!  I was counting on your low ranking to buy me at least another year.  What the F-*-C-K?

LISA'S RESOLUTIONS GOALS:

I've never been the kind to make a vow on New Year's Eve that I'll do "this" or "that" the following year. That's probably because every year my resolution would've pretty much been the same.

FIND A MAN Or: Related Resolution: Find a man that's not a jerk. Or: Related Resolution: Find a man who's not AS MUCH OF a jerk as the last. Or Related Resolution: Find a decent vibrator.

Well, now that I'm proud to report I've not only found a great man but he can also confidently co-exist in the same house with certain said paraphernelia, I'm in a resolution kind of mood.

1. Lose five pounds. Damn you, Knot.com! You just won't back off. You keep sending me emails that the wedding is less than two months away (BTW- I know that!) and that I'd better get. in. shape.  I can't help that during the holidays I gave into that extra piece of pie or that, er, third helping of mashed potatoes because I knew my big, bulky, Midwestern sweaters would hide the weight! Related Resolution: Simply stop eating meat and potatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

2. Stop wearing sweatpants and bulky socks to bed. I preface this by saying that it's 15 degrees DURING THE DAY here. Don't even talk to me about the night. But, yes we have a heater and a humidifier. (I only just learned what the latter was). So, there's really no excuse for how incredibly unsexy I've been this winter (sorry honey!). So, in the words of Justin Timberlake, I vow to bring sexy back! (Or at the very least to lose the socks)!  Related Resolution: Stop canceling on my bi-weekly wax appointment!

3. Stop buying cute winter clothes. I can't help it. When it's cold as balls and you're face is red and your skin is dry, you at least want to dress in a cute outfit to try to offset all the winter-induced ugliness. This California girl used to happily live in a world where UGGS were worn only on nights that dipped below 60 degrees.  So once she discovered the many, many styles of cute boots and coats, it was ovuh.

4. Get over my burning desire to do the Macarana at my wedding. Matt's said it won't be funny. My mom threw her arms up in disgust. Even Liz gave me the eye.  So, I know I can't tell my DJ to play it now because it won't be any fun to do the dance by myself. But I refuse to give up Bel Biv Divoe, Rob Base or Shout! (Yeah, you read that right!) Related Resolution: Keep Liz from the DJ so she can't request Lady GaGa. Nothing ruins a buzz faster than her rendition of Paparazzi!

HAPPY NEW YEAR From Chick Lit is not Dead!  Now, tell us- what are your 2010 resolutions?

xoxo,

Liz & Lisa

25 Things Liz & Lisa want to know about Liza Palmer

This has been a spectacular year at Chick Lit is Not Dead, and we've been thrilled to feature such esteemed authors as Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner, Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus. And this month is no different as we host Liza Palmer. Oh, Liza...How we love thee!  From her insightful novels right down to her hilarious tweets, she can do no wrong in our book.  So it's fitting that we end 2009 with the 25 things that we must know about her!

Liza's latest novel, A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents is a must read about an a woman who must face her past when her estranged father becomes ill.  Her other novels include Seeing Me Naked and Conversations With the Fat Girl. Like her 25 Qs, her books are warm, funny and relatable.  We heart her!

And speaking of her 25 Qs, Liz was excited to find out that Liza would make an awesome Trivial Pursuit partner and Lisa was happy to know that she was in good company when grinding her teeth in the middle of the night.  And her favorite curse word made us LOL!

Chick Lit is Not Dead presents...

The 25 things readers want to know about Liza Palmer

1.  Inside my purse, you'll discover: That I'm completely uncomfortable with being idle.  NY Times Crossword puzzles, various books, etc...usually I just put my credit card, my Driver's License and my Starbucks card in my pocket and go.

2.  My secret talent is: I know an astonishing amount of useless trivia.

3.  If stranded on an island, the five things I could not live without are: Pride and Prejudice (the book and the movie - this is going to get a lot of hate mail - but I prefer Matthew MacFadyen), Earl Grey Tea, Shortbread Cookies and a Bowie knife.

4.  On my nightstand you'll find: My stupid dental nightguard because I grind my teeth at night, my glasses and apparently my ID Card for Nerds R Us, for crissakes.

5.  When I grew up, I wanted to be: a writer!

6.  My worst job: I used to temp at this convention center -  I'd count the take after the weekend's events.  My immediate supervisor taped up butcher paper on the windows so I "wouldn't get distracted."  So, counting pennies at 6AM with butcher papered windows pretty much wins.  And my immediate supervisor would count everything I'd done over again.

7.  My comfort food: Earl Grey Tea (from this little tea shop, Bird Pick) and shortbread.

8.  The location where I write: Coffeeshop

9.  Three songs on my IPOD's most played list: My top 3 are directly related to the writing of Field Guide:  The Healing off the Lady in the Water Soundtrack (488 times), Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol (417) and Breathe Me by Sia (408).  Amazing songs to write to.

10. If I was on the cover of US Weekly, my headline would read: It would have a picture akin to that enigmatic Big Foot snapshot and the headline would read, "Crazed Writer Spotted Away from Computer."

11. The three books that make me think of my childhood: Where the Wild Things Are, Are You There God it's Me, Margaret and Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat

12. My favorite Chick Flick: Love Actually

13. My favorite Chick Lit book: Getting Over It by Anna Maxted

14. My "must see" TV: Spaced (BBC Series)

15. My Starbucks order: Venti Americano with room

16. My favorite curse word: MotherF*cking Cocksucker (can I say that???)

17. My celebrity man crush: Seth Meyers

18. My celebrity girl crush: Maggie Gyllenhaal

19. My writer crush: Michael Connelly

20. My last meal before execution: In N Out Burger (Grilled cheese with tomato and ketchup only, fries and a root beer)

21. Three words to summarize my book: Family on Edge

22. It took me _____  to write my book. A year?  I don't know - I have no concept of time

23. My book's original title: Chasing Grace

24. Right now, I'm working on: Book Four - and loving it.

25. Chick Lit is alive & kicking because: It was never dead to begin with.  Stories about women are always going to be relevant.

To read more about the faboosh Liza Palmer, head on over to her very cool website at www.lizapalmer.com.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

25 Things Liz & Lisa want to know about Christa Ann Banister

It's that time again!  We've been thrilled to host some amazing authors on Chick Lit is Not Dead this year, and we've loved learning 25 new things about each and every one of them. We hope you have too!  This time around we're featuring fabuloso author Christa Ann Banister, whose titles  AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DATES and BLESSED ARE THE MEDDLERS follow travel writer Sydney Alexander on her quest to find love and happiness. Sassy and fun, Banister's books will make you laugh out loud!  She's currently working on her third novel, TUESDAY NIGHTS IN ITALIA.  We can't wait! And as always, we were thrilled to discover that Christa shares our love for fried calamari and the ultimate Chick Lit novel, BRIDGET JONES DIARY.  And Liz was pleasantly surprised that she's not the only one who turns to pasta when she's feeling down!

Without further adieu....

Chick Lit is Not Dead presents.... The 25 things Liz & Lisa want to know about author Christa Ann Banister

1.  Inside my purse, you'll discover: Several shades of Mac lipgloss, whatever book I'm reading at the moment, Orbit soft mint gum, vanilla hand sanitizer, my ancient Motorola cell phone and my fraying-even-more-by-the-day wallet

2.  My secret talent is: Making a mean marinara sauce

3.  If stranded on an island, the five things I could not live without are: My hubby, sunscreen, Bert's Beeswax, Diet Coke and a good book.

4.  On my nightstand you'll find: A few books I'm reading, Juicy Couture body lotion and my watch

5.  When I grew up, I wanted to be: A sportswriter. Or Judy Blume.

6.  My worst job: I've had some doozies, but the real low point was telemarketing for a carpet cleaning company. Not only was everyone in the room smoking while they worked (not fun when you're majorly allergic to ciggy smoke), but my script was so badly written I couldn't get through it without laughing. I lasted only 30 minutes before making my great escape during the first break.

7.  My comfort food: Pasta or ice cream

8.  The location where I write: My home office or the local Starbucks

9.  Three songs on my IPOD's most played list: Ray LaMontagne's "Trouble," Josh Rouse's "Winter in the Hamptons" and Ryan Adam's "Nuclear"

10. If I was on the cover of US Weekly, my headline would read: Yep, It's a Slow, Slow News Week: Relatively Unknown Author Auditions for Third "Twilight" Flick and is Laughed Off the Set. But Rob Pattinson Thought She Showed Promise

11. The three books that make me think of my childhood: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

12. My favorite Chick Flick: Anything with Hugh Grant in it

13. My favorite Chick Lit book: Terribly unoriginal I know, but Bridget Jones' Diary still makes me laugh

14. My "must see" TV: "LOST," "The Office," "Castle" and my cooking shows on Food Network—"Everyday Italian" and "Barefoot Contessa."

15. My Starbucks order: A grande, non-fat caramel macchiato (hot in the fall and winter and iced in the spring and summer)

16. My favorite curse word: Arse

17. My celebrity man crush: Jude Law in The Holiday

18. My celebrity girl crush: Lauren Graham or Rachael Ray

19. My writer crush: F. Scott Fitzgerald

20. My last meal before execution: Fried calamari to start...then penne alla vodka with some really great ciabatta bread dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar and tiramisu and cappuccino for dessert

21. Three words to summarize my book: Authentic, romantic, sassy

22. It took me 6 months  to write my book.

23. My book's original title: Confessions of a Serial Dater

24. Right now, I'm working on: My usual rotation of music,  movie reviews and magazine features. And I'm also working on a new novel that's a bit of a departure for me—women's ensemble fiction.

25. Chick Lit is alive & kicking because: Every girl wants her own happy-ever-after ending. And until that happens, well, we all need some great clothes, even better friends and lots of  laughs, right?

For more on the wonderful Christa Banister, head on over to www.christabanister.com, check out her blog Hey There, It's Christa or follow her on Twitter.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

5 things Liz & Lisa didn't know about...The authors of the Nanny Diaries

O.M.G.

Can you pinch us? It's really happening... The New York Times Bestselling authors of THE NANNY DIARIES, Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus are here for the debut of our latest series "5 things Liz and Lisa didn't know about..." where we ask our favorite authors to dish out juicy and secret tidbits about their lives. Because we're just nosy like that-and know you are too!

We're like kids on Christmas. Or women who accidentally happened upon a majuh sale.  Or moms who've just been given a party pass to go out while daddy stays home. We know we're giddy but when authors like McLaughlin and Kraus, not only agree to be interviewed but also wanted to interview us you have a burning desire to stand up and shout from the rooftops, "HELL YEAH!" Or at the very least to, um, blog about it.

And we're sure you've heard but Nanny's baaaaaaack! Look for  NANNY RETURNS on December 15th or pre order it here. The sequel to the critically acclaimed NANNY DIARIES picks up 12 years later...after the discovery of the nanny cam that nanny left behind...and she gets sucked right back into the world she left behind. So. juicy.

Just like the 5 things we didn't know about Emma and Nicola!

1.  We have date night. When in the phase of generating a first draft we try to see each other once a week for a movie or the theater.  And it's always that delicious high school feeling like it's been FOREVER since we hung out. Even though we've talked a minimum of five times on the phone that day.  And we won't even count the emails.

2.  We have codependent food fixations. When on tour one of us will invariably say, "Ooo, do you think they'll have _____ here?" (Fill in the blank with some random local treat.)  Invariably "they" will not, and neither will the local diner, bakery or supermarket.  Cut to us trying to construct key lime pie/peanut butter cupcake/baked Alaska from an assortment of over priced stale goods out of a mini bar fridge.

3.  We are suckers for the charming.We may talk a tough game about the moneyed folks and the places they hang but, no matter how much we yell at ourselves, we still go weak in the knees for an enchanting wallpaper.  Curse you, Osborne and Little!

4.  We believe in the Law of Attraction. Call it what you will, the power of intention, cognitive behavioral therapy, if you build it he will come-after a decade of partnership we've learned that holding a positive vision is job criteria numero uno.

5.  We feel better about life just knowing Angelina Jolie is out there. Rocking motherhood, neutral casuals, airplane navigation and Amnesty International.  If she were a religion, we'd join.

Thanks, ladies!

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

For more about Emma and Nicola and their other FAB books, CITIZEN GIRL, DEDICATION, and THE REAL REAL, check out www.emmaandnicola.com. And click here to become their fan on Facebook.

"To Do" or not "To Do"

People often ask me how I get anything done. With two kids, two dogs, two guinea pigs, and two jobs , life can get a little crazy.  But what they don't know is that all along I've had a secret weapon.  Something that saves me from jumping off a bridge when my "to-do" list spans two pages.

My husband.

I'm not gonna lie, I *might* let some people assume that I  do it all by myself.  And in my defense, Hubby has always been a low-profile type of guy. So, he doesn't want the credit anyway, right?  Well, at least that's what I tell myself so I have a good reason to keep my secret weapon "secret".

Well, at least until he went out of town for a week.

When a business meeting and death in the family came back-to-back, (RIP Grandpa Fenton, this one's for you!) I found myself Mike-less for a full seven days.  And while I kissed his cheek and bid him safe travels, I was slightly worried, knowing that I was now in charge of his daily chores, aka "all the things Liz HATES to do!"

Take out the trash!

Clean up dog poop!

Do the laundry!

Change that ginormous five gallon water bottle!

Get two children to two different schools in two cities by 8am!

And the thing I hate most:

WRAP THE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!

Let's just say that this week gave "bad hair day" a whole new meaning.  I've always taken advantage of the fact that Mike takes exactly 15.5 minutes to get ready each morning and load him up with the morning chores while I primp for the day.  Now I was up at the crack of dawn, just so I *might* have the chance to run the straight iron through my hair for five minutes after I fed all the demanding children, dogs and guinea pigs. (Who knew those pigs could scream louder than the kids?)

And each morning, at 8:05am, I walked in to the nearest Starbucks and ordered an extra shot Americano with a satisfied smile on my face.  I did it!  Everyone was clothed, fed, and reasonably happy. (Well, except for those damn guineas, but those f*ckers are impossible to please!)

This week had given me a true appreciation for all the things the hubs does each day.   It had been so long since I taken out the trash that I had no idea where to even find the key to our gate.  And where did we keep the detergent again? So it made me feel good to know that I could do it on my own, if push came to shove.  And btw, this is where I give a HUGE shout out to single Moms and Dads everywhere who do it on their own each day-you have my utmost respect!

But Mike, just so you know, I F'ing ROCKED the TO DO list in your absence.

I got those ridiculously heavy trash cans to the curb even before our anal 80-year neighbor!

I did not one, not two, but THREE loads of laundry. (But do I have to fold and put way too?  I know you have a "system" so I left that part for you.)

I changed the Sparklett's bottle with minimal water damage to the kitchen floor. (Too bad I can't say the same for the cashmere sweater I was wearing at the time!)

I wore out the pooper-scooper. (Remind me again why I've been begging for a third dog?)

BUT

I left all the Christmas present wrapping for you.  Even I have my limits. And since you'll be home in plenty of time for Christmas, there's no reason to tarnish the Fenton name with my lackluster wrapping skills, right?

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and now I know why!  Thank you, Hubs, for all that you do each day.  And please know that although I was a totally awesome Mom/Dad hybrid all week, I'm giving all your chores back to you the minute you walk back in the door!

xoxo, Liz

Sisterhood of the traveling (FAT) pants By Lisa

This past Turkey Day, I forgot all the rules.  I snacked with reckless abandon. And I did it all. day. long. I ate nacho flavored Dorito's, cashews, deviled eggs and even that damn caramel corn from Chicago that I bought for my family in an effort to be cute.

I ate it all.

So when the turkey was wheeled out and all the sides were set up (we do it buffet style, of course!) I was faced with the harsh realization that I was already full. But did that stop me?  Hell to the no!  I ate again with reckless abandon. I inhaled the turkey and gravy, the sweet potato souffle, the stuffing, the delicious casserole "surprise" that I couldn't identify but thought was delicious anyway. I ate all of it.

But even as my belly began to spill over the waist band of my jeans, I knew it was all going to be okay. Even though my eyes were glazed over. Even though drool trickled out of the side of my mouth.  Even though I was quite confident I'd gained at least 5 pounds that day.

It was all going to work out because...

I'd traveled with my FAT PANTS.

My olive green, Juicy Couture, velour, with a very forgiving waist band, FAT PANTS.

When I stopped by to see Liz after my feast, her skinny jean wearing twenty-somethings relatives could not comprehend what FAT PANTS were, let alone understand why someone would wear them. They stared at me blankly, clearly not grasping the concept of food having such an immediate impact on ones physical body. I knew that one day, when their metabolism was more like a tortoise than a hare, they'd understand...or at the very least, have a friend who did.

And over the years, my FAT PANTS haven't just been there for me.   They've also hidden my cheese-induced bloat, clad the pants-less and comforted my friends in times of need.

FAT PANTS to The Rescue! When Liz's brother, Brian, was in a terrible car accident earlier this year, my FAT PANTS stepped right in. Our other BFF, La Sundra had left straight from work to be at the hospital in her suit and pumps (yes, pumps) and didn't have any other clothes with her. And as we sat across from each other in the waiting room, I could tell she was uncomfortable. And I knew just what to do! I reached in my bag and retrieved the juicy pants. She simply nodded and went in the bathroom to change.  And when I got cold and put on the matching jacket, we also were able to provide vast amounts of comedy relief as we sat side-by-side.  Hey, I was just happy I could help.

Who needs maternity pants? When Liz was pregnant with her second child, she became enraged at the concept of maternity jeans. (Something about ill fitting waist bands and fake denim made her want to puke up her prenatals.)  I quickly arrived on the scene with the answer: The juicy pants!  (In this case, I'm sure you can appreciate why I did NOT refer to them as Fat Pants...) They even made an appearance at the hospital the day Liz's son was born.  In fact, she told me she had been wearing them for five days straight because they were the only pants that still fit.  I felt honored that my FAT PANTS were the last pants standing.

So, I'd like to give a shout out to my FAT PANTS (that I'm wearing now for inspiration and also because I couldn't resist the second croissant at my hotel's complimentary buffet) and say THANK YOU for protecting and serving my friends and me for so many years. I look forward to many, many more to come!

xoxo, Lisa

KinderDiva by Liz

The other day I was trying to recall at what age I began to care about clothes.  Was it my affinity for that striped sailor shirt and matching mini-skirt in first grade?  Or those knickers I coveted while standing in line for my first Cabbage Patch doll? (Btw, can we just all agree that those pants should never, ever make a comeback?)  Either way, I don't remember caring that much about what I wore to good ol' Beaumont Elementary back in the day.

Of course, these days, I do love a good Calvin Klein dress as much as the next girl.  And my favorite color?  Black, of course!

So I guess it shouldn't surprise me that my daughter's fashion taste went from Garanimals  to Gucci at the tender age of five.  But thank God she's more Hello kitty than Juicy Couture, at least for now.

It seemed to happen suddenly.  Overnight she went from happily wearing all the frilly dresses  and ballet slippers lining her closet to demanding that I give all her clothes away to GoodWill (or as she put it "kids with no clothes") and replace them with skorts and T-shirts.  Because, as she mentioned, dresses were for babies and girls with curly hair. (Um, what?)

And so began the power struggle of all time.  Each morning, I would mentally prepare myself for battle as she ate her waffle.  What would I threaten this morning?  To take away her beloved bear?  Spongebob restriction for a week?  Make her listen to me sing on the way home from school? Nothing seemed to work. It. Was. Ugly.

So using Fall shopping as my excuse to save face, I finally went to Target and bought every single skort I could get my hands on.  And because she had developed some sort of affinity for early 80's punk fashion, (WTF?) I also picked up a bunch of ugly Gwen Stefani reject T-shirts. knee high socks and boots.  Oh, and guess what her favorite color was now?  Black.  And no, the irony was not lost on me.

Realizing that her insistence about choosing her clothes had become more of an issue of power than fashion, I began to let her dress herself each day.  And being the Type-A control freak that I am, it pained me to watch her put outfits together. But I bit my tongue.

Striped shirt and polka dot skirt? No Problem!

Red and orange together? Why didn't I think of that?

Wearing a Hello Kitty shirt, skirt, headband, barrettes and sunglasses all at the same time? Talk about brand loyalty! Everyone should look like Hello Kitty threw up on them!

Each day, I would ask, do you want Mommy's opinion?  And surprisingly, her answer was always NO, MOMMY!  So I obliged.  And guess what? Each week she got a bit better at putting her clothes together. She started to look more Miley Cyrus and a little less Lady Gaga.   In fact, she really seemed to carve out her own look and although it wasn't exactly my style, I felt proud that she was wanting to lead rather than follow.  Even if it meant she occasionally looks like a cracked-out 80's rock star.

I just make my husband drop her at school those days so they  blame it on him...

7 seconds in heaven with...Nicholas Sparks By Liz & Lisa

Remember Truth or Dare? Spin the Bottle?

How about Seven Seconds In Heaven?

Now take yourselves back to those days of leg warmers and peg legged jeans...to the feelings you had when you thought about hopping in that closet with your crush--the one you'd confidently scrawled that you'd "LUV 4EVER" on the front of your Trapper Keeper. (Oh...where are you now, Neil Butler? cries Lisa.)

Well, fast forward, er, a couple o' decades later (and then some) and there are still a lot of hotties out there that bring back the same rush of emotions like we had in junior high.  And we're not just talking about the McDreamys and McSteamys of the world. We're talking about men who not only look good, but damn, they can write! There's almost nothing sexier than a good looking and talented author. And that's why we're launching a new series called SEVEN SECONDS IN HEAVEN where we ask our favorite male authors seven things that inquiring and nosy female minds like ours want to know!

And who better to start with than Nicholas Sparks who we crush on pretty hard. His books are ultra romantic, his stories are deeply engaging and his writing is always entertaining. And for a moment, can we talk about those brown eyes? Ahhhhhh... and we know all you fans out there LOVE him, because in our poll of male authors women adore that we ran on our Chick Lit is not Dead Facebook fan page, you told us! Hands down, Nicholas Sparks won the majority.

So, to put it mildly, we pretty much went weak in the knees when this amazing writer of great romantic novels like THE NOTEBOOK (which makes Lisa cry every time and where Liz developed her unhealthy Ryan Gosling obsession.) and NIGHTS OF RODANTHE (did he help cast Richard Gere in the movie? If so, thank you, Mr. Sparks!) stopped by Chick Lit Is Not Dead!

We had so many questions...like could he be possibly be as much of a romantic in real-life as the characters he writes about? You don't just conjure up the Noah and Allies of the world if you aren't known to purchase a Hallmark card or two, right? (Right! Check out what he does for his lucky wife on every anniversary!)

So, in the spirit of that junior high make out game we all played waaaay back in the day-SEVEN SECONDS IN HEAVEN-we asked this dreamy husband (Mrs. Sparks, you are one lucky lady!), father of five and author of SIXTEEN books (including his latest THE LAST SONG which just might have made robotic Liz cry!) our seven seconds (questions) in heaven with Nicholas Sparks...

1. If you weren't a writer, what other career could you be passionate about? I love coaching track and field.  I had the opportunity to coach for the last four years, and it was everything I thought it would be.  If I wasn't a writer, it's definitely something I'd enjoy.

2. What one romantic movie could you watch over and over? What else?  The Notebook!

3. You've said that you fell in love with your wife at first sight, what is the most romantic thing you've ever done for her? I write her love letters on every anniversary, reminding her of everything that's happened in the last year, and why she means so much to me.  She now has twenty letters, and they've become something of a journal regarding our lives together.

4. What are some of your goals/dreams that you have yet to achieve? I would love to be able to enjoy the art of relaxation.  I'm one of those type-A personalities.

5. What one thing would fans be surprised to know about Nicholas Sparks? That most of the time -- 99% -- I don't feel like, or think of myself as, an author.  A writer, yes.  A father and husband, certainly.  But author?  No.

6. You wrote a book with your brother? Yes, Micah and I wrote THREE WEEKS WITH MY BROTHER together from separate coasts by talking on the phone and faxing drafts back and forth.

7. What can your fans expect from you next? Another novel, another couple of movies (Dear John, The Last Song). It's what I do.

For more information about the incredibly talented Nicholas Sparks and his latest novel, THE LAST SONG, check out www.nicholassparks.com.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

25 Things Liz & Lisa want to know about Carole Matthews

You heard it here first - Chick Lit is Not Dead is going global. We are like a character in a Chick Lit novel, going overseas in search of fabulous fun and high fashion! And what could be more fun - and fabulous - than international bestselling author Carole Matthews!  We all know that the Brits practically invented Chick Lit, and Carole's talent for writing relatable characters and engaging stories has made her books hugely popular. And let's face it, a cute British accent is always a plus!

And as always with our favorite Chick Lit authors, we discovered a lot of interesting similarities. Liz was ecstatic to learn that like her, Carole is a cashless wonder, never having so much as a five-dollar bill in her wallet-always awkward at the valet!  And Carole and Lisa both share majuh love for the ultimate Chick Flick-Bridget Jone's Diary.

Carole's impressive list of titles includes: THAT LOVING FEELING (2009 UK Release), THE CHOCOLATE LOVER'S CLUB (2009), WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD (2008), MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS (2006), WITH OR WITHOUT YOU (2005) (BTW--One of Lisa's all-time favorite books!), A MINOR INDISCRETION (2003), LET'S MEET ON PLATFORM 8 (2004), THE SWEETEST TABOO (2004), THE SCENT OF SCANDAL (2004), BARE NECESSITY (2003), FOR BETTER OR WORSE(2002), GIRLS NIGHT IN (2004) AND GIRLS NIGHT OUT (2006).

Whew!  How she has time to write so many awesome books and also trek through the Himalayas, we'll never know!

So without further delay...

Chick Lit is Not Dead presents... The 25 things readers want to know about  Carole Matthews

1.  Inside my purse, you'll discover: My I-Touch – a marvellous device that I’d be loathe to be without; an ancient Nokia mobile phone which is on its last legs but that has become something of a challenge to me to see how long I can keep it going; a battered paperback – currently Harlan Coben’s Hold Tight; a fabulous Lulu Guinness make-up bag with little essentials like lipstick, breath freshener, emergency anti-histamine tablets (I’m allergic to any shape or form of domestic animal); a pink notebook for random jottings and a glittery pink pen with which to do them!  And money – not much of it – my partner, Lovely Kev, says that I’m like The Queen who, reputedly, never carries money.

2.  My secret talent is: I’m pretty nifty on the dance floor.  I have medals in both Latin American and Ballroom.

3.  If stranded on an island, the five things I could not live without are: A large library of books and a torch.  A kettle, milk ,tea bags and a cup – as I’m British, I’m counting that as one thing.  Nail polish, haven’t seen the real colour of my toenails since I was fifteen and a cookbook titled ‘How to Make Nutritious Meals from Sand, Palm Leaves and Sea Water’.

4.  On my nightstand you'll find: A very pretty silver lamp with beads and tassels.  Lavender and honey handcream from the beautiful Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall.  Books – Kate Morton’s - The Forgotten Garden, Tami Hoag – Night Sins, and Khaled Hosseini - A Thousand Splendid Suns.  And a glass of water.

5.  When I grew up, I wanted to be: A ballerina, an air-traffic controller, a travel guide, a teacher, a physiotherapist.  It changed with the wind.  Writer never featured once though.

6.  My worst job: I haven’t had a terrible job, I’ve always enjoyed everything I’ve done.  Odd jobs including being an ice-cream saleswoman in a van that goes round the streets – do they do that in the USA?  I’ve also been a secretary, a beauty therapist, a journalist, a television and radio presenter.

7.  My comfort food: chocolate – without doubt.  Since writing my novels The Chocolate Lovers’ Club and The Chocolate Lovers’ Diet, I have become even more of a chocoholic.  I love Lindt 70% dark chocolate and eat it every day.  Actually, maybe I need to reassess my dessert island list as I don’t think I could live without it.

8.  The location where I write: I have a lovely house that overlooks a park in a new city, Milton Keynes, which is about 45 minutes away from London.  The house is three stories high and my office is on the top floor and I can see all the trees and a little stream that flows through the park.  I can see the most amazing sunsets from here too.  To be at my most productive, I need a brickwall rather than a view.

9.  Three songs on my IPOD's most played list: Paloma Faith – New York, Alesha Dixon – Breathe Slow, Beggin’ – Madcon.

10. If I was on the cover of US Weekly, my headline would read: Impossibly Slim and Beautiful British Chick-Lit Author Breaks All Previous Publishing Records on Day of Wedding to George Clooney!

11. The three books that make me think of my childhood: As an only child, I was always an avid reader – my favourites include Black Beauty, Little Women, Great Expectations.

12. My favorite Chick Flick: Without doubt – Bridget Jones’ Diary.  This is how all chick-lit films should be done.  A close second is The Holiday.

13. My favorite Chick Lit book: Marian Keyes – Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married.  I’m always so pleased when anyone compares my writing to Marian’s as I think she is truly the queen of chick lit.

14. My "must see" TV: Oh, dear.  Long list here.  I see it as keeping up with contemporary culture, not being a couch potato.  24, The Wire, Desperate Housewives, Dexter, The Tudors, X-Factor, Strictly Come Dancing (which I think is Dancing with The Stars in the USA).

15. My Starbucks order: Is it strange to go into a shop that specializes in coffee and order tea?  Not a big coffee fan, though I can occasionally be persuaded to a good cappuccino.  I do, however, like their Rocky Road and their Fruit, Nut and Honey bars.  Their tea is surprisingly good too.

16. My favorite curse word: Oh flipping heck!

17. My celebrity man crush: Another long list – George Clooney, Keanu Reeves, Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman, Keifer Sutherland, Johnny Depp – all the usual suspects.

18. My celebrity girl crush: I want to be Cheryl Cole from Girls Aloud.  She’s tiny, talented and tenacious.

19. My writer crush: Harlan Coben – the man is an excellent writer, a charming speaker and an all-round good guy.

20. My last meal before execution: Fresh French bread, a selection of wonderful cheeses and a home-made soup – no particular preference of flavour – with some good red wine or a nice champagne.  Then I’d have to follow it with a plate of home made chocolates and a cup of tea.

21. Three words to summarize my book: Warm, funny, bittersweet.

22. It took me 6 months and a lot of pain to write my book – due to tendonitis in my shoulder.

23. My book's original title: Oh, we went through horrors trying to get the title right for this book – it started out as Love, Lies and Everything and then there were about 15 incarnations, I think.  We ended up with That Loving Feeling after much soul-searching.

24. Right now, I'm working on: The Only Way is Up – my next book is about a couple who find themselves caught up in the credit crunch and lose everything.  The story is their quest to rebuild their lives.

25. Chick Lit is alive & kicking because: It deals with the issues that contemporary women have to handle.  Women love to read that combined with a little escapism and a happy ending.  It makes me mad when I hear people saying that chick-lit is dead – our readers still love it – it’s the publishers who get bored with certain genres and then want to move onto the next ‘big thing’.

To learn about the talented and lovely Carole Matthews, head on over to www.carolematthews.com or check her out on Facebook!

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

Driven to Distraction By Liz & Lisa

We knew we needed to get crackin' on finishing our second book and let's just say that it's been incredibly challenging to stay on track when you throw in distractions like wedding planning, shmoving and day jobs into the mix. So, we did what any self-respecting writers who feared the public humiliation of not meeting their December deadline would do. We planned a weekend away from all those distractions! 48 hours where we'd bury our noses in our laptops and barely come up for food or water.  Lisa had set a lofty word count goal of 25,000 and was ready to do just about anything to ensure we hit it . (Don't worry, we did!)

Knowing that Liz is a self-professed hotel snob, (Let's just say if the sheets are less than 500 thread count she's outta there!) Lisa saddled her with the task of booking somewhere nice and quiet for what they decided to call their writer's retreat.

Well at least she got the nice part right.

When we pulled up to The Parker Palm Springs, Lisa, an obsessive Bravo reality TV show junkie (is there anything better than The Real Housewives of Whatever or Top Chef ?)  exclaimed, "This is where they shot that reality show!"

"Oh yeah," Liz replied. "That's right... Well, I'm sure it will still be low key."

When we walked through the jumbo double orange doors and walked inside, it looked like 1975 threw up all over it (in the retro chic-est "anti-Brady Bunch" kind of way). And when we approached the front desk, Lisa almost peed her pants when Oscar, who starred in the reality show, greeted them.

As they crossed the beautiful grounds and caught a glimpse of all the sexy people lounging pool side that they were sure had to be famous, Liz looked at Lisa and pleaded, "I brought my suit. Maybe we could take a quick dip?"

Lisa, definitely in the role of drill sargent for the weekend, turned to Liz and said, "Sorry, we have a deal, absolutely no distractions!" Then, seeing the pained expression on Liz's face, added, "But if you write 5,000 words by lunch, I'll let you take five minutes and spy on that wedding I know you want to crash later!"

Well, we may have hit our word count goal (yeah! ) but admittedly, there were distractions all around us that even the drill sargent couldn't resist!

Beware of hot men with accents Hey, they might have been wearing tight peach pants and were barely understandable as they talked about the boys club they were going to hit later, but we chose to ignore those minor details because, they were muy caliente! And when Liz suggested we go write by the lobby, Lisa suspected she had an ulterior motive but she said yes anyway. Let's just say hot men + romantic accents = majuh writing inspiration!

Free wireless isn't always an advantage Between Liz's secret status updates to Lisa's search for long lost loves (she found one!), it was very easy to get distracted from the task at hand!

Don't book the boom boom room When Oscar was telling us about our suite, we  heard the part about the beautiful view of the valley. I guess we weren't paying attention when he told us the that from our vantage point, there would be not one, but two weddings going on each night. Hey, maybe our room did physically thump all night, but at least Lisa got her entire wedding playlist handled. A big thank you to whatever DJ was in love with Bell Biv Devoe, Rob Base and Kriss Kross.

Make sure Mac Macbook is up for the trip. Um, so maybe it wasn't the smartest thing to take a laptop on its last gigabyte to a writing retreat. And next time Mac begs her to take him to the Genius bar, she promises she'll listen. We'd like to take a moment to say thanks so much to the front desk staff that didn't bat an eye  (or fear we were about to commit a crime) when we asked for duct tape and a knife. Way to keep your hospitality game faces on guys!

Bring your dancing shoes It's always good to be prepared. You never know when a 100K wedding will be going on, just begging you to crash it and grab a Grey Goose at the bar and chat up the Best Man.  No one ever remembers their third cousin's name, right?  But considering the fact that the dressiest thing we brought was a taco sauce stained juicy sweat suit, we decided that maybe we should pass.

Makes sure you tip your Bell Boy Tank of gas to get to Palm Springs: $65.  Two large pots of coffee to stay awake via room service: $30 Look on Liz & Lisa's faces when they arrived back in Long Beach and realized THEIR LUGGAGE WAS STILL AT THE PARKER: Priceless!

And the fact that Liz's husband jumped in the car and drove four hours roundtrip to retrieve Liz's makeup and Lisa's Snuggie: Worth a million dollars!  Thanks MF!  We hope the combo burrito and chocolate shake we drove a quarter of a mile to get for you made your TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY MILE drive WAS worth it! Xoxo

.