SATC, How We Love Thee By Liz & Lisa

There's absolutely nothing we're looking forward to more than attending the premier of  SATC 2. (Okay, so maybe we won't be crossing a velvet rope to get in and our seats will be in a movie theater somewhere off the 405, but we'll still be there opening night!) Not even a wedding or a graduation or even our anniversaries (don't worry- the husbands totally get it) come close to the thrill we'll experience when we order a giant tub of buttery popcorn and join a crowd of fans as that theme song starts playing. Seeing what Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte have been up to since we left them in the coffee shop after Carrie and Mr. Big's courthouse nuptials will be almost as exhilarating as seeing what designers they'll be wearing . To say our love affair with SATC has been a long one is putting it mildly. (Let's just say Lisa's has outlasted all of her longest relationships.) For Lisa, it's been like a religion. From HBO to TBS to the box set, she'd pay homage to the show that became almost a friend (not in an obsessive weird way, we promise) as she went through break up, after break up, after break up.  And although Liz was originally turned off by Miranda's season one mansuits (although that wardrobe choice makes A LOT more sense now) she quickly bonded with her when they both got pregnant and questioned their ability to bond with something so fragile.

Just the mere sight of the SATC2 trailer has been enough to send us into a frenzy. (Aiden? Hot cabana boys in the desert? Poolside cocktails? We're in!). Liz nearly gave her hubs a heart attack when she began clapping wildly the first time she saw it. (SATC was the only non G-rated movie she saw in 2007).  And Lisa?  She downloaded it from the internet and plays it... a lot. And she keeps mentioning something about wanting to vacation in...Abu Dhabi. (Um, is this the same girl who thinks Palm Springs is too hot in the spring?) Which proves that Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte can make anywhere look fabulous.

So, in tribute to our four favorite ladies, here are our favorite episodes:

Season 1: Models And Mortals We'll happily forgive Carrie for speaking directly into the camera (how happy are we that stopped?) because she introduces us to the term "modelizer" in this hilarious episode about men who are addicted to dating amazon women. Highlight: Samantha agrees to have her sexual encounter videotaped, proving once again that she has always been a trendsetter.

Season 1: Oh Come All Ye Faithful We cringe every time we watch Carrie stalks follow Big to church with his mother. And when she asks him to tell her "she's the one" and he can't, she does the only thing she can do to preserve her dignity- she dumps him. Little does she know it's only the beginning of a very long roller coaster ride with Big. At least it all comes full-circle. (See #10.)

Season 2: Ex And The City Ah, the infamous question we've all asked, "Can you be friends with an ex?" (Um, N-O!) We scream when Carrie shows up to Big's engagement party (she was invited- so gross) and tries to convince herself that she can watch the love of her life marry someone else.  Yeah, right.  Highlight: When Carrie finds out Big is engaged and tells him off in a crowded restaurant. (Who hasn't wanted to do that?)

Season 3: Attack of the Five-Foot-Ten-Inch Woman It's bad enough when you're ex moves on. But with a tall, beautiful model? Crushing. So when Carrie discovers in the New York Times Style section that Mr. Big and Natasha have tied the knot, we start to hate on Mr. Big just a little. Highlight: Miranda's war with her housekeeper over "sexual paraphernalia."

Season 3: Running With Scissors Carrie's affair with Big comes to a screeching halt when Natasha returns home early from The Hamptons (oops!) to discover Carrie in their house and then falls down the stairs and breaks her tooth in an attempt to confront her.  Highlight: The man dressed a hot dog that kept asking Miranda to "Eat me".

Season 4: Ghost Town Proving the theory that we always want what we can't have, Miranda and Carrie start second guessing their relationship choices when Steve and Aidan open a hip bar.  And it doesn't help that the only action Miranda's getting is from the ghost haunting her apartment.  Oh, and Samantha decides she's not a lesbian anymore. Highlight: Bunny's face when she walks in on Charlotte & Trey in bed.

Season 5: Luck Be An Old Lady We're not sure if it's Carries new do' or Charlotte's Jersey Shore makeover, but this episode about the girls heading to AC for Charlotte's "thirty-faux-birthday" makes us squirm a little bit. The harsh reality of being single in your mid-thirties was hilarious and heartbreaking all at the same time. Highlight: When they get the hell out of AC and return to NYC!

Season 5: Belles Of The Balls Steve feels like less of a man when he's left with only one ball after cancer. And who knew there could be so many great ball jokes? "Do you really want a pinto next to your p*nis, Steve?" Highlight: Aidan and Big a.k.a. "The Green Hornet" and "Batman" rolling around in the mud at Aidan's country house.

Season 6: The Post-it always sticks twice When Carrie gets dumped via a post it from Berger, she does what any self-respecting woman does: has a GNO at a dive bar. Highlight: The reappearance of Miranda's pre-baby skinny jeans and a pot bust.

Season 6: An American Girl in Paris(Part Deux) Samantha gives in to love, Charlotte finally gets her baby and Miranda commits to the long haul with Steve. But at the heart of it all is Carrie.  And we like to think every woman in America cheers when Miranda tells Big to "Go get our girl".  And then cries her eyes out when he does. Highlight: Finally discovering Big's name!

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

5 Things Liz & Lisa Didn't Know About...Hyatt Bass

We first heard about debut author Hyatt Bass  (btw, what a great name!) when Allison Winn Scotch tweeted about her last year. With an endorsement from one of our favorite authors, we snatched up The Embers immediately and also started following @HyattBass on Twitter (when we tweeted her, she tweeted back!).  And from the first page, Hyatt's novel was incredibly satisfying. Her writing is engaging and real. As is the story of Emily whose engagement makes her take a difficult look at how her family has been torn apart since her brother passed away. The story moves between past and present over the course of sixteen years and is told from the perspectives of Emily, her father and mother as they all come to face the many buried secrets in the family.

The Embers is out in paperback today. And if you leave a comment here, you know what that means! A chance to win a copy of this fantastic novel. We say it's perfect timing for the holiday weekend!

So here she is.... the fabulous Hyatt Bass! (And PS: If she wasn't already fabulous enough... guess who she's married to? The writer of the hilarious movie, Date Night!)

1) The Embers actually started out as a screenplay (I’d written & directed a film, 75 Degrees In July).  When the script for The Embers didn’t work, I had a crazy idea to try writing it as a novel.  Ironically, the book is now out to filmmakers, and I think it would make a great film.

2) My son (5 at the time) had a melt-down when he found out People magazine had chosen The Embers as one of its “Get Set For Summer” books of 2009 but had excluded his “book.”  Who saved the day?  My filmmaker husband of course, writer of Date Night and Shrek Forever After, who offered to make a movie of our son’s book with his Flip camera.  I wrote this essay about it at The Daily Beast.

3) My great passion outside of my work and my family is The New York Women's Foundation.  I also met up with women’s funds all over the country during my book tour, and it was one of the most rewarding parts of publication.

4) Until I was 18, I wanted to be a professional ballet dancer. I decided to go to college instead, but I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to take that other path.

5) Before our children were born, my husband and I used to take each other on birthday road-trips to surprise destinations. The hotel in The Embers is based on a combination of places we visited this way.

To find out more about the incredibly talented Hyatt Bass, visit her website.

xoxo

Lit IT Girl: Debut Author Kate Rockland

We've discovered all kinds of things about our favorite bestselling authors here at CLIND.  But we'd also like to introduce you to some fabulous debut authors too.  Because who doesn't love to find a wonderful new writer? So we're rolling out a brand spankin' new feature called Lit IT Girl: Debut Author that will showcase the very best and the brightest of the class of 2010 and beyond. And because we're also obsessed interested in finding a home for our manuscript, we thought it would be fun to find out how these authors got their foot in the door of the publishing world.  But don't worry, we'll still be asking all the hard-hitting questions our readers want answered (like their GNO drink of choice and who they'd choose to have a celeb Twitter war with).

We're kicking off with fabulous Lit IT Girl Kate Rockland, whose debut novel, Falling is Like This is a rock and roll love story. (Proof: she even got a shout out from Courtney Love!)  It's a comedic and touching account of an affair with a rock star that every girl dreams about. Emily Giffin is a fan too, calling her a "new rock star in women's fiction"!  With credentials like these, we have a feeling Kate is going to have no problem living up to her Lit IT Girl title.

Check out Kate's sassy answers to our Qs and leave a comment for a chance to win one of FIVE copies of Falling is Like This!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: LIT IT GIRL KATE ROCKLAND:

How many agents did you query before you found "the one"? I had Ryan in mind from the get-go. I mean, the guy loves New Jersey punk bands, how could I go wrong? I used to work at Rolling Stone books, and he would come in and pitch us books. I was a lowly Editorial Assistant (basically a glorified secretary) and he would always be really nice to me when he came in the office. I have a big mouth, and I'd tell him I was planning on writing this chick lit book about a girl who falls in love with a guy in a band, and he'd say as soon as I wrote it I should contact him, so I did. After I'd written about one page. And Ryan said, "Um... it has to be a little longer."

What was your rock bottom moment during the process? I really never felt overwhelmed. It was really hard work, all those edits, but I actually felt really lucky. I mean, come on! I was getting my book published! It was a lifelong dream. Any author who complains about having to work on their book is spoiled.

How long did it take to write your book? It took me six months to type one version which was way too short. I remember tying into Google, "how long is a novel?" A short novel is about 60,000 words, if your readers are curious. My editor and I went back and forth, she had edits about every 3 months for a year or so, and I'd totally give the manuscript a makeover each time. She was always right. Damn it.

What did you do to celebrate your book deal? I used the money to pay for part if my wedding. I married Joe a year ago. I feel that was money well spent!

Knowing what you know now about publishing your first novel, what would you have done differently? I would have started doing PR a long time ago. I waited until the last minute. Good thing you girls are having me on Chick Lit is Not Dead! Other then that, I really don't think I would have done anything differently. Getting a book published is such a crazy thing, that its almost like concocting a wicked witch brew in a cauldron. If you change one ingredient, you might make a potion that turns your hair blue!

Who is your writer crush? I have a huge crush on John Irving. I named my rescue cat Garp. I don't care that he writes about bears and wrestling constantly. He can dress up in a bear suit and wrestle me anytime he wants.

What's your biggest distraction or vice while writing? My cats Elizabeth and Garp bring me their balls, they play fetch like dogs. They constantly want me to throw the ball to them and then chase it. I keep telling them I am a very important and distinguished writer who could be working on the next Pulitzer but they don't care.

GNO drink of choice? I love Chardonnays from California. It makes me imagine I am sitting in a vineyard, the breeze whistling through my hair, the smell of grapes and earth in the air. When really, I am sitting in the same old dusty Irish bar I always sit in, down the street from my house.

Favorite trashy TV show? I LOVE TLC. Anything on TLC. My husband makes fun of me because I love shows about 800 pound people who have to be carried out of their houses on whale stretchers, or children born with two faces, or shows about dwarf families. I love medical abnormalities. I feel like if I have watched those shows so many times that if I ran into a woman on the street with an elephant trunk for a nose I'd be totally cordial to her. That was totally not PC, but there you are.

What celeb would you love to have a Twitter war with? I would like to tell Heidi she is crazy for getting all that plastic surgery. She is a shit role model and should be locked to a stretcher and sent to another country, the way Thailand did with Billy Idol in the 1980's when he was doing too many drugs. I liked Heidi's previous long Jay Leno chin just fine. It gave her face character. Now she looks like a barbie doll on crack.

So read more about the lovely Kate Rockland, head on over to her website!

xoxo, Liz and Lisa

Writing Wednesday: Rejection Shmejection By Liz & Lisa

It can be more brutal than being dumped by your boyfriend. More disappointing than being passed over for your dream promotion. And even more humiliating than being stood up by a blind date...

We're talking about literary agent rejection.

We're no strangers to rejection.  When you choose to put yourself out there each and every week by, well, writing about your life on a blog, you learn to roll with the punches.  So we thought that sending out a one page query for our pride and joy, The D Word, would be a walk in the park.  I mean, c'mon, who could resist us, right?

Um, apparently, more than a few people.

But as many of you who've sailed the uncharted waters of the publishing world know all too well, the "um, thanks but no thanks" letter from a prospective agent can sting a bit, reminding you a little of that "it's not you, it's me" email that you received from that guy you once dated.

And when we receive responses addressed to Mr. Fenton and Mr. Steinke (yup, it's actually happened), we try to find the humor in it. We just shake our heads and wonder how they got a hold of those pictures from our 1998 "Ellen" hair phase. Or maybe it was the brown-braided belt/polo shirt/penny loafers pics?  What was going on with the 90's and manly fashion anyway?

But we digress. The thing is, whether they get our gender right or not, it's still a big N-O. See you later. Get outta here.  Stick to your day job (well for Liz anyway- Lisa, um, doesn't exactly have one).

But you can't let the N-O's get you down. Because as Lisa says to Liz whenever one of our dream agents breaks her heart into tiny little pieces (yep, she's the sensitive one) with a form rejection letter no less, We only need one person to say yes.

One person who knows that Chick Lit isn't Dead.

One person who thinks The D Word is fabulous.

One person to realize that we got it goin' on like DONKEY KONG! (What does that mean anyway?)

Just like dating, it's all about timing, chemistry and forming a connection. We're just praying that we'll find an agent faster than we found our spouses because Liz doesn't think she can go through that sh*t again.  (Although a prospective agent wouldn't just *forget* to show up to her college graduation party, right?)

But until we find "the one", we're wearing our most fashionable bulletproof armor and having fun. And the reality is, we haven't been at this very long.  And we're such perfectionists (and by "we", we mean Lisa) that even a handful of "no's" can seem like too many.

So, for now, we wait on pins and needles for our query to be plucked out of our fave agent's inbox, our partials to be adored and our credentials to be considered.  And don't quote us (we don't want to jinx it!), but we have a feeling that our YES man or woman is right around the corner. Wish us luck!

Do you have a query rejection story? Please share. Misery loves company!

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

Mommy Monday: The Getaway by Liz

Three babysitters.

Five months of planning

A ten page long to-do list.

Four days of child-free bliss in a foreign country

Remember the days when all you needed to get away was a passport and some vacation time?  My hubs and I used to pride ourselves on perfecting the "last-minute" vacay, trying to prove that we were just too cool to actually plan our long weekends in advance.  And maybe booking a flight to Vegas that was departing in two hours gave me a slight adrenaline rush. (Well, that and knowing I'd be screaming BLACKJACK! in three hours.)

But all those things changed the day we had children.

Now, we practically have to set up a tactical control center in order to have a child-free weekend.  The Oscars have been put on with less planning (and it shows!) than our recent trip across the border. Okay, so maybe purchasing an earpiece and a mic to speak into while coordinating the school drop-off and picks ups was a bit too much.  But I'd like to think that my to-do list would've brought even the biggest A-lister to their knees.  I was determined to board my Mexicana flight with a margarita in hand and not a care in the world. (Well, except for the fact that we were flying Mexicana. But that's a whole other blog.)

But things didn't go exactly according to plan.  But, no worries, we were still able to have quite the fiesta(and more importantly, a siesta) in the lovely city of Cabo San Jose.

And because I'm such a giver, I'd thought that I would give y'all some tips for the next time you're stupid brave enough to have the balls to actually try to have some time to yourself:

1. Try to schedule as many people to watch your children as possible. Because nothing says "I Love You" to your kids more than passing them off to THREE different caregivers during a four-day period.

2. Make sure that at least one childhood milestone happens while you are away. It's fine.  I didn't want to see that first tooth come out anyway-too much blood and crying for me.  And that lame movie starring The Rock totally ruined the whole Tooth Fairy thing for me anyway.

3. Book a resort that has spotty cell phone reception Because nothing makes you want to party down more than when you can't figure out whether your children actually made it to school.  And squeezing yourself in between the TV console and sliding glass door in order to get one bar of cell reception after eating a pound of chips and guacamole is just unflattering. Trust me.

4. Spend more on the trip than the babysitters Thankfully, our resort was serving up fourteen dollar margaritas or this might not have happened. Whew! That was a close one. A big shout out to Cabo Azul's swim-up pool bar for helping us out!

5. When you DO find cell phone reception, make sure to phone when the children have no desire to speak with you. Because it really warms your heart when your five year-old screams "HI! BYE!"  into the phone after you've just spent ten minutes trying to figure how the hell to dial 011 before your home phone number. (Or was that 001? Maybe that's why it took 10 minutes. So confusing!)

Okay, there you have it! A big thank you to all the wonderful friends who watched our little rugrats so we could eat a meal that lasted longer than thirty minutes and actually digest our food. Thanks to you, they didn't miss us at all! xoxoxo

5 Things Liz and Lisa didn't know about... Katie Fforde

So many great authors and books to choose from....so little time. Or at least that's how we feel over here at CLIND.  And that's why we love to bring you the latest and greatest titles by both up and coming and blockbuster authors. Hope you had a chance to check out Emily Giffin's fabulous video we posted earlier this week and soon we'll be rolling out a new feature that will showcase debut authors.  (They'll even give us a few tips on how they got published-we're taking notes!) Today we're excited to have bestselling author of over fifteen novels, Katie Fforde, sharing five juicy tidbits. (She knows Dr Quinn: Medicine Woman! Germans love her!) Her latest novel, Wedding Season, is about a wedding planner who doesn't believe in love. (Cue irony!) It's a fun, sassy read that will fit perfectly in your favorite beach bag this summer-Just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win one of three copies of Wedding Season!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS:  5 THINGS LIZ & LISA DON'T KNOW ABOUT KATIE FFORDE

1. I went to ballet school with Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman. She had hair so long she could sit on it.

2. I can lick my nose with my tongue and clap with one hand. But I don't do these things in public.

3. As part of my research for Wedding Season, I had my colours done. I know now I suit coral red and I shouldn't wear black, but  I sometimes cheat with black. I watched a lot of Bridezillas and also discovered the 'Lindy hop'.

4. My book 'Highland Fling' was turned into a German TV movie. It is now set in the Hudson valley, NY. Where they also have a highlands.

5. My forthcoming book 'A Perfect Proposal' is partly set in New York and Connecticut. My heroine is a poor English girl and my hero is a preppy New York lawyer. Sparks fly as they cross into each others worlds.

To read more about Katie head on over to her website or click here to follow her on Twitter.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

12 things Liz & Lisa didn't know about...Emily Giffin

Today is the day! New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin's FIFTH novel, Heart of the Matter is released! Click here to buy a copy. As you know, we heart Emily and her books. And can't wait for Something Borrowed to be made into a movie (if you follow Emily on Facebook, she gives regular updates about the filming). But we both agree that Heart of the Matter is Giffin's best work yet. Lucky enough to each get an advance reader copy, we devoured the it months ago, but are excited to re-read it now that the crisp new hardbacks have arrived.

In a special edition of "5 things Liz & Lisa didn't know about..." Emily made a video! And in it, she gives us 7 extra fun tidbits about herself. And they are hilarious. Hint: violins, fender benders and the Brady Bunch are all involved. So pull up a chair, watch the video and leave a comment for a chance to win an audio version of Heart of the Matter narrated by the fabulous Cynthia Nixon (thanks to MacMillan Audio which can be found on Twitter or Facebook ) or the shiny new hardback!

So without further adieu, here's Emily!

PS: This month, She Knows has named Heart of the Matter their official book club pick.

xoxo

Stinky Steinke, I'll Always Love You By Lisa Steinke

With a last name like Steinke, you'd think I'd be ready to let it go. After growing up being called Lisa Stinky, Stinky Steinke, Stanky Steinke, (you get the idea) you'd think I'd be over the moon with excitement about finally saying, hasta la vista, baby to my surname and hello, dahling to something (anything!) that doesn't conjur up the image of a foul odor or a private body part. But even after all the years of kids mocking it and people mispronouncing it (I had a boss for over five years who never said it correctly) something bizarre happened. It kind of grew on me.

An email address was born from it. Friends began calling me Steinke to differentiate me from the other Lisa's in our circle (hey, it was a popular first name in the, er, early 70's). And Suddenly...it worked. Like a shirt you bought, never wore, then stuffed in the back of your closet only to rediscover and wonder why you never gave it a proper chance.  I'd finally settled into the name, wore it proudly and embraced the German sound -- Fraulein Steinker!

And then I got engaged.

And honestly, it was the second thing I thought about after saying YES. (In case you're wondering...the first thing was- damn, I love the ring!)

I knew I was going to take my fiance's name. I just wasn't sure if Steinke would take the trip with me. Would I say goodbye completely or would I hyphenate? It had been with me all these years.  It was what got me noticed (for better or worse!) all those first days of school.  It was the call that came during battles of red-rover and junior high softball games.  It was my pet-name for many a high school boyfriend, and most assuredly got me some extra attention when my resumes on colored paper (remember those?) started flying out in the mid-90s.  The Stinky, Stanky, Steinke name has done me proud, and I'd like to think I held up my end of the bargain in return.

So, alas, I decided to split the difference. Legally, I'd change my name to Lisa Dannenfeldt (we can talk about the world's longest last name another time). But professionally, I'd keep it the same. Afterall, I would hate to miss out on being introduced as anyone other than Lisa Stinky during our next book signing.

How did you feel about giving up your name? (Or did you choose not to?) Leave a comment and be entered to win one of two copies of Chelsea Handler's latest Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang!

xoxo

5 Things Liz and Lisa Didn't Know About...Jill Mansell

We've said it before, and we'll say it again- some of the best Chick Lit authors come from across that pond! Like the smart and sassy (is there a better combo?) Jill Mansell. Who, in addition to being a fabulous writer (um, TWENTY-ONE count 'em, TWENTY-ONE books under her belt) is funny. Check out her diary and follow her on Twitter to see for yourself! And when you read her five things, you'll fall in love with her the same way we did. And to give you a quick sneak peek:  SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO TYPE! Yup, that means she's written all of her books by. Hand. (*Cue standing ovation*) Her latest novel, Rumor Has It (which we were lucky enough to get an advance reader copy of and have an even far greater appreciation for now that we know it was conceived via a Harley Davidson fountain pen) is the story of newly single Tilly Cole who impulsively moves to a small town after receiving a "Dear John" letter from her live in boyfriend. The town she flees to for escape turns out to be a hotbed of gossip and rampant rivalry for the resident bad boy. Which, she, of course, wants no part of. But despite her better judgment, Tilly befriends Mr. bad and gets to know a man who doesn't seem to fit his reputation at all... (How many of us have been there, done that?) So ladies (and gents- we don't discriminate) If you love Chick Lit, you'll devour this page turner in one sitting. It was just released and you can purchase it here. And leave a comment for a chance to win one of five copies we're giving away today! And just to further reinforce why we love Jill Mansell, here are her 5 things... 1. I eavesdrop on people ALL THE TIME. I’m incredibly nosy and love hearing snippets of other people’s conversations – they just have to say one thing and I’m away, imagining who they’re talking about, where they live, who they’re married to and what their guilty secrets might be. It’s fun but it can be exhausting! When I’m on a plane or a train, I always want to know where everyone’s going and why. The day our train was stopped from reaching London by the snow, everyone suddenly started talking to each other and I was able to find out why they were all headed there. It was my dream come true!

2. I write all my books by hand, in A4 writing pads, with a Harley Davidson fountain pen. A fellow writer once told me that it was the equivalent of carrying all my laundry three miles down to the river and washing it by hand in the water instead of just throwing it into a washing machine. She was probably right, but it’s how I do it. The words come out more easily this way. I never learned to type and anything like this piece takes me ages to compose. (I pay my teenage daughter to transfer my books to a computer.)

3. The last competition I won was twenty years ago, in a nightclub, and it was for tearing a telephone directory in half. I was the only girl – and I was very skinny then – amongst a line-up of big burly boys. They all laughed at me, but I won. I don’t exercise, but I have very strong biceps. Every now and again, they come in useful!

4. When I was around ten or eleven years old, it never occurred to me that I could become a writer but I did have a bit of a fixation with worrying about how I’d manage if I lost my right hand in an accident, because then how would I ever be able to write? (I know, OK? I do know how weird that sounds!) To this end, I spent hours and hours at a time, practising writing with my left hand. I filled entire exercise books with wibbly-wobbly left-handed writing. I never got any better at it either – thank goodness I never did get my right hand chopped off!

5. Oh dear, what can my 5^th thing be? OK, in Rumour Has It, the hero is a wire-sculptor who creates amazing larger than life sculptures of horses and stags. I fell in love with the idea and desperately wanted a wire horse for our garden but we live next to a football field and only a thin fence separates us. My partner told me we’d have footballers jumping over the fence and trying to ride it. So I compromised and bought a wire sculpture of a lamb instead. They can’t ride that!

To find  more about the talented and witty Jill Mansell, check out her website. And don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Rumor Has it.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

Mommy Monday- Yes or no to GNO? by Liz

Girls night out. Three beautiful words that always seem to light up the faces of whoever utters them.  Back in the day, it meant putting on your favorite pair of Seven jeans and going on the prowl for Mr. Right-dancing the night away at your favorite club and eating Jack in the Box at three in the morning.

And when I did find Mr. Right,  I was so smitten that I was willing to gain seventy pounds, not once, but TWICE in order to bear him two children.  And somewhere along the way I started saying N-O to GNO.

At first, it was because I was pregnant for what seemed like three years straight.  During which time I would only stay up past midnight when I was rocking a screaming baby.  Or cleaning their throw up off my pajamas. Or trying in vain to fall back asleep after my little darling crawled into our bed, giving me approximately three inches of space. (WHY do they always come to my side?)

And let's not even bring up those last ten pounds of  baby weight that was still firmly cemented on my body, making a mockery of me each time I dared try to squeeze into one of those old GNO tops that still hung in the back of the closet.

But something happened when my youngest turned two.  Finally able to get a good night's sleep, I  found the energy to care about more than how I could manipulate my daughter into picking the shortest book on her bookshelf to read that night or how to get my son to eat something other than pasta. And the baby weight?  I went on Weight Watchers and rid myself of that damn muffin top that had been plaguing me each time I shoved my ass into those Seven jeans.

I was back, baby!  It was time to get my GNO on.

I had GNOed sporadically during what I like to call the "battleground years".  But each time, all I could think of was the hell I would pay the next day.  That it would take me a week to recover from staying out too late and having a cocktail or two.  Or I'd be so tired that I'd almost fall asleep in my champagne, barely able to hold up my end of the conversation. And while my husband and I attempted to have a date night each month, I found myself daydreaming at dinner about getting a hotel room by myself so I could sleep in peace for a few hours.

Thank God those days were over- I had finally reached the promised land! Well-rested and sporting my pre-prego jeans, I was ready to take on the world! 

Happy hour? Bring on the half-priced appetizers!!

Friend just got dumped and needed some girl time to recuperate? I'm your gal! 

Want to celebrate your latest promotion? I'll have the champagne waiting!

The world was my oyster once more.  Or at the very least, I was going places where they served oysters instead of chicken strips and fries.

And it was about so much more than just having a glass of wine.  It was about reconnecting with the person I was before I had kids-the one who used to play tennis, read three books a week and was the life of the party. And cultivating all those beautiful friendships again that I missed so much. (There's only so many poo-poo and  spit up talks people are willing to have with you!)

While I love my kids and feel incredibly blessed to have them, I'm not ashamed to admit that there's a part of me that misses my pre-mommy self. And even though  I'll never again be the girl who dances on the tables, (long story!) I  like to think that by making time for myself every so often, I'll find a nice middle ground that both myself and my family can live with.  Because I don't believe that being a great mom means you have to give up who you used to be or the friendships that keep you grounded.

So next time you're invited to GNO-don't say N-O.  Remember that Mommy needs some me time too.  I'll see you there-I'll be the one toasting you from across the room.

Do you make time for yourself?  Leave a comment and be entered to win one of FOUR copies of Irene Zutell's breakout novel Pieces of Happily Ever After, an intriguing story about a mom who struggles to find herself after her husband dumps her for an A-list celebrity.

xo, Liz

Watch this, Not That: Liz's Guilty Pleasures Edition

When it comes to my television watching habits, I tend to have a split personality.  Because there are two versions of Couch potato Liz: The one who's drinking ice water and watching quality TV with her husband and the one who is shoving down handfuls of M&M's while watching that trashy TV we all love to hate. So on this edition of Watch this, Not that, I thought I'd come out of the closet and celebrate my Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde  TV watching self.  That I would declare my love for my ridiculous shows so I no longer have to hit the "exit" button when my husband returns unexpectedly to the family room after he swore he was going to bed.   So I don't have to hide my head in shame when my trashy TV is hogging all the memory on our TiVo, causing it to erase the kid's PBS shows.  And lastly, to give all of you other secret bad TV watchers a soft place to fall.

I'll even entice you into telling me your dirty TV watching secrets by giving away two signed copies of Jennifer Ross's delicious debut novel, The Icing on the Cupcake. It's a great story AND has an awesome recipe at the end of each chapter. Just leave a comment to be entered!

WHEN THE HUSBAND IS AROUND, I WATCH THIS:

SURVIVOR While I'm sure some of you may argue if this should be considered quality TV, you have to admit that Survivor is the grandaddy of all reality TV shows, paving the way for copycats like Joe Millionaire(what ever happened to that guy, anyway?) and Big Brother.  A diehard fan since the first season, Jeff Probst's arrogant, irritating narrative during each challenge, his leading questions during tribal council and that whole The Tribe has spoken thing just never gets old for me.  And with villains like Russell, I think this season's better than ever!

CHUCK I think I've always secretly had a thing for lanky nerd types-at least when it comes to my TV watching preferences. (Why the hell else would I have ever watched The Big Bang Theory?)  And this sweet show about a computer geek who's life is turned upside down when he has a CIA computer downloaded into his brain seems to have finally hit it's stride in it's third season. The best part?  It has enough action (And a smoking hot blonde!) to entice your man to watch it but at the core is just an adorable love story about a guy who's in love with a girl who's completely out of his league.

MY SECRET GUILTY PLEASURES:

THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY Sometimes I actually feel my IQ dropping as I take in the antics of my favorite Garden State Housewives. Announcing that watching another minute would makes his eyes bleed, my husband declared this show unwatchable early on in season one.  Typical that a man can't appreciate a good table-flipping or tell-all book!There's something about tough-talking Caroline and the clueless Teresa that makes me both LOL and feel a little nauseous at the same time.  Like I'm just holding my breath and praying that they aren't really like this.  But either way, I know I won't be able to turn the channel when season two begins May 3rd.

90210 I'm the first to admit that the only reason I gave this show a chance was because of my devotion to it's predecessor.  But unlike it's unwatchable updated cousin Melrose Place, the new 90210 had me at Hello. Okay, so maybe it was all the Kelly, Brenda and Donna cameos that got me on board.  But now, in it's second season, those beyotches are gone and I'm still secretly watching every week when I think no one's looking.  And considering the batch of new hotties they brought on last Fall, some(my husband in particular) may suggest that the cougar in me might be the reason I just can't say no to 90210.  But I stand by it's, um, strong story lines and um, impressive abs, um I meant acting.

What do YOU watch when no one's looking?

xoxo, Liz

5 Reasons We Heart Emily Giffin By Liz & Lisa

Emily Giffin is one of our all time favorite authors.  So we were thrilled to get (and might have even taunted a few people with)  an advance reader copy of her latest novel, Heart of the Matter. And we can't wait to have her as our guest again at CLIND this May when it's released! Click here to read chapter one and click here to pre-order it.

We're also excited to spread the word about something big that Emily is promoting Wednesday April 28th- for one day only. She's going to give away a signed copy of ANY OF HER FIRST FOUR BOOKS to anyone who buys Irene Zutell's book, Pieces of Happily Ever After and sends her their receipt! Just head on over to Emily's blog for all the deets.

We heart Emily not just because she's a fantastic writer, but because she's accessible to her fans, she takes the time to answer our twenty-five questions and participates in promotions like this one that promote authors like Irene. And just because... here's five more reasons we crush on her!

1. She writes books that are so good we WANT them to be made into movies. 

2. She keeps us updated with info and photos like this from the set of what she calls "Sobo" a.k.a. Something Borrowed. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter to stay in the know.

3. She helped pick sexy actors like Steve Howey (who will play Marcus) and Colin Egglesfield (who will play Dex) to star in Sobo.

4. Every book she writes is better than the last. We think Heart of the Matter is her best yet.

5. She supports authors like Irene Zutell by participating in a promotion like this. (PS: You should definitely take part! Two great books by our favorite authors-how can you go wrong?)

xoxo,

Liz & Lisa

Writing Wednesday: Divine Diversions by Liz

I'm in a slump.  A writing slump.  After working like crazy on the The D Word and then battling our way through the query process I find myself a bit, um, unmotivated while we wait patiently for our dream agent to realize that we're the next big thing in publishing. So rather than pitching articles and brainstorming ideas in my spare time, I've been Facebooking with reckless abandon.  And RTing my face off on Twitter. And I even downloaded that Oprah tell-all biography to my Nook last week.  It was clear- I had officially hit my diversion rock bottom.

So when it came time to write about writing, I was perplexed.  Because besides this blog and a few other things, I haven't been doing much writing at all this past month. (Unless you count Facebook status updates. I've been killing it over there!)  I picked up my trusty journal, dusted it off and opened it up to find only empty pages.  Where, oh where, had my inspiration gone?

So I did what any self-respecting blogger does in this situation.  I decided to write about why I'm not writing. My editing downfall.  My own version of internet crack.

Facebook.

Since spending so much time over on "The Book"(that's what I like to call it), I've noticed a few things.  Or rather, a few types of Facebookers that make me shake my head, LOL, LMAO, ROTF or hit the "Hide" button.  Have you seen these people? Are YOU one of these people?  It's okay if you are.  As a self-proclaimed Facebook whore, I'll be friends with ya anyway.

1. The Facebook Bulimic

It's all or nothing for this person.  You won't hear a peep from them for two months and then BAM! They throw up all over your page, your pics and your status, then disappear as quickly as they came- not to be heard from until their next purge.  A "like" or even a "ha!" in between would go a long way. Consistency please!

2. The Embarrasser

I personally think there's a little bit of this one in all of us.  I've posted my fair share of junior prom and GNO gone wrong pics.  But there are some people that won't rest until every single picture from the 80's and 90's has been posted and tagged.  Until every bad fashion decision and aqua-net inspired hairstyle has been revealed. How many times do I have to defend my pre-tweezed eyebrows?  For the last time, I was going for that whole Brooke Shields look!

3. The Debbie Downer

I felt real bad the first time your kids got sick.  And it really sucked when you got that flat tire.  And when your flight was delayed I still was hoping you were just having a run of bad luck.  But when it never ended I realized you were Debbie Downer: Facebook edition and hit the "hide" button faster than you could say Farmville.

4. The Politician

Left, right or in the middle, I don't want to talk politics on FB. I'm just there to check out if my exes moved on with someone hotter than me, not to watch "Meet the Press".  And the ensuing political comment battles that go on?  Ugh. I'd rather be subjected to a million Mafia Wars posts. And that's saying a lot. Can't we all just get along?

5. The Non-Responder

I'm sad to say that my husband falls squarely into this category.  In fact, maybe I even over-Facebook in a misguided attempt to make up for his non-responsiveness.  Tag him in a old picture back when he had a mullet?  Never gonna say a thing.  Write a sweet nothing on his wall?  It will forever sit there untouched.  Give him a poke?  Nada.  Nothing.  Well, in Facebookland anyway.  It goes over much better in person at home. =)

What divine diversions do you indulge in? Leave a comment to be entered to win one of three copies of Chelsea Handler's latest, CHELSEA CHELSEA BANG BANG!

xoxo, Liz

The Zen Test (or: Karma's a Beyotch) By Lisa

If you've been following along lately, you know I'm doing the whole "zen" thing. I've become a yogi (OMMMM and all), ditched gluten (after a ferocious two-week battle, I've accepted my fate) and write my daily affirmations requests to the Universe. In a nutshell, I'm trying to be freakin' positive!

So why am I attracting so many "angries" a.k.a. angry people? You'd think in my new rose-colored, glass is half-full state of mind, the the only folks who'd approach me would be presenting flowers or offerings of peace and good fortune. Not spewing profanities and giving me the universal sign for f**k  you!

I believe in karma. And when they say it's a bitch, I believe 'em. (Whoever they are.) So I can only think that back in my angrier days (and there were MANY of them) I went a little too far. And now maybe I'm getting my payback... But even though I've been there (believe me- giving up gluten can make you want to go on a rampage taking out every wheat eater in your path) I still have to ask, what the hell are people so damn angry about? You angries are really testin' my zen!

Incident #1 happened at Whole Foods. Whole. Foods. You know, the organic, healthy store full of everything from yoga mats to things I'd never heard of until two months ago, like kale? I mean you can hardly push your cart two feet without running into a book on meditation or  some beautiful fresh flowers.  Call me crazy, but shouldn't the shoppers fit the store? Here's the 411:

The angry perp: She was blonde and beautiful. Upon first glance, you'd think she was a former JCrew model. But when she opened her mouth, she became the ugliest person on the planet.

Let's call her Angry Annie.

I started to back out of my parking space, but upon further consideration, pulled back in and shoved it into park. I needed to program my beloved Gabby GPS. I heard a honk. I glanced over my shoulder to see Angry Annie behind the wheel of her SUV. I went back to my GPS figuring she'd move along to one of the FIFTEEN SPACES just next to me. When I finally started to back out, there she was, walking toward me. "Just back the f**k up, lady!" she screamed. Well, I did what any self-respecting person in a parking lot war would do. I rolled my window down and in my sweetest voice asked her, "May I ask what's wrong?"

"I waited for you to back out and you never did!!!!"

Staring at her in disbelief, I was half-amazed at how wildly unattractive she became in the span of five seconds and the other part amazed that someone could be so mad about a parking space. But as I stared into her black eyes, we both knew it wasn't about the space. It never is.

I told her I was programming my GPS and she scoffed, "Yeah right!" (What did she think I was doing, Facebooking? Um, it's been known to happen, but not that day!) And then she stormed off.

I rolled down my other window and called after her, "I sincerely hope you find peace in your life." And I actually really meant it. Either that, or I hoped she'd get an enema and then have someone pull the broom stick out of her ass.

Incident #2 happened while I was pulling out of the gym. And I'm embarrassed to admit, again involved poor Gabby GPS.

Here's the 411: I was leaving a yoga class and turning right onto a busy street. There was a long stream of cars coming my way so I took the opportunity to program Gabby. A few seconds later, I heard honking so I promptly pulled out onto the road. Suddenly, a car swerves around me and cuts me off, blaring the horn all the way. When I saw the car pulling into the gas station, I couldn't help it, I broke into an evil smile. Looked like we had the same destination.

The angry perp: He was in his mid-thirties and actually pretty cute. But just like Annie, as soon as he opened his mouth, looked like The Mask.

Let's call him Mad Max (or Mask)

"You need to get off your f*****g cell phone!" He screamed at me as I stepped out of the car.

I was suddenly frozen in place. To his right, appeared his four-year-old son. And when Mad Max opened the back door of the car, I heard wailing screams from his two-year-old strapped in the car seat.

"You should be ashamed of yourself" I heard myself say. "Driving like that with kids in the car."

"Whatever!" he scoffed.

Later, I ran into him and his two sons after they got their car washed and were shopping for snacks. (So, um, Mad Max, you were in such a fervent rush to get some TWIZZLERS?) So, I dug deep and pulled out something nice to say to the man who had clearly taken his bad day out on me. "I sincerely hope your day gets better." And I meant it. No one, not even Mad Max, should be that mad.

I was on my way to an acupuncture appointment when the Mad Max incident happened. As she stuck needles in my body, I asked my acupuncturist why, with everything I've been doing, I'm attracting this type of negativity. She simply said, "It's not about you."

And I know she's right. But it's hard not to let stranger anger get to me. It's so much easier said than done to, like it says in THE POWER OF NOW, not let the negativity go through me. But I'm working on it. And in the spirit of good will and staying present and not letting my ego take over and all that jazz, I say to angry people like Max and Annie who feel the need to attack perfect strangers to feel better, I hope you find happiness. Or at the very least, a better way to release your frustration. Might I suggest getting laid?

(Sorry, but the zen will always be tempered with sarcasm and humor.)

xoxo, Lisa

5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about... Meg Cabot

Have we ever mentioned the majuh love we have for NYT bestselling author Meg Cabot? Between Liz's slight obsession with her YA novels (Um, does Princess Diaries ring a bell for anyone?) and Lisa's love for her Chick Lit Queen of Babble series , we consider ourselves huge fans.  Not to mention how we crush on her witty tweets and Facebook updates.  And once you see the, um, creative way she approached her five things, we think that you'll be girl crushin' on her too. And we also have an AWESOME giveaway to share with y'all! Just keep reading to find out what it is...

But first, we have to tell you about Cabots's latest YA release. It's high fashion with a touch of sci-fi. In Runaway, the dramatic conclusion to the bestselling and acclaimed Airhead novels, Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself. And we all know that no one does YA better than Meg Cabot! Click here to read more about the Airhead series.

And the fabulous giveaway we mentioned?  A Bare Minerals Extreme Glimmers eyecolor set and Airhead Prize pack that includes Airhead, Being Nikki and Runaway. Just leave a comment to be entered.  This contest will run for two weeks so be sure to tell all your friends to head over for their chance to win!

*Cue Drum roll*

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: 5 THINGS LIZ & LISA DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT MEG CABOT!

Since I’ve been blogging circa 2003 (and everything that’s not on my blog is either in my books or on my Twitter), it’s hard to think of five things everybody doesn’t already know about me!

But as a thank you to Chick Lit Is Not Dead for having me here today, I’ll give it a try: The 5 photos no one has ever seen of me (for good reason)!

I’ll admit I came up with the concept for Runaway (which has a modeling/murder theme) because I hate getting my photo taken.  In fact, it was during a book tour that I came up with the idea for the Airhead series... a brain transplant.  Because I would rather have one of those (into Heidi Klum’s body, of course) than deal with getting my picture taken.

That’s because for every good photo of me, there are at least five terrible photos of me.

I call into evidence the following:

1. I have a lazy eye. Not a charming Paris Hilton, if-I-tilt-my-head-the-other- way-it-will-be-all-right lazy eye.  An I-look-like-I-just-had-ten-beers Lazy Eye.

This was taken at the vet’s office.  I wasn’t drunk.  But I look like I am.

2. I also have what my mom calls the Mounsey Squint (her maiden name is Mounsey).  Here’s a good example.  It’s how I look in most photos that readers have taken with me at book signings.  It’s why they always go, “Oh, your eyes were closed.  Can we take that again?”

Don’t bother.  My eyes are actually open.  It’s the Mounsey Squint:

3. Because of this, I have grown pathologically afraid of having photos taken of me at any time. This is how I now react whenever anyone comes close with a camera, and I’m not on tour and REQUIRED to smile:

4.  If there is nothing handy to cram over my face, I am apparently not above resorting to charming expressions like this one in the hope that the photographer will just go away (all of our vacation albums are filled of photos of me looking like this):

5.  In a sly effort to combat all of the above, the last time I had my author photo done, my publisher sent over professional fashion photographer Ali Smith, her assistant, this makeup artist, and her ten-ton arsenal of equipment.

Don't worry Meg, we aren't very photogenic either! To read more about the hilarious Meg Cabot, click here!

And check out what Lisa wrote about Meg over at Barnes and Noble!

xo, Liz & Lisa

5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about... Wendy Holden

We love Spring. The blooming flowers, the adorable sundresses and...all the fabulous book releases! Today we're learning more about bestselling UK author Wendy Holden, whose sassy US release Beautiful People is available now.  We think you'll love her five things...how cool is it that she met Princess Diana? And almost became an ambassador?

Wendy Holden (U.K.)  was a journalist on The Sunday Times, Tatler and The Mail on Sunday before becoming a full time author. She has now published nine novels, all top 10 bestsellers in the UK, and is married with two young children. Her novels include Farm Fatale (in US Stores from Sourcebooks Landmark in July 2010), Bad Heir Day (also coming to US stores from Sourcebooks Landmark in September 2010), Simply Divine, Gossip Hound, the Wives of Bath, The School for Husbands, Azur Like it, and Filthy Rich.

Beautiful People is a fabulous adventure revolving around a struggling actress, a desperate former film star and a down-to-earth nanny, Holden's witty novel jets to London, Hollywood and Italy at a frenzied pace. A perfect addition to your beach bag this summer!

And we're thrilled to have FIVE copies of BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE to give away! You know the drill-just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: 5 Things Liz and Lisa didn’t know about Wendy Holden

1. Beautiful People was inspired by some of my own experience. My first book Simply Divine was optioned for a movie and out of the blue I had this hot-shot Hollywood producer and his wife coming to visit me in London. They wanted to meet at a terrifyingly smart restaurant which I had never been to, and asked me to book it. As it was the kind of place where the wrong table could ruin your life, I rang up and threw myself on their mercy. The film hit the buffers soon afterwards.

2. I almost became a diplomat. My very first job was editing a magazine for foreign ambassadors in London. They had amazing lives – palatial houses; hot and cold running servants; wardrobes you could ride in, let alone walk in; huge black shiny limos; endless parties with eye-watering strong drinks…

I seriously considered going into the Foreign Office after that, but then I landed a job in glossy magazines. They had amazing lives as well, palatial houses; hot and cold running servants; wardrobes you could ride in, let alone walk in; huge black shiny limos; endless parties with eye-wateringly strong drinks…

3. I cry at everything. I’m ludicrously easily moved and can barely read to my children because of it. Alice in Wonderland I can manage, but the more mawkish bits of Peter Pan have me in floods. As for poetry, forget it. At the same time I have a borderline evil sense of humour and laugh at wildly inappropriate things.

4. I’ve met Princess Diana. I was at a garden party at Buckingham Palace; she came up to talk to some people next to me and assumed I was part of the group. She also once came to a Christmas party when I worked at the Sunday Times in London. Otherwise my only royal encounter was being almost run over by Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband, when he was out with his horses and carriage in Windsor Park. He came thundering towards me like something from a horror film; I only just got out of the way.

5. I hate tomato ketchup. My children adore it, and even eat it in sandwiches, which makes me want to retch. My favourite food is baked scallops with garlic and herb butter, fat chips and a rocket salad on the side. Washed down with a glass of champagne, naturellement.

To learn more about Wendy, head on over to http://wendyholden.net!

xo, Liz & Lisa

Radio Silence by Liz

I love Barry Blackberry.  Or rather I'm obsessed.  I think about him when he's tucked away in my purse while I'm working and cuddle him close to my chest to keep him warm when it's cold and rainy.  He's the first thing I grab in the morning and I never forget to blow him a little kiss before heading off to bed each night. But like many others who take their loved ones for granted, I was careless with Barry's love, refusing to buy him that shiny case he'd had his eye on for months.  You don't need it, I told him. You look fine just the way you are. And each time I dropped him on my tile floor, I would gingerly put him back together and swear this was the last time I'd ever hurt him.  That I'd never again place him next to my three-year old's cup of milk.  That I'd find a appropriate place in my purse to store him where he wouldn't get all sticky.

All Empty Promises.

Then, last Sunday, Barry had enough.  He'd taken it like a man when I splashed some fresh-squeezed lemonade on him at the carnival and didn't miss a beat when  my daughter spilled sugar from her pixie stick all up in his parts.  But when I dropped him on that damn tile again, that was it.  After putting him back together, his (lcd) light just wouldn't shine again.  Barry was gone.

*Cue panicked run to Verizon store and angry tantrum when clerk informed me that I would have to wait TWO DAYS to get a new phone*

Hanging my head in my hands, I thought, How the f*ck am I going to survive two days without a phone? My sales job requires me to be in the car all day, and Barry Blackberry had always been my window into the world.  Now I was going to have to *gasp* listen to music, or God forbid, my own thoughts!

But what struck me the most in my two days of radio silence was how much I'd changed since getting Barry.  How distracted I had become in my daily life, how little I paid attention to others while I was replying to a text that I thought just couldn't wait. Now I wondered why it had been so urgent.  How often I chose to Facebook on my phone between appointments rather than preparing.  That I was so addicted to my phone that I kept reaching for it even though it wasn't there.  All in all, I felt pretty lame and promised to try to make some changes when my new Barry Blackberry arrived on my doorstep.

And since re-entering the land of the communicative, I have to admit that old habits die hard.  But I'm trying.  I even bought him a shiny pink case, although he feels it strips away his masculinity. I told him he'll get over it-it's better than having your battery case ripped opened every day, right?

The best part of my two days of silence? My productivity. I even had time to make a list about it!

During my Radio silence...

• Actually listened to myself think. Think I may have solved that whole cold fusion thing.

• Went to the car wash and *watched* my car get washed.

• Endured more crunching and smacking sounds than any one person ever should.

• Gave that guy at Starbucks the wrong idea when I stared at his Blackberry. (I may have drooled a little bit .)

• Decided that I was too good and started judging everyone else talking on their cell phone to make myself feel better.

• Eavesdropped on some really interesting conversations.

• NEVER knew what time it was.

xoxo, Liz

Watch this, Not that By Lisa

DISCLAIMER: I'm going through an inexplicable "emotional phase" and the robot in me (and the hubs) is hoping to Hell that it will soon pass. Because it's affecting all areas of my life. Like how I interact on Facebook. (I've become a sappy, "I love you" spewing cyber-stalking mess!) And as you're about to read, it's severely affecting my television watching choices. As I've sat in front of the boob tube lately, there's been majuh tears and I'm not sure any of them were justified. And I'm not sure that non-emotional Lisa would at all approve of the television endorsements in this blog post anymore than you will. But here goes...(And PS: I don't have any "Don't Watch's" this week. Because, as you'll read, my judgment could be severely off. And what I think is a watcher, could be just the opposite. Feel free to let me know if my Kleenexes were not warranted. But I must warn you, if you're too hard on me I might cry!) Watch This

Jessica Simpson's The Price of Beauty Uh, huh. That's no typo. In fact, it's so bad that I just became a fan on Facebook.  Who knew the girl who didn't know Chicken of the Sea was tuna could produce such a compelling show? On the first episode I saw Jessica, her best friend CeCe, and her hairstylist, Ken met an anorexic former model who brought the mom jeans wearing singer to tears. And Jessica Simpson's not the only one who cried. Then Jessica walked her first ever catwalk and was ordered around by a woman so intimidating that I even slouched down in my couch. Jessica was so nervous and insecure before she walked that suddenly I felt for her- and was compelled to go find John Mayer and kick him where the sun don't shine. So if you're overdue for a Hallmark card moment, tune in to this VH1 show. But I have to warn you, after I take my emotional colored glasses off (please God, let it be soon!) , I could be moving this to the Don't Watch column right next to Cougar Town. Stay tuned.

Watch this

Undercover Boss Even as I type the words, I know you're probably shaking your head in confusion. And in truth, I kind of am too. And before I tuned in, I would've laughed if you'd suggested I even watch it. But after watching a recent episode (A CEO of a family fun park disguised himself and spent the day with several different employees) I was hooked. There was the sidewalk washer who'd lost his home in a flood and also adopted two kids even though he already had three; the formerly homeless single mom who barely made ends meet but said it's about helping people, the pay comes later and the college student who was going to school full-time and working nights. At the end, the CEO reveals himself and then gives the employees raises, etc.. Right around the time he said he'd pay for the college kid's tuition, I was bawling my eyes out. Matt was so confused he didn't know what to do- I hadn't even cried that hard at our wedding. Again, this might be the time to revisit the disclaimer.

Watch this

Parenthood. Two words. Peter. Krause. Need I say more? On the season finale of Six Feet Under was anyone else crying not only because such a fabulous show was over, but because they wouldn't be seeing his hotness for a while? OMG, how I've missed him!  When I heard the positive buzz about Parenthood, I can't believe I didn't realize he was on it. And admittedly, when I tuned into the first episode, I'm not even sure I paid much attention to the storyline or watched anyone other than him. Oh, and Lauren Graham from Gilmore Girls (love her!) But I can say that the show did make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Or, maybe that had more to do with Peter, I don't know... But I say watch it and let me know what you think- of Peter and of the show.

xoxo,

Lisa

5 Things Liz & Lisa Didn't Know about...Jane Green

She's a funny and very down-to-earth blogger, a mother of six and, oh, she also happens to be, like, the most famous Chick Lit author EVUH. Our mystery author is revealed and, yup, it's Jane Green! Our Chick Lit hero who also happens to be a New York Times bestselling author of eleven books, including one of Lisa's all-time fave's, Jemima J. And Liz puts The Beach House at the top of her "loves to read over and over again" list. Jane Green is a "must read" author for any chick lit lover! And we're so excited that Dune Road will be out in paperback on May 25th! Click here to pre-order it.

We're beyond thrilled that Jane took time out of her incredibly busy life (did you see the part about the six kids or "smalls" as she calls them?) not just to share 5 things we didn't know about her, but to make a video to personally tell us 5 things we didn't know about her.  Which we LOVE. She's honest and hilarious and well, we've developed a bit of a crush after watching it. And you will too.

PS: Leave a comment here and you'll be entered to win a fabulous Flip video camera just like the one Jane used to make the video. And thank you to those of you who've been following along on our Facebook page and trying to guess the mystery author's identity!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: 5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about Jane Green! (PSS: Watch carefully. If you can correctly guess the location of her t*****, you'll be entered for a chance to win an advanced reading copy of her new book, Promises to Keep. Just go to Jane's Facebook page or her website and tell her where you think it is.)

Mommy Monday-Till death do us part

Most parents dread the day they have to explain the concept of death to their children.  That they'll have to shatter their belief that we'll all be here forever. And while some people like to go with  Honey, we sent Daisy the dog to live with another family when their animals pass, I've always been more of a realist. When Goofy the guinea pig inexplicably dropped dead last year, I gave it to my five- year-old straight.  And what else could I do, considering the fact that we had found her lifeless body together?  She was pretty upset, but after a proper burial, impromptu memorial service in the backyard and a brand new guinea the next week, she seemed to move on pretty quickly. *big sigh of relief*

But when our beloved German Shepard, Jordan, collapsed late Tuesday night, explaining to a five year old that the dog she's loved since she was born might not come home was a whole other story.

In fact, it was one of my first thoughts as I raced to the "Animal ER".  (Well, that and the fact that "Animal ER" would make a great reality show) As I waited the THREE HOURS to see Dr. McDoggy, I wondered what I'd say to the kids when she wasn't there to lick their faces in the morning and silently prayed that she had just eaten something really, really bad.  But four hours and *gasp* $1500 (WTF! Are animals eligible for universal health care too?) later, Dr. McDoggy gave me the diagnosis and it wasn't good. Jordan had cancer.

Needless to say, it was turning into a bad night.  The only bright spot? That Dr. McDoggy was damn cute.  And had an accent. In fact, his only flaw was his tendency to have more dramatic pauses in his speech than Ryan Seacrest on elimination night of American Idol. It's 4am, dude! Just spit it out!

And because I believe in being honest, I broke the news to the kids the next day.  That Jordan was very sick, she may not be with us much longer, so let's just give her all the love and enjoy every minute that she's with us. That should do it, right?

WRONG.

*insert three hours of screaming and crying followed by thousands of uncomfortable theological questions*

But now a few days later, they seem to be getting through it. But I have to say, there is a part of me that wishes we hadn't told them. Which begs the question: How long should we shield our kids from death?

I've always been the mom that told my kids that if they crossed the street without me, they would get hit by a car. Same story with the pool.  Don't go in without Mommy. Why?  Because you'll drown.  And while some of my friends thought my approach was a bit, um, harsh, I always felt like it was better for them to know that if they step out in front of a moving car, the shit's going to hit the fan.

But now, I'm not as sure.  Life and death are such complex concepts that I'm not sure they grasp them.  And the last thing I want is for my kids walking around being scared to death of, well, death!

Sadly, our elderly neighbor passed away this week. And after my experience with Jordan, when the kids asked me why I was buying his wife flowers last night, I just smiled and said nothing.  Because I think they've had enough life lessons for one week.

xo, Liz