I Love Hobbes Thursday - Lola's Diner Version

Last week when I met up with bloggers Cardiogirl and Lin from Duck and Wheel With String I got to tour the back 40, visit the pond and meet Hobbes! Aren't you all jealous?

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Food Police are losing it

They are now going after McDonald's claiming that Happy Meal toys. 'Food Police' Go After Happy Meals - Chicago Tribune.

"Michael Jacobson, executive director of CSPI, says it’s the parents responsibility too, but he equates the toy giveaways to a door-to-door salesman coming to a family’s house every day and asking to privately speak with the children.

“At some point parents get worn down,” Jacobson says. “They don’t always want to be saying no to their children. We feel like an awful lot of parents would be relieved if this one pressure was removed from them.”"

Uh-huh. What about the toys in cereals when I was a kid? Where were the 'food police' then? And what about Cracker Jacks? Weren't the toys in cereal boxes and prizes in Cracker Jack boxes blatant manipulation of us kids back in the 60's and 70's?

Do you buy Happy Meals for the toys to placate your kids? I never did. I bought Happy Meals because it was fairly cheap fast food. And I didn't buy it very often. If parents are buying their kids Happy Meals because their kids are pestering them for them, then the parents have more issues than McDonalds meals having toys in them.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Hey! Ask Me A Question! Please?

My August 24th post was so much fun, I thought I'd make this a semi-regular installment. And now it's time.

Please submit your questions in the comment section.



Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Random Tuesday Thoughts

Hallelujah! Summer school started yesterday! Woo hoo! Now I only get "I'm bored, there's nothing to do/can we do this (that costs $$$)/can we do that (that costs $$)?" from 1 kid, instead of 2.

Irish and Maddux have an automatic feeder filled to the top with cat food, so why are they both continually trying to attack and open the brand new bag of cat food that I bought today? How do they know it's a bag of cat food? It's not open. How do they know? Can they read "IAMS" on the bag? Do they recognize the bright orange bag? Do they see the picture of the cat on the bag?

I threw out my back bad but saved a kitty - I was at my girlfriend's last night. Kids were playing with bubbles in full view of the resident cat. It was driving him freakin' crazy! He HAD to have him some of those bubbles and every time the patio door opened, he was there. It opened one time too many and he made a break for it. One of the kids grabbed him by the tail, I swooped in, grabbed a hunk of tail and grabbed for the cat's head and collar, picked him up and shut the door. Something in my back didn't like that smooth move. I've always had indoor cats, it's reflex...cat near a door open to the outside, I gotta grab it! Then to top it off, moments later my son gave me a hug around my waist (why he forgot touching anywhere near that area's not allowed, I have no idea, but he did a full strength squeeze hug). I'm willing to bet that Lin heard my scream all the way up in Weirdville.

Anonymous: You are a Dumbass! - Since I removed word verification someone has been anonymously posting quotes that make absolutely no sense. Go play in traffic.


Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

2010 Blogger Meetup

If you recall I met up with bloggers from Look It's Megryansmom, A Malasian Abroad, Communication Exchange, Duck And Wheel With String. You can check out that meet up here, Chicago Area Blogger Meet Up.

Last Thursday I met up with bloggers from Cardiogirl and Duck And Wheel With String. We had an absolute blast! We dished about blogs, talked about writers block and shared our experiences with blogging. Lin, you have to make sure you do that post with a link about the site that gives points for photos of yards and gives points for certain things. That sounds hilarious!

And yes, in case you were wondering, Cardiogirl sported a pair of Chucks.

And Cardiogirl, by the time this posts, you will be back home. I hope you had a fun time exploring Chi-town and hope you come back and visit us soon.

Now for the photos, because a blogger meet up is nothing without photographic proof:

And because Lin insisted on showing her best side on the second shot, Cardiogirl and I had to join in. Doesn't it look like all we need is a microphone and we can be a Motown girl group?

Did I say we had a blast?
Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Book Review - How to Hit a Curveball: Confront and Overcome the Unexpected in Business, By Scott R. Singer

I recently received a review copy of How to Hit a Curveball: Confront and Overcome the Unexpected in Business, by Scott R. Singer, Mark Levine (Contributor).
While the title refers to how to hit a curveball: confront and overcome the unexpected in business, the author's tips apply to one's personal life as well.

I found the book to be an easy read. In fact I finished more than the last 1/2 of the book in an afternoon. The author uses baseball metaphors to explain step by step how to overcome the unexpected. He uses stories from small business as well as big business executives to get his points across each step of the way. His tips don't involve just brainstorming through possible solutions to the unexpected. His tips include ideas on how to look at things from a different angle. After reading this book you'll lots of ideas for "thinking outside the box".

"Investment banker Scott R. Singer learned this lesson the hard way. After a series of career challenges and personal setbacks, he started to develop a new approach to dealing with unforeseen problems. He realized that curveballs are a part of the game and the greatest players know how to knock them out of the park.

Singer shares his personal story and insights as well as features prominent curveball hitters, their stories, and their steps to dealing with the unexpected: Leslie Moonves of CBS, Alan Schwartz of Bear Stearns, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and actor Michael J. Fox.

This fun yet practical book is full of valuable advice and anecdotes that can help anyone avoid striking out at work (or at home) and maybe even turn those surprising challenges into tremendous opportunities."

About the authors:

Scott R. Singer - Scott R. Singer has spent the past 20 years advising companies on how to adapt to change, to embrace technological advances, and to put the best strategy in place to deal with the next big thing—essentially, teaching them how to hit curveballs.

A noted media industry expert, investment banker, and strategy consultant, Scott serves as Managing Director and Head of Media & Entertainment at The Bank Street Group, a boutique investment banking firm focused on providing sophisticated advice regarding mergers & acquisitions; fairness opinions; private debt, equity, and venture capital raising; as well as bankruptcies, restructurings, and turnarounds to telecommunications, media, technology, aerospace & defense, and healthcare companies.

Prior to Bank Street, Scott held prestigious leadership positions at BMO Capital Markets, Deloitte, Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch, and TD Securities.

During his career, Scott has emerged as the change expert, focusing on corporate finance, M&A, and strategic advisory transactions totaling over $110 billion for such clients as Cablevision Systems, CBS Corporation, Charter Communications, Comcast Corporation, Discovery Communications, Hollinger International, Liberty Media, NBC Universal, News Corp., Time Warner, Viacom, and Young & Rubicam as well as many private equity and venture capital firms.

Scott is regularly called on by Bloomberg, CNBC, FOX Business, Reuters and numerous publications such as, The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, CNNMoney.com, Crain’s New York Business, and Forbes.com in addition to many other industry publications as a media expert to address various domestic and global topics.

He has served on numerous industry panels and has been a guest lecturer at both Columbia Business School and NYU’s Stern School of Business. Most recently, Scott was a member of The Paley Center for Media’s Board of Governors in Los Angeles and is a Vice Chairman of Bucknell University’s $400 million capital campaign. He was formerly Chairman of the Annual Fund at The Dalton School in New York City.

Scott received his MBA in Finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business and his BSBA in Management from Bucknell University. He is the immediate past President and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Bucknell’s Alumni Association, a Trustee (ex-officio) of the University, and was a member of the Search Committee for Bucknell’s 16th President.

He’s currently working on his second book with Mark Levine, What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid? Scott lives in New York City and Connecticut.

Mark Levine - Mark Levine has written and collaborated on books and magazine articles on subjects as varied as business and spirituality. Among his more than 25 books are the best sellers You Can’t Predict A Hero, Second Acts, Live Rich, and Die Broke. He has been a columnist for Money, Men’s Health, and Working Woman, and a contributing editor for Worth. His feature articles for New York were twice nominated for National Magazine Awards. He has taught magazine writing at Cornell University and has lectured at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. Levine is married to best selling romance novelist Deirdre Martin. They live, with their Newfoundland Rocky, in Ithaca, NY.

How to Hit a Curveball: Confront and Overcome the Unexpected in Business is currently available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, Borders.com and your local bookstore.

Lola's Diner Disclaimer: I was given this book to review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

Lola's Diner©2008-2010

Book Review - Tea With A Twist, By Lisa Boalt Richardson

This is the 2nd in my series of reviews of 2 books by author Lisa Boalt Richardson.
I recently received a copy of Tea With A Twist, by Lisa Boalt Richardson to review. This is a beautiful hardcover book perfect for the tea lover in your life, or someone looking to learn how to entertain and cook with tea.

The book is split into 8 chapters, covering many different options for your next tea party. Each section is a different theme, covering the tea and menu items suitable along with decorating ideas including centerpiece ideas, servingware and table setting.

Are you a fan of Bubble Teas? This book covers Bubble Teas and how to prepare them at home.

Photographs include the teas, as well as each menu item alongside the recipe and table settings.

This book is a great way to celebrate tea and bring back the tea party in a new way. Looking for a new twist for your next dinner party? This book is perfect. The recipes look scrumptious.

About the author:

"Lisa Boalt Richardson is President of Lisa Knows Tea and the author of the award winning Tea with a Twist and the newly released The World in Your Teacup. She is one of the first 15 in the
world to hold the prestigious title of Certified Tea Specialist by the Specialty Tea Institute. Lisa travels the country speaking at conferences and special events focusing on her culinary arts and specialty tea expertise. Ms. Richardson has been featured in Cooking with Paula Deen, Brand Week Magazine, Tea Time Magazine, Fresh Cup, Stars and Stripes Newspaper and www.chow.com."

Tea With A Twist, by Lisa Boalt Richardson is available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, Borders.com, and your local bookstore.

Lola's Diner Disclaimer: I was given this book to review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

Lola's Diner©2008-2010