SOCIAL BUTTERFLY

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2010-12-02T14:57:00.001-08:00

Bold Bright Wishes Christmas

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Sorry friends....

2010-10-20T23:10:00.000-07:00

I LOVE MY HAIR

2010-10-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

MEET MORE READERS

2010-09-15T19:16:00.000-07:00

I am happy to introduce a couple more of my blog readers! Vicky and Vanessa both read my blog and chat with me often. I am happy to have so many awesome readers and stay tuned because I still have many more questions and a couple more readers profiles! Thanks for reading! Ooo… and don’t forget to follow me on twitter @ChudneyLRoss!

Reader Profile: Vicky Foulks

I am sorry this has taken my sometime to get to. I know Mark had this great idea a few months ago, in fact before your mother’s tour, which I was very fortunate to be able to attend the show at the Nokia in L.A. and the show at Humphrey's Jazz Concerts By The Sea in San Diego. It was so special and so much fun!!

One day, I was searching for Diana Ross concerts because I wanted to attend one in 2007 and I came across your blog. I read your posts and was quite impressed with what I read. You are such a wonderful writer and it got my attention. One thing about me… if I do not like what I read or it does not get my attention, I will not look for it again. I found you to be very open, honest, down to earth, and not spoiled… all the qualities I look for in a friend. I also admired your ability to work with young children and wanting to give back and help in the community.

I work in the criminal justice system in California as a probation officer. I work with all the at-risk children and all the cultures, which are unique in themselves. I have to teach classes that help people learn life skills. I have an outgoing personality and believe each and every one of us had a gift inside that we need to use to help others or reach out to others. My friends would describe me as assertive, professional, hard working and easy to talk to. I am also told I can be the life of the party. I think I have learned over the years to be able to talk to people and relate to all types of people as that it my job. I know I have helped a lot of people over the years and many contact me later to thank me for believing in them. I think happiness comes from having made a difference in people's lives and being productive. In other words having goals and accomplishing them. You have to always have goals and once you finish one you set more and keep on going.

If I won the lottery (of course you have to play to win) I would help all the people I know in my family and friends that need help in this economy. My proudest moment is when I became a runner and fitness buff and competed in body building contests. I was extremely fit and have continued working out 5 to 6 days a week. Of course, I am not in the fitness level I was 10 years ago. I now do what I like to do spinning 3 days a week, hiking in the canyons in California, and weight training.

My favorite Diana Ross song… Oh, there are so many. I grew up in Chicago over the lake from Detroit. Motown was a fabric of my life as I was about 10 years old when I watched The Supremes on the ED Sullivan Show. I love all the oldies, Baby Love, Where Did Our Love Go, Stop In The Name Of Love, Come See About Me. Then, I love The Boss and Ain't No Mountain High Enough. She is my all time favorite singer and I know where you got your down to earth personality. I think your mom is very warm, caring and genuine, which is the way my friends describe me. I think it is from the mid-west people in general are like that.

I love to travel so when life gets to crazy I go to Cabo San Lucas to my timeshare and just relax. Thank you Chudney for giving me the opportunity to meet you and I really appreciate all you do for the at-risk children and the charity work you do. We need all the help we can get. I work in the Inland Empire Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga. I look forward to reading the comments from other's and yourself.

Reader Profile: Vanessa Brockington

Chudney, you are a great inspiration to me and to us all. I was reading your blog’s for a while now. I came across your blog a few months ago surfing the net. You may not know it, but your words of wisdom are very encouraging to me, but I was too shy to respond to them. I think you remember me from twitter as vanessab28. I just love reading everyone else profiles they are all great. Here is mine…

My name is Vanessa and I was born July 18, which makes me a cancer. I’m from Florida. I love autumn, because it’s not so hot or cold. I grew up in a Christian home. I love God, but we were never crazy religious. That’s a very good thing, considering, my mother is the pastor. Lol. My proudest moments are the little things like…My mother raises me to love everybody. We would have every ethnicity of kids in the neighborhood hanging out in our home. No matter if they were Caucasian American, African American, Latin American, Purple, Blue or Green. We loved them and they loved us. My shyness always was the talk in school or with family members. I guess I got it from my mother because my father is a chatterbox. One thing good came out of my shyness is my friends say, I’m a good listener. They also talked about how skinny I was. It hurt because I couldn’t help the way I was built. The happiest moment in my life is… my writing and being with family. I’m inspiring writer, like my late grandmother, Author Ruth Chandler. As of right now, I have a couple different writing projects that I’ve started.

I love the color black. All my friends and I would always walk around in black shirts and jeans. I look great in black. I am a rocker. I grew up on artists like Tina Turner and Bon Jovi. I’m a sucker for a good western show, like The Big Valley. It’s family thing, again. I love Xena Warrior Princess (She kicks ass). I also love football. Go Colts! But, I also had some kind of imagination growing up. I thought the number on back there shirt was how much the football players weighed. I had a huge crush on Jonathan Taylor Thomas. I wanted to marry Michael Jackson. I thought I was Tina Turner and Diana Ross and I wanted to fly with Christopher Reeve (Superman). Crazy huh? Yep, thank god I grew out of it. Lol

I really love traveling cruise style, which is something Chudney and I have in common. We must cruise together Chudney, kidding! Anyways, I’ve cruise to few different parts of the world. I love cruising. I try to cruise every year if I have the time to do it. I’ve been to Nassau, Bahamas, Cozumel, Mexico. So, Italy and London your next… If anything were possible? I would fly. I have a huge fear of flying in planes. I had this fear since I was little. To this day, I don’t fly. One day, I’ll get the courage and do it though.

Favorite Food: Baked Fish and Garden Salad.

Favorite Diana Ross song: Reach out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand), Amazing Grace (I‘ve heard so many people sang this song but, Diana sing’s it with such passion and feeling I cry every time she sing it.) And Chain Reaction (love the video)

If anybody wants to know where I am online, my twitter is… www.twitter.com/vanessab28

ONLINE SHOPPING

2010-08-25T14:39:00.000-07:00

Right now, I’m obsessed with online shopping daily deals. I’ve never been a big online shopper, because you never really know what your gonna get or whether it’s gonna fit you like a glove, however this new invention of the daily deal has caught me and it won’t let go.

My passion for the daily deal started with an iphone application called Groupon (check it out at: www.groupon.com). Everyday when you clicked on the icon you got the secret in on a great deal (from 50% - 90% off) on great stuff in your area. I jumped right in and bought two Korean body scrubs for $30 each at the new Tikkun Holistic Spa in Santa Monica, which my friend Sam and I used for a ladies night out. Next, I bought two tickets for $15 each to Mulligan’s Family Fun Center in Torrance where Joshua and I rode go carts, played video games, hit ball in the batting cages and played mini-golf. Recently, I got wine tasting for two including a free bottle of wine at Malibu Wines (I love myself some wine) and $20 dinner for only $10 at Little Ethiopian Restaurant on Fairfax (and you know I love Ethiopian food)! I love that Groupon has introduced me to new spots in my area for discounted prices. Thanks for broadening my horizons, Groupon!

Another one to check out:

www.LivingSocial.com

I’ve seen a bunch of awesome deals, but I have yet to buy any here!

For fashion, there are lots of great daily deal sites, too. My favorite (and the only one I have made purchases from yet) is www.ideeli.com. They send you an email every morning with deals from different high-end fashion companies. You only have 24 hours to buy and they sell out so if you see something you like you have to jump on it and get it. My only issue with this way of shopping is that there are no returns, but you can’t go wrong with a tassle-y purse form Linea Pelle, which was my first purchase from ideeli. They also have great men’s and kid’s deals and recently, they’ve been doing some travel and hotel deals. This site is a MUST if you love to shop!

Other sites to check out:

www.hautecouture.com

Haute Couture allows returns and even wait lists on wanted items! It’s a little more expensive than ideeli, but awesome high-end designers that I would never be able to buy at full price!

www.Swirl.com

This site is the spawn of www.DailyCandy.com, which is one of my favorite websites! Daily Candy keeps you in the know of what to do, where to eat and where to shop in your area and Swirl has great daily deals!

www.renttherunway.com

This is an awesome idea! Just like celebs borrow designer duds you can too – well, for a fee. They have an amazing selection of dresses to borrow for your prom, special event, friend’s wedding or night on the town. It’s not that cheap, but these dresses are to die for and you know the rule of celebs – Never be photographed in an outfit twice!

Now, get out there and start shopping! Love it :)

PLAYING WITH THE MOON

2010-08-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

My friend Casey sent me this in an email. I thought it was so beautiful, so I wanted to share it with you. Sending you blessings....

May you always have work for your hands to do.

May your pockets hold always a coin or two.

May the sun shine bright on your window pane.

May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you.

And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

- Irish Blessing

MEET MORE READERS

2010-08-11T17:15:00.001-07:00

Meet Rebecca Reed:

I have been reading your blog for quite some time, but never submitted any comments until recently. I initially stumbled upon it when I saw pictures of you at a fashion show and became interested in what you were up to. Like many readers, I have been a lifelong fan of your mom (I turned 39 this year) and have seen you and your family in the spotlight for as long as I can remember. I come back to your blog each week simply to have a few precious moments of "me time." It is nice to read a light, yet upbeat and meaningful blog.

I am a pediatrician in private practice in New Jersey. I love my job. I cannot imagine doing anything else with my life. I have wanted to be a physician since I was in the third grade. I never changed my mind and never looked back. My friends would describe me as loyal, hardworking, FUN, and okay, at times stubborn. I am an Aquarian who LOVES to travel. I have been fortunate to have traveled to many places but still have yet to go to Africa, which I plan on doing someday. I spend a lot of time in NYC as it is just a short train ride away. If money was no object I would love to open a clinic in nearby Camden, NJ and provide free healthcare to children in need. For now, I continue to volunteer my services whenever possible. I *love* Italian food and warm weather!! Heatwave?? Bring it on! It doesn't take much to make me happy. Honestly a quiet Sunday afternoon with some good take-out food and a movie on Lifetime TV and I am perfectly content. My favorite color is green.

My favorite Diana Ross song is "Do You Know" from Mahogany. When I travel to Italy I like to envision the part of the movie when your mom travels to Rome and that song plays in the back. I love the words and play it frequently. Of course, there are many others that I love as well. Your mom's music has gotten me through many endless nights in medical school and during residency when we were still working 36 hour shifts I would often pop in a CD in the middle of the night if I knew sleep was not an option. Her music always kept me going. I have told you before that being able to dance with your mom on stage when I was 19 was one of the greatest days in my life. Not many are able to say they got to dance with their childhood idol. Would you believe I even wrote my term paper on your mom in the 9th grade??? It got an A!!

Well, I'm signing off now. I am glad to have read so many profiles. Keep them, and the blog, coming!!

Meet Ruth:

I see you've come towards the end of your reader profiles. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some of your regular readers and have to say your blog room is a wonderful meeting place for what I consider to be a real nice bunch of folk :) All down to your creative blogs! By now, I'm sure you realize just how special every blog is and how much appreciated each one is.

I first stumbled across your blog just at the time you were changing your writing style. Similar to Sharon I was disgusted with some of the negative comments you were receiving and took it upon myself to become involved in offering more supportive comments. I was particularly drawn to your warm, fun, intelligent and diverse topics. I love your travel blogs. My line of work is with the airlines and I have been flying on the long haul routes worldwide for twenty years now. So any travel related topics always catch my eye.

I live in the west coast of Scotland in a small tourist area, which I adore. It means a long working day however as I am based in London and therefore have quite a commute to and from work. An average working day will have me on the go 28 to 32 hours. Tiring indeed. So, whether it's 9am at home with my morning coffee, or 10pm local time in Washington en route to bed, or 3pm in Starbucks coffee shop in Singapore getting out of the heat, I'm reading your blogs and your reader's comments. It's my little "home from home" comfort meeting place and I encourage everyone to stop by more often :) At the moment a little health hiccup is keeping me off my work so I'm certainly catching up on a "normal" routine in life. Something rather alien to me. I've now been off flying duties for a month and am getting quite restless I have to say.... so perhaps you can help out Chudney with any travel blogs?!

What's important in my life? My friends and family. What would anything mean without our loved ones. I come from quite a large family and my friends have been with me throughout... I consider myself very lucky to have such good people around me. Spending time outdoors.... walking, cycling, sailing when I'm lucky to get the chance. Because of my job and constantly living out of a suitcase I also appreciate time indoors at home.... even if it's doing chores! Being at HOME is never taken for granted. Cooking/baking.... good movies and wine.... and time with Wesley {my significant other half :) }... all fit the bill.

I have to give a shout out too to those friends I have made both via your mum Chudney, and also through your from this blog spot. There's lots of good people here.

TWITTER

2010-08-04T08:58:00.000-07:00

I am totally over myspace and so I am moving onward and upward to TWITTER!

Please follow me @ChudneyLRoss

I’m still getting the hang of it, but I think it’s pretty cool.

Stay tuned….

INTRODUCING BOOKS AND COOKIES

2010-07-28T12:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posts. Lots of exciting things have been going on with the business that I have been working diligently on. Introducing BOOKS AND COOKIES!

BOOKS AND COOKIES is a new Children’s Bookstore / Bakery due to begin operations in October 2010 in Santa Monica, California.

BOOKS AND COOKIES is an enchanting blend of literature, learning activities and sweet treats. We will sell a wonderful selection of books for children of all ages as well as a delicious array of freshly baked cookies, snacks, milk, juices and water. For grownups, we will also serve organic coffees and teas.

BOOKS AND COOKIES is a safe and relaxing environment for kids and families with the desire to bring the wonder and excitement back to reading and away from television and video games. The space is completely kid friendly with plenty of comfortable areas to sprawl out and get lost in the pages of a book. Story-time and other reading, musical and baking activities will foster learning and family interaction.

BOOKS AND COOKIES will offer a great space for children’s birthday parties. From baking and storytelling to music and ballet parties, BOOKS AND COOKIES will offer full service party planning.

Gift baskets and specialty products, such as branded t-shirts, mugs, aprons and bookmarks will sold at the retail location as well as online at www.booksandcookiesLA.com.

There is currently no other retail space such as BOOKS AND COOKIES that is dedicated to creating a safe environment for children while promoting literacy and family interaction. Our goal is to fill that void starting in Santa Monica, CA and in the future, nationwide.

By teaming up with charities such as Children Mending Hearts and Ready to Learn, BOOKS AND COOKIES pledges to be a positive force in giving back to the community.

For more information, check us out online.

www.BooksandCookiesLA.com

On Twitter @BooksandCookies and on Facebook

A QUOTE FOR TODAY

2010-07-21T23:49:00.000-07:00

“Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are the Lion or the Gazelle… when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

- Unknown

A QUOTE FOR TODAY

2010-07-07T21:48:00.000-07:00

DONT QUIT

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

MEET MORE READERS

2010-06-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

This week, meet Tommy Lee and Sharon Jacobucci . I think it is beautiful that these two profiles came on the same week because I think they reflect each other in great ways. Tommy and Sharon are both positive people who have adopted beautiful children with whom they share their light and love (which I hope to do as well one day). Thank you for sharing your stories and for reading each week. Now, let’s meet my readers….

Reader Profile: Tommy Lee

My name is Tommy Lee Hayes-Brown. I love your blog and decided to write you and the readers to introduce myself as I think of us as "family in my head". Even though our backgrounds are completely different and on the surface may not seem like we've got a lot in common...one thing I've learned during this life's journey is that "We are more alike than unalike" - Maya Angelou. Like you, I am an aspiring children's book author and am currently shopping a couple books and thankfully getting close to striking a deal. Wish me luck!

I am the proud husband and father to a beautiful family here in beautiful Charlotte, NC. My wife and I have been happily married for 19 years and we are the parents of four incredible boys. Oree Believe is 10, Zion Zubari is 9, Isaiah Jsahni is 8 and Solomon Soul is 6. The boys keep us busy (especially my wife who stays home with them to home school) but I wouldn't trade my life for anything. I am grateful in that I have a great job that allows me to work from home, so the six of us roll together most days...how great is it that my boys have both parents home with them? We are truly blessed.

We are pretty non-traditional parents who are trying our best to raise men the world can be proud of. My wife and I decided when we first got married to both adopt and have biological children (this was before Brad & Angelina or Madonna - we were trail blazers!). We were fortunate to find an adoption agency here in Charlotte, NC that understood our mission to adopt even though we didn't have any fertility issues and worked with us to find our babies. Oree Believe came to us at 18 days old, Zion Zubari was 2 months old and Isaiah Jsahni was 3 days old. Solomon Soul is our biological child (but I think Isaiah looks more like me than he does, God truly has a sense of humor!). We've been featured on an episode of Discovery Channel's "Adoption Stories" that runs periodically so Tivo the Hayes-Browns to find out more about our adoption story. None of my boys are biologically related to each other, but I remind them all the time that blood doesn't make you a family...love does.

I originally came across your website after searching for pictures of your mother for a school project my sons were doing and really like your vibe. I think you are right in that a lot of people expect certain behaviors from the rich/famous and I am glad to read that you are so down to earth. Quite frankly, I've always thought of myself as a star in my own right and have a couple personal celebrity friends so I know first hand they are the same as anyone else...

I will sign off now but invite your blog readers to check out my family's website to ohhh and ahhh over my beautiful boys and see how great adoption can be! We are at www.Hayes-Brown.com. You can also friend me on facebook at www.facebook.com/tommylee. I'm always looking to expand my network with positive people I can learn from or just have fun getting to know.

Take care Chudney and family and I'll leave you with words from one of my favorite Diana Ross songs (which is also my family's theme song), "If we hold on together I know our dreams will never die. Dreams see us through to forever as high...as souls can fly...the clouds roll by...for YOU and I."

Reader Profile: Sharon Jacobucci

My name is Sharon Jacobucci and I was born August 18 which makes me a lioness and raised in NY a mini minute ago. Came to LA because I got tired of freezing my skinny legs off. Well, at that time they were quite lean stems. However, by then, I was married before I snapped back to reality. Out of that fantasy fog came a huge divorce. Haven't been married since. Out of that mini union came 3 beautiful children who are now grown. So, because of fortunate unexpected blessings, I was able to adopt two handsome little men who are the love/joy of my life. Jonathan (13) and Trevin. (12) Various reasons placed the boys into my life. Jonathan was already in our family when he was given up for adoption at 3 weeks old and Trevin came from a foster care agency because his mother passed away when he was a year old. I was doing stand up comedy around LA and had just started acquiring a lot of fans when motherhood fell into my life again and I made the right decision to give it another go around simply because OUR family is forever. And comedy is a gig you can catch up to later in life but my proudest moment is being able to keep both my boys with me 24/7.

I came across Chudney's blog because I read hideous statements and it broke my heart a few people could be so crude towards someone they had never met. Pre-judgment is a horrible misguided expression of hatred. I know because I get dirty looks and the middle finger occasionally because of the job I do. I am a Meter Maid and some people have a preconceived notion that I am evil and have no heart whatsoever because I'm in a uniform. But if they took the time they could see I truly am a wonderful woman with a zany, humorous attitude. So after reading false traducement against Chudney, I decided to lend support by writing and reaching out with love. I found Chudney on MySpace and on her profile there's a link to her blog. I've been a fan ever since and read each blog no matter what's going on in my world. It's my favorite escapism filled with wisdom, fantasies of places I would like to go see someday, adventures, and plenty of helpful tidbits… Plus meeting Chudney proved she's more beautiful off the pages of her blogs.

My favorite color is blue. I love seafood. I see food and eat it-ALL... lol! Favorite season is fall/Christmas in NY> LA can't compete with New York’s four seasons. What would I do if anything were possible? I'd interview your mom and get a photo of us together afterwards, but it ain't possible. So there!!! lol! My favorite Diana Ross song is "I ain't been Licked," but heck there are so many others. Especially her early solo albums from the 70's. How would a friend describe me? They would say Bucci's nutty but in a surprisingly good way. ha ha ha!

You can reach me on facebook by looking my name up. Sharon Jacobucci or you can watch me on trutv every Monday starting June 7 at 10 pm on a show called " All Worked Up" where my character's name is Jackie Pucci and I play a Meter Maid that gives no one a break whatsoever. If I did, there woudn’t be a show. Don't confused the show with my reality because I do give breaks... lol!

That is the last of the profiles! Thank you everyone for sharing about yourselves and if you haven’t shared yours yet and you still want to, please feel free to email it ASAP! I have enjoyed getting to know you a whole bunch. More questions/ answers and blogs coming soon!

MOM’S CONCERT (NYC and LA)

2010-06-16T21:15:00.000-07:00

I’ve always loved to watch my mom transform from sweatpants clad mommy into sequined super star, so it’s always a treat to see my mom on stage. With mom’s latest tour, I was lucky enough to get to see two shows (New York and LA) and both were FABULOUS!

RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, NEW YORK:

I had some business to attend to in New York and since I knew mom had an upcoming show at Radio City, I planned my trip around it. I also talked Joshua (my boyfriend who is NOT a fan of flying) into making the trip. He has NEVER been to New York (can you believe it?!?), so we planned an action packed trip full of site seeing, visiting friends, spending time with my sister and nephew, meetings with my lawyer and editor and of course seeing mom on stage.

From the moment we touched down in the Big Apple, we were non-stop on the go. I showed Joshua Central Park, Columbus Circle, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, Time Square and that was all in the first day. We took the train from Grand Central Station to Connecticut to send time with my mom, sister, brother and nephew. We partied till the wee hours of the morning with my friends from college. I had my meetings. We went shopping, explored Wall Street and visited Ground Zero. Basically, after 3 days, we were exhausted, but in the middle of all the craziness, we got to see mom perform at Radio City.

It was Joshua’s first time seeing my mom on stage and I think it’s always fun to share this experience with someone for the first time. For me, it seems so normal to see my mom perform, but for Joshua and my friends who I brought along it was a wild experience to see the woman they know as my momma in sparkling gowns entertaining crowds of awed fans. I think it was also pretty crazy for Joshua to see how many of my mom’s fans know me (and have known me for my whole life). I was so happy to see so many of you (my blog readers and myspace friends) and take so many photographs. We could definitely feel the love that night and I know my mom could feel it too.

The show was great! The new band was awesome, the addition of the video footage and photos in the background (many photos taken by my brother Ross who is an amazing photographer) were a hit. You could tell mom was having fun and enjoying herself as much as the crowd and it was beautiful that the tour was dedicated to the tragic loss of Michael Jackson. I know people have been upset that my mom hasn’t made more comment on his passing, but loss of a friend is a private matter and to celebrate in the form of music seems so much more fitting… I think.

NOKIA THEATER, LOS ANGELES:

A couple of weeks later, my mom arrived back on the West Coast for her show at the Nokia Theater. My siblings and I were each allotted a few comp tickets, so I invited some friends and we made a fun night of it. We had a car pick us up from my house and drop us at the backstage door where we were shuffled into the green room. To my surprise there were a couple of little faces that I recognized, but have never met before. Paris, Prince and Blanket (Michael’s kids) where hanging backstage excited to see the show. I introduced myself with a quick hug before I was summoned to mom’s dressing room.

Mom asked if I could help with a video they were making. This was one of the last stops on the tour and so she wanted to interview the band for a tour video. Oh well, I wasn’t really prepared, but I do enjoy hosting. So, I embraced the opportunity and got to work. I headed to the woman’s dressing room first, but the singers and band members were busy doing their make up and preparing for the show. I hopped next door to the men’s dressing room where I interviewed many old and new members of the band on their experience with this tour, highlights and funny stories. I got most of the men and a couple of the ladies before, I headed back to grab my friends just in time to head out to the audience.

We made our way through the crowd to our seats. I’ve never been to the Nokia before and it felt big. It was filled to the brim with fans from all walks of life. I even spotted a couple Diana Ross drag queens, which is always a treat (and which my friends got a kick out of). Soon after we sat, the lights dimmed and the show began. Again, the band rocked the house. Mom sounded great and seemed to be happily singing and dancing in her glittering gowns. We danced and sang along and had a great time. Everyone loved the show and enjoyed the experience of seeing mom on stage. This time after the show, we rushed right out and backstage as to not be mobbed by the crowd. We got Michael’s kids safely to their car, bid our farewells and headed to the W Hollywood to continue the fun (with food and cocktails). Another FABULOUS evening!

For those of you who got to see one (or many of the shows), I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did. What a treat! And, sorry we weren’t all able to meet up, but I was happy to see some of your smiling faces in the crowd!

SUCCESS

2010-06-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

To LAUGH often and much, to win RESPECT of INTELLIGENT people and the AFFECTION of children, to earn APPRECIATION of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, APPRECIATE BEAUTY, to find the BEST in others, to leave the WORLD a bit BETTER, whether by a HEALTHY child, a garden patch... to know that even one life has BREATHED easier because you have LIVED. This is to have SUCCEEDED!

- Emerson

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

2010-06-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Time to answer some more of your questions! Thanks to everyone who has submitted thought provoking and interesting questions for me to ponder and answer. If you haven’t sent questions yet, you can still submit to chudneyrossemail@aol.com and if I have gotten to you yet, be patient… more coming soon :)

A question from LANCE MCKENZE:

What inspires your writings and blogs? I have a friend who is an amazing writer, but is scared to let other friends read it.

I think as a writer, the best thing to do is to write from the heart. For my blogs, I always write about what I’m experiencing and what I am feeling at that moment. I think when you write from the heart, it rings true to your readers. Even when I am writing from the point of view of someone very different from me, I have to first explore who this person is and then find how I relate to them to be able to embrace their voice. It’s hard sometimes, but with focus and concentration you can embody anyone.

As for being scared for others to read your friends writing, I think confidence comes with time. I shared my work with very few people at first, but the more positive feedback I got, my confidence built. When I first started writing this blog and got so much negative feedback, I was taken down a notch, but as time passes you have to realize that some people are gonna like what you do and some people are not. I do not write like Shakespeare, I write more conversationally than fancy and I’m not a great speller, but I am proud of what I do and when you believe in your work, anything is possible. Continue to support your friend and praise his/her work and maybe confidence will build.

Questions from JOHN (MR. X on myspace):

What's your favorite breakfast?

I am obsessed with BACON. I realize that it isn’t the healthiest option, but are you kidding me! DELICIOUS! My ideal breakfast is a bacon, egg and cheese on yummy toast, throw on some chipotle mayo and I may just die!! That being said, I am actually not a big breakfast eater. Most mornings, I hit up my local coffee shop for an ice coffee and a hard-boiled egg.

What's the best April fool's joke you've ever played on someone?

I’m a terrible liar / practical joker. I always give it away before people have time to believe it. I laugh or smile, so I’ve never gotten away with much, but this year I posted a couple funnies on facebook. First I wrote, “Chudney has a bun in the oven.” Everyone was like are you pregnant? Congrats! My response: Nope, I was just warming a hamburger bun in the oven. I thought I was hysterical, so later in the day I wrote, “Chudney said YES!!” Again, my gullible friends were all excited about my upcoming nuptials, but then I informed everyone I was referring to agreeing to have lunch with someone. Without the help of facebook to hide my giggles, I would never have gotten away with any of it.

What do you do when you are feeling very sad or depressed?

I try to always look at the bright side in every situation, but everyone has moments when they feel sad and depressed. I ALWAYS cry. I’m a HUGE crier. I think it helps to let it out and get it out of your system. It’s important to let yourself have your feelings, but not dwell on them. Cry, scream, lie in bed, but then let it go. Life is too short to wallow in your sadness.

Which animal would you want to be and why?

This is a funny question :) I really have no idea. Maybe I would be a monkey, because they always look like they are having a good time swinging from branches and eating bananas. Or maybe I would be a bird (not a pigeon) flying from here to there and checking everything out from above. Or maybe I would be a dolphin because I love the ocean and they are so beautiful with their fluid movement through the water.

A question from SHARON JACOBUCCI:

I know you’ve gotten to meet most if not all your favorite celebrities, but I'm wondering have you ever met one that wasn't nice?

Don't need their name... Just the facts.

Actually, I do have a story! When I was young, I was obsessed with one singer. I dressed like her, knew the words to every song and had posters of her on my wall. One night, me, my sisters and a couple of our friends got to go see her in concert. We were so excited to see her in the flesh! We danced and sang along and were super nervous when we got to go backstage after the show. Our hearts pounded as we were ushered into the green room with our tour books and sharpies in hand. She sat like a goddess in a huge fancy chair. We didn’t know what to stay. For the first time, we were star struck. We stood there with our mouths agape. “So… do you want my autograph or not?” she sneered. “Um, yes,” we grumbled. She scribbled on our books and we were shuffled out without another word. And that was it. We had hoped she would be nice and engage us, but we got nothing. We returned home saddened that this woman we love and had put up on a pedestal was gruff and kinda mean. My mom defended her and said that sometimes new, young stars let it got to their heads or maybe she was in a bad mood or tired. What ever it was it hurt our feelings and we were never as big of fans after that. I haven’t met her again, but from seeing her in the media now, I do think my mom was right. She doesn’t seem so terrible anymore and I am actually still a pretty big fan!

Can I come to your wedding? lol

No wedding plans yet, but I’ll keep you posted :) haha!

Thanks for all the great questions and for tuning in to my blog! Keep reading!

MEET MORE READERS

2010-05-26T21:32:00.001-07:00

Reader Profile: LINNEA

I discovered your blog via your youtube channel that I found when I was listening to *surprise* you mom's songs. I keep coming back because you are someone I really look up to! Your blog is totally different than the others I read, because it's not about you "showing of". You work hard, have the best attitude towards things and always see the positive side. You're honest and really seem to care about other people. I think everybody should aspire to be like that ;D

Country: Sweden

Date of birth: 18 jun 1991

Favorite food: Anything unhealthy really... xD

A friend would describe me as: A smart nerd who spends too much time on school. Someone who laughs/smiles a lot, a "fun-seeker" that easily gets bored. A good listener who's not afraid to be honest.

What makes me happy: Music, oh my, music!! Playing the guitar, being creative, traveling, seeing new places and people!

If anything were possible I would: Travel around the world, help everybody in need, bring back all my favorite artists like MJ, Marvin Gaye, Freddie Mercury, James Brown, Ray Charles and do another Woodstock concert for everyone to enjoy!! It would be magical and totally FABULOUS!

My proudest moment: Maybe when I got recognized by my principal when I finished school. I cried when I saw my grades because I had worked so hard and it paid off.

Favorite Ross song: The Boss. You do NOT know how much I love this song girl!

Reader Profile: LENA

I really don't like communicating over the Internet, but I just want you to get to know me since I send you comments every week on your blogs.

First of all, I am a proud mother of two. My son Kameron is 11 and my daughter Trinity is 9. I am also married to the most wonderful guy in this world his name is Willie. Willie and I have been together for 14 years. I have so many things in my life a wonderful home to live in and nice vehicles to drive.

I am a huge fan of your mom and the only thing I really want to know about her is how she is doing. I don't have a favorite song, but I have lots of songs I like. I loved the whole album Take Me Higher.

My favorite colors are black and white.

Lena is signing out.

Thank you, ladies for sharing your wonderful profiles! I am always impressed by how different, unique, interesting and beautiful you all are! Thank you for coming back each week. I really appreciate you all!

More questions and profiles coming soon.

Keep reading!

CATCHING UP WITH OLD PALS

2010-05-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

My high school years were less than FABULOUS. After changing schools multiple times (traveling with my mom), I finally settled in a suburb of New York full of country clubs and pink and green sweater sets. I attended a snooty east coast prep school where I never fully felt that I fit in. While the girls in my class where driving brand new, shiny Saabs and dressed in designer duds, I stood out from my peers driving a beat up, purple cabriolet and low riding my plaid kilt, which I paired with patterned tights and purple doc martins. Though, I rolled with the in-crowd, I would never the described myself as popular. I was the “unique” one with big glasses drifting on the outskirts.

I survived those awkward years by finding a group of friends who recognized my inner FABULOUSNESS even when hidden under those horrendous clothes, big glasses and frizzy hair. I am happy to say that I am still very close to those same girls now. Casey, Kim and Annie were my life vest from drowning in the turbulent seas of high school in Connecticut.

This past weekend, we all left our busy (grown up) lives behind for a little reunion of sorts at a spa in Arizona. Kim flew in from San Francisco, me from LA and Casey and Annie from NYC for four fun-filled days of excessive workouts, healthy food and lots of laughs.

Each day, we hopped from class to class (we boxed, danced, ran, lifted weights, squatted and crunched). The girls ended each day with massages while I soaked my weary body in the hot tub and stream room. We then would gorge on way too much healthy food at the restaurant (which basically nullified all the working out we had accomplished).

Each night, we chatted about everything under the stars, reminisced about old times and laughed till our stomaches ached. These girls are hysterical. Even after all these years we easily fell back into our old ways (minus the phony phone calls, pool hopping and doughnut tossing).

Even though I didn’t lose any weight on what was supposed to be our get-fit weekend, it was FABULOUS to spend four days with old friends and I hope to do it again soon.

Even as our lives grow and change… Good friends are forever and that is FABULOUS! I feel so lucky to have spent this time with these wonderful women who I’ve known for so long.

(photo from senior year 1993)

READER PROFILES

2010-05-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to all the readers who have submitted questions and profiles. It has been super cool to get to know you. I love how unique and different all of you are. This week, we meet two readers… Mark and Tayo. Each one approached this in a different way and both are great! Thanks for sharing!

Reader profile: Mark Connolly

My name is Mark C, and I am from New Jersey (USA). I am a high school biology teacher and my birthday is March 24, which makes me an Aries.

I love Italian food. It is one of my favorite types of food to eat. A great Italian meal begins with good bread. It is even better if it is warmed and the basket includes garlic bread (very delicious). I enjoy a great caprese salad drizzled with balsamic vinegar, and here in NJ, we have absolutely fabulous Jersey tomatoes at the end of the summer through the beginning of the fall. So I must say that in the “Garden State,” a caprese salad is even more delightful than usual during the summer months. A few other great appetizers include a delicious cold antipasto and mozzarella en carozza with extra sauce on the side. I also enjoy a caesar salad (sometimes with grilled chicken). For the main entre, chicken/veal francese, lasagna, chicken/veal/eggplant parmesan with penne, penne vodka, or penne alla vodka (it has shrimp, scallops, & crabmeat in it) are all great choices. For dessert, ricotta cheesecake or New York style cheesecake is a must. A touch of ice cream also makes a great addition to any meal and is a great way to complete it. I must say that pizza is always fantastic, especially if it has thin crust and was baked in a brick oven. I feel like ordering some great Italian food right now!

My favorite seasons are both spring and summer. I really love that the weather becomes warm in the spring and everything comes “alive” again. I really like warm weather. I like to see beautiful green lawns, trees with leaves on them, beautiful gardens, etc. Summer is also a great time of the year. I like to spend time a lot of time at the beach and in the pool! It is a very fun and relaxing time of the year. It is really the best season of all!

A friend would describe me as a sincere person that is honest, dedicated, hard-working, and is respectful, caring and considerate of others. He/she would say that I am a great listener, and I try to helpful to people whenever I can. I am always friendly with a big smile on my face.

Happiness for me is spending time with family and friends, playing with my dog, and eating great food. I also love music, music, music!!!! Music is really a very big part of my life. I enjoy listening to wonderful music from the 1960’s through today and playing my favorite albums / CD's, singing along with a favorite song, collecting records & memorabilia, and going to concerts. I have been going to all sorts of concerts ever since I was a child, and I have even met many of the artists and celebrities after the shows over the years (that is always a very fun and exciting experience). Speaking of concerts, I can't wait for the “More Today than Yesterday” Tour (hurray)!!

I also find it fulfilling to give back by teaching and supporting charities. I am happy being alive here on Earth, learning new things, having a good laugh, meeting new people, trying to go for my dreams and take advantage of all that life has to offer.

If I could have my ideal job, I would like to be involved with show business through the music industry. I would actually like to be a singer/performer and recording artist. (I think I am getting too old for my dream job to ever become a reality; however, I have been thinking about this ever since I was a child.)

My proudest moment was when I earned my doctorate degree in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy. It was a lot of hard work and took years of graduate school to arrive at this point!

Since you asked me this question, Chudney, I will be very happy to answer it! You know, people ask me this question all of the time, and I always say that it is a difficult one to answer because Diana Ross has so many, many amazing songs. There are just too many to count! My favorites also change all of the time, and sometimes it even depends on what is going on in my life. I love all of songs by The Supremes – they are a lot of fun. I also really, really love the classic “Diana Ross” songs such as “Touch Me in the Morning,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “The Theme from Mahogany,” the live version of “Do You Know / Ain’t No Mountain,” “Upside Down,” “The Boss,” “Chain Reaction,” “It’s My Turn,” and the list goes on and on and on. I also really like “If We Hold On Together,” “Your Love,” “One Shining Moment,” “When You Tell Me that you Love Me,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Battlefield,” “Take Me Higher,” “Voice of the Heart,” “I Love You,” “More Today than Yesterday,” “Lovely Day,” and of course, “Best Years of My Life.” All of this fabulous music has given me the “Best Years” of my life. It is really amazing when I think about all of the years, but all of these songs have really been a part of me almost my entire life! They are very special to me!

Your blog is really FABULOUS, and that is why I tune in each week! Your blog topics are always fun, educational, and very inspirational to read each week. I am always SO VERY IMPRESSED with the many, many wonderful things that you do for so many people in need!! You always go the extra mile when it comes to helping people!! It is always wonderful to read things like this. We need more "Good News" in our world today. I also really enjoy being a part of your blog! It is great reading your updates and then to be able to share my comments and ideas with you and the regular readers. I have also met and become friends with so many nice people all across the globe due to your blog!

Life is really a journey, and I am learning new things everyday!

Find me Mark on Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/461623379

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=374654685883&share_id=100106203367174&comments=1#!/profile.php?id=1349085564&ref=profile

Mark’s Diana Ross Web Site
www.marksdianarosswebsite.com

Thank you so much Mark for starting us off right! You shared so much great information that I’m sure everyone will really enjoy! Thanks for this FABULOUS idea for questions and profile and for tuning in weekly.

Reader profile: Tayo Sekoni

I am not sure how I came to your blog. I think I was searching about your family and saw you blog and I have been reading about you every since. I love your stories and your fun life. Now you seem have grown older and your blog has become more meaningful to life, which is interesting. It makes me think. I like that. I think you are an inspiration to young women and that people can use their time wisely.

I do not take photographs, but I included my birthday picture from two years ago. I have gained a little weight, but I’ve been going to the gym. It does not seem to be working but I will keep trying.

I am Libra, and my family say's I balance my other siblings out, which is good to know. My Birthday is in Oct 7 and I am getting older. Gosh! My aim this year is to get a job in the hospital. So stressful job hunting! I have been with out a job for 2 years now. So that gets me down at times.

I am not sure if I have a favorite color, but when I was young I loved yellow. It is bright and vibrant. I am going to wear my african outfit on Sunday, predicted weather in London is going to be hot. Thank God. My favorite season is spring in London, all the flowers come out and the sun sometimes come out also.

I have very few close friends and I think one will say I am a good adviser… not that I seem to take my own advise.

I have started to enjoy life to the fullest, so I try to be happy. Go for few events and help others. What I am sad about was that I always dreamed I would see Micheal Jackson one day, it was not to meant to be, but my daughter got me This Is It dvd for mother's day. I was happy.

I am dreaming to set up my own Nigerian restaurant by 2012. Being a mum is my proudest moment and it is a big job.

I just watched on old interview of your mom some art studio for students. I saw most of your family including your dad. He is a very quite one. I loved seeing your Aunty with the White hair. It was lovely. My favorite song of your mom’s is -You Give, You Live. She sang it live as the last song in Caesar’s palace. I still remember you refused to sing. I still watch that show on you tube. That is when I fell in love with your mom's music.

I am on facebook (Tayo Sekoni and a flower picture).

Thank you, Tayo for sharing about yourself with such honesty! I wish you luck with your job hunt, opening the Nigerian restaurant and keep working hard at working out. I know it gets hard sometimes ☺

More coming soon… Stay tuned!

LET THE INTERVIEW BEGIN…

2010-04-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

So… last week, I started writing a fun filled blog about my cruise to Mexico for my one-year anniversary with Joshua. It was filled with information for those of you who may be interested in taking a cruise on the Princess line in the future and it had funny and silly tidbits about my karaoke debacle, late night dance parties and horse back riding on tiny little horses in Puerto Vallarta. It was a good read (if I don’t say so myself), but sadly you will not get to read it this week. That is, unless you find the burglar who broke the window of car and stole everything while I was in yoga last Friday. Yes, I realize that I am the idiot who should have brought my brand new lap top into the yoga studio with me and that hiding it under the seat doesn’t always work when you also leave a good looking leather Marc Jacobs purse (my favorite one) on the front seat. UGH!

Well, instead of wallowing (I did shed a flood of tears for a couple days), I am moving forward, writing on my old computer and not dwelling on the writing and work that was not backed up. It’s definitely a bummer, but you gotta get back on the horse, so here goes….

Thank you so very much to everyone who has emailed questions and profiles. Please be patient with me though. I will try to get to as many of them as possible as soon as possible, but I also want to keep up you up to date with my other adventures. One of our readers Q was concerned about my busy schedule and disappointing people whose questions it takes me a while to get to, so I would like to let you know that I promise to read every email, try to answer at least some of your questions (if you sent 100 sadly, I may not get to them all) and post your FABULOUS reader profiles soon (don’t forget to send pictures).

Keep tuning in and your questions will be answered. ENJOY!

First up… JASE CARTER, a reader since mid 2007 who usually doesn’t leave comments submitted a slew of great questions. Like many people she discovered my blog while reading nasty things about me on radaronline.com and other gossip sites. After checking my blog out to see what the big fuss was about, she became hooked.

Questions from Jase:

Who inspires you besides your mother and why?
I am inspired by all people who go after their dreams. Sometimes I feel as if there is so much more I should be doing and more that I want to accomplish and it’s overwhelming. But, when I look at people such as my mother, President Obama, Oprah or even the kid’s that I wrote letters with at Children Mending, I am inspired to keep working with perseverance to reach my dreams. These people didn’t (and don’t) let anything get in the way of reaching their highest potential and to me that is inspiring.

What do you know about yourself now that you did not know when you were in your 20's?
When I was young, I was very shy and I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin. As I have matured, I have learned that the goofy, nerdy, unique and special person that I am is perfect for me. Our differences are what makes us beautiful. I used to struggle with my body and the way I looked, but once I embraced who I am and the body I was born into, everyone else started to see my beauty, too. I was once too shy to speak my mind, but once I started talking I realized that what I have to say is important and just as FABULOUS as the next person. I think we all learn so much about ourselves as time passes and I am happy with the person I’ve become and excited about where life will continue to lead.

If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be and why?
I would describe myself as confident, happy and fun loving. Confidence has been a learning process, but I have made it to a point where I am very comfortable with whom I am. I am lucky to be the kind of girl who can always can find the silver lining in a bad situation. I try to keep negativity out of my head and out of my heart. I also would say I am fun-loving or maybe even goofy, because I love to enjoy life and live it to the fullest whether that be making up silly interpretive dances in front of the mirror or singing karaoke in my living room.

Jase had many more GREAT questions, which I will add to the pile for a future blog. Thank you, Jace!!

KRISTIN GUDMUNDSDOTTIR from Iceland was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to understand her English, but it was close to perfect! Keep working on your English, Kristin! You’re doing great! Thanks for reading my blog and writing in!

A question from Kristin:

You are children’s book writer, model, starting business with your friend, a host in young Hollywood and a teacher! That is a lot and your family are actors and singers do you have any time to see each other? Do you spend holidays together?
Family has always been super important to me and yes, we are all very busy people. My mom has instilled in us the importance of family and so we all make a good effort to see each other often. We used to do family dinners on Sundays, but that doesn’t always work, so I at least make an effort to call and chat with my mom every Sunday (Sunday Check-in!) I talk to my siblings often by phone and I have lunch with my brothers or Tracee who live in LA and go to NYC every couple months to visit Rhonda. We try to plan family vacations when we can and see each other on most big holidays. I am happy to say that I have not been with out family for one thanksgiving or Christmas since I was born. Not bad for a BIG family with a BUSY schedule!

Linnea discovered my blog while watching youtube videos of my mom. She says she keeps coming back because she looks up to me and likes that I’m not a show off and that I write about positive things in an honest way. Thank you, Linnea for your continuous support and kind words.

Questions from Linnea:

What is the background to your name?
I get this question a lot because Chudney is such a unique name. My mom and dad have different stories on this one. My mom says she was just being creative. They started with a pretty normal name (Rhonda), then got a little fancy with a double ee (Tracee), then went all out in the creativity department with me (Chudney). My dad says that they didn’t have a name for me when I was born because they thought I was gonna be a boy, then two nurses said names at the same time (Courtney and something else), every one heard Chudney and the rest is history ☺ Either one works for me as I have grown to embrace my unique name and found that many girls and boys have been named after me, too!

What is the craziest thing you've ever done?
As I have gotten older, I have become much more tame. As a teen, I was a bit of an adventure seeker. I’ve scuba dove a night in pitch back ocean, jumped off cliffs and jet skied over sharks. Now, safety comes first!

What is the biggest misconception about you?
I think that people often think that I’m a self-centered, entitled diva who is given everything on a silver platter. My mom has done a great job teaching us the value of money and the importance of being humble, working hard and being polite. Most people are surprised at how “normal” I am, which is funny because even though I was born into a celebrity family, I am just an average girl working hard and going after my dreams like everyone else.

Lot’s more FABULOUS questions and reader profile’s coming soon! Keep the emails coming. For now, I am happy to keep this going for a while. I think it will be a nice supplement in between my other blogs (and I promise I will try to get back to that blog about my cruise to Mexico)!

QUESTIONS FROM YOU

2010-04-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

One of my FABULOUS readers, Mark had some great ideas for my blog and how I could get you guys involved. Here are two awesome ideas that I am extremely excited about. Please submit!

1. Ask and I will tell!

It’s your turn to interview me. Email your questions and I will do a blog full of all the answers. Please know I will be honest and open (as I always try to be), BUT I will not answer anything inappropriate, rude, ultra private or about my mother’s or siblings personal life (A quick reminder: This is Chudney Ross’s blog not a sneak peek into the Ross family’s personal life blog).

Email questions to: chudneyrossemail@aol.com

2. Meet my readers!

Mark has met and become friends with many other readers of my blog just by finding them here and then on myspace. I believe Gene and Ruth have done the same (anyone else?) I appreciate that many of you tune in weekly to see what I have been up to and post thoughtful comments. I know I would love to know more about you and I’m sure other readers would, too!

Please submit a photo and tell us about yourself. Some questions to ponder: How did you stumble across my blog? What brings you back every week? Who are you? When is your birthday? What is your sign? Favorite color, food, season? How would a friend describe you? What in life makes you happy? What would you do if anything were possible? What is your proudest moment? What is your favorite Diana Ross song? (A fun one to add in for all you mom fans) If you would like you can also include a link to your website, blog, myspace, facebook or twitter so people can reach out to you.

Please send your pictures and profiles to: chudneyrossemail@aol.com

I think these ideas are FABULOUS and will really add to the fun of my blog! Thank you, Mark for your ideas! Start submitting now and spread the word!

HEAL THE WORLD

2010-04-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

GIVING BACK

2010-04-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

I’m very aware that I am a very fortunate girl and I’m beyond thankful for the life I’ve been given. I believe that it is my duty (and the responsibility of those fortunate like myself) to give back to those in need. I don’t have big bucks to donate, but I do have my time, my passion and my heart to share.

This year, I made a commitment to volunteer when I can. I’ve found some wonderful opportunities that have brought me such joy and happiness. I’ve wielded a hammer and power drill to help build a home for Habitat For Humanity, read with first graders in an under-resourced elementary school in Los Angeles and written moving and heartbreaking letters to the President with homeless youth in New York and LA.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY –

My friend Jill and I volunteered to help build in Lynwood, California at the site of 10 future homes for deserving hardworking, low-income families. These homes will be the first LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) housing development in Lynwood.

With the help of our team leader Bill, Jill and I put ceilings on closets in the units. Guess what? I’m a pro with a hammer and power drill and Jill’s a pro with a power saw. Our team cruised through 4 closets and also built a plant box in record time! The other team doing the same job finished only 2 closets :) Boy, are we good!

Building is HARD work! I was exhausted after and could barely walk or lift my arms the next day, but it was all worth it to be a part of such an amazing project!

READY TO LEARN –

Once a month, I’ve been volunteering with LAJCC’s program Ready To Learn. Each Saturday, we meet in the auditorium of 49^th Street School in downtown LA to read with first graders who struggle with reading. The hope is to make reading fun for these kid’s and help them do better in school and have a better future.

The first Saturday, I read with Vivian an adorable 6-year old in a gold sparkly Hannah Montana dress. Even though it was freezing in the auditorium, she refused to put on her sweater (sometimes you have to suffer for fashion. I like your style, Viv!) Even though she couldn’t read the simplest site words (She speaks mostly Spanish at home), she listened intently as I read, described the pictures and counted the pages. We read 3 books in all and by the end she was pointing to site words (recognition is key), following along with her finger and retelling what I read (in comprehension she gets an A+). Next, we decorated heart napkin holders and ate pizza together. We definitely had a fun morning and achieved our goal of making reading enjoyable.

Since then, I have returned each month to read with another first grader eager to enjoy reading. The relationships I have built with the kids and the hugs I receive every time make dragging myself out of bed on a Saturday morning so worthwhile.

CHILDREN MENDING HEARTS –

Children Mending Hearts is a global arts exchange between at-risk children in America and children living in African conflict zones. The aim is to educate, empower and encourage children to have a voice.

So far, we have held two "PLEASE MR. PRESIDENT” workshops, one in LA and one in NYC. The workshops are amazingly moving days where we work with at-risk children writing letters and drawing pictures to be included in a book in the future. There is also a jewelry making workshop and table for painting T-shirts to be brought to kids in the Congo later this year.

I run the letter-writing workshops. I created a simple and fun lesson plan to guide the children in sharing their stories, their lives and their hopes and dreams for the future.

The workshop in Los Angeles was held in a large gym at the Union Rescue Mission downtown. We didn’t know exactly what to expect (how many kids, age range, reading and writing levels), but we were prepared and excited.

As the families started to fill the gym, an 8 year-old African American girl approached my table. She openly talked to me about how she lived in the Mission because, “her dad hated her mom and left them with nothing.” She told me and wrote in her letter about how he would hit her and that she knows the world would be better if there was no violence and no guns like the one that shot her brother. I was beyond touched by her honesty and her sweet nature.

I wrote letters with many kids (little ones to teens) and adults throughout the day. Some wrote touching, deep letters about their lives that brought tears to my eyes, while others stayed light. One sweet Mexican American 6 year-old girl wrote that she thinks the president should give toys to all the poor people because then everyone would be happy.

As the day progressed, we danced, made jewelry and painted t-shirts to be brought to the kids in the Congo.

The next workshop was held in New York City and was way bigger than the first. We met in a beautiful ballroom, which quickly filled to the brim with kids and families. We wrote letters with amazingly open kids about their experiences and how they think their world could be better. I was so moved by how honest and open the kids where. I think it must make the kid’s feel better to have a venue to share their stories and have someone to listen and not judge.

I worked with one amazing teenage girl named Crystal. She wore a baseball hat low over her face and when she spoke it was barely audible, but when she wrote the words came flowing out. She wrote 2 pages where she talked about being shy and having trouble communicating with people. She wrote about living in a shelter and reading to escape her world. I worked another girl named Sydney who described being stereotyped and judged for being Dominican. She wanted to ask the President to come visit her in Washington Heights and “smack some sense into the youth of America because they are the future.” She also wanted to ask the President to find a way for everyone to have the opportunity to go to college. She dreams of being in the medical field.

As I worked with the kids writing letter, the music blasted, we danced, celebrities mingled with the families, we ate pizza. Everyone was having a great time you could tell by the energy in the room, the smiles and the hugs. What an amazing day!

Next, the program will move to Las Vegas, Chicago, New Orleans, Washington, DC and finally to the Congo. I’m not sure if I will make it to each of the stops, but I am so very glad I was able to be a part of these two events.

Working with organizations such as these reminds me how fortunate I am and how extremely important it is to give back. You can’t beat the feeling you get volunteering your time. The smiles on the kids faces as they sounded out new words in a book they’d never been able to read before or the fact that some needy and well deserving family will be able to hang their coats in the closet that I helped build or the moving stories that are shared and the hugs received from at-risk kids make donating a day of your time SOOOOO worth while.

I urge you to give back as well. Volunteering is FABULOUS!

“OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!”

2010-03-31T09:01:00.000-07:00

A story by Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.

About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,

you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any

you'll want to go down.

In that case, of course,

you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there

in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen

and frequently do

to people as brainy

and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,

don't worry. Don't stew.

Just go right along.

You'll start happening too.

OH!

THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!

You'll be seeing great sights!

You'll join the high fliers

who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.

You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.

Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.

Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't

Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so

but, sadly, it's true

and Hang-ups

can happen to you.

You can get all hung up

in a prickle-ly perch.

And your gang will fly on.

You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch

with an unpleasant bump.

And the chances are, then,

that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,

you're not in for much fun.

Un-slumping yourself

is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.

Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.

A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!

Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?

How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...

or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?

Or go around back and sneak in from behind?

Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,

for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused

that you'll start in to race

down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace

and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,

headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go

or a bus to come, or a plane to go

or the mail to come, or the rain to go

or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow

or waiting around for a Yes or a No

or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite

or waiting for wind to fly a kite

or waiting around for Friday night

or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake

or a pot to boil, or a Better Break

or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants

or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting.

NO!

That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape

all that waiting and staying.

You'll find the bright places

where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,

once more you'll ride high!

Ready for anything under the sky.

Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!

There are points to be scored. there are games to be won.

And the magical things you can do with that ball

will make you the winning-est winner of all.

Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,

with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't.

Because, sometimes, they won't.

I'm afraid that some times

you'll play lonely games too.

Games you can't win

'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!

Whether you like it or not,

Alone will be something

you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance

you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.

There are some, down the road between hither and yon,

that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go

though the weather be foul

On you will go

though your enemies prowl

On you will go

though the Hakken-Kraks howl

Onward up many

a frightening creek,

though your arms may get sore

and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike

and I know you'll hike far

and face up to your problems

whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,

as you already know.

You'll get mixed up

with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact

and remember that Life's

a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!

TIME FLIES… WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO TO CATCH IT?

2010-03-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

I can’t believe it’s already March… and almost the end of March at that. I think as you get older time passes more quickly (is that even possible?) Maybe it is just how we experience time. They say time flies when you’re fun. I don’t want time to pass me right by, but I also have to say I would rather be enjoying the fast flying minutes then drowning in slow moving sadness. I realize that I am a lucky girl as I reach out to try and savor every second and make the most of my time on this earth.

As move into the spring, I take inventory on my New Year’s resolutions and I have to say… I think I’ve been doing pretty well. Even though I may not have come as far as I would have liked, I have been working hard. I’ve been learning the tools to start a successful business (more info coming soon), continuing to write new projects while I wait for notes on my rewrite (which is a challenge sometimes) and making my best effort to work out and eat healthy (which is a challenge all the time). I’ve continued to build and cultivate positive and healthy relationships with friends and family… and Joshua of course (1 full year and still counting) I’m proud of the many philanthropic ventures I’ve been lending my time to.

I’ve also been open to taking advantage of exciting and sometimes scary opportunities as they present themselves. I’ve been approached about multiple reality shows (which I think I’m too normal for BTW, but we shall see). I’m going to pose for and be the “muse” for an amazing French designer’s new collection (which is why I need to focus my food intake and workout) and I still am hoping that a hosting opportunity presents itself (because even when my life seems to be pushing me in a different direction, I’m still drawn to being in front of the camera).

As this year continues to fly by, I have made a pledge to myself to work my hardest and put my all into everything I do (which is really hard sometimes when I’m feeling lazy and just want to watch stupid reality TV). I will continue to work towards leaving a positive legacy, by being a good friend, daughter, sister and girlfriend and by doing charity work. I will continue to do the best I can, because I know with hard work and focus I will achieve my dreams. Anything is possible. Even as time flies by, I will do my best to cherish every FABULOUS moment (even when the TV, greasy fast food, lazy, time waster monster tries to draw me in).

A quote for today:

“Live every day to its fullest, because yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.”

“Who I am?”

2010-03-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

So cheesy, but fits so fantastically with my last weeks blog :)

A quote for the day....

The Bhagavad Gita – that ancient Yogic Text – say that it is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.

WHO AM I AND WHO DO I ASPIRE TO BE?

2010-03-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

I think when I meet people for the first time they expect Diana Ross’s daughter to be a self-righteous diva or an entitled bitch. People seem surprised that I am just a normal, fun-loving gal working hard and going after my dreams like everyone else. I’m not sure exactly what my mom did, but I know for sure she did something right with me and my siblings. I am very proud of the women I’ve become.

If someone asked me to describe myself, I would probably say I am a writer, a teacher, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, a travel enthusiast and creative thinker. To go deeper, I might describe myself as a supportive and fun friend, an affectionate and loving girlfriend, a loving sister and daughter and a patient and kind dog-owner. Climbing deeper into my soul, I would like to think that I am a good person with morals and good work ethic, a person who has the ability to bring joy and make people happy. I am a pleasure seeker who enjoys every moment of everyday, a caring and empathetic person who thinks of other people’s feelings and hopes to raise people up who are feeling down.

The women I am is definitely thanks to my mother who I try to emulate in her beauty, strength and perseverance. She has taught me that anything is possible with hard work and passion. My sisters have help mold me, as well. They are so beautiful, funny, smart and talented. They are shoulders to lean on and always just a phone call away when I need advice. My brothers make me feel young and alive. I'm so proud of their strength and maturity and the amazing men they are growing into. My humor and silliness comes from my dad. I am in awe of his ability to win over any crowd and brighten any room.

I aspire to continue to dream BIG! I want to be remembered for doing great things… FABULOUS things that will be remembered long after I am gone. I want to be a positive influence and leave a legacy of love and laughter. I am inspired to believe that anything is possible and that is a FABULOUS feeling.

I reach out to you my readers to see how you would describe yourself and who do you aspire to be?

I then challenge you to go after it…

Be that person you want to be, because anything is possible!

I WOULD RATHER BE...

2010-03-03T13:27:00.000-08:00

“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark burn out in a brilliant blaze than be stifled by dry-hot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.”

-Jack London

HAPPINESS IS...

2010-02-24T20:44:00.000-08:00

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

2010-02-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

As we get deeper into 2010 and embark on making our resolutions reality, it's important to look at your life and appreciate what is most important to you. Yes, I did this on Thanksgiving, but by taking inventory of what I am thankful for and what what makes me happy, I can move forward into the new year in a positive way.

I ask myself, "What does happiness means to me?"

Here is what I came up with….

Happiness is family and friends, puppies and passion.

Love and laughter, strength and giving back.

Happiness is FAMILY. I'm the luckiest girl because my family loves me fully, supports me in everything I do, makes me smile and laugh until my stomach hurts.

My FRIENDS make me very happy. I have found awesome women that I can laugh with, who I can be myself with, who I can tell my secrets to.

Happiness is LOVE. I'm happy that I have love in my heart, that I have someone to confide in and be totally my silly self with, to laugh with and love with hopefully for a long time to come.

Although, Peanut and Brody drive me to my wits ends with barking and peeing and pooping in the house, they also bring me so much joy. Nothing can beat the unconditional love of dog. Mine have been snuggled next to me thru thick and thin and I wouldn't feel complete without my little shadows.

Happiness is TALENT, PASSION and the STRENGTH to not give up even when things sometimes get hard. Who knew life wasn't an easy road. It makes me happy that I have friends and family for support to continue to follow my dreams.

Happiness is my SPIRIT and my HUMOR. Even when I wake up and I am feeling down I refuse to give up, stay in bed and wallow in it. I am a pleasure seeker and I am happy that I can always find a way to smile.

Happiness is GIVING BACK. I know that I'm lucky girl to have been dealt these cards I was dealt. To truly appreciate this life I have, I know it's important to give back to those less fortunate. Lending my time to non-profit work brings me joy and happiness.

My life is filled tot he brim with happiness! I'm so lucky that everyday I wake at the beach and the sun is still shining. Happy for leggings and us weekly and an ice coffee. For bacon that I just adore. For holidays with family, date nights with Joshua, snuggling in bed and ladies nights out. For fast food and warm goat cheese salads. I’m a lucky girl and I’m happy!

Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.

The definition of happiness by Aristotle

What is happiness to you?

HAPPY NEW YEARS

2010-01-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

2010! WOW! Time passes so quickly!

The New Year gives us a time to reflect on years past and how to move forward in new, healthy and positive ways. I took a moment this holiday season to go over my resolutions from last year. Though I have come a long way with my health and fitness, writing and building my business, relationships, etc… there were still so many things that I had hoped to accomplish. I pondered what was most important for me this year and re-wrote my resolutions.

One of the things on my list of resolutions was this blog. Originally, I wrote here as a way to keep myself motivated and to continue to write weekly. I wrote because it was a fun way to explore my world and keep my fingers typing. I enjoyed the fact that I got tons of hits, that I seemed to entertain and evoke thought and so many of you continued to tuned in week after week. I truly appreciate your support and kind words.

Sadly, somewhere along the way, I lost the joy of writing this blog. Maybe it’s because my life has changed so much from when I started. At the beginning, I focused on the parties, the events, shopping and travel… The Hollywood lifestyle. Now, my focus seems to have shifted to starting a business, creating a positive impact on the world, my writing and my personal relationships. I still love the parties, don’t get me wrong, but as I embrace getting older I tend to be more content sitting on the couch curled up with a book, playing board games with friends or learning to cook for the first time.

As I grow and mature, I think it may be time for my blog to evolve as well. My thought is to take a subject that is important to me and explore it in depth through writing, art, videos and also getting input from you out there! My readers are beautiful, smart and talented. Amera’s poems, Sharon, Gene, Ruth, Sara, Mark, Lena, Bungee, Freddie, Andrew, Q and so many more of you who share your kind words, thoughts and experiences. I would love to figure out how to have you be a part of this too.

I’m still figuring out how to put it all together, but… stay tuned!
I promise, I’ll be back soon ☺

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

2009-12-30T12:18:00.000-08:00

“The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicolas soon would be there…” -Night Before Christmas

Hope this holiday season brought you a sleigh full of love and laughter, health and happiness!

Happy Holidays!
Chudney, Brody and Peanut

AN ARTICLE FROM TAILS MAGAZINE

2009-12-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

ENDLESS LOVE

Chudney Ross opens up about her childhood, dreams, and what it's like when her mother, superstar Diana Ross, gets together with her dogs.
www.tailsinc.com/index.php?action=getArticle&aid=702&domain=citytails.org

By Dustin Fitzharris

Photo by Sharon Montrose - www.sharonmontrose.com

There are many ways to describe Chudney Ross. She’s a writer and a model. A teacher and an artist. She just proves you can almost have it all. But when your mom is the legendary Diana Ross, you learn early in life that if you want something badly enough, there ain’t no mountain high enough—to prevent you from achieving.

When Ross, 34, isn’t in front of the camera or at her computer writing in Los Angeles, she’s on the beach with Peanut, her 8-year-old Silky Terrier, and Brody, her 2-year-old Woodle. When talking about her little ones, Ross says Peanut likes watching television and taking long walks on the beach. Brody, on the other hand, is a bundle of energy and enjoys harassing Peanut and eating everything in sight, including Ross’ unmentionables.

Ross’ love for animals started at a young age and has only grown stronger. Her devotion has led her to work with various charities, including Much Love Animal Rescue (MuchLove.org), which is dedicated to reducing overpopulation, abuse, and neglect of domestic animals.

When Tails caught up with Ross, she was eager to talk about her doggies, but had her hands full, stuggling to keep Brody off of her computer!

How old was Peanut when you first got him?
He was five weeks old. I'm sad to say I got him at a pet store. I know it’s not the best way to get a dog, but he was just this tiny little thing who needed to go home with somebody, and in Colorado it’s very rare to find a small dog. Everywhere I went there were just big dogs, and I wanted a small one. Then when I looked at him, there was no way you couldn’t love this little thing. He fit in the palm of my hand.

What was it about Peanut that you fell in love with?
He was the runt of the litter, and he was the last one left. Everyone was like, “Oh, he’s a little off and strange,” but I fell in love with him instantly. He was 1.2 pounds, greasy, and looked like a rat, but we just fell in love instantly.

You got Brody in May. Tell me about him.
He came with lots of issues. The friend of mine who had him couldn’t control him. She was going to give him to the pound because she didn’t know what else to do with him. I’ve always wanted two dogs, but I took him with the thought that at least I could find him another [guardian] before dropping him off at the pound. He’s a bit aggressive with other dogs, and I knew this would be the first dog put down at the pound, and I couldn’t put that on my conscience.

What was the first thing you did with Brody?
Sign up for a training course!

His name was originally Rowdy. How did he become Brody?
My friend named him Rowdy. Maybe it’s just an L.A. thing, but one of the big things the trainer said was that [the name] Rowdy comes with a negative connotation. He suggested that we turn that around and give him a positive name. Before we started the training, I took a week and tried out different names to see what he responded to. It was between Brody and Billy, but my roommate at the time had negative thoughts about the name Billy—an ex-boyfriend thing.

Didn’t all those different names confuse him?
Probably. But he was young. He’s fine. He’s been a handful, but a good addition to our home.

Do Peanut and Brody get along?
You know, that was my hope with having two dogs, but I think it’s hard to have a dog for eight years and then bring another dog into the household who is a puppy and has a lot of energy. Plus, Brody is much bigger. He’s 25 pounds, and Peanut is about 10. No, they don’t get along that well. There was some fighting in the beginning, but we’ve settled in, and I think while I’m sleeping they snuggle up together. I think they like each other more than they let on. Brody wants to play all the time, and Peanut just wants to lie there and be fabulous.

Do you remember your first pet?
I named my first dog Popcorn. It’s strange, but I guess I name all my dogs after food! Anyway, he was a Maltese. My mom had a Maltese growing up, and she had all of these paintings of her with this white dog. So I always wanted one. For Christmas when maybe I was seven or eight I got Popcorn, and he was my dog. My sisters had dogs as well. My mom still has dogs who were my brothers, but now they’re in my mom’s care. So we’ve always had lots of animals in our lives, and we’ve traveled with them. Brody has been a little bit of a challenge to travel with, but it’s always been very important to our family to have animals.

How is your mom, who is known to the world as this glamorous diva, with dogs?
She loves them. She has two dogs, and she watches Peanut on occasion when I’m out of town. She has this strange thing where she’ll actually carry on a conversation with him. He makes these noises, and my mom really likes trying to figure out what he’s saying. She’ll sit there and have a full conversation with him. She’s great with animals.

What kind of dogs does your mom have?
Two Golden Retrievers. They were my brother’s dogs. They’re quite old now.

How did Peanut get to star on Ugly Betty?
We worked with the Le Paws Agency. I guess we’re still with the agency, but we don’t get sent out that much. You need to do a lot of training. At the time, I had a lot of time to keep up with the training, but it’s expensive. It was fun, and it was definitely a nice bonding experience. We booked Ugly Betty, so that’s Peanut’s big claim to fame. I love it because it’s there on YouTube, and it’s hysterical to me that that’s my dog sitting there with Betty White, who was a guest star. But no, we didn’t have a long, lucrative career with Peanut.

Were you a stage mom?
(Laughing) I wasn’t as bad as some people, but when we did go in for our interview we went wearing matching T-shirts. I thought I was wild, but there were some people in our classes who were way more out there than I could ever be.

Speaking of stage moms, what’s been the best thing about having Diana Ross as a mom?
It’s all I know. It just seems normal to me. She’s always been very supportive in anything my siblings and I do. She really pushes us to follow our dreams and tells us that anything is possible if you work hard. We definitely learned a good work ethic. We’re all lucky and enjoy our lives, but we do all work hard, and we learned that from our mother.

Your sister, Rhonda, just had a baby. What’s it like being an aunt?
I was lucky enough to be there when my sister gave birth. I got to hold him when he was just 10 minutes old. I’ve been around a lot of babies, but not babies like that. To continue to watch him grow will be just an amazing experience. I look forward to having my own children in the future.

You currently have a contract with Harper Collins and are writing a series of books for readers between the ages of 7 and 12. How did that come about?
I fell into it. I was an elementary school teacher when I first graduated from college. I did Teach for America [an organization that recruits recent college graduates and places them in urban and rural public schools]. After I finished my two-year commitment, I substituted. Then I worked on a children’s film as a production assistant. From there I just started working in television and learning all about that. In the process of pitching ideas, this book kind of came out of nowhere. Then all of a sudden I was a writer. So as much as I say I want to be in the entertainment business, I keep going back to children and education because that’s where my heart is. I think it’s my calling.

What advice would you give to people who are considering getting a dog?
Do a lot of research. Don’t just go with what’s cute. Put some thought into it. A lot of people just go and say “Oh, he’s so cute,” and then they get home and realize they aren’t ready to be a dog [guardian].

What are you the most proud of?
I’m the most proud of the woman I’ve become. I was extremely shy and introverted growing up, and I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life or where I wanted to be. It’s a hard place to be when you’re in a state of confusion, but I feel like I’m a good person. I have a good heart, and I’m doing the things I love.

A SNEEK PEEK AT MY TRIP TO MAUI

2009-11-25T14:04:00.000-08:00

SHOOTING STAR

2009-10-28T22:47:00.000-07:00

What to be for Halloween? I contemplate this question every year. I think I’m a pretty creative person, but every every year as October approaches, I come up with the same thing… anything that I can wear with one of my tutus. I love tutus! I’m not sure where my fascination comes from, but tutus are FABULOUS! Maybe it’s because I’m a girly girl or maybe it stems from my early days as a ballerina, I don’t know.

Anyways, this year is no different. After much thought, I decided to stick with what I know and go with something in my closet (a bee... with a black tutu or an angel… with a white one).

But last Sunday, I was sitting at the farmers market eating a corn on the cob and I over heard a girl talking about all of her ideas for costumes. My ears perked up. She was fantastic and had millions of ideas. Then I heard one that was perfect for me (and my tutu). Thanks to this girl at the farmers Market, I decided to be a SHOOTING STAR this year.

I rushed down the block to American Apparel and bought a silver leotard, silver legging and silver headband. Next stop was the costume store where I picked up two star wands (which I glued with crazy glue to my bee costume antennas) and tons of glitter makeup and hair spray. All I need now are two big, silver guns and a holster to carry them and I’m all set. Get it?? A SHOOTING (guns) star (shiny silver)!!

Whether you wear a tutu or not, it’s always fun to dress up because Halloween in FABULOUS!

Ooo... and in the end I opted for no tutu... Still fun! Still FABULOUS!

AUNTIE CHUDNEY

2009-10-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all the congrats and well wishes. As you may have already heard, my sister Rhonda gave birth to a handsome, healthy baby boy this summer. My mother is so happy to finally be a grandma and the whole family is over the moon with the excitement of a new baby.

I was lucky enough to be in New York when my sister gave birth and to hold my brand new nephew when he was just a couple minutes old. He was so tiny and so miraculous. I swaddled him and burped him and gave him excessive kisses.

I have always loved babies, but there is something very different when you look into the newborn eyes of your nephew. My heart skipped a beat and I fell instantly in love. I can only imagine how one must feel overwhelmed by the love for a baby you created inside.

I look forward to being a mother myself (no pressure on the new boyfriend though… yet ☺) Haha! Till then... Being an AUNTIE is FABULOUS!

DOG PHOTO SHOOT

2009-10-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

Peanut, Brody and I had the pleasure of doing a photo shoot together recently. Famed Dog Photographer, Sharon Montrose caught our family love on film.

Sharon is a commercial photographer and author specializing in animals, kids and babies. Check her out at www.sharonmontrose.com and follow her blog at www.sharonmontrose.blogspot.com

MY NEW FAVORITE TV SHOWS

2009-10-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

I am strangely mesmerized by reality TV. I find myself, at times, totally zoned out watching the cheesiest shows… yet I still love it. I may be getting dumber as I watch, but reality TV still entertains me to no end.

As silly as TOOL ACADEMY is, I am excited to tune in each week and see which tool will get kicked off next. This MTV reality game show follows a bunch of "unsuspecting bad boys" (the worst of the worst boy friends) through a boot camp where they compete in challenges to rebuild their relationships. Each week, one is kicked out (The host says, “You are just a tool”). Then the real drama unfolds as tears flow and the girlfriend decides whether to get in the limo with the cheating, liar boyfriend or kick him to the curb. Great television… need I say more? ☺

Also on MTV, REAL WORLD / ROAD RULES CHALLENGE pits cast members from past seasons of Real World and Road Rules (both shows that I also LOVE) against each other in grueling, frightening, physical and metal challenges to win a money prize at the end. What is so fascinating about this show is that we have been watching this same group of contestants for years. We know all about them… their past scandalous relationships (exes always appear back on the show together for the drama), who they hate, who is crazy, etc. To me it’s awesome to have this inside view into the dramatic tension. It’s amazing that this cast of “real people” have made life long careers of being on MTV realty shows.

I also love… Biggest loser, America’s Next Top Model, The Bachelor, American Idol and Dancing With The Stars!!

Good, smart TV is rare and hard to come by these days, but there are some awesome shows on cable as well as a couple on primetime that have hooked me in.

I love, love, love CALIFORNICATION. This edgy, smart and sexually charged Showtime series is filmed on my Cali stomping grounds and my heart skips a beat every time I see them filming on location. David Duchovny is awesome as Hank Moody, a writer from New York who has been transplanted to Los Angeles where he engages in excessive sexual misadventures in between trying to sell another book. This show goes all out with full nudity, bad words, and plenty of seriously graphic sex scenes. The dry wit dialogue is so well done and every episode has me cracking up.

GLEE is sooooooooo funny! I haven’t laughed so hard watching TV in a long time. The characters are extremely over the top, the musical numbers super cheesy, but Glee is the perfect feel good, primetime show and there has never been anything else like it on TV. The show follows the making of a high school glee club and features musical worthy song and dance numbers (God, I love musicals)! The writing is hysterical and smart with a healthy dose of sarcasm. Glee is a feel good laugh a minute!

I watched the whole first season on TRUE BLOOD in one week. I was instantly hooked to this sexy, smart and at times scary HBO show. Graphic and bloody, this series follows the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional small Louisiana town (where all sorts of creatures of the night seem to wreak havoc). The main character, Sookie Stackhouse (played by Anna Paquin) falls in love with vampire Bill Compton (played by her real life love Stephen Moyer) and the onscreen chemistry is juicy! I can’t wait for the third season to watch the blood and sex unfold.

I also love… Heroes, Dexter, Grey’s Anatomy and Melrose Place.

Watching TV is FABULOUS!

ITALIAN FOOD

2009-09-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

I love ITALIAN FOOD. Well… really I love all food. I’m not a foodie by any means. I don’t seek out the fanciest, unique-est dishes. I just love to eat and ITALIAN may be my favorite cuisine right now.

My boyfriend (yes, I said it! The “new guy” is now the “bf”) doesn’t eat meat. He sticks to carbs and veggies and white fish. I, on the other hand, am a carnivore (Not exactly, but I do love meat)! We have found to make us both full to the brim and happy as clams (which I don’t eat BTW), ITALIAN FOOD is a FABULOUS choice.

We have eaten ITALIAN FOOD from Hollywood to Santa Monica and Santa Barbara to Catalina and I have enjoyed every pasta, pizza and caprese salad. Here are my favorite spots in LA right now…

LA VECCIA CUCINA (Santa Monica)
Northern Italian food at it’s best right in the heart of Santa Monica on Main Street. The tables are a bit close together, but the food is to die for. The chicken piccata was a delight and the caprese salad a must try.

LA SCALA (Beverly Hills)
I’ve mostly been to La Scala for lunch with my mom. Located on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills, La Scala is old style Italian food in old style décor, comfortable with spacious booths (that fits my whole, big, happy family) and divine food. The Caesar salad makes my heart skip as does the chopped salad and I always steal some of Evan’s penne arrabiatta when he isn’t looking.

CAFÉ MED (West Hollywood)
You can’t beat Café Med’s outdoor patio right on Sunset Plaza. This is Evan’s favorite spot as well as my boyfriend’s. Great people watching, but even better food. The “bf” opts for the pizza with pineapples, Evan the penne arrabiata (again) and me… I can never decide between eggplant parmesan, penne arrabiatta, Caesar salad or the bruscetta. The list can go on and on….

TERRONI (West Hollywood)
Terroni is a very hip, traditional southern Italian pizza joint on Beverly in West Hollywood. They play old black & white movies projected on the wall, have a foosball table out front and the most delicious, thin crust pizzas around. They don’t take reservations so arrive early and bring your own pizza cutter because they don’t slice it for you (and definitely don’t ask for substitutions… the chef is a stickler). It is all worth it in the end, though… Delicious!

My advice when dining Italian…
- Be careful not to fill up on the bread and olive oil… even though it can be quite delicious. I always try to stick to one (or two pieces) pre-dinner. Hopefully, it’s warm! I always ask for parmesan cheese and vinegar to add to the olive oil. Ooo… what a treat! Ask them to take away the bread basket when you’ve had enough or you will keep picking till you are too full.

- I always like to start off by sharing a caprese salad (tomato and mozzarella) or Bruscetta. I keep the vinegar from the bread course and sprinkle a little on for the perfect appetizer.

- My favorite main courses right now are Penne Arrabiatta (tube pasta with spicy tomato sauce) or Chicken Piccatta (with angel hair pasta) or Chicken Parmesan (Yummers) or fussili alfredo with broccoli (and a squeeze of lemon). Also, you can also never go wrong with pizza! Pizza! Pizza!

Mmm… Now I am hungry!

Italian food is FABULOUS! I have to watch out though or I will end up at Fat Camp (I have already gained too much weight, which I lovingly call… My love chub) I think all new couples put on a bit of weight during the courting period and I am no exception (but it is totally worth it ☺).

SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL

2009-09-23T01:17:00.000-07:00

Hug O' War

2009-09-16T22:37:00.000-07:00

I will not play at tug o' war

I'd rather play at hug o' war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses
And everyone grins
And everyone cuddles
And everyone wins.

- a poem I love by Shel Silverstein

KIDS VENICE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

2009-09-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

This summer, I helped out a couple of times at the Kids Venice Basketball League (www.kvbl.org). My friend Nico, one of the founders, asked if I could be a part of the Natural Leader’s Empowerment Camp, a free day camp for under-privileged kids. I am an advocate for all children’s causes and so of course I said yes.

I went down to Venice beach for the first and last event of the nine-week camp to help teach the kid’s about healthy eating, yoga, leadership, teamwork as well as basketball skills.

We ate raw, vegan food for breakfast and lunch while discussing the importance of eating healthy (and believe or not, it was quite delicious). We stretched our bodies with yoga, sang about “One Love, One World” on the beach, swam in the ocean and of course learned and practiced basketballs skills (my hoops skills are less than fantastic, but I had fun).

After the camp the kid’s got to watch and be a part of the Venice Basketball League tournaments, which are intense street-ball competitions. The world’s best street-ballers battle it out every Sunday at the beach leading up to the championship and the grand prize. Summer Sunday’s in Venice are awesome! These guys truly kick ass in some intense basketball games. Watching from the side lines, you get to be right up in the action.

You could tell from the smiles on the kid’s faces that this was not only a learning experience, but also it was a super fun, once in a lifetime experience and I was happy that I was able to be a part of it. Kid’s Venice Basketball League is FABULOUS!

MOVIE IN THE CEMETERY

2009-09-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, My friend Pearl, her fiancé and my boyfriend went to a Cinspia screening at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. What better place to watch a movie in LA than lounging on the grass near a tombstone. I know it sounds strange to watch a scary movie while hanging with the dead, but let me tell you… this was a FABULOUS experience.

The line was long to get in, but we scored a sweet plot on the grass not too far from the screen. We had packed up a cooler full of dinner and treats (wine and cheese, sandwiches and cookies), blankets and pillows and we ate and drank under the stars till the lights went out and the movie began.

I’m usually not a fan of horror flicks. I am a bit of a scaredy cat, you know! But, when Pearl (my oldest friend – We’ve been friends since we were 5 years old) invited me to check out the Cinespia screening of American Werewolf in London, I agreed. I had ever seen the film and I had heard lots of fun stories about watching movies in the cemetery. I thought what better time to check it out!

An American Werewolf in London is a 1981 comedy/horror film, written and directed by John Landis. The movie won an Academy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Makeup. Over the years, the film has become a cult favorite and I can see why. It was awesome. We howled at the moon, screamed to warn the actors that there was a werewolf behind them and laughed at the transformations and effects (Boy, have we come far since the 80’s). I wasn’t scared at all. It was actually hysterical

Watching a movie chilling on a blanked with glass of wine, yummy food and friends is FABULOUS!

There are only a couple shows left this summer, so head to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Hollywood) for a movie in this historic (and spooky) location. You never know, you may see a ghost of pop up next to you to watch the show.

A few tips …
1. Bring a picnic of dinner and drinks (alcohol is allowed)
2. Ticket Price $10
3. Park on the grounds for only $5
4. A DJ spins tunes before and after the show
5. Bring pillows and blankets (but no tall chairs or dogs allowed)

For more info visit: www.cinespia.org

Beach Doggie Bloggie

2009-08-26T22:12:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the sun, surf and sand with the dogs!

UPTOWN MAGAZINE

2009-08-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

6-MAN MANHATTAN BEACH

2009-08-12T10:11:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I went down to Manhattan Beach with my friend Zoe to check out the 6-MAN Volleyball tournament. Each year, thousands of drunken fans cluster onto the beach by the pier to watch over 100 teams dressed in silly costumes compete. Among the teams are world-class volleyball players, AVP pros and local beach players dressed as Mexican wrestlers, Girl Scouts, Strippers and anything else you can imagine.

I’ve had tons of fun partying on the beach packed with people in years past. Sadly though, last year, I didn’t make it. As I was leaving a party in Malibu to head south, my car was sideswiped on the PCH and I ended up in the hospital (check out August 13, 2008 blog). This year, I was excited to hit the beach to party again.

Zoe and I decided to take a cab since parking is always ridiculous and sure enough traffic stopped short as we got close to the pier. Instead of watching the meter tick to an exorbitant amount, we hopped out and walked the rest of the way.

As we turned the corner of Manhattan Beach Blvd, we spotted the crowds down below. OMG! It is shocking how many people filled the beach surrounding the 28 volleyball courts.

We headed down to the sand in search of our friend Kim, which seemed like a lost cause. Costume clad athletes filled the courts and party people spilled out of the tents that lined them. After multiple text messages and missed calls (what did we ever so with out cell phones!?!), we finally spotted Kim chatting up a tall, handsome volleyball player by court 14, which had Santa Clauses playing a heated match against clowns.

Next, we hit to the Smurf tent where we found our friend Julian and I snagged a Smurf baseball cap to shield me from the scolding sun (also a couple jell-o shots)! We bumped into my friend Todd and his girlfriend and cruised the courts to watch the volleyball matches while baking in the sun.

After 5 hours on the beach, I was ready to head home. The ladies where still raring to go and hit the bars, but I chose instead to head out in search of a cab. To my dismay, I walked and walked and walked (thinking I may have to walk all the way home) and found a whole lot of nothing.

It took almost an hour to find a cab. By the time I got home, I was exhausted from the fun filled day in the Manhattan Beach sun... and I did have a FABULOUS tan!

iPhone Video Blog

2009-07-29T20:04:00.000-07:00

PHENOMENAL WOMEN

2009-07-08T08:54:00.000-07:00

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
- MAYA ANGELOU

MICHAEL JACKSON

2009-07-01T20:15:00.000-07:00

I am deeply saddened by the death of MICHAEL JACKSON. I was shocked when I heard the news on the radio. I immediately called my brother, sister and then my mom to confirm the news. No one knew for sure, but we hoped it wasn’t true. As more and more news sources confirmed the report, my heart sank. How could MICHAEL JACKSON be gone so soon and so suddenly?

I was a fan, like all of you. MICHAEL JACKSON’S music was like a backdrop to my life. I remember excitedly sitting in front of the TV with my sisters to watch the THRILLER video air for the first time. I was frightened by the scary make up, but also in awe of the dance moves and the fact that it was more of a movie than any music video I had ever seen. I remember when PYT was my favorite, watching The Wiz for the first time, when my mom participated in WE ARE THE WORLD and when I SCREAMED along with Janet and Michael.

I’m lucky enough to also have wonderful memories of meeting MICHAEL JACKSON, which I will cherish in my heart forever. I remember gorging on candy in his “candy room” at the ranch. I remember Michael dancing with my mom on stage and even better dancing in my living room with my little brother. My favorite memory is singing to him on the phone. I was so proud that I knew the words. “Mama say, mama sa, mama kusa,” I sang as he giggled on the other end.

In my eyes, Michael was a kind, sweet, youthful man. I never believed any negative allegations and I will continue to defend him when people make jokes. I was shocked and saddened beyond belief that even in his death, people can continue to say negative, mean things. My heart goes out to the family and to the kids. This is so very sad ☹

Like A Comet
Blazing 'Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon

Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon

Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon

Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon

Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon

Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon

“Gone Too Soon”
Lyrics by MICHAEL JACKSON

MICHAEL JACKSON was FABULOUS and he will be remembered forever.

“PLEASE MR. PRESIDENT”

2009-06-24T12:26:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday, I participated in an amazing charity event. CHILDREN MENDING HEARTS is a global arts exchange between at-risk children in America and children living in African conflict zones. CHILDREN MENDING HEARTS educates, empowers and encourages children to have a voice. It also inspires them to a sense of empathy and a desire for world peace.

Check it out at: www.childrenmendinghearts.org

We started the first of many "PLEASE MR. PRESIDENT” workshops early Saturday morning in a large gym at the Union Rescue Mission downtown. URM is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving poor and homeless people in downtown LA with services including: food, shelter, clothing, medical and dental care, recovery programs, transitional housing, legal assistance, education, counseling, and job training to men, women, children, and families.

The plan for the "PLEASE MR. PRESIDENT” workshop was to work with at-risk children all over America writing letters and drawing pictures to be included in a children’s book in the future, as well making jewelry making and painting T-shirts to be brought to kids in the Congo later this year. Since this was the first event, we weren’t sure exactly what to expect (how many kids, age range, reading and writing levels), but we were prepared and excited.

I ran the letter-writing workshop. I created a simple and fun lesson plan to guide the children in sharing their stories, their lives and their hopes and dreams for the future.

As the families started to fill the gym, an 8 year-old African American girl approached my table. She openly talked to me about how she lived in the Mission because, “her dad hated her mom and left them with nothing.” She told me and wrote in her letter about how he would hit her and that she knows the world would be better if there was no violence and no guns like the one that shot her brother. I was beyond touched by her honesty and her sweet nature. Kids are FABULOUS!

I wrote letters with many kids (little ones to teens) and adults throughout the day. Some wrote touching, deep letters about their lives that brought tears to my eyes, while others stayed light. One sweet Mexican American 6 year-old girl wrote that she thinks the president should give toys to all the poor people because then everyone would be happy.

As the day progressed, we danced, made jewelry and painted t-shirts to be brought to the kids in the Congo.

Next, the program will move to New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Washington, DC and finally to the Congo. I’m not sure I will travel and continue to participate, but I am so very glad I was able to be a part of the very first event here in LA. I was touched by the kid’s stories, their openness and love. Working with organizations such as this reminds me how fortunate I am and how extremely important it is to give back.

Children Mending Hearts is FABULOUS.

SOCIAL BUTTERFLY

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MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

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PLAYING WITH THE MOON

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TWITTER

INTRODUCING BOOKS AND COOKIES

A QUOTE FOR TODAY

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SUCCESS

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

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CATCHING UP WITH OLD PALS

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LET THE INTERVIEW BEGIN…

QUESTIONS FROM YOU

HEAL THE WORLD

GIVING BACK

“OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!”

TIME FLIES… WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO TO CATCH IT?

“Who I am?”

WHO AM I AND WHO DO I ASPIRE TO BE?

I WOULD RATHER BE...

HAPPINESS IS...

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

HAPPY NEW YEARS

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

AN ARTICLE FROM TAILS MAGAZINE

A SNEEK PEEK AT MY TRIP TO MAUI

SHOOTING STAR

AUNTIE CHUDNEY

DOG PHOTO SHOOT

MY NEW FAVORITE TV SHOWS

ITALIAN FOOD

SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL

Hug O' War

KIDS VENICE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

MOVIE IN THE CEMETERY

Beach Doggie Bloggie

UPTOWN MAGAZINE

6-MAN MANHATTAN BEACH

iPhone Video Blog

PHENOMENAL WOMEN

MICHAEL JACKSON

“PLEASE MR. PRESIDENT”