Table for Eight

Friday Night Pizza and Movie With Friends, June 2011. (While mom was in Samoa) Each night at the dinner table we play a game called "High/Low." (I think I learned about it from a movie about 15 years ago, and we've been doing it ever since.) It's really simple, each person just shares one "High" (good thing) from the day and one "Low" (not-so-good thing from the day). And that's it. I think there are about 2.7 million reasons I love "High/Low."  But the main reason I love it, is that i t helps us know what's going on with everyone in the family (and helps us know where people need support, sympathy, congratulations, etc.). But I also like "High/Low" because it reminds me/us: 1. That you aren't alone.  You share your life with lots of people--and your life matters to a lot of people (your family, for one). 2. That life is filled with BOTH highs and lows. No matter who you are, life is going to ...

Savaii jury members at Ponderosa with Jeff Probst and David Burris (executive producers). First of all, thank you to everyone who sent suggestions for New Year's Eve celebrations. (What did we do before the internet? Seriously, I think I received about 50 really fun ideas by the end of the day. Thank you, thank you, thank you!) So, have you decided how you'll spend New Year's? After reading all of the suggestions, here's what we decided: 1. We're going to spend the first half of the evening with our whole family, doing chocolate and cheese fondue. We're going to listen to loud music and do "noisemakers" vs. illegal fireworks. (Sorry, Lu and Zu.) 2. The teenagers are going to go to a regional church NYE dance from about 10-12:30pm. (It sounds really fun, there will be a DJ, food, a balloon drop, ping-pong, and a game/video room ... and chaperones. Woo hoo.) 3. The rest of us are going to see a movie (Sherlock Holmes) from 10-11:30pm...

How do you celebrate the New Year? --A trip to NYC to see the crystal ball drop? --An evening out with friends, dancing the night away? --Dinner at your favorite restaurant? --Movie night? As a mother of 6 kids--ranging in ages 16 to 8--it's been a little difficult for me to plan this New Year's Eve celebration. Dave and I were thinking it would be fun to have a fondue party here at home with our kids. You know, melted chocolate, loud music, maybe some card games? It could be fun. (C) 2010, Bella Lately. But, our teenagers don't really want to spend the last minutes of 2011 with their dad, mom, and younger brothers/sisters. (Can't imagine why? I totally wanted to hang out with my parents when I was 16.) Yet, Dave and I really don't want said-teenagers out on the town at all hours of the night WITHOUT their dad, mom and younger brothers/sisters. (LOL.) And oddly, all the smallest kiddos really want to do is have a Video G...

Savaii wins immunity/reward after the Saving Face Challenge (the one where Jim and Keith SMASH the coconuts against the masks ... also the one where I learn I can't push a wheelbarrow) (C) CBS, Monty Brinton, 2011. I mentioned yesterday, but I'm in the process of creating a Survivor tab on the homepage of my blog--so that I can organize all of the Survivor-related content in one place.  That should be ready to go "live" on January 1st. So ... in the meantime, I'm going to post Survivor Q & As on the main page.  If you're Survivor-ed Out ... apologies . I promise life won't always be Survivor, Samoa, and my stripey socks. (Though I should mention, I've purchased about 10 pair of stripey socks--all different colors--as a reminder of my time on the island and in the game. Funny how happy a pair of $3.00 Target socks can make you. The Te Tuna tribe. (C) CBS, Monty Brinton, 2011. (PS: If you're new to the blog, Monty--the photogr...

Cast of Survivor South Pacific. (C) CBS, Monty Brinton, 2011. How did you make your decision to vote for Sophie? (or Why did you vote for Sophie?): I really did try to go into the final Tribal Council with an open mind. From my perspective, anyone of the 3 were deserving of the title-- simply because they were able to make it the 39 days.  But, I was specifically looking to vote for the person I felt embodied the "Outplay, Outwit, Outlast" motto for the game. This secret scene describes my approach in more detail. (We filmed it at Ponderosa prior to the Final Tribal Council): http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/video/2178063675/survivor-south-pacific-the-jury-speaks-dawn What do players DO at Ponderosa (the post-game "home" for players)?: CBS.com has some great Ponderosa clips, if you want to see what our days are like. (If you're a big fan of the show, you probably already know about these. But, if you don't, you have to see them. The clips...