tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40057958536033145182012-01-19T12:08:02.592-06:00When I'm not hanging out with my kids, racing motorcycles with my husband, killing things in my garden, or guerrilla shopping, I tend to type stuff here. Hey, it saves paper & ink.Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.comBlogger731100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-81538530344119764832011-06-02T15:35:00.001-05:002011-06-02T20:02:14.050-05:00

For lack of a better assessment, the past 12 months have been an exercise in human emotional elasticity. From elation to devastation, if there is an emotion left to sample, I’ve not seen it. It’s all left me pondering where I am in life and how to leave this world a better place. A few weeks back, a high school acquaintance died quite suddenly. He was one of those young, healthy and positive

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-29393668134145583532010-11-03T10:42:00.000-05:002010-11-03T10:42:41.408-05:00

POLITICS: children building sand castles on a beach. One castle has a wide drawbridge that lets everyone in. The other castle has a broad moat that keeps bad guys out. While the children bicker over which castle is best, the winds of change blow the sand away. I'm still waiting for the kid with bricks & mortar who builds castles on common sense, not the shifting sands of passion & marketing.

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-69091416728999954232010-10-31T13:50:00.003-05:002011-06-02T20:14:47.104-05:00

...and now we begin that frighteningly, sickeningly fast slide into the holidays. I don't think I'm ready for this. I just did find my Halloween decorations! Think we're all set to go for tonight, though: 1 HALO 3 Master Chief Costume with matching super-cool helmet (CHECK) 1 Masked Banana Costume with appropriately masked stuffed sidekick (CHECK) 1 Large Bowl of Assorted Candy that is

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-90228204591918469242010-10-15T09:11:00.000-05:002010-10-15T09:11:00.729-05:00

My beautiful Maddie wrote, and sang, this song for my birthday.  I love it!!!! My Momma's Birthday Song

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-22567202048260619472010-09-11T13:16:00.000-05:002010-09-11T13:16:44.045-05:00

The past 24 hours have been quite the learning experience in terms of the Tween Set. For me. 1.  Daughter's sleepover: Twister, Silly Bandz swapping, Rock Band on the Wii & everything smells like flowers & candy. Son's sleepover: loud, loud, messy & LOUD & my house smells like sweaty frogs.  And Axe. I think that other smell was Axe. 2.  Girls share Krispy Kreme doughnuts, even carefully

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-5835378978037216172010-08-12T13:15:00.004-05:002010-10-31T13:51:42.851-05:00

What a morning! Wrapped my last radio show and have called it a day. When the money crunchers slash budgets, what can you do? Cling to the sinking ship or swim for calmer waters. So, I'm swimming off to my next adventure: Marketing Director for Tornado Bait Racing, my husband's motorcycle race team!  Radio has been a fun ride, but sometimes you just have to call it like you see it.  I'm excited

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-5418074101862360882009-10-23T09:17:00.009-05:002009-10-23T10:00:30.345-05:00

While I was up to my eyeballs in closet cleaning this past weekend, I came across a box of saved school work from my big girls, K & M. Artwork and spelling tests and creative writing assignments were mixed in with the report cards and field trip fliers. The little kid handwriting, with it's grammatical training wheels and misspelled words, brought little misty tears to play. Forgetting the pile

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-39294097671836107532009-08-19T09:53:00.006-05:002009-08-19T10:50:04.520-05:00

Whew! Days One & Two of Operation School Year 2009-10 can be successfully crossed off the list! And Day Three seems to have gotten off to a great start, too. Cannot believe my kids are growing up so fast...they look so big and so Non-Little-Kiddish lately. Makes me sad and proud at the same time. Does every parent say that? Of course, then they head back to the computer or throw another load of

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-28249807489066422612009-08-03T06:39:00.013-05:002009-08-03T08:00:55.281-05:00

AWESOME weekend! Ron & I took the kids out to the AMA Tornado Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka to see some motorcycle racing (yea, I know, shocking!). Really cool to see friends of ours mix it up with the big boys (and girls, in the case of Melissa Paris). John Deuser, Matt Hall & Jamie Hall raced well. They may not have had the big rig set-ups, but they did have some of the biggest cheering

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-46338369396228606682009-07-10T07:46:00.001-05:002009-07-10T07:51:09.005-05:00

Had you asked me 20 years ago what I would be doing for fun "when I grew up", I would have never imagined my reply would be "riding motorcycles". To someone who doesn't ride, the allure and thrill cannot be adequately explained. The words just don't exist. Lots of folks just smile politely and nod when I go on about my two-wheel addiction. That's alright. I'm sure their zeal for golf will always

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-53617163976299855332009-07-10T07:28:00.013-05:002009-07-10T07:52:55.993-05:00

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-89805261900801785632009-06-24T09:12:00.005-05:002009-06-24T09:58:41.668-05:00

Something about a grown-up vacation that makes you feel like a kid. Ron has the bikes prepped, the trailer is good to go, and we are both so PSYCHED for our road trip to Grattan Raceway next week that it's hard to sleep. We'll spend three days track-riding and hanging out with club friends at the annual event. Nothing like great comaraderie and genuinely good people to renew your faith in the

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-91602911455214979012009-06-16T17:39:00.007-05:002009-06-16T17:48:10.256-05:00

Oh, the fun we wacky radio DJ's get to have! Playing music all morning, and hanging out with cool people and giant shopping carts! This past weekend I got to get up close and personal with Price Chopper's Big Cart, a ginormous shopping cart complete with a 454 Big Block engine and sweet pipes. AWESOME! While they won't let me behind the wheel (which is conveniently located in the Kid Seat), Barry

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-74801003368501481522009-06-08T16:45:00.010-05:002009-06-10T10:50:18.524-05:00

Has it really been nearly a month since I last updated? Yikes! My apologies - guess this is a sign that my world is moving at warp speed but I'm not. WHOOSH! What have I been up to? CHANGE. Fortunately, I'm a mom and it's one of my strong suits, but being ambushed by change can be intimidating.#1. MY KID FLEW THE COOP. I'm excited, anxious, terrified, thrilled and sad all at once. She's a bright

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-44457399998704577512009-05-12T17:26:00.002-05:002009-05-12T17:38:12.741-05:00

Doesn't seem like it's been that long, but I've been riding motorcycles for fifteen years. My husband gave me my first bike, handed me the key and said "get on and ride". Fun! I've had Honda streetbikes and Kawasaki sportbikes, but I really had no idea how to ride correctly. Sure, I knew how to shift and corner and stop and not fall over at a stop light, but safety-wise, I was NOT in control of

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-47254010375541833052009-05-12T17:22:00.013-05:002009-05-29T08:52:45.056-05:00

Some pics from my MSF class at KCKCC. And yes, we rode in the rain, not nearly as bad as you might think. Rain gear rocks! The bikes we rode (I rode the yellow Buell Blast - little bike but boy was it fun!), Instructor Wendy, rain!, two of my fellow classmates Brandon & Brad.

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-65969970556136119622009-05-12T07:43:00.006-05:002009-05-12T08:01:37.541-05:00

From one of my fave mags, Glamour (see the latest issue for the complete list):1. DON'T change your Facebook relationship status without discussing it first: Make sure your man is on the same page. Along those same lines, change your status back to single only if you've discussed breaking up -- not in response to arguments or as a one-sided breakup strategy. DON'T post your make-out photos: Do

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-57064211324025256682009-04-29T16:32:00.011-05:002009-04-29T17:15:27.490-05:00

Somedays you just can't help but smile when you come to work here. Don't get me wrong - KUDL is a rocking place to work, with great fellow worker bees, and the drones are pretty easy to get along with, as well, but some days are even better than others. Take last Friday, for example.Not only did I get to chat with IndyCar Champion (and hubby to actress Ashley Judd) Dario Franchitti (on the right)

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-26951614633275982312009-04-15T14:14:00.012-05:002009-04-15T14:26:19.403-05:00

So yesterday I'm at the orthodontist with my son, looking at really big pictures of his teeth with a very nice doctor when my phone chirps to announce a text...from my boss: "Keifer Sutherland is in the building." WHAT?!?! Jack Bauer is at KUDL? I text back: "Really??" Boss: "YES". OMG! And there I was, mired in an orthodontic initial consultation, not something you want to bail on without

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-90526705066744072822009-04-13T07:54:00.002-05:002009-04-13T07:57:20.736-05:00

Here are some great ways to cut expenses in places you may have forgotten about...

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-43706526149851765692009-04-07T06:01:00.004-05:002009-04-07T06:05:52.422-05:00

Great article from Discovery Channel.com on the real cost to the earth when we choose bottled water. Check it out here. What do you think?

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-13929140409905965122009-03-26T06:58:00.007-05:002009-03-31T06:54:10.481-05:00

WOW! Has it been a year already? Last year we discovered Earth Hour, an hour set aside to turn off your lights as a "breather" for Mother Earth. It started in Sydney, Australia and has spread around the world! We gathered the kids, killed the lights and spent the next two hours playing charades by candelight. In fact, when it came time to turn the lights back on, the kids were bummed (thus the

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-34516001306945907652009-03-11T17:03:00.016-05:002009-03-12T08:42:54.649-05:00

Wow - a wonderful discovery! At a time when my world is so crammed with activities and commitments that I think I might crack at the seams, I discover my school friend Venus is a personal chef. BRILLIANT! She creates yummy meals for you and your family, right in your kitchen, or makes them for you to freeze and prepare later. Entertaining? She'll wow your guests! Special diets? No problem! In

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-20638839476365930192009-03-09T10:25:00.006-05:002009-03-09T16:07:06.319-05:00

Looking for a beautiful, very well kept home that's tastefully decorated? Check out this super cute listing from Reece and Nichols. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, big backyard, and a really nice neighborhood. Lots of updates, too. See more great homes this Saturday and Sunday as Reece & Nichols hosts an OPEN HOUSE Weekend! More details at kudl.com.It's a great time to buy a home :)

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-54144474437584377682009-02-27T07:12:00.011-06:002009-02-27T08:12:15.452-06:00

Was watching a "Long Way Down", Ewan McGregor's super-cool motorcycle adventure show where he and a buddy bike from Scotland to South Africa, and noticed that not only is Africa more than lions and elephants (suspected so, but it was nice to see it up close!), it's literally littered with plastic bags. Yes, the obnoxious plastic sacks that you bring home every time money leaves your pocket. It

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-80281924402333845942009-02-16T07:39:00.006-06:002009-02-27T08:23:29.426-06:00

Thanks to our awesome KUDL listeners we delivered over 20,000 handmade Valentine's to the kids at Children's Mercy Hospital for our 16th Annual Valentine's Card Shower. Check out the video HERE . Thanks to Fox4 for the great video!What did you do for Valentine's Day?

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-72499708441657506592009-02-13T08:39:00.004-06:002009-02-27T08:27:01.103-06:00

Friday the 13th, Valentine's Day AND President's Day all rolled into one weekend? WOW! It's a holiday extravaganza! And the stores are going full tilt with sales. But, before you rush out and buy things you hadn't planned on buying, stop and ask yourself "do I really NEED this?" I've been working on that query a lot lately, the whole "needs" versus "wants" quandry. I WANT another pair of Converse

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-85264724768192484242009-02-02T15:46:00.005-06:002009-02-02T15:53:46.991-06:00

Tanna does a great feature called Bachelor Degree. This week's hottie is my awesome brother-in-law, Jim (he's pretty casual in this pic 'cause he just took his beagle, Harvey out for a walk - I wanted to catch him in his natural state). Check him out! or send him an e-mail to let him know how brave he is for doing this - lol.

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-80466096481114289312009-01-27T08:23:00.006-06:002009-01-27T08:35:38.338-06:00

A long time ago, on a race track far, far away, this 89/90 Yamaha FZR600 raced and made someone very happy. Then that someone became bored with it's charms, and shuttled it off to a new home. It made it to the track a couple more times, but work and duty called so mostly it sat alone in a dirty, dusty farm building. This past weekend we rescued it from it's hiding place under the tail end of a

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-50363597977092319422009-01-21T07:41:00.002-06:002009-01-21T07:44:22.495-06:00

Learn from the pros

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-66808110554195783942009-01-20T08:10:00.004-06:002009-01-20T08:15:35.958-06:00

Show Your Smile and Get Free Gum!

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-54817241881440759292009-01-20T07:01:00.006-06:002009-01-20T08:16:27.808-06:00

inauguration 1569, from Fr. inauguration "installation, consecration," from L. inaugurationem (nom. inauguratio) "consecration, installment under good omens,".... -Dictionary.comMy son's 5th grade class will be watching today, even eating lunch in the classroom so they don't miss a thing. I wonder if years down the line he'll recall this day every time he eats Pringles and a bacon sandwich?

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-50108624580230612722009-01-16T06:01:00.008-06:002009-01-20T07:09:42.097-06:00

When it's this cold out, simply saying "it's cold" is the ultimate understatement. Frigid, stupid chilly, gelidity, deep freezer, the Most Not-Warm Day Ever, etc. are better descriptors, but still don't get the whole "I'm freezing my identity off" conditions across. I often jokingly tell the kids "don't stick your tongue on anything metal today!" (we love A Christmas Story!). Having grown up in a

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-16948994730508055292009-01-12T12:53:00.007-06:002009-01-12T13:18:21.893-06:00

We're soooooo lucky - we live close to our elementary school. Yes, my kids will miss out on the daily routine of bouncing to and from their education on vinyl seats, but I'm OK with that. Each morning my husband walks our two children and the neighbor's child to school. Then I walk them home each afternoon. It's great to get out and see the neighborhood, interact with the other parents on

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-45180581737127586402009-01-07T10:11:00.005-06:002009-01-08T08:11:48.153-06:00

Watch the the look on the face of his girl friend. I think I've felt like that!

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-35908193093802193592009-01-07T08:03:00.002-06:002009-01-12T12:51:48.947-06:00

Snack and stay skinny! (from Yahoo!)

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-52386772156001331002009-01-06T08:03:00.007-06:002009-01-12T12:52:15.770-06:00

It's a time-honored ritual, a societal rite of passage, or an instrument of torture if you are a 10-year old boy. It's The Family Photo Session. Each year my attempts to corral the herd and snap a decent pic are met with sighs, groans (the boy), and agony over shirt color and hairstyle (the girls). Location is non-negotiable. Every year we park ourselves on the quaint "gentlemen caller's bench"

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-37044021959303872962008-12-22T07:41:00.006-06:002009-01-20T07:12:38.240-06:00

Good deals abound now and AFTER Christmas Day - click for details. And here! Where have you found great deals? Share in the comments!

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-55361079575621711482008-12-17T07:05:00.005-06:002008-12-24T08:37:20.846-06:00

Yippee! I FINALLY have the Christmas tree(s) decorated (lights, keepsake ornaments, handmade treasures, beads, and tinsel) and with a week to spare! Woohoo! (the pic is our Charlie Brown tree - it followed us home - how could we say no?). Our big tree sat naked in the corner of the living room for nearly a week before it was adorned with anything but dust. With 14 boxes of Christmas decorations

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-23035551189391277502008-12-04T08:47:00.011-06:002009-01-20T07:13:14.636-06:00

They teach your children to navigate life, cultivate social skills, and basically, to tackle the world. Without them, our children would grow up half-full, never knowing the joy of alegbra or the revolutionary war. They are invaluable!! But, how to do say "THANK YOU!" without adding to a reluctantly growing collection of "Teachers Rule" coffee mugs, "A+ Teacher" keychains, and quaintly inscribed

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-61557778687226301312008-11-29T09:26:00.031-06:002008-12-04T09:17:36.952-06:00

We have a Magic Truck. It's a rusty '68 Chevy Camper Special, though nothing special to look at with it's faded calico yellow and rust paint, and dents and dings (compliments of my daughter's ongoing battle with the low stone wall at the end of our driveway), but it is truly magical. It can turn a dull summer night into a party at the drive-in. It has a horn with it's own agenda. It's engine

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-50987657865487459602008-11-26T14:58:00.002-06:002009-01-20T07:13:49.918-06:00

Find a great deal in-store or online? Do share!

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-13751602350286235112008-11-25T18:05:00.007-06:002009-01-20T07:16:39.759-06:00

They want the latest, greatest video game. You want to make them happy. But do you ignore the label recommendations for age and content to make that Santa wish come true? According to a recent report by the The National Institute on Media and the Family (see their Video Game Guide HERE), most parents do. Violent and brutal games are extrememly popular, but studies show that violent games have an

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-17002989634366318552008-11-18T10:15:00.004-06:002008-11-22T11:22:54.572-06:00

Warm up that credit card and shop smart: get the scoop HEREHave YOU found a great deal? SHARE in the comments!

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-46989605684845745872008-11-18T07:34:00.035-06:002008-12-11T08:02:56.721-06:00

My girl Lauren and me getting ready to tackle the track. Lauren's a great rider and fast! Me, slow and steady wins the race, right?Me on the grid, engine racing and ready to go. My heart was pounding, but it was so cold I hardly noticed. Nothing hotter than wearing a head-to-toe leather suit and boots.Learning the track and how to look thru the turn (and not at the ground).Here's Ron assessing

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-4039537901607317012008-11-09T12:03:00.007-06:002008-11-10T07:13:00.056-06:00

NO - it's not a duck. But it must be soft and absorbent, yet fluffy, won't slide all over the tiled floor when stepped upon by dripping feet, and has to match four innocuous colors - and we're not talking cerulean blue here. (And I don't want a tank or lid cover or anything that even remotely resembles "toilet clothing". I just can't go there.)Am I asking too much? I've been to six stores, made

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-9904573802925813182008-11-07T10:50:00.008-06:002008-11-12T10:35:05.488-06:00

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-60602371943985648332008-11-07T07:56:00.016-06:002008-11-07T14:02:15.882-06:00

We like to move it move it and we're so proud! Kansas City's own Eric Darnell (he grew up in Prairie Village) has created and directed another movie for Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks Animation. "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" opens in theaters this weekend. Go see it! Which character are you most like? Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, Gloria the hippo, King Julien the lemur king,

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-39180477505925174812008-11-06T21:31:00.006-06:002008-11-07T13:57:03.107-06:00

In fact, he'll be arriving at Oak Park Mall this Saturday morning at 10:00AM and KUDL will be on site to welcome him to Kansas City! (I hope he brings me that new Ducati motorcycle I've been dreaming about, and maybe some boots and a new pair of Converse). We may even need some help leading the parade around the mall.... Come out and say "ho ho ho!" I'd love to meet you. It's always great to put

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-30901768946778554962008-11-05T07:12:00.009-06:002008-11-07T14:01:25.776-06:00

It's not often I get goofy over a song. You know, the ohmigosh I-have-to-stop-what-I'm-doing and turn-the-radio-up-to-sing-along kind of goofy. "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright always gets me, but that's the song my husband was singing karaoke when I met him - dreamy!! You can't blame me for that one.But despite my best efforts I have a full-blown crush on "Crush" by David Archuleta. This song has

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-1690777002240088272008-11-03T06:54:00.008-06:002008-11-07T13:59:35.537-06:00

Trick or treating, final soccer game of the year, Brownie field trip, Webelos event, hanging out with the Mad Toto Scooter Club at Scooter World in downtown Overland Park, and celebrating a very Happy Birthday with my baby girl, Chloe (newly crowned Queen of the Webkinz)!! WHEW! Made it thru the weekend...now on to the work week! Great news! KUDL's Adopt-A-Family adoptions are now open online.

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-31545667747028787422008-10-30T14:00:00.006-05:002008-11-03T07:39:44.102-06:00

Meet the Quads: Almost A Jayhawk, Scary Skull, Barely Scary, and Night of Living Lego ManWOW! Have we been busy lately, but we did manage to hit the pumpkin patch. Share your pumpkin and costume pics with us HERE. We'd love to see your hard work all lit up for Halloween.

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-32573923843679162712008-10-19T16:37:00.003-05:002008-11-03T07:40:28.308-06:00

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-43298029037788868052008-10-17T12:54:00.008-05:002008-11-03T07:41:03.343-06:00

Before you panic, I'm not pulling out the soapbox. Voting, for me, is a private matter. You won't find yard signs at our house, or bumper stickers on our cars. In fact, I'm one of those registered undecideds that drives pollsters (and campaign managers) bonkers. Give me issues in black and white, I'll sort out the details, and then decide. Analytical, yes. Do I always vote for a winner? No. But,

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-48450340999452055222008-10-16T06:10:00.013-05:002008-11-07T13:55:06.819-06:00

I'll have to admit birthdays do NOT get easier the older you get. We're at the "halfway" stage at our house: "Hey, Mom, you're halfway to 70!", etc. (DISCLAIMER: any age depicted in this post is fictional. And don't ask) I cringe at the numerical marker, but I love my birthdays because my kids and husband always knock my socks off. This year they decorated the house with "Happy Birthday" banners,

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-57358920785661984052008-10-15T07:19:00.007-05:002008-11-03T07:42:50.518-06:00

Earlier this week, our family here at KUDL lost a dear friend to breast cancer. I wasn't lucky enough to have known her well; she left her position here shortly after I arrived. While our paths only briefly brushed one another, her impact on the people around me was profound. Sherri was warm, funny and beautiful. You always knew when she stopped by to say "hi" because the building would be

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-23600803311547176422008-10-09T21:27:00.006-05:002008-11-07T14:02:46.030-06:00

Grace is one amazing little girl. She'll be walking with her team on Saturday morning in the Walk to Cure Diabetes at the Legends. From her mom, Laura:"Grace is in her 4th year with Type 1 Diabetes and decided to make a video to share with you. If you have difficulty, you can go to www.youtube.com and search for "JDRF Grace's Groovy Gang" and the video should pop up. If you would like to support

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-69733445910759208482008-10-06T14:41:00.010-05:002008-11-22T11:21:02.094-06:00

You know, one of the best parts about being married is seeing your other half do what they love. My Guy Ron races motorcycles and he's really good at it. Yes, it's expensive, and yes, it's dangerous (as my mother keeps reminding me), but he loves it and I love that he loves it. Plus, watching him race is really exciting! The race bike, the leathers, the boots, gloves, helmet...something about all

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-4101715689575976702008-09-30T20:25:00.003-05:002008-11-03T07:41:56.516-06:00

Actress Christina Applegate was on Oprah today talking about her breast cancer and double mastectomy. If you missed it, see part of the clip here. And schedule your mammogram TODAY!

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-50831645448865240842008-09-24T12:53:00.007-05:002008-11-07T14:00:46.080-06:00

Maybe I need therapy. Maybe it's the sight of celebs out of their comfort zone on the verge of looking goofy. For whatever reason, I love this show! This season of DWTS looks pretty decent. I LOVE Cloris Leachman (I hope I'm that brazen and mobile when I'm 82). And local hero Maurice Green is holding his own. Don't forget to vote for him! We have a KC Idol, now we need a KC Dancing Champ!Any

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-3933843605693861792008-09-19T13:08:00.003-05:002008-09-19T13:25:01.565-05:00

I can't believe I'm thinking holidays already, but I am. With four kids and a fairly big extended family, if I don't get a head start it gets crazy! And I've learned the hard way how expensive last minute impulse shopping can be (ugh). We've reached that "really, truly, we don't NEED anything" stage, and have asked that relatives simply spend time with us. It's better than cheap, it's priceless

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-58937329293247799412008-09-19T10:33:00.004-05:002008-09-19T13:26:04.721-05:00

Watch out who you Google! Brad Pitt has overtaken Paris Hilton as the most dangerous celebrity to search for in cyberspace, according to McAfee. Fans searching for Brad Pitt, Brad Pitt downloads, and Brad Pitt wallpaper, screen savers and pictures have an 18% chance of having their PCs infected with online threats, such as spyware, spam, phishing, adware, viruses and other malware. Paris Hilton,

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-30382230578678443212008-09-17T14:20:00.006-05:002008-09-19T13:26:38.823-05:00

How many Shrek Chia pets does one woman need? And outgrown jammies? And Tupperware without seals? Did I really buy that pair of suede plaid pumps? Yikes - it's time for a serious closet overhaul at my house. I'm in that weird autumn "nesting" mode - must be the fall-ish weather. No matter. By week's end I'm hoping to have a pile of boxes stuffed with charitable donations. And it looks like the

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-9526364993792983342008-09-17T14:10:00.001-05:002008-09-19T13:27:07.826-05:00

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-21824530762422487642008-09-16T14:00:00.008-05:002008-09-19T13:27:39.353-05:00

Need to freshen up that Christmas tree decor? Check out Bronner's Christmas Favorites catalog. I think I'm gonna get the Tut for Dan.

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-19318656508245903192008-09-10T19:35:00.004-05:002008-09-19T13:28:05.478-05:00

Well, I planted my carrots too close together and my cukes are curvy, but at least something is growing! Could it be my black thumb is turning over a new leaf? Guess Chloe thinks so - she ate the carrots right after this picture was taken! Yum!

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-6638981421170442952008-09-10T10:02:00.007-05:002008-11-07T14:00:27.981-06:00

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-80437785431014165532008-09-08T07:20:00.004-05:002008-09-19T13:29:04.302-05:00

This article from AOL is right on the money. Whatever you are doing can wait until you get where you are going!!!

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-46431055511107190052008-09-05T06:14:00.005-05:002008-09-05T06:27:50.393-05:00

WOW! 10 years ago today I gave birth to my son, the only boy in a nest of chicks. He arrived shortly after a 6-hour road trip to Oklahoma - but for the grace of God he could have been born on the side of I-35 on a Labor Day weekend Friday! He's a super cool awesome kid and we love him very much!!! Here's a pic of his "cake". Happy Birthday, T!

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-19709087446183610602008-09-04T06:45:00.007-05:002008-09-05T06:44:11.239-05:00

School Picture Day was always one of the most traumatizing, dreaded, stress-inducing events of my school years. My shirt never seemed quite right, my smile always turned out goofy, and it was a major challenge to keep from bumping my feathered and Spritzed bangs before the photo session. And heaven forbid it would rain! Well, the "new" hasn't yet worn off of the kids' haircuts, and here it is

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-18292872206434518492008-09-03T06:50:00.005-05:002008-09-05T06:33:31.644-05:00

Yikes! Going to the grocery store is getting scary! Trying to keep good, healthy snacks in the house without draining the bank account is a challenge. I used to spend a lot of time checking the circulars and flyers and running around town to grab the best deals. But with gas so high now, I'm eating up my savings in fuel.What are you doing to cut costs at your house?

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-69271867386035237812008-09-02T17:36:00.005-05:002008-09-05T07:28:19.530-05:00

See, Dan? I CAN grow more than one vegetable at a time :)

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005795853603314518.post-55331163249210599962008-09-02T17:05:00.004-05:002008-09-02T17:45:33.601-05:00

Just got back from a trip to the barren wilds of Norwich, KS. Where is that? Somewhere between two wheat fields in the middle of way-out-there Kansas. Visiting my in-laws and sister-in-law. We ate BBQ and hung out at Suppesville for breakfast. I've not been in many restaurants where the waitstaff knows each patron by name...very interesting. And check out this Kansas Katydid!19 days until

Suzapaloozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437967712846228427noreply@blogger.com0