The Get Real Girls had lunch yesterday to discuss, among other things, our upcoming show on work/life balance. We started talking about what it feels like when you're craving something in your life but it already seems like your plate is too full to add anything more. This got us thinking about buffets. Could the way you fill your plate at an all-you-can-eat buffet be a metaphor for how you balance your life?

Alexis, our producer extraordinaire, said she always takes a little bit of everything because she doesn't want to miss anything. But then she walks out feeling stuffed. Colleen said she's known to butt in line to get to what she really wants (nice manners, missy!). Naturally, Joan redecorates the entire restaurant before even grabbing a plate! And I am pretty picky, only putting on my plate the things I know I'll like and am familiar with - and then I go back for more of the same.

It was an a-ha moment for all of us to consider whether the way we fill our plates at a buffet is similar to how we choose to fill our plates in life. And to consider whether we actually feel satisfied after the meal...or at the end of the day. Am I missing out on some much-needed spice in my life? Does Joan need to help herself before she helps others? Does Alexis need to start prioritizing? Does Colleen need to go to etiquette class?

How about you? How do you buffet and how do you balance? Do you see a connection?

I adore Christmas. But enough is enough. I went to Macy's this week, to the Marketplace section, and I was stunned to see it decked out with decorated Christmas trees and ornament displays. And I was even more perplexed by the fact people were BUYING them!

Isn't a holiday special because it's a rare occurence - coming just once a year? Thinking about it four months in advance makes it feel not-so-special anymore. Years ago, stores waited until Thanksgiving to deck the halls. Then, they eventually started putting up holiday displays right after Halloween. But early September?? At this rate, why don't we just leave the holiday decor up all year round?

I really feel like the holidays are sacred. They bring family and friends together, they force us time-starved Americans to take a breather, and they often inspire us to act out of generosity and kindness. So, the marketing of the holidays - earlier and earlier every year - really rubs me the wrong way.  It makes the holidays more about materialism (does your tree really need to be trendy??) than magic and memories.

I'd love to think that retailers will someday back off and celebrate the holidays ONLY during the holidays. But, as long as people are willing to buy ornaments, stockings and decor so far in advance, the Christmas displays will only get earlier and earlier. Christmas in July may become an actuality. I would write more, but I have to go order my family's Christmas cards!

We thought our kid's swimming lessons had gone down the drain. During the last set of lessons, our four year old son became more and more scared of the water instead of more and more confident. He had started the sessions with a good teacher who left abruptly after a couple of lessons. She was replaced by a teenage guy who clearly didn't know how to engage preschoolers and was way over his head. By the last lesson, our son sobbed and refused to even go in the water without my husband (who, bless his heart, went in with his clothes on!).

Nevertheless, our son somehow graduated to the next level and he was scheduled to start the new season of swimming lessons today. We thought for a minute about quitting, but I really wanted him to give it another try and see if a different teacher could make all the difference. The answer is a resounding YES!

This morning, we both took him back to the pool. He was not a happy camper. But as soon as we walked in, his new teacher Joe yelled out to him by name and squirted him with water. He was super funny - with the perfect sense of humor for a four year old - and made swimming COOL. We were absolutely amazed at the immediate transformation in our kid. He was jumping in, going under water and giggling throughout his lesson. When it was over, he asked if he could do another lesson TODAY. What a turnaround!

It just goes to show what a GREAT teacher can do. This guy was confident, had confidence in the kids, taught with a sense of humor and had his audience of four year olds in the palm of his hand. We told him what an amazing job he'd done in just the first session today. So often, teachers - from the swimming pool to the classroom - only hear negative feedback vs. what they're doing right. So, just a friendly reminder: if there are teachers who make your kid light up, who inspire your kid to excel, let them know it. Thank goodness for great teachers!

Who would take a toddler on a 3+ hour flight with no toys, food or a sippy cup? The woman sitting next to me last night, that's who! But thank goodness for all the experienced mommies on board!   

As soon as the young mom and her 15-month-old son sat down next to me, I noticed a small purse but no diaper bag in sight. When our flight was delayed and we sat on the tarmac, she did a great job of entertaining her boy - walking him up and down the aisle, pointing out the window at the airport trucks, showing him pictures of planes in the in-flight brochure. But as soon as we took off at 9pm, she was fresh out of ideas and he was not a happy camper.

I don't know why she didn't bring anything along to keep her little guy entertained, but that's not important. What I do know is that wherever mommies are needed, they report for duty! Rather than rolling their eyes or huffing and puffing, everyone I could see on the plane was very understanding and patient. And when the little guy got fussy and his mom looked helpless, several moms pitched in to keep the toddler busy.

I dug into my bag to find the truck I had bought at the airport  for my own son back home. That was a big hit - for a few minutes. We then played a game of pointing out all the butterflies on the book I'd been planning to read. A woman across the aisle found a couple of magazines and catalogs with pictures for the toddler to examine. The woman  in front of me played peek-a-boo with him. A wise flight attendant brought a cup with chopped ice, then later a cup of orange juice. Finally, about two and a half hours into the flight, he fell asleep on the seat next to me.

All the mommies breathed a collective sigh of relief, happy that he - and we - could get a bit of rest. I was really proud of everyone for rallying together and finding creative ways to help another mom. I'm willing to bet that if she ever flies again with her little guy, she'll take along a big bag full of toys and other distractions. And, hopefully, if another mom ever needs help, she'll be among the first to step up to the plate.

Have you ever talked to an angel? Princess Martha Louise of Norway says she has - and one of her country's top newspapers wants her to give up her crown because of it. Makes me wonder: would we Americans lose trust or confidence in one of our leaders or national icons for making the same admission? I sure hope not.

The controversy is making international headlines, including a small article in Wednesday's Star Tribune. Apparently, the 35-year-old princess (who is fourth in line to the throne), is involved with a spiritual center that's been dubbed "the angel school" by Norwegian journalists; she has said publicly that she believes she has communicated with angels. 

On Monday, a staff editorial printed in the Norwegian newspaper Bergens Tidene said, "The solution is clear and actually not dramatic: Drop the princess title and her place in the line of succession, (and) choose to live life in her own way." Gosh, that would send a great message, especially to her nation's children. A princess is only a good princess if she tows the line, doesn't follow her heart and keeps quiet about her spirituality. Make sure nobody actually knows the real you, kids!

It's not as if Princess Martha Louise has admitted to criminal activity or destructive behavior. In fact, angels represent grace, love, faith - all pretty great things. Now, is there definitive evidence they exist? No. Has anyone proven they talk to angels? Nope. But the same goes for God; would the paper have attacked the Princess if she announced she talks regularly with God? At last check, there's still no scientific evidence that God exists either. But billions still believe in and communicate with a higher power. 

I would hope that if an American leader or celebrated icon ever mentions his or her encounters with angels, we will see it as a sign of strong faith and courage - not mental instability. After all, an Associated Press study released late last year shows the vast majority of Americans believe in the presence of angels. We may not talk much about it with each other, but 81% of us think angels are real.

Interestingly, pollsters found that there's no one common definition for an angel. Everyone has a different description, based on their own beliefs and experiences. In a radio interview defending herself this week, the Princess provided a pretty eloquent description of angels. She said, "Some feel them, others see them. Everyone experiences them from their own standpoint. For me, they are beings of light, like a feeling of a powerful presence, a strong sense of love."

That doesn't sound wacky to me. In fact, it sounds wonderful. One of my favorite sayings is: "Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly." I do hope the Princess holds her head high, keeps her tiara on top of it and, when the media frenzy finally fades, has a good long chuckle with her angels.