Ms. Cheevious in Hollywood

My Zany Years Spent Working in Tinsel Town

Lisa Jey Davis

This time it will stick

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#TheFunny

 

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Some could argue that my blog isn’t really for mommies because my kids are grown and my stories aren’t about my kids or being a mom, much.

M.C. Nugget and I were eating dinner the other night (my homemade chicken, vegetable and green chile soup, sans noodles or any starch), when he plopped something into my bowl. A piece of zucchini. Then PLOP… another one…

What? You’re not enjoying the zucchini? I thought you liked zucchini?

Yeah…. not that much, and not that mushy, he teased.

See??? I bring the skills I learned as a mom to EVERY.THING. Even dating and relationships.

IT NEVER STOPS.

The difference here is, Nuggie is grown up. He gets to be who he is and I don’t try to change him. That’s his job.

So I ate his zucchini, and I LIKED IT.

So much is happening for me both professionally and personally this year. All great things. But with new great things comes new, added pressures. With added pressures, comes the immediate need for me to get serious about fitness and health, and to slim back down to the lean, mean, well-oiled fighting machine I’ve been in the past.

It’s A HUGE YEAR FOR ME. And slimming down is the best way I can make this year the best year, ever.  I keep replaying in my mind… if Jane Fonda can rock her latter years and stay lean and healthy, DAD-GUMMIT, so can I.

Jane Fonda rocks her latter years

And even though my to-do list is fairly packed:

  1. Book Launch —- CHECK
  2. Book Signing —- CHECK
  3. Reach #1 Bestselling New Release on Amazon —- CHECK
  4. Win another award for the book —- CHECK
  5. Teach Pilates Classes all over the city, day and night —- CHECK
  6. Red Carpet, Celebrity Book Release Party in May —- WORKING ON NOW
  7. Giant Mother’s Day product review and give away – EEEEE! You guys will LOVE this one! —- Coming soon
  8. Huge jewelry-ish review and give away — OOOOO! You’ll love THIS one too! —- Coming soon
  9. Enormous, stupendous, landmark birthday for me —- in July
  10. Finish classical Pilates certification —- end of year
  11. Launch Single Mom Luv smart-phone app —- this year
  12. Write fun blogs here and health/fitness blogs everywhere else, including those I do for Livestrong.com —- CHECK
  13. Direct photo shoots for Livestrong.com —- CHECK
  14. Moderate a fitness/health/nutrition panel for Digital Hollywood with some of the biggest names in fitness —- CHECK
  15. Publish next book “Getting Over Your Ovaries: How To Make the Change of Life Your BITCH” —- sometime in the next twelve months, I hope.
  16. And guess what? M.C. Nugget keeps hinting he may actually ask me out for a THIRD date! EEEEEEEE!

THIS must go to the TOP of my TO DO LIST:

17.  Healthy eating and lifestyle changes (which includes going very light on the cocktails) —- HAPPENING NOW

The next day, when Nuggie asked me if we could sit down to study French on the Rosetta Stone (which he got me for Christmas, since we are going to France this year too)…  I’m sure he was thinking “Why not? What’s one more thing?”

But you guys!!! I need this healthy eating, lifestyle thing! Because I friggin’ love food. Scratch that. I LOVE having a good time. 99.9% of the time, “good times” involve really great, fattening, starchy, buttery food. Plus wine. Plus chocolate. And vodka. Often, cheese and proscuitto with water crackers.

Give me a few drinks and you KNOW I’m eating that pizza. Don’t try to stop me.

I know.

I KNOW!

Nuggie and I laughed about this, because I have this habit of going all DEEPUFF CHOPRA on myself for big events (where I de-puff with my trademark, Zen-like focus and drill-seargant discipline leading up to a big event), only to become Puff the Magic Girlfriend afterward.

Puff the Magic Girlfriend aka Lisa Jey Davis

In fairness to ME… I think I’m a Tiny Pufflestiltskin most of the time, but when an important life event nears, Deepuff Chopra takes over and slims down. Then, I just relax and allow things to go back to “normal” afterward.

THANK GOD, I haven’t ever let it get out of control (not since that time right before my divorce…that time I talked about in my book).

THANK GOD, Tiny Pufflestiltskin isn’t too horrible to look at.

But, you know? I’m not content to be “not too horrible to look at.”

“Not too horrible to look at” is not the tag line I’m going for (not that there is anything wrong with that).

I always aspire for more, and for feeling the BEST EVER.

So, SAYONARA, because I’ve decided to allow my zen-like, drill-sergeant ways to take the reigns FOR.EVER.

Signed,

Your former “Puff the Magic Girlfriend,” soon-to-be lean, limber and healthiest ever friend,

DEEPUFF CHOPRA

And THIS TIME… I MEAN IT.

THIS TIME IT’LL STICK.

 

#DailyMischief #Diet #Exercise #Fitness #Health #DeepakChopra #Zen

MOM FACTOR:  Don’t let the kids always decide what you’re eating. YOU.ALWAYS.DECIDE. End of story. 

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Register to receive these posts once a week by email and get my eBook “Ahhhhh…Haaaaaa Moments with Ms. Cheevious” for FREE as a result (a $3.99 value). Registration is on the right side bar of every blog post on MsCheevious.com, or on our Facebook page. You can read about and purchase all of my books on my book page. See you next time.

Blog content copyright 2015, LISA JEY DAVIS a.k.a. Ms.Cheevious.

It’s time kids

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I know it’s been almost nine friggin years in the making, and I realize it’s been so damn long that to refer to my memoir “Ms. Cheevious in Hollywood – My Zany Years Spent Working In Tinsel Town” as much anticipated, or even long overdue, seems well, a little old and worn. I also am cognizant of the fact I have been promising this book for so long that the mere mention of it here on the blog has been scant, to say the least, and has mostly been relegated to the BOOKS page of the site.

But guess what?

The day when I can ACTUALLY say “I wrote a memoir” and have it be – well… TRUE… is HERE. And that day is TODAY (well, I made the pre-order available a few days ago, but it counts).

CAN I GET A WHAT WHAT???

THIS IS BIG, YOU GUYS.

Though it’s the hardcover that’s available for pre-order at a discount ($24.99 instead of the $29.00 release price) until the book is set to release on February 1, and the paperback and eBook versions will be available later this year, THIS IS HUGE!

As a special part of this pre-order nonsense, I am offering to sign your copy. This could be really valuable, you know, in case I become famous one day, and then die, and assuming you are still living and decide to auction it off. It could happen.

image

And, call me crazy, but I’m not even charging extra to sign your book, and mail it personally to you (you just have to select the “package” option on the page).

I know, right? That shit is CRAZY.

So, it’s time kids! If you don’t want to preorder a copy, AT LEAST follow this link and go and FAN the damn page, would ya?

Here’s the link. Have fun: http://www.mscheevious.pubslush.com

No sign off stuff here because I did this all from my phone while on the chair lift in Mammoth Mountain (okay, I’m lying. I’m actually on the floor in the bathroom of our hotel room in Mammoth at 4:15 AM and couldn’t sleep until I told you guys about this, even though I am on my phone and this is a pain in the ass, because this shit right here IS the shit… You know? But saying I did it just prior to jumping into the halfpipe on my snowboard sounds so much cooler). Have a great week everyone and GO RIGHT NOW TO FAN MY PRE-ORDER PAGE AND MAYBE EVEN PRE-ORDER A SIGNED COPY.

 

#MomFactor: All women, in general, will enjoy this book, but moms will take more away from this book, I think; and if you’re a single mom, especially, then this book is for you, written with you in mind, my dear. GET IT. READ IT. COMMIT IT TO MEMORY. That is, if you want to.

 

I was rocking *AND* rolling

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I WAS ROCKING *AND* ROLLING

 

#DailyMischief

 

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So the other night, M.C. Nugget and I went out for some cocktails with my new BFFs Marrie and Suzie. I mentioned here how Marrie and Suzie (fellow bloggers who also dish on dating and relationships) and I have known each other for about six years or something, and yet we just met in person this week. That was a very cool experience.

But on Friday night we brought the SMACK DOWN on nightlife in Santa Monica when the four of us decided to meet for drinks after happy hour, after we’d already had a couple of cocktails.

Sure, it began as a respectable gathering. We grabbed a great table on the outside patio at Areal (our favorite place), and shared funny stories. It felt very civilized. I think… I mean, isn’t THIS what respectable, fun and interesting adults do? I’m just curious.

After a few cocktails and a couple of other stops, we (me) decided it was time to dance. I like to dance, and if I hear good music, I’m done for. Play a song I’m in love with at the moment, and I AM CUTTING A RUG, you guys. It’s a weakness I was born with (it runs in my family, as evidenced by the above photo). If the Pied Piper tried to woo me, that blasted flute thing wouldn’t do. Not unless he played a beat-box track along with it. Then, I’d be toast. And this is true, whether there is alcohol involved or not. Alcohol merely intensives things.

So, there was that.

As the evening at Bar Copa (the closest dance place we could get to) progressed, I decided to busta-move in front of our little table. When I say busta-move, I don’t mean twerking, no. We’re talking deep knee bends… the kind where you squat all the way down to the floor and stand right back up. I can do this… normally. 

I was able to do it a couple of times, but I was a little wobbly, so instead of cutting my losses and moving on, I chose to keep trying. I teetered forward a couple of times, catching myself on the little table in front of me, until I finally over compensated, and rolled backward onto my BUTT.

ON THE FLOOR.

ON MY ASS.

Great way to break out my slick cool moves for my new girlfriends, I know.

Nuggie quickly jumped up, “Okay, dancy, come and sit over here with me.” But there was no controlling me. I just kept rocking AND rolling.

It wasn’t the alcohol, I swear.

It was THESE SHOES.

I rocked AND rolled

I promise, if you try to deep-knee-bend-dance in these shoes, you WILL invent a new dance. It will be called the ROLLY POLLY.

It brings a whole new meaning to the song “Get on up on the dance floor.”

 

#MomFactor: Every mom needs a little fun now and then. That’s all I got. 

 

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Register to receive these posts once a week by email and get the blissful yoga routine in an eBook “Ahhhhh…Haaaaaa Moments with Ms. Cheevious” by Lisa Jey Davis for FREE as a result. Registration is on the right sidebar of every blog post, or on our Facebook page. See you next time.

Blog content copyright 2014, LISA JEY DAVIS a.k.a. Ms.Cheevious.

 

 

This is what family does

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Last month I flew home for three days to help my family do a spruce up of our childhood home. I come from a family of 11 – yes ELEVEN – kids from the same set of biological parents. We were raised Catholic. I have my own set of excuses I like to give for how 11 kids came about… “My mom was Catholic and my dad was easy…”, “My dad was in the navy, so my mom got pregnant every time he came home”… “I was adopted.” You get the idea.

Our family home is on the market, but was in dire need of serious attention, so, off I went.

When I say that my family and I did this, I’m exaggerating. Sure, twelve people were present and accounted for:

Me and my three sisters (Pah-tay, Ice-tay and Smart-tay – all of the “tays” were in my Capers of the Sherwood Kind video);

Our lovely former sis-in-law Hot-Tay and her beau;

Two of Smart-tay’s lovely daughters (our nieces), a grand-niece and one of Bliss-Niece’s good friends (all came from out of town to help);

One of our brothers (when he wasn’t working – about a half a day – throughout the weekend);

A girl I went to school with in third grade who was crazy (I mean lovely) enough to respond to my begging and pleading on Facebook;

When I say that we spruced up the home, I mean we prepped a seven bedroom home, the doors, light fixtures, fireplace, trim etc. We painted four of the bedrooms, most of the main rooms (kitchen, living room, den, bathroom), and we did things like repair lights that were falling out of the ceiling, linoleum that was peeling up and so on. We also strategically placed throw rugs to cover flooring that would be replaced when the house sells. IN TWO DAYS.

WE ROCKED THAT THING.

On Saturday night our youngest brother invited us (his sisters) to come out to hear his band perform at a bar in town. Smar-Tay and Ice-Tay, the two oldest, declined. They don’t “do” clubs anymore. That left me, Pah-tay and Hot-tay to represent for our brother. We were exhausted and covered in paint, but something about live music at a club (and copious amounts of cocktails) holds a certain appeal and makes a girl want to make an effort. Plus, we felt it was a great opportunity to show our brother that we support him and our family, regardless of circumstances.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Our little rock-n-roll brother did not grace our family’s home once during the weekend, even on his day off. Two other of our brothers didn’t make it for various other reasons. (Okay, one of them cut the tip of his finger off, and the other was in rehab… EXCUSES, EXCUSES).

But THIS? This begs the question, “Why show up in support of little rocker brother, when he didn’t support you?” which demands the answer: BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT FAMILY DOES. We (my sisters and I) are not barbarians, for goddsakes. 

Here is what our family’s home looked like on Monday morning, as we laid down the last of the throw rugs, and Pah-tay and I drove to the airport to fly home:

Family Spruce Up

By the way – if you’re an actor, producer, director, or just someone who loves the Southwest, and you’re looking for an affordable place to shack up in Albuquerque, maybe so you can ride the New Mexico Entertainment Industry Gravy Train… Have I got a property for you! And it’s SUPER AFFORDABLE, with a swimming pool, on corner lot, with TONS OF SPACE, and two blocks from the Catholic church. Need I say more?

I’d buy it if I could, because dangit – it’s a great house. SNIFF SNIFF.

#MomFactor: Teach your sons to be chivalrous, valiant, and to protect, love and support their sisters. 

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Register to receive these posts once a week by email and get the blissful yoga routine in an eBook “Ahhhhh…Haaaaaa Moments with Ms. Cheevious” by Lisa Jey Davis for FREE as a result. Registration is on the right side bar of every blog post, or on our Facebook page. See you next time.

Blog content copyright 2014, LISA JEY DAVIS a.k.a. Ms.Cheevious.

 

 

If I were a drag queen

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IF I WERE A DRAG QUEEN

 

#DailyMischief

 

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I was talking to a friend Aaron the other day, reminiscing about some good times (times when we rocked this world working on music specials and award shows for MTV, and people gave us free stuff just because they thought we were cool). Oh wait. That still happens. Neither one of us works for MTV anymore, but you can’t erase our knack for fooling people into thinking we’re “cool.” I’m sure Aaron gets cool things like free address stickers and stuff mailed to him too, because he’s doing uber cool fashion shows for Tech-Week these days. And me? Well, YOU KNOW me.

But hey, over the years our priorities have shifted. Swear.to.god. Free address stickers and boxes of chocolates are just as cool as singing karaoke with celebrities or having access to box suites at the Kentucky Derby, the Super Bowl or other fun events.

Seriously though, he really is one of the coolest guys I know. Aaron is the guy who hired me on my first real-life television gig and regardless of the laughter and silliness, he is still one of the most highly respected men in the business. He’s legendary. He and I always joke that we should have a radio show because our hilarious telephone banter would be an immediate hit. I’m sure we’re just drunk with our own merriment, but it feels good to muse about.

The other day was no exception. Aaron was telling me one of the many funny stories from his days as a CBS paige when he was first starting out. I’ve heard most of these stories at one time or another, but I can’t be responsible to remember these things, and he has a knack for reeling me in with a new twist. Here’s how it went:

“Lisa, I worked on the lot next to where the show Solid Gold was shot. Remember Solid Gold?”

 

Oh my god. Yes! Too funny.

 

“I’ll never forget when the solid gold dancers would come filing out of their studio door.

 

LISA, they had a choreographer who had the best name for a drag queen. Her name was almost as good as Ms. Cheevious.”

HOLD UP.

WHAT?

 

Ms. Cheevious is NOT a drag queen name, Aaron!!!!!

 

“No, but think about it! It would be perfect.”

 

(pause)

 

Dammit, you’re right!

 

“But you know what her name was? Have I told you this before?”

 

Probably, but I can’t remember.

 

(pause)

(pause)

 

“You ready?” 

 

(pause)

 

“ANITA MANN.”

 

(pause)
“Say that out loud, Lisa.”

 

*laughs*

 

From CBS paige to drag queen names.

Ms. Cheevious’ name being enviable to drag queens.

These are the topics of life, people. These are the twists and turns in a conversation only possible between people like Aaron and I.

This is what I love about my life. People like Aaron.

But let me clarify this, ladies and gentlemen. If I were a drag queen…well… ANITA MANN.

I would want that to be my name.

Gay Pride March ~ Piccadilly, London

 

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photo credit:
Robert Croma / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

I’m pretty gluten-ous

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I’M PRETTY GLUTEN-OUS

 

#DailyMischief #Health #Diet

 

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I’m sure you already know this, but for the last four weeks, M.C. Nugget and I have been GLUTEN-FREE. The #DailyNugget hilariously reflected Nuggie’s struggle to be totally gluten free (here and here). It was my idea and I am happy to take the blame – er – credit. The reason I wanted to do this was because I’d already been thinking long and hard about the inevitability of my going on the GAPS diet one day in my future (something that will completely restore the flora of my intestines to a naturally healthy state).

Don’t stop reading. It’s really a thing.

So, in an effort to sort of wax GAPS, without all the upheaval to my daily routine (because it’s a whole giant lifestyle change, with real deprivation and insanity), I posited a Gluten-Free Month to Nuggie. I knew if he were game, I could certainly do it, cuz’ PFFFF… I’d be stuck then. I can’t let him outdo me (or anyone I posit something to, for that matter).

Nuggie survived pretty well on the gluten-free train too (though he may argue the contrary). When he realized that BEER is UTTERLY, TOTALLY, AND COMPLETELY GLUTEN IN A GLASS – well, then it was all over. He wanted to take his ball and go home.

February 1st was our first GLUTEN-OUS day after 30-days on the diet. So, on Friday night, January 31st we went to our neighborhood coffee shop and picked up a red velvet cupcake for each of us to wake up to. I know. We’re so friggin’ cute! We made our first day of being GLUTEN-Y a thing.

But hang on, because there is more.

I actually feel lighter. I look lighter. I feel more energetic, and guess what? Being gluten-free was NOT that hard. I rather enjoyed it.

… though, I must admit, I do love my bread. And I mean I LOVE MY BREAD.

So, then I had this dream….

No I'm NOT licking the bread! #GlutenFree

If you cannot see the video box above, you simply MUST click this link and watch this video, because M.C. Nugget’s camera skills and direction are UNMATCHED! http://youtu.be/md7CzNweoGY

Now let’s recap so you all remember this is a #HEALTH post:

After one month of being Gluten Free

1) I feel lighter

2) I look lighter

3) I feel more energetic

4) Being Gluten-Free was NOT that hard.

I highly recommend at least trying it. Then send me your dreamy video, would you?

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