Hello cats and kittens! I’m so flattered to be this week’s feature! (I’ll pay ya later, Mark… wink wink.) Instead of starting this “Mandy Session” with me going on and on about myself, I thought I’d put what someone else has said and then follow up with some random facts about myself. So, thanks for stoppin’ by and thanks for supporting this swanky music. Cheerio! Xoxo, Mandy

““How to describe Miss Lauderdale? A fine-featured Atlanta belle turned scandalous by New Orleans dixieland? A New York stage gypsy determined to scratch her way into the national limelight, one sculpted fingernail at a time? An accomplished vaudevillian

who can turn any page from the songbook into a novelty number? All of the above? Lauderdale’s is the most theatrical cabaret act I’ve witnessed in Austin, replete with audience participation that would make Zach director Dave Steakley blush with envy. Let’s see, she set up a kissing booth, staged a toenail-painting session, shimmied with her mom and sis, and blasted “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” with an endearing clown in a kilt. Come to think of it, she’s like an early, less raunchy Bette Midler, caressed by class. Her material is shaded light blue – woman-proud, man-crazy, faintly campy. Lauderdale, you’ve got it.” –Michael Barnes, Austin360.com

25 Things You Don’t Know About Mandy Lauderdale

1. I make my own skincare products. I named the line “A Lil’ Dab’ll Do Ya.” Might be available to the public one day.
2. My edible weaknesses are popcorn, gorgonzola, peanut butter fudge and rice krispie treats. I love foods that are fun to eat and require some sort building or dipping process like lettuce wraps, fondue, sushi and fajitas. I also love Guatemalan coffee, unfiltered sake, wine, Terrapin beer and Lagavulin scotch.
3. February 21st is my birthday. I’m a Pisces, but just barely. If you want to know how old I am, you’re going to have to do some research. I was born the year of the horse.
4. I’ve got this thing for bald men. And hairy chests. Real men don’t shave their chests.
5. I have a moderate amount of O.C.D., but I’m completely aware of it and strive to “find order in disorder” (a saying that has been quite the elixir for me) in almost everything I do. I make myself park my car crooked, I try NOT to center my glass on the coaster and I’ll make sure one of the cans in the pantry doesn’t have the label facing out. Hahahaha.
6. I’m a list maker. Sometimes I put things on my To Do List that I’ve already done. I’ve put sex on my To Do List before.
7. Velcro drives me crazy. If you’ve ever washed some nice lingerie with something that has Velcro on it, you’ll understand what I’m talking about.

8. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Home Depot. Since I’m a do-it-yourself kind of girl, I make many trips to this oasis. I knew I spent too much time there when I walked in one day and one of the employees said “Hey Mandy.”
9. There’s a 2 dollar bill tucked in one of the pockets of my wallet. I keep it there because my dad did something similar.
10. My dad died of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday, March 20th, 2002 in room 627 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, GA, at 8:15pm. Still feels like yesterday. He was an incredible man who I miss so much.
11. I don’t allow water bottles on stage when I perform not only because I’m an environmentalist, but because they are SUCH an eye sore. My players and I drink out of champagne bottles instead.
12. I warm up my voice by singing the theme song that ESPN plays before a football game. It has some great range and runs in it.
13. I only have about 50% of my sense of smell.

14. The term “lol” drives me crazy. I thought it meant “lots of laughs” instead of “laugh out loud” for the longest time. I prefer a good “hahahahaha.”
15. Yellow is my favorite color. My kitchen is painted burnt yellow. Sunflowers are my favorite flower. A lot of my wardrobe has yellow in it.
16. I do a cleanse/fast at least once a year. The health benefits I receive from it are astounding. Isagenix is my favorite one.
17. I m a terible speller. Oops, I mean terrible. ;-) I don’t know how I’d survive without spell check and dictionary.com.
18. I have a cat named The Dude. Her name was Little Dude, but she’s not little anymore… so I dropped “Little.” I adopted her from my neighbor in LA who got her off the streets. Took a while to adapt to having a cat, especially after having rottweilers all my life, but I adore her.
19. My natural hair color is dark blonde. You have no idea how often I get asked if this bright red is my natural color. And people are SERIOUS when they ask! Wow.

20. I went to a private Catholic high school. Yep, wore the whole uniform and everything. Wanna hear a funny story? About 4 years after I had graduated, some new friends of mine begged me to wear my uniform out one night. Why not, right? I’ll indulge some of my guy friend’s “Catholic school girl” fantasy. So, we decided to meet at this pizza place called Fellini’s in Atlanta. I walked in all decked out in my old uniform… penny loafers, white knee socks, plaid skirt, white button down shirt, navy blue blazer, hair in two braids, the works, when all of a sudden I heard someone say “Mandy?” I turned around and who was standing there… about 10 people from my high school. Nice.
21. I recycle EVERYTHING. And if it can’t be put in the recycling bin, I find another use for it. For instance, I collect corks and make trivets, coasters, art, ornaments, and foot mats out of them. If I have clothes that are too beat up to be donated, I shred them, put them into a pillow case, sew the pillow case together and give it to an animal shelter to be used as a bed.
22. My brothers and sister are incredible athletes. My sister, Missy, was a collegiate gymnast and my brothers, Matt and Brian, have both played for the San Diego Padres.
23. Mandy Lauderdale is my REAL NAME. I say that cause I get asked that a lot.
24. I’m Irish/English/Scottish, hence the very pale skin.
25. My favorite quote is “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” I think about that quote when I’m afraid of trying something unfamiliar. I truly believe that fear of failure is what holds a lot of people back from living up to their potential. If you imbed that quote in your soul, you’ll give SO much more effort to your dreams and goals.