A few years back I heard that we ladies of Brentwood are considered the "Brentwood Barbies." Well, dear readers, I'm about to burst the Brentwood bubble and the whole Barbie theory.

Have you ever walked into a room thinking, "I feel good about me today," only to be humbled in your tracks? This simply is the story of my life.

A few years back I was walking into a local hotel for a charity event. My confidence was high as I sported my new dress and heels. It was the kind of morning that all was right with the world and, in my Barbie mind (this happens a lot), it was going to be the perfect day.

Until ...

"Hey, Jodi you seem to have something on your leg." Looking down, still not swayed, I quickly realize -- OMG -- I forgot to take the tiny piece of toilet paper off my leg when I cut myself shaving that morning. The downhill slope now begins...

"Jodi, you look great! Oh, but are you missing an earring?"

Do you see the picture?

Let's just get over the Barbie size thing, too, while we are at it. This Barbie came out the chute at a size 14 and has been there ever since. Walking, tennis, Zumba. You name it and I do it to stay in shape. I talk a great game to my children about living a healthy lifestyle and accepting body image. However, when you are married to Ken the runner you get my point...

Speaking of Ken...In Barbie land things are perfect, mostly because Ken can't speak. My Ken is the solid guy who works his tail off to provide a great life for me and our four children. In a Barbie world, as the song goes, life is perfect. Real life is messy, complicated and, let's face it, work. I would not trade my Ken for any other guy. Except maybe when he breaks things with his coffee cup or drives through carpool in the morning with the coffee cup on the roof as people try to get my absent-minded professor to look up. This will be the topic for another column some day, or possibly a book.

Here it is in a nutshell: There is no real Barbie and we are all simply women who feel deeply, passionately about life. Women in Brentwood have great opinions, talents, sense of style and love to laugh.

In the weeks and months to come, I'll be bringing you weekly updates about all the wonderful parties, tennis and golf updates and, frankly, anything Brentwood women are really up to. This column will be about you and for you; at times humorous, heartwarming and other times, well, we'll just have to see. But at all times I'll try to offer the best representation of who Brentwood women really are. But I can't do it without your help. E-mail me at jodi@brentwoodhomepage.com with all your great ideas. Follow me on Twitter at jodiinthebubble.

Now, it's back to my Barbie world where laundry awaits, and while in the laundry room I'm going to be humming that stupid song ALL day long now.

Jodi Rall is a special events coordinator and publicist who lives with her husband, four children, two dogs and various other pets in Brentwood. She has been known to play tennis. Contact her at jodi@brentwoodhomepage.com.