It was worth that long-haul flight, after all.
Lindsay Lohan was back in court this morning for the first time since Judge Stephanie Sautner sentenced the perpetually troubled starlet to 30 days behind bars for violating probation (she served just a fraction of that time).
But guess what? Christmas came early for LiLo today, as she was treated to something rather unusual by the no-nonsense judge: a glowing report of her probation.
Here's hoping this is the start of a turn-around...
When discussing Lindsay's community service hours, Sautner praised the star for having "done it not only on time, but early. You did the 12 days and you completed it early."
Well done, Lindsay! So what's next? Just more of the same…
"You know the drill," Sautner told her.
Lindsay has to repeat the process—serve 12 days' community service, complete four therapy sessions and check in with her probation officer—before her next progress hearing next month.
Meanwhile, though today's lightning-quick proceedings were as smooth as Lindsay and attorney Shawn Holley could ever have hoped for, there was still one small point of contention.
"There seems to be some confusion on whether or not you were permitted to take vacation outside the state," Sautner said, adding that Lohan's probation officer apparently "thought your sister's birthday was a holiday and said you could go to Hawaii. I don't have a problem with that."
In fact, Sautner said she would continue to encourage LiLo's adherence to court orders by allowing the starlet to travel out of the state for any purpose so long as she's already completed her dozen days of service.
"Any month you've completed 12 days early, you can travel," she said. "For pleasure, for any purpose…to go to a spa, whatever she wants to do. Whatever anyone else is allowed to do.
"You're doing well," she noted after joking (joking!) with both Lindsay and Holley. "I'd like to see it continue…I know she doesn't like coming back here."
And there may be even more good news on the horizon for Lindsay.
"Do more days a month and then we can end this in February, possibly." Merry Christmas, indeed!
For now, LiLo must complete 12 more days of service, four therapy sessions and meet with her probation officer prior to her next court hearing, on Jan. 17.
—Reporting by Claudia Rosenbaum