Saturday, February 28, 2015

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: WIN A ROMANTIC GETAWAY TO MEXICO

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: WIN A ROMANTIC GETAWAY TO MEXICO: Just because Valentines' Day is over doesn't mean you can't still get away from it all for just a little while with that specia...

WIN A ROMANTIC GETAWAY TO MEXICO

Just because Valentines' Day is over doesn't mean you can't still get away from it all for just a little while with that special someone! If you're 21+ years or older and a resident of the United States (excluding Illinois, Tennessee and Utah) enter for your chance to win a 4 Day/3 Night Trip to Cancun/Riviera Maya in Mexico. 
The Rosa Regale Romantic Getaway Sweepstakes may be entered once per person, per day and ends on March 31, 2015 at 11:59pm (ET)

One (1) Prize: A three night/4 day trip for two(2) people to Cancun/Riviera Maya in Mexico. The prize includes round-trip economy-class airfare to Mexico from a major airport nearest the winner’s residence and three (3) nights hotel accommodations in one (1) room, double occupancy at an all-inclusive resort. ARV: $3,500
Good Luck!
Thanks to Sweeties Sweeps.

Friday, February 27, 2015

FREEBIES & GOODIES RECEIVED THIS WEEK

I'm one of those people who love getting mail, so when something goes wrong and nothing is in that box, my day just isn't the same. 

Anyhoo, I'm supposed to remember to take pictures of the things I receive, but apparently my age is catching up with me.

In addition to what you see here, I've received a 1 year subscription to Martha Stewart Living, 1 year subscription to Shape Magazine, Stila Forever Your Curl Mascara, L'Oreal Wear infinite Lush Raven Eyeshadow,
 

Charmin Basic to Go, Screamin' Energy Max Hit Energy Drinks, 3-in-1 Meta Health Fiber Bar, Shea Moisture Product, Orajel Pain Relief, Zicam Cold Sore Gel Swabs, and "Go Red" Heart Pin.  All FREE!

Thursday, February 26, 2015

SECRET WEDDING BARGAINS

According to http://www.costofwedding.com, the average wedding cost in the United States is $25,200, with the lucky couple spending up to $31,500. YIKES!  The honeymoon, of course, is extra.  Plug in your zip code to get average rates for your neck of the woods. Despite these prices, there are ways to find deals so you can keep most of that money in your wallet.
Here are some tips to get you started:  








WEDDING DRESS
Unless you plan to keep your dress forever, or to pass it on to your daughter, save thousands by renting instead.Visit the bridal section of www.RentTheRunway.com  for your gown, as well as fabulous accessories. Choose from over 65,000+ dresses and rentals are typically from 4-8 days.

Don't forget about Craigslist  and Facebook Yard Sales, where people want to cash in quickly on unwanted wedding attire, decorations and shoes.  Also consignment stores often have designer clothing at a fraction of the cost.

Save a ton of money by shopping for Bridal gowns at www.anntaylor.com, J. Crew, or  www.BHLDN.com .


Shop on-line at  www.NetBride.com www.PearlsPlace.com, or www.RKBridal.com.  All 3 of these sites provide quality service, good ratings and gowns that are reasonably priced for brides and the bridal party.

INVITATIONS
Go paperless for the best bargain at www.evite.com which is totally FREE and offers over 100 designs, but if you're like me and still love to touch a beautiful wedding invitation, here are a few excellent ones:  www.indianweddingcard.com  has some of the most unique designs you'll ever see.  Choose your own design,color and letter style, then see what your invitation will look like right away when visiting www.eInvite.com. 




IN THE KNOW WITH RO: WIN $750.00 FROM HILLSHIRE FARMS

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: WIN $750.00 FROM HILLSHIRE FARMS: If you are 18+ years or older and a resident of the United States, enter the Naturally Delicious Hillshire Farm Sweepstakes for your chance...

WIN $750.00 FROM HILLSHIRE FARMS

If you are 18+ years or older and a resident of the United States, enter the Naturally Delicious Hillshire Farm Sweepstakes for your chance to win $750 for yourself, and a $750 donation to a local food bank! 
Enter once per day, per e-mail address, no later than April 30, 11:59 (ET)


Thanks to Sweeties Sweeps!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

FREE DR. SEUSS EVENT AT BARNES & NOBLE

If you have kids, be sure to take them to participating Barnes & Noble stores for a FREE Dr. Seuss birthday celebration event on Monday, March 2nd at 7 PM. 

The event will include story-time and activities featuring Oh, The Places You’ll Go, The Cat in the Hat, and Green Eggs and Ham. Click here to find an event near you.  This sounds like fun!


Thanks to The Freebie Blogger

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO EDEN BRADLEY, INTERVIEW & CON...

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO EDEN BRADLEY, INTERVIEW & CON...: New York Times & USA Today Bestselling  and award-winning author Eden Bradley aka Eve Berlin writes dark, edgy erotica and erotic roma...

HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO EDEN BRADLEY, INTERVIEW & CONTEST

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Eden Bradley aka Eve Berlin writes dark, edgy erotica and erotic romance for Berkley, Bantam, Harlequin/HQN, Black Lace Books and Samhain Publishing, as well as venturing into self-publishing. Her books have been translated into German, French, Romanian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Czech and Japanese.
As someone who has been involved in BDSM practice for much of her adult life, she relates in particular to her BDSM and kink stories, infusing them with her own truth about kink practice from her life experiences, and my goodness does she give some juicy details!

Amazon.com: Ink and Iron: Obsession eBook: Eden Bradley: Books

BLURB: OBSESSION

He could have it all… but all he wants is her.
Ink & Iron, Book 1
During his soaring career as the lead singer of indie-rock band Ink & Iron, Cole Kennrick has been through it all: sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Overindulging until he lost what mattered most.
Now he’s pulled his life together and left his addictions behind, except for one: his ex-wife, Janie. If only he can convince her their love was—still is—the real thing.
In the seven years since their divorce, Janie has kept tabs on the only man she’s ever truly loved. The one she had to leave in order to save herself. Still, dark and often kinky desires they explored together linger in her dreams and fantasies.
Janie has seen up close and way-too-personal that rock stars are bad, bad medicine. But when Cole shows up at her yoga studio, clean and sober, his leather-and-motorcycles scent teasing her senses, it’s way too tempting to slip right back into the one place she swore she’d never risk again—his arms.
Warning:  One smokin’ hot tattooed rock star, five sexy-as-hell motorcycles, and a little spanking—because leather and skin just naturally go together.


1      Who are you really?  Eve Berlin or Eden Bradley?  You're obviously real, but are your names?
They’re both pen names-they say you haven’t really made it in the romance genre until you get prison email. Seriously! I started with Eden, and due to writing for multiple publishers and contract issues I had to write as Eve for Berkley for a time. But those issues are past and now the ‘Eve’ name is only on the foreign editions of my first three Berkley books: PLEASURES EDGE, DESIRES EDGE and TEMPTATIONS EDGE.

2    You've been writing seriously since 2000.  How many times were you turned down before you were published and what did you do with your first royalty check?
I was really one of the lucky ones-I had three rejections from Silhouette Desire before I sold a book the first time I ever got to pitch live to an editor at a small e-publisher. My first royalty check was quite small-I may have bought myself something yummy at Starbucks-lol! But that book started my career, and it’s been building steadily ever since.

    What's the last 3 books you've read?
I haven’t been reading much in the last year or two, sad to say. But the last three were: The Angel by Tiffany Reisz (I cannot say enough good things about her writing!), I re-read a long-time favorite, The People: No Different Flesh by Zenna Hendersen (old sci-fi-amazing stuff!), and CJ Roberts Captive in the Dark (awesome, but not for the faint of heart!).

    What countries have you visited and what kind of souvenirs did you bring back?
I’ve been to Jamaica, a few of the Virgin Islands—St. Martins is French/Dutch, so not sure if you’d consider that another country…? Mexico (Cancun is so beautiful!), England (London and Cambridge), Scotland (Edinburgh and St. Andrews) and France (Paris and Versailles), and to Ontario Canada in January, which I don’t recommend-lol! But my favorite keepsakes I brought home from my Europe trip. I went in November, and I found the most gorgeous Christmas ornaments all over the UK, and from Paris…a small painting of the Eiffel Tower gifted to me by a tall, dark, gorgeous French painter-one of the artists set up around the square in Montmartre. Maybe I should have stayed…

5      Since you are a "foodie" - when can we expect to see you on Chopped or Master Chef, and what inspired your love of cooking?
Oh-I’m no gourmet! I’m a good ‘plain’ cook-peasant recipes from my Eastern European family and really good French and Swiss peasant recipes from my ex MIL who was from Nice. But Master Chef? I’d probably cry in the first hour!

I think my darling grandmother inspired my love of cooking-I spent almost every weekend of my childhood in her kitchen.

How many shoes are actually in your closet and do any still have the tags on them?
If we’re counting boots and sandals and flip-flops-well over 50. And none still have the tag-that would be such a terrible shame! I’m often tempted to write in my stilettos, since they’re so beautiful and I have so many, but then my fuzzy slippers call…

6       How long does it take you to write a novel, and do you ever have Writer's Block?
I think writer’s block is the thorn in every writer’s side, but if you’re a career author you just have to sort of power through. There are a lot of tears and chocolate. Sadly, I am not kidding!

A full-length novel takes me about 5 months to write and edit-wish I could write faster! A novella (about 1/3 novel-length) I’ve done in anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months. They just roll out a lot faster for me.     

      You've stated that you walk in the BDSM world.  For those who may not understand, what is the BDSM lifestyle and do you have to visit certain locations for story ideas?

Hmm…defining BDSM is an hour-long workshop in itself, and that’s just to get started. Let me try to simplify, but please know I’ll have to leave a LOT out! If any of your readers would like to explore further, please do some reading. I’d suggest as a starter kit:
The New Bottoming Book and The New Topping Book by Dossie Easton and Janet W Hardy, S/M 101 by Jay Wiseman, Screw the Roses, Send me the Thorns by Phillip Miller and Molly Devon.

The acronym ‘BDSM’ stands for Bondage and Discipline, Domination and Submission, and Sadism and Masochism.  Those involved in BDSM may enjoy only one aspect or all of them, and kink is a different experience for every individual. BDSM can be a ‘lifestyle’, but not everyone who practices kink considers it a lifestyle-particularly if they don’t live in those roles 24/7 (I do not). The ‘BDSM lifestyle’ can vary for each person at any given time. There can be very serious play where the submissive/slave/bottom (these roles are not necessarily all the same thing) must be obedient and follow very strict rules set out by the Dominant/Master/Top (again, these are not necessarily all the same thing). There can also be very playful play where there’s cussing and laughing, tickling and playful taunting. Sometimes pain is involved, sometimes only bondage, sometimes only a blindfold, sometimes the sub/slave is given tasks, like giving their Dom/Master a foot massage or cleaning the floor on their hands and knees with a toothbrush, or keeping a journal of daily thoughts and activities-there are a million possibilities. The key is the power play or power exchange, where one person gives up their power to another. This is why we often say the sub/bottom has the true power, in that they choose to give it over to another-or not. And again, I am SO touching only the tip of the iceberg here. For me, a lot of it can be about mind-f**k as a Top or a bottom (I’m what they call a switch-I can play in either role, depending on my partner and my head space).

I don’t necessarily have to visit a certain location for story inspiration, having been involved in kink for 30 years, but I do like to. I’ve been to clubs and dungeon spaces as well as play parties in private homes all over the country. Not everyone is into ‘public’ play, but I happen to love it! But I do have a lot of history to draw on.

But very often a story is inspired by a person, a song, a place…my entire Dangerous Romance series (DANGEROUSLY BOUND is out now and DANGEROUSLY BROKEN is out in October, followed by DANGEROUSLY BAD) was inspired by New Orleans.

8    What was your inspiration for writing the book "Obsession"?

Honestly, it started when the amazing Lauren Hawkeye (and if you haven’t checked out her work, you might start with her book LINGER) invited me into a Box Set called Riding Desire (the story has since been re-edited and expanded and is being re-issued now through Samhain Publishing). Lauren had already decided on the premise and the heroes in this set all had to be bad boy bikers-luckily one of my favorite types! I immediately thought of making my hero Cole a rock star because they’re the ultimate bad boys (I’ve dated a lot of musicians and even one rock star, and I can tell you it’s absolutely true!).

It seemed natural to set the story in LA-I’ve lived there off and on much of my life, and a lot of people in the music industry are there. The rest just sort of came to me. Cole came fully formed-he was pretty damn bossy about it-told me what he looked like, that his guitarist was his brother, and that his great love was his ex-wife, Janie. Seriously, my heroes talk to me like that. Some of my heroines, too! (especially Rosie from DANGEROUSLY INKED and Mischa from TEMPTATION’S EDGE-both tattoo artists). But back to my bad boy hero, Cole… I didn’t even get to decide about his tattoos-he told me all about them, too. But I didn’t mind-tattoos are such a personal thing, so I let him have his way. Um…not that he’d let me write the story until I did everything he asked. Demanded. Did I mention how bossy he is? Bossy men are always such lovely inspiration when you’re a kinky girl…; )

9      Do strangers ever walk up to you in the shoe store and ask for sexual advice because they know you are an erotic romance author?

Not in a shoe store (so far, anyway) but at conventions and any time I speak on a panel and definitely at the kink clubs, as well as Facebook and the website that’s sort of Facebook for kinky people. It did happen at a Christmas party once! I used to be on Playboy Radio with the porn stars fairly regularly, so I’m used to it. If I have time I really don’t mind, particularly if it’s advice about BDSM. I’d really love to see people approach kink safely and joyfully, and if a few words from me or a book recommendation can help someone get there, then I’m happy to do it. I feel very strongly that those of us who have been involved in kink for a while really owe it to our kink community to help educate the new people coming in. With the release of the 50 Shades movie there will be a new surge of people exploring BDSM for the first time, which makes this a more crucial time than ever to reach out and answer questions so no one gets hurt, and to fight the misconceptions that inevitably spread.

1    Where do you see erotic romance and yourself in the next 5 years?


Again, the release of the 50 Shades books and now the film have given new life to my genre. It’s also opened up a lot of dialogue about female sexuality, and I believe this will make erotica and erotic romance more popular than ever, because readers won’t feel they have to hide what they’re reading. I think erotic romance and I will be going strong in 5 years. I’ll be writing like mad, I’m sure! I also hope I’m madly in love with a hot, tattooed, Dominant bad boy who is crazy about me, and have my dream home-a ‘compound in Santa Barbara on the California Coast, with guest houses for all of my friends to come and visit. Vacation homes in Italy and Bali, maybe…? If I have even half of that-writing and love-I’ll be a very happy girl.

Thanks so much for this fab and informative interview.  We love your work and look forward to many exciting books int he future.


CONTEST - Two Winners

Win (1) autographed print copy of DANGEROUSLY BOUND (Open to Continental US residents only)




Win (1) e-copy of BREAKING SKYE  (Open to US & Non US residents).

Simply comment here no later than February 25, 11:59pm ET for your chance to win.  Good luck!














Visit the website www.EdenBradley.com or her group blog at www.Smutketeers.com

Monday, February 23, 2015

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: FREE PANCAKES ON NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: FREE PANCAKES ON NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY: It's difficult for me to get through just one pancake every time I try (lol), but for those who love them, stop by IHOP on March 3rd bet...

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: FREE PANCAKES ON NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: FREE PANCAKES ON NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY: It's difficult for me to get through just one pancake every time I try (lol), but for those who love them, stop by IHOP on March 3rd bet...

FREE PANCAKES ON NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY

It's difficult for me to get through just one pancake every time I try (lol), but for those who love them, stop by IHOP on March 3rd between the hours of 7am - 10pm.

They're offering a FREE stack of buttermilk pancakes just for you!  To beat those crowds, the best time to visit:
 9am, 10am 1pm, 7pm and 9:30pm.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: WIN A TRIP TO SEE MELISSA ETHRIDGE AT SUTTER HOME ...

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: WIN A TRIP TO SEE MELISSA ETHRIDGE AT SUTTER HOME ...: If you're 21+ years or older and a resident of the US, enter one time per day by March 15, 2015 for the chance to win a trip to the 201...

WIN A TRIP TO SEE MELISSA ETHRIDGE AT SUTTER HOME WINERY

If you're 21+ years or older and a resident of the US, enter one time per day by March 15, 2015 for the chance to win a trip to the 2015 Spring Live in the Vineyard to see Melissa Etheridge at the Sutter Home Winery in Napa California.
Two (2) Grand Prizes: trip for two to Napa, California. Includes: round-trip coach airfare for winner and one guest from the gateway city nearest the winner’s home to a major airport near Napa, reimbursement for one rental car for ground transportation (up to $300), a two hundred fifty dollar ($250.00) Visa debit card for meals and incidental expenses (alcoholic beverages excluded), double occupancy (one room) accommodations for a three night stay at a hotel selected by Sponsors and admission for two to various Live in The Vineyard events in the Napa Valley between March 27, 2015 and March 28, 2015. ARV: $2,300.00
Thanks to Sweeties Sweeps!

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: "LIFE IS SHORT. HAVE AN AFFAIR"

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: "LIFE IS SHORT. HAVE AN AFFAIR": Did that title grab your attention?  Let me first say that I don't and NEVER will condone cheating of any kind, no matter what justific...

Saturday, February 21, 2015

"LIFE IS SHORT. HAVE AN AFFAIR" - Is Monogamy Dead?

Did that title grab your attention?  Let me first say that I don't and NEVER will condone cheating of any kind, no matter what justification is given, yet when I found out about www.ashleymadison.com, I had to check it out for myself because the idea of it just seemed so unbelievable and crazy!
In case you haven't heard, the title above is the actual tag line of an actual site for married people wanting to meet others for 'discreet' encounters.  Women pay nothing to be a member, but men are charged about $300 annually to participate.  There's even a special fee to have your profile removed if you prefer. Wow!
Despite alleged sales of 55+ million, www.Ashleymadison.com is banned in  several countries and many television stations won't air their ads.
Clearly, their focus isn't on providing current information because the Blog on the website hasn't really been updated since December 2014; however, it does take the time to give tips on how to have an affair, which celebrities are cheating, erotic stories and infidelity statistics for those who may interested.
As long as cheating brings big bucks, all is ok, I guess.  What has happened to monogamy and commitment?  Is that now a thing of the past?  Is being old fashioned outdated?
Apparently Noel Bidermann, co-owner and mastermind behind this site, who by the way, earns $ 5 million  dollars a year and claims to be happily married, doesn't care about assisting men (or women) with dishonest and shady behavior as long as he achieves a hefty bottom line.  I wonder just how he would feel if his wife anonymously signed up to use the site he so lovingly promotes?  Also, I believe that people who cheat are abusing their significant others by lying, gaslighting, playing games, withholding funds and other forms of domestic violence.
What I'd really enjoy is a debate between www.chumplady.com who shares how to get out of cheating relationships, and Noel Biderman, who believes it's okay to sell extramarital affairs, to see who comes out on top.  Me - I'm definitely Team Chumplady!


!
But don't take my word for it.  Check out the site for yourself to form your own opinion, then let us know what you think.
Hugs...

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: DESSERT BANANA BOATS

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: DESSERT BANANA BOATS: Treat yourself to chocolaty banana boats this weekend with this super simple recipe! Ingredients 4 Small Bananas 1/2 Cup Semi-Sweet Cho...

DESSERT BANANA BOATS

Treat yourself to chocolaty banana boats this weekend with this super simple recipe!


Ingredients
4 Small Bananas
1/2 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup Miniature Marshmallows
Chopped Peanuts or Walnuts (Optional)

Directions

1.  Preheat your oven to 300 degrees, then slit each banana lengthwise through 1 side of the peel, being careful not to cut all the way through the banana.  Stuff each slit with the chocolate chips and marshmallows.

2.  Wrap each banana in aluminum foil, place upright on a baking sheet and bake until the chocolate and marshmallows have melted - about 10 to 15 minutes.

3.  Unwrap and serve immediately, sprinkling on the nuts if you prefer.

Friday, February 20, 2015

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: SMOOTHIE POPS

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: SMOOTHIE POPS: Yes, it may be cold in your neck of the woods, but these smoothie pops still work well as snacks for the kids or for a quick party . ...

SMOOTHIE POPS

Yes, it may be cold in your neck of the woods, but these smoothie pops still work well as snacks for the kids or for a quick party.






1/2 Cup of Vanilla Yogurt
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Cup Frozen Berries (Strawberries, Raspberries or Blueberries)

Blend everything until smooth, then pour into 3 5 Oz. Cups that you use at the water cooler,and place a wooden pop stick in the middle.

Freeze until solid, which should be about 3 hours or so.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: RELAX & READ A ROMANCE

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: RELAX & READ A ROMANCE: Get lost in a magical tale of love from authors you know or meet  new to you romance novelists.  Below are a few good ...

RELAX & READ A ROMANCE







Get lost in a magical tale of love from authors you know or meet new to you romance novelists.  Below are a few good ones that are guaranteed to make you smile.








IN THE KNOW WITH RO: FREE ADDRESS LABELS

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: FREE ADDRESS LABELS:     Free Human Rights Address Labels Get a  FREE sets of address labels  from the Human Rights Group. This offer is will be available th...

FREE ADDRESS LABELS

   Free Human Rights Address Labels

Get a FREE sets of address labels from the Human Rights Group. This offer is will be available through February 19th, and it's super simple to do.
Thanks to Freebie Blogger


IN THE KNOW WITH RO: VERY BERRY SALSA

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: VERY BERRY SALSA: Initially when seeing this recipe, I was a little iffy because of the radishes, but their crunchiness, along with the citrus dressing transf...

VERY BERRY SALSA

Initially when seeing this recipe, I was a little iffy because of the radishes, but their crunchiness, along with the citrus dressing transformed a blueberry-strawberry fruit salad into a salsa that's tasty, unique and healthy.

INGREDIENTS
1 Large Orange, zested and juiced
1 Large Lime, zested and juiced
1 Cup Fresh Blueberries
2 Cups Fresh Diced Strawberries 
1/2 Cup Diced Radishes
1/2 Cup Chopped Scallions or Onions
1 Large Jalapeno Pepper - Minced
2 Tbs Chopped Fresh Mint
2 Tsp Seasoned Rice Vinegar




DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, gently toss 3 tbs. orange juice, 2 tsp. orange zest, 1 1/2 tsp. lime juice, 1/2 tsp. lime zest and the last 7 ingredients.  Season with salt and pepper.  As always, if you want some extra heat, throw in a pinch or two of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.  Serve with tortilla chips and you're all set!

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: FREE KRISPY KREME DONUT

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: FREE KRISPY KREME DONUT: Krispy Kreme is celebrating their 1000 store opening in Kansas City, KS by providing customers throughout the country a FREE Original Glaze...

FREE KRISPY KREME DONUT

Krispy Kreme is celebrating their 1000 store opening in Kansas City, KS by providing customers throughout the country a FREE Original Glazed doughnut on Tuesday, February 24!  No coupon is required and the offer is good for one per person at participating locations.

Visit their website for more information.

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: KALE & APPLE SALAD

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: KALE & APPLE SALAD: Kale and Apple Salad Kale tastes yummy any way it's prepared and it's a super  healthy  vegetable to keep in the fridge. This ...

KALE & APPLE SALAD



Kale and Apple Salad


Kale tastes yummy any way it's prepared and it's a super 

healthy vegetable to keep in the fridge. This recipe won't 

take long to prepare, guests will be impressed!





Ingredients


3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
1 bunch kale, ribs removed, leaves very thinly sliced
1/4 cup dates
1 Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apple
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1 ounce pecorino, finely grated (1/4 cup) or use Gouda
Freshly ground black pepper



Directions

Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add the kale, toss to coat and let stand 10 minutes.

While the kale stands, cut the dates into thin slivers and the apple into thin matchsticks. Add the dates, apples, almonds and cheese to the kale. Season with salt and pepper and toss well.


IN THE KNOW WITH RO: WTF IS A "FAKE" BLOG

IN THE KNOW WITH RO: WTF IS A "FAKE" BLOG: The other day, a friend of mine who runs a Frugal site called to tell me that her soon to be ex-husband called her blog, "fake".  ...

WTF IS A "FAKE" BLOG

The other day, a friend of mine who runs a Frugal site called to tell me that her soon to be ex-husband called her blog, "fake".  According to the dictionary, that term means counterfeit, not genuine or authentic, having a false or misleading appearance.

Let me first say that she is divorcing her husband because he's been verbally abusive and a serial cheater, so we really shouldn't be all that surprised that he chose to attack her passion.

I should also mention that while I can't provide the name of the blog in this instance for privacy reasons, she has over 2000+ followers, about 49,000 views of her blog and is exceptionally popular. Not making a lot of money yet, but it's coming. She writes about how and where to save money, provides information on recipes and enjoys cooking, and somehow manages to share funny stories of her life without bringing up the horrors of everything she's been going through while being married for the past 9 years.

Okay, her husband has been caught and it's over, and he's obviously decided to move on with his life. What possible reason could he have to say anything negative about a blog that never mentions him, and focuses on the things his wife loves?  Why can't "over" mean "over"?  He made his wife miserable by constantly degrading her, yelling for no reason, gaslighting, attempting to control her money and humiliating her for how she dressed, yet it appears he's not done twisting the knife.

Despite being angry that he continues to mistreat her, I calmed down enough to tell her to ignore this narcissist who obviously has his own issues and to embrace her success by looking at the numbers and all the new friends she's met who appreciate her humor and expertise.  I also shared that nothing about who she is, including her blog, is not sincere.

Finally, if a person takes the time to place content on a blog, be it a sweepstakes, a book review, a discussion about life, feelings, recipes, fashion advice, media news etc., how in the world can it ever be considered, "not real" when clearly that person has something of value to communicate?

What about you?  Is there such a thing as a "fake" blog?

Hugs...