HAS A FRIEND EVER EMBARRASSED YOU IN PUBLIC?

Uh...that would be a very loud YES! (lol)  During my younger years, you could pretty much blow on me, and I'd sport a red face.  Now, not so much. 

Many, many years ago, I had a close friend who came from a very wealthy family of physicians.  She had everything a young person could want, but every time we went to a restaurant to eat, she'd steal a roll of toilet paper.  Yes, you heard me correctly.(lol)

The first time it happened, I tried to get the roll back from her and put it back in the bathroom, and that of course didn't work.  Meanwhile, I was super embarrassed, telling her that what she was doing just wasn't cool. It didn't help that someone actually saw her with the evidence. Living in a 6 bedroom house with all the bells and whistles, she obviously didn't need a stockpile of toilet tissue. I mean, what in the heck, right? Other than that, she was a really fun person to hang out with, and we laughed all the time.

Needless to say, it wasn't a one time incident.  Over the course of a year, it happened about 8 times, and no matter how hard I tried to convince her to stop, nothing worked.  Back then, no one was really going to arrest her for taking a roll of toilet paper from a restaurant, but I still had a hard time accepting that part of her personality.  I mean, what would happen if her kleptomania escalated to diamond rings or electronic equipment, right?  Embarrassment would be the least of my problems. So sadly,  I ended the friendship. Ironically, she's now a retired Pediatrician in California and doing quite well. Now she gets her toilet paper fix by using coupons like the rest of us. 

But what about you?  Has your face turned red because of someone you know?  How did you handle it?

UNIVERSAL
I don't know if you had a chance to watch the Oscars this past Sunday, but one thing I noticed at the beginning of the show were the looks of joy on so many faces.  

Dance + Smiles + Twizzlers + Junior Mints = Universal Love

OSCAR TRIVIA
The first show was in 1929 and lasted long enough to rush into the gas station to grab a drink and pump some gas - 15 Minutes!

Sadly, the duo from Price Waterhouse has been banned for life from any further Oscars for that now very famous error.
'

7 REASONS NOT TO WATCH "SAY YES TO THE DRESS"

Say Yes to the Dress from TLC is celebrating 10 years of dressing joy, crazy mishaps and happy endings, and yep, I've been binge watching.  It's hard to believe that the first show came on in October 2007.This is one of those programs that will hook you in before you know it!  I mean, what else are you going to do on Saturday nights, right?

1.  You're gonna blubber like a baby before the show is over.

2.  Watching will make you think of renewing your wedding vows as an excuse to buy a new gown.

3.  You'll  break open your Piggy Bank to travel to their Annual Blowout Sale, just because.  

4.  Someone in the entourage is going to piss you off. (lol)

5.  Watching repeats is not out of the question.

6.  You'll start comparing yourself to the brides on television, knowing that you can wear it better. (lol)

7.  Randy Fenoli will become your new best friend.

TAKING STEPS EACH DAY
Did you know that 1000 steps is the equivalent of 1 mile?  If you want to keep track without a whole lot of extra gadgets, StepzApp.com is a good one to add to your phone.

TWISTER
If you've ever played Twister as a kid, you probably ended up in a few compromising positions.

You can find the game in Walmart for about $19.  I even came across a large inflatable one online for about $2,000! I got lucky and found one at a yard sale for $1.00, and because I'm a brave soul, I actually managed to wrangle up a few friends to play the game the other day. 

The next day, I had no idea that my body had so many hidden places that could ache.  I felt like I had completed a yoga, pilates and aerobics class all in 3 minutes, because that's about how long I lasted in that dang game. (lol) And, NO, I was not the last person left standing.  What about you?  Are you up for a game of Twister?

WIN A $100,000 DREAM TRIP!

Scoring a fantastic trip like this sounds almost as good as winning the lottery!  Enter twice a day for your chance to stay in First Class Hotels throughout Florida and Jamaica for 16 wonderful days.

Enter up through March 24, 2017 by clicking on the ENTER link below, which will take you to the Travel Channel site. Check out your entire itinerary for this dream trip which includes meals and other exciting adventures.  Did I mention this prize is worth $100,000?  WOW!

Enter 

Are you a fan of pancakes?  I can never quite get them right at home, but IHOP sure knows how to prepare the perfect flapjack. Take advantage of their National Pancake Day on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 from 7am - 7pm,  and snag a FREE Buttermilk Shortstack!

HOMEMADE CHERRY LIMEADE
Years ago, I visited Sonic and fell in love with their Cherry Limeade.  Now I make my own with Simply Limeade, lemon juice, and slices of lime. I add tart cherries from a can that are unsweetened, and have been packed in water.  Some people mix Maraschino cherries with Ginger Ale or Sprite, or add sugar for a more sweet taste. Others add vodka for an extra kick!

Whichever you prefer will definitely be yummy!

MEET CHEF HOLDEN FROM MAN vs. CHILD ON THE FYI NETWORK

As a kid, my mom tried to teach me to cook and I wasn't having it, so knowing that this child prodigy is actually a well traveled gourmet chef truly amazes me. I give many kudos to this brilliant young man.  I've been watching Man vs Child for the past two years, and all these young people truly know what they are doing.  I mean they literally battle well-known chefs for bragging rights! But don't take my word for it.  Say hello to Chef Holden Dahlerbruch.

1.  We watch you on the FYI Channel, but where else can we see your work?

Chef Holden: I have done a lot through the TV show, but I have done much more. I work in a restaurant in Culver City called The Wallace on Saturdays. I also am working on redoing the school lunch menu for my school district. Recently I did a pop up dinner and a small bites evening at Stage + Table in Santa Monica.

2.  Wow!  You're super busy! What was the first thing you ever cooked and how old were you?

Chef Holden:  I cooked first when I was four. I got up every morning to make scrambled eggs while standing on a chair.

3.  Do you do all of the cookIng at home for your family?

Chef Holden: I do not do all the cooking for my family but I do much of it. My dad also cooks dinner when I have too much homework. My mom likes to try our food, set the table, and loves making reservations at fun new restaurants to try out.

4.  I love trying new restaurants too! What is your favorite thing to cook?

Chef Holden: I love to cook almost everything. I make fresh pasta once a week and I have recently been trying more Asian flavors.

5.  Yum to pasta! When will the new season start, and are you friends with the other prodigies on the show?

Chef Holden: We have no idea when or if we are doing another season. I am as impatient as you are, because it was such a great experience.  I am friends with all the other prodigies so I hope we get to do it again.

6.  I'm sure keeping my fingers crossed! Who has been your favorite chef to compete against and why?

Chef Holden: I have so many favorite competitors. My top five are Joel Miller, Zoe Schor, Richie Farina, Dustin Trani, and Keith Breedlove to name a few.

For me, it isn’t just the competition. These chefs are my favorites because I learned from all of them. Chef Keith taught us about pickled grapes and I make those all the time. Joel is now my mentor at The Wallace. Richie is one of the best molecular

Gastronomy chefs in the world, it was such a pleasure to compete against him. I have staged in Dustin’s restaurant and my family still goes there for dinner all the time. And Zoe came looking for ideas. She is currently working on opening a new restaurant in Chicago and we were throwing ideas off each other. She later sent me an email saying she tested my stabilization technique for foam and it worked perfectly.

7. That's phenomenal to work with so many wonderful chefs and to learn new things. What was the last movie you watched and what did you like about it?

Chef Holden:  The most recent movie I watched was actually Toy Story 2. One of my best friends had never seen it. It is such a great film. I always remember it playing over and over again on Disney Channel. It is just one of the most perfect animated movies of all time.

8.  That's a movie I've never seen, but it looks like I should check it out soon. What would people be surprised to know about you?

Chef Holden:  Most people would be surprised to find out I am on my school’s ComedySportz team. ComedySportz is competitive improvisation played as a sport. Also, I started a Spontaneous Pancake Club at my school to give out free pancakes to students in need of a stress reliever.

9.  That sounds pretty neat! Where will we see you in the next 10 years?

Chef Holden: Truthfully, I have no idea where I will be in ten years. I want to go to business school and do something with food but I am keeping my options open. Currently, I am working on a few outside projects that I'm keeping under wraps for now but will announce soon!

10.  We'll be on the lookout for the upcoming news soon. If people want you to cook for them, or cater a meal, how can they reach you?

Chef Holden: The best way to contact me is via email: ChefHoldenCooks@gmail.com or direct message me on Instagram @ChefHoldenCooks  Please email me if you want me to cater, make an appearance, want to know a little bit more about me, or have a question on cooking. I am happy to answer!

Well there you have it!  We've hung out with a famous chef who's not even 21 yet!  Even better, Chef Holden is not only knowledgeable about the cooking world, but he has a very kind heart.  You can also meet him on Twitter to get more information. All this talking about food has made me hungry, so I'm outta here for a snack!

HAS AN AUTHOR EVER SURPRISED YOU?

I have a massive TBR pile of all types of novels, but my favorite authors actually have their own space on the bookcase. I'll purchase these novels without reading the blurb or checking out the cover. These are the writers that cause withdrawal while waiting for that next release.  Since I was 8 years old, I've literally read thousands of books.

In 2016 however, I ran into a situation when a release from one of my faves fell short.  The writing was choppy, and the characterization was very stilted.  The main story took so long to get to, that I found myself yawning frequently, waiting for things to pick up.   By the the 8th chapter, I was outta there, wondering if the original writer had been kidnapped.  Strangely, her next two novels were right back on target.

The 2nd matter came up because of a Social Media post.  As bloggers we see weird and negative posts all the time that we mostly ignore.  I didn't engage, but I couldn't forget that particular rant. This particular author received lots of favors from readers.  She later attacked some of these same valued fans who really cared about her, with some rude and unkind comments when they asked some simple questions. Sadly the comments continued for quite some time.  I didn't get it, and scratched my head in confusion.  

The final issue actually happened a while ago with a writer who had a kick ass first novel.  The intensity, the nail-biting suspense, and the research had me thinking for a long time.  The end of the book gave a 5 page excerpt of the next story which was to be released in about 6 months.  Yay!  It's 5 years later, and I'm still waiting for that second book!  Even worse, there's literally no info on what in the heck happened.

Notice that no names are given here, because even though I've been disappointed, authors are people too, and sometimes things happen. We see them at the grocery store, we hear stories about their families, they get sick, and they share exercise tips. They churn out books, consistently adhering to strict deadlines, fighting writer's' block, and needing to create stories that allow us to live in other magical places. Through them, we meet Dukes, Spies, Army Rangers, Chefs, Fashion Designers, Teachers, Physicians, Firemen, Millionaires, Cowboys and more from all over the world. Some are fortunate to make a ton of money, yet many others write what they love while still working full time to make ends meet.

Even though I may feel some disappointment on occasion, I can't ever imagine life without books and writers.  They are talented enough to create new worlds, and to introduce us to characters we can't wait to meet.  As long as there are writers out there to tell a story, my TBR pile and bookcases will continue to grow.  But how about you?  Has an author ever disappointed or surprised you?  

SAVE MONEY AT THE PUMP
Get special deals and discounts on gas and more by visiting this site: https://www.fuelrewards.com/

Clothing Finds
Do you absolutely adore the fab clothing that the rich and famous wear?  Get lots of insider secrets from around the world in Where the Stylists Shop from Amazon or Barnes and Noble in Kindle or the print edition.