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Friday, May 17th

Taco Bell is testing a new breakfast taco - It's a waffle folded around a sausage patty and a heaping of scrambled eggs. If it does well in California, Taco Bell says they will roll it out to all their restaurants that serve breakfast.

Thursday, May 16th

John Stamos will perform in The Beach Boys's band during its performance at 7 p.m. on May 25 at River's Edge Park. The concert is part of Loess Fest, a series of free events to celebrate the opening of the park.

Wednesday, May 15th

Oscar Mayer is introducing a bacon hot dog.

They actually came out with five new dogs, but only one of them has bacon cooked right into it.

The “Bacon Dogs” are hitting the shelves this week just in time for Memorial Day.

The clock in at 130 calories and have 11 grams of fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, and 270 milligrams of sodium each. But who cares? It’s bacon!

Tuesday, May 14th

A national online survey from Great Clips has revealed the greatest hairstyles of all time. What's your favorite?

Monday, May 13th

The season finale of New Girl is tomorrow...

Thursday, May 9th

The "Transition" is the first flying car and is set to go on sale to the public as early as 2015.

The design is part sedan, part private jet with two seats, four wheels and wings that fold up so it can be driven like a car.

It can reach speeds of around 70 miles per hour on the road and 115 in the air.

It flies using a 23-gallon tank of automotive fuel and burns 5 gallons per hour in the air. On the ground, it gets 35 miles per gallon.

The $300,000 Transition comes with two passenger airbags, and a full-vehicle parachute.

The Massachusetts-based firm has also unveiled plans for a TF-X model that will be small enough to fit in a garage, and won't need a runway to take off.

Wednesday, May 8th

More than 200 Major League Baseball players have ordered Louisville Slugger bats in pink to use during games that take place on Mother's Day (Sunday, May 12th). The game bats will later be auctioned off to benefit Major League Baseball Breast Cancer Charities. Louisville Slugger is making pink bats for fans too. They're available -- and can be personalized at SluggerGifts.com. Ten dollars from each sale will be donated to breast cancer charities.

Tuesday, May 7th

Monday, May 6th

Friday, May 3rd

Whiskey maker Woodford Reserve is celebrating the Kentucky Derby by selling a $1,000 mint julep at the event. The cocktail comes in an oak case lined with silk fabric, and is accompanied with a keepsake pewter cup and a gold-plated straw. The drink has mint leaves that are "dusted with gold" and ice that is made of "gold-filtered mineral water." The drink will only be available at the Kentucky Derby and requires an advance online order. All proceeds from drink sales will go to charity.

Thursday, May 2nd

Charlie Sheen wants the media to leave Denise Richards alone about her weight. He posted a picture showing him and an unidentified man with a plastic bag tied around his head. "this guy didn't listen," he captioned the shot.

Wednesday, May 1st

Visit Curious, the Umbrella Cockatoo, at the Henry Doorly Zoo.

Monday, April 29

Obama with bangs...

Friday, April 26th

Thursday, April 25th

Wednesday, April 24th

The Mars One Foundation has announced plans to take volunteers who are interested in a one-way trip to Mars. The organization's CEO said interested applicants should plan to living out the remainder of their life on the red planet. The CEO explained, "We are very excited about launching the selection program. Round One is where we open the doors to Mars for everyone on Earth. This is an international mission and it is very important for the project that anyone anywhere can ask themselves: Do I want this? Am I ready for this? If the answer is yes then we want to hear from you."

Monday, April 22nd

Last week has to go down in history as one of the worst in American history. The Boston Marathon bombings. The West, Texas explosion. The attempt to mail the poison ricin to the president. These were just a few of the horrible events of the week. So, Time magazine compiled a list of good things that happened. Click here to see the full list.

Friday, April 19th

From Buzzfeed.com a hearwarming story from Boston.

Five golden retrievers made their way around Boston Wednesday, visiting some of the 176 victims of Monday's marathon attack. Maggie, Addie, Luther, Ruthie, and Isaiah are comfort dogs, dispatched to various communities in the aftermath of tragedies. They're trained like service dogs, but focus on providing emotional support.

"The dogs work for about two to three hours at a time, and then we make sure to give them a break," Lizzie Brose, a handler for the K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs, told BuzzFeed. "They really do absorb the feelings of the people around them."

There are about a dozen dogs in the K-9 Parish, which is based at a Lutheran church in Chicago. This isn't the only comfort dog group in the country, but it is the most popular group, and the only one that travels extensively around the country. Other comfort dog groups typically work locally out of churches, hospitals, and universities.

Debbie Custance, a London psychologist who's studied the empathy of dogs, explained to National Geographic that during times of crisis, interactions with humans involve "expectations and judgments," but interactions with dogs are refreshingly simple.

"[It's] a very uncomplicated, non-challenging interaction with no consequences," she said. "And if you've been through a hard time, it's lovely to have that."

All five of the dogs spent time in Newtown, Connecticut, last December. Two of them even stuck around permanently, becoming five-days-a-week employees at the relocated Sandy Hook Elementary School. Newtown was the dogs' first high-profile event, but earlier this month they also went to Wadsworth, Illinois, where a school bus carrying 30 children tipped over. (None of the children were seriously harmed.)

After visiting patients at Tufts Medical Center on Wednesday, the dogs were stationed on the porch of First Lutheran Church — a half-mile away from the marathon explosion site. They were petted and embraced by dozens of passersby.

"I saw the explosion, and as one would be, I was incredibly shaken up," said Nick Holmes, an acting student at Emerson College. "But I saw online yesterday that the dogs were going to be at the Lutheran church, and I was like, 'I know what I'm doing after class tomorrow.' Because I need this."

Thursday, April 18th

Cupping?

Wednesday, April 17th

The giant African land snail has invaded southern Florida. More than 1,000 of the snails have been caught each week. Experts are looking for a way to eradicate the destructive species. They not only eat a wide variety of plant matter but also destroy homes by chewing through stucco and plaster in search of the calcium needed to fortify their shells.

Monday (Tax Day), April 15th

KMTV has a list of local businesses that will give us some freebies on tax day today.

Friday, April 12th

Bruno Mars' four sisters just scored their own reality show on WE tv. The series will follow; Presley, Tiara, Tahiti and Jamie as they move from Hawaii to Los Angeles to launch their own music career as the Lylas. Do you think they have what it takes?

Thursday, April 11th

Candice Glover - best "Idol" performance ever?

Wednesday, April 10th

Tuesday, April 9th

This morning Chris told me and Cami that dolphins are a source of milk for drinking and we could not believe that dolphins are actually milked. Well, they are - here's the proof on YouTube.

Thursday, April 4th

What Barbie would look like without all the pretend makeup and hair product.

Wednesday, April 3rd

Oh, happy day!

Tuesday, April 2nd

Well, the good news for Wynonna is...there's room for improvement.

Friday, March 29th

You would not believe how good the "Donut Burger" at Stella's is. Just look at that delicious piece of art. Yes, it's a burger nestled between glazed donut. And, yes, I ate it all.

Thursday, March 28th

According to screenjunkies.com these are the best 80s movies to see on a date.

The best 80’s chick flicks to watch on a date include the romance that girls desire with the action and humor that guys love so much. The 80's was the era for teen comedies from visionaries like John Hughes and is ripe for smart, entertaining fare that will entertain males and females of all ages.

“When Harry Met Sally” This romantic comedy directed by Rob Reiner is one of the best 80’s chick flicks to watch on a date. For the girls, Meg Ryan and Bill Crystal form a romantic relationship over time, despite arguments along the way. For guys, there is some of the smartest dialogue in any romantic comedy.
“Footloose” Kevin Bacon stars in this, one of the best 80’s chick flicks to watch on a date. The movie is a musical, with fast passed rock songs, revolving around a religious community that prohibits school dances. The movie has also been adapted to stage in London and on Broadway.
“Dirty Dancing” While this movie is more geared towards females, it is still one of the best 80’s chick flicks to watch on a date. While the girls get the schmaltzy love story, guys get a strong willed male hero who stands up to his girl’s parents by exclaiming “no one puts Baby in the corner.”
“An Officer and a Gentleman” Richard Gere plays a military man in this, one of the best 80’s chick flicks to watch on a date. The girls get the love story of the girl winning over the bad boy and the guys get a pretty strong story of a man overcoming the odds to make it in the military.
“Say Anything” John Cusack stars in one of the best 80’s chick flicks to watch on a date. The movie is a typical 80's romantic comedy but, directed by Cameron Crowe, remains smart and entertaining. John Cusack plays the perfect man, someone girls want and guys want to be like.
“The Princess Bride” This fantasy movie is one of the best 80’s chick flicks to watch on a date. The movie has all the fairy tale elements that girls like, with princesses needing rescued in faraway lands. Guys get great humor, sword fights and Andre the Giant.
“Heathers” This dark comedy is one of the best 80’s chick flicks to watch on a date. Most girls can relate to the horrible heckling and treatment that the popular girls dish out to the less fortunate but guys will love the dangerous undertones and Christian Slater’s bad boy blowing everything up.
“Romancing the Stone” In one of the best 80’s chick flicks to watch on a date, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner go on an adventure to find treasure. The movie is almost like “Indiana Jones” made for girls and features all the action that guys love as well.
“Adventures in Babysitting” Elisabeth Shue stars as a girl who is forced to babysit after her boyfriend cancels their anniversary date. In one of the best 80’s chick flicks to watch on a date, she sets out with the kids and ends up in danger, running for their lives in the dark, dangerous city.
“Sixteen Candles” This is one of the best 80’s chick flicks to watch on a date. The movie seems to be made almost specifically for girls as Molly Ringwald struggles through her 16th birthday. However, it is directed by John Hughes and holds a special place in everyone’s hearts, male or female.

Wednesday, March 27th

We had a visit from Garbanzo - an acouchi who makes her home at the Henry Doorly Zoo. Now is the time to get your membership and they have a lot of cool things planned for you and your kids this summer.

Tuesday, March 26th

Paco, a 10-year-old Rat Terrier, came to visit today. See him, and all the animals up for adoption, at the Nebraska Humane Society website.

Monday, March 25th

When you’re 18, everything is possible. But as you get older, life gets noisier and much more complicated, which is why starting your adult life with as much wisdom as possible is so important. You need to be ready when things start swirling.

Here’s a rundown of some of that wisdom – a list of things that every 18-year-old needs to hear:

Chase your dreams – The alternative is dying a slow death, living a life that you hate.
Be ready for lots of mistakes – You can’t grow without goofing up. For this reason, goofing up is actually a great thing.
Try new ideas – Never fear looking silly or being embarrassed. No one is really watching you as much as you think anyway.
Be honest with yourself and with others – Lying is a terrible waste of time. And, your reputation is the only thing you will have left in this world after you’re gone.
Listen to your instincts – Your gut feeling will most likely always be correct in every situation.
Live within your means – Falling behind in the money game will limit your possibilities moving forward. Don’t do it. It’s not worth it.

Friday, March 22

Thursday, March 21st

Wednesday, March 20th

Well guys, it never hurts to ask. Kate has said she'll check her schedule.

Tuesday, March 19th

Texts you don't want to get from your parents. See them all here.

Monday, March 18th

Friday, March 15th

TEN IRISH QUOTES/BLESSINGS

1) "May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends beneath it never fall out."

2) "May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks. May your heart be as light as a song. May each day bring you bright, happy hours. That stay with you all the year long."

3) "Who gossips with you will gossip of you."

4) "It is better to be a coward for a minute than dead for the rest of your life."

5) "A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures."

6) "Don't give cherries to pigs or advice to fools."

7) "May the cat eat you and may the devil eat the cat."

8) "A silent mouth is sweet to hear."

9) "The Irish do not want anyone to wish them well; they want everyone to wish their enemies ill."

10) "A son is a son till he takes him a wife. A daughter is a daughter all of her life."

Thursday, March 14th

A fantastically awesome obituary...

Harry Stamps

Harry Weathersby Stamps

December 19, 1932 -- March 9, 2013

Long Beach

Harry Weathersby Stamps, ladies' man, foodie, natty dresser, and accomplished traveler, died on Saturday, March 9, 2013.

Harry was locally sourcing his food years before chefs in California starting using cilantro and arugula (both of which he hated). For his signature bacon and tomato sandwich, he procured 100% all white Bunny Bread from Georgia, Blue Plate mayonnaise from New Orleans, Sauer's black pepper from Virginia, home grown tomatoes from outside Oxford, and Tennessee's Benton bacon from his bacon-of-the-month subscription. As a point of pride, he purported to remember every meal he had eaten in his 80 years of life.

The women in his life were numerous. He particularly fancied smart women. He loved his mom Wilma Hartzog (deceased), who with the help of her sisters and cousins in New Hebron reared Harry after his father Walter's death when Harry was 12. He worshipped his older sister Lynn Stamps Garner (deceased), a character in her own right, and her daughter Lynda Lightsey of Hattiesburg. He married his main squeeze Ann Moore, a home economics teacher, almost 50 years ago, with whom they had two girls Amanda Lewis of Dallas, and Alison of Starkville. He taught them to fish, to select a quality hammer, to love nature, and to just be thankful. He took great pride in stocking their tool boxes. One of his regrets was not seeing his girl, Hillary Clinton, elected President.

He had a life-long love affair with deviled eggs, Lane cakes, boiled peanuts, Vienna [Vi-e-na] sausages on saltines, his homemade canned fig preserves, pork chops, turnip greens, and buttermilk served in martini glasses garnished with cornbread.

He excelled at growing camellias, rebuilding houses after hurricanes, rocking, eradicating mole crickets from his front yard, composting pine needles, living within his means, outsmarting squirrels, never losing a game of competitive sickness, and reading any history book he could get his hands on. He loved to use his oversized "old man" remote control, which thankfully survived Hurricane Katrina, to flip between watching The Barefoot Contessa and anything on The History Channel. He took extreme pride in his two grandchildren Harper Lewis (8) and William Stamps Lewis (6) of Dallas for whom he would crow like a rooster on their phone calls. As a former government and sociology professor for Gulf Coast Community College, Harry was thoroughly interested in politics and religion and enjoyed watching politicians act like preachers and preachers act like politicians. He was fond of saying a phrase he coined "I am not running for political office or trying to get married" when he was "speaking the truth." He also took pride in his service during the Korean conflict, serving the rank of corporal--just like Napolean, as he would say.

Harry took fashion cues from no one. His signature every day look was all his: a plain pocketed T-shirt designed by the fashion house Fruit of the Loom, his black-label elastic waist shorts worn above the navel and sold exclusively at the Sam's on Highway 49, and a pair of old school Wallabees (who can even remember where he got those?) that were always paired with a grass-stained MSU baseball cap.

Harry traveled extensively. He only stayed in the finest quality AAA-rated campgrounds, his favorite being Indian Creek outside Cherokee, North Carolina. He always spent the extra money to upgrade to a creek view for his tent. Many years later he purchased a used pop-up camper for his family to travel in style, which spoiled his daughters for life.

He despised phonies, his 1969 Volvo (which he also loved), know-it-all Yankees, Southerners who used the words "veranda" and "porte cochere" to put on airs, eating grape leaves, Law and Order (all franchises), cats, and Martha Stewart. In reverse order. He particularly hated Day Light Saving Time, which he referred to as The Devil's Time. It is not lost on his family that he died the very day that he would have had to spring his clock forward. This can only be viewed as his final protest.

Because of his irrational fear that his family would throw him a golf-themed funeral despite his hatred for the sport, his family will hold a private, family only service free of any type of "theme." Visitation will be held at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport on Monday, March 11, 2013 from 6-8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Jeff Davis Campus) for their library. Harry retired as Dean there and was very proud of his friends and the faculty. He taught thousands and thousands of Mississippians during his life. The family would also like to thank the Gulfport Railroad Center dialysis staff who took great care of him and his caretaker Jameka Stribling.

Finally, the family asks that in honor of Harry that you write your Congressman and ask for the repeal of Day Light Saving Time. Harry wanted everyone to get back on the Lord's Time.

View & sign register book @ www.bradfordokeefe.com

Published in The Sun Herald from March 10 to March 11, 2013

Wednesday, March 13th

Yes, I'm sick of shoveling snow too...but, really?!

Tuesday, March 12th

Fool proof! How to get ANY girl's phone number...

Red Solo (classy) Cup

Thursday, February 28th

20 years after her death, Audrey Hepburn is still getting acting gigs. The Breakfast at Tiffany's star is featured in a new ad for Galaxy chocolate.

Wednesday, February 27th

The dramatic results of a groundbreaking new study show that people at high risk for heart attacks, strokes, and death from heart disease can significantly reduce their risk if they eat a Mediterranean diet that's high in fish, nuts, fruits, vegetables and olive oil.

The researchers found that eating a Mediterranean diet reduced overall risk for heart attack, stroke or death from cardiovascular causes by 28 to 30 percent, compared to just a low-fat diet. If the diet included extra servings of nuts, stroke risk was reduced by 46 percent, and if it included extra virgin olive oil, the stroke risk went down 33 percent.

If you'd like to try the Mediterranean diet, the guidelines given for the study subjects were:

· Eat white meat instead of red.

· Eat fish and legumes, such as beans, lentils and peas, at least three times a week.

· Avoid sweets such as sugary beverages and baked goods and limit consumption of dairy products and processed meats.

· If you drink alcohol, have at least seven glasses of red wine with your meals each week.

· Eat at least three servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables daily.

· The group whose diet was supplemented with extra virgin olive oil was told to use at least four tablespoons each day.

· The group whose diet was supplemented with extra nuts ate one ounce of mixed nuts -- walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts -- daily.

Tuesday, February 26th

If you've seen too many Harlem Shake videos - you need to see just one more.

Monday, February 25th

Thursday, February 21st

Wednesday, February 20th

Tuesday, February 19th

HOW DID BOY GEORGE LOSE ALL THAT WEIGHT!?

Boy

George showed off a shockingly skinny and healthy body in London over the weekend at the Whatsonstage.com Awards.

51-year-old George is well-known for his weight and drug problems, but after a rigorous, veggie-heavy diet, he looks like the Boy George of the 80s!

He Tweeted: "My secret! Portion control. 5 hour gaps between meals. No coffee or tea, except at meals. Water & fizzy water between meals! No bread, sugar!"

Friday, February 15th

The Top 5 Most Memorable Fast-Food Commercials

5) Domino's

Back in the mid-1980s, Domino’s Pizza and ad agency Group 243 were trying to figure out the best way to advertise the fact that the pizza chain guaranteed delivery in 30 minutes or less. As a starting point, they assumed that customers would be annoyed if their pizza arrived late, so they created a little character to personify all those little annoyances. His name: The Noid (get it?). The first Noid commercial was introduced in 1986, and the motto, "Avoid the Noid," resonated so much that the odd little character became one of the enduring images of the '80s, and even spawned a video game.

4) Taco Bell

A Chihuahua trots through town on a mission. He passes by potential distractions, including a possible love interest, without a second glance. Finally, he reaches his destination: a man about to bite into a taco. He looks up at the man (the camera has been at the dog’s eye level this whole time), opens his mouth, and says, "Yo quiero Taco Bell." The catchphrase, uttered by Reno 911! and Rocko’s Modern Life’s Carlos Alazraqui, quickly entered the pop culture lexicon thanks to widespread airplay in 1998, 1999, and to a lesser extent 2000, and became to the '90s what the Noid was to the '80s.

3) Dunkin' Donuts

From 1982 to 1997, Fred the Baker, played by actor Michael Vale, would rise before dawn in a series of commercials, as it was "time make the donuts" for the millions of Americans who depended on him every morning for their Dunkin' Donuts fix. Vale's unyielding dedication — as well as his perfect casting and line delivery — became so engrained in the national culture that upon his character’s "retirement" in 1997 he was paraded through the streets of Boston, and the chain gave away 6 million free donuts to mark the occasion. Now that’s a successful advertising campaign.

2) McDonald's

Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun! McDonald’s has aired a lot of commercials over the years, and introduced a whole lot of characters, but no individual commercial quite grabbed hold of pop culture as much as this simple 1975 commercial in which a handful of regular folks attempted to say the tongue-twister. Not only did this inspire millions of Americans to try and do the same, they also managed to incorporate a catchy jungle into the mix as well.

1) Wendy's

At the very top of the fast-food marketing mountain sits a simple, three word phrase: "Where’s the beef?"

In the spot, three elderly ladies examine a burger with a very large bun. Upon closer examination, though, they realize that the patty is tiny, leading actress Clara Peller to ask her signature question. The commercial first aired Jan. 10, 1984, and the simple query gave way to a slew of promotional items; found its way into a handful of TV shows, movies, and other media outlets; begat a country song by Coyote McCloud; and made a national celebrity out of Peller. The phrase even entered the national lexicon, as a catch-all in response to being offered something unsatisfactory. So congratulations, Wendy’s, you’ve created the single most memorable fast-food commercial in American history.

Thursday, February 14th

Star magazine has decided to move ahead with publishing pictures of pregnant Kate Middleton in a bikini despite a statement from the royal family urging tabloids to respect William and Kate's privacy. But if you don't want people to see you in a bikini...wouldn't you not wear a bikini?

Wednesday, February 13th

Matt Damon's PSA

Tuesday, February 12th

It's a zombie apocalypse! Well...not really.

Monday, February 11th

Here's a little help with the Candy Heart Contest. To win a dozen GiGi's cupcakes a Now Love Songs CD and be entered for the grand prize of a $100 to spend at Nosh Wine Lounge you need to guess what the candy heart says.

Choose one of these:

Love You

Hug Me

Be Mine

Cutie

Marry Me

Only You

Be True

Smile

Be Happy

UR Hot

Friday, February 8th

CBS Standard And Practice issued "Wardrobe Advisory" ahead of the 55th Annual Grammys this Sunday to make sure the artists know about the rules regarding nudity.

The email says:

"CBS Program Practices advises that all talent appearing on camera please adhere to Network policy concerning wardrobe. Please be sure that buttocks and female breasts are adequately covered. Thong type costumes are problematic. Please avoid exposing bare fleshy under curves of the buttocks and buttock crack.Bare sides or under curvature of the breasts is also problematic."

"Please avoid sheer see-through clothing that could possibly expose female breast nipples. Please be sure the genital region is adequately covered so that there is no visible "puffy" bare skin exposure. Please avoid commercial identification of actual brand name products on T-shirts. Foreign language on wardrobe will need to be cleared. OBSCENITY OR PARTIALLY SEEN OBSCENITY ON WARDROBE IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR BROADCAST."

"This as well, pertains to audience members that appear on camera. Finally, The Network requests that any organized cause visibly spelled out on talent's wardrobe be avoided. This would include lapel pins or any other form of accessory."

Thursday, February 7th

Vote for Nikki here!

Wednesday, February 6th

Apparently, if you have a Corgi, you must give it a fancy, silly name. Here is how to figure out your Corgi name.

Tuesday, February 5th

More kissing...still gross.

Monday, February 4th

Gross, just gross.

Wednesday, January 30th

The full story on this picture can be found at the World-Herald website.

Tuesday, January 29th

My favorite TV event begins February 11th and this year the American Kennel Club is introducing two new dogs at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show.

The Russell Terrier

and the Treeing Walker Coonhound.

Gisele Bundchen and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady can finally move into their dream home. The couple purchased a plot of land in L.A's Brentwood area back in 2008 for $11 million and have been designing their new mansion ever since. Wow! and I mean WOW!

Monday, January 28th

If you've had a baby and thought - "guys don't get it"! This video will make you feel better.

Friday, January 25th

Here's Michael Buble and his model wife, Luisana Lopilato's, super-exciting announcement!

Thursday, January 24th

New music from Prince...interesting lyrics...what do you think?

Wednesday, January 23rd

What do you think of the first 2013 Super Bowl Ad to be released?

Tuesday, January 22nd

At Monday's post-inaugural luncheon at the U.S. Capitol, House Speaker John Boehner shared a private joke with President Obama. Michelle Obama, sitting between them, was not impressed.

Manly Library in Sydney, Australia posted a sign announcing that all of Lance Armstrong's books will be moved to the fiction section. The move is a response to Armstrong's recent admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win his Tour de France races.

Local reports said the sign was posted by a student working part-time in the library.

Monday, January 21st

A little young to be this jaded, aren't ya Cem?

Friday, January 18th

Chris doesn't care for the look but I think she looks fabulous!

First Lady Michelle Obama has debuted a new hairstyle with bangs ahead of her husband's inaugeration on Monday. The inaugeration is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day and will feature performances from James Taylor, Kelly Clarkson and Beyonce.

Do you like the bangs?

Thursday, January 17th

The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown unveiled the title of his next novel, Inferno, which is due out on May 14, 2013. The book takes place in Italy, using Dante's classic Inferno as its focus point, and marks the fourth outing for Brown's main character Robert Langdon, who first appeared in 2000's Angel & Demons, then was in 2003's Da Vinci Code, and was last in 2009's The Lost Symbol.

Brown said in a statement, "With this new novel, I am excited to take readers on a journey deep into this mysterious realm . . . a landscape of codes, symbols and more than a few secret passageways."

Wednesday, January 16th

The fifth graders in Kathy Neville's class at Holy Cross Catholic School are reading two of my favorites - Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia. No wonder they have so much fun reading! Ms. Neville is our Teacher of the Week and you can see the video of our visit here. You can also nominate a great teacher here.

Tuesday, January 15th

As the soft drink industry has come under increasing pressure over the issue of obesity and the role played by the consumption of sugary beverages, Coca-Cola is launching a TV ad campaign for the first time to address it.

Coca-Cola said the ads aren't a reaction to negative public perceptions but critics are calling it "damage control".

Monday, January 14th

The Girl Scouts have a new cookie! But I hear it's not their best effort.

The cookie sounds like a type of shampoo, lists "mushrooms" among its ingredients, and is neither coated in chocolate nor forms a cookie-sandwich around peanut butter. They’re called Mango Crèmes with NutriFusion™.

Crunchy vanilla and coconut cookies feature a mango-flavored creme filling with all the nutrient benefits of eating cranberries, pomegranates, oranges, grapes, and strawberries.

Will you try it? Or will you just stick with Samoas because THEY'RE THE BEST!

Friday, January 11th

Golden Globe co-hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey have come up with a globes-themed drinking game.

They are as follows:

· Drink any time an actress cries in a speech.

· Drink any time you see a person actively not listening to someone onstage.

· Drink any time someone says, "I didn't prepare anything!"

· Eat a meatball sub any time someone thanks Harvey Weinstein.

· Take off an article of clothing any time they show Judi Dench.

· Take off an article of clothing any time Maggie Smith wins.

So, see you drunk and sockless on Sunday. BYO meat products.

The Golden Globes are on NBC this Sunday night.

Thursday, January 10th

We had a story about a 911 caller who claimed to see a baby lion on the streets of Norfolk, Virginia. We thought - Oh, c'mon! How do you mistake a dog for a lion?!

Here's how.

Wednesday, January 9th

A double dose of "awwww, cute!" today:

First, a picture of Ryan Gosling and his mom at the premier of Ryan's latest movie Gangster Squad. Donna Gosling says she raided Eva Mendes' (Ryan's girlfriend) closet to hit the red carpet.

And the Puppy Bowl is back! You can see the starting linup at the Animal Planet website.

Tuesday, January 8th

This morning we met Tommy a happy Cocker Spaniel who's looking for his retirement home. You can check him out at the Nebraska Humane Society website.

Monday, January 7th

This morning we were looking for effective ways to wake kids up. Have you tried Nirvana?

Friday, January 4th

We just don't know what to do about our dry, cracked, painful hands! So, we asked you and it turns out that A + D Cream is the answer.

To heal dry cracked hands, at bedtime, apply it all over the hands up to the wrist. Make sure to get on your knuckles and between your fingers. Put a pair of socks on your hands and go to sleep. When you wake up, just wash off any excess. Do this two or three times a week.

Not only does it cure dry hands, here are some other suggestions for the use of A+D ointment:

If you have Psoriasis, try applying A+D ointment two times a day or more as needed.

If you get burnt while cooking, apply a little on your burn. It helps heal and decreases the pain.

Body piercing and Tatoos

To heal the feet, at bedtime, apply all over your feet to the ankle. Pay special attention to the heel area and around the toes too. Put a pair of socks on your feet. This takes a little longer so do it for one week.

Thursday, January 3rd

This morning Chris and I were talking about a Kit Kat lawsuit but did you know Kit Kats are not the same world-wide?

In Japan Kit Kat varieties include yubari melon and baked corn; strawberry cheesecake; cherries; and sweet potato, blueberry and soybean. Plus, wasabi, green tea, apple, green beans, chilli and miso.

And we only have chocolate flavored?! I feel a little left out…and a little relieved.

Wednesday, January 2nd

The Omaha World-Herald took our picture at the Gene Leahy Mall on New Year's Eve. This was right before my daughter and I froze to death. Oh, wait - we're still alive! It just felt like we might freeze to death. Good thing the fireworks were worth it.

Thursday, December 27th

Dennis Lehane's dog has gone missing, and he's taken to Facebook in an effort to find her. In return for bringing Tessa back to Lehane and his family, he's offering a reward: He'll name a character in his next book for the person who finds the dog.

Friday, December 21st

LeAnn Rimes says that she was not drunk when she performed on The X Factor on Wednesday LeAnn says the performance may have seemed awkward because she was trying to help the 13-year-old Carly Rose Sonenclar perform "How Do I Live" -- which she was having some difficulty with.

Hmmm, Carly seemed fine. Who was having difficulty?

Thursday, December 20th

Yesterday, Chris and I "OH MY GOSHED!" over this video of an eagle picking up a toddler. Today, it comes out that the video is a fake. Sigh.

Wednesday, December 19th

We had the pleasure of visiting the Kindergarten class at Neihardt Elementary yesterday to honor Mr. Ryan Cinfel - our latest Teacher of the Week. It's obvious that Mr. Cinfel's class adores him and, they told us, he's also very handsome.

You can see the video of our visit here and nominate a great teacher here.

Tuesday, December 18th

What are your kids getting for Christmas this year? Suri Cruise must have been a very good girl since Santa is reportedly bringing her a $24,000 playhouse. Katie Holmes supposedly purchased a Grand Victorian Playhouse from the website Sweet Retreat Kids which will be installed in the garden of the family's home.

The Sun reports that the fully customizable house -- which comes with running water and electricity -- has options to include a play loft, sunroom, media room, and toy garage. There are also 8 foot high ceilings so adults can enjoy playtime as well.

The report also claims the 6-year-old will receive an iPad mini and a children's version of a Mercedes-Benz.

I’m just glad I don’t have the terrible burden of spending such obscene amounts of money. I only had to shop until my budget ran out. It took about 15 minutes!

Monday, December 17th

We are so sad following the horrible school shooting in Newtown, Conneticut on Friday. We are also at a loss...how can we fix something that has gone so wrong?

I'm not sure what the answer is but some local folks are sending love to Newtown and you can get the details at the Omaha World-Herald website.

You can find the news on Friday's shooting and where the community goes from here at the KMTV Action 3 News website.

And 'I Am Adam Lanza's Mother': A Mom's Perspective On The Mental Illness Conversation In America is thought provoking and definitely worth reading.

Thursday, December 13th

Another unseasonally beautiful day today in Omaha! If you think the season would be a little merrier with some snow and ice - check out these (adorable) penguins.

Wednesday, December 12th

The Star 104.5 Teacher of the Week

First grade teacher Judy Bahle at Minne Lusa Elementary was honored this week for her fantastic work in the classroom. See the video of our visit and nominate a great teacher you know!

Monday, December 10th

Back at my folks' house in Minnesota over the weekend - they got socked with snow! M y dad sent a picture of their dogs and he says they were having a blast...but, I don't know, does this look like "a blast'?

Friday, December 7th

The White House released its 2012 holiday card yesterday, a black-and-white image of first dog Bo sporting a scarf as he frolics in the snow in front of the White House.

The image was painted by an Iowa artist,Larassa Kabel, and was chosen by First Lady Michelle Obama from submissions that had been sent in as part of a competition.

Although Kabel doesn't receive any compensation for the drawing, she and her husband will get to attend the White House holiday party on December 18th.

Thursday, December 6th

Oh, that fantastic smell when you open the box...cheese , sauce, freshly-baked crust and now, thanks to Pizza Hut, a few lucky people can smell like pizza all the time!

The pizza perfume idea actually started as a joke on Pizza Hut's Facebook page, but the company decided to go ahead and actually create it after enough people signed up as fans.

Unfortunately for anyone eager to get their own bottle, the limited-edition run is already gone, and Pizza Hut doesn't have any plans to mass market the scent.

Wednesday, December 5th

Teacher of the Week

This week we were at Dundee Elementary to honor our latest Teacher of the Week - Ms.Michelle Phillips. Her whole class of 5th graders were a treat to meet ! She's pictured here with Assistant Principal Jeanne Simmons. If you know a fabulous teacher, please nominate them here.

Tuesday, December 4th

They Say it's, "The Only Way to Crown Your Throne" - It's the Toilet Tattoo

A hygenic, removable decal for your toilet that comes in holiday, classic and custom designs. If you're not sold yet - check out the toilet training designs!

Lady Visited the Studio this Morning

Meet her at the Nebraska Humane Society.

Monday, December 3rd

Taylor Swift's New Man

This morning Chris talked about the new man in Taylor Swift's life. Here's a picture of her with the new guy - One Direction's Harry Styles in New York's Central Park Zoo.

Taylor will kick off her latest tour here in Omaha with a two night stand at the CenturyLink Center. You can buy tickets for the March 13th and 14th shows starting this Friday at 10 am.

OR, you can WIN them before you can buy them all week - Listen to Chris and me mornings on Star 104.5!

Wednesday, November 28th

This week's Teacher of the Week is the much-loved special needs teacher at Kreft Elementary in Council Bluffs - Ms. Tonya Massey. She's pictured here with the mom who nominated her, LeeAnn Riemenschneider and LeeAnn's son. You can nominate a great teacher here.

Tuesday, November 27th

"Mom was worried about my trip to the Grand Canyon, I sent her this picture."

Samantha Busch told ABC News, "For five days up before I went on this trip, she was worried about us visiting the Grand Canyon, because 'people are dumb, they fall off, the wind blows over them the edge.' So... I found a cool little spot that I could sneak into, and lean back and look like I am falling off, and I thought that would be a great picture to send back home to my parents, who were worried about me."

Her mother Rebecca said, "My heart just dropped for 30 seconds."

Meet Moose

We fell in love with this 3-year-old St. Bernard when Pam Weise from the Nebraska Humane Society stopped in this morning. You will too.

Monday, November 26th

Cher decided to release her new single after it was leaked online at the beginning of the week.

She had hoped to take her time to record a video for "Woman's World" before releasing the track, but a snippet of the song appeared on the Internet last month and the full track leaked online last week. That forced her to change her plans.

Cher Tweeted: "We thought we had time, but it started popping all over the world!"

The track is the first single from Cher's first studio album since 2001. It features songs written for her by Pink and Lady Gaga.

What do you think, do you like it?

Friday, November 23rd

Hope you had a fantastic, family and pie-filled Thanksgiving! Last night, Chris and I were thrilled to be a part of the CenturyLink Thanksgiving Lighting Ceremony and if you haven't seen the lights yet, they are really spectacular. The lighting ceremony was only the beginning of the festivities that Star 104.5 will be part of over the next few weeks. There's still ice-skating, fireworks and a whole lot more to come.

Hope we see you out there and Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, November 21st

Kelli Swift teaches kindergaten at St. Pius/St. Leo in Omaha and she is our Teacher of the Week this week. She's pictured here with Principal Joyce Gubbels.You can nominate a great teacher here and see the latest Teacher of the Week video here.

Tuesday, November 20th

This morning, Chris and I talked about the new trend of rental companies - you can rent all kinds of stuff that maybe you don't want to or don't have the funds to buy. If you want to rent nail polish the website is lacquerous.com.

Monday, November 19th

During a visit of this year's U.S. women's Olympic gold medal-winning gymnastics team to the White House last Thursday, President Obama and team member McKayla Maroney were photographed doing the gymnast's "Not Impressed" face together.

It was during the London Games this summer that Maroney, who was the heavy favorite to win the gold medal in the individual vault competition, had to settle for silver after she fell on her butt during the landing after a flawless vault. While standing on the podium for the medal ceremony, Maroney was photographed making what was dubbed the "not impressed" mouth-twisting face.

Maroney has taken it with humor, and tweeted on Thursday, "Did I just do the Not Impressed face with the President..?"

Thursday, November 15th

It's Official - Channing Tatum is the Sexiest Man Alive!

Wednesday, November 14th

The New Star 104.5 Teacher of the Week

Mrs. Sue Real teaches second grade at St. Vincent de Paul and not only do her students think she's a great teacher - they also think she's a great hugger! You can see our visit to Mrs. Real here and on KMTV Action 3 News Thursday morning.

Mrs. Real is on the left, pictured here with Principal Dr. Barb Marchese.

Tuesday, November 13th

Prince visited us today in the Star 104.5 studios and what a charmer this little guy is! Prince is a neutered male, buff Chihuahua - Smooth Coated mix and is about 8 years old. Learn more about him and all the other animals available for adoption at the Nebraska Humane Society.

Monday, November 12th

So sometimes, okay about everyday, I think I should lose a couple of pounds. Not today - after seeing a recent picture of Matthew McConaughey, I think a couple of extra pounds are absolutely fine!

Matthew McConaughey has lost the weight for his new role as an AIDS patient in The Dallas Buyer's Club. How did he take it off? He says he’s been drinking a lot of tea.

Friday, November 9th

Is Your Vehicle Ready for a Winter Snowstorm?

KMTV Action 3 News Meteorologist Matt Monroe says we could see our first snow of the season this weekend. Off Grid Survival has the info you need to be ready for it (okay, maybe you won't be ready for it - but your car will be)

Things to think about before your next drive:

Always keep your gas tank at least half full. I try to never let it drop below ¾ of a tank. The last thing you want is to get stuck in a snowstorm without enough gas to at least heat your vehicle.
Make sure you have a basic emergency kit for your car
Have enough food and water for at least 24 hours per person.
Make sure you have ways to stay warm in a stalled vehicle.
Keep up on your vehicle maintenance – Check your oil, fluids, air pressure and your spare.
In the winter you want to aid winter supplies to your kit. (hand warmers, de-icer, wind shield scrapers, snow chains, etc….)
Make sure you have a cell phone charger for your vehicle
Bug Out Bag – On top of your emergency vehicle kit, you may want to think about having a dedicated BOB for your vehicle.
Tools – Every vehicle should have a small toolkit, a couple spare hose clamps, some Fix a Flat and even some spare belts and fuses.
Have your battery tested at least once a year before the cold weather starts to set in.

Thursday, November 8th

Girls Can Play Football Too

This is Sam Gordon, a 9-year-old girl, playing football with boys two years older than her and outrunning them all. Last year Sam wanted to run with the older kids and keep up with her brother. The coaches in the local tackle football league let her do it as a lark, and were shocked to find that she could outrun all the older boys. They drafted her as a member of the team and she ended up running for 25 touchdowns and 10 conversions in her first season.

Wednesday, November 7th

Well, now that all the political fighting is over we can fight the things that really matter...like dragons, am I right?

Tuesday, November 6th

A few weeks ago Nikki put a Presidential Debate Drinking Game on facebook that was so popular I thought we may all need the follow up - the Election Night Drinking Game! Not that politivs drives us to drink or anything.

While watching cable news tonight, take a drink every time someone on screen says anything on the following list:

Ground Game
Firewall
Sandy
Photo ID
Recount
Youth Vote
Enthusiasm
Ohio
Reagan

Be careful, though, and take small sips because you are going to be hearing these words a LOT.

Monday, November 5th

Every parent knows there aren't enough hours in the day. Well, parents, reclaim some time with the Baby Mop! BetterThanPants.com has created a set of footie pajamas with special mop-heads attached to the arms and legs allowing crawling babies to polish the floor.

Top 5 reasons you NEED a baby mop:

Teach your baby a strong work ethic early on in their life.
Your baby will learn not to drop and waste food.
Baby will get a nice workout, burn off energy, and do muscle toning. And sleep better too!
Not having to clean your floors saves you time so you can spend it doing things you enjoy.
Save lots of money on house cleaning costs.

Friday, November 2nd

What Your Favorite TV Show Says About Your Politics

Is this true for you?

Thursday, November 1st

Are You Feeling the Campaign Fatigue Too?

A video gone viral of a four-year-old girl in tears after hearing yet another report on the presidential election may speak for all of us right now. A local TV station reported on the video of little Abigael Evans of Fort Collins, Colorado, who started crying after hearing a radio report on the race between President Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

When her mother asked why she was crying, the girl -- who's unlucky enough to live in one of the swing states that's been bombarded with ads for months -- said, "I'm tired of Bronco Bamma and Mitt Romney." We feel your pain Abigael!

Wednesday, October 31st

NYC 'SIGN LANGUAGE LADY' ONE OF SANDY'S BREAKOUT STARS

Amid all the awful news about Hurricane Sandy and the devastation it brought, there have been a few lighthearted moments as well. One of them has been the focus on Lydia Calas, the sign language interpreter for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg during his public statements about the storm, who The Week magazine called one of Sandy's, quote, "biggest breakout stars." The dramatic rendering by Calas' of her translations, complete with very animated facial expressions, made her a Twitter hit and has inspired her own Tumblr.

Tuesday, October 30th

Omaha Makes List for Top 25 Places to Spend Christmas

I know, Halloween's not even in the bag and here I am talking about Christmas but I was excited to see that Omaha's Durham Museum made Midwest Living's list of 25 best places to celebrate Christmas.

They loved the tree (the city's biggest), Santa, and the concerts but their favorite part of Christmas at Union Station is the Ethnic Holiday Festival.

Monday, October 29th

The 4th Annual Great Pumpkin

Saturday I spent some time at Village Pointe where we had all kinds of fun things happening to celebrate Halloween but we were also there to raise awareness for over a thousand kids here in Nebraska that are looking for a family.

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska got help carving over a thousand pumpkins that will be on display through this Wednesday.

Friday, October 26th

Who's Your Local Billionaire?

Research firm Wealth-X thought we would like to know who makes the most money in each of our United States...and, you know what? I kind of do. Interesting. In the picture are the ten wealthiest people in the United States and where they're from. The full list follows.

1: Washington: Bill Gates: $64.5 billion - Microsoft chairman, co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
2: Nebraska: Warren Buffett: $49.6 billion - Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
3: California: Lawrence Ellison: $41.1 billion - CEO of Oracle Corp.
4: Arkansas: James Walton: $33.6 billion - Chairman of Arvest Bank, son of Walmart founder, Sam Walton
5: Kansas: David Koch: $32.1 billion - Vice-chairman of Koch Industries
6: New York: Michael Bloomberg: $24.8 billion - New York City Mayor and owner of Bloomberg LP
7: Nevada: Sheldon Adelson: $20.2 billion - Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands
8: Virginia: Forrest Mars, Jr.: $17 billion - Part-owner of Mars candy company and grandson of the late Frank C. Mars
9: Texas: Michael Dell: $14 billion - CEO of Dell Inc
10: Oregon: Philip Knight: $13 billion - Chairman of Nike Inc.
11: Massachusetts: Abigail Johnson: $11.9 billion - President, Fidelity Financial Services
12: Georgia: Anne Cox Chambers: $11.2 billion - Member of Cox Enterprises' board of directors, chairwoman of Atlanta Newspapers
13: Connecticut: Raymond Dalio: $10 billion - Founder of Bridgewater Associates LP
14: Oklahoma: George Kaiser: $10 billion - Chairman of BOK Financial
15: Colorado: Charles Ergen: $8.3 billion - Founder and chairman of DISH Network
16: Pennsylvania: Hansjorg Wyss: $7.7 billion - Chairman of Swiss medical device manufacturer Synthes Holding AG
17: North Carolina: James Goodnight: $7.4 billion - CEO of SAS Institute
18: Wisconsin: John Menard, Jr.: $6 billion - Founder and owner of home-improvement retailer Menard Inc.
19: New Jersey: David Tepper: $5.2 billion - President and founder of Appaloosa Management
20: Michigan: Richard DeVos Sr.: $5.1 billion - Co-founder of Amway and owner of the Orlando Magic
21: Montana: Dennis Washington: $5 billion - Founder of The Washington Companies and co-founder of the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation
22: Ohio: Leslie Wexner: $4.5 billion - Chairman and CEO of Limited Brands
23: Arizona: Bruce Halle Sr.: $4 billion - Founder of Discount Tires
24: Florida: Joseph Lewis: $3.9 billion - Founder of Tavistock Group and owner of Tottenham Hotspur soccer team in England
25: Illinois: Samuel Zell: $3.9 billion - Founder of Equity Residential
26: Maryland: Theodore Lerner: $3.9 billion - Founder of real estate firm Lerner Enterprises
27: Minnesota: Pauline Keinath: $3.7 billion - Part-owner of Cargill Inc. and great-granddaughter of founder W. W. Cargill
28: Indiana: Gayle Cook: $3.4 billion - Member of board of directors of medical device firm Cook Group
29: Tennessee: Thomas Frist, Jr.: $3 billion - Founder of HCA, the Hospital Corporation of America
30: Utah: Robert Earl Holding: $2.7 billion - Owner of Sinclair Oil
31: Mississippi: Leslie Lampton: $2.4 billion - Founder of Ergon Inc.
32: South Carolina: Anita Zucker: $2.2 billion - Chairwoman and CEO of chemical manufacturer InterTech Group
33: Rhode Island: Jonathan Nelson: $1.6 billion - CEO of Providence Equity Partners
34: Missouri: Christopher Cline: $1.5 billion - Founder of Foresight Energy
35: West Virginia: James Justice II: $1.5 billion - Owner of the coal mining Justice Companies
36: Alabama: Marguerite Harbert: $1.4 billion - Widow of the late construction and energy mogul, John Murdoch Harbert III
37: Louisiana: Thomas Benson: $1.3 billion - Owner of New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Hornets
38: South Dakota: T. Denny Sanford: $1.3 billion
39: Idaho: Frank VanderSloot: $1.2 billion - CEO of Melaleuca
40: Kentucky: Bradley Wayne Hughes: $1.1 billion - Founder of Public Storage
41: Iowa: Dennis Albaugh: $1 billion - Founder of Albaugh Inc.
42: North Dakota: Gary Tharaldson: $900 million - Founder of the Tharaldson Companies
43: Maine: Leon Gorman: $860 million - Chairman of L.L. Bean
44: Delaware: Robert Gore: $830 million - Founder of materials and manufacturing company W.L. Gore & Associates
45: New Mexico: Peyton Yates, Jr.: $760 million - President of Yates Petroleum Corp.
46: Alaska: Robert Gillam: $690 million - President and CEO of McKinley Capital Management LLC
47: Hawaii: Jay Shidler: $680 million - Founder of the real estate company The Shidler Group
48: New Hampshire: Martin Trust: $600 million - President of Brandot International, formerly president and CEO of MAST Industries
49: Vermont: Robert Stiller: $580 million - Founder of Green Mountain Coffee
50: Wyoming: John Martin: $210 million - Chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences

Thursday, October 25th

Ladies, Need a House Cleaner? A Naked Male House Cleaner?

Topless cleaners aren't such a new thing but now a German company has a new twist on sexy house cleaning. PutzPimmel is offering naked MALE house cleaners for those ladies who would rather not clean the house themselves. (Which is every woman, right?)

Would you hire a naked man to clean your house?

Wednesday, October 24th

What Your Halloween Costume Says About You

OK, we're getting down to the wire if you haven't decided what you're going to be for Halloween next weekend. Will you go with something cute, clever, sexy, disturbing, easy...? So many options - but did you know that what you wear for Halloween is a window into the kind of person you are? Find out what your Halloween costume says about you here.

Tuesday, October 23rd

Maroon 5 Hits Omaha!

Adam Levine announced that Maroon 5 will be going on a 2013 North American Tour with Neon Trees and Owl City. The tour will begin in February and end in April. Tickets for the tour go on sale on Saturday, October 27….BUT you can win tickets with us this morning AND StarMail Club members will get to purchase tickets early - watch your email for a special Pre-Sale opportunity. Maroon 5 plays the CenturyLink Center March 3rd.

Monday, October 22nd

Five Foods Perfect For Hiding an Engagement Ring

The upcoming holidays are a great time to get engaged and if you're looking for a unique way to present the engagement ring yourtango.com has five ideas that won't send your bride-to-be to the hospital.

1) Ice Cube. To catch her completely off-guard, take the liquid approach to surprising her with a ring. Freeze the ring inside an ice cube and then add it to her favorite cocktail. There will be enough time for solid preparation on your end as the cube melts and genuine surprise on her end when she finds a floating diamond in her drink.

2) Oyster Shell. Buy some oysters to have as appetizers and place the ring inside one of the shells (after washing it out). Whether you want the proposal to take place at home or in a restaurant, mix up the schedule by popping the question before dinner rather than after. That way, the two of you can enjoy a romantic meal rather than one filled with awkward tension and sweating.

3) Baked Potato. The key to combining engagement rings with food is to make sure the food vessel lends itself well to being opened -- a baked potato is a great example. Throw a couple of steaks on the grill, sauté vegetables and bake some potatoes for an enjoyable meal at home. Prepare her potato by making a slit down the center and sticking the ring inside it, so that it's still visible.

4) Lobster Claw. Seafood turns sexy with this fresh take on incorporating engagement rings into food. If you're apprehensive about the ring getting damaged but still want to present it as part of a meal, go for the simpler approach of sliding it onto a lobster claw. It's easily visible, elegant and equally romantic. The vibrant red brilliantly contrasts with silver or gold, turning the Big Question into an artsy composition.

5) Cracker Jacks. We all remember ripping open Cracker Jack boxes to discover the prizes hidden inside. Recreate the adult version of that anticipation by replacing the actual prize with an engagement ring. Reseal the box and present it to her for a unique and youthful proposal, plus it's so much better than getting plastic jewelry.

Friday, October 19th

Eat Your Jack-o'-lantern and Save!

This morning we were talking about the many ways many of us are cheapskates when the man who claims to be the original cheapskate, Jeff Yeager, called in with some tips. He's got a great one for not letting your Halloween Jack-o'-lantern go to waste at this website.

Thursday, October 18th

Sitting in Silence With Johnny Depp

This morning Chris and I played Celebrity Garbage for Zoo Spooktacular tickets and the celebrity's trash we were digging through was (the very easy on the eyes) Johnny Depp's. Have you seen this recent YouTube video featuring the actor?

Wednesday, October 17th

When Have You Been the Happiest?

According to a new poll published in the Daily Mail people are never happier than when they’re a college student. For the survey 1,000 adults were given a list of 13 life experiences and were asked to select their top five. Do you agree, is this when you were the happiest?

THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES

1. Going to university

2. Getting married

3. Getting first job

4. Having first child

5. Getting first pet

6. First kiss

7. First love/first boyfriend or girlfriend

8. First time getting drunk

9. First time you go on holiday/abroad on own/with friends

10. First car

11. First pay cheque

12. Buying your own house

13. None of the above

Tuesday, October 16th

The 'Sexy' Halloween Costume

I don't know yet what I'm going to be for Halloween but if I wanted to go 'sexy' yandy.com has (I kid you not) 2036 costumes for me to choose from. Apparently everything can be 'sexy-fied' from hamburgers, to Bert and Ernie to the honey badger.

Are you going 'sexy' this year or is this just ridiculous...or both?

Monday, October 15th

Super-Fast and Super-Scary!

Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner made history yesterday as he jumped from the highest-ever altitude and became the first skydiver to break the sound barrier, which is about 690 miles per hour at that height.

He spent about four minutes and 20 seconds in freefall before activating his parachute, reaching a maximum speed of 833 miles per hour to break the sound barrier by a significant margin.

YouTube says the event broke a site record with more than 8 million live streams.

Here are the highlights if you missed it.

Or, check it out re-enacted in LEGOS...

Friday, October 12th

It's Friday!!! Party with PartySaurus Rex!

Disney has a cute new animated short that is mandatory veiwing today if, like me, you are ready to PARRRRR-TAAAAAY!!!

Partysaurus Rex on Disney Video

Thursday, October 11th

Holiday Flavored Pringles. Will You Eat Them?

I love the holidays and all the great treats that come with them! Cookies, pies, flavored coffees and even eggnog.

So, the more holiday flavored treats the better, right? Well, back up because Pringles just announced three new flavors of their potato chips for the holidays.

Pumpkin Pie Spice, White Chocolate Peppermint and Cinnamon & Sugar.

Yes, potato chips. And, yes, there is something very, very, very wrong with this.

But maybe I'll try just one.

Wednesday, October 10th

13 Brilliant Pumpkin-Carving Hacks from BuzzFeed

Every Halloween I have the best of intentions. I'm going to decorate, make treats, sew my own costume and carve an amazing pumpkin...yes, well. Let's just assume these things are probably not going to happen. Especially the pumpkin. Carving pumpkins is a lot of work...and it's slimy.

But this list of pumpkin-carving hacks is pretty cool. I so want a redneck "Bubba" toothed pumpkin and this beauty lets you use a power drill. A POWER DRILL!

Tuesday, October 9th

Highest, Fastest Free Fall in History

If everything goes right (and boy do I hope it does) skydiver Felix Baumgartner will make the highest, fastest free fall in history from 23 miles up this morning, which is more than three times the average cruising altitude for passenger jets. The current free-fall record is from 19.5 miles up, set by Joe Kittinger in 1960.

You can watch it here.

Monday, October 8th

The New 'Price is Right' Male Model

Just because it's Monday and we need something nice to look at. Rob Wilson will appear on the game show beginning next Monday, October 15th for at least one week...longer if we like him. I've got no complaints so far!

Friday, October 5th

New Music From Adele

Lucky us! Adele just released her theme song for the new James Bond movie, 'Skyfall'. The movie hits theaters on November 9th.

Thursday, October 4th

The Morning Blend

Look! Some big TV stars let us sit next to them.

If you want to see our visit with Mike and Mary on the Morning Blend, you can watch it here. By the way, I know my mom's the only one who really wants to see it...but she really does want to see it. So, this is for you Mom (love ya!).

Thursday, October 4th

Cookies Predict Our Next President?

Family Circle holds an annual Presidential Cookie Bake-off and their track record for predicting our next President has been pretty good. All but once the winning cookie came from the woman who became our next First Lady.

This year, Michelle Obama won the bake-off by the smallest margin ever. Here are both Michelle's and Ann's recipes. Which is your favorite?

Michelle Obama’s Mama Kaye's White and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yield: 5 dozen cookies

Prep: 15 mins
Bake: 12 mins 375°F

Ingredients

· 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

· 1 teaspoon baking soda

· 1 teaspoon salt

· 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

· 1 stick Crisco butter-flavored solid vegetable shortening

· 3/4 cup granulated sugar

· 3/4 cup packed brown sugar

· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

· 2 eggs

· 1 cup each white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and mint chocolate chips (or Andes mint pieces)

· 2 cups chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter, vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract.

2. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, beat in flour mixture. By hand, stir in white and milk chocolate chips, mint chips and walnuts.

3. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Ann Romney’s M&M's Cookies

Yield: 3 dozen cookies

Prep: 15 mins
Bake: 18 mins 325°F

Ingredients

· 1 cup granulated sugar

· 1 cup packed light brown sugar

· 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

· 1 1/2 cups crunchy peanut butter

· 1 tablespoon light corn syrup (such as Karo)

· 3 eggs

· 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

· 4 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

· 2 teaspoons baking soda

· 6 ounces chocolate chips

· 2/3 cup M&M's candies

Directions

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F. In a large bowl, cream sugars, butter, peanut butter and corn syrup on high speed until well combined. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in vanilla extract.

2. In a separate bowl, mix together oats and baking soda. Stir into peanut butter mixture until combined. Mix in chocolate chips and M&M's.

3. Using a standard-size ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets (about 9 per sheet). Bake at 325 degrees F for 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Wednesday, October 3rd

Jennifer Livingston's Awesome Anti-Bullying Editorial

An overweight news anchor at the CBS affiliate in La Crosse, Wisconsin yesterday said what many of us who have been bullied wish we were articulate enough to express. She did a darn fine job of putting a bully in his place! Thanks Jennifer.

Owl Cupcakes

My girl, Elena, and I love to bake. Any excuse is good. So, for Halloween we saw these owl cupcakes and knew we had to try them. Just use your favorite cupcake recipe, or this is a good one, or buy some from the store (we won't tell). Twist apart a standard Oreo for the eyes and place a brown Reeses Pieces in the center of each. An orange Reeses Pieces on its side makes a good beak. That's it! Adorable and a hoot to eat!

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