Apple CEO comes out, brings stupid people along

I honestly didn't know who Tim Cook was until this morning, when every news outlet I follow anywhere "broke the news" that he announced he is gay.

I'd much prefer to live in a world where men and women announcing their sexual orientation would not be news. But - apparently, a lot of people care.

Search "Tim Cook Android" on twitter, and you'll find tons of people who are either happy they already use Android devices, or who plan to switch because Apple's CEO came out.

Disturbing? You betcha. But now that those folks have come out (as being stupid), here's a thought....

CEOs from all tech giants should come out. As something, I don't care what. Gay, bi, lesbian, trans gender. Whatever you got.

All the ignorant biggots would have to cancel their plans and throw out their devices.

Then the rest of us can continue browing Buzzfeed lists and cat videos in peace.

Dribs and drabs

When I'm nervous, I talk a lot, and really fast. That's a formula for disaster. When your mouth gets ahead of your brain, there's no telling what you might say.

The rest of the time, I'm quiet. Until I get on a roll. That's confusing sometimes - makes people think I'm dull or have nothing to add. Really, I'm just listening and observing, waiting for my chance to say something helpful, and intelligent.

Sometimes that translates over here...and I'm left with not a lot to blog about. Or at least, nothing that will make a whole post - right now, anyway.

I checked out the NaBloPoMo prompts for April, but the theme is environmental issues (which makes sense for the month). It's important, but not something I can talk about for very long, or particularly well.

I was going to write about my dislike for April Fools Day, and practical jokes. But my comment over on Baking Suit's post and my last tweet pretty much say it all. I just think there are some things that aren't funny - like failing health or marriage. Why does something so awful elicit laughter?

Last week I burned the roof of my mouth, on hot cheese of all things. My mouth is still sore, which is making me cranky.

As I get older, I realize I have less and less desire to spend time with people who make me anything less than happy. This includes my family (all except my dad, whose like the only person on Earth who I always like).

Today is Opening Day for Major League Baseball. Thank goodness. Though there's no Derek (yet) I'm still happy to see the Yankees play. Of course - it looks like we're in for a rough start to the season. Hey - at least there's baseball.

I have decided that by my fortieth birthday (July 15, 2014 - sigh) I would like to have sold my house and moved. I think the next decade of my life needs to start with a new address. Everyone tells me 40 is when life really begins. I'd like my life to begin with a little more money and fewer worries.

Along those lines...my requirements wishlist for an apartment is pretty specific. I found one complex in the area that could give me everything I want - but it'll come at a high cost (basically no less expensive than my mortgage plus other monthly cost of living at the house). Availability will be tight, and of course timing is everything.

Guess we'll see what happens.

Be the good

After last Friday, I stopped checking twitter too much. I started scrolling through facebook really, really fast - past photos of black ribbons, or angels, or of the kids being led from a school in CT. I've remained my usual trivial and sarcastic self. 

I haven't posted any articles, or shared any of the "prayer chains." I haven't "liked" any of the memorial pages. I haven't even mentioned the event on a post, or really discussed it with anyone. According to Facebook, that means I don't care; that I'm selfish and self-absorbed (and probably materialistic).

The thing is...I do care. I probably care way too much. Once you identify that you have depression, one of the things you have to do is learn the triggers. What makes you emotional? What spins you out of control?

The idea of someone just randomly walking into a school and ending innocent lives? Definitely not something I can handle.

When I heard the news, I cried at my desk and then said a small prayer. Then I went about my day. That is what I can handle. The rest is just too much. Surrounding myself with all that sadness and indescribable pain gives it way too much power over me. I'm the sort of person who absorbs all that grief and anger and makes it my own. If I let it, something like this can make me sad about everything.

So for anyone who thinks that people who are not posting about CT must not care - stop. I mean - sure, you might know people who just don't care. But more likely, you know people who simply can't handle the profound sadness or the weight of the whole thing.

We all show sorrow, respect, and honor in our own way. Some people post it all over facebook. Some write letters to newspapers, or sign a petition to make guns illegal. Others might go out and buy a gun.

Some of us just try to live every day bringing as many smiles to as many people as we can reach. Some of us feel that the best way to honor those victims (and anyone else) is to live a life full of positive change and action; to bring as much good into the world as possible.

It isn't helpful to simply complain that there's no good left in the world. You have to be willing to be that good, and then bring it into the world. Those silent friends you have? They may be doing that very thing.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

20 Most annoying Facebook friends

Yesterday, I posted a link to this story from Mashable on my Facebook page. Several people liked the post. But one asked the question,

Getty Images

If not for these posts, what would we use facebook for?

Fair enough. Posts about kids, marketing, political posts, song lyrics, and private conversations make up the majority of my facebook feed. Thing is, I don't think these things are necessarily all bad. I mean, no one wants to see four posts a day where you quote 15 lines of some poem that only you understand. But the occasional, funny one-liner from a song or movie? That's fine.

If you're proud of your job, or your child, or you feel strongly about a cause or a business or a political point of view - share. That's all a part of who you are...and your friends (presumably) are interested in you. They'll want to see these messages - it's just not all they want to see.

Mix it up. Don't sync your Twitter to your Facebook; the audience is different. Your Facebook community does not want to see every little mundane detail. They want to see the big stuff - interesting articles, the occasional funny picture or quote, vacation pictures.

But please, please skip the vaguebooking, the vanity shots, and the urban legends/chain letters. It makes you look foolish, desperate, and a little gullible.

And the shared profile? No. Just....no.

Mean is ugly

"Ladies, if your guy is hinting to you to step on a scale, give it back by handing him a ruler."

I got the quote from my friend; I'm not sure where she found it. I retweeted it, and a couple guys thought the logic was....flawed. In a nutshell, they felt that a guy should be entitled to concern over his girlfriend's physical attraction - regardless of his "size."

Like I said on twitter, if a man is small-minded enough to judge a woman by her weight, I'd be willing to bet his mind isn't the only thing that's small. Naturally, that's a generalization to make a point. The point about physical attraction is also fair. People come in all shapes and sizes, and not everything appeals to everyone.

My issue isn't that men don't find curvy girls attractive; I personally don't care. I'm curvy, and if you don't find me attractive, it saves me the trouble of having to deal with your nonsense. My issue isn't what one person finds attractive because opinions are subjective, and not really open to debate.

My issue is that no person (man or woman) should ever feel entitled to pass judgment on his significant other that way. That's the point of the quote - that everyone has something "wrong" with them; something they don't like, that makes them feel self-conscious. If you really care about someone, why would you exploit that?

The same topic came up over on Kristi's blog, and like I said there, if someone who I trusted felt the need to make me feel bad about myself - I can think of a sure-fire way to lose about 200 pounds of dead weight pretty quickly.

Because really - there's nothing uglier than a mean person. And even curvy girls don't want to be with someone who is ugly.

Follow Friday: Genwar's random thoughts

Life is funny. Sometimes, you meet someone, and you think, "There is no possible way this person is going to like me. He's going to think I'm not intelligent/pretty/funny/snarky enough." You might also worry that, because you're different in many ways, you won't agree on anything.

Then, you listen to the guy and you realize that just because you are different doesn't mean you can't agree on some things - or intelligently debate the rest.

It also doesn't mean he won't be super-cool, and share homemade biscuits from his breakfast table, introduce you to his super-freaking-cute-daughter, or sit next to you for your first visit to the track.

GenWar and I don't always agree - but he is always worth a listen. Personally, I think his views on Kim K and politics are brilliant - but that's me. You should read for yourself and see what you think. Check his blog here

Oh - and you will be warned that it's adult content and asked if you want to continue. This is mostly for language and topics, I think. I scrolled through, and didn't see any pictures of boobs - but it's GenWar, so I wouldn't rule that out. If you're worried, treat it as Not Safe For Work, and save it for after-hours reading.

Fashion vs Style

Fashion fades; only style remains the same. ~ Coco Chanel

I love fashion. I love to look at it, dissect it, read about it - and shop for it.

Fashion is defined as:

A prevailing custom or style of dress, etiquette, socializing, etc.; or the

Conventional usage in dress, manners, etc., especially of polite society, or conformity to it.

I not only enjoy fashion - I think it's important to keep up with it, in every part of life. It's not just about the runway - it's about life. You should know what people are wearing, how they're speaking, what latest technology they're using. You need to know - to keep up, and to relate.

Fashion changes. Style is something different.

A mode of fashion, as in dress, especially good or approved fashion; elegance, smartness.

If you want to have style, you need to know what's "in" fashion at the moment. But, more importantly, you need to have a sense of who you are - and how to use fashion to present that person to the world. You need to know the latest trends, so that you know which to follow - and which to ignore.

The other day on twitter, I debated the current fashion choice that supports wearing white after Labor Day. The "rule," as it was taught to me, is nothing below the waist - white shoes (which means purses, too), pants, skirts, etc. are strictly for Memorial Day to Labor Day.

I never thought to ask why. My grandmother taught me about white - she also taught me to say please and thank you, respect my elders, to love chocolate, and to write letters to Santa. I saw no reason to question those things, either.

Current fashion says that rule is out-dated. But current fashion also says we all need to be wearing plaid, belted raincoats this season, and skinny jeans. Those won't work for me, either. Besides, almost everything has its season or occasion  - floral patterns, open-toed shoes, wool skirts, boots, leather, organza, velvet, a white dress at a wedding... You get the idea.

I wouldn't wear anything that was outdated, faded, unflattering or out of season. Even though fashion says I could get away with wearing a pair of white shoes today - I won't. Why?

It's just not my style.

Follow Friday Fun: Say it like you eat it

It's been a while. But this is a really good one.

I recently found the blog Say It Like You Eat It through a guest post and mini-profile at On The Edge. I've since met the blogger - Paige D'Anna - in person. She's fabulous - even if she doesn't like squirrels all that much.

If you read her About Me page, you'll see Paige has guts, too. Guts enough to start her dream - this blog - and make it work.

Why does it work? I think it's because she posts a little about everything - from depression to haircuts, from food to - well, more food. It is called Say It Like You Eat It, after all.

By the way - Paige also explains where that comes from.

The site name … Say It Like You Eat It … it came from the book Eat, Pray, Love. Elizabeth (Gilbert) was in Italy, learning to speak the romantic language of Italian, and she was having trouble learning. Her tutor encouraged her by saying, “Parla come magni” … “speak the way you eat,” or the way she translated it “say it like you eat it.” WOW! How beautiful!!! It just ROLLS off your tongue, “Parla come magni.” I loved it...

Now that you've (hopefully) visited Say It Like You Eat It - you're also going to want to connect with Paige. She's great fun, she will laugh with you on facebook, and share Bachelorette moments with you on twitter.

When you find her, ask her about her plastic wine glasses.

Thirty Days of Me

It's a trend sweeping the blogsphere - the thirty days of me project. I first saw it over here, but Dri bored of it (and I don't blame her one bit). It re-emerged here, and Cute~Ella inspired me to try it for my birth month as well. Plus, who am I to scoff at an idea for content?

So for the next thirty days, I'll tackle this list...

1 - Recent photo and 15 interesting facts about yourself
2 - Meaning behind your blog name
3 - Picture of you and your friends
4 - Habit you wish you didn’t have
5 - Picture of somewhere you’ve been
6 - Favorite super hero and why
7 - Picture of someone/something that has had the biggest impact on you
8 - Short term goals for this month and why
9 - Something you’re proud of in the past few days
10 - Songs you listen to when happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad
11 - Another picture of you and your friends
12 - How did you find out about blogger, and why did you make one?
13 - A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
14 - Picture of you and family
15 - Put your music player on shuffle; what are the first 10 songs?
16 - Another picture of yourself
17 - Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
18 - Plans, dreams and goals you have
19 - Nicknames you have and why
20 - Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
21 - Picture of something that makes you happy
22 - What makes you different from everyone else?
23 - Something you crave for a lot
24 - A letter to your parents
25 - What would one find in your bag?
26 - What do you think about your friends?
27 - Why are you doing this 30 day challenge?
28 - Picture of you last year and now; how have you changed?
29 - What have you learned in the past month?
30 - Your favorite song?

....along with random sprinkles of the other nonsense, awesome and random silliness that I like to share.

Happy Birthday-Month to me!!

Follow Friday Fun: Big League Stew

In keeping with the baseball theme I accidentally created for this week, I thought I'd direct you to my favorite baseball blog. There are actually quite a few out there, and this one really needs no help in gaining followers - being a part of Yahoo Sports.

But it's my favorite.

Big League Stew is edited by Kevin Kaduk (who posts as Duk). He has several contributors, including Dave Brown. Dave's an incredibly cool guy, who not only knows his baseball, but who once helped me make a purse-buying decision on twitter. We all know how important purses are to me.

Big League Stew is a fun blog, written by authors who not only know baseball - they know what fans want to talk about. They don't just talk stats and standings - they talk about what matters. Plus, occasionally, Curtis Granderson contributes. What could be better? (Besides Jeter, who as far as I can tell, does not have a blog.)

If you're into baseball, or even just sports, you really must check this out. You can also follow Duk on twitter here and Dave on twitter over here.

Other blogs of note:

Pinstripe Alley

Blogging the Bombers (NY Daily News)

MLBlogs

Thursday Thirteen - Favorite baseball games

I seem to be having a baseball-themed week, so I figured I'd stick with that for the Thursday thirteen. I asked my twitter and facebook friends to name their favorite baseball games - ever. In no particular order:

May 17, 1998 - Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees - David Wells pitched a perfect game that day.

July 18, 1999 - Montreal Expos at New York Yankees - David Cone pitched a perfect game this time.

No beautiful faces were harmed
in the making of this play.

July 1, 2004 - Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees - Derek Jeter makes his famous leap into the stands.

October 17, 1999 - Atlanta Braves at New York Mets - Game 5 of the National League Championship Series (Mets won).

June 30, 2000 - Atlanta Braves at New York Mets - Mets won.

June 16, 1997 - New York Mets at New York Yankees - Mets won.

October 6, 2010 - Cincinnati Reds at Philadelphia Phillies - Game 1 of the National League Divisional Series, Roy Halladay pitches a no-hitter!

July 13, 1993 - All-Star Game, John Kruk vs. Randy Johnson - I had to google this - hysterical. You can see it here.

May 17, 2000 - Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs - Fan stole a player's cap, and a brawl ensued.

September 16, 1978 - New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox - One-game playoff, necessary when the teams finished the regular season tied for first. It's the famous Bucky Dent game.

October 1, 2007 - San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies - One-game playoff to determine first place on the season.

October 6, 2009 - Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins - One-game playoff to determine first place on the season.

September 21, 2001 - Atlanta Braves at New York Mets - This was the first game played after the September 11, 2001 attacks. It was played in New York, and the Mets won, thanks to a two-run home run by Mike Piazza (SN: my favorite Met ever). Baseball helped bring a city, and a nation, back to life. 

Everyone had a different reason for remembering the game they mentioned. Some appreciate the intensity and finality of a one-game playoff, others recalled a fond memory, some simply loved the game because they saw it live. Others remember their team winning - whether it was a trophy, or just bragging rights. Some because it was funny, or silly, or just plain stupid.

We may be fans for different reasons, but baseball fans know what true love and memories are.

Special thanks to Angelos, Sassy, Meagan, Lee, Kelly and Patrick for helping me out.

Follow Friday Fun: High Heel Shoes

I discovered this blog on twitter, from my favorite shoe blog - Shoe tease (which we've talked about before). From the about section, High Heel Shoes is about fashion. The author also owns a website, selling high heels shoes and boots. The blog gives you style tips and tricks for the shoes you buy at the website.

Sorta brilliant, no?

I haven't been following the blog long. But just the idea makes me smile. You can follow High Heel Shoes on twitter and facebook.

If you like shoes, a few other sites I would recommend:

Shoe Dazzle

The Well-Heeled Society

Heel Candy

.....To name a few.

Go with the flow

I'm trying to get healthy and fit. A couple weeks ago, I asked for some suggestions on healthy snacks that I could eat to cure my hunger, while still avoiding empty calories. My twitter friends came through in a major way.

Eating better is something I'm starting to think I can do. I know there will be days that I won't eat right. But I know I can pick it back up the next day. I still have a ways to go - vegetables still elude me - but I'm getting better at eating well, and saving a ton of money in the process (more shoes!).

My next challenge is to get myself motivated for the gym. I mean - I've been going a few times a week, but that's not getting me the results I want. I need to be motivated to go more often. When I get home from work, I'm often too drained from my day. Or I'm busy right after work, and too tired by the time I'm finally done for the day. Getting up in the morning is a challenge for me - because I'm not a morning person.

I realized a while ago that part of the problem is my day job. It isn't something I really love (or even like) all that much - so starting my day is tough. So, I think I need to refocus in the morning; I need to stop thinking of it as a start to a work day, and start thinking of it as a start to my day...which will include work.

That's probably the main obstacle in all fitness and health goals, don't you think? All goals, really, depend on motivation and focus. We're so driven to a certain goal, or a certain way of doing things that we give up easily when it doesn't happen right away, or work out exactly as we expected.

I guess the trick to success in anything is to be willing to shift your perspective, and learn how to go with the flow.

Misadventures in Cooking - Asparagus stinks

Note: I've decided to rename this feature Misadventures in Cooking because...er, well, because it's more appropriate where I'm concerned.


For reasons beyond my comprehension, a couple of weeks ago I purchased a can of whole asparagus at the grocery store. When I got it home, I realized - I had no flippin' idea how to cook asparagus?!

So I did what I always do when I need an answer - I turned to twitter. I got advice from many tweeps on how best to prepare this veggie - and only one had the decency to suggest "throwing it away and not eating it." Next time, I'll surely listen to him.

In the meantime, I was following instructions I'd gotten elsewhere, and looking to butter, garlic and a grill to enhance this green vegetable. Don't get me wrong - they were excellent instructions. But of all the recommendations I got - I didn't get one warning about the awful smell. Which made me sad (and slightly nauseous).

Pressing on - in the name of better eating, trying new things, blog content and not wasting food - I proceeded to bury the shoots in melted butter and garlic salt, and plop them on my electric grill. I will admit - the final product didn't taste half bad....

I did not manage to choke down more than a couple of bites.

....but I'd drowned it in so much butter and garlic that I don't think what remained could actually be considered a vegetable. They were also soggy, so even if I got past the smell - I'd never get past that texture.

So what did I do wrong? Was it because the asparagus was canned, and not fresh? Did I use too much butter? Did I not grill long enough, or on a high enough heat?

I'm interested to learn - for learning sake. I won't be trying this dish again any time soon.

Thursday Thirteen - My makeup must-haves

"So now I want Sue to do a blog post with product recommendations because I bet she has great lip gloss and other stuff and is holding out on us."

Can I borrow your lip gloss?

That's what my friend tweeted over the weekend. If you want to see the whole string, you should really follow her on twitter. She's hilarious and smart and beautiful and has wonderful style. At Mel's request, I am happy to share what I've found.

First, let me warn you - I don't always buy cheap makeup. Why? Because I don't believe in throwing good money after bad. If I "save" by purchasing an inferior product - I've wasted money. I'd rather spend more and be happy with my results.

That doesn't mean I always buy the most expensive version, either. After 20+ years of wearing makeup, I've learned where (I think) you should splurge - and where it's okay to save. Here are thirteen of my favorite products and tips.

**********************

Primer:
Tip - I know what you're thinking - what am I doing, painting a room? Building a foundation? Yes, that's exactly what you're doing. Once I started using this stuff, I realized it was an essential part of my makeup routine.

Product - You can spend upwards of $30 on a primer - or you can use a much less expensive version (like this one by Revlon) that will do the same thing. I've used both, and in this case, cheaper works just fine. So for about $11 at Target, you can save yourself time and money from reapplying other makeup 2-3 times a day.

Foundation:
Tip - It's the most misunderstood item in your makeup bag. It's not meant to conceal, so don't use anything darker than your skin. You want the same shade as your skin, or lighter - but no more than a shade.

Product - I like "self-adjusting" (one that blends with the actual color of your skin). It's very similar to tinted moisturizer - much lighter texture. The self-adjusting lotion I use is by Revlon, as well. Almay also makes a similar product.

Mascara:

Tip - It's all in the applicator. I've tried expensive (to the tune of $50 for a tube) and got the same results as if I spent $8.

Product - A few months back I found this little gem from L'oreal - a layer of shimmer to apply after your actual mascara. Love it - it's fun, without being too flashy.

Nails: 
Tip - Always give yourself a pedicure if you're wearing open-toed shoes or sandals. Period.

Product - For those times when your pedicure is last-minute, and there's no time to dry your polish, this stuff is awesome.

Hair:
Tip - Don't skimp. There is a difference between discount and salon brands, no matter what the commercials with the French guy tell you.

Product(s) - I like this one to control frizz. It's expensive, but well worth it, and you don't need to use a whole lot, so it will last you a long time. I have a bottle right now that's over a year old.  For texturizing/styling, I like this stuff and this stuff - they give body and style without a "crunchy" hold.

And as requested....

Lips - It's funny that in the dream, I handed Mel lip gloss - because I'm basically addicted to the stuff. I probably have about five lip gloss options on me at any one time. I have a whole drawer full of them in my bathroom, too. I have tubes that cost $25 - and I have those that cost $10.

If I were jumping out of a plane with a friend tomorrow, and she wanted to borrow my lip gloss - I'd be handing her this one from Neutrogena. It applies well, and has some good staying power for a gloss. It's also a natural color, so it doesn't give me that "made up" look.

Thursday Thirteen: Yogi-isms

Isn't he cute?

I love baseball; I love the Yankees; and I love good quotes. So, Yogi Berra is like the best of all worlds for me. If you're not familiar with Yogi-isms - you really should be. They're silly, of course, but if you stop and think about them - there's also a little bit of truth.

Here are just a few of my favorites - click here to read more. (And thanks to Cute~Ella for tweeting this list!)

- It's like deja vu all over again.

- You can observe a lot just by watching.

- If the world was perfect, it wouldn't be.

- The future ain't what it used to be.

- When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

- Never answer anonymous letters.

- Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours.

- Half the lies they tell about me aren't true.

- It gets late early out there.

- (On baseball) 90% of the game is half mental.

- It ain't over til it's over.

- If you don't know where you're going, you might end up someplace else.

- I really didn't say everything I said.

*********

PS:

Happy Birthday to my Dad and my Cousin!!

Follow Friday Fun - Times Union Survey

Today's Follow Friday is a departure from my usual format. I'm not sending you to a blog I regularly read, but instead to a timely post over at the Times Union. This is partly because this particular post is only relevant for another couple of weeks; partly because I've got a bit of a campaign going; and partly because I've been really busy and didn't have time to do a proper review of another blog.

As you may know, I occasionally contribute to this blog. Since I contribute to a Times Union blog, and am a (fairly) active commenter on several of its other blogs, I knew right away when voting opened for the 2011 Best of Survey.

When the 2010 results were released - I wasn't all that impressed. In fact, I was downright disappointed with the capital region. We voted for so many big box stores and chain restaurants, you'd think this was Stepford, for crying out loud.

The 518 has a lot to offer that is unique and fun and all our own. We should be proud of that; and we should use a survey like this to show it off. If you don't know a lot of local places - a survey like this should be a place to find something new to try. Instead it turned into a listing of all the major GPS destinations in the area. 

So, I'm pointing you to the survey and encouraging you to take it, and vote for local events/people/businesses. Online voting ends April 22. I'm also taking this chance to plug myself - because it's my blog, and I can.

When you're asked to vote for best local tweeter, please write in @sue215. Am I the best locally? Who knows. I'm sure I'm as good as any other choice. Plus, my name is the shortest and most easy to remember. 

Please and thank you. 

Follow Friday Fun - Sex, Lies & Dating in the City

I love me some dating blogs. Mostly because they are often funny, sassy and smart. Also because it's comforting to know I'm not the only one in these predicaments. I don't write in too much detail about my dating life here - I save that for other places. Since I do write my tales of woe, I also regularly scour the blogosphere to see what my fellow bloggers are putting up with going through.

I came across the blog Sex, Lies & Dating in the City a few months back, while I was searching for "the best dating blogs." Seriously - that was my google search - and I read dozens of blogs that popped up as a result. This one definitely deserves that title.

The author's name is Simone Grant. Well - that's her pen name. As she explains in her "About Me" section, she started her blog as an outlet for her creativity, gave it a name, and then gave herself a name to go along with it - all for the sake of branding. Makes a ton of sense. She's also a Social Media Consultant, which you can learn more about here.

Successful, single-and-dating and a social media consultant? This woman is my hero.

She'll also tell you that she doesn't like the label "dating blogger." That the whole point of her blog was really to find/build an audience, and dating just happened to be a topic about which friends had suggested she write.

Whether her topic is dating in general, or online dating, sex, or self-esteem, Simone tells it with smarts and sass, and is definitely worth reading. Even if you're not single, or not dating, we can all relate to batshit crazy, can't we?

If check out the blog and like what you see, find Simone on twitter, facebook and tumblr - and let her know!

Follow Friday Fun - ShoeTease

We all know I like shoes. A lot. Okay - a whole lot.

Through the magic of twitter, I stumbled upon a blog called ShoeTease. On the about page, the author describes herself as a designer and illustrator, having escaped the corporate world to become a freelance design consultant. Doesn't that sound like a fun job?! She also says that while she believes in being open-minded about fashion and style, Uggs and leggings worn as pants cross her line of tolerance.

In my book, that alone is reason enough to follow her.

But if that's not enough for you, let me tell you what ShoeTease does. The blog is about...well, shoes. But not just a designer, wear this-with-that point of view (though I like those). She posts pictures of some of the most outrageous, enjoyable shoes I've seen.

Of course, if you like to see what-to-wear - you'll find that at ShoeTease as well. Just look here and here to get an idea.

Would I wear all of them? No. Would I be able to walk in all of them? Er....not even close. But I enjoy looking at them. Plus, there are giveaways - I love me some blog giveaways.

You can check ShoeTease out here, like it on facebook and follow on twitter. And remember....

"Shoe love is true love!"

Follow Friday Fun: Ambiance Florals

Disclaimer: If you don't like shameless plugs, you should stop reading.

A few months back I was completely depressed and could barely get out of bed. I needed my family and friends to rally around me a little and give me some support. At the same time (literally the same weekend) my cousin became the sole owner of her business and was in dire need of her family and friends to rally around her and help support her business.

It's funny how life works out sometimes.

I know a little bit about flowers; how to grow them and even how to arrange them. I know very little about design. But I do know something about marketing and sales. I know a touch about social media - certainly more than my cousin.

The thing was - she needed to find ways to grow her business, without spending a lot of money. She also needed help changing up her website. In no way, shape or form an expert, I said, "sure, I can help," and - BAM! I had a new part time job.

As the new Social Media Coordinator for Ambiance Florals & Events, I started a twitter page, recently started a facebook page - and am now authoring the blog on their newly redesigned website (thanks to tonyk).

The blog is just starting out - you'll read about events, promotions, weddings and see photos of classes, designs and whatever else might come up. It should be fun - join us, won't you?

SN: If you don't like shameless plugs, you might be confused about what a blog actually is. But anyway....