Looks Like Wheat

I remember my dreams almost every night and I honestly have no clue where the heck they come from.

Most people say you dream about stuff you thought about before bed . . .or watched on TV . . . or talked about with a friend.

Well last night I watched The Girls Next Door and talked To “Charleston.” Nothing special and nothing out of the ordinary. But I had the STUPIDEST, DUMBEST, IDIOTIC dream I could have imagined.

Therefore, I have to share because I have thought about it and had mental pictures about it all day.

To set the scene:

Me, Sister, Ryan, Sarah, Lauren, Sharon, Leslie and KT Weeg are all at the beach, I guess reliving spring break all over again.

The beach was really narrow and it was very overcast that day. There were people everywhere including old and young.

All of a sudden, this slightly overweight girl comes stumbling up and falls in the sand. She is wasted! This old couple jumps up to help her and she tells them she will be fine if she can just get a Hi-C Drink (I mean WTF? Ha-ha).

Her friend starts pulling her by the ponytail through the sand telling her they are going to Toys’ R Us (again, I don’t know! ha-ha).

The drunken girl ends up in front of us and starts throwing up…but throwing up cookies (maybe she had the munchies! I don’t know!).

It was gross one way or the other. So, I reach over and started helping her while all the rest of the girls are calling for help.

Long story short, the hot lifeguard comes.
The hot lifeguard starts doing CPR (yes, on top of the cookie mess still in her mouth! Ugh) but he keeps wiping something out of his face.
I can’t figure out what he keeps wiping out of his eyes so I pull my legs out from under her head and slide back into my chair and notice that the hair on my legs is so long and looks like wheat!!!!

Kind of like this:
Or like this:

Or even like this:

It was my leg hair that was tickling hot lifeguard's face while he was giving CPR!

The lifeguard was still sitting beside me and I did not want to embarrass myself so I started to pull off the little balls of wheat on the end so he can’t see how really long my leg hair was! UGH Gross!
I don’t know where all this came from and I promise I shave! I swear! Come rub my legs!

Broccoli and Gruyere Gratin

"All the single ladies, All the single ladies

All the single ladies, All the single ladies

All the single ladies, All the single ladies

All the single ladies...

Now put your hands up" - Beyonce

OK, so what is one good thing about being a single lady?....

It's not having to feed a man a meat with every meal! Seriously. Every time poor Sister makes a meal, it is not a meal if she doesn't feed Sammie something with a meat, potato and a side dish.

Me on the other hand, I can do a single veggie or even a simple bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios and be a happy camper. Maybe I should skip the man and move on to the five year old! (jk, SERIOUSLY just kidding, NO THANK YOU! seriously.... NOOOOO THANNNNKKK YOU!)

Anyway, so the other night I made this for dinner; this and only this, just for me! It was my main course and side dish wrapped into one.

Welcome... Broccoli and Gruyere Gratin

Ingredients
2 large bunches broccoli, roughly chopped (about 12 cups)
4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
2 cups grated Gruyere (8 ounces)
kosher salt and black pepper

Directions
1. Heat oven to 375° F. Fill a large saucepan with 1 inch of water and fit with a steamer basket (or fill a large pot with ½ inch of water). Bring to a simmer. Place the broccoli in the steamer basket, cover, and steam until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes; transfer to a large bowl.

2. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes (do not let it darken). Whisk in the milk and simmer until slightly thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of the cheese, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Toss with the broccoli.

3. Transfer the broccoli mixture to a shallow 3-quart baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining cup of cheese. Bake until bubbling and golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

All the single ladies (or those married ones that want to make this as a side dish for their husbands beef), have a big bowl and snuggle up on the couch with your favorite DVR'd episodes of 'Friends' and enjoy!

Different Restaurants

Opening a new restaurant is risky. 60% of new restaurants close or change ownership within three years. One way to make a restaurant stand out from the crowd is to have a theme, and the wackier the better. It may be as simple as putting costumes on the waiters and decorating the walls, or it may be an entirely new concept, but it probably won’t make the food any better. However, strange themes will get valuable publicity.

(click on all pictures to view larger)

1. Dinner in the Sky
Dinner in the Sky is a Brussels based restaurant that serves dinner for up to 22 people… 150 feet in the air! The specially-designed table and chairs are lifted by a crane. Dinner anywhere in Belgium will set you back almost 8 thousand euros; other locations are also available. Remember, you must wear your seat belt, and don’t drop your fork!

2. In the Toilet

The food at Marton Theme Restaurant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan is in the toilet. Patrons sit on toilets while eating, there are more toilets on the walls, and the food is served in dishes shaped like both eastern and western toilets and urinals. And business couldn’t be better.

3. Food for What Ails You

D.S. Music Restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan is a medical-themed restaurant with crutches on the wall, waitresses dressed a nurses, and drinks served from an IV drip bottle! The owner came up with the idea to express his gratitude for care he received at a local hospital.

4. Pasta You Can’t Refuse

A restaurant situated inside the top security prison Fortezza Medicea in Italy is so popular that officials have since opened more branches.
Serenaded by Bruno, a pianist doing life for murder, the clientele eat inside a deconsecrated chapel set behind the 60ft high walls, watch towers, searchlights and security cameras of the daunting 500-year-old Fortezza Medicea, at Volterra near Pisa.
Under the watchful eye of armed prison warders, a 20-strong team of chefs, kitchen hands and waiters prepares 120 covers for diners who have all undergone strict security checks. Tables are booked up weeks in advance.

5. Safe Sex with Dinner

Cabbages and Condoms is a chain of restaurants in Thailand. There are condoms on the walls and pictures of condoms printed on the carpets. Instead of after-dinner mints, patrons are offered a bowl of condoms at the counter. Profits from the restaurants go to support the Population and Community Development Association (PDA).

6. Under the Sea

Ithaa is the name of the underwater restaurant at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. The walls and roof are a transparent acrylic arch. Its capacity is 14 people, who go down a spiral staircase to a depth of five meters.

7. Revolutionary Culture

Shao Shan Chong Xiang Cai Guan in Nanning, China used the Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976 as a theme. The wait staff dress like Red Guards. Although it’s not an era people recall fondly, the restaurant is doing well. The food must be good.

8. In the Dark

At Dans le Noir ? in Paris and in London, dinner is served in complete darkness to produce a sensory experience completely different from most restaurants. The concept is threefold: 1. you taste your food without visual cues as to what you should expect, 2. you relate to your dinner companion(s) differently when you can’t see them, and 3. the wait staff is blind.

Modest Peach

I'm obsessed.....

The Helen Pendant: $18

The Emily Cuff- Gold: $190

The Jocelyn - Gold: $70

The Sarah Ring: $28

Ummmm...how fabulous are these!

Check out the Modest Peach for some of the cutest new jewels!!!

Can I Make The Adjustment?

Eight 60W light bulbs shine right in my face.

I sometimes walk out looking like this:
And sometimes looking like this:

This has honestly been the hardest thing to adjust to in moving from one apartment to the next.
I can get used to having a bigger room, a bigger closet, a new furniture layout, new sounds and new kitchen appliances but….getting used to a different light in the bathroom is proving to be impossible.

We all have our routines. While living at Eastover Ridge and using the same bathroom for three years, I knew exactly how many brush strokes it took to apply just enough blush. I knew that I needed to apply a little more eye shadow at night for it to show up in the light outside of the bathroom. I knew just how much bronzer to sweep across my forehead and still look like a white girl. I knew exactly what I needed to do in my bathroom light to look OK in the light elsewhere.

Well all this has changed and I came to work the other day and everyone asked me if I was feeling OK. I did not understand until I checked myself out in the work bathroom mirror and I looked like death had come over me. It looked as if I walked right out of the shower and into the office; makeup-less.

The light in my new bathroom is SO bright that even the slightest bit of color makes me look like a stripper on stage. So while in the new bathroom it looks like I am applying enough makeup to be in the Little Miss Perfect pageant, I really walk out looking like a ghost while in the kitchen light. So I go back in and add more and then I have overdone it. Where is the happy medium I used to have at my old apartment!!!

It’s going to be a struggle, but ill survive. Just do me a favor…if you see me in public and I am really washed out or "stripper-like"…tell me to turn around and try again. Only time will tell if I can adjust to the new light in my new bathroom.

Sky's The Limit

This weekend I am headed for a mini-vacay to the mountains of North Carolina. “Charleston” and his roomies have rented a house for them and their “side kicks” in Vilas, NC, just right outside of Boone. The plans for the weekend?...there are none. That’s why I am excited! It feels like since the beginning of the holiday it has been go, go, go and in my “free time” I moved apartments. I can’t wait to sit on the porch with a lovely cocktail in hand and spend some quality time with the b.f. and friends.

A little relaxation at its finest.

Check out the house they rented…it’s perfect! Good job boys!

Welcome to ‘Sky’s The Limit’:

It is a brand new 4 bedroom, 4-1/2 bath cabin with a game room, a workout room, a small in home theater and a hot tub on the wrap around deck. The game room includes a pool table with ping pong top, and a card playing table with chairs.

Now, this is where I am going to spend the weekend ;) - The workout room has a bowflex machine (ha ha ha), a stationary bike (ha ha ha, go Lance Armstrong! Matt Hawks and “Charleston” are going to fight over this piece of equipment!), and a mini trampoline (ok, the 80’s are calling Richard Simmons to Sky’s the Limit!)
Ok, so the workout room isn’t that cool but the owners tried and at least it has something!

Oh well, I’ll leave ya with some pics of the inside of the house!
Happy Thursday Friends!

click pictures to view larger

Weddings and Babies...My Friends Are At That Age...

One day I go from helping one friend pick out wedding color schemes and bridesmaids dresses to the next day helping Sister pick out baby girl names and crib bedding. Come on people, slow down! Aunt Blain can’t keep up!

Well several things have been decided: Sister and Sam, as of right now, have decided on the name Olivia Claire for my new little niece! I think “Charleston” summed it up the other day when he said, “Sam better watch out” and when I immediatly asked why he said “because, I have never met or seen an Olivia that is not absolutely smokin hot!” Yeap, that’s right, my niece will be gorgeous and follow along this trend of all Olivia’s being absolutely beautiful!

Anyway,
During my journey of helping friends pick out wedding and baby stuff, I did find several things that I love and hope helped inspire the brides and mothers to be!

Bridesmaids Dresses:
These bridesmaids dresses are cute and practical. I love the styles and the pop of color used in the shoes with the blue dresses. The dresses are not too crazy but definitly unforgetable; classy but also very sassy.

click all pictures to view larger

Wedding Table Settings and Center Pieces:
This table setting is to die for! I love the elegance and colors of everything from the tall centerpieces to the small flowers on each plate. And speaking of the plate…I have to have that china pattern!

Baby Gadgets:
This ZAZA hammock is perfect to hang anywhere in your house. If it were up to me, I would have one in every room! Including one to take outside while you are out in the yard; got two trees?

Find it here on Etsy: ZaZa Hammock

Description:

Reversible ZAZA hammock

- One side a gorgeous flowery, the other a solid navy blue.

-A wonderful hammock for babies, doubles as a play-hammock and swing for older kids. This hammock is a great daytime crib for babies who need to be rocked and cuddled a lot (don't they all?!). It is easily adjustable to suit your growing baby's needs

- hanging from one point makes a cozy crib that can rock in all directions, adding a pillow will make a comfy bed for bigger babies, slightly adjusting the ropes will make a great swinging seat for older children.

-Made of sturdy recycled cotton fabrics and heavy duty professional ropes and karabiners, the hammock comes with extra ropes for hanging from beams or branches when outdoors, a carry bag and instructions.

-The hammock can be easily hung from one or two points, it is very lightweight and comes with a handy carry bag so you can easily take it with you when you think your baby might want a nap outdoors.

-Machine washable.

The Move Is Complete

MOVING DAY HAS COME AND GONE....

I can’t imagine having to move a family and a house full of 30 years worth of memories.

I had a tiny apartment with only three years of “stuff” built up and I think I would have rather gone on vacation and paid someone to move me this past weekend.

I have never worked so hard in my entire life.

Down three floors and up four floors.

Sheeeeew, I can’t breathe even thinking about it.
I am mentally and physically exhausted. I did not know I had the capability of acquiring so much crap.

“Charleston” came Friday night and helped me move the rest of my boxes and “little” stuff that I did not complete over the week. The movers (Gentle Giant’s), which were fantastic and recommended to all, came Saturday morning and hauled mine and Anna’s bedroom furniture, dining room and living room furniture and washer and dryer to the new hot spot.

ALL DAY Saturday was spent unpacking. Mom and Sister helped me arrange furniture, put together my desk, clean, and fold clothes. “Charleston” was a lifesaver and went back to Eastover (the old apartment) and painted my room back to its pearly white color.

“Charleston” and I spent Sunday shopping for a new TV and desk chair and completing any open ended projects. We walked up to Rock Bottom last night for dinner and I think we walked slower than any stroll on the beach. I was so tired after dinner I don’t remember falling asleep last night.

But…in the end, the entire move was a success!

Here is a sneak peak of my new desk in my new room! I love it!!!

click images to view larger

Light Writing + A Proposal = Totally Smitten

Ok, so I stumbled across this video on a website and you tell me if this is not the coolest concept.
It is a proposal from Derick to Emily done with light writing, fast camera exposures and a little computer help to pull it all together into a video.
Watch the video, then if you don’t get how they did it, click the link below and read the explanation written by Derick himself….and then watch the video again because its better the second time around!
I think the cutest thing about this whole thing is the dedication and time it took into putting this together AND the fact that Derick's friends were so involved to help make one of the most special days in Emily’s life really unique and sweet. Totally smitten :)

http://www.derickandemily.com/Home/Proposal.html

Light Writing Proposal from Derick Childress on Vimeo.

Asian Noodle Salad

It's winter. It's cold. So lets be serious..... sitting down to a salad for dinner is just not as satisfying as a warm plate of spaghetti, chicken pie or cheesy potato soup.
But...it is 2010 and we are all trying are darnedest to stick with that haunting New Years resolution. (And don't lie to yourself, even though you didn't say this resolution out loud, you know in the back of your head you are trying to lose weight or maintain it this year. I bet no one said they wanted to gain weight :) )

Therefore, if you want to stay on the healthier side with some veggies and a salad, but still want to feel feel "complete" with your meal, please try this recipe from the Pioneer Woman.
It will do the job!

Ingredients

SALAD INGREDIENTS:
1 package Linguine Noodles, Cooked, Rinsed, And Cooled (I use whole grain or whole wheat)
½ heads Sliced Napa Cabbage, Or More To Taste
½ heads Sliced Purple Cabbage, Or More To Taste
½ bags Baby Spinach, Or More To Taste
1 whole Red Bell Pepper, Sliced Thin
1 whole Yellow Bell Pepper, Sliced Thin
1 whole Orange Bell Pepper, Thinly Sliced
1 bag Bean Sprouts (also Called Mung Bean Sprouts)
Chopped Cilantro, Up To 1 Bunch, To Taste
3 whole Scallions, Sliced
3 whole Cucumbers Peeled And Sliced
1 can (about 10 Oz.) Whole Cashews, Lightly Toasted In Skillet
_____
FOR THE DRESSING:
1 whole Lime, Juiced
8 Tablespoons Olive Oil
8 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons (up To 3 Tablespoons) Sesame Oil
⅓ cups Brown Sugar
3 Tablespoons Fresh Ginger Chopped
2 cloves Garlic Chopped
2 whole Hot Peppers Or Jalapenos, Chopped
Chopped Cilantro

Preparation Instructions
Mix salad ingredients together. Whisk dressing ingredients together and pour over salad. Mix with tongs or hands and serve on a platter.

Note: dressing keeps for up to three days before serving, without cilantro.

Its what every girl loves...

Gary: “You said you didn’t like flowers.”
Brooke: “Every girl loves flowers Gary.”
- The Break Up (2006)

Yes, it’s true. No matter how much we say we don’t like flowers. We do.

It doesn’t matter what kind, how they come, or when we get them. We like flowers. We like the surprise.

We like the colors, the smells, the textures and especially the thought behind them.
We like flowers because it reminds us that you are thinking of us when we are not around, just as much as we think about you.

Guys think a dude walking out of Harris Teeter with a fresh bundle of Dalia’s is a wimp, all the while we immediately think, “ahh, how sweet. She is so lucky. She will be so surprised. I wonder what her reaction will be when she gets them.”
I pesonally catch myself making a mental picture of the moment and I get totally zoned out to the fact the cashier has asked me five times if I found everything ok.

Well this weekend I will give “Charleston” a 10 on the boyfriend scale.

I woke up to a breakfast of fresh bagels and cream cheese and….
...
...
...
...

These sitting on the coffee table….

click to view larger

What a way to start a girl's morning.
To a guy they might just be something that dies in a matter of days but to us…they silently melt our heart.


Thanks "Charleston"!

Neat Freak or Crazy Person?

I am an organizational neat freak. I even think that might be an understatement.
The inside of my car always looks new. It is cleaned out every day and every compartment is filled with the appropriate materials and nothing more.
My closet is organized by season and then by color. It honestly looks like a rainbow. Shannon, my roommate in college, rubbed off on me and has got me obsessed with having to need all plastic hangers so that every piece of clothing hangs uniformly from the rack.

If I didn’t know myself better I would diagnose myself with an OCD.

I don’t keep junk and I always have lists. I have an excel spreadsheets that I utilize for budgeting and tracking and I even have a calendar to track my workout schedule. My T-shirts are organized in my dresser by “event/organization” (ADPi, NC State, volunteer, workout). They are then sorted by short-sleeve or long-sleeve and then by color.
When I leave a room, I have to leave it clean and neat. I am constantly picking up and straightning up if things are out of order. Besides my OCD, I think this has to do with having roommates for the past 8 years. When it is not just YOUR personal space, I feel obligated to keep it tidy.

For me, it just makes life easier.

Therefore, when I saw this, I just about had to sit down before passing out.

click to view larger

AHHHHHHH, a bright light is shining all over this organizational system and it is screaming: “Buy me, buy me, use me, and hang me on your wall.”

I saw this organizational system in the Pottery Barn catalog yesterday and I fell in love. We are moving into our new apartment this week and I HAVE to have this over my new desk in my new room.
There is just one problem: Pottery Barn is taking me to the cleaners with this thing!
To build a daily system just like the one in the picture above it takes:

1 Linen Pin board ($54)
2 Cork Boards ($34 each)
1 Office Organizer ($54)
1 Letter Bin ($54)
3 Magnetic White Board Calendars ($54 each)
6 Top Display Rods 24” long ($20 each)
All of this coming to a grand total of: $512.00

That is ludicrous! RIP OFF!
Therefore, my new “art and craft” for the next two weeks – build my own “daily system” to go over my desk that looks just like this but at a cheaper price…

Ready. Set. Go

Whiskey Warehouse

This past weekend “Charleston” and I went to Whiskey Warehouse with one of his buddies and his wife.
Whiskey Warehouse is a new establishment that took over what used to be Creation in Plaza Midwood. Whiskey Warehouse is owned by the same guys that own the popular Brazwells on Montford Drive.

My personal rating of the new hot spot: 10

The interior is gorgeous with hardwood floors, exposed bring walls, high beamed ceilings and a polished bar running the length of the space. There is a sitting area near the front with leather chairs and two flat screens. Throughout the space there are approximately 10 televisions for your overall viewing pleasure. Whiskey Warehouse offers forty-five different beers and sixty different whiskeys.

I checked out the menu and it includes a pretty decent spread at a reasonable price.

Some of the appetizers and entrees included:
Prime Rib Sliders: $8
Wings (buffalo, Jack Daniels BBQ, Cayenne Ranch, etc): $8
Buffalo Shrimp: $8
Spinach Dip and tortilla chips: $8

Whiskey Glazed Salmon salad: $9
Plaza Salad: $7
Fried Green Tomato Burger with creamy Pimento Cheese: $8
Fish and Chips: $12
Whiskey Ribs: $16 for a full rack
Bourbon Butter Salmon: $13
BBQ Pork Chop: $12
And a huge selection of Burgers and Sandwiches.

Not only was the menu and cocktail list impressive but the bartenders were friendly, the bar was busy but not overcrowded and the atmosphere was laid back with good music. Me, I would definitely go again; no doubt. I could get used to replacing some of the usual Saturday evenings at Andrew Blair’s, Blackfinn or Brazwells with a laid back night at Whiskey Warehouse. Go try it for yourself. You will enjoy.

Did I Read That Right?

I am a sophisticated individual; at least I try to be. Guys are the ones that joke about stupid, vulgar stuff and still giggle at the word “boobies” when said in public.

Yesterday I was at the gym, minding my own business, hauling ass on my treadmill while watching out the window at young professionals fleeing the uptown Charlotte area after work as if there was a massive fire drill. (I am totally a people watcher…but let’s save that for another post!)

Out of the side of my eye I notice someone hop on the treadmill beside me. As I glance over, I notice some sort of medical/health show on the TV between us. At my gym (Sports & Fitness) most of the TV’s are set to silent so that the TV then produces subtitles. As I am looking over, I notice the subtitles were reading something like this:

“An allergic reaction to penis can range from a minor irritation to a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Even a tiny amount of penis may trigger a serious allergic reaction. An allergic response to penis usually occurs within minutes after exposure. The most common cause of penis allergy is eating penis. Sometimes direct skin contact with penis can trigger an allergic reaction. Not all adverse reactions to penis are caused by an allergic reaction. It can be difficult to know whether you are allergic or intolerant to penis. If you have penis intolerance, you usually can have small amounts of penis with only mild symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you think you are allergic to penis.”

Half-way through this announcement I was laughing hysterically. HOW EMBARRASSING! I felt so immature for laughing at a conversation about penises but seriously…. A penis allergy? Eating penis (can we be any more explicit?) And being “intolerant to penis?” What the hell was this woman talking about? I pulled off my headphones and at the same time the guy on the treadmill beside me took his off; I noticed him kind of chuckling. (Thank goodness I wasn’t the only one!) We both kind of looked at each other and he reached over to the TV to turn the sound up. The next thing out of the ladies mouth was:
Peanut Allergy

Thank you TV subtitles for the shitty translation and for making me look like an immature FOOL (along with the dude beside me).

Did You Know ? ? ?

What is one of my favorite shows to watch while I workout at the gym?

Jeopardy

Call me a nerd, dork, whatever floats your boat, but...something about that show makes 30 minutes on the treadmill go by like a much needed power nap. I absolutely love random trivia. Even though I learn some of the most useless knowledge, I walk away feeling more intelligent then going to college for five years.
I have a random trivia generator saved on one of my favorite websites that I visit everyday to "better improve my skills" for the next Trivial Pursuit game.

What did I learn today?

* Built in 1889, the Eiffel Tower was lambasted by Parisians for its industrial ugliness. The only thing that saved it from being demolished in 1909 was it potential use as a radio tower during World War I. Luckily, by the end of the War, it had won over enough hearts to stay.
*Rene Lacoste, a professional tennis player, invented the worlds first good tennis shirt. Known as “Le Crocodile” for his on-court tenacity, Lacoste added the crocodile to his clothes in the 1930s – the first time a logo is known to have appeared on the outside of a shirt.

* Technically speaking, Alaska is the northernmost, westernmost, and easternmost state in the United States. Parts of the Aleutian Islands cross over the 180th meridian.

* There is actually a specific area of the brain known as the bilateral vomitation center. It notes when our tummy is upset and queasy, and it makes the final decision whether to barf or not to barf.

* Despite the horrific display, nearly two-thirds of those who were on board the Hindenburg survived its 1937 mishap.

*Only 17 existing paintings are attributed to famed artist Leonardo da Vinci.
The first VCR, developed by the Ampex Corporation in 1956, weighed nearly 1,500 lbs. It took another 15 years before a version small and light enough for home use hit the scene.

* Diamonds are close, but they aren’t forever. Diamonds are actually unstable at our comfortable temperature and pressure. Every diamond above ground is very, very slowly altering into graphite, another form of pure carbon.

* Braces go all the way back to ancient Egypt. In fact, archeologist's have found several mummies with crude metal bands wrapped around their teeth.

* The former Rolling Stones’ bassist, Bill Wyman, began a relationship with thirteen-year-old Mandy Smith, when he was forty-seven. They married six years later in 1989, but divorced after less than two years. Not long after the divorce, Bill’s thirty-year-old son, Stephen, married Mandy Smith’s mother, Patsy, age forty-six

*Bikini wax has been around for hundreds of years. Muslim brides-to-be in the Middle East and North Africa remove all their body hair before their wedding night.

*Under federal law, garment tags that contain the use-and-care instructions must last the lifetime of the garment, which is why most of those tags are so stiff and scratchy.

*Even though he hated their taste, Mel Blanc insisted on chewing real carrots to provide the chomping sounds when he voiced the cartoon character Bugs Bunny.