10 Ridiculous Items on Oprah’s 2012 Favorite Things List

November 13, 2012 by 1 Comment

Are Oprah’s favorite things out of touch with the everyday wants and needs of the average American family? After a two year hiatus, Oprah is back with her “Favorites Things” list and some fans (or maybe just foes) are calling fowl, accusing the daytime diva of being . . . well, a bit diva-ish in regards to her choices.

The December issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, will be on newsstands November 6 featuring Oprah’s choices of her favorite things of 2012. Following up with the print premier of her favorite things list, on November 18 OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) will continue to promote the list with a two-hour special devoted to highlighting this year’s products. However, the Vanity Fair blog is calling Oprah out on her ridiculously over-priced items that no reasonable person would spend money on. Free advertising doesn’t mean anything if consumers can’t afford to shell out $150 for ear buds.

Here is a sneak peak of a few of Oprah’s favorite things. What do you think? Would you purchase any of these items for yourself or as a Christmas present for a co-worker, friend or family member?

Urbani Truffle Butter
Price: $21 – $39

Hmmm. . . does it include the baked potato?

Sallie’s Greatest Trio Jam Pack
Price: $36

What’s wrong with Smuckers?

Dyson Pedestal Fan
Price: $$450

Is circulating the air really worth $450? Wouldn’t a paper fan do just as well?

Harry Barker Pet Canister and Bowl
Price: $56

Goodness! This makes me feel incredibly guilty for feeding my cat straight out of the Fancy Feast container. What a heathen I am!

Carousel Cakes Blue Velvet Cake
Price: $42

Blue velvet cake may be enticing, but couldn’t you make this at home for 80% of the cost using some sort of blue food dye?

Bellocq Tea Atelier Chai Gift Set
Price: $85

For the price of this Chai Tea gift set, you would be better off traveling to India for the real thing.

R. Nichols Candles
Price: $45

Sure they are charming, but they are candles. They burn out. They don’t last forever and they take your $45 with them when they disappear.

Wagging Tail Custom Portrait Cards
Price: $229 for a set of 50

Okay, we get it! We know you love your dogs. We love our pets, too. However, the average pet lover can have cute customized greeting cards made for a fraction of this price at their local Walgreens. I’m just saying.

Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats
Price: $150

Of all the items on Oprah’s Favorite Things list, these may be the one item more people buy. They are priced outrageous, but many music lovers are investing in these Dr. Dre earbuds. Still, $150 is a bit much, don’t you think?

Schmidt Brothers Bonded Teak Series Knife Set
Price: $450 for the 15-piece set

Wow! When I registered for my Cuisinart Knife Set years ago, I thought $100 for a ridiculous amount for cutlery  Thank you, dear Oprah, for proving me wrong!

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Cat Calling – Intrusive or Flattering?

November 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Let’s talk about cat calling. Almost every woman on this planet knows exactly what this is, but in case you are living under a rock and have been shielded from this Neanderthal inspired behavior, let me explain. According to Urban Dictionary cat calling is,

When a guy gives the wert whirl whistle or yells at a babydoll for the purpose of getting attention and in hopes of a future hookup. This is usually done out of the window of a car.

Or as you are walking down the street to an appointment  Maybe while you are waiting in line at the ATM or any other situation where you are suddenly caught off guard by some guy’s random, sexually charged praise about the way your ass looks or what he thinks you should plan to do with/to him.

Recently, a friend of mine posted on Facebook this eye-opening, funny video by Totally Biased w/Kamau Bell entitled Totally Biased: NYC Women Talk Cat Calling. Kamau interviews NYC women about the out-of-control cat calling and their reactions to this, dare we say, epidemic. To present both sides of the argument, Kamau also addressed the dudes known to offer their fair share of boisterous compliments.

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Who Says Politics is Boring?

November 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Election Day can be frustrating, overwhelming, tiring and lengthy. So, I am going to make this post short and sweet. Let’s have a little fun. Shall we?

I found this wonderfully mesmerizing picture of the President and The First Lady over at Caption This. Now, it is your turn. Take your shot at captioning this photo. I will post to Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, too so we can spread the joy!

Okay . . . Ready, Set, GO!

And in this picture you can see the nina,pinta and santa marie, these are the ships my great, great, great grandparents came on to discover america ...

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4 Books Sexier Than 50 Shades of Grey

October 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Are you over 50 Shades of Grey? While this “mommy porn” book may have capitalized on the intrigue and excitement to garner record sells, the writing and story line have left some readers a little, shall we say, unfulfilled.  If you are looking for an erotic reading experience that offers more than poorly written sex-ploits, check out these books to add to your bedside reading.

The Thornbirds by Colleen McCullough

Nothing is sexier or more forbidden than the illicit affair between a priest and a woman forbidden to express her desire for him. Although this book is was written decades ago, the story is timeless and raw with forbidden, erotic love, tragedy and betrayal.

Trouble by Kate Christensen

This is a coming-of-age novel about 3 middle-age women discovering their sexual identities. Latin lovers, exotic locales and a never-ending supply of alcohol equals exciting trouble for these three women.

How Should a Person Be by Sheila Heti

To describe this book, one needs to only read this line. “I don’t know why all of you are reading books when you could be getting reamed by Israel, spat on, beaten up against the headboard—with every jab, your head battered into the headboard. Why are you all reading? I don’t understand this reading business when there is so much f***ing to be done.”

Enough said?

The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler

Sometimes sexiness and eroticism do not have to be cloaked in fiction. To be human is to be sexy and to sexy means we open up about the act of sex. What began as a one-woman show that traveled the country, beckoning to female audiences to open up about their sexual lives, it eventually became a ground-breaking book that “gives voice to a chorus of lusty, outrageous, poignant, and thoroughly human stories . . .”

Voice your opinion. Have you read books sexier than 50 Shades of Grey? Do you think good erotic fiction is graphic or  simply suggestive?

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What’s Your Underwear Horoscope?

October 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Plan you week based on your horoscope. This is a short and sweet post, but I think you will be thoroughly entertained. Jenna Marbles, blogger and random comedian, gives you her thoughts on what kind of week you should expect based on your underwear choices for the week.

Fair warning . . . This post is not G-rated!

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Family Themed Restaurants That Serve Personality and One-of-a-Kind Experiences

September 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Families are always looking for new and exciting places to eat out that go beyond the neighborhood bar and grill, especially when traveling. Family-themed restaurants serve up more than food. Family-themed restaurants rely on atmosphere and one-of-a-kind experiences to keep families coming back over and over again making them forget about over-priced entrees. Who cares if a hamburger costs $12 dollars as long as Goofy is serving it to you, right?

If you are planning a family vacation, check out these family themed restaurants for an unique dining experience.

Alice’s Tea Cup
156 East 64th Street, New York (Manhattan), New York

This charming Manhattan tea room is charming and whimsical. Purchase fairy wings to enjoy your afternoon tea and scones. Both boys and girls will delight in the delicious sweet treats served at Alice’s Tea Cup.

family food vacation destination

Photo courtesy of Google Images

Rainforest Cafe
Locations Nationwide

Spend time eating in the tamer jungles of the Rainforest Cafe. Jungle characters entertain as they serve food to you and your kiddos. Locations are nationwide which means you are bound to find a Rainforest Cafe somewhere within your family’s vacation destination.

dining experiences

Photo courtesy of Google Images

Pirate’s Dinner Adventure
7600 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, California 90620

There are two ports available to check out this amazing dining experience: Buena Park, California and Orlando, Florida. Prepare for a swashbuckling adventure when you hop aboard this pirate ship. Over 150 entertainers make up the cast of this adventure. In addition, you have a chance to play a starring role when you purchase dinner tickets to this epic adventure in dining and entertainment.

Ninjas serving your food

Photo courtesy of Google Images

Ninja New York
25 Hudson Street
New York (Manhattan), New York

A Japanese castle, Ninjas serving your food, no need to say more, your little ones will be delighted to enjoy sushi and other Japanese delicacies. The restaurant is designed to depict a ninja village where mystery and fantasy collide. This theme restaurant will appeal to families with children of all ages. Adults will get in on the action, too. Visiting Manhattan? This restaurant experience must be included in your itinerary.

The Airplane Restaurant
1665 N. Newport Rd.
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Cool, themed-restaurant experiences are not limited to the East and West Coasts. In the heart of the Rockies, you will find a fun, family time aboard an airplane that doesn’t serve traditional airplane food. RunnerGrrrl wrote this review: “. . . airplanes hanging from the ceiling in the “terminal” and the chance to eat inside a real airplane will thrill any little person in the family. Kids are invited up into the cockpit of the KC-97 to try out their piloting or navigation skills and will have a blast. ”

Do you like theme restaurants? What is your favorite family themed restaurant that you have dined at?

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5 Ways to Determine if You Need Pinterest Rehab

September 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

pinterest freaksNo. I am not a Pinterest addict. I thank God, Buddha and any other supreme entity, that I am able to suppress my urges to not become a Pinterest freak. Don’t get me wrong. I am an occasional social pinner when I need an awesome, trendy gift idea or Saturday night’s usual carry-out pizza meal is getting boring. And, I periodically browse the pin boards of my friends to make sure I don’t end up being a clone of someone else. The notion of being a suburban clone frightens me which you can read more about here where I discuss my resistance of labels.

Pinterest fans!Okay, so are you a Pinterest addict? It’s okay if you are. Sometimes I get a little cynical, it’s that whole label thing again. So feel free to ignore my rants and continue to pin away. Especially feel free to pin and follow my board because while I may reject labeling, I love to be loved. And, of course, you have to follow The General Gazette’s boards because we are just full of crazy awesomeness.

Not sure you are a Pinterest addict? Here are five signs that you have crossed the line from casual user to full-blown junkie.

  1. Have you downloaded the Pinterest app to all of your mobile devices? Let’s see . . . tablet, check! iPhone, check! Laptop, check! Yep, if you have to be connected to Pinterest 24/7 you may have a problem.
  2. Do you get drunk off Pinterest? Have you caught yourself handing over your smartphone to that amazing hot bartender, not to swap numbers, but to show him the exact recipe for the Sex in the Caribbean drink you just pinned? Yes, you may have a problem and you will probably be going home alone.
  3. Have you spent hours researching (excuse me, stalking) the boards of your child’s classmates’ parents to be sure that you will not show up at the school Christmas party with the same teacher gift as everyone else? You might want to evaluate if there is problem.
  4. Do you spend more money on supplies making a Pinterest craft than you would if you would buy yourself a gorgeous diamond necklace from Tiffany’s. Wow! If this is you, I don’t think you need me to suggest there might be a slight problem.
  5. Is your home a life-sized pin board? Have you bought every post-it note in the store and find that you have “pinned” suggestions in every corner of your house so you won’t forget the decorating idea you had. My friend, if you done this then you have lost control and I believe a thirty day, in-patient Pinterest rehabilitation facility is the right choice for you.

No judging if you admit to one of those five or, let’s be honest, all five of the Pinterest addiction predictors. It’s okay. Everyone has their addictions. Just remember to pin responsibility, follow me and The General Gazette and, most importantly, don’t pin and drive!

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Do You Have Gangnam Style?

September 23, 2012 by 27 Comments

Short post today, but I had to share this video with you. South Korean rapper and YouTube sensation, Psy, has the most liked video on YouTube. Do you have Gangnam Style?

If you haven’t had a chance to check out this song that has people grinding cowboy style, take a moment to watch. I have a sneaky suspicious that this dance is going to be the new Duck Dance at fall weddings. What do you think? After you watch the video leave a comment and let us know what your favorite group wedding dance is.

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Drop Dead Diva

September 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Drop Dead DivaThis sitcom is thy best! It’s about a dumb model (Brooke D’Orsay) Deb that has everything, a fiancé, and money…. or does until she drops dead. While driving she’s fiddling around with makeup and hits a truck; at the exact same time a fat lady lawyer gets shot. The lady lawyer Jane (Brooke Elliott) is fighting for her life as the dumb blonde already in Heaven trying to convince the angels that she has to get back to her fiancé Grayson (Jackson Hurst). So, when the angels are looking the other direction, Deb, the dead model pushes the “return” button and pops into the lawyer’s body.

Deb gets a rude awaking when a mirror is placed in her hand at the hospital; she is in the wrong body. To be precise, she’s now stuck in Jane’s fat lawyer’s body! Soon Deb gets use to Jane’s body and learns she’s extremely smart. Her best friend Stacey (April Michelle Bowlby) is the only one who knows that Deb is stuck in Jane’s body. Deb learns quickly she works in the same office as her fiancé Grayson and that’s a drama all on its own.

Drop Dead Diva has many stories going at once. The directors pull everything together so nicely. This is really an awesome chick show on Lifetime. You can watch the first 3 Seasons on Netflix on instant stream. Season 4 is on television now. In season 4 a twist comes in episode 13, nearly the end of the season. All Drop Dead Diva fans are sitting on the edge of their seats wondering what episode 14 will bring or is the season done until next year. It’s an insult to us to leave the fans hanging but that is what television is famous for.

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Latest Chick Flicks

September 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Naughty Love Story

30 Beats movieGirls a new chick flick is out, it’s called “30 Beats”! It’s a love story of 10 New Yorkers, boys and girls falling in love or at least getting a little something, something. Lots of nudity, we like that and lots of crazy temptations. Some stars you may already love, Jennifer Tilly, and Justin Kirk (Andy from Weeds). The characters get caught up in triangles and twists in turns of estrange love. Your dream came true, this chick flick you can drag your honey to because of the nudity shots. The storyline is pretty good, so no yawns will appear in the seat beside you. And after the movie don’t expect to stay out; your honey wants to go home NOW!




Pharmaceutical God

Love and Other Drugs movieOh girls you have to see this chick flick, the best teary eyed, mushy romance of the year, Love and Other Drugs with swoon Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway. It’s the typical story of how the guy is the player until he meets his match Anne Hathaway. Anne plays the same fiddle, and only wants play the field. So she rejects Jake and hell breaks loose. Lots of tear-jerker moments and “OMG” I want that kind of love moments, too! This definitely not for the boys, girls only! Go alone or girlfriends night out, so you can critique after.

What to Expect

The Lucky OneHow about this flick with Zach Efron all grown up and looking hot, he’s in the war in Iraq or Afghanistan. He’s a photo of a girl and then gets blown up. No this is not a guy movie, but starts out as one for 2 seconds then it’s all for us girls.

Efron survives the bombing with only a few injures. Amazingly he still has the photo of the mystery girl. When he goes home, he’s determined to find the girl in the photo who he believes saved his life. It takes no time to find her and the story unfolds. Some drama, lots romance and hot sex! It’s all about the feelings you get when you start a new romance, temptation, and lots of chemistry. This definitely is a must see with your girls but expect to get teary-eyed.

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