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Take this duo for a spin

Earth Week inspired me to try out a new, eco-friendly way to wash clothes, courtesy of www.Laundry-Alternative.com. The idea behind the portable countertop Wonder Wash and its sidekick spin dryer is simple. They use little water and electricity, saving money and reducing your carbon footprint.

The washer, at $42.95, is little more than a plastic keg with a handle. It perches on a frame that allows the user to spin it using the handle.

The manufacturer says the little washing machine is perfect for apartment dwellers, boaters, campers, recreational vehicle owners, frugal people, singles, seniors, college students and many others. So, just about everybody.

Unless, that is, you’re a slob and spill lots of food on your clothes. My hubby and I decided to give the little wash-bot a real challenge. We stained a white T-shirt with squirts of ketchup and mustard and a spill of Hawaiian Punch. Then we rubbed it on the tire of my car.

To be fair, before washing, we treated the stains with Shout.

The instructions are simple: Place the clothes in the washer with about 2 quarts of water and a tablespoon of detergent, tighten the lid and spin for a couple of minutes. Then, attach the drain pipe, let the water drain, rinse and presto! Your clothes are ready for the dryer.

After a couple of minutes of spinning, most of the tire marks and all the punch spill came clean, but the ketchup and mustard stains remained.

Then, we put the shirt in the spin dryer. It is a bit larger than the washer, and it plugs in. We clamped the lid closed, and the dryer instantly went to work. It features a spout at the bottom, and we soon learned it’s a drain spout for moisture. Water started dripping out immediately as the dryer spun like crazy.

After several minutes of spinning, it stopped dripping, and the T-shirt was almost dry. Not bad, considering the unit uses no heat, just centrifugal force.

Overall, the Laundry Alternative Wonder Wash and spin dryer performed about as expected. Don’t sell your full-size set, but for an RV, campers with access to electricity or for small daily loads such as cloth diapers or kitchen towels, it could be a cost- and time-saving option.

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Frumpy no more

LONDON (AP) — What’s next, a fake tan?

Britain is buzzing over singing sensation Susan Boyle’s mini-makeover, with some worrying that her new look may cost her some support in the “Britain’s Got Talent” competition that catapulted her to international stardom.

Boyle, 47, became an instant YouTube and Internet celebrity after appearing on the British TV show with gray frizzy hair, bushy eyebrows and a jowly face above a remarkably unflattering dress. The contrast between Boyle’s un-adorned looks and her angelic singing voice endeared her to viewers the world over.

But on Friday, Boyle appeared on the cover of The Sun tabloid sporting freshly dyed and styled brown locks and newly shaped eyebrows.

While no one could accuse Boyle of turning into a WAG — as the highly stylized Wives and Girlfriends of England’s wealthy athletes are called — the difference was shocking.

“Compared to what she had, it’s a 200 percent improvement,” said Toni Jones, assistant fashion editor of The Sun. “But our readers think this is as far as she should go. We want her to stay one of us, not get hair extensions and a fake tan.”

Jones praised Boyle for getting a 35-pound ($51) hair cut at a local salon near her home in Scotland rather than trekking to London for a 200-pound ($295) cut at a celebrity salon.

But Max Clifford, Britain’s most prominent publicist, called the makeover a major risk because it could jeopardize the phenomenal connection between Boyle and her worldwide audience.

“Keep her as natural as possible for as long as possible,” said Clifford. “It’s more about protection than promotion. She’s got the voice. She has to make sure that the person people all around the world fell in love with remains the same.”

In addition to the new haircut, Boyle has also upgraded her wardrobe. Instead of the plain beige dress she wore on her first TV appearance, she was recently photographed wearing a stylish black leather jacket and what appeared to be a Burberry scarf.

Judges of “Britain’s Got Talent” will decide May 23 whether Boyle gets through to the next round. Britain’s bookmakers have made her the firm favorite to win the competition.

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Being Beyonce

NEW YORK (AP) — Beyonce says one of the toughest parts of summer tour has been condensing more than a decade’s hits into a two-hour show. Judging from a recent photo shoot, figuring out how to perform them in Thierry Mugler’s elaborate, over-the-top costumes is just as difficult.

Beyonce strutted gingerly in one such outfit, with a motorcycle handle-type top and flashing light at the center. But the camera brought out Sasha Fierce, her alter ego moving confidently in the outrageous getup and stiletto heels.

“I’m never gonna go on stage or do a video and not work until my feet are blistered, and until I’m basically, I can’t walk any more,” the giggly but exhausted entertainer said later. “I always give, and I do that because I know how lucky I am, to do my job.”

In a recent interview, Beyonce — whose latest CD, “I Am … Sasha Fierce,” is double platinum — talked about concerts (her tour kicks off June 21 at Madison Square Garden) in the YouTube age, what she will fight fiercely for and why Etta James never had her worried.

AP: How will this tour be different from your 2007 “B’Day” tour?

Beyonce: It’s going to be more emotional, because this album, “I Am,” that portion was a lot more real and raw and more sensitive. … The best part about this tour is I’m working with Thierry Mugler, who is an icon and a legend, and I’ve been a fan.

AP: Often snippets of concerts end up on the Internet. Is it frustrating not being able to surprise people anymore?

Beyonce: It’s very frustrating now. … It’s great because people can get a little sneak peak and say, “Oh, I wanna come to the show” or “I don’t wanna go to that show” (laughs), and I’m fans of people so I go on there and check it out too. But you put so much of your heart and time into the wardrobe … it’s kind of unfortunate that people can see the show months before you get into their city, but that’s life.

AP: One YouTube video from your last tour showed you falling, getting up and continuing.

Beyonce: A lot of people with heart can see that I have heart, and I encourage other people to have that same strength and fight, and I definitely get tired, I definitely mess up, I definitely fall down stairs. I forget the words, sometimes, but that’s just life. I guess the question is, what are you going to do after that? And I always get back up, and it just makes me even stronger.

AP: In your new movie “Obsessed,” out on Friday, you play a wife who fights to protect her family. What is the hardest thing you ever fought for?

Beyonce: Everything that’s worth anything you have to fight for. You have to fight in your relationships, I have to fight for my career, I have to fight to stay in shape, because I get tempted to eat good old chocolate (laughs), and all this stuff everybody loves. It’s all a fight, but it’s worth it.

AP: When you sang “At Last” for the Obamas at the inauguration ball, Etta James said some pretty harsh things about you but later said she was joking. Did you know she was joking?

Beyonce: I played Etta James (in last year’s “Cadillac Records”), so I did my research, I read her book. I was not at all surprised. That’s Etta. She’s hilarious (laughs).

AP: Your sister Solange twitters all the time. Do you do it?

Beyonce: My sister is the Twitter queen. She told me about the twittering, but I don’t get it, I feel like I’m getting really old. I’m like, what? I don’t understand. Just call me.

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Britain’s Got Talent, big shock.

 

Ok, enough already, people. News flash! Millions of middle aged dowdy women have the voices of angels! Plenty of young dowdy women do too. Not to be a crank but it’s ridiculous that the world should be in such a frenzy over Susan Boyle. What’s the big shock? That she can sing despite the fact that she’s not a rail-thin tatooed single mother like half the American Idol women? Most of us aren’t! But many of us can carry a tune and if Susan Boyle’s story has any moral, it should be that “reality” talent searches such as American Idol aren’t really reality. Real women don’t look like Megan Corkrey but many of us have more talent.

By the way, all that is not to say that I don’t think that Boyle is an exceptional singer. She seems to be, although “I Dreamed a Dream” is not the most vocally challenging song. It has only about an octave range and has been a typical middle school talent show selection since Les Miz first hit back in the 1980s.  Let’s hear her crank out some Celine Dion range and difficulty.

And, to answer some of the comments, yes, I do have the guts. I am in a band and sing on stage very weekend. Not trying to be sour grapes, just giving my opinion:)

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Looking for a date?

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Ugly words, pretty words

 

If words were people, then “eloquent,” “love” and “symphony” would get dates most Friday nights.

Sadly, “vomit,” “moist” and “puke” likely would stay home alone, wondering what went wrong.

Which begs the question: How are words pretty or ugly?

That’s the question Robert E. Wolverton Sr., a Mississippi State University classics professor, recently asked in a survey of some 75 students in his classes. Developed from Wolverton’s natural academic curiosity, the poll is part of the foreign language faculty member’s “semi-frequent” examination of how students at the land-grant university view widely used terms.

Of the 148 different “beautiful” words submitted by students this year are several listed multiple times: eloquent (six), love (four) and symphony (four). Beautiful, lavender and tranquility each received three mentions.

Of the 138 “ugly” words, the following are mentioned multiple times: vomit (six), moist (five), puke (five), phlegm (four), slaughter (four), snot (four), ugly (four), damp (three), and mucus (three).

Also, the name of a football team may make an ugly word for some, while food types have the sound of beauty.

Wolverton also asked students to spend some time thinking about what makes a word either pretty or unattractive. The association between words and sounds, while being pronounced often, factor into how they are considered, Wolverton said.

The same can be true of a word’s language of origin, Wolverton noted, adding that many words viewed as pretty “often have Greek or Latin origins.” In general, the short, monosyllable words seemed to be viewed as ugly, while polysyllabic words seemed to have more likability, based on years of the survey’s results, he said.

Compared to previous years, one difference in the 2009 survey results involves the selection of religious-themed words as pretty. According to Wolverton, fewer students listed them this year.

Expressing surprise, he observed that “so many of our students come from small towns. “For many of them the church is the social center.”

Also, “mellifluous” and “lullaby,” two words consistently considered pretty over the years, dropped off this year’s list. “Susurrus,” which describes a soft, whispering or rustling sound, made the list for the first time, however.

Wolverton said he thinks the increasing number of iPhones and other modern communication technologies may be providing students with “greater word diversity on a regular basis.”

This year’s class survey is the fourth for the veteran educator. He said he didn’t have a specific goal when he created it, just an interest to see what his students were thinking.

“I was just curious to see what would come out of it,” he said.

(Source: Newswise)

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This guy is amazing.

In case anyone had any doubts about Adam Lambert’s amazing voice, this video from the April 7 American Idol episode is all the proof you need. This guy is a major talent. If he doesn’t win American Idol, it will be a travesty because he outshines everyone that’s ever been on the show. And, I’ve never seen Simon Cowell give anyone a standing ovation!

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Fredericksburg for art, wine and history

To take a piece of the Hill Country home with you, Wildseed Farms offers a variety of native plants and wildflower seeds suited for any part of the country.

For the amateur photographer, the Texas Hill Country is a bonanza in spring with fields awash with wildflowers and wildlife.

A big part of Fredericksburg’s charm is its small town feel. In downtown Fredericksburg, there is something for everyone.

At the Herb Farm, you can buy some amazing homemade jams, dips, lotions, candles and other items. Here, Richard Estenson, owner of Fredericksburg Herb Farm, serves miniature peach pies to guests.

The Hangar Hotel is a fun place to stay in Fredericksburg. It is situated right on the runway of the town’s small airport. Rooms are excellent and the hotel also features a unique WWII style conference center, an ice-cream parlor/diner and an island tiki style night club.

Sample a flight of hand crafted beers from Fredericksburg Brewing Company on Main Street.

Fredericksburg is chock full of inspiration. From rustic to modern, painters, glass blowers, sculptors, crafters, furniture makers have numerous outlets for their wares in this artistic community.

Tree-lined downtown Fredericksburg is full of shopping, dining and sightseeing opportunities for visitors and locals.

For a hand crafted beer and authentic German cuisine, the Fredericksburg Brewing Company is a great place to take a break and absorb the local color.

Many a diplomatic discussion took place in the shade of this large oak in front of the Johnson mansion.

The cattle are branded humanely at the working LBJ Ranch.

LBJ lived in this home until he was 5 years old.

For travel on a dime, Texas Hill Country is close to home yet worlds away

With the economy in a state of flux, no doubt many families are looking for great family vacation destinations that won’t drain their savings. Getting away from home with the family is a great time to bond, rejuvinate and make lasting memories–all things that are even more valuable when the stresses of the real world are as tense as they are these days.

I have had some great opportunities over the last few years to travel to some cities I may never have seen if not for my job. These places are near and far, exotic and rustic, exclusive and inclusive.  Here is a little about one such trip– to  Fredericksburg, a quaint little town in the Texas Hill Country.

 Why is Fredericksburg so great? The quaint German town is chock-full of delicious food, Texas wine and eclectic shopping mixed with just the right amount of historic nostalgia. Steeped in Texas and German history, the small-town atmosphere is tempered with modern conveniences and an artsy edge that is sure to satisfy even the most seasoned traveler.

 Fredericksburg was named after a German nobleman, Prince Frederick of Prussia. The society was settled in the mid 1800s by German immigrants who were given package deals on land and transport from the old world to the new. Though sickness and lack of food killed many of those who set out from Germany bound for Fredericksburg, those who did arrive prospered and left an indelible mark on their new hometown.

 True to its small-town charm, Main Street runs through the heart of Fredericksburg, lined with original limestone and “fachwerk” framed facades. Amid the structures are at least 700 historically significant structures including beautiful churches and the famed Fredericksburg “Sunday Houses,” which were the weekend homes of the earliest settlers who lived most of the week in rural settings far from the downtown center of business and social events. Nowadays, those Sunday Houses are perfect little guest houses, most of which boast fully equipped kitchenettes.

In the spring, the Hill Country is awash in the Monet-esque hues of Lady Bird Johnson’s wildflowers, a stunning landscape to take in as you devour the most succulent peaches you will ever feast on. You can explore the many vintners of the ripening Texas wine country or relive history at the national Museum of the Pacific War, one of the most moving tributes to World War II you will ever experience.

Fredericksburg is a perfect place to take a walking tour of art studios, a bicycle ride through the hilly countryside, a hike up to the top of Enchanted Rock, the second highest granite dome in the country, or to just shop-til-you-drop then eat and drink yourself into a delicious oblivion.

Many a diplomatic discussion took place in the shade of this large oak in front of the Johnson mansion.

While you’re in Hill Country territory… visit the LBJ Ranch and boyhood home.

 

Lyndon B. Johnson is often remembered as the Vietnam War president. And while he was accountable for escalating American involvement in the war, he also was responsible for designing human-rights legislation that included civil-rights laws, Medicare and Medicaid, education reform and his War on Poverty.

 

A visit to the southern Hill Country in Texas wouldn’t be complete without visiting several historical sites where Johnson and his family lived, and where presidential history was made. Johnson’s boyhood home in Johnson City and the Stonewall home in which he was born — on the same land where Johnson later built his mansion — are monuments to the legacy of the 36th president that no traveler in Texas should miss.

 

The Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park has two separate districts about 15 miles apart. A stopover at the LBJ Visitor Center in Johnson City is a good way to begin a day exploring the Johnson family history. The visitor center offers a close-up look at Johnson, his wife, Ladybird, and their daughters, Lynda Bird and Luci Baines.

 

 

Across the street from the visitor center is Johnson’s boyhood home. Johnson’s family moved to this home when he was 5 years old in September 1913. The home is preserved with original furniture and family photos hanging on the walls, giving it a transcendent quality that makes visitors feel that a young LBJ could come bounding through the doors at any time.

 

From the boyhood home, you can tour the Johnson Settlement, which consists of an exhibit center that tells the story of cowboys, cattle drives and Texas frontier life.

 

From there, head to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park to tour the reconstructed home of Johnson’s birth and the mansion in which Johnson, his wife and daughters lived in during the family’s presidential years and beyond, which became known as the Texas White House.

 

On the front lawn of the mansion, positioned under a giant shade tree is a white wrought iron table surrounded by 10 matching chairs. The chairs are now empty but were often photographed occupied by Johnson and political dignitaries he entertained at his mansion.

 

While at the historical park, tourists can visit the Johnson Family Cemetery, the president’s grandparents’ farmhouse, the show barn, a still operational barn that was built for the care and training of cattle, and other interesting sites. Bus tours of the ranch are offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The cost is $3 per person and free for children younger than 6. Board the bus at Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site Visitors Center. For more information, call (830) 868-7128 or go online to www.nps.gov/lyjo.

Lyndon B. Johnson is often remembered as the Vietnam War president. And while he was accountable for escalating American involvement in the war, he also was responsible for designing human-rights legislation that included civil-rights laws, Medicare and Medicaid, education reform and his War on Poverty.

 

A visit to the southern Hill Country in Texas wouldn’t be complete without visiting several historical sites where Johnson and his family lived, and where presidential history was made. Johnson’s boyhood home in Johnson City and the Stonewall home in which he was born — on the same land where Johnson later built his mansion — are monuments to the legacy of the 36th president that no traveler in Texas should miss.

 

The Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park has two separate districts about 15 miles apart. A stopover at the LBJ Visitor Center in Johnson City is a good way to begin a day exploring the Johnson family history. The visitor center offers a close-up look at Johnson, his wife, Ladybird, and their daughters, Lynda Bird and Luci Baines.

 

Across the street from the visitor center is Johnson’s boyhood home. Johnson’s family moved to this home when he was 5 years old in September 1913. The home is preserved with original furniture and family photos hanging on the walls, giving it a transcendent quality that makes visitors feel that a young LBJ could come bounding through the doors at any time.

 

From the boyhood home, you can tour the Johnson Settlement, which consists of an exhibit center that tells the story of cowboys, cattle drives and Texas frontier life.

 

From there, head to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park to tour the reconstructed home of Johnson’s birth and the mansion in which Johnson, his wife and daughters lived in during the family’s presidential years and beyond, which became known as the Texas White House.

 

On the front lawn of the mansion, positioned under a giant shade tree is a white wrought iron table surrounded by 10 matching chairs. The chairs are now empty but were often photographed occupied by Johnson and political dignitaries he entertained at his mansion.

 

While at the historical park, tourists can visit the Johnson Family Cemetery, the president’s grandparents’ farmhouse, the show barn, a still operational barn that was built for the care and training of cattle, and other interesting sites. Bus tours of the ranch are offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The cost is $3 per person and free for children younger than 6. Board the bus at Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site Visitors Center. For more information, call (830) 868-7128 or go online to www.nps.gov/lyjo.

All photos by Heather Warlick-Moore

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Creepy wax people need new homes

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Having a bad hair day?

 

 Bad hair days can happen anywhere, but in these cities it’s practically a chronic condition. TotalBeauty.com, the leading web site offering beauty advice and unbiased beauty product reviews covering 40,000+ products, has put together a list of the cities with the worst hair.

And the winners are:

1: Corpus Christi, Texas

2: Olympia, Washington

3: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

4: Las Vegas, Nevada

5: Phoenix, Arizona

6: Pensacola, Florida

7: Fresno, California

8: Houston, Texas

9: Tucson, Arizona

10: New Orleans, Louisiana

11: Cincinnati, Ohio

12: Albuquerque, New Mexico

13: Eugene, Oregon

TotalBeauty.com gathered the list based on annual averages of humidity, sunshine, wind and rain, in addition to water hardness, pollution levels and beauty salons per capita. Cities made the list because they had a toxic combination of either a dry environment (which can cause dry, damaged hair), high humidity (which causes frizzy hair), and damaging sunshine or pollution, water hardness or very few beauty salons to make use of.

“Some of the biggest concerns we hear from our readers have to do with dry or frizzy hair, which is a very real challenge in some of these cities,” says Editor in Chief Beth Mayall-Traglia. “It’s certainly not impossible to overcome these climates, but people living here need the right products and skills to have great hair — unlike cities with better environments.”

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