Leave it to Teresa. To stir up the crazy in Danielle.

Teresa, Jacqueline, Ashley, Danielle, Kim D, and Kim G went to a fashion show. The camps were divided: Teresa, Jacqueline, and Kim D. at one table vs. Danielle, and Kim G (and an assortment of hangers on) at a table directly across from them.

Danielle even brought a ‘more acceptable’ thug/body guard so that Kim G. wouldn’t be offended.

The RHONJ managed to get through the dinner and fashion show with only flashes of angry looks darting at each other. Danielle spent most of the time fake cell phone talking since that is what her ‘buddy’ Paris Hilton taught her to do in stressful situations if Danielle needed to ‘diss’ anyone.

Then it happens. Teresa is missing. And where does Jacqueline find her? In the lobby. Waiting for Danielle. Waiting so Teresa can say Hello to Danielle. Oh Really!!!

Of course Teresa and Danielle take about 5 seconds to start swearing at each other and the show ends. The previews show what looks like someone getting into a physical fight – but probably not – I don’t think the producers want to be faced with lawsuits.

So, while you wait for next week’s episode of Real Housewives of New Jersey, enjoy a SHIMMERING SHIVER (pg. 98 Sandra Lee semi-homemade Cocktail Time).

What’s not to like about Irish Cream and coffee liqueur? That’s what you get with the Shimmering Shiver (pg. 98 Sandra Lee semi-homemade Cocktail Time). And what could be simpler than pouring a generous amount of each liqueur with ice in a blender?

Easy, breezy, but easy does it – this one goes down super fast!

And did I earn this one! Yes, I was out trimming the trees and bushes in the back yard. And then I sprayed weed killer – there is just no keeping up with weeds by merely pulling them. I have given up on ‘organic’ gardening, much like ‘natural’ childbirth. What’s so special about pain? Or pulling weeds?

Crikey, it’s hot hot hot outside! But I love to hang out in my back yard when everything is nice and trimmed and I’ve got ice in my glass topped with a little somethin’ somethin’, and life is grand.

Make a Shimmering Shiver for yourself and let me know what you think.

Now, did I give the Shimmering Shiver a Semi-HomeTested rating of LUSH IT, LUSH IT A LOT, or LEAVE IT? The SHIMMERING SHIVER gets a Semi-HomeTested rating of LUSH IT A LOT!!!

Salude!

How refreshing! Bethenny’s Getting Married? is so fun to watch! Bethenny is so relatable – she let’s us see her at her happiest and when she breaks down in tears. And it doesn’t feel contrived (like the other RHONY women).

Bethenny really does own her behavior – apologizing to her poor wedding planner who got blasted by Bethenny just for being in the same room.

And Bethenny doesn’t fake an answer just because something is ‘expected’ of her. For example, when her best friend asked what percent she was that she was ready to get married, you could see Bethenny kind of fighting her own commitment issues and answering with around 90% (most brides to be would gush “100%). And indeed you should be 100% sure before you say I DO. And later in the show Bethenny was at 1million percent sure she was ready to marry Jason – it was really cute how she related this to Jason.

And didn’t we just love the Bachelor/Bacheloretee party? At the dinner, they looked like really good friends, not just ‘camera’ friends. I absolutely adore Bethenny’s best friend. I hope she is on the show more. This is what I enjoy watching – real people going through real life – NOT the fake drama that this last season of RHONY had.

OH MY GOSH – I almost forgot! Bethenny at the book signing at COSTCO. How funny was that! I thought it was great that Bethenny was able to make a joke about no one coming to the signing and getting all her shopping done. And Jason was too sweet, bring Bethenny all the free food samples.

I can not wait for more of Bethenny’s Getting Married? next week. Maybe enjoy a Passionpolitan (pg. 84 Sandra Lee semi-hometested Cocktail Time) while you are watching the show!

Does anybody else find all the services offered by the “Med Spas” confusing?  I went into two different Med Spas today to try to make sense of all the services.

First, they hand you a sheaf of papers to fill out – my response was, “No, I don’t really want to give you my medical history – what I wanted was to get some information from you”.

OK then. I get to go to a private office to speak to the ‘consultant’. NOW I’M THINKING…. Should I be concerned that her face doesn’t really move much??? She informs me that she just “loves facial fillers and BOTOX”… Gee…. ya think? I am not opposed to any of these helpful services, but everything in moderation, yes?

So I get out of there pretty quick.

Then I check out another place. They tell me about facials, chemical skin peels, facial fillers, BOTOX, and something called Photo Facial Rejuvenation. And wait.. there’s also Facial Thread Lift! What??? And then there’s something called Smooth Shapes to get rid of cellulite. Now that sounds awesome and the pictures look great — BUT — I can’t help wondering if this really would work – and it’s REALLY expensive.

So, I sign up for the light chemical peel – this will supposedly get rid of uneven skin tones, blah, blah, blah. But wait… I can sign up for a monthly service – and there are 3 different plans each with different services. So, I get too confused to sign up for those – it would be a full year commitment after all.

Now, I’m home ready to enjoy a Daffodil Driver cocktail (pg. 94 Sandra Lee semi-homemade Cocktail Time) reading the forms that the Med Spa wants me to fill out and bring with me tomorrow before my chemical peel, and it says ‘no sun for at least 1 week’. Crap. I’m going to be in the sun every day for the next month. So, I guess I have to postpone that idea till the Fall. Maybe I can just get a good old pore cleansing facial.

Anyway, the Daffodil Driver cocktail is a mix of tequilla, apricot brandy, and Gran Marnier, topped off with apricot nectar. The cocktail looks beautiful, but it tastes a little ‘syrupy’ to me. I look at the apricot nectar ingredients and find that it is water, high fructose corn syrup, and apricot puree. Ahhh – that explains what I was tasting - I wasn’t fond of the texture or the taste. I tried adding more Gran Marnier and that made it slightly better. But not much.

So, LUSH IT, LUSH IT A LOT, or LEAVE IT? I give the Daffodil Driver cocktail a Semi-HomeTested rating of LEAVE IT. Sorry Ms. Sandra Lee.

Now… I’ll just have to figure out what to do with the rest of the Apricot Brandy. Maybe I can create a new facial??!

Salude!

With all the hub bub and phooey around many commencement speeches lately, here is one truly GREAT speech. It is not political. It is not pompous. It is the inspirational graduation speech from a truly grateful, hardworking student.

How refreshing to hear a graduation speech that delivers the uplifting, heartwarming message that integrity and hard work are what it takes to succeed.

Thank you to gimundo.com for posting this wonderful story.

And Thank you to Eric Duquette, the autistic high school graduate who gave this wonderful commencement speech!

HUMP DAY KUDOS TO YOU ERIC DUQUETTE!

Don’t you just love the sugar rimmer on your cocktails?

Well you can certainly go out and buy cocktail sugar rimmers, but you can make it yourself a whole lot cheaper. And it’s super easy.

Just put a cup of sugar in a plastic zip lock bag. Then add the grated zest of one lemon and a few drops of yellow food dye (I like to use the gel dyes). Mix it all up in the plastic bag, then pour the lemon sugar on a large sheet of wax paper to dry out for an hour. PRESTO! You’ve got Lemon Rimmer.

To use: Put some Lemon Rimmer on a plate, dampen the edge of your cocktail glass with a bit of water, and dip the edge of your glass in the lemon sugar rimmer.

Try this with the Semi-HomeTested Lemon Cream Martini cocktail (pg. 91 Sandra Lee semi-homemade Cocktail Time)!

Another beautiful Monday night! Playing tennis. Life is good. We were having a great time, and then we heard a bunch – and I mean about 20 kids – messing around in the parking lot. They seemed harmless enough, and in fact, were very respectful when I asked if they were from the neighborhood.

They were not from our neighborhood, and we’ve been having a lot of trouble with vandalism, so, I had to let them know that these were private courts. Jeeeez. Now I’ve become the old FART.

When exactly does that happen? One day you’re out raising hell. Then you finish school. Then you get married… have a couple of kids. Then you’re still rolling along pretty good and one day, just like that, BAM! You become the rule enforcer.

Crap. Anyway, we play tennis for a couple of hours. And then the real social hour of social tennis begins. We retire to the bench and break out the cocktails.

So, tonight, I bring LEMON CREAM MARTINI (pg. 91, Sandra Lee semi-homemade Cocktail Time). Woo Hoo! This mix of vanilla vodka, lemon liquor, with a splash of lemon-lime soda (I used diet 7-up) was a HUGE success. I did not bring the lemon rimmer to the courts, as it is just too much to mess with at the tennis courts. However, DO use the lemon rimmer on your martini glasses at home – it is soooo delish!

Time for the tennis group to vote – did the LEMON CREAM MARTINI get rated LUSH IT, LUSH IT A LOT, or LEAVE IT? This was given a hands down Semi-HomeTested rating of LUSH IT A LOT!

Tip: Mix up a big batch of the LEMON CREAM MARTITNI sans the 7-UP in a tightly sealed container. Then add the 7-UP to each serviing at the courts (or where ever your group is getting together). Be sure to bring lots of ice – this is best served really cold.

Salude!