Holidating

Tis the season to be...okay probably none of us wishes to be described as "jolly." Except maybe you,
Santa. And BTW, you still owe me for that "Visible Man" educational gift you delivered back in the 70's.

But I digress. I get invited to an absolute slew of holiday get togethers. I make Christmas cookies. I bake latkes. I drink from the kikombe cha umoja. It's all great fun. But it's even more fun to share with a new friend.

Which is why I have glommed onto a suggestion given to me by a former beau of Dough: That maybe HLSI is the perfect place to find that perfect holidate.

It's easy.

*You sign up for a Player Membership.
*You take the shopping buddy quiz, which matches you with people of similar likes, interests, and taste.
*You make a safe plan to meet up with your new buddy. To Shop. To Swap. To sing a carol or two.

Remember that by signing up as a premium "Player" member, you are entered to win a 42" LG HDTV. Just click on www.heyletssplitit.com (click on the Sweepstakes banner and good luck to you my friend)

Hey Let's Split it launches. Create the New Economy

We here at Hey Let's Split it are as proud as a peacock at a NBC sitcom reunion to announce a new concept on the Internet; a chance to create your own Economy. Members hook up with "buddies" within their zip and then barter, borrow, split bulk buys and give back to their local communities. Using "strength in numbers" to improve the situation on the ground more than they ever could on their own.

And if that isn't enough to tear you away from yet another episode of "Mega Disasters" on the History Channel then sign up for our 42" LG HDTV giveaway. www.heyletssplitit.com (click on the Sweepstakes banner and good luck to you my friend)

SON: "Look Ma. I'm on a website."
MOM: "Website Schmebsite, Are they paying you?"

Well no. But at least you can tell her your famous.
OK you divas and divos. We need your face. And it will live forever on our website that's launching in Nov. Yahoo! Finally.
Send your image to me, Vinny at vinny@heyletssplitit.com or vinnypicardi@gmail.com.
And then you will be seen and adored by millions. Don't worry it will be the size of you Facebook page. So pass this on and say "cheese - y!"

Is Facebook spying on you? We can help.

OK I confess I am a bit paranoid.
But who can blame me. I jump on the Internet and wham! There's an ad for something similar to what I've just been been searching for. I take a deep breath and double wham! People I don't even know ( I think? ) are contacting me.
Now my paranoia is spreading and it's starting to numb my left leg.
So, naturally I close the door, shut the blinds and wham to the 10th power! Facebook's "frictionless sharing" is upon us! Not only is my leg numb from paranoia I can only see out of my left eye!

Facebook's new features will bare all your most private searches ( Oh no not "Hello kitty talks dirty?") and info. to people you haven't even liked! Now what you read, listen to and watch are all naked for the world to see. Automatically. But wait there's hope.

Here's what you do. First things first. Regardless of what you do to protect yourself "Ya nevva know" so be careful of what you post and search for. People have lost jobs because companies have searched employees Facebook accounts. Second, on your Facebook site go to "Edit Page", then click "Manage Permissions" this is a great way to reduce risk.
Finally read the article below for some very helpful tips.

If you like this blog there's so much more where that came from. Click on our Facebook site, check it out and please click "like" to help us launch our site next month.
http://www.facebook.com/heyletssplitit

OK the feeling in my leg is returning ....ahhhh....oh no a telemarker is calling!
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/06/business/la-fi-tech-savvy-facebook-20111006

We like to clean up. Literally.
And that means not only banding together and improving each other's lives through our Co-op but giving back by keeping our beaches all sparkly.
One way we give back is by cleaning up our sandy playgrounds. So strap on those clam diggers and Playtex living cloves and help our friends at Heal the Bay.
http://sites.healthebay.org/volunteer/ccd/2011/
And the next time you take your out of town friends you cn stand atop the highest sand dune and proclaim. "My friends. Play. Play on the beach I have prepared for you."

Need a cheap, green ride to SanFran? At least do it like the pros.

There's a great new service where you can share rides with fellow Zimride.com members. 

It only costs about $35 bucks either way. And thank God the profiles of members include music tastes. Can you imagine 7 hours of Bruce Willis: Master Series, Color me Badd or (my fav) Paris.(Hilton that is.)

When you become a member Hey Lets Split it.com the concept of community sharing goes way beyond a trip to the City by the Bay. You will share, shop split it and save in myriad ways. And also have the ability to give back while you make good.

Check out our Facebook page for more and click "like" if you do. We launch in about a month. Ride on!

Make good and do good. Isn't that like Tiger Woods and fidelity?

We don't need to illustrate how tough things are.

But we do wan to tell you how your friends can start a community that will makes things a whole lot better and more fun. Remember fun?


We are Hey Lets Split it and we're creating local communities of people like you who will "Do good and Make good" at the same time.


When our site launches you'll hook up with people like you in your zip code area and share, shop, split it and save. Imagine dictating deals and giving back with friends not strangers. And even shopping at bulk buying stores because you'll be "splitting it". So "like", share and let's start a whole new rewarding way to save and do good deeds.

http://www.facebook.com/heyletssplitit

Hey Let's Split it: does cream cheese taste like love?? or is it.....b...

Hey Let's Split it: does cream cheese taste like love?? or is it.....b...: "I was out with my friend Pete yesterday and we had a very big lunch. Very big. Sure it was vegetarian...which in my mind is always synonymou..."

does cream cheese taste like love?? or is it.....bacon?

I was out with my friend Pete yesterday and we had a very big lunch. Very big. Sure it was vegetarian...which in my mind is always synonymous with "nutritious" and "so low calorie you actually get thinner by eating it." However, I got the distinct feeling perhaps this wasn't so, when I had to unbutton my pants midway through my saag paneer. (forgive the spelling). "Saag" means spinach. I thought  "paneer" meant "eat it and you'll be strong and fit like Popeye" but we popped into  the adjoining grocery store afterward and I saw I was sadly mistaken.

I wasn't that sad though. Cuz I found Ghee! Which is Indian for "hey lazy why don't you clarify your own butter?" and I bought a big container of it, along with black and yellow mustard seeds and something else that I've already forgotten why I needed it so badly. But the thrill was in the hunt and I love ethnic grocery stores and this one had ingredients I'd never heard of, ever. What could be better?

Dessert, that's what. And so Pete led me down the garden path to a place that somehow combined the divine (donuts) with the sublime (Muffins). I couldn't wait.

Atwater Village, the Village Bakery. How you broke my heart.  Out of the donut muffins? or "duffins" as I'd secretly taken to calling them as I'd muse about them at night. I wisely decided, no dessert for me, but Pete ordered the individual sized pie.

Pie? Really? I'm a fan of pie, just not for dessert. Not fruit pie anyway. Fruit pie is breakfast. Cream Pie is for dessert.  Back when my nephew was around nine or ten, my mother tried to pawn pie off on him when he went for ice cream bar #3 of the day. 

My Mom:  "I have peach pie."
Kyle:          "I don't like peaches and I don't like pie."
My mom:  "Kyle, there's watermelon."
Kyle:          "Fruit is not a dessert."
Now I like peaches and I like pie. Usually not together. And definitely not for dessert. So when Pete got his pie, a blueberry/cranberry confection, I was unmoved. Even though it was baked into the shape of a heart. and covered with that thick grainy sugar that crunches when you bite into it.  But I'm only human so when Pete got up to get more coffee, I sneaked a bite. Of Manna. From Heaven. It was the best little pie ever. I asked the waitress if there was cream cheese hidden away in the crust. She went in back to inquire, then quickly returned to tell me "the secret ingredient in our crust....is love."
Huh. Where I'm sitting, love tastes a lot like cream cheese.

What does this have to do with Heyletssplitit? Well come on. It's about shopping. It's about sharing. It's about love. Even if it's love of cream chese, love is love.

And paneer? It's cheese.
www.thevillagebakeryandcafe.com
www.heyletssplitit.com

You say potato. I say spuds.

It was  a strange feeling for me. People get divorced all the time, more than 50% of the time in fact. But I was sad to hear about Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver separating after 25 years. Who's next? James Carville and Mary Matalin?

Why do I root for these couples? Because they are proof that yes, we really all can "just get along" if we try.

That's one of the conceits of HLSI. You get paired up with "shopping buddies" based upon things you have in common. Which is great. But maybe the icing on the Red Velvet cupcake will be that religiously, or politically, you and your buddy are at different ends of the spectrum. Yet despite these differences, your mutual love for Aidell's habanero/mango sausages transcends the fact that he voted for W while you campaigned for Gore.

Yes we all can get along. If we agree not to label each other; if we keep an open mind that we have to view people as a whole; not pick one aspect of their personality and base our opinion on just that.

With Hey Let's Split It, our slogan right after "share/shop/split/save" may well turn out to be "Vive la difference." And wouldn't that be nice?

Jane Dough. Can help you with shopping, sharing and yes even loving.

Mother's day doesn't have to be just for mothers. Or even just for women

The great singer Phoebe Snow died this week. And in reading her obituary I was struck most by what a fantastic mother she was. 

Ms. Snow put her career on hold to care for her daughter, Valerie Rose Laub, who was born with severe brain damage. Her husband left soon after Valerie's birth, leaving Ms. Snow to raise her daughter alone. 

Ms. Snow could have put Valerie in a home, as many advised her to do. But she refused. She took jobs singing jingles, she virtually quit touring...all to dedicate herself to her daughter and self described 'best friend.'

That's some mother.

Sunday, May 8th, is Mother's Day. A time when we all thank our own mothers.

But what about mothers like the late Ms Snow? Whose own child was unable to ever make a card out of construction paper, or a necklace out of macaroni. She may have loved to get a card, just once, thanking her for being such a great mom.

So this Mother's Day I'm making a suggestion to all HSLI fans and everyone else. How about saying thanks to someone whose motherly qualities you admire? It could be your babysitter. It could be your cat sitter. Maybe like me, you had a grandfather who out-mothered everybody with homemade blueberry pancakes every Sunday. 

Maybe it's a sister, a neighbor, an auntie, the receptionist at your dentist's office who always calls you "honey" and gives you a spare toothbrush.

Take a moment and tell them "thanks for making feel cared for." Thanks for being like a mother to me.

Maybe we are sharing a little too much....

I read a great article from the New York Times this weekend and I thought it might do all of us good to think about it. "Hey Let's Split It" is founded on the principles of social networking. It's a great site for like minded people to meet up, get together, and find deals, activities, and start new groups focused on Making good and Doing good.

But once you've taken our questionnaire and been paired up with people who have common interests to yours, time to make a plan to get together. There's often some initial awkwardness in meeting new people in spite of the fact that you've decided this is a person with whom you've got things in common. 

So, some simple rules when getting together:

Be on time! I'm not sure when it was decided that being on time is the new rude, but it isn't. We're all busy people. Showing up at the appointed time assures the other person you respect the fact that they too have a full plate.

Focus on your new buddy. Making calls, texting, interrupting a conversation to take a call? Definitely not cool.

Seize the moment. Isn't it great when you make a random connection? You see that someone else has a shopping basket full of kumquats and you know the exact, perfect, world's greatest recipe for kumquat salsa? And maybe your shopping doppleganger has been looking for just such a recipe. And he or she is eternally grateful that you've decided to share yours.

Decide ahead of time how you are going to split things up. So there's no awkwardness when it's time to divide the goods.

At the very least, you'll make a new shopping buddy. At the very most, maybe a new best friend.

Ahem! Are You Talking to Me? (Or Texting?)

www.nytimes.com

Hey Let's Split it: an apple a day is no match for a nice hot cuppa joe...

Hey Let's Split it: an apple a day is no match for a nice hot cuppa joe...

an apple a day is no match for a nice hot cuppa joe...

Thank you, Los Angeles Times, for verifying what I already knew. Coffee is good for you. Good. Not "not as bad as you think" or "won't really hurt you." Nope, Sunday's Times confirms that drinking coffee may not only be good for your heart, it may even prevent strokes. 

So while an apple a day may keep the doctor away, a few cups of strong life affirming java may be even better.

Doctors are quick to say that perhaps it isn't the coffee itself, but the physical and mental make up of coffee drinkers, that makes their risk of stroke lower. But I am looking at my cup as half-full. In Japan, women who drank one or two cups of coffee a day lowered their risk of cardiovascular disease by over 20%. Not bad. And often delicious.

Unfortunately many of the studies done on men were on male smokers; but even so, among smokers, the risk of stroke was much lower with those who drank coffee than those who did not.

So grind those beans! Go ahead and splurge on that Costa Rican mountain blend. This fuel is way more of a bargain than anything you'd get at the pump. By the way, those coffee tainted milk shakes masquerading as coffee drinks don't count. I'm talking about beans, hot water, and a touch of half and half, period.

Want to find other coffee lovers in your neighborhood? Maybe hook up with an exclusive roaster? Stay tuned to heyletssplitit for all this and more. 

Can there ever be too much bacon?

Last night marked my first ever, but soon-to-be annual, "Ba-Ca-tion." A celebration of pork, pork products, and good old fashioned gluttony. 

Pork often gets a bad rap but really, is there any dish (aside from desserts and they are not immune either) that can't be made tastier with just the tiniest dash of bacon?

I have lots of like minded, pork loving friends. Unfortunately, most live in the middle of the country (not far from "the source") and I do not. Which is why I cannot wait for HLSI to launch later this spring. Finally, my left coast, closet pork loving compadres can come out and unite. Together we can track the bacon truck; compare prices and quality; and maybe get together for a little Baconalia (I'm trade marking that so no stealing!).

And for you vegetarians, fear not. There's something in the is blog, and on HLSI, for you too. Because you can use the same forum to meet (not meat!) with people of  your ilk. Even I have to admit a great fondness for Soyrizo, a vital ingredient in the Jane Dough Cinco de Mayo Breakfast burrito. And because I too have vegetarian friends I've found items infused with bacon-y goodness that are 100% animal free. My friend from San Diego introduced me to bacon salt, a great addition to any bean/chili recipe. And I love Liquid Smoke on almost any legume dish. It infuses food with a BBQ richness without the BBQ. Or the sacrifice of the pig.

So, bacon and facon (fake bacon, figure it out) lovers, I wish you a fine weekend. And stay tuned for more food products that make life better.

How perfect is "the perfect match?"

Uh oh. Looks like one of the most popular dating sites is under fire, with accusations that many of the profiles on it are either inactive or a complete fake. Always good to remember the old adage "if it looks too good to be true, it probably is." This extends far beyond those great shoes for an amazing price. All the way to Mr or Ms Right.

With heyletssplitit, we hope to put an end to false hopes and unrealistic expectations. Our site of sharing/splitting/saving will match you up with people who think like you. Shop like you. Enjoy their leisure time like you. 

All without the pressure of dating. Instead, it's getting together to shop. Split. Save. Or maybe to divvy up those tasks to give each of you more time in your day to do other things.

That's not to say, your perfect match will not be lurking in our pages. That person may well be. But even if he/she isn't, you will meet like-minded people. And isn't that perfect in its own way?

Hey Let's Split it: My own personal expiration date. and those of foods

Hey Let's Split it: My own personal expiration date. and those of foods

www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/do-food-expiration-dates-matter

My own personal expiration date. and those of foods

I was watching "Hot in Cleveland" the other night, and one of the female characters commented "Moving to Cleveland from LA has extended our shelf life by 20 years." 

Since I live in LA and my own personal expiration date. set by me,  is nearing, could a move to the Midwest be far behind? I hate to give up the sunshine and moderate temperatures of Southern California. And of course, the adventures on the 405 freeway. And the treasure hunt-like excitement of searching for free parking. Anywhere within the city limits.

However, it's food for thought.

And speaking of food, contemplating my own expiration date led me to think about what is in my refrigerator that is of dubious origin. Generally if I don't remember when I got it, out it goes. At my mother's house when I visit, my rule of thumb is "If I didn't see it being cooked, Don't eat it" since we all believe my mother still has, somewhere in the dark corner of the crisper drawer, a ham end dating from the mid 70's. But I digress.

WEB MD, my favorite site for paranoid and illogical worries about my own health, today had an article about expiration dates on foods and what they can mean. So read it carefully, I'm begging you. And don't forget to use your nose and eyes.

www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/do-food-expiration-dates-matter

And remember to sign up for heyletssplitit to meet your own personal shopping buddy. One who hopefully shares your taste in food. And has a good nose.

Correct procedures for an earthquake in the USA

This week, I received an email about correct procedures during an earthquake. The American Red Cross has responded to this proposal with a reiteration of their rules for your best strategy when the earth is moving under your feet.

"Recently, the American Red Cross became aware of a challenge to the earthquake safety advice "Drop, Cover, and Hold On." This is according to information from Mr. Doug Copp, the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of American Rescue Team International (a private company not affiliated with the U.S. Government or other agency.) He says that going underneath objects during an earthquake [as in children being told to get under their desks at school] is very dangerous, and fatal should the building collapse in a strong earthquake. He also states that "everyone who gets under a doorway when a building collapses is killed." He further states that "if you are in bed when an earthquake happens, to roll out of bed next to it," and he also says that "If an earthquake happens while you are watching television and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair." These recommendations are inaccurate for application in the United States and inconsistent with information developed through earthquake research. Mr. Copp based his statements on observations of damage to buildings after an earthquake in Turkey. It is like "apples and oranges" to compare building construction standards, techniques, engineering principles, and construction materials between Turkey and the United States.

We at the American Red Cross have studied the research on the topic of earthquake safety for many years. We have benefited from extensive research done by the California Office of Emergency Services, California Seismic Safety Commission, professional and academic research organizations, and emergency management agencies, who have also studied the recommendation to "drop, cover, and hold on!" during the shaking of an earthquake. Personally, I have also benefited from those who preceded me in doing earthquake education in California since the Field Act was passed in 1933.

What the claims made by Mr. Copp of ARTI, Inc., does not seem to distinguish is that the recommendation to "drop, cover, and hold on!" is a U.S.-based recommendation based on U.S. Building Codes and construction standards. Much research in the United States has confirmed that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On!" has saved lives in the United States. Engineering researchers have demonstrated that very few buildings collapse or "pancake" in the U.S. as they might do in other countries. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which collects data on injuries and deaths from all reportable causes in the U.S., as well as data from three University-based studies performed after the Loma Prieta (September, 1989) and Northridge (January, 1994) earthquakes in California, the following data are indicated: Loma Prieta: 63 deaths, approximately 3,700 people were injured. Most injuries happened as a result of the collapse of the Cypress Street section of I-880 in Oakland. Northridge: 57 deaths, 1,500 serious injuries. Most injuries were from falls caused by people trying to get out of their homes, or serious cuts and broken bones when people ran, barefooted, over broken glass (the earthquake happened in the early morning on a federal holiday when many people were still in bed.) There were millions of people in each of these earthquake-affected areas, and of those millions, many of them reported to have "dropped, covered, and held on" during the shaking of the earthquake.

We contend that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" indeed SAVED lives, not killed people. Because the research continues to demonstrate that, in the U.S., "Drop, Cover, and Hold On!" works, the American Red Cross remains behind that recommendation. It is the simplest, reliable, and easiest method to teach people, including children.

The American Red Cross has not recommended use of a doorway for earthquake protection for more than a decade. The problem is that many doorways are not built into the structural integrity of a building, and may not offer protection. Also, simply put, doorways are not suitable for more than one person at a time.

If you are in bed when an earthquake happens, remain there. Rolling out of bed may lead to being injured by debris on the floor next to the bed. If you have done a good job of earthquake mitigation (that is, removing pictures or mirrors that could fall on a bed; anchoring tall bedroom furniture to wall studs, and the like), then you are safer to stay in bed rather than roll out of it during the shaking of an earthquake.

Also, the Red Cross strongly advises not try to move (that is, escape) during the shaking of an earthquake. The more and the longer distance that someone tries to move, the more likely they are to become injured by falling or flying debris, or by tripping, falling, or getting cut by damaged floors, walls, and items in the path of escape. Identifying potential "void areas" and planning on using them for earthquake protection is more difficult to teach, and hard to remember for people who are not educated in earthquake engineering principles. The Red Cross is not saying that identifying potential voids is wrong or inappropriate. What we are saying is that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On!" is NOT wrong -- in the United States. The American Red Cross, being a U.S.-based organization, does not extend its recommendations to apply in other countries. What works here may not work elsewhere, so there is no dispute that the "void identification method" or the "Triangle of Life" may indeed be the best thing to teach in other countries where the risk of building collapse, even in moderate earthquakes, is great."

Pets and ESP

After all, you can't spell "Pets" without  the letters e.s.p. So is it any wonder our chosen housemates seem to know when we are sleeping? And know when we're awake?

Even pets not our own seem to have that inborn knowledge of when you are awake and when you are just faking it. I dog-sat last weekend and the big Retriever who had his head on the pillow next to mine knew the instant I was awake. Was it a change in my breathing? Or do we humans mutter "oh sh*t" under our breaths in a tone so low only dogs can hear?

And cats. My cats too knew when REM had ended and BFB (begging for breakfast) could commence. And once they know it's no good trying to shoo them out, or begging for just "five more minutes" sack time. You've got to bite the bullet and rise to face the day.

When heyletssplitit is up and running in late spring, think of the new fellow pet fanatics you can meet. Dog dates in the park, an exchange of kitty litter tips, planting a community garden of catnip are just some of the delicious possibilities once you meet up with fellow animal lovers. And let's not even get started on the cool ideas for Youtube.

Maybe you are too busy for full-time pet ownership. Even this may be something you can share.

Until then, here are some tips from "Real Simple" on pet owning.

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/pets/top-pet-owner-mistakes-10000001728993/index.html

super moons and emergency kits

Everywhere in the United States, if the sky is clear, tonight you'll be looking at the kinda rare "super moon." Which is not catching a glimpse of one of your supersized neighbors, naked, in the window. It's when the moon will be the closest to the Earth as it's been in 18 years;  which means it will be bigger and brighter.  Unfortunately, it will also be the closest at 6 p.m. EDT and 3 p.m. PDT. Which means it will still be light out.

Scientists are quick to dismiss rumors that the Super moon causes weather upheavals, like earthquakes, tornadoes and the like. However, might not be a bad time to make sure you have an emergency kit in the unlikely possibility a natural disaster may strike your area. It's my "clean underwear" theory. As long as you are wearing clean underwear, there is no chance of being hauled into the hospital. My friend whose first initial is "E" also has a shaved leg theory, formulated when she had a visit to the ER where an uncannily handsome resident was on duty. Her first words to him, muttered through her haze of pain, were "damn nobody said you'd be cute. I would have shaved my legs."

Your kit should contain drinking water for five days. Foods like peanut butter, canned beans, nuts, dried fruits. First aid supplies like bandages and antibacterial ointments, as well as aspirin and some extra prescription drugs for you and your pets, if you have them. A solar blanket, or at least a warm sweatshirt. Flashlight with extra batteries and if you can find one with a radio, even better.

Got your physical needs (in case of emergency) taken care of? Here's a prayer you can offer up to the moon:

Goddess of the moon -

Mother of the earth -
We pray to you now,
Bless us with mirth

Toga parties and corned beef

I'd forgotten to "spring forward" Saturday night. So when I woke up at 4 a.m. on Sunday and was emailing my friend in Atlanta to complain about our mutual insomnia, he reminded me. Small consolation that had it been Saturday morning, I'd have been awake at the even more evil hour of 3 a.m. No good can come of that. Keeping in mind that according to my 8th grade algebra teacher "idle hands are the devil's workshop" I decided to look up holidays for the upcoming week.

According to Wikipedia, The Ides of March is celebrated every year by the Rome Hash House Harriers with a toga run in the streets of Rome, in the same place where Julius Caesar was killed. But "Ides" themselves simply mean the 15th of the month. Well, most months. Some months, The Ides are on the 13th. Don't ask me why. 

On the heels of Caeser's demise comes Ireland's big holiday, St Patrick's Day. Also known as "The Wearing of Green," St Paddy's originally commemorated St Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland. How that translates to out of control parades and green beer is anybody's guess.

Anyway you shake it, it's a week to to have some fun with friends, both old and new. Whether you don togas (clean sheets, please!) on Tuesday and toss up the eponymous Caesar salad, or venture out on Thursday night with Shamrock wearing friends, enjoy the extra hour of daylight. If you're new in town, or just don't know anybody else who's unashamed to leave the house in plaid bed sheets, know that help is on the way. Heyletssplitit will soon be in your town, to unite you with others who share your interests in shopping, sharing, saving...and maybe shillelaghs.

As for me, I'll just enjoy the temporary  reprieve from the paper carrier seeing me in my pajamas. Because once again it's dark at delivery time. 

Cap'n Crunch: Dead or Alive?

I was having a fine Thursday (remember my words of wisdom, about Thursday being Friday only without the unrealistic expectations) until I read a horrible story on Facebook. It said Cap'n Crunch would indeed be going down with the ship. Perhaps to reunite with Quisp and Quake and other cereal mascots, from cereals my sisters and I begged for as kids. We'd eat them until somebody got the prize; then we'd lose interest while my poor mother was left to consume endless bowls of things like Lucky Charms, minus all the marshmallow pieces that made it irresistible.

I was lamenting to my house uniform inventress friend in San Diego about what I would do without the Cap'n. As an adult I rarely ate it for breakfast. Usually it was a snack before bed, or i'd down a small bowl with a double espresso before running a 5K (trust me it works). 

Then San Diego came through. 

Turns out, the rumors of the Cap'n's death were greatly exaggerated. He's just not being actively marketed any more. Too sugary.

I'm all for cutting way down on sugar. But I still believe a bowl of Crunch, nutritionally speaking, is better for you than a bowl of ice cream. Or a bag of chips. Or some genetically altered pizza life form, found in the frozen foods section, that comes inside a mini pocket.

Rock on Cap'n Crunch.

And a wonderful, pre St. Paddy's day weekend to you all.

Mardi Gras: A dress rehearsal

Okay, this is a week I have been looking forward to. First there's Mardi Gras (note: pronounce 'mar-dee grah'... the 's' is silent and if you mispronounce this one people will be convinced you live in a cave), or as I call it "St Patrick's Day for Amateurs."

No really, Mardi Gras is the end of the Carnivale season and the last day to have some real fun before Lent begins. Once again, even if you don't practice any kind of religion, it is good for you to either give something up or make a behavioral change. It's only 40 days. A great test of your will power but with an end in sight.

So after you power up on red beans and rice, King Cake, and the infamous hurricane cocktail (I still have a stain on my rug shaped like Alfred Hitchcock from Hurricanes made, and spilled, 10 years ago), think of something. Maybe you decide you will walk for 45 minutes a day. Maybe you will give up donuts. Quit talking on the phone while you are driving. Just make sure it's something you enjoy but you know is not good for you.

http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Mardi-Gras-Making-a-Hurricane-Cocktail-Video/detail.aspx

Every cheese doodle has its day

Last weekend, daunted by the promise of rain and seeing crappy weather forecast throughout the nation, I encouraged all of you to clean out your closets and donate. Did anyone follow through? And just how good do you now feel about yourself? With Fat Tuesday looming close by, "laissez le bon temps rouler" til it's time to reform. This weekend is all about having some fun, getting some rewards for being so good.

Believe it or not, March 5th is Cheese Doodle Day. Really. I'm not much for orange snacks, unless they are actual oranges, but if you feel the urge to salute the mighty doodle, do so. And March is Caffeine Awareness Month. The whole month, an excuse to sample exotic blends from throughout the world, all in the name of honoring the mighty coffee bean.

Spring will be here before you know it, so why not get out your bike, kick the tires, oil the gears and take her out for a test drive? With gas prices hovering close to $4/gallon, now is a great time to go green. And if you are honoring Caffeine Awareness month you may pedal all the way across state lines.

As the launch date of Heylet'ssplitit nears, we'll be full of exciting ideas for you to share with friends, both present and future. Until then, ride safely, eat well, and be sure to "Like" HLSI!

Got to Give it Up!

Greetings

Here it is the end of February already. Phew! An overfed rodent in PA has promised us an early spring but just in case he was angry at being pulled out of his lair and decided to play a cruel joke on the country, here are some ideas to brighten up the Ides of March.

Tomorrow is the first day of the month, which, like the first day of the week, is nice for making a list of the stuff last week/last month you said you'd do. And didn't. However, Lent is fast upon us. And although I have no religious bent, I like to join my pious friends and give something up. This means we all have one more week to let the  good times roll (you see how I always find the silver lining?).

Enjoy yourself til March 8th. And then get ready for 40 days of martyrdom.

How about doing some spring cleaning of your closets? Just to get in the mood for the promised early season. Hey Let's Split It is all for good causes, so maybe you'd like to donate some bags of those pants you are never going to squeeze back into (who are you kidding) to your local shelter or favorite charity. Or get together with a friend and arrange a swap, have a yard sale, or turn that unfortunate 'skort' into a clever potholder.

But we encourage you to donate. Be sure to ask for a receipt and remember that items have to be itemized (duh) for your fabulous donation to be tax deductible. One man's trash is another man's treasure, after all.

And you'll need the closet room for all the new things you'll get to buy when you've given up chocolate for 40 days and rediscover your waistline.

Manscaping and "Personal Rehab"

Another rainy weekend? Are you kidding me? Well then, perhaps this is a good time to embark on some self improvement before Spring hits, and young men's and women's (and hopefully, not so young men's) thoughts turn to love.

Emboldened by a TV star undergoing "personal rehab" at his house, I too may stay in and give myself a new coat of paint. Not that I need it. But if I'm going to make the following proposal, I have to put my best foot forward.

My proposal is this:  a license for sandals. Or mandals, as the case may be. Now this may sound totalitarian to you but have you ever had to stand in an exceedingly long line, say, at the post office, and been stuck looking at unkempt hairy tootsies in open toed footwear? I rest my case. If the line is long enough, it can keep you off your feed for the entire day.

So my dear unattached friends, if it's foul weather again where you are, why not do some personal spring cleaning so you are ready for fair weather and the clothing options it brings? And soon, when Heylet'ssplitit is up and running, we'll have all kind of activities and shopping deals you can share with that special friend. Maybe even a Man-icure.

What's my new favorite appliance?

Hello all you 3 day weekenders. I'm wondering who took my advice to stay in, in full "House Uniform?" I know at least one of you did. I'm not naming names but she has a "Dr" in front of her name.

I had to work and therefore get dressed. But I did finally try out my new favorite kitchen appliance, the immersion blender. I bought one for a friend for Christmas and in my usual holiday spirit of "one for you, one for me" got myself one too. But I've been too intimidated to get it out of the box til tonight, when an expiring package of butternut squash called my name. And the nip in the air said "this is a night for soup."

The blender works like a charm. Okay there's some trial and error involved, and I had to clean my entire stove top. But the finished product makes it totally worth it. Just wish I had someone coming for dinner to share in the goods.

Which is what Hey Let's Split It is all about. Sharing great things with friends: current friends, new friends, neighbors or just someone who'd be a great activity pal. Look for our launch in the spring and in the meantime, sign up!

TGIF?

Actually I prefer "TGIT" Thank Goodness it's Thursday. Because Thursday is Friday, only without the unrealistic expectations. 

So you're at work wondering what to do this weekend, aren't you? That's pretty much what Fridays are for. Pay no attention to those brown nosers sending emails with "ASAP" written in the subject line. It's all for show. Everybody is waiting for the weekend.

Even here in (usually) sunny California, this 3 day looks kinda dreary. Lots of rain expected. So, what to do if you are rained in/snowed in/down with a cold/flu in?

Well it is President's day on Monday. So you could plan a salute to your favorite Commander in Chief. I'm not recommending chopping down your neighbor's cherry tree, but maybe Monday could be "I cannot tell a lie" day. Best on this day to avoid anyone who has been getting on your nerves lately.

You could begin doing your taxes. Make a pot of soup that will last you all three days. Or opt to put on your house uniform this evening (mine consists of a moth eaten,  second hand cashmere sweater and flannel PJ pants) and not take it off til Tuesday morning. 

Whatever you decide to do, or not do, remember that help is on its way! This spring, your option of "Stay in PJs" will be a thing of the past when you become a member of our great community. Until then, Happy 3 Day weekend.

(PS: House uniform is meant to be worn there. In the house/apartment/RV. Two exceptions to this rule are the Bagel Shop, before 10 a.m.; and the Mini-Mart, after 10 p.m.)

HLSI intro.mov

Monday Madness

“Monday is the root of all evil.” It’s a quote I read somewhere. But I usually I see Monday as “the clean slate.” An opportunity for a fresh start.

Unfortunately, this Monday is Valentine’s Day. Or for unattached people, “Stay in Bed Under the Covers” day. 

Now what kind of attitude is that? Surely there is someone to whom you’d like to say, “You’re special to me.” Maybe a favorite niece or nephew? The barrista who always remembers you like it half caf/low fat? Or a friendly, near sighted neighbor who insists every time that he sees you, you’ve lost weight.

Make one of them your Valentine. And know that help is on the way. Become a fan of “Hey Let’s Split it” and join a huge network of people in your neighborhood. People who will get together with you to shop, to hang out, to do good deeds.

Or to share a dumb holiday that’s been exploited by a cadre of greeting card and flower companies.

www.facebook.com/heyletssplitit

Sharing, swapping and trading with your neighbor is all the buzz.

And for good reason. You can get to know your neighbors and save money by borrowing their stuff.
But unike your Dad and his neighbor (Mr. Mootcher) all items must be returned Ha!

We love it because it's similar to our plan, except with used items.
Both help neighbors band together to save cash.

http://www.collaborativeconsumption.com/

Collaborative Consumption describes the rapid explosion in swapping, sharing, bartering, trading and renting being reinvented through the latest technologies and peer-to-peer marketplaces in ways and on a scale never possible before. If you’ve used a car sharing service like Zipcar, experienced peer-to-peer travel on Airbnb, given away or found something on Freecycle or lent money through Zopa, you’re already part of the rise of Collaborative Consumption

Is Ebay your default deal site? 13 reasons it shouldn't be.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/13-bargain-websites-that-are-cheaper-than-ebay/