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?