The New Year's Eve Dress Nightmare

Why is there so much pressure to look not just good but absolutely great on New Year’s Eve?

This particular problem has plagued me since I was about 15-years-old.

I can only remember two outfits that I absolutely loved through the years. One was a racy number in Miami and the other was a birthday bash dress repeat in Greenville, North Carolina.

Isn’t that sad. I put so much time and effort into finding something to wear each year and I don't even really like what I outfitted myself in the year before.

I promised I wouldn’t think twice about it this year. The problem? I happen to be spending New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas, and that just steps the pressure up.

I’m actually embarrassed to say how many stores I’ve already stopped in. It’s like senior prom all over again. But now, I’m on my own dime and have to be realistic about these expenses.

So, here’s my new reasoning…the girl makes the dress, not the dress makes the girl. Which means, I’m headed to the gym.

Why not turkey all the time?

Who says you can only cook a turkey on thanksgiving? My mom knows just how much I enjoy that November meal so she decided to recreate it for me in December!

For the past two years my father's gotten a turkey as a holiday gift from his boss. They had two just sitting in the basement's freezer. So, the goods were already there when my mom came up with her special Sunday plan.

Granted we didn't have the whole spread (you have to look forward to Thanksgiving for some reason) but we did have my favorite dish and boy did I enjoy every bite of it.

Lesson learned, if you want some turkey...just cook some turkey, or at least have your mom do it for you.

Not how I want to spend my Sunday afternoon...

I'm watching the Victoria Secret Fashion Show on CBS.

My brother taped it and has the clicker. "I didn't know real girls could look like this," he just said to me.

I probably shouldn't have eaten that piece of Lou Malnati's deep dish pizza for lunch.

Erin, who I featured to the right is his favorite, yep, that's what I'm dealing with right now.

My Chihuahua is stuck in the turkey carcass, help!

I've never actually cooked a turkey so I don't know how difficult it would be but I can only imagine the issues I'd have.

Well, it turns out I'm not alone.

Can I thaw my turkey in my electric blanket?

That's just another one of the questions a caller's phoned into the Turkey Talk-Line about. The hot line has been up and running out of Naperville for more than 30 years.

Turkey experts man the phones until Christmas time. So, if you're in need of some assistance this year call: 1-800-BUTTERBALL

You can read more about the Turkey Talk Talk-Line at: http://patch.com/A-cs4y

This made me laugh today!

Line out the door at Zingerman's this weekend in Ann Arbor

I was in Ann Arbor for 24 hours this weekend on a college tour with my cousin. We had Pizza House for dinner Friday night, Angelo's for breakfast Saturday morning and were supposed to have Zingerman's for lunch before we left.

Instead, my perfect eating plan was ruined when we spotted this line out the door and around the corner at 2pm on Saturday. So, we went to Amers instead, which was still delicious, but just not the same.

I'm living in the land of gigantic wedding rings.

My new job has landed me in Deerfield, IL. It’s an affluent suburb about 25 miles north of Chicago and has one of the best school systems in the state.

Unlike every other person in Deerfield, I don’t have kids, I don’t have a husband, to be honest, I don’t even have a boyfriend right now. I’m actually ok with all of these things, hey I’m 26, but there is one thing I’ve had my sights set on, one of these HUGE engagement rings.

The attire for women in Deerfield is pretty simple, lululemon and a gigantic rock. We’re talking a bunch of karats, a whole lot of shine and some major height, that lifts the actual diamond off the finger and into your face.

My mom always told me that a lot of women get an upgrade around their 40^th birthdays, at least that’s what she did but I’m not sure that’s the case in Deerfield. I think these North Shore guys are throwing down some big bucks right out of the gate.

Then there’s me and my little old ringless finger. I sometimes look at it and wonder what a ring that size would look like on it… pretty freaking good of course.

I know I should keep dreaming big but I think I need to start off on some what of a smaller scale, like maybe a first date?

How would you describe your political beliefs?

As a journalist I try and shy away from this question. However, my new job actually wants me to post my answer on the website I'm managing. So, I responded:

I usually order a conservative appetizer and a liberal entrée, but dessert is always up for discussion.

Is that cheesy? How would you answer the question?

First lesson learned at the driving range...

Do not forget to put the basket under the ball dispensing machine. I won't be making that mistake again.

Thankfully I went for the 50 ball deal instead of the 100 ball Saturday special.

Only my brother spends $10 at McDonalds

His order:

10 piece Chicken McNugget Meal (comes with a fry & dink)

Double Cheeseburger

McChicken Sandwich

I love the perks of my new job...

Staying in pajamas all day (it's 5pm) and accepting fun gifts from AOL.

The UPS guy dropped off this new gadget for me. It can print/copy/fax/and scan and the best part is I didn't know it was coming.

For now I'm mostly working from home but my co-workers say once my website launches (Deerfield.patch.com) Nov. 1 I'll be running around like crazy. So I'm enjoying these comforts while they last.

My mom's a rockstar!

She started baking challah and it's unbelievable. I know I'm a little bias since her bakery is a family owned business but I honestly can't believe how good it is.

I was at the bakery a couple of weeks ago on Howard and California and there are loaves laying around for employees to enjoy. Well, at least that's what I thought. So, every time I passed by one, I snuck a chunk! A chunk, probably as big as my fist.

This morning, I cut thick slices, and made french toast...incredible!

An Interesting Way To Kick Off The Jewish New Year

The Westboro Baptist Church came to Illinois on the eve of one of the holiest Jewish holidays of the year to torment some heading to services. The group best known for its protests at military funerals had a clear message for the Jews, "Obey God, or destruction."

This is one of the photos I snapped of protestors outside the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, Illinois.

You know your 91 year old gradmothers's still got it....

when she's leaving a holiday party and she pats your behind and says, "Make lots of money."

$50 Worth Spending

I was in New York training for my new job for the past two days. On Tuesday, I had a 7:35 flight out of LaGuardia and shared a cab with some of my co-workers to the airport. I got there at 5pm, checked in and flew through security. What usually takes me an hour took about 15 minutes. So, I checked departures and spotted a flight leaving at 5:35 headed to O'Hare.

I was told at the gate I could change my ticket for $50 and slip on board; I considered the cost for about 5 seconds and quickly swiped my card. I got home around the same time I was supposed to take off and couldn't have been happier about it.

Welcome Back To Chicago...

Where it costs $11.50 to see a movie. 

Lesson Learned: Virginia State Troopers Are Out To Get You

My father and I recently took a road trip from Greenville, North Carolina to Chicago, Illinois. I was moving back home and my dad was kind enough to accompany me on the 15 hour trip. So, we passed through Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana together. 

If you find yourself on a similar route beware, Virginia is swarming with hungry state troopers. We must have passed dozens of squad cars, with deputies inside armed with radars, ready to bust anyone breaking the rules of the road. 

A couple of nights later my dad told me he had a nightmare about those law enforcement officers and that images of them hidden around curves, on the side of the roads, were imprinted in his dreams. 

When I first arrived in North Carolina I made it through 2 weeks before I got my first speeding ticket. I was clocked going 77 in a 65 mph zone. Which meant a $175 fine. I paid up and learned my lesson, which is probably why we made it out of Virginia ticket free. 

You know you're in Kentucky when...

You're sitting in a porta potty outside a gas station and someone's scribbled on the inside door, Bob waz here.

My First Where's George Experience---

I was going to pay for something the other day with this $1 when I noticed the http://www.wheresgeorge.com/ imprint.

I’ve heard about this website but never gotten the chance to participate. Basically what happens is that someone registers a bill at the site and then others that come in contact with it track its movement.

My $1 was first registered in Cary, North Carolina back in March. The next time it was tracked was April 14 by someone in Greensboro, North Carolina. Then I submitted my entry on August 17.

According to Wheres George, “This bill has traveled 197 Miles in 149 Days, 23 Hrs, 35 Mins at an average of 1.3 Miles per day. It is now 83 Miles from its starting location.”

I used my $1 in a pop machine at the news station yesterday to get a diet coke. I can only imagine where it’s going to end up next!

My Last Week In Eastern Carolina

I've had 20 months of southern love but it's time to head back to the Midwest.

On Friday, I'll be leaving the anchor desk at WITN and hitting the road, heading to Chicago! My adventure here has been one I'll never forget. Not only did I grow as a journalist but as a person. My new job starts August 30th. I'll be a reporter/web editor for AOL based in Deerfield, Illinois. I'll be in charge of a hyper-local news website there that hasn't even launched yet. I'll be writing, shooting, and reporting around the clock but instead of my stories airing on TV they'll air online for everyone to enjoy!

So, if there's anything I need to do while I'm still in Greenville let me know now!

Lesson Learned: Ice Cream Can Turn Any Situation Around

Yesterday at work I had to drive 1 hr. and 45 min. away to a gas leak in Weldon, North Carolina; which is basically on the North Carolina/Virginia border.

According to a press release from town officials crews were repairing a sewer line when they hit a gas line and had to evacuate 3 blocks. The clean up was supposed to take at least 6 hours but when I got there it was already done. So, I called the newsroom and they told me to turn around and come home. I didn’t even take my video camera out of the back seat.

Knowing I had an almost 2 hr. drive back home I decided to stop at Dairy Queen and treat myself to a refreshing treat. For all those of you who have not splurged yet on DQ's blizzard of the month, the calories are well worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed the oreo-brownie concoction and therefore will have fond memories of my time in Halifax County.

Natalie Kaplan = Reporter By Day, Villain By Night

Last night I invaded my co-workers dreams.

He told me I was a villain with super powers.

He can’t remember exactly what he was dreaming about but says at one point I was so angry with him I channeled my powers and blew up a car.

Unfortunately we don’t know how the dream ended. We’ll just have to wait and see if the saga continues tonight.

Lights, Camera, ACTION!

Transformers 3 is being filmed in Chicago right now. I snapped this photo while driving downtown Saturday.

Part of Wacker Drive is completely torn up for the shoot but cars are still allowed to pass just feet away from the set.

Donating food isn't as easy as you may think

I was at a funeral in Chicago this weekend. Part of the Jewish burial process is that afterwards you sit shiva. It's a time for family and friends to come together, mourn the loss of a loved one, but also celebrate their life.

You can not imagine how much food is at these events. Not only does the family usually have it catered but everyone that comes to pay their respects brings something as well. For example, my mom dropped off three different cakes and a challah.

By Saturday night the majority of guests had come and gone but the majority of food still remained. Dozens of bagels, mounds of turkey, platters of baked goods, and piles of nuts.

My best friend who was hosting the shiva doesn't eat gluten or dairy, which means everything was going to go to waste. So, we needed to come up with an alternate plan. The problem was, it was after 11pm on a Saturday night and most of the homeless shelters we called wouldn't accept a random delivery at that time of night. I suggested that we set up a makeshift buffet on Lower Wacker Drive. For all those of you who aren't familiar with Chicago, it's a homeless hangout hot spot. Lower Wacker is an underground route around downtown, so there's a number of options for someone looking for shelter.

However, that plan wasn't as popular as I had hoped for with the masses. After about 60 more minutes of brainstorming we got in touch with someone at the Night Ministry who agreed to the late night, drive by, bagel drop off. Which meant we would be able to follow through with our mitzvah after all.

Sheriff's Deputy Shot & Killed in Greene County

I was called by my News Director last night at 9pm, a Sheriff’s Deputy had been shot and killed in Greene County while responding to a call; she needed me to head to the scene.

I jumped out of my pajamas and back into my work clothes, grabbed my camera, and rushed out the door.

While on the road, I started to learn more about the story. According to authorities the Deputy was responding to a domestic disturbance call when he was shot and killed by the homeowner, the gunman then shot and killed himself.

We had no idea where the shooting happened, just that it was somewhere near Snow Hill. I was driving down a pitch black highway and knew I was never going to find the scene of the crime without some help. So, I stopped at the local gas station heading into town and asked customers walking in if they had heard anything. Of course, they had. Someone pointed me in the right direction because 5 minutes later I spotted a squad car and quickly sped up to follow where it was going.

By that times it was 10pm, 60 minutes before air time and I needed to come up with some information. Since authorities weren’t providing much, I turned to neighbors for answers and quickly learned they knew exactly what had happened and were willing to talk.

During the 11pm newscast we had team coverage. The normal night side reporter handled the nuts and bolts of the situation and I nabbed a live interview with one of those neighbors who lived across the street from where the shooting happened and was friends with the gunman.

I didn’t get home until 1am, that’s when I actually had a chance to grasp the tragedy that had unfolded. The Deputy, like I had, was simply doing his job. He took a phone call from his superior, like I had and responded to a situation, just like I did. The difference is I got to come home and crawl into bed that night.

That deputy, John Willis, leaves behind a wife and two young children.

Living in Greenville comes with its perks

I'm currently living in a massive two bedroom, two bathroom apartment, with an indoor patio, an outdoor sitting area, and unlimited parking.

I pay a whopping $400 in rent, while my roomie pays $300. This is shocking to my friends shelling out thousands of dollars for closet size spaces in NYC. Their tempers flare even more when they visit and check out my walk in closet and bathroom jacuzzi. 

I smile every time I pay my rent, that's because I thoroughly enjoy these cheap living accommodations.  What made me grin even larger today was my ridiculously reasonable electricity bill. 

For all those of you who don't know, Eastern Carolina has been experiencing a heat wave for the last month. We're talking about temperatures in the high 90's and above. I never turn on the air conditioning but we've been blasting the AC for weeks and I started to get anxious about this month's bill. 

When I broke open the envelope from Greenville Utilities today my fears instantly disappeared, $127.86 was the damage. Yes, payments usually round out around $80 but this month my vents were pumping out freezing cold air around the clock. 

So, I happily slipped a $127.86 check in the mail. 

Laughing out loud at work makes the day go by faster

A co-worker of mine showed me this photo of a child's test answer...I wish I had been that witty at such a young age.

Beware, tasers are everywhere

A girl across from me at the bar last night was having to deal with an aggressive male suitor. She clearly wasn’t interested, I could tell that a couple of seats away, but he didn’t seem to get the hint. 

All of a sudden I watched her reach into her purse and pull out what looked like one of those old school electric razors, I quickly realized it wasn’t.

She coolly clutched the weapon in her hand and sparks flew. I’ve never seen a taser in action, especially not in a dark bar, pointed into the air. I was shocked by its power and so was the guy standing next to her.

I guess she wanted to prove a point and that’s exactly what she did, he walked out of the bar and did not come back.   

Searching for missing graves in the woods...

That’s exactly what I did on Saturday in Enfield, North Carolina.

I was originally contacted by a man from Virginia who had buried his grandparents there back in the 60’s. When he went back to visit the graves, they had disappeared and the cemetery was in shambles. I headed out to investigate and was shocked by what I discovered. While at the cemetery, I watched a man with a chainsaw cut down debris that had grown around his father’s grave. Another coffin had been pushed off the side of a hill and was lodged between a massive rock and tree. Plus, someone was dumping used tires on the property and driving over graves to do it.

The gentleman that originally contacted me was in distress. He had a 100-year-old aunt that was supposed to be buried in the same plot as his grandparents, which was nowhere to be found. For hours we walked around the cemetery overgrown with poison ivy, trying to read the names on tombstones like this one buried in the woods. We finally decided that our efforts might me a lost cause.

So far, I haven’t been able to get in touch with the owner of the cemetery or the town manager but eventually someone always calls me back, even if it takes a dozen messages.

Is there anything good about O'Hare International Airport?

My flights hardly ever depart or arrive on time, I don't particularly like the food options, and baggage claim takes FOREVER; however, there's one thing about O'Hare that always makes me smile...watch the video to find out what.

When will the heat end?

Yesterday temperatures reached 102 in Greenville, that breaks a record set back in 1959 of 98 degrees.

A tid bit east of Greenville, the thermometer hit a whopping 111 degrees in Richlands, North Carolina.

When I got into my car, I realized I had accidentally left my stick of deodorant inside. It had melted down into a liquid and was now all over my seat. 

So, this is what I texted my brother:

Me, "It's so hot here, I can't stop sweating."

Max's reply, "Good, weight loss baby."

You've got to love how much compassion my family members have for me during this heat wave.

How young do I actually look?

I was at the Eagles concert at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina on Thursday night when a middle aged man 2 rows behind me asked during intermission, "How does it feel to be the youngest girl in the audience?"

I was a little taken back by the question. First of all, I'm no baby. Born on April 26, 1984, that makes me 26, closer now to 30 than 20. Don't get me wrong, I'm still young, but let's just say I'm legal in every way.

So, I looked around, and realized my new friend was right, I happened to be the cub of our section and was loving every minute of it. Just because I'm young doesn't mean I don't enjoy good music. I'm sure all age groups present at Thursday night's show would agree, the Eagles put on a spectacular performance.

My great exerience at a car dealership in Raleigh

Whenever I have to go to a car dealership I get anxious and automatically start thinking $$ signs, but my G35 Infiniti has an extended warranty, so in order to cash in on that, I've got to go to an Infiniti dealership for repairs.

My latest car issue was a steering wheel problem (no I did not need more fluid in the pump). I dropped the car off at 9am on Saturday and was told a few hours later it was going to take a couple of days to fix because some parts needed to be ordered. However, I was in luck, those parts were under my warranty, except for a $100 deductible.

In replace of my G35, I was given a loner, a silver G37, which I instantly fell in love with. Five days later my car was ready for pick up. Awaiting my arrival were two chocolate mints and a bottle of water in the front seat.

The greatest surprise was ten minutes into my drive home when I flipped on the CD player and realized it was working again. It had been malfunctioning for months, I just forgot to tell the mechanics about it. Since it was playing a different CD then when I dropped it off, I figured the technician was working on the steering wheel, wanted to listen to some tunes, noticed the CD's were skipping and decided to take a look. The best part...it was fixed for free!

Thanks Crossroads Infiniti, I'll be back.

Inappropriate Driving...

Driving 40 mph in a 55 mph zone is unacceptable.
If you find yourself in this situation please be courteous and pull over once in a while so cars behind can pass; especially if it’s a two lane winding road with no way for vehicles in back to see around you.

Since some of us time out exactly how long it takes to get to work, a diversion like this, can really take a toll on our punch in time.

However, if you decide not to pull over, definitely do not wave and smile to drivers while they anxiously pull into oncoming traffic, trying to pass you by. This really can put a damper on the start of their workday.

To all drivers that stick to the desired speed limit, morning commuters applaud you.

It was fun while it lasted

I survived 3 days of the master cleanse, and that’s good enough for me.

I can’t fathom how dieters stick to the plan for 10 days but more power to them.

I woke up this morning, stopped at Starbucks, and thought, it’s good to be back!

I will admit, I felt extremely energized and positive while getting ready for work. Instead of badgering myself over the fact I only lasted 3 days, I was proud that I stuck with it for that long. My plan now…well I’m not so sure about that, but being healthier is somewhere in the mix!

(I thought this image was fitting)

Master Cleanse Day 3

I honestly can’t believe I’m still on track. I actually woke up this morning and knew that I would be able to get through another day.

The weakest moment I’ve had so far was when I was driving home from work last night and couldn’t stop thinking about cooking myself dinner. Instead, I had to gulp down a big glass of salt water, that didn’t go so well.

The saltwater flush is 25 ounces of filtered water mixed with 1 tsp. of all natural sea salt, in my opinion drinking this is impossible, and you’re supposed to do it everyday. Last night, I plugged my nose and took a few giant sips but didn’t make it much further then that. I was standing over the sink thinking more of this is going to come up then go down, so I stopped.

To all you master cleanse gurus, I admire your ability to complete this part of the diet, unfortunately, I will never be trying it again.

Master Cleanse Day 2

First, let's start off with the fact that I survived day 1!

I think the hardest part of the day was around 12:30 because that's when I usually eat lunch; however, the rest of the day was semi easy, besides the fact I thought about NOT eating food all day long.

I don't think I was actually ever really hungry, it's just that I associate meal time with social time, and I missed that a little yesterday.

So, is it worth it?

I think it's way to early to tell that, of course there was a pleasant drop on my scale this morning, but I also noticed more color in my cheeks. Maybe I'm imagining things but I actually think my skin looks a bit fresher and more rejuvenated.

I can only hope day 2 is as smooth as day 1.

My first face to face with a Copperhead

This is what I ran into in the middle of a hiking trail over the weekend, lets just say I freaked out, because it was huge.

I was camping at Carolina Beach State Park for a couple of days and was exploring some of its trails. The Copperhead was literally a few steps away from ME stepping on it; I couldn’t believe how well it camouflaged with the ground. For all those of you who don’t know, a Copperhead is an extremely poisonous snake, which I was clueless about at the time.

I stood there for a couple of minutes and decided I better pick up the pace, its tongue was slithering, and it looked like it was hunting for something sweet.

Master Cleanse Day 1!

I’ve decided to master cleanse myself, starting today. This means I’ll be drinking what many call a “syrup concoction” for the next…??(I’m not sure about that one yet).

I’ve always wanted to try the master cleanse. The drink is composed of maple syrup, Cayenne pepper, fresh lemon juice, and a whole lot of filtered water.

Well, that’s about all you get to drink for 10 days (yes, that’s how long you’re supposed to do it for). However, if I can make it through the week, work week that is, I’ll be extremely proud of myself.

At the end of those 10 days (for me possibly 5) I should have cleansed my body of years of built up toxins. I basically plan on looking like a super model version of myself!!

So, I woke up this morning and made my 60oz drink (that’s how much I’m allotted each day) and 2 hours later I’m feeling pretty good, which is probably because I’m used to skipping breakfast anyway.

I think I’m most worried about the SWF tonight, which stands for salt-water-flush. I’ve got to gulp down a glass of that and see what happens, but I’m assuming the title is pretty self explanatory.

Wish me luck, I’ll try and update my progress daily, and if you’ve got any tips, please, in the name of the master cleanse, FILL ME IN!!

The most public display of affection I've ever seen...Melbourne, Australia

I hope this isn't an invasion of privacy; however, it was an irresistible video opportunity!  

                                            

This morning's traffic alert on my way to work...

"There are delays merging onto I-440 E from Glenwood Avenue due to an injured horse in the middle of the road."

What??

I almost headed that way, just to check out the situation, but decided my boss probably wouldn't think that's a worthwhile excuse for showing up late for work.

Lesson Learned: Sometimes it’s nice to stay OFF the road

I spent the last 48 hours in a state of relaxation…and loved every minute of it. I can’t remember the last weekend I stayed in town and had absolutely no plans to adhere to. So, when the opportunity came about to have a little me time, I snuggled up to it. 

There’s something about going to sleep on a Friday night and not worrying about when you have to wake up Saturday morning. There’s something about cooking all your meals at home and not putting on makeup for a meal out. Plus, there’s definitely something about going to the gym and telling yourself you might as well workout hard because you have nothing else to do.

I probably traveled a total distance of 10 miles this weekend, which included a 2.5 mile walk I took on Sunday.  How did I feel when I woke up this Monday morning? Refreshed…lesson learned. 

Look what I made!

Ingredients:
3 pints fresh strawberries
1/2 cup 2tbs white sugar
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter

1 egg
2/3 cup milk
2 cups whipped heavy cream

Directions:
Slice the strawberries and toss them with 1/2 cup of white sugar, then set aside.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease and flour one 8 inch round cake pan.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons white sugar and the salt. With a pastry blender cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and add the beaten egg and milk. Stir until just combined. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 425 degrees F for about 15 or until golden brown. Let cool partially in pan on wire rack.

Slice partially cooled cake in half, making two layers. Place half of the strawberries on one layer and top with the other layer. Top with remaining strawberries and cover with the whipped cream. To sweeten whip cream, add sugar, while stirring.

ENJOY!! (this was not my recipe)

Ever wondered what the world's best restaurants are?

Well, here they are, according to some of the world's finest cuisine eaters. S. Pellegrino's annual "World's 50 Best Restaurants" list was just released, unfortunately, I haven't been to a single one, but hey I'm only 26! Have you?

1) Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark) 2) El Bulli (Roses, Spain) 3) The Fat Duck (Bray, England) 4) El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain) 5) Mugaritz (Errenteria, Spain) 6) Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy) 7) Alinea (Chicago, Illinois) 8) Daniel (New York) 9) Arzak (San Sebastián, Spain) 10) Per Se (New York) 11) Le Chateaubriand (Paris, France) 12) La Colombe (Cape Town, South Africa) 13) Pierre Gagnaire (Paris, France) 14) L'Hotel de Ville - Philippe Rochat (Crissier, Switzerland) 15) Le Bernardin (New York) 16) L'Astrance (Paris, France) 17) Hof Van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium) 18) D.O.M. (São Paolo, Brazil) 19) Oud Sluis (Sluis, Netherlands) 20) Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy) 21) Steirereck (Vienna, Austria) 22) Vendôme (Bergisch Gladbach, Germany) 23) Chef Dominique (Helsinki, Finland) 24) Les Créations de Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan) 25) Mathias Dahlgren (Stockholm, Sweden) 26) Momofuku Ssäm Bar (New York) 27) Quay Restaurant (Sydney, Australia) 28) Iggy's (Singapore) 29) L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon (Paris, France) 30) Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland) 31) Le Quartier Français (Franschhoek, South Africa) 32) The French Laundry (Yountville, California) 33) Martin Berasategui (Lasarte-oria, Spain) 34) Aqua (Bath, England) 35) Combal Zero (Rivoli, Italy) 36) Dal Pescatore (Mantova, Italy) 37) De Librije (Zwolle, Netherlands) 38) Tetsuya's (Sydney, Australia) 39) Jaan Par Andre (Singapore) 40) Il Canto (Siena, Italy) 41) Alain Ducasse Au Plaza Athénée (Paris, France) 42) Oaxen Krog (Oaxen, Sweden) 43) St. John (London, England) 44) La Maison Troisgros (Roanne, France) 45) wd~50 (New York) 46) Biko (Mexico City, Mexico) 47) Die Schwarzwaldstube (Baiersbronn, Germany) 48) Nihonryori RyuGin (Tokyo, Japan) 49) Hibiscus (London, England) 50) Eleven Madison Park (New York).

I missed them by 3 weeks...

This weekend President Barack Obama and Michelle are vacationing in Asheville, North Carolina. They’re staying at this beautiful hotel called the Grove Park Inn, I know this because I WAS JUST THERE.

I visited Asheville for the fist time a couple of weeks ago and was impressed by its charm. The streets are packed with unique restaurants and musicians entertaining diners on the streets. But one of the best parts is the town's magnificent backdrop, it's surrounded by mountains.

Grove Park Inn is a luxurious hotel nestled in some of those mountains. While there I enjoyed a glass of white wine on the hotel’s back deck. The 1st lady and prez are probably going to do the exact same thing, in those exact same seats, I just wish I could have shared that beverage with them!

I wish there was a draft for reporters...

I watched the NFL Draft last night with my roommate and her boyfriend. I don’t think I’ve ever sat through the entire draft before, after doing so, I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of it; but probably not for the same reason millions of sports fans did.

My brother has been a basketball player all of his life. He was recruited in 8th grade by a high-school team and then recruited his senior year by a college team. I spent a large portion of my childhood on the sidelines of those games. Unfortunately, my brother never made it to the pros but I do understand the type of hard work and dedication it takes to get there. Last night I watched these football players jammed into uncomfortable 3 piece suits, nervously sitting by telephones, waiting for coaches to confirm their unbelievable offers, that would completely change their lives forever.

I started to think...how great would it be if graduating reporters from around the country were treated the same way and drafted too. What if we were packed into a stadium like room and forced to sit and wait for a call from a news director. The smallest TV markets like Bozeman, Montana would get the first picks and so on. Instead of stats consisting of your weight and height, we would be judged on how fast we could cut a piece of video or how many words we could read without mispronouncing one.

The big difference between a reporter draft and a NFL one would be the money we were offered; however, I'm OK with that. If you were scooped up by a smaller station you’d be given more responsibility and would most likely be on air by the end of your first week there. If a top 10 station drafted you like Los Angeles or New York, you’d have to start at the bottom, most likely as a production assistant, or teleprompter operator, and work your way up.

Instead of the NFL commissioner announcing the draft picks, someone like Anderson Cooper or Katie Couric would be in charge. I can just picture it….

Brian Williams, “For this year’s 8th round pick, WIFR in Rockford, Illinois, has selected Natalie Kaplan from the University of Michigan.” AND THE CROWD GOES WILD!!

Lesson Learned: Summer starts early in Eastern Carolina

I grew up in downtown Chicago. I've still got a closet packed with puffy jackets, thick scarves, and warm gloves. However, there's no need for that in Greenville, North Carolina.

First, lets talk about the winter, or lack there of. Basically, a half of an inch of snow shuts down the city; no school, no one on the roads, even Starbucks is closed.

Second, let's talk about the summer, which there is plenty of. For the past two weekends I've enjoyed my Saturdays on a lounge chair in the backyard. I'm talking about the first two weekends of APRIL.

The forecast for the rest of the week = sunny and 70's.

Because of these splendid conditions, I’ve become a bit of a snob when it comes to weather. When I head back to the Midwest, I’m constantly complaining about the bitter cold, do we really need to shiver through 3 months of that?

While I’ll always call Chicago my home, I’ll admit, you can’t beat these temperatures.  

Lesson Learned: Drink a lot of water before you get your blood taken

It was 3pm and my liquid diet for the day had consisted of a chai tea and diet coke. While I usually drink a ton of water my agua intake had been limited.

The nurse was instantly frustrated by my lack of veins. She stuck a baby needle into my left arm and started poking around, nothing happened, so she had to take it out. She said she was going to have to try and hit a surface vein on my right arm which are usually the most painful. Just like my left, she stuck a baby needle in and started poking around.

After a few cringes and deep sighs from me we still weren’t getting anywhere. She took the needle out and asked if I had drank any water that day? My pitiful answer was no. She told me that makes a huge difference.

I’ve got another appointment next week and my plan is to drink about 8 glasses before I head in…wish me luck please.

It's Pollen Mania

You can run…but you can't hide.

The yellow stuff is on the attack and wreaking havoc in Eastern Carolina.

Wherever I go, whatever I do, the pollen is there. My black car is covered and my black outfit today is covered as well because I rubbed up against that car.

Thankfully, I don’t have allergies, my apologies to all the sneezers out there.

I know pollen is all part of the tree mating season. Male trees shed their pollen in hopes of inseminating female trees, but jeez, keep it under control.

Lesson Learned: Not all animals are caged at the zoo

I’m used to going to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago where there is a large barrier between the animals and the people watching them; however, that’s not the case at zoos in Australia.

I visited a zoo in Sydney where several of the animals were free to run wild, including kangaroos and emus. You actually got to scoop out cones of food and feed some of them.

I decided to have lunch with one of the emus, to watch, click on the video below…enjoy! 

Lesson Learned: Kangaroo does not taste like chicken

When in Australia you must do like the Aussie do. So, my friend and I tried to enjoy the countries cuisine. We ordered Kangaroo for dinner one night, it came out rare.

I thought it was going to be like chicken but to my surprise it was much more similar to a red meat. I don't really know how to explain it. If I had to compare it to anything I would have to say it had the same type of texture as pork but was a bit easier to chew.

I took a couple of bites and decided I preferred our 2nd dish, snapper!

Lesson Learned: All wine festivals need to have cheese

When I travel to a new country I always like to have an itinerary. However, winging it lets you experience things you would have otherwise missed.

My latest adventure was to Australia. I spent 10 days visiting a college roommate who is working in Sydney for the next 9 months. I along with 2 other girls traveled more then 14 hours for the trip. So, when we arrived and stumbled upon a wine festival the first day we were eager to partake in festivities. The only problem was, I don't really drink a lot of wine.

We had about 100 booths to pick from and 5 tickets to spend (that meant 10 tastings each). 

After about 5 of them I was starving and went in search of cheese, I figured what wine festival would skimp on brie? Unfortunately this Aussie one did. We all agreed the choices we did have like mini pancakes, chinese, pizza, and salmon weren't exactly what we were looking for.

So, the next time you decide to host a wine festival make sure you've got some gorgonzola to go along with it. 

Lesson Learned: Make sure your carry on fits underneath your seat

For years I've been meaning to buy a carry on with wheels; one that just makes it through security and fits above the seats. My current carry on has no wheels which leaves me lugging around a huge bag on my shoulder. However, lately I've been thankful for my outdated luggage.

Since airlines have started charging $20 to check a bag more passengers are turning to larger carry ons to cut costs. Unfortunately, this means less space above our seats for items. 

During my trips over the past few months some travelers on almost every plane have had to check their carry ons at the gate because of lack of space. While they don't have to pay the $20 they still have to wait at baggage claim afterwards and hope their piece arrived just like they did. 

A couple of weeks ago my brother was forced to check his bag on a flight from Chicago to NYC at the gate. That luggage never made it on and he went without a change of clothes for the entire weekend he was visiting. 

Fortunately for me no matter how large my duffel like purse gets I can always squeeze it underneath the seat, which means I'm never forced to wait and hope, I just have to deal with the strap mark on my shoulder for a couple of days. 

I'm back from Australia...it was AMAZING!!

Lesson Learned: Sometimes the best things in life are free!

I went hiking at Goose Creek State Park in Chocowinity, North Carolina over the weekend. It was beautiful! Enjoy the video (I'm not sure why it is so pixelated but I'll work on that).

Lesson Learned: You're never to old to...

Today is Ethan Alexander’s birthday, but why is that important?

Ethan’s turning 100 today and still shows up to church every Sunday for his sermon, that’s because he’s The First Christian Church’s sitting Pastor.

I met Ethan at a church service last weekend. I’ve actually never been to a service on Sunday before (because I’m Jewish) but thoroughly enjoyed it.

There was something special about The First Christian Church. The congregation accepted me as soon as I walked in the door and even invited me to a seafood lunch afterwards. However, I was there to meet Ethan. It’s not everyday you get to sit down with a century old pastor and hear what he has to say about life.

It was clear that Ethan loves Edenton, his church, and the members of it. He told me, “We enjoy life.” However, I was most interested in his complete faith and appreciation for God. It’s been a long time since I’ve thought about whether I believe in God and whether he has an impact on my life?

Ethan says he owes everything to God and that throughout his life God has always been the head of his household.

I was impressed by this 100 year old man sitting next to me. He told me he doesn’t know where he’ll be in the next 5 years, but when it comes to this Sunday, you can find him on the pulpit with a sermon in hand.

Got to love those trees!

While I love shoes and purses others are more attracted to greener things.

Take a look at this dramatic video of a group of tree huggers in a North Carolina Forest (probably somewhere around Asheville). They belong to the Earth First Eco Group and are in mourning...over trees.

Just a heads up, if you’re at work, you might want to turn your speakers down a notch.