Today “Thunder” was on our show.  You remember her - she was the wife part of the husband/wife singing duo, Lightning &  Thunder.  They sang Neil Diamond songs and hit every summer festival in Milwaukee back when they were popular.   Lightning died a few years ago, but his story and the couple’s love story is now part of a documentary which will premiere in Milwaukee this Thursday.  It’s called “Song Sung Blue”.  It’s supposed to be a very bittersweet and sometimes brutal film detailing the couple’s true-life story.  It even won a Sundance Film Festival award for best documentary in 2008.  Anyway, Thunder was a great guest today, especially because she gave us some gossip at the end of the segment.  She piped up and said she wanted to share some “election gossip” as she called it and went on to say that when she was much younger she kissed Sheldon Wasserman!  Wasserman, as you know, is running for a state sentate seat.  She said they “made out”!!!  I would love to know what Wasserman thinks about her comment!  I asked if he was a good kisser, but I don’t even remember what she said because I was so shocked by her revealing secret.  That’s the kind of stuff that keeps our show FRESH!

Have you ever heard of Hollywood Fashion Tape?  A helpful person at Faye’s told me about this miracle and it has changed my life (well, almost)!  It is the best seven dollars and fifty cents I’ve spent in ages.  The most important thing it does for me is prevent gapping blouse fronts.  But it does a lot more than that and after reading my blog today, you’ll probably suspect that I’m making a commission from this stuff but I promise you I am not!

As the ad says, “You don’t have to be a fashion diva to use Hollywood Fashion Tape”.  Even regular girls like me use it — almost daily.  Along with fixing blouses that constantly pop open, It can also prevent fashion disasters like slipping bra straps, falling hems and broken clasps.

So what is this miracle tape, you ask?  It’s clear double-stick, “do everything” tape.  It’s super easy to use and you don’t have to worry about damaging clothes.  You can also use it right on bare skin to keep straps and open necklines in place.  It’s way better than a safety pin!  The website for this fashion miracle says, “It’s as easy as peel, stick and go”!  That’s the truth, too.

I ordered it online by going to www.hollywoodfashiontape.com   You can also find it at a few area upscale clothing/intimate apparel stores.

I have a confession to make.  For at least two years I’ve been making fun of a good friend of mine who has a big rain barrel in his backyard.  I always wonder what he does with the water he’s collected.  Does he drink it?  I also wondered how much rain would have to fall in order to make his conservation effort worth the price and hassle of the big ol’ barrel!

I changed my mind when Melinda Meyers, the Plant Doctor, made a house call to The Morning Blend.  She’s a big fan of the rain barrel and she gave us lots of reasons — good reasons — to have one.  What surprised me the most was that a single, modest rainfall can really add up inside one of these barrels.   As one environmentalist put it, “Rain barrels help moderate both feast and famine”.  The idea is that the collection of water inside a barrel slows runoff when it storms and it eases the demand we all place on city water during dry spells.  I think that sounds good and right now I’m really into doing even small things that might help our environment.

Who knows?  Maybe my neighbors will soon notice a big barrel in my backyard, too.

Since sustainability seems to be one of the hot words today, I decided to keep with our “Going Green” theme this week and give you a few (borrowed) tips on a sustainable lifestyle.  In essence, these suggestions might just prolong your life.  Sustainability is important for our environment, too, of course.  But, these are for your life.  I listed a few favorites below - enjoy!

Instructions for a Sustainable Lifestyle…

1. Eat a lot of brown rice.
2. Give more to people than they expect and do it because you want to and like to do it.
3. Learn your favorite poem - or a Bible verse — or inspiring quote – inside out.
4. When you say "I love you" really mean it.
5. When you say you’re sorry, look the person in the eyes.
6. Get engaged at least 6 months before you get married.
7. Don't judge anyone by their relatives.
8. Speak slowly but think fast.
9. Remember the biggest love and greatest successes involves the greatest risks.
10. Don’t let a small misunderstanding destroy a beautiful friendship.
11. Smile when you answer the telephone, whoever has called will be able to hear you smiling.
12. Get married to a man who like to converse — when you get older, your ability to converse becomes more important than anything else.
13. Spend a little time alone.
14. Believe in God but always lock your car.
15. Pray, there’s an incredible power in prayer.
16. Remember that to sometimes not getting what you want is sometimes a great blessing.
17. Learn all the Rules and break a few.
18. Be kind to our planet.