Yogurt changed my life. Really.

To be specific, it was my craving for Tasti D-Lite’s peanut-butter shake that led me to my date with destiny.

How could this be, you wonder? How could an impromptu trip to a frozen yogurt shop end with me landing a dream job to move across the country and write for millions of other women just like me?

Here’s my story

I have struggled with weight my entire life, yo-yoing back and forth, from 105 to 135. This might not seem like much, but 30 extra pounds is a lot for my 5-foot frame to carry.

When I got engaged in January 2009 and set my wedding date for July 2010, I decided that I was going to get my weight under control once and for all. Read the full story

Ballet is Shelby Shenkman’s life.

The 17-year-old Boca Raton resident, who is beginning her senior year of high school at Pine Crest in Fort Lauderdale, has been dancing since she was 3. It’s a passion that she pursues both during school hours and after school at a local dance studio. Most days she doesn’t return home until 9:30 p.m.

But Shenkman realizes that not all children are as fortunate as she is. That’s why she has been teaching free dance lessons at Florence Fuller Child Development Center in Boca Raton since September 2007. The center provides after-school programs for children from low-income families.

Before classes began, Shenkman collected donated dance clothes and shoes for the children.
“I don’t feel like it’s a service,” she said. “It’s really fun for me.”

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La Tre

MENU

There are several pages of meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes. The menu is written in English and Vietnamese.

ATMOSPHERE

With just a few minimally decorated tables and some framed art, there isn’t much to see. The place was empty when we showed up on a Sunday night, but it was nice to catch up with friends without any distractions. Read the full story

Michael Jackson’s death: latest news, photos, videos, tributes

• Got a photo of the King of Pop?
• Share your Michael memories
• Did you see the Jacksons in 1984?

My father, David Michael Frank, has been a composer in Los Angeles for 30 years. He received his first of three Emmy nominations for musical arrangements for a tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. at the Shrine Auditorium. It was there, in late 1989, that he had his first encounter with Jackson.

After a rehearsal, Jackson accidentally bumped into my 9-months-pregnant mom on stage. Jackson felt so bad about it that he got on his knees, put his hands on her belly and kissed it while apologizing profusely. My parents like to joke that my brother was “blessed” by Michael Jackson.

Twenty years after that encounter, my dad was asked to orchestrate two pieces of classical music that Jackson wrote. They met April 29 at Jackson’s Beverly Hills mansion.

“He was dressed impeccably,” my dad said. “He was very skinny, but not frail looking at all.”

My dad was hesitant to shake his hand, considering rumors about Jackson’s germ phobia. But Jackson gave have him a firm handshake and a warm greeting. To my dad’s disbelief, Jackson remembered him from the Sammy Davis Jr. tribute. He told my dad that he never forgets a face.

They spent two hours together, talking about Jackson’s vision for the music. He wanted my dad to turn his simple piano pieces into something for a large orchestra. My dad left the house with a recording of Jackson humming some of his music while my dad accompanied him on keyboard, possibly Jackson’s last recording.

When my dad heard that Michael Jackson died, he was devastated. Mostly, he felt terrible for Jackson’s three kids, whom he met.

“They worshipped their father and loved him to death,” my dad said. “I feel so sorry for them.”

Share your Michael memories and photos.

MENU

The menu is a mix of small and large plates. The small plates are perfect if you’re with a group of people and you just want a bite of everything. If you’re not in the sharing mood, the large plates are your best bet. Seafood and meat dishes dominate the menu, but there are a few vegetarian options. Read the full story

Looks like Gossip Girl has kept her biggest secret for another season. Who is she? That was the question everyone was asking tonight during the season finale. Serena was especially determined to find out, but, of course, her efforts failed.

She only ended up making Gossip Girl so angry that she spilled every secret she’s been holding for the entire school year. She almost ruined things for Chuck and Blair, but Chuck pulled through at the last minute and completely swept Blair off her feet with those three little words: “I love you.”

For those of you who have been reading my blog, you know that I’ve been waiting for this all season. But we know that nothing good can last too long on this show. Gossip Girl is ready to refill her arsenal of secrets by continuing to follow everyone during college.
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Let me begin by saying thank god for the Internet. Just when I thought I couldn’t last another day without seeing the “Gossip Girl” episode I missed Monday night, The CW posted it online. Now let’s just pray my cable works during next week’s season finale.

I had been waiting for this episode for a few months. That’s when I first heard about the flashback episode and the possible spinoff show that could come from it. After having seen the episode, I’m not sure I’d like to see that spinoff happen.

While I enjoyed the grainy camera color (apparently our cue that we’re in the ’80s) and the ridiculous outfits and hair styles, I honestly don’t care all that much about Lily now, so why would I care about her childhood?
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I just wanted to let my faithful readers know that I’m in the process of moving, and although I was supposed to have my cable up and running yesterday, good old Comcast didn’t come through. Looks like I’ll have to catch last night’s episode of “Gossip Girl” when it goes online. So please, keep all spoilers to yourself, and I’ll be sure to post later this week. Thanks for your patience!

And the cliffhangers continue. I had a lot of fun watching tonight’s episode of “Gossip Girl.” Georgina finally cracked and appears to be giving up her Jesus-loving ways after “faux-cialite” Poppy Lifton made off with her money for new Bible study books. As Georgina put it, “You can tell Jesus that the bitch is back.”

Best quote of the night. I can’t wait to see where this goes. The old Georgina just might end up saving the day.

Was anyone else shocked to learn that Poppy’s a fake? She seemed to be the center of New York’s social scene based on previous episodes. How was she able to pull that off all on her own? I guess that’s the life of a con artist.

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I have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers, so I found myself torn after last night’s episode of “Gossip Girl.” But at least things are interesting again!

Was anyone else excited to see Michelle Trachtenberg again as Georgina Sparks? I’m dying to find out if she really has been “saved,” or if the old Georgina is still hiding under there, waiting for the perfect opportunity to return. I sure hope so.

Then there’s all the jealous tension between Nate and Chuck. Blair likes it, of course. I especially enjoyed the scene where Nate is trying to convince Blair to ride the subway in order to visit each other at college.

I still hope that Chuck and Blair work out in the end. Although it looks like it’s Blair and Nate for now. I mean, they’re moving into their own place together. And Nate said, “I love you,” to Blair.

 

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