The contest winners are here!

I'm so thrilled to be announcing the winners of my crazy wedding story contest!

The winners are:

Tongela Johnson
Larry Doyle
Jessica Shevitz Rauch

Here's the first story, by the lovely Jessica Shevitz Rauch. This one's called: "One."

One. They say it's the loneliest number, but I refused to believe that. I may have been invited to my friend's wedding without a date-- thus making me the only person there who wasn't part of a couple-- but that didn't matter. Sure, one of the main reasons it didn't matter was that I was so single I would have to go back pretty far to even attempt to find a date. But still. I can be a One, I thought. One ain't so bad. Especially if the One is me. It would be drag if I didn't even like the One. But that night – like many others – I liked the One. The One was funny. The One was smart. She had interesting stories to tell, interesting opinions to opine. One had a great dress to wear to the wedding and she just got her hair blown out so One was looking good.

One. It's just a number. One. Can be kinda nice. One. Don't have to check with two. One. When she's ready to go, she can just go.

During the drive to the wedding, One didn't have to change the radio station. One could sing as loudly as One wanted. One was getting excited for a good party. One was looking forward to eating as many pigs in the blanket as One cared to.

I made a right into the Country Club – ooh Valet parking – handed my keys to the attendant who kindly opened my car door for me. "Why, thank you". One gets all the attention.

One walked into the hall – yes! cocktails before the ceremony and oh – what's this? I picked up my place card - Jessica Shevitz - and looked inside.

There in bold print –Table One.

I'M ENGAGED!!!

Well, I thought I'd be blogging today about my contest winners—I've got three winners for my "crazy wedding story" contest, and I can't wait to share all of their stories with you! BUT, as it turns out, my birthday last Friday turned out to be a wedding story of my own, so that's what I'll be telling you about instead. Okay, okay, it's actually an engagement story, but humor me!

My boyfriend (he was still my boyfriend at this point in the story...) took me out for my birthday dinner at this very romantic restaurant in Manhattan. Before dinner, we watched the sun set and then headed inside to have a delicious meal with a great bottle of wine. The evening was absolutely perfect—I wouldn't have changed a thing.

After dinner, we got back to my apartment and I started getting ready for our trip to Miami. We had an early flight the next morning, and I wanted to get everything set. He told me that he remembered another gift he had bought for me (he'd already given me a gift earlier that day), so he wanted to give it to me. The only thing was that he said that it wasn't wrapped, so could I please close my eyes? I obliged, and when I opened my eyes, Doug was right there in front of me with a ring! I couldn't believe it!

Now, I wish I could tell you that I was one of those girls who was graceful and elegant and said something like, "yes! Oh, yes! A million times, yes! I'd love to marry you!" But, instead, I was one of those girls who was in a state of shock and started saying, "Oh my God! Oh my God!" and then at one point, actually said, "Are you serious?!?" Grace Kelly I was not. Finally, I gained my composure enough to actually say yes, and more importantly, grab the ring. Haven't taken if off since!

Let's work it out

In SCOT ON THE ROCKS, Brooke says that she cannot date Jack since they work together. In fact, their law firm even has a strictly enforced policy against associates dating.

Have you ever dated someone at work? If so, did your company have a policy against it? Do you think that companies should have policies against employees dating each other?When you dated someone at work, did it work out for the best? Was it worth it in the end?

I'm obsessed!

Today, let's talk obsession!

In SCOT ON THE ROCKS, Brooke is totally obsessed with Douglas, a gorgeous Scotsman who treats her horribly. To me, that relationship rings so true, since I often find that women fall for the wrong man and get completely obsessed, sometimes without even knowing why.

Why do women fall for (and become totally obsessed with) total jerks? Have you ever been obsessed? Have you ever had a guy you simply could not get over?

Book review: GLOSS by Jennifer Oko

Deliciously dishy!

Annabelle Kapner becomes the very news she reports when a harmless little human interest story about a beauty industry job creation plan for refugee women in the Middle East goes terribly out of control.

An insider's peek at the world of morning news television, DC politics and, of course, lip gloss, you won't be able to put GLOSS by Jennifer Oko down. Filled with tons of fun details gathered, no doubt, by the author's own experiences in morning television, you'll have a blast reading GLOSS, and not just for the guessing game of "who's really who" in the large cast of characters that inhabit Annabelle's world. A deliciously dishy and irresistible tale!

Book review: NEXT THING ON MY LIST by Jill Smolinski

Put "Next Thing On My List" on YOUR list!

Do you have a life list? A list of things to do before you hit 25? Neither did June Parker. But when a tragic accident puts her in possession of another woman's life list, entitled "20 Things to Do by My 25th Birthday," June undertakes to complete the list for her. June embarks on a journey that will change her life, and the lives of those around her, forever.

Next Thing On My List is funny, sweet and touching. You'll be rooting for June from the first item on the list that she tackles straight through to the last. This book will make you smile, warm your heart, and maybe even make you shed a tear (in a good way, of course!).
I highly recommend Jill Smolinski's Next Thing On My List!