S: Is for Checking before Speaking or Writing!

Tonight, I received this from a very trusted friend. Knowing how companies, especially credit card companies are hiking up the rates, I thought this was true. I immediately sent this to my friends and then I decided I could do even more and add it to today's column. Looking for a picture I typed in cookies and Neiman-Marcus and I found out, this is an urban legend. To my friends Bob and Gary, yes I should of checked first and yes, I am a friend to the underdog. To my readers this looks like a good recipe and supposably it is from Mrs. Fields. We should all be a little more cautious and check things out before we forward. You never know who you could be hurting.

Letter: A little background: Neiman-Marcus, if you don't know already, is a very
expensive store; ie., they sell your typical $8.00 T-shirt for $50.00.

Let's let them have it! THIS IS A TRUE STORY!
My daughter and I had just finished a salad at Neiman-Marcus Cafe in Dallas & decided to have a small dessert. Because both of us are such cookie lovers, we decided to try the "Neiman-Marcus Cookie". It was so excellent that I asked if they would give me the recipe and the waitress said with a small frown "I'm afraid not." Well" I said, "would you let me buy the recipe?"

With a cute smile, she said YES". I asked how much and she responded, "Only two fifty, it's a great deal!" I said with approval, "just add it to my tab".. Thirty days later, I received my VISA statement from Neiman-Marcus and it was $285.00. I looked again and remembered I had only spent $9.95 for two salads and about $20.00 for a scarf. As I glanced at the bottom of the statement, it said, "Cookie Recipe - $250.00". That's outrageous!!!

I called Neiman's Accounting Dept. and told them that the waitress said it was "two-fifty," which clearly does not mean "two hundred and fifty dollars" by any POSSIBLE interpretation of the phrase. Neiman-Marcus refused to budge.. They would not refund my money, because according to them, "What the waitress told you is not our problem. You have already seen the recipe - we absolutely will not refund your money at this point." I explained to her the criminal statutes which govern fraud in Texas. I threatened to refer them to the Better Business Bureau and the State's Attorney General for engaging in fraud. I was basically told, "Do what you want, we dont give a damn, and we're not refunding your money." I waited a moment, thinking of how I could get even,or even try to get any of my money back. I just said, "Okay, you folks got my $250.00, and now I'm going to have $250.00 worth of fun."

I told her that I was going to see to it that every cookie lover in the United States with an e-mail account has a $250.00 cookie recipe from Neiman-Marcus... for free..She replied, "I wish you wouldn't do this" I said, "Well you should have thought of that before you ripped me off", and slammed down the phone on her.. So, here it is!!! Please, please, please pass it on to everyone you can possibly think of. I paid $250.00 dollars for this... I don't want Neiman-Marcus to ever get another penny off of this recipe....

(Recipe may be halved): 2 cups butter
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar
5 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal and blend in blender to a fine powder)
24 oz. chocolate chips
1 tsp. salt
1 8 oz. Hershey bar (grated)
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)
2 tsp. vanilla
Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet..Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies.. Have Fun!!!

A lesson learned and that is a F.A.C.T.

T: Is for Tell Her To Go Away!

With Obama as our newly elected President and the way he is taking charge, I wasn't sure what I wanted to write. Things looked as if they were slowly righting themselves and then I saw a CNN article and I knew what I had to say. Somebody, anybody, please make Sarah Palin go away. I was hoping after the election she would be off the front page until after it was proven that Trig Palin, could be her daughter Bristol's, in which case I could say "see I told you so!" Just when I think she can not stoop any lower an article came out on CNN that I have to comment on. First she states she should of done more interviews. Ms. Palin do you not realize the 79% of women voted you off. We don't like you. The magazines tried to say we were jealous of you. Were not jealous. How could we be, when you are so uneducated? I state this because you don't even get that if you taught your daughter about sex education you would not be a grandmother. You state "you would be honored to help out Obama and his new administration -- even though he did hang around with an "unrepentant domestic terrorist." First of all he is President elect Obama. 2nd do your homework. How can you make such statements without proof. This is slander. Why is nobody bringing her up on charges and why is she being allowed to continue this tirade? You claim you can help him with energy and services for special-needs children. Why did you not do this as Governor or Mayor. I did do my homework and you took money away from disabled families until Trig was born, just like you charged women for rape kits. Are we suppose to believe because a disabled child was born into your household you had a change of heart? As for energy maybe you need to take a class from Al Gore. A new poll suggests that just less than half of all Americans have a favorable view of Palin and they are dropping more as each day goes by. Have you given back the clothing? You were wearing it still in Alaska upon your return.

I don't want to be irritated by Ms. Palin anymore. When John McCain pick her she was an obscure Governor, way can't she go back to where she came from, back to oblivion. We need to move forward as a country. Ms Palin, you were not even allowed to make a concession speech because your running mate wanted to bow out with grace and knew you could not. Maybe you should let that show you the F.A.C.T.S.

C: C is for Cosmetics and Community!

L'Oreal, Shesido and women from FIT gathered at Lord and Taylor last week to network and network they did thanks to an organization called Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW). Here young Executive members are invited for an exclusive events, to make connections that will help them move up the ladder. Industry peers chatted while enjoying a special wine tasting from Barefoot Wine & Bubbly. Clarins offered mini facials as Chanel, Clinique, Dior, Estée Lauder, Lancome, Nars Cosmetics, YSL, or the brand of your choice gave complimentary makeovers. What was so great about that is you had a chance to sample the products currently on sale and get to know your compition. Mixing beauty, business and pleasure, the way to earn a $25 Lord & Taylor gift card was to gather 5 business cards from those who attended. It was a win, win. The Young Executive Events have been created to help these women cultivate contacts and make connections with other CEW members at the same stage of their careers. For my five cards which ended up being seven I met Sales Operators Marissa and Ashley from Shesido, Amada who was aSenior Management Developer for L'Oreal, Carolina head of a cosmetic and marketing company, Laqueta from SoftSheen a division of L'Oreal, Michele from Brand Building communication and Danielle head of PR for Lord and Taylor. When I interviewed each of these interesting women I asked the same questions. How did you hear about this? How long have you been coming? And would you recommend this and why? All of these women answered the same. They heard from a friend who brought them, it was 2 years ago and they have all meet others who have mentored them and they have since mentored. What a credit, to stefanie schwalb and the other creators of CEW for promoting such community withi the cosmetic industry. When I left there was also a swag bag that was overflowing with products. CEW's next event is Friday, December 12th at the Waldorf Astoria. It is the 2008 BEAUTY OF GIVING LUNCHEON & LIVE AUCTION benefiting Cosmetic Executive Women Foundation and Honoring Estee lauder. This organization also has a charitable arm that supports Cancer and Careers, an independent initiative that provides an interactive resource and community for working women with any type of cancer. The Luncheon’s goal is to reflect CEW Foundation’s mission of supporting working women with cancer by recognizing the philanthropic achievements of CEW’s Cancer and Careers as well as those of the larger beauty industry and community. To learn more about this amazing group of women log onto www.cew.org.

Groups like this offer a way to see the light in troubling times. Even if you are not in the cosmetic industry take a look at this group so your industry can have the same kind of community. Through community we will thrive and that is a F.A.C.T.

A: Is For and Art Goes On!

Each month of the year in New York holds a certain air of excitement for the arts. February and September, Fashion Week, May into June, the theatre comes alive with a slew of new plays clambering for the coveted Tony Awards. Right now it is the art auctions held by Sotheby's, Christies and Philips De Pury. With the failing economy the air of excitement has turned anxiety and panic. While the fall season open to strong prices, this year added a high percentage of unsold works. Recession is real. Prices are off by 20 to 40 percent. Wednesday saw works from the Impressionist and modern period with strong examples by Russian artists. Hopefully that will garn interest. Sotheby's took in $223.8 million, which it called its fifth-highest Impressionist/modern sale ever. However, it fell short by over almost $200 million. Degas' "Dancer in Repose" sold for over $37 million, an all-time high for the artist, but below the $40 million estimate. Munch's "Vampire" set a new record for the Norwegian artist at $38.2 million. Malevich's "Suprematist Composition" fetched $60 million, the highest price at the auction Christie's kicks off its first auction of the season with paintings and sculptures by such masters as Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, Manet and Cezanne. Its combined presale estimate is $130 million. It also was off a little under half. The estimates were set during the summer, when financial markets were still strong. This week both houses will offer works of postwar and contemporary art.


Looking for something to do for the Thanksgiving Holidays? Here's an idea a Sunday Matinee on November 30th at 3:00 p.m. Award-winning singer/actress Vickie Phillips, shares her life through the songs of Brel, Weill and Aznavour. Vickie who has travel extensively captures the charm, the intimacy, the tragedy and the magic of her travels and she takes you with her. Take this journey with her! She reveal the strength, spirit, scope and passion of a Jewish heritage that redefines her destiny and fufills many of her deepest personal dreams. COVER/MUSIC CHARGE $12.00 and a 2-Drink Minimum at Don't Tell Mama Cabaret Theater 343 West 46th St. NYC Between 8th & 9th Ave. (Restaurant Row)

A critically acclaimed all-female classical theater ensemble opened Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at Urban Stages (259 W 30th St.). This production is a updated mix of “lip-synched musical numbers” and movement sequences with “top-notch Shakespeare.” Refreshing, wickedly funny and deeply entertaining, this is one production you will never fall asleep in. These women are so convincing and turn the tables on the all male version of shows. When they use camp it is because they are making fun of themselves. I especially loved Aysan Celik as Malvolio. Twelfth Night runs through Nov. 23.Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at www.SmartTix.com or by calling (212) 868-4444. For more info visit www.QueensCompany.org

Recession blues may be upon us but the arts will always go on and that is a F.A.C.T.

F: Is for Functional!

Do I have a cool new item for you. I have a wine that can be drunk anywhere, including no-glass zones like concerts, camping grounds and beaches. Volute Wine manufacturers have latched on to the single-serving wine bottle craze but, unlike their competitors, their bottles are made from 100%, eco-friendly, recyclable aluminum. The company chose to use aluminum not only because it brings qualities identical to glass, but it also protects the wine from light. Aluminum is also ecologically more responsible since it’s infinitely recyclable, unbreakable and generates less transportation related pollution due to its lower weight. They're 1/4 the volume of a 750mL standard wine bottle. Plus with aluminum they have a lower carbon footprint to glass and requires less weight/material per bottle than glass. The unbreakable quality of aluminum also makes it safer than glass for transport and storage. I am not sure about its insulation qualities as compared to glass, but the benefits seem to outweigh any negatives. The concept works, not just because of the packaging, but because this is good French wine at an excellent ($4 suggested retail) price.

Volute Wine comes in three flavors:

1) Volute Red Bordeaux - made from 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruity with just a hint of spice, a well balanced body and soft tannins.

2) Volute White Bordeaux - made from 85% Sauvignon and 15% Sémillon. Elegant and refreshing with hints of acacia flowers and citrus and the sweetness of ripe yellow fruit.

3) Volute Rosé Bordeaux - made from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. A tangy wine combining freshness with fruity, floral aromas.

So, there you have it...delicous, high-quality, French wine on-the-go! Available from selected stores or via its website: www.volutewine.com

Now this is not only a great idea for gift baskets but it saves the environment and saves your pocket and that is a F.A.C.T.