Renee is the lucky blog babe this week - woo hoo, Renee! She guessed Ace, and we FINALLY had a blindside last night. Way to go, Sugar. Not sure keeping Crystal is a good idea, but since you can’t win anything in your diminished capacity anyway, best to keep as strong an alliance as possible going into the merge (next week) and that’s exactly what you did. And Dan, dude, learn to read a room, man. Sorry to see you go, over, say, Suze or Randy (omg, next week, I might have to mute the entire hour) but you dug your own grave.

Next week I have committments that are going to making blogging a challenge, but I will pop up when I can! We will have a contest giveaway, so tune in Monday to get all the details. And maybe a pic or two of the booksigning tomorrow (if I remember my camera!) Hope to see some blog babes there.

Happy Halloween, everyone - stay safe, and enjoy the chocolate buzz!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Well, pout. My DVR decided to record the wrong show (human error? What human error?) so I have to wait all the way until Top Design is repeated this Sunday before I can find new reasons to really dislike Eddie. Something tells me he won’t disappoint. But sorry to disappoint MAC lovers.

So….go back and check out Monday’s post and send in your votes/guesses for this week’s contest. You have until 8pm EST this evening to get your votes in. Winner announced tomorrow! Remember, if everyone guesses wrong, then everyone who guessed at all will be in the running.

Good luck!!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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A little Morning After Commentary on this week’s Dancing With the Injured–er Stars!

On Dance night, we had all different dances, ones we’ve seen before, but this time danced by those who hadn’t done them as yet. Aaaaand, they dance a group old school hip hop routine that brings this show to a new low. Which….Cloris and Master P. Need I say more? So we’re talking loooow.

7 couples left…who goes home this week? (And if you’re thinking Cloris, don’t be so sure.) Oh, and Lord of the Flies–er Rings–er Dance, Michael Flatley steps in for Len as a guest judge and is surprisingly low key and gracious. I don’t understand it, either.

Okay…

Pairs I liked:

In terms of both skill and entertainment, Lacey/Lance’s jive was the highlight of the evening for me. And, as it turned out, for the judges who scored them in first place, too. Isn’t it nice when we all play well together?

I also really enjoyed Julianne/Cody’s samba. Shut up, Bruno. It was intense music, and the powerful way in which they danced it was riveting. Loved it. Totally sucks about her surgery and, though I think Edyta is gorg and Cody is likely having quite the fantasies right about now, her Amazon leg length alone is going to make her look like she’s towering over him. His ability to “be da man” is going to be severely tested. I hope he sticks around until Julianne gets back.

Aaaand, here’s my unpopular pick of the night. Cloris/Corky. Things got ugly when Carrie Ann slammed Cloris for having the nerve to still be on the show when Toni is no longer there…..like, what, Cloris had her offed or something? Since when is who WE vote for Cloris’s fault? Now, I agree that the antics are getting old, yadda yadda. But she’s 82, working her ass off, and having the time of her life. She’s not going to win. And neither was Toni. So, frankly, I say, back off and let her have her fun until her time is up. Everyone has made it really far and when they go, they go. We’ll all get over it, trust me. And for her, it’s the best thing in the world. And it’s a freaking dance show. She’s not running for office. I think that between the cha cha and the hip hop routine (which, sorry, she came out in those tights, socks, and shorty jean shorts and I busted out laughing. So…sue me. Twice.) and Carrie Ann’s less than gracious live comments, I think she’s guaranteed another week. And I’m totally okay with that. Tired antics and all. She made me laugh out loud several times this week, Corky dialed it back a little…and she entertained me. She makes my top three. Despite the fact she can’t dance. Don’t care.

Teams in the middle:

Due to Brooke’s bum foot/ankle/whatever, Derek was forced to tone down the choreo and it showed. Still lovely and sexy, but the never moved from a two foot area of the dance floor. So she drops to the middle this week. I hope she can get back to her former level, with without being able to rest that particular injury, I think she’ll just be lucky if it doesn’t get any worse. Can’t see it healing.

It pains me, because I love him, but Warren/Kym’s rumba didn’t do it for me. I think he did well and totally got the groove of it, but….they’re sort of like a C grade for me this week.

Cheryl/Maurice’s Viennese Waltz was nicely done, but didn’t get me excited. They did well, just not keeping me engaged.

Bottom team:

Susan/Tony - yes, she did loosen up more, which is admirable, but she simply doesn’t have it in her to really cut loose. It’s just not who she is. At 62, she’s also been freaking amazing, but I think this is her week to go.

Sooo…..on to the results show. Did I peg it right? And who else made the bottom two, if Cloris doesn’t? Or does she?

Here we go….

So, the hip hop encore required slightly less brain bleach than last night, but mostly I’m glad it’s over. As, I am sure, is Susan Lucci. (Lance & Lacey rocked it, though.)

Pussy Cat Dolls and Missy Elliott as well as M Flatley perform. The former…wow, on a family show, too. The latter….went on and on and on, and maybe it’s just me, but I fast forwarded. Sorry, Mike.

Safe? Lance/Lacey, Cody/Edyta, Warren/Kym, Brooke/Derek, Cheryl/Maurice

Bottom Two? Susan/Tony & Cloris/Corky (see? Stop worrying Carrie Ann, she’s in the bottom, her time will come next week. And honestly, do we really need to see Susan dance again? Just sayin.)

Going home? On week six, heading out the door…Cloris/Corky. Somewhere, Carrie Ann is waving her arms in the air and woo-hooing. And the world is cheering. And yet, I’ll miss her. At least next week when I have to watch Susan. Twice. Think about it. Once she goes, I’m predicting next week, then this show rilly gets serious. Cloris actually makes a fairly dignified and sweet exit, along with being her wacky self…and remember, two Susan dances. Just sayin.

Tom says something about there being team dances next week, which I have no idea what he’s talking about, but it sounds interesting. As long as Susan does no hip hop, we’ll be okay.

Tune in tomorrow to see me smack Eddie around a bit more on Top Design, as I’m certain he’ll warrant the treatment. And don’t forget to enter this week’s contest. Anyone can guess…so do! See Monday’s post for the rules. See yesterday’s post for the latest booksigning info.

And? Well, DISH! I know you want to.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Booksigning alert!

When? This weekend, Saturday November 1st from 1 - 3 pm.
Where? Turn The Page Bookstore & Cafe in Boonsboro, MD

Would you love a drive through the gorgeous fall colors? A chance to wander a historic Civil War town? Check out the Antietam battlefields nearby? And, most importantly, have the best frozen custard you’ve ever tasted? Well, come join us!

Signing books this Saturday: Nora Roberts/JD Robb, Mary Kay McComas, Ruth Ryan Langan, Mary Blayney, Mary Burton, Michelle Monkou & columnist Tim Rowland. Oh, and ME!

If you can’t join us, click the link above (the bookstore name) and join our “virtual” signing. Choose your book by one of the participating authors and place your order. They’ll get it signed for you that day and ship it right to your door.

Here’s a peek from the last booksigning:

Turn The Page Anniversary Signing!

Clockwise, me, my pal, Leah Kmetz, Nora Roberts, and her son, Jason. I’ll try and remember my camera this weekend and share new pics with you all next week!

And while you’re cruising the web, check this out. We, the very happening Blog Babes, have made the Top 50 Chick Lit Blogs! Click here and see who else made the list!

Tune in tomorrow for all the Dance MAC you can stand…I’ll recap the performance and results show all in one. I’m still bleaching my eyes after the group hip hop performance and need another day to process that hot mess.

Also - don’t forget to chcck out and enter this week’s contest. See Monday’s post for all the details!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Awwww, and I liked them. Well, I knew as soon as Aja & Ty had to take the last plane out of New Z that Amazing Race was going to auf one of my fave couples. A double shame since they actually raced well with a great attitude this leg. Where is a non-elimination leg when you need one?? I thought their committment to each other at the end was sweet. You go, Aja & Ty!

Elsewhere, love em or hate em (and there’s plenty to go around still) we have a lot of teams racing really well, with no clear front runner. At least not ones who couldn’t falter at any moment. A few weaker teams, which I think we’ll be saying buh bye to shortly. (Although it’s gonna burn if the Frats come in last next week and get the non elimination. Rrr.) Next week: Ken finally snaps at Tina-who-will-be-obeyed-and-never-shut-up. You go, Ken. First on the mat this week was Team Sib, Starr and Nick. Just glad it wasn’t Ken/Tina for a change, who came in 4th. There were a bunch of lead changes this episode, plus Cambodia!, which made it more exciting. Good episode, good leg, even if the ending wasn’t fun.

Tonight? We dance!

But right now? We can win free stuff. To enter this week’s contest, we’re gonna play Who Goes Home. There are two players going home on Survivor this Thursday night, and you only have to get one right to be in the running. One from each tribe goes, so you can vote for one on each tribe to win. So….there loss? Your gain! Woo hoo!

Just email your votes to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Survivor Go Home” in the subject line. If no one gets any of them right, everyone who votes will be in the running. So…guess! Watch the show or not, it’s all you can really do anyway. Votes accepted until 8pm EST Thursday. Winner announced Friday.

Here is a list of the remaining players on each tribe:

Fang: Kenny, Matty, Crystal, Ace, Sugar
Kota: Susie, Dan, Bob, Marcus, Charlie, Corinne,Randy

Good luck!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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So, last night on Survivor, absolutely nothing interesting or new happened. Kota wins both challenges, Dan hogs the food, Randy is possibly the most miserable troll of a man I’ve ever laid eyes on and I can’t stand to eve look at him, Fang falls further apart, Sugar goes to exile, and Kelli, who can’t read a room to save her life…didn’t this time either, and goes home. Wow, this is possibly the least interesting season of all time. And Probst trying to stir things up isn’t helping. The elephant swimming was the highlight. A nature documentary would be far more interesting.

So, time to give away free stuff! All you had to do was email me this week, no guessing, no scavenger hunting. The winning Blog Babe is Nancy C! Woo hoo!!

Have a great weekend ~ See you Monday with another contest and some Amazing Race MAC!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Well, clearly the guys have it on Top Design. The five remaining designers had to design a room, any room, around an artistic, interesting Swarovski crystal chandelier. Everyone got a different piece - picked out by Eddie, who won the pop design. And, might I say, has gone from merely being a pretentious, egotistical, name-dropping ass to…well, fill in the blank with whatever word is worse than that.

He was particularly over the edge last night and has gone from someone I found amusing and fun in the first two episodes, to someone truly insecure and nasty. Wow. So, the smackdown he got for decorating his room last night was somewhat gratifying. Especially as he was using Martha stuff to decorate it. (In case you hadn’t heard, Eddie will be the first one to tell you all about his job at Martha Stewart Living.) So, doubly satisfying. Except, of course, he has decided he is so far above the judges that he’s not entirely certain why he must be subjected to their ridiculous opinions anyway.

Which leaves Nathan and Preston for me to love. And I enjoy them both, for entirely different reasons. Nathan I don’t so much love as simply find interesting. Just because he’s so talented and so out there, and an actually interesting acerbic person to listen to. I never know what he’s going to do, so I like having him on the show. But Preston I just adore. Period. I like his work, I like his work ethic, and I love how he hasn’t allowed the assiness of Eddie and Nathan excluding him from their little clique to get to him. He just goes about the work and gets it done. Oh yeah…and winning.

Now, on to the women. Ondine is trying, but her aesthetic is really wavery. You never really know what you’re going to get with her. And Andrea’s confidence is all over the place. In the end, Ondine was chosen as having the least put together room, but Andrea is the one who asks to go home. She is done. She cannot put herself through it any longer. She wants to have her family back. So….buh bye, Andrea. Reprieve Ondine! Who has to know she’s next, but that gets her to the final four. And she seems like a decent person. While I don’t so much get excited to see what she’ll come up with, it’s nice for Preston to have someone where who will actually talk to him and not treat him like he’s invisible.

Oh, and Preston won the challenge. That makes two in a row. Eddie.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Dancing With the Stars…had an unfortunately leather-clad, do-wopped do’d Brian Setzer singing Stray Cat Strut (would have rather seen him at his orchestra leading best) but it also had Louis! Louis and Karina danced like they were on fire. Literally.

The Macy’s 150th celebration left me a little unimpressed. Enjoyed the James Brown knock off, and the futuristic (if the future is, oh, now) was cool, but overall, it needed more Wade, or David Scott, or…somebody. But, good try.

That leaves the encore, which went to Julianne/Cody to the surprise of virtually no one, but a bottom two that did raise a few eyebrows. Cloris survives to clown again, but the surprise there is she wasn’t even in the bottom two. I predicted her and La Lucci, with Susan heading out. Well, Susan was in the Bottom Two…with Toni/Alec. And it was Toni (not Tony) taking leave this evening. So, a bit of a surprise there as I figured she had another few weeks, and wouldn’t go until after Susan and Cloris were gone, perhaps languishing a bit with possibly Lance and/or Maurice, depending. But my heart doesn’t need unbreaking, as, it’s agreed that she really hasn’t grown much. I just think she’s a better performer than Susan, so that part is a surprise. (Cloris staying will never be a surprise.)

So, next week Len is taking a break from judging and we get a special guest judge. And he’s definitely connected to the dance world, but I’d have never guessed, if I’d guessed all night. Yes, Lord of the Rings, Michael Flatley, will be the guest judge. Would you have guessed? I think not. So….that will be interesting. Wonder if they’ll put Carrie Ann between him and Bruno to keep a cat fight from exploding. Although…that could be entertaining. We’ll see!

We’ll also get to see Cloris do her madd hip hop skillz (and sadly, her impromptu hip hop moves, prodded by Sam, were about 1000 times better than Sam’s impromptu beat boxing. Which, don’t do that again, Sam. Ever. Cloris, on the other hand, wasn’t too shabby.)

Whatever the case, it won’t be boring. What did you think? Surprised? Shocked? Still trying to picture Flatley and Bruno together? DISH!

And don’t forget to enter this week’s contest. Details in Monday’s blog post. Good luck!

Tags: Uncategorized by Donna
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So, last night on Dancing With the Stars, we get four dances never done before on this show. The hustle, jitterbug, west coast swing, and salsa.

Salsa and swing are probably the closest cousins, with jitterbug close to the jive and the hustle needing to be outlawed permanently from every televised dance show until the end of time. Just sayin. And remember how they used to show a clip of two of the pros doing any new dance that came along, so we would know what to look for? What happened to that? It would have been tremendously helpful in this case. Uncle Len’s blathering didn’t explain anything. Show me.

And then, one dance in, and the judges slammed like they could hardly wait to slam Lacey for not featuring her partner more in their west coast swing. She was the only pro who had any knowledge of the dance she was teaching this week, but did they give her ANY kudos for having taught dances for the past four weeks that she didn’t know? No. Oh, the poor pros this week….having to teach what they didn’t know (which begs the question of why on earth are we doing this?) and we’re supposed to feel all sorry for them. But apparently Lacey gets no props for doing that every week. The one week where she knows what she’s doing, and SLAP. Granted, she did feature herself too much, but WCS is a bitch to learn and Lance, frankly, ain’t all that and a bag of ballroom, so I thought she did what MANY of her pro coworkers have done in the past, and do the “potted plant” choreo, where the pro plants the celeb, more or less, and dances circles around them. Happens ALL the time. And a few have been called out for it (Edyta, probably, most notably) but to give L/L the same score as Cloris and Corky? Seriously? Why have her be a pro on the show if it’s all about the hate? It felt like they couldn’t wait to slap at her. Whatever. I enjoyed the edgy music, and wish it had been a better routine, but I otherwise enjoyed it. A hell of a lot more than some of the others, that’s for sure. At least they bring it, and really sell it, unlike a few others. (See: Toni. Susan.)

It was such a buzz kill for what should have been a fun new night, and you could see the whole audience (who LIKED L/L’s dance, btw and cheered like mad) had gone totally dormant with such a big smackdown. Then Toni was meh and Susan just eh, so by the time Big Poppa hit the floor, we were ready for some F-U-N. I think the judges got that, too.

So, most fun dance of the night for me? Warren/Kym’s hustle, hands down. (Yes, the dance should be banned from competition, but dang he’s having fun out there. I grinned the whole time.) First one where my finger wasn’t twitching all over the fast forward button the whole time.

Best choreo (that she totally deserved props for and didn’t get) Cheryl/Maurice’s salsa. Fantastic job.

Definitely entertaining: Derek/Brooke and Julianne/Cody’s jitterbug. While Derek’s was a better routine, the fact that Julianne somehow managed to get the slender Cody to toss her and flip her all over the place like a guy twice his size, deserved major props as well.

Just okay but failing to really bring the joy: Toni/Alec’s West Coast Swing. (and yet, better scores than L/L….) Susan/Tony. He does handle her like a fragile doll, because she basically is. I can’t see her ever just cutting loose and letting her hair down, so to speak. Not her style. Cloris and Corky had fun, and I appreciate that she is working her 82 year old ass off. I do. For her own personal journey, this has to be such a highlight, and she’s really giving it all she has, to get what she can get out of it. For that alone, I’d send Susan home first. (Not that Susan isn’t trying, but she’s got other work to do…)

And, seriously, the skanky ho comment by Cloris? I rolled. Actually, it’s Corky who bugs the crap out of me with all the mugging and trying to clown with Cloris. Leave Cloris alone. She’s funny. Not so much with you.

Going home: probably Cloris. Who should go home? If it was me, Susan this week. Encore performance? Cheryl/Maurice, just because it was such a solid, well performed routine by both. But I’d be perfectly happy to see Kym and Big Poppa hustle again. Just no jitterbug repeats, twice with those two was fun, and enough, although you know that’s where we’re headed since they got the biggest scores. Derek’s hair deserves a score all to itself. It was pretty funny.

So, tonight we supposedly get the most complex dance routine ever attempted on this show to celebrate Macy’s big birthday. Mostly I’m looking forward to the Brian Setzer orchestra, who is the musical guest. And we’d better get a pro performance! We haven’t had our own pros doing much on results night and I miss that a lot.

Then, next week, the remaining couples have to do a solo dance, and a group dance. And the group dance? Old school hip hop. So….have we completely abandoned this as a ballroom dancing show now? It’s official? Of course, that said….I cannot WAIT to see Cloris do hip hop. Just sayin.

What did you think? Who’d ya love, who didn’t float your boat? Dish already!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Amazing Race. So, that? Totally fun leg. Except that a happy Ken & Tina are kind of nauseating. I am glad they have each other. Saves the rest of us, you know? Also, Terrence? Yuck. Seriously. “I need some love, play with my hair.” What guy says that??? “Waaaaaaait for me!” “I have to open the envelope, you suck at it.” Terence, regarding sucking and what you can–never mind. But…wow.
And Sarah just happily kind of goes along with it. Also - saves them from the rest of us.

Phil is clearly relishing explaining every leg, every challenge. He’s home! New Zealand is beautiful.

Everyone else - good times, nothing much new. But Maori warriors? Totally rock. Phil’s Dad at the amazing bathmat? Even more rocking. Team Divorce must get the most brutal pedicures known to man if those rocks didn’t even register on their feet while stomping kiwis. I loved that Star and Bro couldn’t figure out why their nemeses never showed up at the blokarts. But dude, she thought she broke her arm - why did you make her drive the car? At all? What the hell was up with that? Dallas and Mom also rock. Loved them this leg. Team Long Distance find the love despite the bickering. Ken and Tina taking the fast forward when they totally didn’t need to? Yeah. I hope that comes back to bite them later when the second one presents itself. Hope they don’t actually need it then. Okay, yes, I totally do.

Unfortuntately, in the end the Belles can’t muster the win. (Did you notice the Maori warrior totally kissed her instead of rubbing noses? HA!) BUT! They do get a hug from Phil’s totally hot to trot dad. Double HA!

Next week: Let’s hope a team I actually like finishes in first.

This week’s Free Stuff Contest is an easy one: email me at donna@donnakauffman.com with “I could use a free book” in the subject line. Winner chosen from all the entries and announced on Friday. Good luck!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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