What a near impossible decision the judges on the Next Food Network Star had to make.  All three contestants in the bottom three have been inconsistent with a few moments of shining like a shooting star.

As a viewer, I have no idea how the final decision was made.  In my opinion, I think it came down to the camera challenges in which the two female contestants at least seem comfortable in front of the camera.  The eliminated male contestant typically turned off the charm when the camera was turned on.

However, I do not agree with this week's elimination.  Perhaps the coaching needed to help a contestant feel more comfortable in front of the camera is way beyond what the Next Food Network Star contest is about.  Helping the other two remaining contestants from the bottom three feel confident with their culinary perspective and worthiness will be much more difficult.  The next contestants to go will likely be one of the female contestants who dodged Sunday's bullet.

Savor life's best,

Aimee

Like most people these days, I filled multiple roles.  Sometimes, I fill multiple roles at one time like:

- Mother

- Daughter

- Sister

- Friend

- Employee

- Entrepreneur

- Client

- Social Networker

You get the point.

These days, when I am confronted with competing responsibilities or a situation where I am not immediately sure how to handle it, I take the modern day deep breath.  I separate myself from the situation either physically (e.g., moving away from the situation) or figuratively (e.g., becoming "invisible" so I can gather information or compose myself).

For example, if someone on a social networking site reaches out to you in a way that surprises you (this could include lots of positive or negative instances), I put it on ice until I can gather my thoughts to respond in the best possible way. Every now and then, I may remember to breath.  A deep breath might occur on that rare occasion.  Typically, I just take a modern day deep breath and get back to the person within a reasonably responsible and professional amount of time so I can fashion an appropriate response.

I have found some relationships strengthened and other relationships calmly reconfigured or severed.  I highly recommend it - that when the next pleasant surprise or unexpected disappointment occurs, take a Modern Day Deep Breath.

Savor life's best,

Aimee

It finally happened.  The contestant from the Next Food Network Star who struggled more with sharing herself and showing her personality than her food was eliminated this week.  What a shame!  Feedback on her food seemed fairly consistent.  However, she sat in the bottom three just the other week and her presentation during the Star Challenge seemed negative (definitely not something you'd want shared on a television show).

I believe the other two bottom contestants this week survived because they have had fabulous Camera Challenge presentations in the past.  In a way, they have redeeming quality regarding their ease in front of the camera.  My take is - Food Network could coach someone on how to be more comfortable in front of the camera.  However, they cannot coach someone on being themselves.

I liked the eliminated contestant.  Unfortunately, I do not know much about her.  That's why I titled this "If you don't know me by now".  We will not ever know her (unless she pops up somewhere else).

Savor life's best,

Aimee

Valuable lessons can be learned from mistakes.  I made a few mistakes when placing my content on websites that I did not have control over, like Ning groups and a blog provided through an association membership.  Also, I put an information line telephone number that I did not establish on my business cards.  The information line was disconnected before I finished passing out the supply of business cards. 

Now I am wiser and will only share the information from sources under my control.  Keeping the control, especially when providing information that is in the public domain must be a priority when you plan to engage in a long-term project.

Savor life's best,

Aimee

I am realizing that dancing is not for wimps.  Specifically, people sit back and criticize the celebrities on Dancing with the Stars and likely have no idea how tough those dances are.  Right now, I am working out to dance DVDs and taping television shows focused on dancing.  Working out, latin style is actually my favorite to do. 

Using a Dancing with the Stars - Latin Cardio DVD, I am starting to slim down.  What I like the best is swinging my hips and creating my own form of sassiness in the comfort of my home.  Learning Merengue, Cha Cha, Samba, and Mambo and using the inspired moves outside of my workouts are loads of fun.  It is tough though.

When the instructors give the slow-motion instruction, I generally am cool - I can follow and copy the moves.  The minute we go uptempo, my feet get twisted and I feel like cement is attached to my feet.  Then, I start to giggle.  I wonder what that looks like...

Regardless of what it looks like, I am having fun working out, latin style.  Some of my challenges include doing the box steps, that is making an invisible box on the floor with a certain dance step, and the spot turns, turning in place, which tend to make me dizzy.  Plus, those moves require a bit more coordination that I have available right now.  These challenges keep me coming back so I can truly be a dancer one day.  In the meantime, I am working out, latin style.

Savor life's best,

Aimee