A list of my favorite podcasts that work as a distraction from the woes, generally thanks to great storytelling, fascinating topics, astonishing research and -- sometimes -- smooth-jazz, tickle-your-ear voices. C'mon, get happy! Let these podcasts chase all your cares away.

Here's a how-to list that I hope will make it a little easier for you to get your Milli Vanilli on. 

My slow cooker allows me to get all of the goodness out of home cooking with none of the stress of cooking at the end of full day. I'm a year-round slow cooker advocate, but these are some stick-to-your-rib recipes I like to pull out for the winter months.

Fall is an ideal time to prepare comfort food, the fatty, buttery, bacony dishes our moms made that now occupy the menu of every hip restaurant in the country. While I champion taking your time with this Comfort Food dinner party, I also offers ways you can shave a little time off the top. I'm not responsible for what happens to your waist.

Yes, I said it. The Potatoskinadilla is the best appetizer you will ever eat. Bold words, I know. But I swear to you, after you eat the cheesy, bacony, crisp tortilla-y goodness of a Potatoskinadilla, all other appetizers will pale in comparison.

Last month, I asked for your help to raise votes and assist my son in winning a video contest. The contest, put together by the Intellectual Property Owners Educational Foundation, asked young filmmakers to create short films about getting a patent. Well, thanks to your help, he won!

My son, Simon Lundquist, recently entered a video contest for the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation and became a finalist. He needs votes to win. So I'm taking today's blog post to ask you to please go to the following site - http://www.ipvideocontest.com/?page_id=345 - and vote for him in the 13-15 category.