My mother, Maxine, grew up during the depression of the early 20th century. A large family with more than 10 mouths to feed, they started out in Wyoming and moved to the city of Tacoma for work; during which time she shoulder much as a young child and endured the kind of hardship only poor people understood. While they had less distance to fall – it was still hard. Many times during my youth I would hear her, or my step father, mention it in passing. They never dramatized or dwelled on it – which is why I concluded they experienced it in the most punishing of ways.

This delightful online series “Cooking with Clara” features a 91 year-old woman who experienced the depression of the 1930′s and persevered. Perhaps there is something to be learned from her generation. Stoicism, humility, gratitude, creativity, patience, appreciation, fortitude, and character are words that come to mind.

For more about Clara, visit her site: Great Depression Cooking with Clara.

Japan has already got the world hooked on sushi, tamigotchis and karaoke and now Brits are set to be wowed with the latest craze – Human Vending Machines – being brought to the UK by Kit Kat®.

Surreal experience - purchasing a candy bar from a vending machine containing a person.

The innovative vending machine is part of the latest Kit Kat® ‘Working Like a Machine’ campaign, which plays off the idea that people are overwhelmed with the monotony of everyday life and so need to take a break. Consumers better just hope the ‘vendor’ isn’t having his very own break should they need a chocolate break of their own.

MORE INFO – Kit Kat

Just a little something to remind myself of what is hip.