#stuffubuyatnite

What it is about the middle of the night that makes a normally prudent person reach for her purse? I woke up to Hoda and Kathie Lee ( I know, the stuff of nightmares) this morning at 2am. NBC provides a REM rerun of their Today Show morning slot. I don’t usually see them when they air at 9am and have never been tempted to purchase anything they peddle. Here, in the wee small hours of the morning, they got me 4 times in 15 minutes.

It started with the 25,000lb challenge, an initiative to encourage and log America’s new year weight loss. Guest expert Joy had lots of good ideas for low calorie alternatives to fattie faves: mashed potato mixed with skim milk, whipped butter and cauliflower. I’ll buy a brassica. 3 squares of Lindt sweet and salty dark chocolate for just 140 calories. Must get some of that. Mix a low fat greek yogurt with a low fat hot chocolate mix to satisfy a chocolate craving. I’ll add the Swiss Miss to the shopping list with some of those Yogurt lollipops Joy was touting–70 calories each. “Eat two” she said.I think I will.

Next was an interview with the creator of When My Baby Dreams, a mother who, instead of catching up on her own sleep when her baby conks out, instead runs around arranging cot blankets, cotton wool balls and other infant paraphenalia into fetching scenes. I know for sure that I would hate this book but somehow I found myself contemplating a bulk purchase.

When My Baby Dreams

It got worse. Somebody Morrison, a singer from the UK was the musical guest. I had never heard of him but now I want his third CD. Shame I can’t remember his name or find him on the Today Show’s site–not for want of looking.

I did better at tracking down the fashion items featured in the polka dot spot (hah!) which is just as well because guest expert Bobbie was cut off before she had time to explain where a buyer could source the spotty palazzo pants worn by the most mature model. Found them–phew. I’ll be visiting Mango at the weekend, and perhaps I’ll also pick up the blouse from Banana Republic. Completely dotty.

I now understand why other insomniac friends own entire libraries of bluegrass music, multiple tap lights and enough aah bras to bolster an all girls boarding school. Disrupted sleep makes one very vulnerable to on-screen salesmen. I’d better turn off the telly before I buy a stairmaster. Good night.