Help Me Decide

It's Prom Time...Help Me Decide

Yes, I know it seems early...it IS early...The Prom for Wellington High School is this weekend...something about being able to reserve a large enough venue and the availability...oh well...it is this weekend. Wellington will be crawling with Limos and the Salons will be packed with girls getting their hair and nails done as well as some facials, tanning, and waxing action.

That, however, is not what this post is about...this is far more serious.

It is about MY Prom..sort of...

The Palm Beach Post is calling for Prom Photos from the 70's.

I happen to have a few to choose from and need your input. It would be easy if I had to choose my favorite date, prom, experience....hands down, it is #1, however, I am not sure we look 70's dorky enough for the what the Palm Beach Post is looking for...although the powder baby blue tux qualifies.

I will label them... and you vote this weekend...please...

#1- May 1976

Crown Center Hotel Kansas City Missouri

Raytown High School

He was a Junior, I was a Sophomore

(My favorite date, boyfriend, etc. but leave that out of the decision)

#2 April 1977

Kansas City Missouri- It was his Prom for Blue Springs High School

Very Fun, but I knew I was moving to New Jersey in a few weeks and it was so hard to not allow myself get too attached to anyone...even though I really liked this guy.

I am thinking this is the most 70's dorky. Look at his ruffles and my dress looks like a 7-layer whipped cream cake. There is actually a story behind this dress.

#3 May 1978

Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

Governor Livingston High School

We were both seniors.
Very fun evening, we went with a large group of which all the boys had been good friends and were all on the Soccer Team together. My date's best friends' date had the SAME dress as mine. She was gracious enough to remove her jacket for the evening.

My date and I dated most of our Senior year up until this time. By the time Prom arrived, we both had our sights on others, yet stayed true to the commitment to attend Prom together. We had a great time and went to the Jersey Shore the next day with a group of friends to one of their parents' beach houses. After this Prom, we both dated other people, but have remained friends for many years. It was great to see him and his wife at our class reunion.

The Third Time Is A Charm....

If the 3rd time is a charm.... then today, I should feel very "charmed". For the 3rd time this year, I was quoted in the Palm Beach Post. Today's quote was regarding my prediction as to how the new Harry Potter #7ends. Yes, that is me, the elderly mom's voice, quoted with all the children in Palm Beach County..Click here and here for the other Palm Beach Post articles.

While in Orlando today, I got my Harry Potter Book. On the ride home, I started to read it to my family. I probably started reading when most of those who got their book at 12:01 completed the book. I enjoy the books, but I am not one of those who stand in line, stay up all night for the book release, read it all in 5 hours type of fans.


So far, it is exciting. Off to a great start....and already full of twists and turns. Happy Reading to all my fellow Harry Potter Reading Fans....

Harry Potter #7

Calling all Harry Potter Fans

The Palm Beach Post is having a contest in anticipation of the July 21 release of the new Harry Potter Book #7, 'Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows'.

Predict the how the book ends!! Readers are asked to submit their version of how they think Book #7 ends. The person(s) closest to the actual outcome win a prize and will be featured in an upcoming Palm Beach Post article regarding The Harry Potter Books.

Yes, I admit, I have read all the books and look forward to this one. I like the books better than the movies. I started reading them when there was controversy claiming they are evil and I wanted to be able to take an educated stand for or against them. I totally enjoyed them! I find them to have the basic literature themes of good vs bad, light vs dark, etc. I don't take them so seriously.

This subject (of Book #7's ending) has provided much discussion in several corners of my world.

How do you think it ends?

Want to enter the contest? For those who have never won anything... this could be your lucky break!Submit your summary in 150 words or less by June 8 to: rachel_sauer@pbpost.com or mail to: Harry Potter Contest, The Palm Beach Post, PO Box 24696, West Palm Beach, FL 33416.

My 15 Minutes of Fame

(Not the photo in the paper- just the "Lucky" Pink Sweater I wore.....)
Yesterday, March 25, I, yes me, Shauna Hostetler of Wellington, FL, was on the front page of the Sunday edition of The Palm Beach Post Newspaper. I was featured in an article about how Mitt Romney's Presidential bid affects the Mormon Community. All things considered, the article was positive. He used about 1 inth of what we discussed for over an hour.

I was very hesitant to do the interview, I did not want to appear as the "voice" for the LDS (Mormon) Community in my area. I was somewhat familiar with the reporter who did the story, which gave me confidence that he would slant the story in the direction he told me he was going (he did). Whew.

Before I consented to an interview, I told him my parameters:

• I did not in any way want to participate in an article that could be interpreted as my endorsement of a Political Candidate or Party


• I did not want to be the only Mormon person featured in the article


• I would not participate in an expose article on my religion or any other religion.

Those parameters were met and off we went. I did not know I would be the only person photographed and to top it off-- on the front page for a feature Sunday article. As you can imagine, my phone rang a lot yesterday and today every place I went the article was discussed. The Gym I exercise at has it posted up on the front bulletin board with a "way to go" note. (Please...)

I told the reporter that assuming Mitt automatically had my vote as a Mormon was like assuming that every woman would vote for Hillary and that every black person would vote for Obama.

I explained my Church's stance on Political neutrality and the counsel members receive to study the issues and candidates and then vote our conscience and that no candidate will receive an endorsement from Church Leaders

I also told him that I was not aware of the religion of any other candidate and that Americans could very well miss having the most qualified person in the White house if they cannot get past religion, race, or gender issues.

The only US Presidents I recall knowing their religion are JFK, a Catholic ( I was too young, but history tells me) and Jimmy Carter, a Baptist. We discussed a lot of the "dark age" concepts that people associate with Mormons and why. I told him the media does a fine job of still linking us to Polygamy when they broadcast every story about Warren Jeffs in front of the Salt Lake Mormon Temple, perpetuating confusion and causing people to not trust when I or any other member tell them-NO my religion does not practice polygamy.

I told him the one thing I would want people to know is that I am a Christian and that my life is centered around Jesus Christ and his teachings. I told him to look at the fruits of practicing Mormons and he would see Christianity at it's best. I am more concerned that people know this about me than that I don't practice polygamy.

The topics we discussed were extensive, yet very little was quoted or used. I won't fill any more space with what we covered. I am just soooooo happy the interview and the publication is In my rear view mirror!

I did not have to get in to the fact that I have known Mitt and his family for years. They are delightful people. He is brilliant at many levels. The issues and debates will prove to make the next year and a half very interesting or very long--depending on your perspective.