Another year, another Video Music Awards ceremony. This is the one awards show I. Do. Not. Miss! Last night lived up to the hype and was one of the best VMAs in recent history. I had mixed feelings about a lack of host this year, but I think it made the show smoother. With the exception of a painful drawn-out segue by Kevin Hart, there was no schtick to pass the time. It was nice.

So let’s dive right into the good stuff. Lady Gaga, always full of surprises, opened the show with a beautiful rendition of “You and I.” Did I mention that she was dressed in drag and maintained the character of Jo Calderone for the WHOLE SHOW?! It was fabulous!

 Another highlight was Beyonce’s performance. Now Beyonce never disappoints, and last night was no different. After a spirited, jazzy rendition of “Love on Top” she opened her jacket and patted her baby bump. She revealed the pregnancy during the pre-show red carpet, but the performance was the BIG reveal. It was an amazing moment and I felt like jumping around and slapping Jay-Z on the back just like Kanye West.

I wasn’t thrilled with Chris Brown’s lip-synching medley, and wish that Lil Wayne’s closing number had also been lip-synched as he sounds horrible. Adele’s haunting “Someone Like You” had no extras frills, just Adele and her beautiful voice.

Britney, the reigning Queen of the VMAs won this year’s Video Vanguard Award. While Lady Gaga, ahem, Jo Calderone stole the spotlight during her acceptance speech, the tribute to Britney was adorable.

On a sadder note, the tribute to Amy Winehouse was poignant and beautiful. Russell Brand, who was there to support his wife’s million nominations, spoke about his friendship with the late Winehouse. Then Bruno Mars covered “Valerie” and did it great justice with his earnest, bouncy crooning. Bruno was the perfect choice as both he and Amy shared a love of old school soul, retro high hair, and…public drug use.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the hardest working performer of the night, Jessie J. Fronting the house band who stayed on stage and played all night, she didn’t let a little broken leg stop her from belting out her best from a white throne. Only Jessie J could make a bedazzled cast look like it was just a normal part of her crazy outfit.

The VMAs are to me what the Superbowl is to most people I know. I put it on my calendar, and count down the days with mounting excitement and give it my full attention every year. If you missed the show, there’s still time. MTV reruns it a million times!

I have always loved coconut. I love it shredded and baked into things. I sprinkle a little on my yogurt or oatmeal. I also love it raw, straight from the seed that I cracked myself. I especially love drinking the mildly sweet, cloudy water. So I am beyond thrilled with the coconut water trend! Sure, there is some controversy over the supposed health benefits and electrolyte replacement. But I’ll take coconut water any day over Gatorade, Powerade or any other sports drink.

Here are my favorite brands rights now.

Naked Juice. Love the brand, love the packaging, love the water. Getting a little more difficult to find in stores.

Blue Monkey is delicious and frequently on sale at Whole Foods.

Man, Amy and Brian Coconut Juice just tastes the best. I love it with or without pulp and those cans get icy cold in the fridge.

Happy drinking! What’s your favorite coconut water?

The most delightful thing I’ve done for myself lately is to sign up for Birch Box. Each month ten bucks is deducted from my bank account and then a week later a receive a box of goodies in my mailbox. The packaging is half the fun. I love seeing that  fabulous pink box among the usual bills and junk mail.

Inside the pink box is the glorious Birch Box!

Now to go inside. Each box contains four or five deluxe skin, hair or make-up samples, a description card, and sometimes a little something extra. I’ve tried fabulous perfumes, eye make-up and blushes, luxurious hair products, nail polish, soaps and serums. Cynthia Rowley designed a box that included a KIND Bar, which I gave to Mr. Betty because they are his fave. (And because I am KIND.)

I love this sampling program, and will post updates to Mad Betty as I receive my new boxes. For now, enjoy some photos of past Birch Boxes.

I’m not especially into reality competition shows. I don’t watch any television where people sing or dance or survive or race amazingly across the globe. The exception, my love, is Project Runway. Yes, my heart belongs to Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, Heidi Klum, and Tim Gunn.

Season Nine has barely begun and I’m already addicted. The challenges have been difficult and creative. Design a couture gown out of the pajamas you’re wearing? Yes, please. Make something glamorous out of pet store supplies? Oh, HELL yes! For the record, I’d wear that bird seed dress on the red carpet.

Last episode the designers were paired up to create looks for stilt walkers. Think costumey with very long pants. The runway was my least favorite of all time, with the models lurching awkwardly in the clothes, arms flailing about for balance. Who could look at the clothes when one of the giant mutants might fall, crushing and killing celebrity judge Kim Kardashian? No, no, no. Let’s get back to the normal models next week, people.

Some early picks:

Most Annoying: Laura Kathleen

Most fascinating: Anya Ayoung-Chee

One to Watch: Danielle Everine

Aufedersein!

Which shark is the most terrifying? Most people would say the great white shark. Great whites are the sexiest sharks, propelling out of the water into the air, massive jaws clenching down on a seal, surf board or…your mom. They instill the kind of fear you can’t look away from, which is why people love Jaws or in my case, Shark Week.

But I think the bull shark is the scariest. While they live in the ocean, they are happy to adapt and swim in fresh water to come and kill you. They’ve lurked in the Mississippi, attacked both Jersey Shore and Ganges swimmers, and been spotted in Indiana. If there was ever a shark that would get out of the ocean and wait in your pool, it would be a bull shark. I think I saw one at brunch the other day. Great, now they are on land.

I love all sharks and love being afraid of them. I did a cage dive off the North Shore and was quickly surrounded by many Galapagos sharks, which was exhilarating and terrifying. They aren’t the formidable size of the great whites or bulls at a mere 12 to 14 feet. But they are aggressive, curious about humans, and travel in large numbers. As twenty or so sharks furiously circled and occasionally brushed against me, I hyperventilated into my tube and could not believe my luck. I can’t wait to do it again.

I totally swam with this guy.

Right now there is no hotter place than Austin, Texas. Every time I step outside my clothes feel thicker and heavier than they did indoors. My eye makeup quickly takes leave and drips beneath my sunglasses. My hair simulanteously frizzes up and falls flat, a most flattering combination, I assure you. I’d had several recent appointments when I’ve had to wear a suit…pure hell!

I look forward to summer’s end so that I may wear scarves and jeans. And won’t need to put on sunscreen to go to the grocery store. Dreaming of cooler days…