Well, Fat Tuesday’s officially over. And today, millions of people around the world are giving up something near and dear to them for the 40-day observation of Lent.

Us? We observe Lent Lite™: giving up something difficult every day for a 24-hour period. Coming up with 40 vices is a lot of work, but we somehow we end up with leftovers every year.

So this got us to thinking about another kind of lent, as in all those things we’ve let our friends borrow over the years to never see again.

Now you can keep everything in your world organized in one handy app, iLend.

Whether it’s cash, your favorite G-string or a priceless, irreplaceable family heirloom that just happens to fit perfectly into your friend’s elaborate birthday party theme, this handy little tool helps ensure the safe return of the objects of your temporary generosity.

Take a picture of the item, tag it to someone in your contact list (or create a new one), and categorize it quickly. It’ll remind you when it’s time to get the item back, making it easy to send a text message or email request.

No more…

“I wonder who has my crab brush.”

“Which stripper did I pay $500 to bail out of jail?”

“Damn, if only I had The Complete History of the Sequin DVD box set back for movie night.”

Now, you’ll always know who’s got what. And if they don’t bring it back, then you’ve already got Exhibit A when you sue them in the court of the wise and honorable Judge Judy.

Judgment for the plaintiff!

$1.99 for iPhone or iPad
itunes.apple.com

We always say, everything’s better with bacon. And ranch dressing.

But when it comes to bullying, time and patience are the all-powerful ingredients. That’s one of the main messages of encouragement that launched the whole “It Gets Better” campaign, founded by Dan Savage and his partner, Terry Miller (above), designed to keep young people from harming themselves because of bullies.

Taking the series of online videos a step further, tonight’s It Gets Better special delves more deeply into the lives of three young LGBT people who are facing some of the most challenging moments of their journey. The trio of tales includes a lesbian fighting to get parental acceptance; a transgender man about to get married; and a young man struggling to come out to his friends and family.

In between these stories are messages of support from some big stars. Adam Levine, Margaret Cho, Chaz Bono, Sia, Jake Shears, and Zachary Quinto have all filmed “It Gets Better” videos, which is great, because too often in this country it takes the endorsement of a celebrity to sway the public.

But we love them for their support, especially if it impacts the lives of LGBT people— young and old—who are struggling with acceptance in this often-cruel world. We probably each have stories of bullying that could’ve ended with disastrous consequences, yet somehow we found the strength and courage to push forward, knowing that we were better, smarter and more resilient than our tormentors ever dreamed.

In fact, being picked last for every team, getting called “fag” every single day of our public-school lives and being told by the church that there was a “cure” for our affliction, all make our current successes and accomplishments only that much sweeter.

We’re out, extremely proud, and so glad we never did anything that would’ve shown the bullies that they had won. After all, there’s a lot of bacon out there that we haven’t tasted, and a lot of things we’ve never dipped in ranch dressing.

Take that as literally or metaphorically as you like.

“It Gets Better”
Premieres tonight on MTV and LOGO
11:00 p.m. ET/PT
www.mtv.com
www.logotv.com

Next to another of our favorite fundraisers, A Toast to Toast: Raising Awareness of Bread under the Broiler, we have to say that Toast to Life is high on our list of charity events.

Now in its 14^th year, Toast to Life Gala benefits the HIV/AIDS programs and services of Resource Center Dallas, having raised more than $2.4 million since it began.

That’s spectacular, because we love a good cause. And we also loooove an open bar. (Or as their event description puts it, “free-flowing wines and spirits.”) Hmmm, free-flowing: one of the most beautiful hyphenated words in the English language, right up there with first-class, all-nude and Pulitzer-Prize-winning. (Why we continue to be snubbed, we’ll never know.)

The gala event is this Saturday at the fabulous Fashion Industry Gallery (F.I.G.) and a few general admission and VIP tickets are still available. Plus, you can even pre-purchase raffle tickets online.

So get ready to enjoy some gourmet food, delicious drinks and an evening of silent and luxury auction action, with all proceeds benefiting the continued great work of Resource Center Dallas.

As for the cash in your wallet, please make sure it’s free-flowing, as well.

$100 General Admission, $150 VIP
Toast to Life Gala
Saturday, February 25, 2012
7:15 – 8:00 p.m. VIP and sponsor reception
8:00 – 11:00 p.m. Gala
F.I.G.- Fashion Industry Gallery
1807 Ross Avenue, Dallas
(Complimentary valet parking on Akard St)
www.toasttolife.org

Photo Credit: Toast to Life website

What is it about a cold, rainy night that makes us want to light a few candles, throw on our Wonder Woman Snuggie, and curl up on the bearskin rug in front of a fire? Throw in a little lightning, thunder and a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and we’re in a delighted state of self-induced melancholy.

The only key element missing is the soundtrack for our moody blues. We don’t want anything too upbeat or gay dance-clubby, either. But we also don’t want something so depressing that we end up sobbing into our wine.

Well, we think we’ve found the ideal songstress to bring us to the proper level of mellow. Her name is Lana Del Ray and her latest CD, Born to Die, is filled with hauntingly beautiful tracks, each featuring sultry orchestrations accompanying her deep, husky voice.

And even if you’re not into our whole woe-is-us routine, we think you’ll agree that this is one CD that truly sets the scene for relaxation, deep thought and introspection.

Plus, it’s got a great song titled Diet Mountain Dew. How deep is that?

$7.99 download, $11.99 Deluxe Edition download (with extra tracks) on iTunes
www.lanadelrey.com

It’s been years since we last cared anything about The Apprentice franchise, but leave it to Donald Trump’s team to assemble a cast that’s going to infuse the aging show with some much-needed bizarreness with its biggest star cast to date.

Where else but our worst nightmares would Arsenio Hall, Cheryl Tiegs, Dee Snider, Lou Ferrigno, Teresa Giudice, Debbie Gibson and Victoria Gotti all make appearances? Well, besides Dancing with the Stars, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew, Surreal Life, Celebrity Ghost Stories, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Celebrity Fit Club, or a reincarnation of The Love Boat.

But we’re most excited about the gay factor this season in the dynamic duo of Clay Aiken (above) and Star Trek’s George Takei. Both are such sweet guys on the outside, but ready to do whatever it takes to win $250,000 for his charity. Especially that wily Aiken. Who knew he could be so butch when the stakes are so high?!

Gay fave Lisa Lampanelli is the one to watch for unexpected, hilarious and dirty, dirty, dirty outbursts.

The premiere episode has the C- and D-listers selling sandwiches for their challenge. Sounds pretty dull, but when egos like these get involved, it stacks up to pretty entertaining television.

Plus, if Clay is named Celebrity Apprentice, it’ll be a victory for nerdy ginger gays everywhere. And then the conservative right-wingers will be the ones having nightmares.

Premieres Sunday at 9:00/8:00 p.m. Central
www.nbc.com

There’s a new product on the market that we find utterly hilarious, but mostly because of its marketing. It’s nail polish for men that, according to their campaign, will help you score chicks, man.

That’s how Alpha Nail is pitching this product to dudely dudes everywhere. (Even celebrities like fighter Roger Huerta, above.)

Sure, we totally understand that athletes and rocker types can get away with long hair, eye liner and nail polish, but we doubt if the Docker-wearing accountants of the world would ever dare color their cuticles.

That said, as gay men we can totally get behind this product for the occasional black-tie event, dramatic entrance to any Spring Break pool party, or trip to The Home Depot to pick up lumber and caulk.

Because nothing says, “Hellooooo, bitches!” like a set of painted toes in pink flip-flops.

The colors, at least, are definitely from a masculine palette (which is relative in the world of men’s polish.) Think steel gray, black and nuclear green, with matte and metallic options, depending on how flashy you wanna be.

The applicators are really cool, too. No bottle and brush. Instead, they’re like those paint pens we used to practice our bubbly sorority lettering with, carefully dotting each “i” with a heart.

Just use with caution. If there really is truth in advertising, you could end up fighting off hoards of horny women just for painting your pinkies platinum.

Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

$9.95 per polish pen
www.alphanail.com

So, you’re stuck in Dallas for Mardi Gras weekend. That’s probably for the best because we all know what happens when you go to New Orleans. You end up picking up a stranger named Carlos from the Corner Pocket because he “wanted to see the inside of a fancy hotel room.”

Oh wait, that’s what happens when we go to New Orleans. But we’re sure you’re much, much more sinful.

But if you’re up for flashing your goods for a few plastic beads from China, here are our picks for the best local places to accessorize. Just keep in mind, the Dallas Police may not understand your well-thought-out justification for public indecency.

Gay Bingo Dallas
Put on your favorite mask (you know you have one) and head to the Rose Room for a chance to win cold, hard cash in this month’s Mardi Gras-themed Gay Bingo.

Saturday, doors open at 5:00 p.m., games start at 6:00 p.m.
Tickets $25 (includes all games)
VIP Pass add $15 (includes meet-and-greet with hosts, private bar and hors d’oeuvres)
Rose Room
3911 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas
www.rcdallas.org/gaybingo

7^th Annual Carnivale
Bar-hop between JR’s, Sue Ellen’s, S4 (pictured above), TMC and the Rose Room as each venue brings on the Mardi party. Acrobats, psychics and Crusin’ the Crossroads prices (hooray!).

Saturday, 9:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.
All Caven Bars
3900 Block of Cedar Springs Road, Dallas
www.caven.com

Mardi Gras Cowboy-Style
Hit the Round-up Saloon for three days of nights of Big Easys (and ones with swimmer’s builds, too). On Fat Tuesday, show up to suck some heads at the crawfish boil.

Friday – Sunday, and Tuesday
Round-up Saloon
3912 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas
www.roundupsaloon.com

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Similarly, give a gay a handmade decorative box and he’ll fill it with treasures. Teach a gay to use a glue gun and get ready for a lifetime of bedazzling.

Somewhere that last quote is embroidered on a pillow, perched proudly on some queen’s sofa.

It’s also pretty much the mantra of fabulously gay fashion designer, Mark Montano, who’s made quite a good living hosting TV shows and writing how-to books.

As if it weren’t enough to create his own publishing empire with The Big-Ass Book of Home Deco; our favorite page-turner, Window Treatments & Slipcovers for Dummies (we say NO to slipcovers for smart people, too); and, the wildly popular tome, The Big-Ass Book of Crafts, he’s come out with a sequel.

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2 is out with 150 new projects. Some are really cool, like book-page lined envelopes and earthy woven-cardboard vases.

Then there are bizarre things like creepy doll-head nightlights and backpacks made out of old pillowcases.

But regardless of your opinion on each and every item, the message is clear. Art can be found in the everyday and armed with a few crafting essentials, any gay can become an artist.

And a really cheap gift-giver.

Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2
$12.81 at amazon.com
(View the entire Amazon.com collection of Mark Montano books here)
www.markmontano.com

Photograph by Auxy Espinoza

Repenting is for quitters. We’re firm believers of anything and everything in moderation. Especially the seven deadly sins, which we simply refer to as “seven fun things to do on a Tuesday.”

After all…

Without gluttony, Golden Corral would be out of business.

Without lust, Grindr would simply be something we put our coffee beans into.

And without pride, there would be no Gay Deadly Sin #3 Parade every June.

Of course, there’s also wrath, sloth, greed and envy to throw into the mix. We’re pretty partial to most of those on occasion, too.

So why hide those feelings?

We’re all sinners, but most of all, as a species we’re often very, very thirsty. That’s why we love these 7 Deadly Sins 14-ounce glasses. (Also available in shot size.)

Each features a mischievous little devil acting out his favorite sin, etched right into the glassware. Not only are they fun conversation starters, they make it easy to keep track of which drink is yours.

Just be happy with the glass you’re given. Nobody likes an envious drunk.

$72, set of seven glasses
$45, set of seven shotglasses
www.uncommongoods.com

Way back in the early 1800s when the gay part of Dallas was just beginning to take shape, an old gypsy rolled into the hood and placed a curse on a particular spot of land after being jilted by a queen who only had eyes for her hot gypsy brother.

Ever since, restaurants have opened on this doomed piece of property, coming and going faster than a merry-go-round in overdrive. Italian. Mexican. Drag-queen servers. Nothing survives for long.

But there’s a new restaurant in this space that’s poised to break the curse because it has one really powerful thing going for it that few of its predecessors had and something that no haggard gypsy can change – incredible food.

If you haven’t been yet, we’re talking about the newest eatery in the gayborhood, Thairrific. And it’s every bit as delicious as its name suggests.

Featuring a variety of dishes that are more unusual than what you’ll find on many area Thai menus, they’ve found the perfect balance of exotic and safe. There’s truly something for every palate, whether you like it one-star mild or five-star spicy.

Every dish we’ve tried has been superb, from rice and noodle dishes to delectable curries and savory stir frys.

At lunch, they’ve got a great deal for ten bucks, too. You get your choice of appetizer (soup, salad or spring roll), an entree with your favorite protein, rice and a beverage.

Best of all, they’re also BYOB (beer and wine only).

The food at Thairrific is so good, we’re hoping everyone reading this will give it a try because together we can put an end to evil curses once and for all.

Thairiffic
4000 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas
(facing Throckmorton behind the old Macho Nacho)
(972) 241-2412
www.thaidallas.com

Open until 4:00 a.m. Fridays & Saturdays
Special 6-course Valentine’s Day tasting menu tonight, $45 per person