Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Trends, June 19, 2000

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, June 19, 2000 | 9:06 a.m.

Lip service

Have you been drinking milk? The folks behind the celebrity-laden Milk Moustache campaign might know whether or not you have.

The group recently conducted the Milk Moustache Celebrity Census, asking 1,500 people in 15 cities about the ad campaign. Surprise -- nearly three out of four people surveyed reported they "love or like" the ads that have stars sporting their upper lips coated in the white stuff.

Another shocker: Eighty-five percent said they'd like to star in their own Milk Moustache ad. Thanks to a new contest, they may get their chance.

Through the end of June (it's Dairy Month, in case you hadn't heard) 200 million gallon jugs of milk will feature "Fame Game" caps that serve as game pieces with "peel-and-win" stickers of celebrity photos or words.

The grand-prize winner, who collects the three-cap combo of teen songstress Britney Spears' mug and the words "milk" and "moustache," will land his own ad and will spend a year "living the life of a Milk Moustache celebrity." That life includes trips to the World Series, Super Bowl, college basketball's Final Four tournament, visits to the star-studded havens of Hollywood and Aspen, Colo., and a "milkshake date" with a celebrity from the ad campaign.

For more information about the contest, call (800) WHY-MILK or visit www.whymilk.com.

Dining out

There's something about summertime that drives people to eat their meals outside -- on patios, under canopies, around barbecue pits.

Include picnics on that list. But there's more to look forward to when dining under the sky than soggy sandwiches, warm soda and the constant fear that the potato salad will spoil in the heat.

Check out www.greatentertaining.com. The website serves up ideas for creating perfect picnics, including creating themes for your outings.

Host afternoon tea in the grass: Bring a thermos full of hot tea and stuff a picnic basket full of scones, finger sandwiches and cookies. In the mood for Italian food? Make an impromptu antipasto by packing olives, marinated vegetables, fresh mozzarella and breadsticks.

For a bit of elegance, host an "opera in the park" picnic, dining on such luxurious goodies as caviar, lobster salad and smoked salmon topped off with a glass of champagne.

A star is born?

Speaking of music, who, as a child, didn't get a kick out of singing "Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener"?

Well, that was a long time ago. And the days of the original silly jingle are numbered. The company is searching for youngsters, ages 4 to 10, to sing their own version of a new jingle alongside Grammy-winning singer Monica. The catch: The melody of the original jingle must be used and begin with the famous refrain.

Send an official entry form (available at www.oscarmayer.com, along with the complete rules) and a VHS videotape of the child singing the song (the recorded portion of the tape should not exceed three minutes) by Sept. 11 to: Oscar Mayer Jingle Jam Entries, 1548 Front St., Blair, NE 68008.