Category Archives: Fun

Mar16

Fun Ways To Wear Your Green

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Like many Americans, I have a wee bit o’ Irish blood flowing through my veins–on both sides. And I’m pretty proud of it too! Seeing as how everyone is Irish on St Patrick’s Day, I decided to make a list of a few alternatives to drinking green beer (which totally turns your teeth green, by the way…ewwww). 

Show your Irish pride…..

ON YOUR EARS 

My sparkly green peridot studs are from Ice.com

IN THE KITCHEN

Arguably, there’s nothing more Irish than potatoes! My choice for this year was some homemade potato soup…

WittyBizGal’s Irish Potato Soup

3 Large Potatoes, Skin On, Diced

1 Cup Chopped Onion

2 Cups Chicken Broth

3 Tbsp Butter or Margarine

3 Tbsp Flour

2 1/2 – 3 Cups Milk

1 Tbsp Parsley

1 Carrot, Chopped

1 Tsp Salt

3/4 Tsp Pepper

1 Cup Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese

In a small saucepan, combine melted butter and flour–stir well. Gradually add milk and parsley and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Set aside. In a larger saucepan, combine broth, potatoes, onion, carrot, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until potatoes and carrots can be pierced with a fork. Gradually add milk and flour mixture, stir, and cook until combined and smooth. Remove from heat and add cheese, stirring until melted and combined. 

WITH YOUR STEREO

ON YOUR NAILS

My festive hue is “Ivy League”, from Sally Hansen

WITH YOUR CLOTHES

My kelly green t-shirt is Faded Glory, from WalMart...St Paddy’s Day pins are ancient, but from Hallmark, years ago…

AT THE BAR

(Photo shamelessly lifted from the Buena Vista website)

I highly recommend that you try an authentic Irish Coffee–either at your local watering hole, or by making one yourself at home. When I lived in California, I had the opportunity to have one at the San Francisco bar where the Irish Coffee was born–The Buena Vista. It was amazing and, I daresay, is the real San Francisco Treat…:-) If it’s not made the way they make them at the Buena Vista, it’s not an Irish Coffee! Click here to visit the Buena Vista website to read the Irish Coffee Story & get their stellar recipe: I WANT TO MAKE AN AUTHENTIC IRISH COFFEE

Last but not least, Dear Readers….

May you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you’re dead…Happy St Patrick’s Day! 

Dec19

Pretentious Like Oprah; A Few Of My Favorite Things

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The Original Diva Who Told You All About Her Favorite Things

While there is always a lot to be annoyed with and stressed out over during the holiday season, there are those aspects of Christmastime/Holidaytime that I truly look forward to every year. And, if Oprah Winfrey can hold her head high and publish lists of things she simply cannot live without and simultaneously assert that you shouldn’t either, why can’t I? :-) So here is my list…be it ever so humble…

FESTIVE CHAMPAGNE ON ORDINARY DAYS

Around Thanksgiving, I start to crave champagne, so I drink it all month instead of whatever else I’d normally drink like wine, beer, and the occasional shot of my beloved Jack Daniels. Hey, I gotta support my home state of Tennessee! ;-) Champagne is festive…it tickles your nose…and it feels fancy. And Korbel Brut is, hands down, the best lower priced champagne substitute on the market. Because, as all the year round fancy people will tell you, it’s not really champagne unless it comes from Champagne, France. But, truth be told, I’ve tried Dom–once. And I wasn’t convinced that it was any better than this.

FUNNY CHRISTMAS MOVIES

You know the ones…those Holiday themed gems that make you laugh every time, no matter how many times you’ve watched them. A Christmas Story and Home Alone top my list….

SPECIAL HOLIDAY MAKEUP PALETTES

They always come out this time of year, just in time for wallet emptying. And they’re always too beautifully packaged and marketed to resist. This year, being a huge fan of Bare Minerals makeup, the Ready collection eyeshadow compact in “Playlist” got me. But, luckily, it was worth every penny!

MERRY TUNES

I think we all have a favorite holiday song that always makes us sing along…mine is Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

CHRISTMAS MOVIES THAT HELP YOU GO ON

When the season gets you down, like it does so many of us, these are the movies that you watch to get the inspiration to rock around the Christmas tree another day….

My two favorites are It’s a Wonderful Life and, of course, the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, that has been done by literally everybody….




AND…AN OLD FASHIONED GUMDROP TREE….

These are nearly impossible to find now (the good ones anyway), but I got one from Signals a few years ago. If you want to find this kind (chrome plated) just search Google with those terms “chrome plated gumdrop tree”. Retailers will fleece you for one nowadays, but I daresay it’ll be worth it. I looked around for the history of them, but couldn’t find it. If you can, please post a link in the comment section. I seem to remember that they gained popularity during WWII. Anyway, what a fun holiday decoration! You simply decorate them with a package of multicolored gumdrops, also known as “spice drops”, and you’ll have a really great, apparently highly unique Christmas decoration. Oh, you’d better buy a few packages of drops, because they tend to get emptied pretty fast. :-)

So, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Winter Solstice to all! Because, however you celebrate it…however you feel it in your heart, you ought to be able to say it and wish it to others without an eyeroll, or a citation from the PC Police, or offending anybody. And I’ll leave you with that thought this year–please let people wish you good cheer in the way that makes them feel good. Because at this time of year, of all times, we all really need to lose the militant, uptight ‘tude over what is correct and is or is not “offensive” and just try to be happy…

Until next time…

Jul30

5 FAR OUT THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT THE 70′S

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PET ROCKS

THE HUSTLE

 

VERY, VERY PRETTY BOYS


LOOKING BETTER IN THEIR PUKA SHELLS THAN WE DID IN OURS…

TRULY MINDLESS, FUN TELEVISION–BACK TO BACK EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT

THE ORIGINAL, JUMBO SIZED BONNE BELL LIP SMACKERS THAT THEY DON’T SELL ANYMORE


Jun16

My Life Flashed Before My Eyes…In Technicolor Barbie

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Like most girls growing up, I had a Barbie Doll…mine was the 70′s version, the blonde, tanned California Girl one. Of course, being dark haired and dark eyed and not from California, this did a number on my self image. But, I got over it…eventually.

These days Barbie has branched out, and recently I stumbled upon their Barbie Collector line…a fabulous assortment of pop culture and entertainment inspired dolls. And Holy Moly! My entire life, the t.v., movie, and musical part of it anyway, flashed before my eyes…

My mother was a big time Elvis fan…she and I would watch Elvis movies that ran on Saturday afternoon t.v. back when there were only 3 channels…

The Carol Burnett Show was a favorite of mine on Saturday nights…Nobody is funnier than her comedy team, and I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard at any comedy sketch as I did when I saw “Went With The Wind” for the first time…

Ahhh, the 80′s…the excess, the big hair, the catfights! On Dynasty, not in real life…well, I’ve always had big hair…

I did like to have fun! ;-)

This little gem of a movie led to leg warmers, off the shoulder t-shirts and a very unfortunate perm…

And present day…my favorite obsession! And the only real Victoria in my opinion…I’m still mad that they replaced her in Eclipse. :-(

To see the entire Barbie Collector pop culture collection, click here: Barbie Collector

Jun8

Best Friend, Or Narcissistic Leash Candy?

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I think she has my eyes, don’t you? Not to mention my long, pointy schnoz….

Every morning when I leave the house to take my youngest to school, I have about a two mile drive to the gate at 25 MPH, or thereabouts anyway. It’s really hard to drive 25. Anyway, every morning, since I’m going so slowly, I am treated to a show–Lookalikes On Parade. They travel in pairs, one is holding the leash, and the other is peeing on the grass. That’s right! I’m talking about people and their dogs. And it’s my personal observation, totally unscientific of course, that people who get dogs do tend to choose a pet that looks a lot like them. Not exactly, mind you, because how much alike can a canine and a human really look? A LOT, if you ask me!


If you think you look like your dog, there’s even a contest the two of you can enter: Do You Look Like Your Dog?

And, there’s science behind it too…

“Researchers at Bath Spa University in the U.K. asked 70 people who didn’t have dogs to match pictures of 41 canine keepers to one of three breeds of dogs: poodle, labrador or Staffordshire bull terrier. The guessers correctly matched dog breeds to owners 50 to 60 percent of the time…”

“In 2004, researchers in San Diego found that subjects in a study were able to correctly match pictures of dog owners with their pets more often than not, but only when the dogs were purebreds. Simple traits like hair and size played a smaller role than things like facial expressions”.

“Also in 2004, a psychologist at the University of South Carolina challenged the findings in a separate study, pointing out flaws in the study designs. When the San Diego researchers countered with a reanalysis that confirmed their initial findings, the debate seemed to be at a standstill”.

Some researchers seemed to conclude that if people do choose pets that look like them, it’s likely because of a preference for the familiar, and the comfort that brings. Either that, or people are likely to choose a companion that mirrors their own traits, physical and otherwise.

As the debate rages on…and we let the scientists duke it out, I think I’ll stick to what I know to be true–people do pick dogs that look like them! Just look around you for plenty of anecdotal evidence! In the meantime, whether you and your dog look like you were separated at birth or not, take a little time today to appreciate all of the joy that your best friend brings to your life…

The canines in my life…A Music Video

And please, if you’re in the market for a new addition to the family, consider adoption and rescue first! There are so many animals in need of good homes…Find One Here: Adopt A Pet

Jun6

While We’re Waiting for Romantic Dawn to Break in November…

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First Official Trailer For Breaking Dawn, Part 1

Honestly, I’d sort of forgotten all about Twilight lately…in the lag time before the Fall 2011 premiere of Breaking Dawn, Part 1, I’d moved on to other romantic obsessions, such as all the episodes of the 80′s campy drama, Beauty and the Beast, now available on streaming video at Netflix. And then, this morning, I saw it! The brand new, just released trailer for Breaking Dawn, Part 1…and it looks like it’s gonna be epic! If you’re an older than tween Twilight fan like me, you’ll probably agree that it just seems way too cruel to make us wait till Fall. So, I found a few Twilight related items on the web that can help us all get our Twi-Fix over the summer.

All of these are ubercool, and more or less age appropriate, Twilight related goodies. Click on any of the photos to view and purchase each item from a vendor’s website…

For the cerebral Twilight Fan, there’s this book, available from Amazon.com on the philosophy of Twilight…I can’t even imagine…But, it has a 4 out of 5 star rating, so it looks to be worth a read. Apparently this is part of a larger series on the philosophy of pop culture.

This silver toned Twilight Moms medallion from Infinite Jewelry Co. is cute…I’d wear it! Well, I’d wear it to the movie, then tucked under my shirt the rest of the year…lol

Summit Entertainment makes an entire line of Twilight inspired makeup, from lip glosses, to nail polishes, to these great little complete palettes. Each is named after a character in Twilight, and inspired by the character’s personal style….This one is the Team Jacob look, with rich, warm tones…

And for the Twi-Mom who likes to plan ahead, and lives within spitting distance of Utah, or comes equipped with the means to get there, here’s a fancy Breaking Dawn premiere event you can sign up for. It’s being held at the Hampton Inn in West Jordan, Utah, which is conveniently located behind the Cinemark Theater. This one even features a Renesme lookalike contest…that alone would be worth the price of admission, which is a bargain at only $35!

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If you live in a chilly, Forks-like climate, and want to be stylin’ when you’re headed out to the November Breaking Dawn, Part 1 premiere, my pal Sharmon Cate Hardin, Now You’re Covered, makes a truly gorgeous replica of Bella’s La Push knit hat from the original Twilight movie! She can do them in any color too, not just Bella Gray…my favorite was a beautiful claret red. Not to worry, any color will match perfectly with the disguise you’ll be wearing as you walk up to the box office…dark glasses, fake nose, and mustache…:-)

Here is Sharmon’s Rockin’ Red Version

This is the True to Twilight Gray Movie Hat

And just so you don’t lose track of time and miss the premiere, here’s a great wall clock that is about as understated as Twilight wall clocks can get….

Happy shopping! There’s no better way to pass the Twilight time….

May8

Name Your Pest…Then Throw A Party In Its Honor

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Two amorous specimens on the side of my house the other day…

For the past couple of weeks, I, along with the rest of my fellow Central Floridians, have been living with our yearly visitors—Love Bugs. They are so named because they stay…er…”coupled” for days at a time. They even fly around that way, walk around that way, and if you see a single one flying or walking around, it’s likely because he just hatched, or maybe he’s just doomed, like a lot of people, to be unlucky in love.

Love Bugs are more or less harmless, and kinda cute. That is, unless they are in a large swarm around your car on the interstate—literally to the point that they obscure vision and make driving dangerous. That happens quite a bit here in Florida, because the little critters are also attracted to car exhaust so they swarm around the major highways and byways. In droves, they tend to last about 3 weeks, then they mysteriously disappear. Although sometimes they do come back for round two sometime during the summer…

As you can see, the little darlings can make quite a mess…oh, and here’s a tip: if you don’t wash them off right away, their tiny corpses will eat your paint right off!

When I was growing up, I lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Our pest was the infamous Kudzu. This vine like plant was introduced from its native Asia, into the southeastern U.S. to be used as ground cover. HA! The joke was on us, because it proceeded to cover the ground—everywhere, and take over small cities, such as Chattanooga.

See what I mean?

We’re a hearty lot, however, with twisted, bawdy senses of humor for the most part, so Chattanoogans celebrated this pesty plant each year with the annual Kudzu Ball, held on the same night that Chattanooga’s social elite hold the Cotton Ball. It was a chance to display that tenacity that keeps all Southerners going through the best of times, and the worst of times…”If you can’t beat ‘em, make a party theme around them.” Oh, and the opportunity to mock our snooty “betters” is just a bonus…

Since I moved away from Chattanooga in my 20’s, I have lived all over…I mean ALL over. And you know what I noticed? Each region of the country, each city and townlet usually has some sort of unique pest to call their own.

For example, in Central and Northern California, you often get smelly and slimy, not to mention loud sea lion invasions….

Southern Oregon, specifically Klamath Falls, has these little guys—neon green Midges, which swarm around during the warmer months, much like our Love Bugs…

Wherever you live, you probably have your own special pest. It annoys you to no end when you live there, but you know what? If you really think hard about it, it (whatever it is) adds character to an area and you sorta miss it when you move away.

Wonder what my current neighbors would think of organizing a Love Bug Ball? Maybe with a Valentine’s Day tie in…hmmm….

Apr26

If You Need Me, I’ll Be On My Farm…

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I donned my detective costume for this writing assignment…

When I’m stressed, or overworked, or overwhelmed (one or more of these happens at least once a day), I escape to a little place known around these parts as L.M. Farm. There, after about 20 minutes of planting, harvesting, petting the animals, giving and receiving gifts with my neighbors, all is right with the world again. That’s because I am one of the estimated 75 million folks each month who love to play Farmville, which is now the top Zynga game on Facebook.

What makes Farmville so popular? Well, according to one article I pulled up this morning, people love Farmville because it is a tangled web of social obligations. This has to do with people looking for engagement with others, I guess, but at arm’s length and from the comfort of their own living room. It can, in some cases, become an added stressor rather than a stress reliever, if those self imposed obligations to give and receive, harvest and plow, become yet another chore on the overloaded to-do list. And, if you have a truly addictive personality, you can get into real trouble because Zynga offers “Farm Bucks” for a fee, if only you’ll click that button after you input your handy dandy credit card number. My advice? Don’t even go down that road. This is a free game, and when it ceases to be free, then it ceases to be fun.

What do I love MOST about my Farm? All the pretty colors!

Interestingly, typical Farmville players buck general gamer trends and are in fact NOT young and male, but 40-something women! According to Good Morning America, Zynga originally developed the game to appeal to teens, but they seem to be just about the only demographic that doesn’t play. I’ve noticed that some Facebook users have an especially virulent hatred of Farmville, hence the popularity of several Facebook Groups entitled “I don’t care about your Farm…”, which prompted a counter Group,  “I don’t care that you don’t care about my Farm”, and the counter counter group I saw today, “I don’t care that you don’t care, that I don’t care about your Farm”.

Yes, those ARE my initials, fashioned from pink and purple hay bales. Clever, no? ;-)

I posted the following question on my Facebook Wall:

ATTN: FARMVILLE PLAYERS! I just had a burst of brain activity which sometimes leads to a future Blog. ;-) But, I need your help…Tell me, briefly, and as a comment to this status line, Why Do You Play Farmville? Why do you like it more than other online games?

My dogs, Snickers and Scarlett, post treat!

Not surprisingly, most of my Friends didn’t answer (they’re probably members of one of those “I don’t care about your Farm” groups), but the two who did are the very two who I can always count on to provide me with nails and boards for whatever nutball project I’m “working hard on” for my Farm. Well, make that farm(s), as I’ve recently been suckered into adding yet another Farm in the English countryside…Oy Vey! These two Friends are also within the core demographic of typical Farmville users too—40-something, fabulous females whose Farms are many, many levels above mine…

So what did my Friends have to say about why they love Farmville?

I heard this from Farmer Ivy, who compiled a list of the Top Ten Reasons She Loves Farmville, a la Letterman:

  1. Requires no serious thought, relaxes brain.
  2. Makes me feel like I am really working while in my pj’s in my bed… Therefore I am not really lazy.
  3. I just have to stay ahead of {my friend} Claudia and can’t let up one minute.
  4. I think I am getting a six pack from all that plowing. Hum, well, I did buy one yesterday.
  5. Keeps my mind off of sex, men and inpure thoughts.
  6. Gives me a sense of self worth since Obama put us in the toilet.
  7. Keeps me from going to Walmart and the gas station.
  8. Cheaper than going to Walmart and especially the gas station.
  9. Since I don’t have grandchildren, the little pigs and sheep gives me a granny fix.
  10. Fantasy land…Although there are others I like more. :)

Farmer Kim said:

“Mindless entertainment, I guess. I prefer FV to other FB games because I can play as little or as much as I like. I don’t need to worry about falling behind like I do on some of the other games, but at the same time there is always something I can do on my farm if I have time to waste”.

To which she added a few minutes later….

“Actually, another burst of brain activity on my end tells me that I am horribly addicted to the silly game and I don’t think I actually even know why”.

And finally, a middle aged Male Farmer, who we’ll call Farmer X has said on multiple occasions…

“I love my Farm. I have everything just the way I want it. I wish I could live there…maybe when I retire.”

No kidding…Farmer X has IT ALL! An Enchanted Forest, a Family Cemetery, etc. See for yourself…

Thanks for your input, Farmers Ivy, Kim, and X—I’ll just say ditto. Keep sending those boards and nails! I’ve got an English sheep pen to finish…

Now it’s your turn. Do you love Farmville? Hate it? Love it, but need a 12 Step Program because of it? Comment below!