Toe Tappin' Tuesdays...

Get your groove on and join me...

A Cause for Independence...

What did you do for Independence Day??

I totally love the idea of hugely ginormous firework displays. They're Most Impressive.
However... what I don't love are the crowds, the noise and all the terrible smelling smoke involved.

So, what we choose to do instead: spend a quiet evening at home assembling care packages for our Military Men and Women who are stationed overseas. We've been doing it for years now and is something of a tradition at our house. It really helps to bring special meaning to this holiday for our family. And is just a small way for us to thank those folks who are ultimately responsible for our way of life. The sacrifices they make are great, the recognition they receive is little.

I encourage you to visit the AnySoldier.Com website and think about sending a card, a letter or a package to someone special serving in our military. Help to let them know how much they are appreciated, supported and loved.

It's a truly awesome thing to do... anytime of year.

Toe Tappin' Tuesdays... Let's Skate!

I'm not exactly sure why... I can't seem to put my finger exactly on the reason -but this song SO totally reminds me of the music they used to play at the roller rink when I was a kid. We're talkin' Waaaaaayyyyy back. Like circa era 1979-1982.
Hmmm. Is it just me? Or do you pick up that vibe too??
I couldn't pick which clip I liked better for this tune...So here's two equally cool versions of Electric Feel by MGMT.Above: The Rock-Fire Explosion Below: A cool take on the lyrics

S'mores Brownies... Seriously!

Whoa!

Let's just start by saying:
I cannot even begin to describe the heavenly scent
that is saturating and enveloping the house right about now.
Oh. Good. Lord. Have Mercy.

I discovered this delectable debauchery over at Joy the Baker and whipped up a batch this morning. And since my camera lens is on the fritz (again!) I'm borrowing one of her tantalizing photos... be sure to check out her wonderful blog - complete with step by step documentation :) These goodies look and smell Ahhhhmazing. Simple to make and sure to be a total crowd pleaser for our 4th of July block party tomorrow night. Of course, I'm more than a little nervous to cut into them and am keeping my fingers crossed that they'll make it that long!

S’mores Brownies

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
5 large eggs
1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup graham cracker, roughly crushed with your hands
12 big marshmallows (I also diced 6 additional marshmallows and stirred them into the batter. These marshmallows dissolve when baked, so you can leave them out, or throw them in. Up to you!)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9×13-inch baking pan with 2-inch-high sides.

Combine first 3 ingredients in small bowl. Stir butter and chocolate in a medium sized bowl over a heavy saucepan of simmering water. Stir chocolate and butter in this double boiler until melted and smooth.

Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Stir in warm chocolate mixture, then dry ingredients. Fold in graham crackers. Pour batter into prepared pan. Dot with 12 large marshmallows. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 30- 40 minutes minutes.

Marshmallows will be browned and puffy but will deflate as the brownies cool. Cool for at least 20 minutes than slice with a sharp knife, cleaning the knife with hot water if it gets too messy and sticky. Serve or wrap individually in wax paper for storing.

Enjoy! I know we will :)

Please, Allow Me to Introduce You...

O.M.G.

Have you ever seen anything so Stinkin' CeUte?

No? Not Ever?
I didn't think so.

Well... now you have.

So, all you need to complete your day is to check out the truly adorable Socktopus page and all the super swell sockorama kits they have available. Of course, you just can't beat the Deluxe Socktopus. Withoutta a doubt, hands down, and by far the spiffiest damn plush I've seen all year!

Totally stellar kits can be had for under 25$.

Whatta Steal.

What Exactly Are You Getting At??

Hmmmm.... I'm curious.
Is it just me??

Or does this Burger King ad happen to be teetering,
just the teensiest little bit on the "suggestive" side??

Frayed Fabric Flower Tutorial... More Rolled Roses

I love anything that's got a raw edge... fraying is a Good Thing folks!
You can only imagine the sheer delight I experienced in discovering
this hip new tutorial on Frayed Edge Flowers!

Let's talk - Wicked. Ass. Cute.

Better yet... they're easy, peasy, lemon squeezey.
So head on over to Sis Boom blog and discover the Rapture that awaits you!

And while you're at it... take a look at another divine rolled rose tutorial.

Toe Tappin' Tuesdays...

"Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz

13 Gotta See Films... Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Films I'm totally stoked about seeing.

1) Moon with Sam Rockwell... I love Sam Rockwell!


2) Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr.


3) Public Enemies with Bale & Depp... Nuff Said.


4) 9 by Shane Acker


5) Whatever Works by Woody Allen


6) Star Trek by JJ Abrams


7) Sunshine Cleaning by Christine Jeffs


8) The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus by Terry Gilliam


9) Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton


10) The Boat That Rocked With Bill Nighy & Philip Seymour Hoffman



11) Coraline by Henry Selick



12) Adventureland by Greg Mottola



13) District 9 by Neill Blomkamp



Create a list of your own, visit the Thursday Thirteen page and play along!

Let's Hug it Out!

Believe it or not, I actually Don't live under a rock. Sure, I'd heard of Entourage before, but am only just now getting around to seeing it. I don't watch much/if any TV... and most of what I do watch I catch on DVD. Now this is a series I hadn't seriously given much thought. I was only familiar with two of the actors - the first being Jeremy Piven, who on his own would have been compelling enough BUT the other was Kevin Dillion. Which I'm sad to say, is the reason I avoided this series for so terribly long... honestly, I just didn't think I could take Dillion for any extended period without wanting to break out the hand drill and lobotomize myself.

Then, last weekend a friend suggested it. I told him of my misgivings and he blatantly informed me that I was completely off the mark on this one. So... always being one up to a challenge - off I went to reorder my Netflix Queue.

Wow... What a Completely pleasant surprise! And shocker to end all shockers - Kevin Dillion is absolutely Brilliant! I couldn't believe it, he's so damn good that it makes me want take back all the horrendous things I said about him 20 years ago. He's really come a very long way indeed. He's a pure joy to watch here, and I'm happy to stand corrected.

It's also important to note that realistically, there simply wouldn't be a show without Jeremy Piven's masterful portrayal of Ari Gold. Who enters every scene as though he's just been shot out of a cannon. He's amazing and magically caustic.

In my humble opinion - Dillon's Drama and Piven's Ari completely steal the show and shine beyond any expectations I may have had. The writing is sharp and witty, off-color and hysterical. Think Sex and the City for Men. Noting, that in the same vein as SATC, it's not the main story but the sub-plots that make the show work and carry you along. It's an absolute must see with really terrific writing focusing on characters that make you laugh out loud and who often cry out to be bitch slapped. Always a stellar combination in my book and goes a long way to prove that television written for cable (Entourage is on HBO) is so much more enjoyable for me.

Here's one of my favorite Ari scenes to date:
(obscene language ahead... proceed with caution)

I'm just wrapping up season three and think it's my favorite thus far. So many little details to enjoy. Seriously... check it out, in the mind numbing doldrums of current TV offerings - this one is definitely worth the watch, especially when you pay attention to the dialogue.

Hysterical Drama Moments to Relish:

Toe Tappin' Tuesdays...

Of course all I wanna know is:
how they came up with the idea...
how long they worked on it
and how many takes it took when all was said and done.

It's Awesome and just a little something fun to shuck and jive to...

Peanut Butter S'mores!!!

I think it's accurate to say, that about the only way I ever consume marshmallows is A) in a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal and B) when they're melting away in glorious cup of Cocoa. So between my cold cereal addiction and my never ending hankerin' for hot chocolate it's pretty safe to say that I ingest my fair share of marshmallowie goodness. However, since I simply Don't Do the Camping Thing, I probably haven't enjoyed a heavenly concocted S'more since I was about er- 9 or 10. But as you might have guessed... that's all about to change.

This delightful twist on the classic S'more is sure to have me firing up the chimnea this weekend and sharpening a few roasting sticks in preparation. Imagine: ooey-gooey-sweet slightly (or severely, depending on your tastes) charred marshmallow tempered by bittersweet chocolate cookies and enveloped with salty roasted peanuts.

I Know!

After that orgasmic description it'll be difficult not to salivate on your keyboard. But Please remember that water and electricity don't go together as swimmingly as chocolate and peanut butter. And it would be a Damn shame if you electrocuted yourself before having a chance to sample a few of these bad boys.

Step 1) Spread 1 tablespoon peanut butter onto a thin, crisp chocolate wafer (such as Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers).
Step 2) Slide 1 skewer-toasted marshmallow onto peanut butter.
Step 3) Top with a second wafer and squish down gently.
Step 4) Devour... being careful not to lose a finger.
Step 5) Faint dead away.