joy to the blog

pausing for an old el paso commercial break AND giveaway

2010-01-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

61% of adults plan to watch the Big Game. Whether you’re planning a huge party or you’re just looking forward to kicking back at home with your friends and family, Old El Paso Green Chiles can help you spice up the festivities!

Old El Paso Green Chiles, which come in 4.5 and 7 oz cans, are a simple way to liven up your go-to favorites. Fat-free and with only 10 calories per serving, Green Chiles are not spicy, but will add a unique flavor to your dishes that the whole crowd will love! According to the survey, Americans will be clamoring for these great game time dishes:

* Chips and dip or salsa 67%
* Wings 57%
* Nachos 33%
* Veggies and dip 29%
* Chili 24%

Perfect for your dips and salsas, as well as your nachos and chili, Old El Paso Green Chiles can help you score a mealtime touchdown with your guests this year. My husband Eric loves the Old El Paso green chiles with salsa and chips. He swears that they bring the hotness up to a whole new level of deliciousness.

Click here to save $0.55 on one can of Old El Paso Green Chiles today!

Wouldn't it be fun to ramp up your party vibe with a "Tackle the Taste" gift pack from Old El Paso? They provided yours truly with one {via MyBlogSpark} and they are offering one for one of my dear Posse to win as well. It includes a ceramic football-shaped party tray, table runner, plates, napkins and two cans of Old El Paso green chiles!

Just leave me a comment on this post mentioning how you like your green chiles. I'll use Random.org to pick a winner first thing on Monday, so your opportunity to enter will run through midnight Sunday EST. If you are in my Posse {follower}, leave an additional comment saying so for a second chance to win.

Christmas cuteness takes the form of two adorable second-cousins {wordless wednesday}

2010-01-06T00:00:00.002-05:00

charlie and the dried pig snout {camera critters}

2009-12-05T00:00:00.002-05:00

Don't blame Charlie; I'm the one who brought it home.

Dried pig snout: $1.59 at local pet supply store

He had no idea that in today's society it's not PC to gnaw on a pig snout. Then he heard on the news that the pigs were up in arms about "Swine Flu" and how they took to Washington in herds to make sure that the virus was instead called "H1N1." He knew that although the pigs might roll around in it, they weren't going to take any crap from him.

Concerned that he's going to get caught red-handed by the pigs

I assured him that although we live in a house that was built by pig farmers [!], he could relax. The pigs would not get him.

Charlie gnaws in bliss, happy in the knowledge that the pigs don't even know he's got a piece of one of their own

Later, he buried it in the privacy of his front yard.

There was only one thing to do after an exhausting back-and-forth with his conscience: rest.

a giveaway win from tlc designs!

2010-01-04T18:29:00.002-05:00

Pausing to brag about a giveaway I won recently: these beautiful earrings made by Terry of TLC Designs!

I love purple and green together and she incorporated the best shades of both colors.

Thank you Terry - I love them!

pausing for a commercial break & mini-giveaway sponsored by general mills

2010-01-04T10:44:00.003-05:00

General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children’s diets.

Other cereal benefits:
Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children’s diets.

Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child’s diet today.

More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.

Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.
--------------------------------------------
I have four coupons that entitle the bearer to a free {up to $6} box of any General Mills cereal that were provided to me by General Mills via MyBlogSpark. The first four folks who leave a comment on this post {and have their own blog} will receive one of these coupons. I will contact you via email or via a blog comment to get your mailing address.

miss me? i missed you.

2010-01-04T00:05:00.003-05:00

I have so much to share with you. But it's after midnight here in Michigan and I've only been home for about an hour and a half and I'm about to keel over.

I am going to keep this short and sweet and THANK GOODNESS I didn't lose a bunch of my sexy, gorgeous Posse while I was gone!

I'm going to go to bed and then get up and start some laundry. After that I will be around to visit you.

Until then I am leaving you a picture hint as to what I've been up to this past week.

surrealness {or pausing to brag, either one}

2009-10-04T08:12:00.021-04:00

This never happened before and it feels surreal. Akin to the time my shadow box won last December's challenge over at Gail's Mind Wide Open blog.

I got published in the Oct/Nov 2009 issue of The Stampers' Sampler! {pg 77}

It's a little altered matchbook that I sent in for the "Tempting Template" challenge. {They provide a template that you embellish/design.}

Click here {my Flickr} to get a better view of it.

I'm a little bit in awe today. In awe of The Stamper's Sampler editors for picking my humble little matchbook. :o)

vixen valet service

2009-11-06T00:00:00.001-05:00

I was enjoying one of my very few vices - visiting a certain snarky and inappropriate gossip website - the other day and read about a company called "Vixen Valet Service."

They describe themselves as an "upscale parking service."

So why do the employees dress like they're on their way to a Halloween party? According to emailbrain.com {don't ask me I just Googled it} they are "elegant" and "professional."

{photo credit: awp247.com}

Confused and disillusioned, I spent a whole TEN MINUTES of intense and laborious research on the meaning of elegant professionalism. I happened upon a photo of another woman dressed almost exactly like the experts at Vixen Valet Service:

This photo is from SpiritHalloween.com.

A website that sells Halloween costumes.

I'm just saying that there might be some similarities between the two and that it might behoove the company to rethink their employee's uniformwear.

For the sake of elegance and professionalism, I hope they will.

must-have home decor items {insert sarcasm here}

2009-09-21T20:04:00.007-04:00

While meandering around Target.com's Clearance section recently, I stumbled across a truly amazing piece of "home decor". Something every home in the country should have. Something perfect for a wedding shower, birthday party, quincenara, retirement party, baptism, confirmation - any occasion, to tell the truth. No home should be without it.

Presenting: 'Wood Stick on Stand - Small'

I know, I know. Calm down. It's more amazing and stunning than any normal person can handle without a lot of warning beforehand. {Refer to the first paragraph in this post.} And it's on clearance for - hold on to your horses - $7.49. That's a savings of $22.50 off the retail price of - you're not going to believe it - $29.99. This wood stick on a stand is a petite 23.75" tall.

Are you sitting down? No blood pressure issues? No hot flashes? Okay. Then let's proceed.

If you thought 'Wood Stick on Stand - Small' was an inspired piece of work, feast your {I warned you} eyes on this:

'Wood Stick on Stand - Large'

If you can't live without the "mommy wood stick" to go with the "baby wood stick" {that's what I call them anyway}, then I suggest you head right over to Target.com where you can get the large size for just $12.49 - a savings of $37.50 off the original price of - I kid you not - $49.99. You get a whopping 32" of wood stick on a stand for a tiny amount of money.

If you happen to already own these elegant pieces, could you email me photos of the wood sticks on stands and how you've incorporated them into your home decor? Maybe there's something I'm missing here.

Because they're WOODEN STICKS on STANDS!

p.s. If you own either or both of these items and you love them like crazy, and you want to defend your WSoS {Wooden Sticks on Stands} or you'd like to set me straight on my jacked-up opinion of these pieces, leave me a comment. Just don't swear in it.

an open letter to the inventory lady at t.j. maxx

2009-12-18T00:00:00.004-05:00

To the crazy ~~lady~~ wench stocking the aisles at T.J. Maxx the other day:

I don't know why you had it out for me.

I was just there on an innocent Christmas shopping trip.

I meant you no harm nor did I do you any harm.

So why why why did it seem like you were gunning for me every time I turned around with your huge rolling bin full of delightful and reasonably-priced stock?

The first time I saw you I was benignly looking at a shelf of Christmas cards. I didn't need them, but cards and stationery are like crack to me so it was imperative that I "just check" and see what was available. You made a beeline for me with your huge rolling bin of merchandise.

I moved hastily out of the way so you could get past me as it was clearly my fault for being in an aisle inside the store in the first place.

Moments later I was in a totally different aisle. I heard you coming before I saw you; that blasted rolling bin is really noisy. Shouldn't you be stocking the shelves after hours? You beat a path past me, putting things on shelves with apparently no time to spare.

Finished with my shopping, I paused one more time for good measure at the Christmas cards. {They call to me when I enter the store - like they know the allure that they possess.} Before I knew it, there you were again, making like a Mack truck with quality, last-season goods to fill the shelves with in your rolling bin. I tried to make eye contact, but you weren't that stupid. Your eyes were constantly averted.

When I got up to the cashier lines, I wondered how you beat me there. This time you were putting DVDs on the shelves so ~~suckers~~ folks could make impulse purchases right before checking out.

I tried to give you space to maneuver that blasted noisy bin. I knew you could whip that rolling bin around faster than I could grab a last-minute bag of chocolate-covered Lindt truffles {which technically I did not but I could have}. This time I tried to see your name on your lanyard badge. Tried and tried. Was going to have some words with the manager.

Did I get your name? No. How were you able to keep that information from my probing eyes? How were you able to stock the waiting line aisles and NOT let me see your name? You cunning vixen, you knew what you were doing.

I should consider myself lucky because although it felt like I was being stalked, your bin and my body never actually made contact.

Next time I come in, if I hear the malicious sound of your scary rolling bin, I will leave immediately. And go next-door to the safety and comfort of Home Goods.

Sincerely,

An Anonymous Intimidated Shopper

p.s. here's something nice to leave you with instead of the above tale of woe!

Aubrey age 8, Christmas Parade with Brownie troop

My mom Diana and Aubrey, 2005

overheard at t.j. maxx

2009-10-25T00:00:00.003-04:00

While I was in the fitting room at T.J. Maxx last week I discovered that I got there just in time for a little unintentional entertainment from some women a few rooms down from me. I think they were sisters. Or close friends. Either way, they were funny:

"You know what I would do? I would just get them both."
"I can't get them both."
"It's fifteen dollars! You can get both."

"If you don't get both you're going to be sorry."
"I don't need to get both."
"I know you don't need both. But if you don't get both, don't come crying to me later when you come to your senses."

"What jeans are you getting?"
"The mom-type ones."
"Okay. I can't change your whole self in one shopping trip."

"How do I look in this? I feel like I look a little bit Morticia Adams."
"No, not at all. Plus you have a way bigger rack than Morticia."
"Yeah. Morticia was a skinny b----. I hate her."

[ed. note: she was a hot babe though!]

And then yesterday I was walking through the T.J. Maxx women's clothing section and I overheard these two guys and woman:

[woman holds up pants]
Man: "Size eighteen?!"
Woman: "Well I don't know!"
Man: "I don't either."
Second Man [walks up to them]: "I don't know either but she's got big thighs."

Have you ever overheard anything that stuck with you?

woman's day "best of" neighbor's homemaking tricks through the dark ages

2009-10-13T00:00:00.002-04:00

Another one of my favorite past times is leafing through really old magazines. They're chock full of chuckles and get me snickering like there's no tomorrow.

I picked up a couple of Woman's Day magazines from 1976 at a yard sale this summer and found some fun stuff that I wanted to share with you.

There was a feature called "The Best of Neighbors Homemaking Tricks" - a compilation of reader tips sent in throughout the decades. Here are a few of my favorites:

~ To make a no-need-to-return cake dish for cakes you are giving away, wrap an old phonograph record in waxed paper. {1950}

~ Use a pair of pliers to peel a boiled tongue. {1944}

~ Coat the snow shovel will floor wax to make snow slide off more easily. {1966}

~ Make an outdoor drinking dish for your dog with an angel food cake pan. Drive a stick through the opening into the ground, and it won't tip like other pans. {1967}

~ Remove spots from a rug with foam shaving cream. {1969}

Actually many of these are still relevant and useful. {Although I don't know how many of us have old phonograph records laying around. And if there's anyone buying TONGUE {which I have seen for my own eyes at a Meijer one time} then that second tip is for you.

Anybody out there got an old-timey household tip that they know of? It can be anything - ridiculous, funny, or tried-and-true. Share, please!

p.s. Here's me and Abigail in our mid-'50s best.

it's his birthday, and i'll cry if i want to

2009-10-08T00:00:00.007-04:00

Happy 16th birthday, Austin! Me and your Dad are wondering where the heck the time went. We hope you have a GREAT birthday today. And seeing as you get to stay home from school today, I think that chances are fairly high that you will.

As you know, your beginning was a little rocky. Upon your delivery we discovered that the umbilical cord was wrapped twice around your neck. But Dr. Valderrama was calm, cool and collected. He snipped it off and I held you for a moment. That moment segued to an 8-hour stint in an oxygen tent as you began to turn every shade of gray and blue after the nurses took you for Apgar scoring, washing, etc.

Your Dad was witness to all this while I was in the recovery room. Bless his heart, it was scary. But you rallied and began to breathe without any problems and we went home the next day.

However, just when we were getting into a routine, other things started happening. You started vomiting a lot, seemingly unable to keep down your milk. Your doctor switched brands of formula several times with no success. I suspected it wasn't the formula at all.

2 1/2 weeks

Long story short, a doctor at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital diagnosed you with pyloric stenosis. And at 5 1/2 weeks old, you had surgery to correct the pyloris muscle at Mott's Children's Hospital at U of M. The great and wonderful Dr. Teitelbaum will always be remembered for his gentle and kind way.

Just 8 weeks later, you were fattened up like a Butterball turkey at Christmas. You kicked the butt of pyloric stenosis! And you took its name.

8 weeks

Wasn't hard to coax a smile out of you, ever. And you were THE premier contented baby friend.

9 1/2 months

Beautiful eyes? Check. Chunky thighs? Check. Funny? Check. Easygoing disposition? Check. Thinks his destiny is to be the next Tazmanian Devil due to ability to zoom really fast and accomplish a LOT in a little bit of time? Check check.

14 months

Until I had you, I was used to your big sister Aubrey just hanging out, reading books, swinging, and generally being fairly mellow. I didn't know boy children liked to bounce off walls. And try to propel themselves down stairs. Nope, had no idea.

That's okay. Because you informed me that they do like to do those things. Very, very much. And p.s., they like to wear hats. At least, this one did. Lots of hats.

2 years

Me: "Austin, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
You: "A green tractor boy."

2 years

As you know, one time you put a blanket over your head and walked around your grandma's house, bumping into a desk before they could get the blanket off your head. {Photo above does not depict this particular boo-boo.} You had a scar across your sweet, fat preschooler cheek for a couple of years but it faded to nothing. The ole' grandparents felt bad for awhile though, even though we totally let them off the hook after we discovered that we couldn't sue for damages.

2 1/2 years

{photo credit: Karin Burgess}
Girls were always trying to takes bites out of you. {Or kiss you, either one.}

3 years

8 years

I think something went wrong with an activity you were doing here. Maybe it broke, I don't remember. No temper tantrums, though. Just a bit of {adorable} pouting.

Still loving those hats {Albeit tongue-in-cheek}. This hamburger hat didn't make it out of the gift store that we were in on Mackinac Island.

age 12

Playing so many years of baseball {1st base, shortstop and pitcher} gave us a few good cheap years of built-in Halloween costumes. Score!

You're going to have to do better than a raised eyebrow, sir. You're much too adorable to appear dastardly.

13 years

Right before church, you're in a compliant and patient frame of mind to let your Mom take your picture in a dress shirt and tie.

16 years

Happy Birthday, Austin. I couldn't dream of having a better boy. You are it. Plus you dominate Call of Duty 4, Gears of War and Madden 10.

[card reads:]"If someone tried to ruin your birthday,
I'd ruin their life."

p.s. Like your card? It's full of money. Save it. You're going to need wheels soon, much to my chagrin.

it really IS all about me!

2009-09-30T00:00:00.001-04:00

I'm honored to be The Secret Is In The Sauce's Featured Blogger today!

If you've never heard of SITS, click on the the link and it'll take you to one terrific blog networking site. I'm also on their Welcomistas team that was created to welcome new SITS members. Lots-o-fun, lemme tell ya!

Without further adieu, feast your clicking finger on these three posts that I've chosen to represent this blog on today of all Special and Wondrous Days:

15 hours on the set of Whip It {from 8.3.08}

Aubrey {from 7.30.09}

Must-Have Home Decor {from 9.21.09}

And since you're here, I would be remiss if I didn't invite you to visit me at Schizophrenia Can Suck It.

And lastly, when's the last time you could say you were a member of an honest-to-goodness Posse? That's what I thought. That can be remedied by clicking on "Followers" {a boring word for Posse} - voila, you will be in my Posse. When you become a member of my Posse, you will immediately begin to enjoy all the benefits that come with membership.**

**by 'benefits' I mean, you'll receive each and every post I publish in your Blogger Dashboard updates. Sweeeeet! {cue Hallelujah Chorus}

just because i love you

2009-09-09T00:00:00.002-04:00

This little one-minute video has been making the rounds on the interwebs lately but I had no choice but to post it here too. Because I love you, and I love fat puppies. Especially fat puppies who are so chunky that they can't get up.

girlfriend, please!

2009-08-11T00:00:00.001-04:00

I accidentally caught Miley Cyrus' performance on the Teen Choice Awards last night.

This girl is 16 years old but can already add "exotic dancer" to her resume.

'Cause look guys! She can work the pole like a pro. {Note to Miley: just because it's attached to a fake ice cream cart doesn't mean it's not a stripper pole!}

What sent me over the edge was when she gave her acceptance speech for winning a bunch of 'awards' {using that term loosely as real awards aren't shaped like surfboards}. Towards the end she thanked "...God for putting me on this stage."

Well I don't know about that but He for SURE didn't put her on that stage so she could jump off it onto an ice cream cart and work the pole like a seasoned professional!

And what dismayed me further was her parents sitting in the audience, clapping and beaming as pretty as you please. Bless their hearts - they're proud of their hip-thrusting baby! Precious.

And to top it off, Miley introduced Britney Spears as her "hero."

Well done Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus! Next thing we'll see is Miley's little sister Noah {?!?!} pimping for Disney and her family. And thanking God for being able to work it like her big sister.

Something tells me that God does not want to be thanked for that inappropriate mess.

Gross!

things i've been up to without the internet

2009-08-30T17:10:00.008-04:00

1} Channel-surfing. Confirm that there's never anything good on TV.
2} Use the computer at the library. Try to remember everything I need to do while online.
3} Forget most of it.
4} Get a lot of reading done. Real, actual books, not dListed.
5} Make a bunch of ATCs.
6} Think about how much stuff I want/need to scan and post on this blog, Flickr, etc. Get frustrated.
7} Check TV listings again. Nada.
8} Stay up-to-date on the laundry.
9} Wonder how long it will take to catch up on my bloglist. Become more frustrated.
10} Catch myself laughing at iCarly.
11} Wonder why the library computers are so slow.
12} Play Monopoly with family; get bankrupted in the first hour by 14-year old daughter.
13} Order things on eBay from library computer just to get fun mail to break up the day.
14} Wonder how the Amish make it look so easy.
15} Believe 100% that Computer Medic is holding my jacked-up PC hostage.
16} Refuse to pay any ransom that Computer Medic might demand.
17} Figure that this must be how the Pilgrims lived.
18} Try to make peace with the feeling of disconnection to the virtual world.
19} Write this post with a Sharpie and notebook paper. Feel like there's just one degree between me and stone tablets.
20} See #1.

henry hornsbuckle's tips for homemakers

2009-07-20T00:00:00.001-04:00

In the June/July 2009 Reminisce magazine, there is an article about a radio show in the '40s where "Henry Hornsbuckle" {aka Merle Housh} shared tips on how to save time and money, as well as household hints. {Listeners sent in their tips and the show averaged about 1,000 letters a day.} Here are a few of the more interesting ones:

~ Sprinkle coffee on raw fish to keep the odor from affecting the ice box. The coffee is easily washed off and will not discolor the fish. {Because the last thing you want for dinner is brown fish.}

~ When you have a large ironing job to do, just slip off your shoes and stand on a cushion. See how much more you can do without getting so tired! {This tip almost makes me want to try it just to say I did. But that would mean actually ironing. Never mind.}

~ When you rip open your feed sacks and flour sacks, save all of the cord and wrap it onto a ball. This is far better for patching overalls than the thread you buy and will wear much longer. {If only I had known this before I started patching Eric's Carharts!}

~ When you eat onions and have an unexpected date, eat a pinch of celery seed. It will kill all odors of onion on the breath. {I haven't had an expected date, much less an UNexpected date, in longer than I care to admit, so I'm safe on this one.}

~ Sprinkle a little lavender sachet powder under the ironing board cover. The dampness of the clothes is enough to bring the fragrance into clothes when ironed. {Another ironing tip that I want to try without doing the actual ironing! Darn.}

~ Juice from walnut hulls is good when applied to ringworm. {?????}

~ If you have a felon on your finger, wrap a cloth around the finger leaving the end open. Pour gunpowder in the end and shake it down. Then keep it moistened with camphor. In two or three hours the pain will be relieved and a perfect cure will result. {If you've got a felon on your finger you've got bigger worries than pain relief.}

~ For a home made hair dryer where you have no electricity, try this: Get a stove pipe elbow and place it over the burner of an oil stove. Sit in front of this and the hair will be dry in a hurry. You won't have to be afraid to wash your hair in cold weather. {This one lost me at "pipe elbow."}

~ Use equal parts of fresh unsalted butter and baking soda to make a salve to relieve bunions and corns. {<---DON'T CLICK}

Good old Henry Hornsbuckle. How gracious of you to share the tips that your female audience sent in. I hope they at least got name credit on the air with their tip when you shared it. Otherwise, shame on you, you veritable Norman Rockwell of housekeeping.

check yourself before you wreck yourself: camera critters

2009-07-04T00:00:00.007-04:00

Bonnie, you know this is not a good idea. But you just can't help yourself, can you? You forget that Bailey grew up in a gang {in her mind} and has moves that you couldn't dream of replicating or defending yourself against. But go ahead. Don't say I didn't warn you, though.
------------------------------
Click the paws to see everyone's Camera Critters today!

20 years

2009-06-03T00:00:00.002-04:00

It appears that I'm fairly smitten in this photo
'Cause I landed an extremely handsome fellow
Who also has a ridiculous sense of humor
And has spoiled me until I became no good to anyone

Sunday Stealing: The Twenty Firsts Meme

2009-05-03T00:00:00.005-04:00

Sunday Stealing: The Twenty Firsts Meme

First Job: Table bus-er at Ponderosa Steakhouse

First Real Job: Classified ad and obituary transcriber at The Ypsilanti Press {now defunct}

First Favorite Politician: I never had a favorite before Sarah Palin

First Car: used Ford Escort in 1985

First Record/CD: Shaun Cassidy, Born Late

First Sport Played: Not really a sport as much as a game - kickball, which is as good as it gets.

First Concert:
, 1983

First Foreign Country Visited: Canada, LOL...does that even count?

First Favorite TV Show:

First Favorite Actor: Desi Arnaz, Jr.

First Favorite Actress: I remember thinking how cool Adrienne Barbeau was in Maude.

First Girlfriend/Boyfriend: Silas Meadows in 6th grade

First Encounter with a Famous Person: I mentioned this in a recent meme, but technically it would be Oprah. Went to a taping of her show in Chicago about 15 years ago and waited in the receiving line to meet her.

First Brush With Death: Good Lord, I don't think I've had one. That's a creepy question.

First House/Condo Owned:

Awww. It was a little mouse house, but the kids were little and so much fun was had in this house. We outgrew it after a couple of years but many fond memories remain.

First Film Seen: Who can remember something like this, honestly? I have no idea. One of the earliest I remember seeing in the theater was this one:

First Favorite Recording Artist:
, duh!

First Favorite Radio Station: I don't remember the call numbers, for crying out loud!

First Book I Remember Reading:

Frederick, by Leo Lionni

First Meme You Answered on Your Blog: is here. And it's very boring and not worth clicking on. {I'm being serious.}

Go here for more Sunday Stealing!

happy birthday, aubrey

2009-04-23T00:00:00.003-04:00

Happy 18th birthday, Aubrey
You're old enough to get a tattoo without parental permission
Or a rogue piercing for that matter
How about a nice mani-pedi instead?

Love, Mom

{post script ~ no tattoos & no piercings occurred!}

let's gross each other out

2009-04-20T15:13:00.004-04:00

For some reason I've had words that gross me out on my mind lately. The word that grosses me out the most is fester. :::shiver:::

What one word grosses you out the most?

{please welcome my guest blogger, Charlie}

2009-04-12T00:00:00.002-04:00

It took a whole year, but I finally talked my mom into letting me have the opportunity to post on her blog. I especially wanted to be the one to announce the winners of her blogiversary giveaways. {Although I'm still not clear on what a blogiversary is.}

I'm not above pandering, so I reminded her how sweet I look when I'm asleep.

And what a handsome profile I have:

I'm such a good boy that I'll share my chair with my subordinate, Sammy.

I'm very well-adjusted and comfortable in my masculinity. So much so that I have no problem bonding with a pink fuzzy pig...

...or napping on my sister's pink snowman pillow...

You can see from this photo that there's a lot going on behind my deep brown eyes. {I'm just three credits shy of my advanced degree in Canine Philosophy.}

Not to mention I would do anything for my mom, including humiliate myself for the greater good {it was Christmastime}:

At least my Independence Day '08 kerchief was a little more dignified.

I'll admit, though, that I was a little reluctant to be photographed like this.

What self-respecting Boston would be happy about it? I'll let it slide, just this once. Because, without further ado, I'm going to announce the blogiversary {whatever that means} giveaway winners.
The vintage giveaway bundle {again, whatever that means} goes to:

And the non-vintage giveaway bundle {good grief, couldn't this be described more succinctly?} goes to:

Congratulations to my mom's winners. She's going to contact you for your mailing addresses and she tells me she's going to put your "swag" {oh the words this woman uses} in the mail this week. I personally don't know why you'd want ANY of it as NONE of it smells like beef. And you can't put any of it in your mouth. Whatever.

I hope everyone has a joyous Easter. And my mom wants me to thank everyone who entered. If I could get close enough to each and every one of you, I'd lick your faces til the cows come home. Seriously, I would.

p.s. I want to give a bark-out to my new homie Oskar. WOOF!