Just for laughs

A few weeks ago I tweeted about the weirdo Matthew McConaughey commericals for Lincoln and was relieved to find out that I'm not the only one who just doesn't get it. They are all major strange rangers, but the one with the bull absolutely kills me. They are ridiculous.

And on Saturday night, the genius that is Jim Carrey + SNL writers gave the world a gift:

 

Jim Carrey is spot on. 

Friday Favorites Lite

It's been light on the blogging around here lately. We've entered the home stretch in our fiscal year at work and things are crazy. Add in M's crazy schedule this time of year and I'm lucky to stay on top of the laundry.  In lieu of anything more substantial {or as substantial as my usual FF posts about clothes and decadent food treats are}, here is my current favorite commercial. I dare you not to smile.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Brain Dump

*A few weeks ago, HBO started playing episodes of The Sopranos from the very beginning every weeknight at 8pm.  This makes me a happy camper.  The Sopranos is still my favorite TV show of all-time and it sparked my love/fascination with all thing Mafia-related.  Sometimes I'm still not sure why I love the show so much, given the fact that I cannot stand any type of violence on any other TV show or movie.  I just get so sucked in to every episode. Love it.

*I suffer from chronic sinus infections and they always rear their ugly heads this time of year.  Yesterday I felt one coming on and woke up this morning feeling like a train wreck.  I picked up some advice from a few colleagues.  These two products are the only reason I'm semi-functioning at work.

*I had a really intense craving for angel food cake earlier this week.  Not sure where it came from, but now I feel like I need to go buy a tube pan and whip up this Barefoot Contessa treat...

*J.Crew Factory Final Sale is another 30% off with the code GETMORE.  I ordered some of the Winnie pants.  Better hop to it; things are selling out like crazy!

*Ignoring the above angel food craving, I signed up for MyFitnessPal this week. I need to do some spring/summer tuning up, if you will.  Are any of you on it?  Leave your username in the comments so I can add you as an accountability buddy!

Friday Favorites

The Super Bowl is upon us! Since my husband's beloved Ravens are playing, today's Friday Favorites is all things Maryland.  Crabcakes and football, y'all!

A different take on the more traditional crab dip that is served at every party in Maryland.  I ADORE traditional crap dip, but this crab rangoon dip would definitely bring a welcome twist to the dip line-up. 

Who doesn't love party printables, especially when they're free?! Simply Create Designs has a fabulous collection up for grabs.

Old Bay hummus {or hoo-mus, as Ina says}.  I mean, hello?!?! How did I not think of this? We already put Old Bay on EVERYTHING else.  I could probs polish off an entire recipe of this. 

For those of us {cough, me, cough cough} who don't feel the need to wear ridiculously overpriced NFL-logoed gear, a purple cashmere sweater will do juuuuuuuust fine. Bonus: it's on sale for $47.99 with code MOREPLEASE!

No Maryland gathering is complete without Berger cookies, a.k.a. my one true love. If you're like most of America and you can't buy them locally, you can go it your own with Blue-Eyed Baker's homemade version.  Or you can order as many as your heart desires from the Bergers website. THESE ARE THE BEST COOKIES EVER MADE.  Don't say I didn't warn you...

Here we go, Ravens!

Brain Dump

source

None of these are really enough to form a complete post, but here are some thoughts that have been rattling around in the old noggin recently:

1.  I am fascinated by cults and extreme fringe religious groups.  Not in a "I want to join one" kind of way, but I just think the psychology and history of them is so interesting.  A few years ago I went on a Scientology binge and after reading as much as I could about it, I find it horrifically creepy. They have done some shady shit to people.  {NPR's "Fresh Air" had a great interview about a new book on Scientology last week}  Last year I was really into learning about the personality cult surrounding the Kim Dynasty in North Korea.  My new obsession is the Quiverfull and Christian Patriarchy movements.  The Duggars are what really made the Quiverfull movement famous, and although I have never watched that show and never will, I can't. stop. reading. about these groups.  This blog {Love, Joy, Feminism} in particular is what I've been reading.  The author was raised in a QF/CP home, but went away to a large state school for college and ended up leaving her faith.  She blogs about her experiences and keeps a list of other survivor blogs.  She's mentioned Kathryn Joyce a few times on her blog, so I really want to read this book.

2. I'm not sure what rock I've been living under, but I have recently discovered the blog Into The Gloss and I am in love.  I am a closet product junkie and it's written in such a fun, whip-smart tone.  I'm kind of embarrassed {but not really} to admit that I was waiting with bated breath for the conclusion of their series on foundation. The only problem is I am going to have to stop myself from buying everything they recommend.  The Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Minimizing Lotion is at the top of my list because my pores are seriously OOC.

3.  I am pretty much obsessed with watching French Food At Home reruns on the Cooking Channel.  Does anyone else love Laura Calder the way I do?  She's kind of a bitch and she's a little quirky, but that is part of her charm. Also she has like a Miranda-complex going on, where sometimes she is drop-dead gorgeous and sometimes she is really strange-looking.  Very confusing.  Anyhoo, her show is like escapism for me since pretty much all I ever want to do is make and eat French food and daydream about moving to France.  I want to get every single one of her cookbooks.

4. I've been having random, super intense food cravings recently {no, I'm not pregnant}.  Like last Sunday morning, I woke up and all I could think about was cream puffs.  No real reason why.  I just NEEDED cream puffs. What is that? Does that ever happen to you?

Friday Favorites

First Friday Favorites of 2013! 

Barefoot Contessa Foolproof

I received this as a Christmas gift and my girl, Ina, has outdone herself once again.  M was flipping through it and basically dog-eared every page for me to make. Once I have completed my Christmas detox, it's game on.  Do you have this cookbook?  If so, what's your fave recipe in it?

The perfect red lipstick.

I discovered this back in December when I decided in very non-me fashion to do a bold lip for a Christmas wedding we attended.  The saleslady told me that this {Chanel Rouge Allure in Passion} is Chanel's signature red. Sold.  I wore it for New Year's Eve as well and just love it!

Erm, ignoring the subject of Christmas detox, can we talk about these brown butter vanilla bean Rice Krispie treats? I want to eat the entire platter of these.  Aaaaah they just sound so perfect!!

One of my goals for 2013 is getting our house to look like two real, live adults live there.  I love this IKEA hack to make the the Billy bookshelves look like built-ins. I've already bought the burlap for the backing. I just need to find a time to head to IKEA and stockpile on bookshelves.  Now if only I can find someone to style them for me...

And last but not least...

Downton Abbey on Sunday, y'all!!!!!!!!!!!  So. Friggin'. Pumped.

The Dude Gift Guide: First Anniversary

First Anniversary Dude Gift Guide by gesshoo on Polyvore

In a Father's Day gift guide I posted earlier this year, I discussed the dearth of male gift guides for men like my husband.  Most gift guides are for men who are a hybrid of hipster/prepster/dapper.  M does not fall into any of those categories.  His category is more "Boy Next Door."  He likes beer, bacon, sports, and doing stuff.  Stereotypical heterosexual male.  

As I approached our first anniversary, it was important to me to stick with the traditional first anniversary gift of paper.  But naturally a quick Google search for "traditional first anniversary gifts for husband" came up with some truly horrible suggestions.  So once again, I'm doing the heavy-lifting for you ladies with men in your lives like M.  I present to you The Dude Gift Guide: First Anniversary edition:

1. A certificate for an Orvis fly-fishing school.  This was my original gift to M, but after the engine incident, we had to scale back on our plans {read: spending}.  Hopefully we'll be able to make this happen next year.  I've attended the one in Vermont and they are so much fun! 
2. An autographed picture of his favorite sports hero.  I gave M an autographed picture of his other sports hero, Ray Lewis, as a wedding gift and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to top that gift. He loves it. 
3. An e-Reader.  I thought this was a punny play on the idea of a paper gift.  Plus M is always stealing my Kindle to read whatever I've got on there, so it's about time he gets his own!
4. Your DirecTV bill, showing him that you've paid for a season's worth of NFL Sunday Ticket.  I know it's pricey, but I figure M would be at a bar every Sunday spending at least $50 on wings and beers, so in the end, it's cheaper just to spring for the TV package.
5. Tickets to a pro sporting event.  M got hockey tickets last year for Christmas and he was thrilled. I've found that a lot of guys would rather receive experiences as gifts, rather than things, so this is a great option for the guy who has everything.  Now if the NHL can just work out its issues...
6. The New York Times History of [Insert His Favorite Sports Team Here].  This is what I ended up getting for M and it could not have been a bigger hit.  I got him the History of the Baltimore Orioles, and coming off of their historic postseason run, this was such perfect timing.  It's so fun to go through and read the really old newspaper headlines.
7. A cheeky money clip filled with cash.  If you're in a household like mine where the wife is in charge of the money, sometimes it's hard for me to make M feel like he's not on an "allowance".  I know he would love for me to hand him a big ole wad of cash and tell him to spend it any which way he chooses, no questions asked.

Friday Favorites

 

I saw this photo somewhere on the interwebs yesterday, and it makes me so flippin' happy I can't even stand it.  My brain cannot even process the awesomeness of it all.  Downside: I cannot find the original credit ANYWHERE.  If you know it, please do let me know.

 

1 // 2 

My inner hippie/trailer trash really wants a pair of cut-off denim shorts for weekend wear this summer.   There is just one problem...

 

I saw some post-reunion weekend pics of me from behind and we've got a case of the Betty Drapers going on with my junk.  I did that thing that I said I wouldn't do, which is gain the Newlywed 15.  In my case it's technically the Newlywed 7, but there were still a few pounds from the I Have a Boyfriend; Now I Eat A Lot phase hanging on that I never got rid of for the wedding.  

I am on a strict No Buying New Clothes rule until I am back to the frosty cold Betty Draper of yore that I much prefer.

{Speaking of Mad Men, can we talk about how freaking depressing this show has gotten?  I mean, it is still my faves, but srsly? I need to take a Xanax before each episode.}

 

credit

Let's end on an extra pretty note, shall we?  There is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING, about this picture that I am not totally in love with.   It is basically identical to the look I am going for in our own home.  

Ginormous ginger jars? Check.  Federal bullseye mirror?  Checkitty-check.  

We've already got the big, comfy white sofa, those EXACT SAME LAMPS {only mine are brass and came from the Goodwill}, and the sisal/jute/seagrass rug {although ours is busted and needs an upgrade}.  Now to find the morbidly obese ginger gars.  Fortunately, my bloggy friend Jennifer has already done similar research.  Niiiiiice.

What are you lovelies up to this weekend?  I'll be leading the glamorous life of domestic help, as our condo needs a thoroughly deep cleaning.  I hope you're doing something way more fun!

no words needed

so. freaking. excited.

sunday afternoon silliness

oh yeah.

my darling blogger friend, annabel manners, has already posted about the ridiculousness that is mtv's jersey shore. guidos and spray tans and eyeliner, oh my!

so when one of my IRL friends sent me this the other day, i knew i had to share it will y'all. i give you the jersey shore name generator. i'm "the hot spot". the beau is "the deltoid". oh yeah.

i'm spending this cold rainy afternoon making homemade cheese straws to give out as gifts at the office and jersey shoring all of my friends. stay warm!

fashion icon: betty draper

MAD MEN PREMIERES TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

can you tell i'm excited? i'm obsessed with being don draper’s wife this show. and my most favoritest part {other than drooling over steamy dreamy jon ha*mm...obvs} of the show is drooling over the divine stylings of mrs. betty draper. pure. WASP. heaven. i'm trying to make my fall fashion motto WWBDW {what would betty draper wear}. it's a no-fail strategy.

see what i mean? per-fec-tion. get out those martini glasses and enjoy. chin chin!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Not Christmas, silly! Spring! More specifically.....MARCH MADNESS!!!

I ran around like a crazy woman all morning so I could finish up all of my errands for the week/weekend and not feel guilty about being glued to my TV/computer for the next 16 days. OMG....I just love the Madness! And my little ole' bleeding heart was beyond thrilled to see that President Obama and I have picked the same Elite Eight, Final Four, title game, and overall winner. I'm taking that as a good sign {although Butler and Memphis are doing all they can right now to eff up my bracket...}

If you don't hear from me for the next 2 weeks, well, you'll know what I'm doing.....let's go 'Heels!!

An Open Letter to The Bachelor

Dear Jason,
You are an idiot. That is all.
Sincerely,
Me

A Few of my Favorites

In an effort to help y'all get to know me a little better, I'm presenting a few of my favorite things. First off, two NEW discoveries this weekend that will be changing my life forever: ok if you are a pet owner and a neat freak like me, stop whatever you are doing, go to your local wally world or tarjay and purchase this little sucker immediately. (word to the wise: i found mine next to the dishwashing gloves....nowhere near the pet section. weird) it is AMAZING. seriously. i normally go through like a lint roller a week trying to get the puppy boy's fur off of my settee. this works 10,000 times better.

oh yes....you read this correctly. i am trying to be much healthier with my eating habits and i love these things. lots o' fiber, very tasty, and fairly inexpensive = perfect mid-morning snack. they really do taste like pop-tarts! the trick is to only eat ONE of the little things in the pouch.

Now for some of the old standy faves:oh yeah. don't act like you don't love them too. I could watch rerun upon rerun of this show for days. God bless Lifetime TV. Dorothy's slouchy boots and oversized Chanel earrings, Blanche's sluttiness....loooooooooove it. Best guilty pleasure ever, thank you 80s TV!

these three things combine to make my all-time favorite food. ever. fresh tomato sandwiches. i am VERY picky about these. it must be white bread (i prefer sunbeam). it must be duke's mayo (the best. don't argue this.) and it must be FRESH tomatoes (i am spoiled by the ones of an heirloom variety in my daddy's garden). you cannot eat this with out-of-season tomatoes. it's a sin. just add a little salt and pepper. NOTHING else. enjoy the pure heaven in your mouth.
do i even need to explain this one?

england. this is a picture I took from the patio at my favorite pub. I spent a summer studying at Oxford and it was the best time of my life. the English countryside is the only place I will ever leave the South for. it is a little slice of paradise, especially for all-things-bucolic loving me.

i'm cheating with this last one, as it combines two of my favorites. a) cupcapkes. they are perfect. i make a mean coconut cupcake. b) birds. not that i don't actually like the actual thing, but i love bird illustrations. i just think they're so whimsical and pretty and outdoorsy. i have them all over my house.

So that's a little bit more about me :)