Krispy Kreme Minis

When's the last time you indulged in a Krispy Kreme doughnut? Did you feel guilty after? Well, Krispy Kreme is making their treats less of a guilty pleasure. They've introduced Minis - smaller versions of their most popular varieties... Check here to see if your local store is participating...

Support Your Holiday

Whatever holiday you celebrate, don't support the Happy Holidays generic. Make the companies work for your business! If you celebrate Christmas, buy the wrapping paper that says Merry Christmas. If you celebrate Hanukkah, buy the gift wrap that says Happy Hanukkah. You get my drift?

Don't let them get away with products that will work for everyone...they should have to work harder to receive your hard earned money!

Or you can go totally green and just don't buy any new wrapping paper. Tell those companies "too bad, so sad" and be a little creative on your own. Wrap your gifts in blankets, towels, or even newspaper...something that the recipient can reuse or recycle!

Man vs. Food

The holidays are in full swing. If you haven't already recovered from your Thanksgiving dinner, you don't have much time left before Christmas hits! My Christmas celebrations start next week. Ahhh, the holiday food challenge. With so much food at the different parties, how does one tackle it all? Sorry - no answers here...I haven't figured it out for myself! Besides, that's not what this post is about.

Have you ever been in a restaurant that issues food challenges to their patrons? For example, those restaurants that have huge burgers/sandwiches/pizzas and will pay for your food if you can finish it? The closest that I've gotten to trying one of these is buying a Vermonster from Ben & Jerry's for my sister and her friends and helping them eat it.

ANYWAY, there's this guy - Adam Richman - who has made it his mission in life to complete as many of these challenges as possible. His reward? The Travel Channel gave him his own show, Man vs. Food, which puts his never-ending appetite on TV for your viewing pleasure!

I wonder if he'll ever come to Los Angeles...

Happy eating!

Christmas is for Sharing

Christmas is the time for sharing. Right? Right.


This made me think about how I share. Have you ever been eating a box/bag of candy that's mixed flavors, and you eat all the ones that you like less to save your favorite flavors for the very end...then you decide to share with someone and they take all of your favorite flavors? Does that make the sharing even more noble?

This didn't actually happen to me, and I think I'm actually a pretty good sharer (is that a word?). Anyway, this is your one chance this year to wax philosophical... :)

Christmas Music Video - the Premiere

You might recognize some of the people in the video...
View...enjoy...get into the Christmas Spirit!



Music: "O Holy Night" by Clay Aiken

Survived Black Friday!

Black Friday is usually the time when people start buying gifts for those on their Christmas lists. This year, my Black Friday was completely self-serving. The highlight? I bought myself a vacuum. Think that's a weird highlight? Obviously, you don't know me very well. Those who know me know about me obsession with cleaning and cleaning products. I think I've vacuumed every night since I've opened it up and put it together!


Even with all of the vacuuming, I've made time to shop...so it's allllllllll good! :)

Christmas Gift for Someone Who Has Everything

Why not give them a Lamborghini Laptop? Of course that would require you to have $3300 (plus applicable taxes) to spend on this lucky someone.

And hey, if they already have the laptop, you can always try to help them accessorize! :)

Getting Ready for Christmas

I know Costco's been selling Christmas goods since October, and Target is all holiday-ed out as well. But there's some good news! The Christmas season can officially begin on Sunday, November 23. That's when Dr. Stephen Colbert's Christmas special airs on Comedy Central.

Yippee! Enjoy - 'cuz I know I will! :)

Soon to be Taking Applications

I'm looking for a friend replacement! If I've seen you recently, you have nothing to worry about because you're not on my list. If you haven't seen me recently, your friend status could be in jeopardy. That doesn't mean that you can't apply. (Yes, you can apply to replace yourself.) However, you should keep in mind that you might be asked to make some improvements before your application will be considered.

Sounds a little like a school or job application, right? Well, if it doesn't, it should. I do take into consideration the fact that at least one of the two applications has been completed and led to successful acceptance by a REAL institution. :)

Am I losing my mind? Perhaps...
It it lunchtime, after all...

Oreo Idiosyncrasy

I scrape out the cream before eating Oreos. Is that weird?

Tim Tams SLAM the U.S.

Not only have they made their way into production in the United States, but they're available to everyone in Target! Pepperidge Farm is the smart company that jumped onto this bandwagon.

They're really there at Target...I just got back from buying some. And I wouldn't have known if my mom hadn't pointed them out in the Target mailer.
I'm not sure how they're going to stack up to Arnott's Tim Tams, but I'll find out soon. Testing commences this week! :)

Stephen Colbert and Halloween (he's always right)

Dr. Colbert correctly identified "trick-or-treating" as teaching children how to panhandle. But now the kids are getting picky! Here we were...giving free candy to strange looking children...when they started making requests!!! My sister was smart and engaged the first kid in conversation:

Kid (looking into the candy basket): "Can I have some Oreos?"
Sissy: "What are you going to give me back?"
Kid: "Anything you want..."

The last five kids that came by ALL asked for Oreos. I'm thinking that next year we should buy no candy and all cookies.

Stylish Baby - Courtesy of Gucci

Gucci realizes that sometimes some moms have awesome purses and they don't get to carry them when they are carrying a baby, so they've made a way to make it a little easier for both mom and baby to be stylin'...in the form of the Gucci Baby Carrier!


If you have friends that will be in need of something like this, plan ahead. You can only buy 3 within a 3 month period. :)

Warcraft the Movie

My first thought: Oh no. WoW the movie. Please-please-goodness-gracious-they-cannot-possibly-be-serious.

For all of you who jumped on the World of Warcraft bandwagon, denied your addiction (and still deny the addiction), (thankfully) got bored, and finally stopped playing, the WoW movie will bring you on a trip down Nostalgia Lane. For those of you still playing, this must've been awesome news.

Well......we'll see how this all develops. Who knows - I may be the first one in line to watch it. :)

Favorite Chefs

Someone asked me who my favorite chefs were, and for some reason, the answer didn't flow out as I thought it would. Anyway, I did some thinking, and this is the thoughtful answer...

For sure I love Ina Garten. I've been using her recipes since before Food Network was created. Why? Because I know that if I try a recipe, I know that it will come out like the picture/demonstration every time. It gives me hope that I will actually make something delicious, okay?! :)

Anthony Bourdain is awesome. I'll sit down and watch hours and hours of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. And now (as a part of the No Reservations series) he dines and talks with other chefs on At the Table with Anthony Bourdain. They trade stories, theories, ideas, etc. I'd be so intimidated to be a chef or even a server at that meal!

I have added links for these guys, and I'm sure I'll add more as I continue to mull over this question.

Sarah Palin on SNL - WEAK

If you haven't seen it yet, don't waste your time...at least not if you are watching it to see Sarah Palin do something funny. Or do anything at all. Let me sum it up for you...

Tina Fey comes on as Palin, then they cut to Palin talking to Lorne Michaels. Palin opens the show ("Live from New York - it's Saturday Night!). Later, on Weekend Update, she sits there pseudo-dancing while Amy Poehler does her work for her. Then Palin steals Tina Fey's line ("Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow").

If you're going to watch it for anything, save yourself the disappointment of expecting anything from Palin and just watch it for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

In-n-Out Anniversary

You might have heard that the good people at In-n-Out are celebrating their 60th anniversary on October 22. You may also have heard that they're taking their prices down - waaaay down. Like burger for 25 cents. Sad to say, this is a rumor. :( At least that's what their website says.

I was all excited about it, so I checked their site to see if they sent out a press release. When I got to their site, there was a nice button labeled "October 22 Rumor." Rumor?! So sad. Here's the announcement for your viewing displeasure.

Ben & Jerry's - Free Ice Cream for Voters

That's right! Utilize your right to vote on November 4, 2008, and Ben & Jerry will reward you with a free scoop of ice cream! Don't believe me? Check it out!

Happy Voting!

Starbucks Splash Sticks

I went to Starbucks this weekend to order from their new Signature Hot Chocolate line. When I picked up my drink, I saw something new sitting next to the cup sleeves...Splash Sticks!

You know how people make money off of the simplest ideas - so simple that maybe you could have thought of it? Or you did think of it but failed to move on it? This is one of those. Simple idea. Simply genius.

LA Valley Mini Food Tour

I was in the mood for a food tour, so we headed to Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks - the Valley, as it's known in Los Angeles. Destinations? Nata's Portuguese Bakery and Fab's Italian Kitchen.

Nata's Portuguese Bakery

They introduced themselves as the only Portuguese bakery in Los Angeles. It's a cute little bakery with a dessert counter that is about as big as the cupcake shops (think Sprinkles in Beverly Hills or Dots in Pasadena), with a few tables out front for those customers who want to soak in that good ol' California sun...or that wonderful LA smog...

If you try their malasadas, remember that they're not Hawaiian malasadas (from Leonard's Bakery - made for you as you wait and served hot). Their baker makes them in the morning, and they serve them cooled until they run out.

The desserts are not too sweet, so you won't come away with a crazy sugar high.

Fab's Italian Kitchen

When I worked out in Brentwood, we would ALWAYS order from this place (and occasionally got ourselves down there to actually eat in the restaurant). We had the Italian chopped salad - delicious, as always. Tried their chicken piccata for the first time. Pretty good, but even so I think next time I'll stick to my old favorites - the parmagianas....

Brownie Butts - from Butter's Brownies

You may be asking, "What the heck are brownie butts?!"
Well, let me enlighten you. Brownie butts are the edges of brownies - which I LOVE!!!
And there is a bakery in Texas that actually sells these! Don't believe me? Check it here...

Oh, and for those of you who don't care for the edges, they sell regular (no-edge) brownies too...in 12 flavors.

The Dreaded Mayo Post

Ivan and I had a heart-to-heart discussion a couple weeks ago...about mayonnaise.

Let me start by saying that I do not order mayo on anything. Sandwiches and burgers - my order is always, "Mustard, no mayo, please." And if they forget, I'll take the time to scrape the mayo off as best as I can. The only time I'll use mayo is when it is mixed with something else to mask the flavor of the mayo (e.g. in making spinach artichoke dip).

Ivan told me about his affinity for mayo, and how he used to eat it on toast when he was younger (and maybe still does it?). He would just toast some bread and spread it with mayo instead of butter. I thought he was joking, but the look on his face showed me how much he seriously loved this snack. But his devotion to the condiment was nothing when compared to his friends+mayo. One of his friends used to scoop mayonnaise out into a bowl and eat it like ice cream.

I gagged so much that I almost threw up.

He laughed.

Eating Cactus

I ate cactus. Yep - that's right. I tried a cactus salad the other day, and it turned out to be really good! I knew that cactus was edible, and I had tried prickly pear before, but that's fruit from cactus, right? (I don't know...or is it considered cactus) Who knew that those prickly little/big desert ornaments were delicious?

Now I just have to remember what was in that salad so I can try to recreate it... If you have any ideas (good ideas! hahah) or recipes, let me know!

New Snack Alert - Chex Mix Bars

Hey all...so this is just a heads-up for all you snackers (but especially for those of you who like Chex Mix)!! Now Chex Mix comes in a snack bar form:

Watch for it in your local snack aisle - hey, you might even see me there buying some! It comes in two varieties - Chocolate Chunk and Turtle.

Turtle - Wheat/Corn Chex cereal, peanuts, pretzels, chocolate and caramel

Chocolate Chunk - chocolate chunks, Wheat/Corn Chex and pretzels

I have coupons if you're interested. Just leave a comment.

Super Mario Bros 2 - on the mallets

I had the privilege of playing percussion (mallets and auxiliary) during my high school and college years. I also spent many of years of my life playing Super Mario Bros - the many iterations of the game. This combination explains why I am so intrigued by this senior recital...Enjoy!

Eating Raw Cookie Dough - An Explanation

I've done some thinking, and I've come to the conclusion that many raw cookie dough eaters learned this habit when they were young...and it was urged on by the beloved E-Z Bake Oven. [If you did not own one of these wonderful contraptions, one of your siblings (or a cousin or some other relative) probably had one.]

The E-Z Bake Oven uses a lightbulb as the heat source to bake little cakes and cookies. I had one, and I can tell you that I waited a looooooong time every time I tried to bake something, and no matter how long I waited, it never came out fully baked. As a result, I would eat the half-baked cookie dough/brownie batter/whatever.   Sounds plausible, right?  OR it just too good to wait sometimes! Even if your REAL oven is fully functional!! :)

Wicked and Avenue Q

Check it... Wicked + Avenue Q = Funny stuff! :)

Los Angeles BBQ Festival

Hey! This weekend, those of you who live in Los Angeles can enjoy the stereotypical Californian weekend - you can swing by Santa Monica to catch some sun. But this weekend, it's better! You get to grab some BBQ. Or maybe a lot of BBQ. Looks like we have a food festival on our hands...YUM!

Ah...the perfect California weekend...sunshine and food. :)

Snickers Rockin' Nut Road Bar & Twix Java

I'm allergic to peanuts, but I thrive on finding new products. [Like I've said before, my favorite aisles in the supermarket are the candy and snack aisles.] So when I came across new Snickers bars, I picked up a bag to give to people to try. As I looked at the bag more closely, I realized that these candy bars didn't have peanuts in them! :) Yippeee!

What is in these delicious bars? It's the Mars company's interpretation of rocky road, so...almonds, caramel, and marshmallow nougat covered in dark chocolate. If you want to try them, better find them soon...the words 'limited edition' don't give you much time.

There's also a new Twix bar - Twix with Java. I've seen them, but I haven't had a chance to buy any. I'll let you know what I hear about them when I get some taste testers!

Domino's Pizza + Free Pasta

That's right - Domino's Pizza is now offering pasta! There are five varieties to choose from: Chicken Carbonara, Three Cheese Macaroni, Pasta Primavera, Chicken Alfredo, and Italian Sausage Marinara.

There's better news for those of you in Southern California...

Tomorrow, September 3, 2008, starting at 11:00 a.m., the first 100 customers who come to Domino's Pizza get a free side of pasta (your choice!). I checked with my local Domino's to make sure it was true...and it was! So gear up for an early lunch and get some free pasta! :)

Bellagio Sipping Chocolate

It's taken me a while to get to this entry because I'm still reveling in the wonderful memories that the Bellagio Sipping Chocolate have provided me. I've seen it in stores (first in Gelson's...then in other random fancy supermarkets), and I've even bought it for friends as gifts, but I had never tried it until fate brought me face to face with a Bellagio sample station at the LA Food Expo.

They served it in shot glasses, and that was the perfect amount. It is thicker, richer, and smoother than instant hot chocolate. Imagine taking a high quality chocolate bar and mixing it with (a small amount of) cream/milk/whatever you prefer. Mmmmm....delicious...now I'm craving it again. Since it was self-service, I should've gone back for more!

Oh well...I guess I'll settle for buying it and making it for myself at home :)
Bellagio Sipping Chocolate is available in four flavors - chocolate, mint, cherry and caramel.

Enjoy! :) If you don't like it, send it my way and I'll enjoy it for you!

Voss Competition

Shocker. I know. I was surprised too. Voss now has competition, and it goes by the name Natura. I must say that it's delicious water with a snazzy bottle.
I tasted the still variety at the Food Expo, but I have no idea where to find it here. If you find it, drop me a line and let me know how to find it!

Hot Pockets Recall

For those of you who like to partake of Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pockets, be careful! There may be sharp pieces of red plastic mixed into your pizza pocket...and you might not recognize them on first glance cuz they might blend in with the sauce and pepperoni. Nestle (the company that makes the beloved Hot Pocket) is recalling a specific batch produced on June 5, 2008.


More details here.

Stars Galore

The new cast of Dancing with the Stars was announced this morning...
I'm expecting that a lot of guys will be watching this season. I'll save you some time and not make you look the list up.

Lance Bass (formerly of NSync)
Rocco DiSpirito (that's CHEF Rocco DiSpirito to you!)
Maurice Greene (Olympian - track)
Jeffrey Ross (comedian)
Ted McGinley (Jefferson from "Married with Children")
Cody Linley (from "Hannah Montana")
Warren Sapp (former NFL player)

Susan Lucci (from "All My Children")
Kim Kardashian (really?)
Misty May-Treanor (Olympian - beach vball)
Toni Braxton (who had to cancel a recent concert because of chest pains)
Cloris Leachman (actress)

And the kicker for you boys...

Brooke Burke

So join me in watching Season 7 of 'Dancing with the Stars' won't you? :)
Mark it on your calendars - Monday, September 22, at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Western Food Expo

Ohyeah...this hungry monkey has a pass to the Western Food Expo this weekend! Whoohoo - so awesome. I'll be eating all weekend, but hakuna matata. We'll take lots of pictures to show you exactly what this feeding conference is all about...all the new food products that will likely show up in your local restaurants over the next year!

Check it out here if you'd like...

I'm off to eat! :)

Tic Tac Chill Pill

Tic Tacs just got supersized - in the form of Tic Tac Chill. They're much bigger than a regular Tic Tac, but still smaller than a piece of gum (not a stick of gum...one of those pieces that come in the foil packages, you know?). I tried them and they are CHILL indeed! And the package is awesome too. You can dispense them like regular Tic Tacs, but you can also slide the front panel over so you can serve them up to people with big fingers too! :)

UGG

I was never actually able to get myself to join the UGG fad. The closest I got was an UGG purse that my mom gave me...and I think it's still sitting in my closest awaiting its first use. Well, I thought that this UGG fad was over and done with, but I was wrong. Today, I received a notification that there are new UGGs that I should be aware of and possibly purchase. You ready for them?

Yep, that boot that you see is the new SHINY UGG. Available in gold and silver - space boots are [back] in, baby! Just in time for your trip to the moon! Or to the mall. Or to work. Where do people wear UGGs again? :)

Disney Song Lyrics

Hey - all you Disney soundtrack buffs - you may think that you know the words to these cleverly written songs....but did you know that there are deleted lyrics to Disney songs?

http://www.meeko.org/disney/mermaid/lyrics.html#fathoms2

Actually, I am not sure if they're real...hahahah....

Paparazzi for Rent

Do you have a friend that needs a little more attention? Does s/he like to be the subject of random photographs? Are you looking for a gift for this special friend? Well, you're in luck. You can make your friend a celebrity for a day...by giving them their own paparazzi! Kinda pricey, but that's the price you have to pay to be a "celebrity"...

Yes, it's real. Look for yourself.

No, I didn't come across it because I was looking for paparazzi for myself. :)

Starbucks - OMB

That's right...OMB, not OMG. I'm referring to their Orange Mango Banana smoothie. O...M...B... Can you see/hear it in your head? I just put together the Starbucks marketing plan for this drink!

I've seen it on their menu for a few weeks now and finally got around to trying it. I actually tried mine at the Barnes & Noble Cafe...where I feel like I need to buy something to earn a place at one of the cafe tables so I can study in peace... Well, I ordered the OMB Vivianno drinky thingy, and they said, "Sorry, we're out of banana..." My thought: There's nothing to be sorry about! For those of you who know my food preferences, I don't normally like bananas in anything. The exceptions would be like in a banana split or a chocolate covered banana. So they made it without the banana. Yay. Not bad. Pretty healthy tasting with lots of protein.

They have a Chocolate Banana Vivianno too. I guess I might have to try that one with the banana. Maybe tomorrow.

Weird Guy

So when you think of the weirdest pick up lines in the world, what comes to mind? Those silly cheesy lines like "Did it hurt?...When you fell from heaven?" Or the more standard lines like, "Hey baby, what's your sign?"

I got a sad attempt at a line this week...as I was doing some grocery shopping. I had a lot of studying to do, so I was hoping to get done really fast. While I was standing in the ice cream and snack aisle (my favorite place to be) looking for something new or interesting, there was a guy standing there...I guess he was doing the same thing as me. As I was scanning the snacks and slowly moving down the aisle, he kept on looking at me. Then came the line, "So...how do you like the prices here?" WHAT? Oh no. Time to get out of here. And how does one even answer that question? Prices change all the time?! But I wasn't done looking at the snacks yet, and I could be too incredibly rude. My response, "Um, it varies...from week to week." I start to inch away, and then came the follow-up. "So...are you from around here?" AHHHHHHHH no. Hmm. "No, I'm from L.A." Okay, time to wrap it up and move on... Then he continues, "Oh, I'm from Riverside, but I come out here to use the banks." Um, okay? Weird. Who drives 20 minutes to bank? Well, I guess there are people who do that. What do I do now? Here goes... "Alright, well, good luck!" Politely smile, and start walking away...phew.

So I say that was a weird attempt at a line, but as my brother pointed out (after a good, loooooooooooong, hearty laugh), I guess it worked because he got me to stay and talk for a little bit...as unhappy as I was about that part. But now, my brother has decided to use that line. So ladies, beware. If you are on the receiving end of that line, there's a good chance it might be my brother! Hahahahhaha....

Tang Sport

Do you like sports? Do you like Tang?

YOU DO!?!

Well, now there's something that combines both of your passions - sports and Tang - into one product! Tang Sport! Serious. Check it out here.

It was just a matter of time...

Now...one of you run out there and get some...and tell me if I should buy some for myself! :)

Olympic Trials - Swimming

Swimming. The breaststroke, to be exact. I'm confused.

Can someone explain to me how this particular stroke came about? And how someone classified it as a sport? If you're trying to race someone across a pool, don't you want to use the fastest possible technique?

My sissy and I were talking about it today...There's no running equivalent for the breaststroke...or for the backstroke for that matter. No one in the Olympics is trying out to compete for fastest BACKWARDS runner in the world.

Okay, swimmers, no need to get all huffy. It was just a thought...or a bunch of thoughts. Not like I'm trying to ban it from the Olympics. Relax!!

(If you need to make me a villain, I'll help you. "Oh, she's just jealous because she's not good at it!" Right you are, sir! I can't do the breaststroke. In fact, I'm not a good swimmer PERIOD. There. You feel better? We good? Okay good.)

My Very First Euro

I bought something with cash this week (weird for me, I'm a card kind of girl), and something spectacular happened. When the cashier was giving me my change, I looked down at the coins and one of the pennies looked funny. It was shinier than the others...and when I picked it up, it was much lighter than I expected. It was a 2 Euro coin!

What a way to get into the Olympic spirit - by carrying around money from around the world. :)

Cereal and Milk

When my siblings and I were younger, we loved to eat cereal. Ice Cream Cones cereal, Nintendo cereal, Crispy Wheats 'n Raisins (that was just me, my sissy has accurately classified it as glorified raisin bran), Smores cereal, Circus Animals cereal (what other long lost wonders am I missing?)...if you've never heard of these cereals, there are two possible reasons:

1) You're too young (either too young to remember or you weren't born yet)
2) You are getting old and losing precious brain cells

Well, okay, maybe a third...

3) It's too painful to remember that those awesome cereals once existed and they don't have them now, so you're blocking them from your memory...and they will resurface in your next therapy session.

Anyway...our parents never made us drink the milk from our cereal. They had no problem with some of the sugar getting left behind in the milk and us not drinking it. In fact, I had no idea that people drank their cereal milk until I was in college. I watched one of my friends do it and was kinda awed.

I still don't drink my cereal milk, but I did master the skill of pouring just enough milk that there's none left over when I'm done with the cereal. (I don't do it all the time, but know that I DO have the skill.)

Limes DO have seeds

Well, some of them do. I've been telling people that limes don't have seeds for some time now, and I have to now correct myself. I was incorrect. WHAT?! I know, hard to believe, but yes, I was wrong. Believe me, it's difficult to admit.

Turns out that most limes sold in U.S. supermarkets don't have seeds because they were bred that way. You know, the same way that they make seedless grapes and watermelons.

So while I've never seen one myself, some limes do have seeds. My mission now is to find one. :)

Ordering Steak

We went to a steakhouse last weekend, and while we were waiting to order, I overhead another table getting their food. Almost the entire table had ordered steak, but one of them was made "extra well done." What exactly does that mean? Does that mean that it's burnt?

BTW, I have a cousin that actually orders her steak that way...

"Could I get that burnt please? No pink in the middle, please."

Camp Rock

Okay, I guess I'll admit it now since you'll find out anyway. I watched it. Why? Well, because I wanted to see if it was like High School Musical.

The verdict? No, it's not HSM caliber. I'm actually sad that I watched it. I wish I had watched something else. Gotta find someone who owns the HSM DVD so I can get this Camp Rock mess out of my head.

Toy Story Mania

A few of us were lucky enough to get tickets to preview the new Toy Story Mania ride/game at Disney's California Adventure this past Tuesday night. KOST (the local radio station that likes to supply me with occasional gifts) gave away a few thousand tickets to this party.

We stood in line for a little more than an hour and a half...at the exclusive private party...we were bored to death for most of the time. The Disney cast members tried to give us some hope by saying that they have already predicted a three hour wait when the ride opens for the public. They were even kind enough to point out to us how where they would direct the maze of a line (all the way to Ariel's Grotto).

Aside from the looooong wait, the ride/game was really good! I though it would be something similar to the Buzz Lightyear ride in Disneyland, and in many aspects, it is. You ride in pairs, but there are four people in each car - the pairs are back to back, and you can't see or talk to the people riding on the other side of your car. You're also wearing a pair of 3D glasses while you zip around to play the game. All the games are essentially the same - just different settings. You shoot targets, animals, plates, and martians, among other things. You can see your score and accuracy on the monitor in your car. And at the end, they show you the highest scores of the day and high score of the month - yes, the cheater scores that are truly impossible to reach.

So, it's a thumbs-up from me. I just hope you have some luck and don't have to wait in such an incredibly long line. And I hope you don't get a higher score than me. (No, not telling you my score, because that will just compel you to try to beat me.)

Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers - An Observation

My nephew and I were looking up old cartoon theme songs on YouTube yesterday... Ducktales, Darkwing Duck, Tale Spin, Jem, Paw Paw Bears, etc. When we got to the Rescue Rangers theme song (Chip and Dale), he said, "Hey, he looks like Indiana Jones!" (pointing to Chip)...

He's right - what an observation.
Awesome kid.

I Love Twix

And the Twix company loves me. I bet you're wondering how I know. It's cuz they told me themselves. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Here's the story.

It was the middle of dead week and I was sitting in class, supposedly listening to a lecture. I was tired and needed some sugar, so I bought myself a Twix bar. Problem was...the vending machine was kinda warm on the inside, so when I got the Twix, it was of...hmmm...compromised quality. You know how candy bars stand on one side when they're in a vending machine? Well, when you combine that with a lower-than-recommended storage temperature, things happen. In this case, the caramel liquified and pooled at the bottom of the wrapper, then resolidified. Essentially I had edible cheater chopsticks. Do you see the image in your head? I would've taken a picture of it, but I ate it anyway. It was pretty gross.

Anyhow, back in undergrad, I had an obsession with Nestle Turtles, so I would occasionally need to call their quality assurance hotline to let them know about a sub-excellent experience with a package of Turtles. I don't have quite the obsession with Twix bars, but I felt the need to share my experience with them. The customer service representative was very apologetic, thanked me over and over again for the pleasant-about-a-sad-subject report and showed me lots of love!

So there you have it. And don't be sad if you think you can't get any love from them. There's plenty to go around! :)

National Food Days

Happy Doughnut Day!

I'm so glad that we celebrate food items separately. It makes for a happier fat kid! :) Just in case you wanted to know what foods we're celebrating this month, here you go!

June 1: National Hazelnut Cake Day
June 2: National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day
June 3: National Egg Day
June 4: National Cheese Day
June 4: National Frozen Yogurt Day
June 4: National Cognac Day
June 5: National Gingerbread Day
June 6: National Applesauce Cake Day
June 6: National Doughnut Day
June 7: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
June 8: Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day
June 9: National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day
June 10: Herbs & Spice Day
June 10: National Iced Tea Day
June 10: National Black Cow Day
June 11: National German Chocolate Cake Day
June 12: National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
June 13: Kitchen Klutzes of America Day
June 14: National Strawberry Shortcake Day
June 15: National Lobster Day
June 16: National Fudge Day
June 17: Eat All Your Veggies Day
June 17: National Apple Strudel Day
June 18: National Cherry Tart Day
June 18: International Picnic Day
June 19: National Dry Martini Day
June 20: National VanillaMilkshake Day
June 21: National Peaches andCream Day
June 22: National Chocolate Eclair Day
June 23: National Pecan Sandy Day
June 24: National Pralines Day
June 25: National StrawberryParfait Day
June 26: National Chocolate Pudding Day
June 27: National Indian Pudding Day
June 27: National Orange Blossom Day
June 28: National Tapioca Day
June 29: National Almond ButterCrunch Day
June 30: National Ice Cream Soda Day

Sunless Tanner Mishap

I bought myself some sunless tanner...Aveno to be exact. Just to put this into perspective (for myself...or maybe so I can have some sort of excuse), I had tried a Jergens sunless tanner before and it didn't work THIS fast!

Aveno is awesome - the one I got was the kind that you can adjust and choose what shade you want to become. So I was following the instructions and didn't think it would work as quickly and well as it did. Anyhow, I saw the results the very next day - and realized that I didn't cover my entire leg...so I now have a tannless stripe that extends across both of my legs.

I'm like a neapolitan ice cream sandwich now! And I'm going to a wedding this weekend!Hopefully I'll be able to fix it before the wedding this weekend.

Go ahead and laugh. It's pretty funny.

New Cool Whip vs. Old Cool Whip

Call me a fat kid, but I LOVE Cool Whip - can't take much of real whipped cream. So I was so excited when I saw that Cool Whip was available in aerosol form. Instead of having to use a spoon to scoop it out of a tub then bring it up to my mouth (it's a long trip), the Cool Whip makers decided to make it in a can so I can dispense it straight into my mouth! Whoohoo!

I drove to my nearest supermarket - nothing there. But when I went to Target - TADA! Yay! Cool Whip in a can!

Tried it - it's alright...still better than Reddi-Wip. The consistency is a little different than the Cool Whip in a tub, but it's still Cool Whip in it's non-dairy deliciousness. I think I'll stick with the tub for the majority of my Cool Whip adventures. The extra work is worth it! :)

Baskin Robbins Soft Serve Update

So we went to Baskin Robbins today to give the new product a little whirl...swirl...
A bit of advice for y'all...ask for a sample before you place your order. I tried it and ended up ordering my usual. You, on the other hand, may love it. But it's better to be safe than sorry! :)

New Trick

So my awesome 4-year-old nephew learned a new trick from TV. I got the heads-up because he played this little trick on my sister today; otherwise, I would probably fall victim to it too...

Nephew: hey look over there!"

Then he takes the thing that's next to you while the you're looking the other way.

What a kid.

Baskin Robbins Soft Serve

Just when you thought you had Baskin Robbins figured out...scoops, sundaes, shakes...Baskin Robbins just announced its newest addition to the menu...soft serve!

Along with the Soft Serve comes their new lines of 31 below - their soft serve with candies/cookies/whatever mixed in (think DQ Blizzards) and Fruit Cream (fruit shakes made with the new soft serve). Ahhh...just in time for the warm weather.

Check it out...and enjoy!

Captain Planet

I recycle. I separate my trash - take out all the paper and recyclable plastic. That's weird to some people, but not to me...and not to Captain Planet! :) Did you ever watch Captain Planet and the Planeteers?!

Movie Watch

There are a lot of movies on my "To Watch" list...

Baby Mama
Ironman
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Mamma Mia!
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The movie I'm on the watch for right now is Monsters vs. Aliens. It won't be released until 2009, but I'll be watching for it anyway. It stars Stephen Colbert, Hugh Laurie, Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd...whooohoo!!

Kraft Bagel-fuls

Just when you thought that a delicious breakfast couldn't get any easier, Kraft comes along and introduces Bagel-fuls! Deeeeelicious bagel sticks that are filled with cool Philadelphia cream cheese...yum...

They come in five varieties:

Original cream cheese
Strawberry cream cheese
Cinnamon cream cheese
Chive cream cheese
Whole Grain bagel

Even my nephew likes them. After my sister had him try it, he asked for his own to eat while we were playing with some toys. When he put it down to build something, he looked at me and said, "Don't eat my lunch, okay?" And waited until I agreed before he put his Bagel-ful down. What a kid. What a bagel.

One tip: You'll find Bagel-fuls in the freezer section, but don't keep them in the freezer at home. Keep them in the fridge, and you won't end up with a bagel filled with frozen cream cheese. :)

New Phrase

My niece has a new phrase...

"Talk to the booty 'cuz the hand's off duty!"

OH BOY.

Bacon Caramel

I'm enjoying this Visual Recipes website...visuals are helpful when you're making something you've never made before. While surfing this evening, I came across this recipe for Bacon Caramel. It sounded weird, so I thought I'd give it some love.

If you happen to try it, let me know how it turns out. I would make it with turkey bacon, just because I love that stuff, but I'm still trying to get used to the idea of bacon and caramel together...

Check the recipe here...

And check out this guy's garnish for his Filipino-style spaghetti (step 9)...so awesome! Again, so weird! I've never seen this before!!! Need a closer look? Here ya go.

Beverly Hills, 90210...the new class?

Okay, confession time. I was (and still am) a fan of Beverly Hills, 90210. Right now, in the midst of trying to finish up grad school, I'm trying to get through the seasons that are currently on DVD. HEY - Don't snicker at me! Someone you know was just as big a fan, or maybe bigger! Go make fun of them and leave me alone!

I also watched (and still watch) Saved by the Bell. The quotes abound and bring liveliness to my everyday conversations. The DVDs for seasons 1-4 are sitting in my house waiting for some love. However, please note that I did NOT enjoy Saved by the Bell, the New Class. So you can imagine the doubts that I have about a new BH90210 series. So many doubts and so many questions!

Is it really going to star Hilary Duff?
What is the likelihood of character recurrence?
Is Jennie Garth coming back as Kelly Taylor?
Will this suck?
If it does, will I still watch it?
Will I let people know that I watch it?

Arrrrrgh...so much confusion, so many decisions, what to do?!

Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert

If you've watched SNL with me, you probably know that Jimmy Fallon is my absolute favorite comedian. I was so sad when he left SNL. And I think I was the first in line to buy the "Best of SNL: Jimmy Fallon" when it came out on DVD.


Anyhow, I'm so excited today - they finally sealed the deal that has Jimmy Fallon taking over Conan O'Brien's place on the Late Night show when Conan takes over the Tonight Show when Jay Leno leaves next summer. I know it's been rumored for months and months, but now it's for real!


You know what that means for me? All my boys will be all together in a late night block of TV. Jon Stewart (The Daily Show), Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report), and Jimmy Fallon (Late Night).

Man vs. Wild - the update

I was mistaken. There was no three day Man vs. Wild extravaganza this weekend. Only three episodes back to back on Friday night. Twice.

The real excitement returns on May 2. Prepare yourselves! It's going to be AWESOME.

If I Were A Graffiti Artist...

I would spend my time correcting all of the grammatical and punctuation mistakes on company billboards.

Example:

It's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru

Corrected version:

It's what makes a Subaru a Subaru

No comma needed!

Free TCBY Yogurt for Mother's Day

Treat your Mom to a free TCBY cup or cone on Mother's Day! :)

Just a reminder for those of you who are bad with dates, Mother's Day is on Sunday, May 11 this year (2008). Show your Mom some love!

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day 2008

Not to be outdone by Baskin Robbins 31 cent scoop deal, Ben & Jerry's just announced their annual Free Cone Day.

It will be on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Which ice cream chain is next to offer us free ice creamy goodness?? :)

Baskin Robbins 31 cent Ice Cream is Back!

Get to the couch and check under your seat cushions...time to dig out that loose change! Baskin Robbins is bringing back their 31 cent scoops...WHOOHOO!!

It will be on April 30, 2008 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Baskin Robbins will donate $100,000 to the National Fallen Figherfighters Foundation.

NKOTB

For those of you who don't know what NKOTB is, allow me to enlighten you.

New
Kids
On
The
Block

They were THE boyband - before NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. I never was a fan back in the day...I left that to my cooler friends and classmates. (I think I can only name one of them - Donny Wahlberg. Is that right?) Plus, it kinda freaked me out that they had tshirts, folders, posters, dolls, and bedspreads of these guys. I didn't understand how people could be so incredibly obsessed. Well, I guess they're giving me another chance to jump on the NKOTB bandwagon because they've reunited after a bazillion years. I think they've recruited my brother as a marketer, because he is determined that we (my brother, me, and anyone else that he can drag along with him) will be going to see this reunion...

What are the chances that you think that will happen? Sorry boys...don't think so.

Man vs. Wild Withdrawal

I LOVE Man vs. Wild. Bear Grylls - that's a man's name - travels around the world and shows me (yes, ME!!...oh, okay, others too) how to survive in the wilderness...hot, cold...you know, wilderness.

It hasn't been on for a while and I'm experiencing withdrawal symptoms. It won't be back on until April 18!!! The good news is...when it comes back, it will be in marathon-format! :) Well, not really a marathon...three in a row for three nights, I think.

I'm debating whether or not I should buy Man vs. Wild Season 1 on DVD...

Super Pii Pii Brothers

Check it out!!! Just when you thought your Wii games were getting a little boring, here come the Super Pii Pii Brothers!

Boys - this should come naturally for you...
Girls - time to beat the boys in their own territory! :)

Pizza Hut becomes Pasta Hut

Starting today, you may start seeing signs for Pasta Hut instead of Pizza Hut. That's no April Fools' joke...the folks at the former Pizza Hut are trying the name out to help them with their pasta sales. So if you're in the mood for pizza and pasta, you'll be able to get them from the Hut! I believe it's starting in Texas, so don't be disappointed if you don't see Pasta Hut right away. Pizza Hut can still bring you your pizza fix.

Seriously. Not joking. Here's the story. And their site.

Orlando Food Tour - Brio Tuscan Grille and Disney's Brown Derby

I was in Orlando for 5 days (but really just 3 days - the other two were traveling days), and I got to eat some good food!

First notable location: Brio Tuscan Grille
Sorry, West Coast folks...Brio is mostly scattered around the East Coast, and the nearest location would be in Las Vegas...
I had their Brio chopped salad (LOVED it) and Romano crusted tomatoes (these were pretty tasty too!). Then I tried one of their tiny little desserts! They have individual desserts served in little tea cups (milk chocolate caramel cake, NY cheesecake, orange creme brulee, white chocolate bread pudding, tiramisu, etc.) - the perfect size to make them hard to resist, even after a full meal! Tried the bread pudding...so good! :) It might have been a different story if it was a full-sized dessert.

Second notable location: Disney's Hollywood Brown Derby
The inventors of the Cobb Salad and the famous Grapefruit cake!
Since I got to the restaurant after they closed their kitchens, the front desk let me take a piece of their grapefruit cake to go. I stumbled across a recipe for this cake on the internets a while ago...and it was pretty good...but it definitely did not do this cake justice! Finished the whole thing myself and it made me sad that I couldn't have more. :(

Anyway, those were the two highlights. I'm so full just thinking about them...

Stylish Baby - Armani Style!

Have a baby that needs to be spoiled? Saks Fifth Avenue can help you with that...here's a glimpse into the collection.

Here's the Armani baby pacifier - a bargain at $45!!

Ikariam

It's Easter (Happy Easter, BTW) and the beginning of my spring break (which will be short-lived - ending tomorrow morning - since I am heading to Florida for a work conference tomorrow).

Everything is closed today, so I'm here at home playing Ikariam! I just started on Friday, so my town is not quite as advanced as others, but it's a pretty fun (sometimes funny) game! I'll be looking to form alliances and write up treaties soon, so join in the fun and give me some friends! :)

My Black Pen and my Voice

I lost both of these things this week. I have been sick (on and off) since the beginning of the year, so I should've seen this coming. Losing my voice was not a huge shock...it just doesn't happen very often. But my black pen...ARGH...this is what I am upset about.

I have taken a liking to the Pilot G-2 series of pens because they offer the extra fine points that I like in a pen. I've developed the habit of keeping three colors with me at all times...BUT I ALWAYS LOSE THE BLACK PEN! This is the third one I've lost. I have been able to keep the other two colors. I don't know what to do!!!! I guess I can keep buying them and losing them...but that may become a little expensive.

I'm guessing this is some mean trick that someone is playing on me. And since I lost my voice, I don't have a voice to complain about it...hence the blog vent.

Street Fighter Movie - 2009

Capcom is attempting to get a GOOD Street Fighter movie out there...this one's entitled "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li." It's scheduled to be released in 2009, and they've revealed their cast!

Kristin Kreuk will be starring as Chun-Li. I wonder if she'll have to learn Chinese...or just a good Chinese accent. She'll probably have to pick up some superhero moves from the Smallville cast.

Seeing Magic Johnson

A few of us went to watch the Lakers vs. Kings game back on March 9, and my brother got us box tickets! That meant that we used the VIP entrance, not the general entry.

As we were getting into the elevator to get to our box, I was looking around and saw this tall guy walking toward us. I didn't have my glasses on, so I squinted to get a better look. It was Magic Johnson! Crazy! I was speechless. But I wanted to make sure that the others I was with saw him, so I tried to tell them...

"Gr..."

Hmm...okay, start again...

"Grandpa...look...its...uh...Ma..Magic!"

As I was talking to my sissy this past weekend, I realized that I was completely starstruck...which is not my norm! But I asked my brother what he was thinking when he saw Magic, and he was more speechless than I was. He said that his jaw dropped and didn't come back up until the elevator door closed. Then he said, "Dang, we should've waited to take the next elevator with Magic..."

Hindsight is 20/20.

Starbucks Addiction

I think I've gotten trapped in a Starbucks addiction.

Tall or Grande Hot Chocolate, soy, with 1 pump Peppermint

It just rolls off my tongue these days...and the money just flows out of my account.
But lemme tell ya...after they closed down for retraining, the drinks have been flawless! :)

Good job, Starbucks.

Happy Pi Day

Yep...it's March 14...

3.14

I don't usually use dots when it comes to writing dates. I'm more of a slash user.

3/14

But the slash approach doesn't support today being Pi day. So just for today, I'll recognize the date as 3.14.

Happy Pi Day everyone! Eat some PIE (an explanation for those who need it - Pi and Pie sound like the same word, but they're actually different! That, my dear friends, is a great example of a homophone!) to celebrate!

Airborne Refund

Have you ever used Airborne? Some people swear by the stuff...even Oprah. Although I've never used it, I've recommended it to others...just based on the things I've heard. But we've been tricked - this product has never been clinically tested (details). False advertising? Absolutely.

The company that sells Airborne has agreed to refund customers their money - with or without a receipt. Check out this site for settlement information and the form that you'll need to fill out to get your refund.

Ben & Jerry's New Flavors for 2008

Here they are...

ONE Cheesecake Brownie
- Cheesecake ice cream with Cheesecake Brownie Chunks

Cake Batter
- Yellow Cake Batter ice cream with a Chocolate Frosting Swirl

Imagine Whirled Peace (John Lennon)
- Caramel and Sweet Cream ice creams swirled with Fudge Peace signs and Toffee Cookie Pieces

Strawberry Banana FroYo
- Strawberry Banana frozen yogurt with Strawberries and a Strawberry Swirl

Click on the New Flavor Lagoon to see them for yourselves! I've begun my search. If anyone finds them in the Los Angeles/Riverside/San Bernardino area, please let me know!!

Leap Year?

I wonder if people realize the work that is involved in determining whether or not a year is a leap year. One could try to explain it simply...by saying that it is every four years...but that is not necessarily true. You also have to look at the years that are evenly divisible by 100. This is where the fun starts!

If the year is evenly divisible by 400, it's a leap year (e.g. the years 2000 and 2400).
If the year is not evenly divisible by 400, it's not (e.g. 2100)...so don't plan on an extra day on those years.

Don't get it? It's okay. Someone in the news will remind you of what you need to know when you need to know it.

There's your brain booster for the month. Wow, that was a big one. Maybe we'll skip next month (and the next few)... :)

Trader Joe's - Save the World Lottery

I'm trying to be more environmentally friendly, so I've started to buy and use reusable grocery bags. Last night I brought one to use at Trader Joe's. I told the cashier that I had brought my own bag and she asked me, "Did you want to enter our drawing? Since you brought your own bag, you're eligible to enter the drawing to win $25 in free groceries."

Sweet! There were benefits to bringing your own bag! AND it's about time that I won something again. My answer, "SURE! Thanks!"

So she's bagging up my groceries and continues to talk, "Yeah, we have a drawing at the end of the ______*. Don't be disappointed if you don't win, though. A lot of people shop here."

* I don't remember if she said week or month...I'm pretty sure it's at the end of the week.

ARGH. Way to burst my bubble, TJs. So sad. I hope I win anyway. If not, I guess I'll just keep on trying.... You should too! Just not at my Trader Joe's. :)

A Happy Mistake

I was wrong when I thought the cookies would take a week or so to get to me. As I walked into my office this morning, they were sitting on my desk! Guess I'll be making that Samoa pie this weekend! Whoohoo!!!

Girl Scout Cookie Recipe

My brother brought home 6 dozen cookies this week, and my cousin convinced us to get banana splits this weekend, so my sugar levels are WAY high. Even so, I am soooo anxious for my Girl Scout cookies to be delivered...mostly because of this recipe (which, BTW, I found while I was doing homework...and it shows you how productive my homework time is...):

Thank Heaven for Little Girl(Scout)s Samoa Cheese Tart

Thank you for sharing, Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy (yes, that is a reference to a person!)!!

The cookies should be here in a week or so, and I'd be happy to share the finished product if anyone wants to try it! Or you may just want to make your own so you don't have to share with me! :)

Food Recall Galore

Hmm...there are two food recalls this week:

The USDA is recalling beef - 143 pounds of frozen beef, to be exact. Any guesses as to where this beef came from? California. Boo. Why? Apparently the cattle did not receive the proper inspection, therefore making this beef unfit for human consumption. The contaminated spinach already came from California...and now beef? Come on. Contamination, please choose another state.

Also in the recall news - See's chocolate chips. The packages failed to mention that the chocolate chips could contain traces of milk. So if you have milk allergies and have purchased these chocolate chips, please don't eat them! More info here...

How to make Chicken Adobo

Brush up on your Tagalog, and get ready to cook!

IHOP - Pancake Day and New Pancakes

Oh, so much to write about pancakes today!

If you happen to be near an IHOP (International House of Pancakes), stop on by and get your free pancakes. They're giving out free short stacks from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and again, all they're asking is that you consider making a donation to the Children's Miracle Network.

If you're in the mood for spending money on pancakes, they are also featuring their new Shortcake pancakes (in strawberry, blueberry, and apple). More info here...

Tim Tam Crush

Okay...I had mentioned the Tim Tam Slam a long time ago. Just to refresh your memory, that's the way that the Aussies eat their Tim Tams. They bite diagonal corners off of their Tim Tam, then use it as a straw with hot chocolate, coffee, or another beverage of their choice. As soon as the drink reaches your mouth (after traveling through the cookie), you SLAM the entire cookie into your mouth and just wait for it to meeeeeeeeeeeeelt. So yummy.

The Tim Tam CRUSH is the newest cookie in the Tim Tam line. They are available in Toffee Nut, Honeycomb, and Mocha Hazelnut flavors. I'm not sure if you can SLAM the CRUSH, since Crush cookies aren't sandwich cookies. We'll see. Check it out here!

Starbucks Super Service

I went to Starbucks yesterday. I walked in and got two very cheerful greetings…then got the most wonderful service! Here’s how it went:

Me: Could I have a tall caramel apple cider, please?
Starbucks Barista: Unfortunately, you can’t…we’re all out of cider for today…BUT, I can get you any other drink – on the house.
Me: Really? Hahah…um…could I have a tall Peppermint Hot Chocolate no whip?
SB: Sure!
Me: Oh, and could you make that soy?
SB: Of course!
Me: [reaching into my bag for my wallet]
SB: No, no…put that away. I said it was on the house!
Me: Are you sure? My order was kinda complicated…
SB: Complicated? Sweetheart, this is Starbucks! That was hardly complicated! Complicated is sugar-free, half-pump, extra room…[kept going]. Here you go…enjoy!

I’ll be going back there…probably tonight!!!

Pies and Cookies

Pepperidge Farm has expanded their collection, yet again, with their newest cookie - Montieri.

I bought some last night. They're so cute! They're like little peach, raspberry, and apple pies.

Sorry if you don't like fruit pies.

Wild Animal Crunch Cereal

Who said cereal needed to be vegetarian? This one happens to be Seal flavored! :) It doesn't say it on the box, but I'm pretty sure it's the wild animal that gives it the crunch...

Hope you all enjoy that delicious crrrrrunch!

Sucks for me!

I have a midterm tonight, and I have a migraine right now. Hopefully this headache goes away soon...I have some cramming to do!!

My Superbowl Sunday

Normally, I would watch the commercials and find something else to do during the game. This year was different. This was the first time that I watched the entire Superbowl - game and commercials. I skipped out on the half-time show because I'm not such a big fan of Tom Petty and Co. (YES, I KNOW - it's Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. I was just trying to save time, but thanks a lot, now that I had to explain it, I just used the time I saved.)

My brother and I made some AWESOME nachos - and that's basically all we ate. We started eating during the team introductions and were done about 10 minutes after kickoff. Then we all slipped into food coma that has lasted until TODAY. Maybe that's why I ended up watching the whole game - because I was too crazy tired to get up and do something else! :)

So sad for the Patriots - no perfect season.
So happy for the Giants - yay, the Manning Bros. have made history.

Now what should I eat for dinner...???

Rosegreen - New Flavor!

Rosegreen has a new flavor of frozen yogurt - PEACH!
Try it! It's so good.

Plus, they have their 1st anniversary deal:
Buy one medium with three toppings, get one small plain free.

Enjoy!

Loma Linda University - The Clinic

Third year students from Loma Linda University's School of Dentistry present their version of "The Office." Good job guys! :)

Nose News

My nephew headbutted me yesterday - in the nose. It hurt pretty bad (he has a hard head!) but the pain went away shortly after that.

BUT...later that evening, I realized that it still hurt when I touched my nose. It feels like it's bruised, but doesn't look like it...yet! So if you see me and my nose is black and blue...that's the story behind it.

Craving Churros...

Since I had the stomach flu, my appetite hasn't been normal. I crave french fries a couple times a week, but when I actually see them or smell them cooking, my stomach starts to turn and I start feeling nauseated. I went to a birthday party today and only ate half a brownie. I'm so sad...this fat kid likes to eat!!! How am I going to eat if food isn't appetizing anymore?!

Well, the answer to that is that I need to eat what I'm craving when I'm actually craving something. This weekend, I decided that churros sounded good. So my brother found a recipe for me. We had to go to Michael's to find the right piping attachment to make the churros look like churros. Lemme tell ya...they were pretty good! Plus, my brother made this chocolate sauce (it was supposed to be Mexican chocolate - like hot chocolate - for dipping...but he added more chocolate and thickened it up a little more) and the churros went from being pretty good to being pretty awesome!

Wish I would've taken a picture...but they got eaten pretty fast. Sorry. Maybe next time...
And according to my grandfather...there WILL BE a next time. (Guess he's a fan of the homemade churro!) :)

Pinkberry News

Pinkberry has added a new flavor of frozen yogurt AND a new topping!

The new flavor is...COFFEE!!
The new topping is...CHESTNUTS!!

When the cashier first told us that they have chestnuts available as a topping, I heard "Water Chestnuts." I probably need to work on my listening skills...

My brother tried the combination and he said it's pretty darn good.

We both send our compliments to whoever has to peel those chestnuts... :)

Smurf News

To celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Smurfs will be starring in a new movie!

Info here...

Can't wait!! My friends in high school used to call me Smurfette because I was short compared to them. Haha...

NBA Replay

Since Stephen Colbert can't deliver his Sport Report due to lack of a writing staff, I'm stepping in to report some sports news...

The Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat are going to replay the last 51.9 seconds of a game originally played on December 19, 2007, in which the Hawks won (117-111) in OT. This hasn't happened since 1982, so if you don't believe me, well...I don't blame you. BUT, you can read it for yourself here!

Josh Smith, one of the Atlanta Hawks, can't play because he had fouled out by that point in the original game. So sorry if you're a Josh Smith fan. But don't worry, you'll see him play right after that...with the slate wiped clean.

Interestingly, Pat Riley has been involved in this kind of shenanigan before - back in 82-83...and again in the 07-08 season! How does he do it....???

It's Cold...and Time for Ice Cream

Baskin Robbins is enticing me again...with their Ice Cream + More Sugar concoctions!


Yummm....they now have a Chocolate Truffle Shake, a Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Sundae, and Fudge Crunch Cakes (copying Carvel ice cream cakes).

Yeah, like it's not enough that my family devoured an entire cow last week...(Oh, yeah, we had 3 racks of ribs, brisket, and tri-tip at Lucille's - the $300 family meal)...we have to finish off all the cow's milk in the form of macaroni and cheese, and now...ice cream.


Poor Cow...

Lucille's BBQ

I don't eat red meat, and some people think it's sad, and some people think it's dumb. Actually, I do get sad when I smell Korean BBQ or when I pass by Arby's. Anyway, ever since Lucille's BBQ opened in Victoria Gardens, I've wanted to go there.

No, not to eat ribs, although they did smell really good. They have chicken and other things, people! I've been there twice in the past week!! I'm completely content sitting there with their biscuits (with their spiced butter) and mashed potatoes while everyone else enjoys the meat. Plus, it's fun to be the not-so-messy eater at the table while everyone is getting sauce all over their faces. Hehe...

So if you ever want to go to Lucille's, I'm so there!! :)

The Brother

To continue the story about my Norovirus encounter...my brother has enjoyed this quite a bit more than I have. Just for clarification, the effects of the Norovirus includes more than just vomiting. Look it up for more detail.

Here are a couple clips from his comedy based on my experience...

CLIP #1
Bro: Hey, want to know what I can do that you can't do?
Me: [just stares at him]
Bro: [lets out a big fart] Hahahahahahahahahahaha.....

CLIP #2
Bro pours a glass of Gatorade for himself and for me.
Me: [picking up the bottle of Gatorade] I know that I didn't finish all of this by myself...
Bro: Yeah, I know. I drank it too. It would've been wasted on you...either way.
Me: [tries to hit him]
Bro: Don't make me juice you!

Happy New Year!

First post of the new year...four days into the new year. Sounds like I've been pretty busy, huh? Well, I have been! Holidays and family have kept me busy, but most importantly, I was one of the lucky participants in the Norovirus outbreak 2008! I got sick on January 2, then spent all of yesterday in bed. I'm up today and feeling human again.

If you happen to be looking for Gatorade and can't find any, it's probably because that's all I've had for the past few days, and I probably caused the shortage. :)

Anyhow, happy new year!