Running With Scissors

Free is Always Good

Get a free year of Every Day with Rachael Ray right here!  Enter code JR44YNSE.

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Carded

 
Have you taken Minted.com up on their free "Mommy" cards offer? I did -- and I really like them. More casual than a business card but not nearly as dorky as the back of some receipt I dug out of my purse. Lots of cute designs to choose from too. Plus, the box they come in is adorable. I ordered another 25 cards for $5 more. Apparently I anticipated meeting a lot of people in the near future.

Here's how to get yours:

1. Browse Minted's collection of over 150 unique, fresh card designs.

2. Personalize your design. Add your name, your child's name, or any other personal information.

3. Check the "get free business cards" box on the order page. Pay $7.95 for shipping.

Enjoy!

Zombie Apocalypse Preparedness

Since I suspect that I will not be the only one of my friends and family to be 'left behind' after Saturday's scheduled Rapture, I thought we could at least be prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have prepared a handy guide so that we can all be ready for the zombie infestation.

I am laying in a supply of Coke Zero and preparing my Go Bag -- what do you think -- Prada or Kate Spade?

Are You Sick of the Royal Wedding?

Me neither.

 

                                                            (Photo from Kate Middle For The Win)

So even though it is almost two weeks post-wedding, I thought I'd share some photos of the little wedding watching party we had here.

The party was Pam's idea, but we had it my house because I know how to work the DVR. I wish I was kidding.

Like all Pam-sanctioned events, there were costumes. In this case, pajamas and tiaras. Of course our friends went over and above (and under and around) the dress code -- and included fancy hats and formal dresses.

Pam completed her ensemble with pearls and an engagement ring just like Kate's.

 

Can you believe I already had these obnoxious fabulous Lilly Pulitzer pajamas?  Love them. There was lots of wonderful food, free-flowing mimosas, and quite a few laughs.

 

 

It was so thoughtful of Will and Kate to have their wedding on my birthday -- like I needed another excuse to drink Champagne and eat cupcakes. Maybe we'll have an anniversary party next year!

 

 

 

 

 

Alcohol is the Devil

I am in Northern California entertaining my friend Wendi while she undergoes treatment for cancer. Apparently I am doing a stellar job because today I have the mother of all hangovers. Besides downing a considerable amount of wine we also signed my pal up for Facebook and sent friend invitations to everyone in the known universe including Charlie Sheen.

The rest of the evening is kind of blurry, but it must have been interesting because I woke up with my hair so tangled that I had flashbacks to the summer my mom gave me a pixie cut because she couldn't face trying to drag a brush through my hair one more day. I was 38 at the time. Okay, I was 7, but the trauma is still fresh.

I've narrowed it down to three possible activities that could have produced my medusa-like locks:

1. I may have been attempting some break dancing. This is entirely possible because I am an excellent dancer when under the influence. Maybe not excellent. Enthusiastic is a better word. Enthusiastic and extremely uncoordinated.

 

2. I could have found a spider monkey wandering the halls of the hotel and encouraged him to construct a nest on my head. I think the Marriott is known for monkeys in the halls.

 

3. I have watched so many episodes of the Jersey Shore that I was channeling my inner Snooki and attempted a little poof action.

Personally, I think it was the monkey.

Fuzzy Balls

No, not Schweddy Balls. Fuzzy balls made from my stash of recycled, felted (or fulled) sweaters.

I saw this cute pattern on the Purl Bee blog and thought it would be fun to try.  Voila! Sweater balls. Now does anybody have any ideas what I can do with them? Baby toys, maybe?

Cinnamon Rolls Fit For A Goddess

A group of my girlfriends celebrates 50th birthdays with a croning ceremony. I know, it sounds kind of awful -- who wants to be called a crone? But it's fun and hey -- any excuse for a party with this bunch. Apparently we're kind of trendy too -- croning ceremonies were featured in USA Today. Here's what they had to say about it:

"This was a croning ceremony, designed to invoke spiritual reflection, dignity and wisdom.

An ancient rite of passage to honor older women, croning ceremonies had become nearly extinct. But they are making a comeback. And they're going mainstream.

With the youngest baby boomers turning 50 this year, many women are evaluating what it means to stand on the threshold of old age. For some women, croning ceremonies serve as an ideal way to make a statement about that passage.

In ancient times, she says, old women were known as crones. They held power and enjoyed status as "the healers, the mediators, the wise of the communities.''

I think there is something powerful in taking what is perceived as a negative, like growing older, embracing it, honoring it, and creating something positive. And the mimosas were really good too.

Our croning ceremony was followed by a potluck brunch. It was delicious -- there are some fabulous cooks in this group. My contribution was cinnamon rolls and since some people requested the recipe, I thought I'd share it with all eleven of my readers.

Cinnamon Rolls

ROLLS

• 3/4 cup water plus 2 tablespoons
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon bread machine yeast

FILLING

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened

GLAZE

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1-2 tablespoon milk

Directions

1. Place water, 2 Tablespoons butter, flour, 1/4 cup white granulated sugar, salt and yeast in the bread machine and start on dough cycle.
2. Once dough is complete, roll out into a 9" square on a lightly floured surface.
3. Mix 1/3 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon together (I mix it in a measuring cup).
4. Spread 2 Tablespoons softened butter over the dough and sprinkle with the cinnamon mixture.
5. Roll up tightly into a log and pinch the edges to seal.
6. Cut into 1" slices and place in a greased 9"x9"x2" pan
7. Cover loosely with a dish towel and let rise 1 hour or so until double, OR in refrigerator overnight if making for breakfast.
8. Preheat oven to 375°F and bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.
9. Mix powdered sugar, vanilla and milk to make glaze, drizzle over rolls and serve warm

Notes:  I usually roll my dough out a little bigger -- about 9" by 12" and roll it on the long side to make a few more rolls. I almost always make it the night before and I don't always put it in the refrigerator overnight -- I just leave it covered on the counter.

To make this without a bread machine, after combining the dough ingredients, cover the bowl and let it rise in a warm spot for about an hour. Then proceed with the original directions.

Here's a pic of the brand new crone rocking her tiara:

If I Had A Bucket List . . .

riding a Segway would definitely be on it.  [I don't have a "Bucket List" for a variety of reasons, which include the fact that I don't need anything else to feel guilty about not doing]  Our local Segway guys, GW Tours, ran a great deal on Groupon a couple weeks ago, so Charlie and I took a Segway tour of the pier area on Memorial Day.

They use the term "tour" very loosely -- they didn't really point out the Surfing Museum or anything -- but we did see a huge American flag on a crane by the pier.

 

The Segways were very easy to ride and our "tour guides" were great. The best part was taking them out onto the sand. A little more challenging than pavement, but not too bad.

   

 

I was a tiny bit miffed when some chick muttered something about "tourists" as we glided by -- I'll put my 'local cred' up against just about anybody -- but I guess we looked the part. Sans fanny pack.

I Try to Like the Academy Awards

But I just don't have the attention span. Charlie taped it and we just ended up fast forwarding through all the filler stuff. But this, this was better than anything:

When I Win The Lottery . . .

I'm taking this Paris Flea Market trip and I'm taking all my friends with me!