What did the Easter Bunny bring you?

Pretty sure he brought me 5 more pounds – seriously we ate all day long on Sunday – it was great! =)
After Mass we went to brunch at Savor with my parents and sister, I had crab cakes Benedict and dark chocolate creme brulee – it was so very good! Then not 4 hours later, we went to eat at MZ’s parents house with his parents and his aunt and uncle from Florida, we had a ham and all the fixins’ – again another tasty meal and I just can’t say no to home cooked meals – so of course I did not. 
It was such a dreary day on Easter there wasn’t much else to do except eat and take a nap and we sure could scratch both of those off our list!
On Saturday, my mom and I worked at the M&N Augustine Foundation 16th annual Easter Feed for the homeless and hungry. As expected this was the biggest year ever – we served over 5,000 meals between those who came in to eat and the meals we shipped out to those who would not have a hot meal over the weekend like the Meals on Wheels recipients, the women’s shelter and the jails.
It’s such a rewarding event and I love participating each year!

A very Danish 30th Birthday Party

Last weekend we headed north to Kansas City to celebrate AD’s 30th Birthday. It was a blast. I never pick to go to KC but always have a blast when I’m there. I love the theory of the Plaza and all the open air shopping and patios in bars and restaurants. We stayed right on the plaza and the weather on Saturday was gorgeous – a bit windy, but so nice to walk around and people watch and grab a beer or two at few local places.
That night we headed out to Mexican food at exactly what AD wanted – cheap fast 
and GOOD – it was all of that with great margaritas! 
After dinner we headed to the Power and Light District where there were some fabulous bars, we started out at Fire Fly, which is considered a modern day “speakeasy.” You had to go down a long hallway to get to the main bar – no passwords required but still… We go there just in time to secure some of the best seats in the place and our entourage took over! After a couple of hours, we moved on to 180 which had a great martini called the Grapes of Wrath – here’s a pic of me and Courtney enjoying what is probably well after our first one…

It was a tasty blend of Ciroc Grape Vodka, white grape juice and champagne – and those are not olives (EWWW) they are frozen grapes! Yummo! Also ironically appropriate as MZ thinks just buying a bottle of white grape juice and pouring vodka in it would be cheaper than the wine I drink – I’m not sure if that’s mathematically accurate, but after that martini – I’m sure willing to try it! I think the trick is to get everything uber-cold! 

MAYBE SOMEBODY READING THIS WILL GO AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN…

Here’s a couple more girly pics and of course a picture of MZ and me… 

Sunday was bitter cold in KC – quite a drastic change from just a few hours before because I sure didn’t remember it being that cold when we left the bar – but I also couldn’t tell you where that bar was… anyway – the Plaza was dead so we were excited about our chances on getting into Cheesecake Factory for brunch. We tried to have snacks there on Saturday afternoon and there was a 30 minute wait for just the two of us, even at the bar! uh no thank you…

There was absolutely no wait and we had a delicious brunch of eggs Benedict with grilled tomatoes and spinach and MZ had bbq bacon burger, and we had to get cheesecake – we just got it to go from the start, had a few bites and hit the road. When we were leaving KC it was SNOWING! Very hard to believe we were in shorts and tank tops and sandals the day before. 
It was a great weekend and I’m so glad we all could get together to celebrate!

Snuggie – more like an August blanket

A while back I became enthralled with the Snuggie, also the combination of the Snuggie and the ShamWow = a SnuggieWow (that didn’t take off though…yet!) 
I resisted the urge to “call now” and even passed up the offer of the free book light, but then I found the “as seen on TV” aisle at Walgreens… I bought a Snuggie – bought one for Lindsey too. I was so excited to get it home and snuggie up on the couch.
So that evening MZ and I sat down to watch TV and I to try out the Snuggie. It was a total let down. It’s so thin and flimsy and pretty much worthless. It’s also a very ugly blue color – Walgreens did not have the maroon, although that color would have been even more like the chanting monks.
I deem it only appropriate as a light throw potentially to be used in August with 93% humidity.
MZ just pretty much made fun of me unmercifully (and still does) for my very silly purchase, and I actually have to agree with him. It was an impulse buy I totally regret.

BACON! You need it.

I haven’t written about a work adventure in while… so here’s something we’ve been up to!

BACON BACON BACON!
Wright Brand Bacon to be exact!
Here are a couple of breakfast creations designed and orchestrated by Aaron McCargo from the FoodNetwork, he’s the host of Big Daddy’s House and he also won The Next FoodNetwork Star last season.
He was here to do some video shorts for our websites this week. He made a bacon stuffed french toast pocket and bacon egg cups with mushrooms and herbs as a few breakfast options, 2 of the other recipes was a chicken roulade and hamburger roll both of which are of course wrapped in bacon… proving the well known fact that you REALLY CAN wrap anything in bacon. Try it – you’ll be amazed!

I love doing the videos, there is so much prep work that goes into them and the attention to details is something I really LOVE! Setting up each table setting is probably my favorite part, that and saying ACTION, QUIET ON THE SET & THAT’S A WRAP! 

If it ain’t broke… don’t break it just because you can

I sometimes wonder if some people just pick something to “call out” or change because they feel like they should put their 2 cents in on a decision. I can’t say I’m not guilty of this, but there’s a strong change that at times some people take this power way overboard!
I’ve been in meetings where a group is reviewing concept designs and after everyone has gone around the room and given feedback, someone feels the need to say something totally off topic or something that goes against the entire groups thinking. I know – it could happen, that not everyone agrees on an idea – it should happen, but the moral of the story is don’t wait until the very end. Voice your opinion early and constructively.
The same goes for complaining just to complain, I’m more guilty of this than the above noted. 
So, with all that said, I’m hoping by getting back into my blog and writing more that will help with my own complaining. I know I’m very blessed in my life. I have a wonderful boyfriend – who gets the most of my complaining and I can’t be appreciative enough for his listening to me. I’m very grateful to have job in this economy, especially knowing that my old team at my previous company was eliminated – things do happen for a reason. I have really great friends of all walks of life that definitely keep me grounded and learning every day.  I’m lucky to have my entire immediate family in such close proximity, even though that streak of luck is not always so evident. 

New Computer Day

Woo Hoo!
Today I got to pick up my new computer! I got a new MacBook and I’m so excited about it.
I’ve always been a fan of macs and am very happy to be a proud owner of something that can drive all my gadgets more efficiently.
I’m also hoping that this will help to boost my inspiration (if not readership) of my blog here – hopefully with my a renewal in writing if will expand in many ways!
I’m going to try and post something at least 5 times per week – that’s my goal…
Now off to set up the rest of my programs and transfer files and music, etc.

The next reality show, right in my back yard – Can you survive as a Walmartian?

I’m watching Running in Heels on styleTV – if you haven’t seen it, it’s an intern group competing for a position at Marie Claire magazine in NYC. There are some bitchy contestants and daring and crazy stunts disguised as tasks to test the gusto of the competitor/ applicants. Pretty good show all around and glad to see that Nina is breaking out of the Project Runway bubble. Lots of glamour and travel and fun and partying – makes life in the real world in a real job seem like that’s what it’s all about. Stressed to these girls is whether or not they get invited to the red carpet event of the afternoon, whatever!
New idea – do a reality show job interview at the Walmart home office in Bentonville. Bring a slew of “qualified” applicants to a dry county in Arkansas and have them work 12 + hour days in the retail behemoth that is Walmart. Everything that goes on in that building is amazing and has a lot to teach unsuspecting jobbies! There wouldn’t be the glitz and glamour, that’s for sure. So if for some reason, anyone reading this has any pull in the realm of reality shows, I’d love to pitch the whole of my idea!

Breakin’up is hard to do…

Neil Sedaka was so right – it is hard to do, but I feel it has to be done.
I must break up with my hair girl! Unfortunately, she does a stellar job so I can’t fault her there. The problem is that I NEVER EVER know how much she is going to charge me.

6 weeks ago I had my hair done and she put a bit more brown in it, did a quick razor cut to thin it out but not cut any length off it and waxed my eyebrows, for all that she only charged me $70. I just figured since I didn’t get a full cut and “style” change that was the reason for the lower price. Well I went in last week and asked for the VERY same thing, telling her how much l loved it and about the compliments, I got from the original cut.

So she did the same thing sorta, it’s a bit lighter, so not really what I asked for but not something that was worth complaining about because it looks super good. No length cut off, nothing fancy. $109???
Yeah I was shocked! I couldn’t believe the up charge. A $10 difference might be one thing, but $40 is a lot of money!
I’m sad – I don’t know who I’m going to go to now – I really trust her with my hair, unfortunately I do not trust her with my finances!

Wait, is that Walt from LOST in that commercial?

It sure is! Malcom David Kelley (aka Walt from LOST) is in my new commercial. Again, not really MY commercial but I was there for the entire process, so I feel fine in saying MY commercial. See previous posts…

Here are what some people are saying about it as well…
http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/messagetopic.asp?p=11904024
http://boards.ign.com/lost/b8147/176834073/p1/
http://forum.lostpedia.com/showthread.php?s=339bf816e7733fa12e066f6d07ca955d&p=1250012&mode=threaded#post1250012
http://www.thecoconutinternet.com/showthread.php?t=7562
http://forums.scifi.com/index.php?showtopic=2323232

You can see my commercial linked here:
GRACIE’S AWESOME COMMERCIAL!

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑