Take That, Kate Winslet.

Ahem.

What I mean to say is that I am beyond humbled at the multitude of award riches I have received compliments of the beautiful and talented Vicki Archer of the coveted blog French Essence. Merci, mon petit chou! Because, seriously, I blush.

Before I get to the awards, I would like to spend a moment on Vicki. When I first discovered her blog, I immediately loved it (along with everybody else in blogland). It wasn't until I had been reading it for some time that she mentioned her book and I realized that she was the author of the book I had sitting on my coffee table. This book:


If you are the only person who doesn't read her blog (here), you owe it to yourself to do so and become as infatuated as I was and am with her photos and words and her life!! There will be a new book published in the fall, also with photography by the beyond-talented Carla Coulson. Visit her blog, Carla Loves Photography, here.

Now, onto the awards. I am to pass along these fine prizes to 10 people I deem worthy. They, in turn, are to pass them along to 10 people or blogs they enjoy to spread the love.

First, the Your Blog is Fabulous Award:

You know, I happen to be dressed exactly like that today, channeling Audrey Hepburn.


The aim of the Excessively Diverting Blog Award is to acknowledge writing excellence in the spirit of Jane Austen's genius in amusing and delighting readers with her irony, humor, wit and talent for keen observation. Recipients will uphold the highest standards in the art of sparkling banter, witty repartee and gentle reprove. That's me: the highest standards (please ignore Cougar Barbie) and gentle reprove. *smile*


The Superior Scribbler Award is pretty self-explanatory. U can has pen?

Those 3 awards go to the following 10 bloggers whom I luf (some of whom just received an award from me and now too will be beside themselves with award riches):

(Click on blog names to visit)

Raina: The pith and hilarity of If the Lampshade Fits
Gracie: The mucho funny and kooky sweetness of Woolgathering & Miscellany
Erin & Karly: The doozie bosom of Design Crisis
Persian Tea: If you haven't visited this blog, you need to, it's gorgeous
Greta: Noodle-ing Adventures of a single momma in My Kind of Town
Jamie: Small Expectations - cat artist extraordinaire
Pam: Garden Designs & More - a wealth of info on plants and garden design
Brandy at It's like I'm...mmmagic! She's awesome. And brainy.
Miss S.K. at A Little More Than a Thousand Words. Awesome and brainy as well. And I think she needed some awards today.
Molly at Designers' Brew: Even though I want her old Nerdy blog name back, she is kicking ass and taking (new) names.


Last, the Share the Love Award goes to the following 5 (who each will pass it along to 5):

Chris and John at Shore Haus: my beach boys!
Megan at Shop at Moxie: DeKalbalicious!
Decorina at Decorina and Skylar: fighting the good fight
David - Midwestern Malaise: Kansas City's finest
Jill at Stella's Roar: shoe lover's paradise and hedonist's heaven

You know the rules, you gorgeous people. Take the love, decorate your blog with it, post it, link it and pass it along. You know what they say: love isn't love 'til you give it away. Or it's like a box of chocolates. Something like that.

Bill Maher...

needs a girlfriend, a mother or a gay lover.

Who let him go to the Oscars in a leather tux?

(This post in lieu of Sunday Night Confession.)

And the Winner Is...

As usual, I began the year with big plans to see all of the Oscar-nominated movies and only saw Slumdog Millionaire and Revolutionary Road (which didn't even end up being nominated). I may go to the afternoon show of The Wrestler but then I won't have time to make all my fabulous award-worthy appetizers and cocktails for the big event. I also saw part of Rachel Getting Married (long story; award nom for Best Actress) and I did see Vicky Cristina Barcelona (supporting nom).

So, which do you pick for Best Movie? Best Actor? Best Actress? And while you are watching (I will be glued to the TV beginning with the pre-show - the dresses are the best part!), feel free to leave comments rating the designer-clad attendees.

My choices are: Slumdog Millionaire (some thought it was corny - I loved it); Mickey Rourke (look up movie clips on YouTube for The Wrestler); and Anne Hathaway (Meryl Streep still must pay for Mamma Mia; I'm sick of Jolie; Kate Winslet totally overacted in Revolutionary Road so I'm basing my decision on that; and I've never heard of the other movie). In supporting roles, I choose Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road and Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Your turn.

For some pre-Oscar entertainment, go here to see video clips, photos and tidbits from previous Oscar ceremonies, such as the year Barbra Streisand won a Best Actress award for Funny Girl, she tied with Katharine Hepburn for The Lion in Winter - the only tie for B.A. in the history of the awards show. You can download your ballot, too, to play along.

Rethinking the Martini.

I am not alone in thinking today's martini is a travesty. Gin (or, forbid, vodka) on the rocks, strained, is not a martini. It's not even a cocktail. The person responsible for the idea of merely waving the vermouth bottle over the glass should be whacked on the head with it. Some attribute it to alcoholics like Hemingway who wanted their liquor strong. Others blame Prohibition and the lack of availability of vermouth and bitters.

James Bond's author, Ian Fleming, is credited with responsibility for the gin-bruising act of shaking, not stirring the cocktail (shaken is referred to as a Bradford). However, according to the Washington Post, one British study pops up every so often extolling the health benefits of a martini shaken, not stirred. Good and good for you - who knew?

While there's disagreement over the origin of its name (some believe Martini came from the brand of vermouth [Martini & Rossi used to be called Martini], while some believe the cocktail was created and named for a customer at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco on his way to Martinez, Calif.), most agree that the Martinez and the first martinis originally consisted of sweet vermouth and Old Tom gin with a dash of bitters.

The proportion of sweet vermouth to gin (4:1) changed over the years, eventually ending up with a 2 or 3:1 ratio in favor of gin. City folks began to favor adding dry vermouth instead of sweet for a more sophisticated flavor and thus the dry martini was born.

Another ingredient that is overlooked today is water. You shouldn't really freeze the liquor and glasses and shakers - the ice needs to melt slightly into the drink to smooth it out. I still prefer a chilled glass.

Also, the martini is always made with gin - Hendrick's, Plymouth, Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire and G'Vine Nouaison are good ones; Hayman's Distillers has resurrected Old Tom for the nostalgic. There are also higher end vermouths such as Noilly Prat and Dolin to try. If you prefer vodka as I do, you will be asking for a vodka martini. And you will need to get comfortable telling pompous martini purists to shut their pie holes. Now for the recipes:


The Perfect Martini

2 1/2 oz. gin (or vodka)
1/2 oz. dry vermouth
1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
1-2 dashes aromatic bitters (optional)

Shake or stir with ice and strain into chilled glass. Run lemon peel around rim and twist into drink.


Classic Martini

1 1/2 oz. gin or vodka
1/2 oz. dry vermouth

Pour into ice-filled glass or shaker. Stir until very cold. Pour into chilled glass. Add olive.

I like to add a little olive juice (about 1/2-1 tsp.) for a dirty martini, depending on the size of the glass*. I use vodka and my preference is Stoli (I know, Stoli is so 80s) and I like to remove the pimento from Queen olives and stuff them with blue cheese. I have also found my personal preference in ratio is 2 1/2 parts vodka to 1/2 part vermouth, stirred and then shaken. Take that, 007.

The Post recommends trying a martini using Old Tom gin and sweet vermouth with a dash of bitters.

For some good recipes (including flavored martinis), click here. For all kinds of classic recipes, including the Classic Martini, the Martinez and Martinis Circa 1888 and 1900, go here to Drinkboy.

*Do not even get me started on the obscene size of today's cocktail glasses. That's an entirely different post.

Slumdog Millionaire.

One word: Go.

Oh, and some more words: I say this every year but this year I absolutely am going to see all the Oscar-nominated movies (which I guess will be announced later this week) before the Academy Awards.

I always watch the Golden Globes and the Oscars much to the dismay of the rest of my family. Except the dogs. They are pretty good to do whatever I want and they never make fun of my TV choices. Although Stella will howl through any CSI type of show with sirens. Or any type of series or movie or parade with sirens. Or dogs. She's genius like that.

Have you seen any movies you think are Oscar-worthy? Could you not care less?

Next on my list: Revolutionary Road.