Bootylicious.

Frye Harness

I have no idea why it took me so many years to buy these but I finally did. I love them and you will not want to mess with me while I'm wearing them. I actually saw a very good version of them at Target for about 1/4 of the price (and half the weight).

I've never been a big boot person but now all I want to wear are boots. If you have a J. Crew credit card, you are privy to sale information; unfortunately, I did not get these on sale:

J. Crew Nottingham

I found a website called Endless.com which will ship your shoes/boots/bags OVERNIGHT for free and pay for return shipping if they don't work out! So I ordered these as well. I love them (fyi - they run a half size small).

Frye Billy Tall

Next on my list:

Frye Deborah

Apparently, I am all about Frye. I guess you can take a girl out of the midwest...

Sunday Nightcap.

Tomorrow's a holiday, right?

Espresso Martini

Two versions.

Version 1:

1 1/2 oz. Stoli or other vodka
1 1/2 oz. strong coffee, chilled
3/4 - 1 oz. Kahlua*
splash Simple Syrup

Shake with ice until chilled. Strain into glass. Add lemon peel (optional).


Version 2:

1 1/2 oz. Stoli Vanilla
1 1/2 oz. strong coffee, chilled
3/4 - 1 oz. Kahlua*

Shake with ice until chilled. Strain into glass. Add lemon peel (optional).

*The reason this is inexact is because I usually aim for 3/4 and get 1 oz.

Team Conan.

Sunday Night Confession: Notorious.

Last night my husband and I were watching Notorious with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman and during the scene where Cary and Ingrid are on the balcony in Rio de Janiero my husband says to me, "She reminds me of you."

"Who?" says I. "Ingrid Bergman??!!"

"Yes."

That's the best compliment I've ever received.

The King is Dead. Long Live the King.

If you know anything about me, you know I have an unnatural love for the KING. I'm not talking about Elvis on black velvet; I am talking about Elvis in black leather in the '68 Comeback Special (which you have to rent this weekend to understand my true love for him). In honor of his 75th birthday, here's a taste of E in all his sweaty, black leather-bound, magnificently sideburned glory:



In other E news, my neighbor at the beach was a dancing girl in Vegas in her late teens and she appeared with Elvis in the movie Viva Las Vegas. *squeal*

*Sigh* What a hunka hunka burnin' love.

The Mind Reels.

There is actually a bid on this lamp on eBay. There should be some sort of a department designed to put a stop to it.

Free Holiday Brandy.

This photo of Ryan Reynolds' abs is designed to cheer Brandy up.

Okay, you drunks. I know you are thinking, "Yeah, I could use some MORE brandy." This was merely an attempt to lure you into my blog's clutches.

People have been asking you for a lot of things this year: money, food, donations of all sorts. I have a request that doesn't even require you to get up from your chair. It comes from my blogging bud Brandy.

She is a twenty-something from Canada who writes the brilliant blog "It's like I'm...mmmagic!" She's a great writer and an excellent schoolteacher and she and her boyfriend have received a shitty Christmas present. Quite possibly the shittiest present ever.

And while it's not certain, she's taking action. Just in case. And calling for prayers or positive vibes or thoughts or canned goods* or whatever the universe can send her way.

Actually, this is not funny at all. It's serious business. Here goes:

"My name is Brandy. And I have a blog.

And a plea.

I use my blog to showcase the crazy I meet everyday, share the stories of the kids I teach and document my love for tequila, dairy products and the abdominal muscles of Ryan Reynolds. Rarely do I talk about personal issues on my blog- as personal as the dude that I adore (who I actually met through my blog - single ladies, let that be a very good reason to blog, the possibility of meeting someone as wonderful as my man), but I need your help. And it involves my dude.

He's a guy who made math comics for my class, so they would love learning about addition. He's the kinda guy who sends my friends gift cards when they are having hard times, who remembers every story I ever told him, who was the first person I celebrated with when I got a teaching job. He's the guy who sent flowers to me at school- dozens of my favourite pink roses just because he loves me. He's a guy who has spent a year patiently explaining (and re-explaining) everything there is to know about football during the important games when silence is preferred. He's made me word puzzles and comics and stayed up late playing Scrabble with me (even though I beat him almost every time). He's listened to me cry about school and family and jobs. He is everything I never knew I needed and everything I always knew I wanted.

The holidays have hit us hard. He's recently been told he may have something called multiple myeloma - an incurable cancer that gives a person an average of five years of continued life. Though this news has came as a shock, he continues to be exactly who has always been- spending his time worrying about me rather than worrying about himself. He's the most selfless individual I know (he stayed late on Christmas Eve to work, so his co-workers could leave early) and a post like this would never be something that he would encourage but when I'm overwhelmed and feeling helpless, the blogging community has always given me tremendous support and comfort - two things I desperately need at this time.

As I write this, the future is uncertain and we aren't sure what's happening. He'll need to see an oncologist soon, to verify what's going on in his body. My hope is that everyone who reads this think positive thoughts and if you are a person who prays, could you add him to your list? (You can refer to him as 'brandy's hot awesome dude'). If you don't pray, please keep him in your heart. This cancer is only a possibility and I believe that the prayers and positive thoughts of people can make sure it never becomes a reality.

I want to give a big thank you to the blog owners who scrapped their original blog plans and graciously put this up. My goal is to get as many people as possible to see and read this post. If you are reading this and want to help, copy and paste my plea into your blog or send a link through twitter, so more people can keep him in their thoughts. I would be so very grateful (even more grateful than I am to my friend who first showed me the picture of Ryan Reynolds on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. If you haven't seen it, google it. You. Are. Welcome).

I realize this all sounds dramatic, a Lifetime movie in the making- but this is life. Right now. And I'm throwing away any hint of ego and am humbly asking for you to pray or think kind thoughts. If you are able to pass this on, thank you and if you know anything regarding MM- please email me (my email is on my blog). This isn't a call for sympathy or a plea for pity. It's just one girl hoping you can think positive thoughts for the person she adores. If my current heartache provides you with anything, let it be with the reminder that life is short, love is unbending and no one knows what could happen next. Maybe it is silly, but I really do believe that positive thoughts can make a huge difference. Thank you for reading this and if you haven't already? Please tell someone you love them today.

I did."

Now, if there's anything I hate worse than cancer, it's cancer in young people. Let's get some 70s good vibes going people, and help to send good things her way and Hot Awesome Dude**'s way.

Thanks ever so.

*No, she really doesn't want canned goods. Unless they're really good.

UPDATE: In case you haven't heard, her bf was diagnosed with Myeloma. Keep those thoughts and prayers coming.

Happy Christmas.

Love,
HG

Robert Downey, Jr.: Who Knew?

(Apparently anyone who saw this episode of Ally McBeal?)

Christmas Dinner at the Ranch.

This year, I'm trying to make it easy on myself, so I'm cooking a roast that you roast for 1 hour then turn off for 3 hours, then turn the oven on again for 45 minutes and you're done. I haven't made it before but 433 reviewers on Food Network can't be wrong, can they?

Paula Deen's Foolproof Standing Rib Roast

Ina Garten's Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Now, technically, I won't be making the roasted sprouts because my oven will be full of lounging Rib Roast. So I will pan-roast them with olive oil and butter (cut the bottoms off of sprouts and cut in half) and minced garlic. Close the lid for 10 minutes or so over medium heat, stirring occasionally, then remove the lid until they are done to your liking (5-ish minutes) and you won't believe they are Brussels Sprouts - they are unbelievably good. Even if you make the recipe above, do yourself a favor and cut the sprouts in half. They cook differently and get all carmelly and scrumptious.

Once again, a can't-miss in the kitchen: Ina's Potato-Fennel Gratin

Likewise, since my oven will be otherwise occupied, I will be making parmesan-mashed potatoes. But I wouldn't steer you wrong. This gratin is outstanding. It will have you looking at fennel with a newfound love and respect. And use Gruyere, don't replace it with some lesser cheese. Your tastebuds will thank you.

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie, Country Living

Since I am pretty much the only one who eats dessert (can you even believe that?), I will probably just make something I like. My favorite is pecan pie but this pie from Country Living sounds really good. The recipe only gets one star but it was from one review that seemed to be a joke. I will make homemade crust but I will use some shortening instead of all butter for a flakier crust. Also add a pinch of baking powder - it was my great aunt Tressa's secret for flaky crust. I will also take out the chopped pecans and use only whole pecans. How can I pick them off to eat only the filling otherwise?

If I am feeling generous, I will make Yorkshire pudding. They are very tasty with the roast.

So, what's on the menu for your Christmas or holiday dinner?

(Hint. Hint.)

A few last minute-gifts for the antler lover in your life.

Adelaide Gazelle print, Grand Ole Bestiary on etsy

The Dalmore, 12-year-old single malt scotch

Reindeer plates, Wisteria

Deer book box, Wisteria

Just in case you were looking...

The 12 Gays of Christmas.

You're welcome.

Not Delawhere but Delawhy?

Only Stephen Colbert could get Mike Castle to say "I cockblocked Delaware."

(Select watch with normal commercial breaks and you will watch ad-free.)

It's a Gray Day Here in the Nor'east.

And the starfish are strewn about...

via flickr

There's water everywhere...

via desire to inspire

I just need to kick off my shoes...

via persian tea

And crawl back into bed.

Flower Power.

Oh, yes, I changed the headline...

I love this girl's style. She has a blog, Emerson Made, which I discovered via Material Girls blog.

She creates handmade, hand-dyed blossoms to add a little something sassy to a sweater, wedding dress or tee shirt. I love it.

The Big Dandy linen clutch, available here.

Ungloom Bloom: "Maybe you know someone who's been
temporarily clobbered by life..." Wouldn't they love this?
(Although I feel the need to insert another comma... :-)

And her blog is clever, too. Make a new friend today.

Happy Halloween.

Photo by Harry Benson

No Excuse.

via TMZ

I am constantly surrounded by people on the road trying desperately to maneuver their vehicles with one hand because their other hand is busy holding a cell phone. And occasionally the "free" hand is holding a cigarette or something as well as the steering wheel.

If you cannot afford the $20 (or $1.48 on Amazon) for a headset for your cell phone, there is an organization called freeheadset.org which will send you one for free. There is no excuse not to have one.

Maria Shriver is now the poster child for this offense. Her husband signed into California law in 2008 a bill that bans the use of handheld devices while driving (as many states have done) yet she has been photographed multiple times violating the law. That is wildly inexcusable.

So tell me: Do you use a headset or not? Do you text while driving?

This isn't really a laughing matter but this video illustrates the topic using humor (just in case you missed it). I think I drive by that guy twice a week.

My Favorite Headline Ever.

Mayans: World won't end in 2012, so stop asking us about it

I really think there should be a "goddammit" at the end of it. Thank you Mark Stevenson from the AP (and/or his editor). Click here for the story.