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Crazy week, sushi, & Sam’s

Whew, this week has been crazy.  One week ’til ScrapFest! and I have all the printing left to do.  I’m going to go through a lot of ink and paper this weekend.  Publisher and I are going to be bff’s after this weekend.  I’m going to take Publisher out for drinks and do karaoke.  We’re going to partay like it’s 1999 and then print more stuff into the wee hours while listening to some slow jams.  Yeah, my brain’s fried from being in front of this computer working on ScrapFest! stuff for the past 5 hours.  Yes, I said 5 hours.  I forgot to eat dinner ’cause I was burning up my keyboard and Hello Kitty mouse.  Yeah, I have a light-up Hello Kitty mouse, you wanna make something of it?  That’s what I thought.

Megan and I found a new sushi place this week.  Here’s Andrew learning how to use chopsticks.  Yeah, I’m teashing the boy all about international cuisine.  He loved the crunchy roll.  Of course, he brought in cars to play with. We went to Sam’s today.  I saw someone buy 6 cases of waffles.  60 waffles in a case.  That’s a lot of waffles.  I would multiply that, but I’m squinting to see this screen and think I need some sleep.  It’s 12:07 in the a.m.

Tunes you need Tuesday by request: hair bands

I have a ton of ScrapFest! stuff to do, but it’s Tuesday (for a couple hours anyway) and Anna Bess requested an ’80’s hair bands “where are they now” post.  Never liked hairbands, but I’ll do my best.

Where to start?  I found a website http://www.ilovethe80s.com which lists the bands A-Z, but no extra info, so let’s see what we can come up with.

We’ll start with letter B.  Bad English was a group who named themselves after something to do with pool, but I wouldn’t know anything about that.  They had a big hit that I actually remember, “When I See You Smile,” which was written by Dianne Warren.  the band’s drummer. Deen Castronovo, later went on to join a reformed Journey with singer Steve Augeri, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, and Ross Valory. Bad English played a couple of reunion concerts this past March.

C is for Cinderella.  Did you know Bon Jovi discovered the group Cinderella in 1985?  Kind of neat.  Cinderella’s big song was power ballad “Don’t Know What You’ve Got (Till It’s Gone)” and they released a greatest hits cd in 2005.  They had planned a tour this summer, but the singer’s vocal chord hemorrhaged (ouch) and they’re hoping to tour this fall.  The album cover I clipped cracks me up.  I know it was the ’80’s, but Lord, that’s a lot of look as Tim Gunn says.

D is for Def Leppard.  They named their band Def Leppard instead of “Deaf Leopard” as a homage to Led Zeppelin.  Maybe they should have went with Badd Spelin.  Anywhoodle, they’re still around.  In fact, their  new album, Songs from the Sparkle Lounge, was released worldwide on April 28, 2008.  The album debuted at #5 on The Billboard 200.   Country singer Tim McGraw co-wrote the the first single is “Nine Lives.”

E is for Europe, which is a band from Sweden and I wonder why they didn’t just call themselves Sweden or  something, but whatev.  They’re still rockin’ and are going back to the studio this fall to record.  This album cover is scary.  It’s blue.  The guy on the bottom right looks a little like Emilio Estevez’s Swedish bro.  They aren’t very pretty, are they?

I’m skipping down the alphabet ’cause I’m bored.

I remember liking the band Living Colour and I had a good friend in college who super liked them.  They were the only all African-American heavy metal band that I know of.  Please correct me if I’m wrong.  Living Colour sang “Cult of Personality,” and broke up in ’95 and have gotten back together, planning to release a new cd next year.  BTW, lead singer, Corey Glover (no relation to Danny Glover) is on tour with Jesus Christ Superstar in the role of Judas.  No, I’m not making that up.  You think he still has the dreads?

Metallica just released a new cd last week called Death Magnetic.

All of Motley Crue’s original members have come back to record and tour.  They released Saints of Los Angeles in June and a film adaptation of their band autobiography The Dirt, is due to be released sometime in 2009.  They’re saying Christopher Walken may play David Lee Roth and Val Kilmer may play David Lee Roth and that’s enough to make me want to see it.  That’s hilarious.  You think Pam Anderson will play herself?

After doing a couple of reality shows, (CC DeVille in the Surreal Life and Bret Michaels’ Rock of Love with Bret Michaels) Poison is touring again with their original line-up.  In all of my life, I’ve never worn as much makeup as those chicks are wearing.  The pursed lips are killing me.  I like how the brunette has an understated look.  I think 80’s hairbands spawned a lot of the drag queens working today.  I can’t look at this anymore.  I have an urge to pick up the hairspray and a teasing comb (if I had one).  It’s sad that CC DeVille is prettier on this album cover than I’ve ever been, even on my wedding day.  I’m going to go cry into my makeup bag now.  Hope my mascara doesn’t run.

Oh, how I loathe you, school fundraiser

I really can’t stand the school fundraiser.  Yes, I think giving money to the school is fantastic.  Yes, we should support the public schools, but do we really have to beg our friends and relatives to buy junk out of a catlog they really don’t need?  No.  Can we think of a better way to raise money for the schools?  I like the whole rounding up to the nearest dollar Pet Smart and other stores do for different charities and Target gives to the school you select, so I know we can do better.

Here are some of the items in the catalog I will be sending to friends and family this Christmas we have to choose from :

I give you the beach chair votive holder.  I guess if you got a horribly bad sunburn on your last beach vacay, you may want to remember it by having this lovely burning reminder of your trip.  If it wasn’t such a great beach vacay due to family members, get this votive as a reminder of what a pain in the ass they were.

Next is a product perfect for the outdoorsman out there who may be watching his waistline.  It’s the bear claw salad forks.  I’m picturing a big-game hunter, just in from a big day (or night) in the woods, kicks off his boots, pulls a couple of burrs out of his beard and is hungry.  He goes to the fridge, reaches past the leftover lasagna, past the Popeye’s spicy, and grabs the micro-greens salad he picked up at Whole Foods.  He sprinkles on some fresh blueberries, walnuts, squeezes on some lemon juice and some EVOO, adds a little freshly ground pepper and sea salt and busts out the bear claw salad forks to toss the salad.  Has a glass of boxed wine, turns on the tv to catch a cable presentation of Pride and Prejudice.  Ain’t nothin’ like watching Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy after putting a cap in Bambi’s mom’s ass. 

I know, you’re thinking “ReeRee, I’ve got salad forks.  You know what I could use?  Something to help me in the mornings; I never have time for breakfast.”  Well, I’ve got you covered as usual on the Kerry blog!  If you’re a good boy or girl this year, maybe Santa Kerry will put a cereal-on-the-go in your stocking. 

I skip breakfast almost everyday.  Never have I been on the way out the door to take Andrew to MDO and thought, “if only I had a way to transport my Honey Bunches of Oats without it getting soggy in milk!”  Ok, so I’ve never thought that, but now I can have my cereal in car line, complete with a spoon.  Now that’s an invention.  Kind of reminds me of the McDLT.

Reading is one of my passions and I’ll read anything, books, cereal box, instruction manual, encyclopedias, but I really love magazines.  At one time I believe I had 7 magazine subscriptions and presently I get 2 for free and I don’t know why — for realz.  Anywhoodle, never even at the doctor’s office have I seen magazines like my girls’ school fundraiser is offering. Never at the OBGYN or the dentist’s office, or even the questionable nail salon, for crying outloud!

Love dogs?  Here’s BARK!  I’m not sure if this is for the owner or the dog. That dog at the top looks a little too happy, I’m pretty sure it’s a puppet.  OMG, I just noticed it says “dog is my co-pilot” underneath the masthead.  Holy mother of Dog!  OK, this is just ridiculous.

Now, I’m not as up on American History as my husband due to various reasons.  I once had a professor who passed out drunk in American History 101, so you can’t exactly blame me for my ignorance.  I’m no Civil War buff, but I have watched a lot of the History Channel and I believe the war between the states is over, so I was puzzled when I saw this magazine.

Really?  Don’t you just buy books to read about the Civil War?  I think I’m getting Scott this for Chrismas.

Southern Living is one of the mags I get for free.  Again, not sure why I get it for free, guess I’m so southern and alive they just have to give it to me.  When I went to the fundraiser catalog’s website I was blown away at how many different regions have their own magazine.  There’s LA, New York, the northeast, Dallas, Atlanta — I understood all those.  Makes sense.  I know when we lived in Duluth I picked up the Atlanta magazine more than once, but I never saw this one at the newstand.

Yep, it’s Trailer Life.  And if you’re wondering if you’re on my Christmas list, well, don’t be surprised to see this in your mailbox along with Cat Fancy, Timber Home LIving, Truckin, Urban Climber, Teen Strings, Coin World, and Gun Dog.  There’s also Garden & Gun, you know for the gardening hunter or gangsta who likes keepin’ his crib lookin’ mean ‘n green. I bet a certain VP candidate gets Garden & Gun!

Holiday, celebrate

Just wanted to show y’all what I’ll be wearing to any dressy Christmas and/or Hanukkah parties Scott and I are invited to this season. I would rock the green dress, but the black is so elegant and has a bow, even. Of course, if I’m wearing something that has a bow on it, I may be less inclined to put bow from a package on my head, as I tend to do every holiday. Both dresses are from Nordstrom. And, yes, I would be wearing them with a wrap, as no one wants to see the whitest arms in all of North America.
clipped from shop.nordstrom.com

Robbie Bee Charmeuse Dress (Plus)

Robbie Bee Pleated Trapeze Dress (Plus)
  blog it

new finds at World Market

Andrew went back to Mother’s Day Out today and I had to wait on the new washer and dryer (fun, I know.)  I had an hour and a half between dropping off Andrew and the 4 hour window the delivery peeps gave me, so I headed over to World Market to see if they had my yummy chocolate covered sunflower seeds Anna Bess started me on.  I know you can find them at Border’s, but we are Bordersless here on the northshore.

Guess what I found.

My sunflower seeds in fall colors, no less.  Y’all, these are some kind of good.  Go get some.  I love World Market.  It’s like Pier1, but with more stuff.  I love the kitchen section.  I love kitchen utensils.  I know, I’m weird.  Here’s my next find to replace the collection of plastic kids cups from Longhorn, Macaroni Grill, and so on.

How cute are these?  They are perfect juice/milk glasses and they’re shatterproof (a great thing in our house.)  They come in cat, sheep, dog, frog, ladybug, and cow.  I got all six.  I used them for lemonade for the kids after-school snack and they loved them.  Go me!

Now, the next find is pretty disturbing.  I’ve warned you.

Now, in my day we called these snacks Cheetos.  It seems now marketing geniuses have turned the humble Cheeto into a Halloween treat.  Well, now I’m going to dump bags of these into my pumpkin bowl and give them to costumed kids by the handful.  I’m not putting them in Ziploc bags or anything, I’ll just put them in their candy bags and pumpkins ’cause that’s how I roll.  Nope, no bite-size Snickers or fun-size M&M’s this year!  If you trick or treat at the Faler house it’s Witches’ Fingers for you!  I hope Britney Spears comes this year.  You know she loves her Cheetos.  You think she likes Tab?  Maybe I should pick some up, you know, just in case.

Me in black and white

Y’all know I love a good makeover.  I found out about www.yearbookyourself.com from an old friend’s Facebook page.  Her pics were great and of course I had to try it myself.   I give you Kerry through the ’60’s.

Kerry, class of 1960.  Kerry was in the marching band this year, President of the Future Homemakers Club, served as a library helper and hall monitor, and was treasurer of the Don’t Draft Elvis group. After graduation, Kerry hopes to marry her sweetheart and have children.  Kerry was voted most likely to get an A in Home Ec.

Kerry, class of 1962.  Kerry played, Kim, the lead in the Drama Club’s production of the musical, Bye Bye Birdie and was on the Prom decorating committee.  Kerry wants to attend Beauty School after graduation and hopes to style Jackie Kennedy’s hair one day.  Quote, “I believe all women have the civil right to have gorgeous hair.”

Kerry, class of 1966.  Kerry served at Vice-President of the Student Council, in National Honor Society, was Homecoming Queen, President of the Beatles Fan Club, head cheerleader, choir soloist, and voted Most Likely to Succeed.  After graduation, Kerry wants to dance on American Bandstand before going to college, and be the first female U.S. President or marry Paul McCartney.

Ok, this is supposed to be 1990.  I think it’s more 1987-89.  I never actually rocked this hairstyle, but a few of my friends did back in the day.  This look screams “I love hair bands!” and would for sure get you backstage at a Poison concert which would probably lead to all sorts of STDs.  Not to mention, you’d spend a fortune in Aqua Net to keep this do up.

I don’t know what’s going on with the shadow on the last picture.  I know I’m the whitest white woman in America, but damn, I look white.  I’m not pulling that look off,  but I thought it was funny.

Just for fun, I’m leaving you with a stylin’ yearbookyourself.com version of my hubs, Scott.  I’m such a sweet wifey.  Is he hot or what?  Just for the record, Scott’s never had an afro, but I think this would be a great Halloween costume, no?

The Secret Life Of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is one of my favorite books.  Read it while I was in a book club with a bunch of great women in Canada.  Love that book, so I can’t believe this one got past me.  They went and made a movie out of it!  With some of my favorite peeps, too!  I somehow can’t see Dakota Fanning as Lily, but I’m sure she’ll be great.  She’s grown up in the past few years.  Queen Latifah is August and Alicia Keys is June, 2 of the sisters in the book.  They’ve aged down the Boatwright sisters and that’s okay with me and according to what I’ve seen on the interwebs, Sue Monk Kidd loves the casting.   So, here’s the trailer.  The movie’s out next month, but do yourself a favor and go get the book and read it first.