Mad About Mad Men

Finally something worth my time this long, hot summer. I can't wait to see what happened/happens to Peggy.




AMC tonight at 10, hep cats.

Calorie Free Photo Grazing

OMGoodness Gracious...does this ever make me hungry.

Photograzing at Serious Eats.

Cake Wrecks - OMG

I love cake. I love eating cake. Offering cake to friends and love ones to celebrate and enjoy...but having worked in a retail bakery myself, I know cakes can go wrong.

This web site is perfect. Check out this cake.

Oooh, and this one...you have to visit the blog just to get the story behind it. Hilarious!

Finally! Family Fun Friday: Virginia Living Museum

On a recent Tuesday afternoon Husband calls me on the cell and asks, "Do you have plans for Friday?" This question is a rarity so I immediately answer there were a couple tentative events on the calendar but nothing definite. "Well, let's do something with the kids." Well, sure.

Anytime Husband wants to do something as a family (besides grocery shopping - UGH), I am all for it. Granted I would be even more for it if he actually would take the kids for the day but I'm not (really) complaining.

The problem was this - not too far, not too expensive AND nothing we've done before. We considered the area theme parks and decided no, no and more no. We both would love something historic/educational but don't think our three are ready to appreciate Williamsburg quite yet - though they kinda thought Jamestown/Yorktown rocked last summer just for the Susan Constant, Discovery and Godspeed. They were so tiny!

So no theme parks, no historical, nothing too far, nothing too expensive, and nothing we've done before. Thank goodness for the magical internet. This site had a lot of solutions.

We both decided with snacks and assorted amusements in the van, we could make it down 64 to Newport News to the Virginia Living Museum.

After a mildly rough start - bickering, whining and barfing - we finally made it to the museum in pretty good time. The the driveway to and the facade of the building are a little unassuming and there was plenty of parking. Stoller, blanket, binky, sippees, water bottles, wipes, camera, cell phone, etc...and we were off!

What a cool place. Really.

First and foremost - the employees, volunteers, and docents were above and beyond polite and pleasant. The young man at the front desk /cash wrap was gracious and helpful (having worked at a museum, I know that this doesn't always occur). Plus the desk had a really cool aquarium that had a crazy pirahna-like fish centrifuge aquarium - a tornado of silver fish!

We ventured outside first to the boardwalk where we saw beavers, river otters, bald eagles, bobcat, deer, wild turkeys, skunk, opossum, gray fox, red fox, coyotes and red wolves. Later when I asked Husband what his favorite part was....he said, "Beavers. I like a good beaver..." Thus kicking off the random mention of the beloved beaver thoughout the day. Bad man.

The indoor exhibits were pretty awesome too. My favorite by far was the Chesapeake Bay aquarium with its crystal waters containing a charming loggerhead sea turtle. He had a "lucky fin" (Nemo reference) according to my older two boys. I should say so...sweet digs though a companion certainly would have been nice I guess.

We even ate at the on-site cafe. Nothing gourmet. Requisite kids food and sandwiches for us - on par with a nice hospital cafeteria or similar.

The special visiting exhibit was something called Dino-mania. Kind of a rubbery animatronic dinosaur display. Husband and I were less than impressed but man...the kids went nuts. I guess that is all that mattered because when I asked them what they liked best at the end of the day they all said the dinosaurs were the highlight. Huh.

I totally recommend making the trip and grumbling through some mild traffic to Newport News to the Virginia Living Museum. Your kids will like the dinosaurs and your husband will like the beaver.

And remember that, in a world of ordinary mortals, you are a Wonder Woman.

I think if I just had this...

.


I would for sure feel like this...

I'm Not Here To Make Friends....

Courtesy of FourFour

Cilantro? Noooooooooo!

I get that we must look out in regards to food safety these days. The pedigree of our food must be investigated way before taking that first bite of scrumptious tomato. Or spicy peppers. Or wait....cilantro?

I love that little herb. If I am having any cuisine defined as "South of the Border" (or even close to the Border), I request lots of cilantro. Yum.

Is this a conspiracy against SALSA?

After reading the FDA page dedicated to the Salmonella Tomato crisis, I realize that everyone is pretty much okay.

I guess I'm saying what everyone is saying these days - BUY LOCAL. BUY FRESH. Know where your food comes from.

Next spring, I'm planning a garden.

BONUS - as a reader of contemporary fantasy, this totally makes me think of Kim Harrison. Her Rachel Morgan series has a very interesting back story. The almost end of human kind (The Turn) is brought on by BAD TOMATOES. No kidding. She is more than tickled by recent new stories. She even has a page dedicated to bad produce signage.

James Lipton - Hellboy Joviality.

Husband knows me too well. Inside the Actor's Studio combined with Hellboy? Booyah....eloquently said.