SB12

Couldn't care less about the Super Bowl this year; but as usual, the folks at someecards gave me a good chuckle. Oh ... and I intend to make the First and Ten my gameday cocktail of choice.

First and Ten
Ingredients

2 ounces light rum

1 ounce pineapple juice

1 ounce orange juice

1 ounce grapefruit juice

1 ounce cranberry juice

0.5 ounce lemon juice

1.5 ounces dark rum

splash grenadine

0.5 ounce sweet and sour

4.75 ounces champagne or sparkling wine

1 slice orange

1 maraschino cherry

How to Prepare
Combine sweet and sour with all fruit juices in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well combined. Pour light and dark rum over ice in a large highball glass and add combined ingredients. Fill the glass with champagne or sparkling wine and add a dash of grenadine for color. Garnish with fresh fruit and a cherry and serve.

h.r.h prince william of wales, k.g. + miss catherine middleton

"A toast before we go into battle. True love. In whatever shape or form it may come. May we all in our dotage be proud to say, 'I was adored once too.'" -- Gareth, Four Weddings and a Funeral

I said I wasn't going to wake up at 3:45a.m. to watch. And here I lay ... 3:59a.m. ... watching. Maybe it's the procession of "fly-trap"-looking hats (as Shepard Smith just dubbed them), worn by the women? Maybe it's because 50% of my blood is British? Truth be told: I'm a sucker for it all.

Think I'll go pour myself a glass of something bubbly ... since I'm up.

whiskey river take my {mad} mind

Tonight's Mad Men cocktail: the Whiskey Sour. Classic. Vintage. Retro. Authentic.

Describe it however you will, but the whiskey sour is the perfect sipping companion to the political incorrectness and fashion fabulousness (I don't think that's a word) that is the world of Sterling Cooper Draper Price.

Currently making my preparations.

maddening

Hot damn. Tonight's the night. The return of Mad Men.

In a few hours, it'll be just me, my vodka gimlet, and my TV.

bella nigella returns

Nigella Lawson is coming back to TV!

Per yumsugar ...

If you're a huge fan of Nigella Lawson, like I am, get excited. The British bombshell of a chef is set to begin filming a new series. In an interview with TV Squad, Lawson reveals that a program based on her recently released cookbook, Nigella Fresh, will start shooting in a month or so.

Some of her recipes are a little 'out there'--things I'd probably never make; but much of her culinary fare is super sinfully delish. And it always reminds me of my British mother (who hooked me on Nigella from the start). Watching her whip together her Pasta with Ham, Peas, and Cream (photo below), for example, is a thing of beauty (no, it's not low-cal/low-fat; but yes, it's high yum).

This makes me happy:

Don't look for Nigella Lawson to go on a crusade to help America eat better. While she admires what Jamie Oliver is doing, she also likes her potato chips. Lawson's book, 'Nigella Fresh,' recently hit shelves in paperback form on April 20 and the British food writer is getting ready to freshen up your kitchen year-round with new recipes and a new series.

Cannot wait.

i admit it : : my guilty tv pleasure

Apart from sports, news, and the Food Network, I can count on one hand the number of programs regularly-scheduled on my DVR's "to do" list. Furthermore, I typically loathe reality television of most kinds.

But my normal habits fly out the window when it comes to American Idol. I know, it's terrible; but I can't help myself. There's something intoxicating about following the contestants from Day 1 to Hollywood to the season finale. It lures me in like no other show. I'm addicted. The first couple of weeks of initial auditions (this year's cities = Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, and Orlando)--without a doubt, some of the best entertainment around. Freaking hysterical.

So without further ado, Season 9 kicks-off tonight. I, for one, cannot wait.

(and I'm more than a little intrigued about Simon Cowell's X Factor, coming to Fox next year . . . .)

I ♥ PR

"Make it work."

It seems like forever since my last dose of Project Runway. But it's back! Season 6 -- tonight on Lifetime.



And there's a pre-show bonus: Project Runway All-Star Challenge . . .

Get ready for a fashion face-off on the runway like you’ve never seen before! Eight of your favorite designers from past seasons of "Project Runway" will go head-to-head in the workroom in a two-hour special "Project Runway: All-Star Challenge," airing on Thursday, August 20 at 8 pm et/pt.

What a fun group of designers!

Be there. Tonight. Because in fashion, one day you're in; the next you're out.

whatever, martha!

How had I never seen this show before last week? No clue, as I'm a big Fine Living channel fan. Regardless, Whatever, Martha! has found a permanent home on my TiVO, and it's the funniest thing ever.

The rest of the world undoubtedly knows the show's premise, but I did not. Hosted by Martha Stewart's daughter, Alexis, and her friend, Jennifer Koppelman Hutt (the same gals from Sirius Radio's, Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer), the two sit around, watching re-runs of Martha's "handiwork" from her older TV shows, providing running color commentary. Effin' hysterical. My out of control laughter last night scared my cats (shut up. that's how I roll). I'm sure my neighbors were equally annoyed.

From a NYT article a year ago (where the heck have I been?):

Alexis Stewart said in an interview that the sometimes harsh opinions -- nothing is off limits, including her mother's clothes, fastidiousness, and habit of mixing sexual innuendo with her household hints -- is simply the truth.

“She would say it herself,” she said. “Given a drink or two.”

That’s debatable, said Martha Stewart. “I take what I do very seriously, and I think there is a lesson to be learned in every segment. But contrary to popular opinion, I do have a sense of humor.”

directv devastation

DirecTV is in the process of upgrading its digital receivers--something to do with providing HD broadcasts of local channels. So about a month ago I received a phone call from a pleasant woman wanting to schedule an installation date for the replacement of my TV receivers/DVR. Today was the day.

The gentleman who arrived was very nice. He even took care of a long-standing DVR problem about which I hadn't previously gotten off of my ass to address. He was appreciative of the icy bottles of water I gave him (triple digit temps can be especially brutal when a large part of your job occurs outside), telling me I could call him in the future if I ever have TV problems.

Then "it" happened.

When the technician had finished, he was showing me the bells and whistles on my new receiver when I noticed ALL OF MY DVRd PROGRAMS WERE GONE. Nooooooooooooooooo! As if the crushing news of John Hughes' death wasn't enough . . . .

You're probably thinking: "So what, Beverly. Get over it!' Uh-uh. No wuh-ay. I had the most perfectly assembled DVR library. Often when I cook or make a new cocktail I'll refer to one of my gazillion Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa episodes (including several from her new Back to Basics programming). And when it comes to appetizers, no one beats Giada de Laurentiis's Everyday Italian and Giada at Home for fantastic ideas.

Then there was my stockpile of every single Ghost Hunters episode. Gone like yesterday. Also now history: numerous note-worthy and highly significant Aggie sports events, along with a few interviews from my favorite sports writer(s). And the movies. Oh, the movies. Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, I hardly knew ye.

I'll undoubtedly pick up the pieces of my shattered small screen existence; but things will never be the same. And now I shall now go attempt to ease some of my pain by re-creating my "programs to record list." Sad clown. :(

how did it happen?

A U G U S T.

The eighth month of the year. Although it's still baking outside, the first day of fall is next month. So let's live it up, summer style . . . .

This Friday is First Friday in Downtown Bryan. These First Fridays celebrations at the beginning of each month are a time to eat yummy food and listen to live music, then walk it off in Historic Downtown Bryan while enjoying all of the shops that stay open late. The abundant availability of local produce and homemade goods is a plus too.


Speaking of produce ... I still have many a berry and veggie with which to cook in August. I'm thinking of trying out this recipe in the next few days (it received great reviews):

Summer Vegetable Crêpes (Eating Well Magazine)

Then there are the [non scholarly] books I'm currently checking off my list. I now have in my possession each of the gems to which I referred a few weeks ago. Very eager to dive in.

August has some marvy TV also. All this week: SHARK WEEK. Season 3 of Flipping Out with precious, yet certifiable Jeff Lewis premiers August 18. Ghost Hunters (woo hoo!) returns with new episodes on August 19. And Project Runway makes its new home on Lifetime, when Season 6 kicks off August 20 (meet the 16 designers here!). Great stuff.


Texas A&M soccer returns to action on August 15. Believe it or not, soccer games out at the Aggie Soccer Stadium are actually pretty electric--a great atmosphere.


Hurricane season is at its peak in August, as described in the Mariner's Poem:

June -- too soon.
July -- stand by!
August -- look out you must.
September -- remember.
October -- all over.

August 31 ... first day of classes at TAMU. I'm teaching two sections of an undergrad early childhood course. No doubt it'll provide some rich blog material in the coming months! :)

So enjoy a nap. Drink some awesome wine. Fire up the grill. And get out there and do whatever it is you do.

Happy August.

hgtv design star

I am addicted to this show. Always have been. This season's premier episode (DS4) kicked off Sunday night, and the judges are awesome: Vern Yip (love him), Candice Olson (brilliant) and Genevieve Gorder (brutally honest). So much drama. There is already such a clear line of demarcation between the haves and have nots. I'm a dork.

I become especially giddy when the designers have hideous rooms/ideas--my favorite part of the show by far. Check out this random fugliness with AstroTurf carpet. Vern Yip says to the two designers responsible: "Why is that chair so tall? How could you not find a normal, chair-height chair in all of Los Angeles?" Funny.


And this ridiculous, unfinished "taxidermy?" Huh? Disturbing, don't you think? I'd walk into that room on a daily basis and have the overwhelming urge to graffiti those things.

Jason and Jen - bedroom 2

Then there are the crazy cool and fascinating decorating inspirations that I'd never have. Pink ducks? Are you kidding me? What a riot! And I love, love, LOVE that pink chair in the bottom left corner:

Antonio, Lonni, and Amy's living room

Can't wait for Episode 2 next Sunday: Dueling Kitchens!