Punk Rock a la Saks

If I had pots and pots of money to spend, it is very likely that I would NEED* this Alexander McQueen Knuckle Duster Patent Leather Clutch.




Forget diamonds and furs, nothing says "Let's Stick It To The Man!" more than, umm, becoming The Man…

*Okay, I don't think I could ever justify buying a $1600 purse the size of a travel wipes case, no matter how stinking rich I was. But I do think it's super duper cute. Way cuter than those glittery Judith Leiber clutches that everyone seems to love.

Oh, Michael.

If only he listened to what he was singing…



via DaddyTypes

A Word From Our Sponsor: UPrinting.com

I've been looking for sponsors for BlogHer for a while now but hadn't had much luck until a blogger friend suggested I look into Uprinting.com's rather generous blog sponsorship program. While I was a little late to get in on the BlogHer sponsorships, Uprinting.com did buy an ad on my sidebar so I do have at least a little bit of my BlogHer expenses covered. (If anyone wants to cover more, just let me know!) Uprinting.com has weekly contests for its blog partners, too: for example, just by spreading the word about Uprinting.com, they will provide me with business cards to take to BlogHer.

Why UPrinting.com isn't your average printing company:

Blog Sponsorships:
If you are looking to find a sponsor for your blog, UPrinting.com is definitely interested. We offer giveaways, advertising and more for qualified bloggers.

Non-Profit Sponsorships:
The U-Community Program sponsors hundreds of non-profits and education to improve our local communities.

Social Justice Projects:
The UPrinting Kiva account promotes small business growth in developing countries.

Green Printing:
UPrinting supports a sustainable future by recycling, using non-toxic inks, and offering eco-friendly recycled paper stocks for business cards and postcard printing.

Wordless Wednesday- Snuggly

Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

I know my kids are cute, but it would be nice to have a break… if you have a chance, view my Whrrl story and click "I like it ♡" to help me win a trip to BlogHer '09. I would appreciate it! (I promise to bring back lots of swag and stories to share.)

Slob to Suave Contest Winner!

This is the thrilling conclusion to the Slob to Suave Father's Day Contest from last week, wherein one lucky mom will win a $100 JCPenney gift card to makeover the dad in her life…

***WINNER PICKED 6/23 BY ROO AND JASPER***


Okay, next time I have a contest like this, we will have to do a random drawing because children are not entirely unbiased… there were two contenders according to my impartial young'uns:

Up first, Heather's boyfriend:



Next we have non-blogger Lisag1234's candidate (she emailed this picture):



Do you see the common element here? I do believe my kiddos were completely ignoring their fashion police duties and going "aww, he likes doggies! and he likes kitties!" Hmm.

So we tossed a coin and the winner of the $100 JCPenney gift card is… the pug. I mean, Heather's boyfriend. Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone who played along. You are all great sports!

Mom's Secret Recipes!

My mother is in Boston this week, visiting my cousin and his wife and their adorable new baby. She called to ask me to retrieve her roast beef recipe so they could make it. These are the things that my relatives always ask for, my mom's roast beef is pretty amazing. I had no idea how easy it was to make, since I rarely cook beef. (And I am cheap. I mean, frugal.) My favorite is slicing up the leftovers for sandwiches the next day on onion rolls. Mmm! The tenderloin is also super easy but really impressive for parties.

Perfect Roast Beef
-1 Standing Rib (any size)

3pm: Preheat oven to 375ºF. Place roast on rack and cook for 1 hour and then turn off oven. DO NOT OPEN OVEN!!!
45 minutes prior to serving, turn oven to 300ºF.

(in high altitudes, add 25º to each temperature)

Roast Beef Tenderloin and Horseradish Chive Sauce
2- 3 lb beef tenderloins
2 tablespoons dried rosemary, crumbled
3 tablespoons cracked black pepper
1/4 cup shoyu
1/4 cup butter (room temperature)

Rub beef with rosemary and pepper, let stand for two hours. Preheat oven to 500ºF. Brush beef with shoyu and rub with butter. Lower temperature to 400ºF and roast 40 minutes, until internal temperature is 120º (rare). Cool completely. Refrigerate until well chilled. Slice thin and serve chilled or at room temperature with chive sauce.

Horseradish Chive Sauce (makes 4 cups)
1-1/2 cups mayonnaise
1-1/2 cups chopped fresh chives or green onions
1/4 cup prepared horseradish
1/4 cup drained capers
freshly ground pepper

Combine all in bowl, season with generous amount of pepper. Serve over or alongside beef. Also terrific on dinner rolls with the beef.

Summer Lovin'

Jasper chases Roo!

One of my generous sponsors, UPrinting.com, has asked me to post a photo that reminds me of summertime. It was hard to pick just one so I am posting two. Which feels more like summer to you?

Roo chases Jasper!

UPrinting.com is a leading online provider of business cards, color brochures and mailing postcards. Get your orders in now for business cards to pass out at BlogHer!

Are You Inspired By Forests?

Eco-friendly metalsmiths Figs & Ginger had an amazingly generous Earth Day giveaway this spring: if you were one of the first 300 people to submit a photo of yourself planting a tree, you would receive a recycled silver tie tack or pair of stud earrings. The first 50 submissions would also receive a limited edition tree necklace. I'd sort of forgotten about it, but look at the gorgeousness that showed up in my mailbox:



So lovely. I think their nature-iffic mommy necklaces are super sweet, too. I wish someone would have gotten me the Two Fawn Family necklace or the Nesting necklace with two baby birds for Mother's Day… I guess there's always next year.

Multimedia Day!

SocialLuxe Lounge and Whrrl are having a contest wherein one lucky blogger will have their trip to BlogHer paid for, complete with travel, registration and lodging. I can't begin to tell you how totally awesome this would be to win… Here's my entry- feel free to "like" it and vote me up…






And just for kicks, here's what Roo and Jasper were up to this morning. Check out that surprise ending… nice.

Wordless Wednesday- Cowboys and Swingers

The camera on my phone takes "artsy" pictures, right?



Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Smoothie Season

***WINNER PICKED 7/3 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, turboterp (non-blogger)!!!***

her comment...
I love an icy Mojito in the summertime! Add a sprig of fresh mint... heaven!



It might be overcast this morning but by afternoon it should be sunny and pushing 100º… Summer is in full effect, whether I like it or not. I'm not a hot weather girl, never have been. My hair frizzes, I sweat, I hate wearing shorts. Things I do love about summer? Fresh fruit, ice cream and tall, cool drinks. I hereby declare it Smoothie Season!

Hamilton Beach, one of the most trusted name in small kitchen appliances (and the title of an awesome instrumental surf rock tune by my beloved Satan's Pilgrims) has a great range of blenders that are just begging to whip up some smoothies this summer. Possibly the most handy smoothie-making contraption is the new Thermal Cooler Plus 10 Speed Blender, which features not only the standard 40 oz. glass blending jar and patented Hamilton Beach Wave~Action® system for smooth results without ice chunks, but also a 48 oz. thermal cooler that attaches directly to the blender for making icy drinks and then removed to take anywhere you need to go. The Thermal Cooler has an easy-carry handle and will keep your blended drinks cold for up to eight hours! I wish we were going to the beach but since we're landlocked here in Kansas, I think our Thermal Cooler Plus 10 Speed Blender will be used mostly for picnics in the park or at the zoo.



If you'd rather keep your smoothies to yourself, consider Hamilton Beach Single-Serve Blenders. They feature one touch blending and 12-oz. individual-serving jars with convenient drink-through travel lids. The jars are dishwasher-safe and fit in most car cupholders. I think they'd be perfect for people who like frothy coffee drinks but want to save money or dieters looking to make meal replacement shakes more palatable. You can even get a Single-Serve Blender with two jars and two lids, which would be great if you're a little slow on dishwashing…



To enter and win a Hamilton Beach Single-Serve Blender with two jars and two lids, please comment on this post with your favorite blender concoction.



Entries will be accepted through July 1st and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For an additional entry, view my Whrrl story and click "I like it ♡" to help me win a trip to BlogHer '09, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Hannah ♥ Yanni Voices!

My pal Hannah (look at her sexy dress!) went to the Yanni Voices show and fell in love with the young artists and their beautiful voices. She was so pumped after the show that she decided to host her very first blog contest! Enter to win a copy of the Yanni Voices CD on her blog: Three Witches of MacBeth.

Thanks to One2One Network for providing passes to the show!

Slob to Suave… A Father's Day Contest

***WINNER PICKED 6/23 BY ROO AND JASPER***
See who won here!



When Bob and I first started dating, we both paid a lot more attention to fashion. I introduced him to the wonders of designer shoes and he bought expensive jeans. These days, we've devolved into a style that can only be described as comfy parental slob. It suits our kid-centric lifestyles but you probably wouldn't want to have your picture taken with either of us. The kind folks at JCPenney have given me a $100 gift card to give Bob a Father's Day Makeover. (I think they realize it would take more than $100 to help me out. Shudder.)

First up, let's take a look at the subject in question. A great dad, yes, but hardly a sartorial wunderkind. Here he is in his natural habitat, playing with the kids:





Here's what he looks like without kids, posing rather dashingly (dorkily) in front of some of his artwork and sporting his trusty sun hat and yet another beard experiment:




I'll be honest. I don't expect to wrestle him into a suit. (Although I would love to see him in something like this Concepts by Claiborne Black Striped Suit… sans brightly colored tie and flashy belt, naturally.)



Wouldn't that look slick at one of his openings? I think JCPenney's American Living would be more Bob's style. Maybe a pair of nicely fitting American Living Bootcut Jeans without scattered, tattered holes and paint splatters paired with an American Living Gingham Woven Shirt. This is about as "4th of July" as I can imagine my husband getting, if you can believe it.




For summer weekends, I could see Bob in something casual that isn't covered in sawdust. I like the American Living Green Plaid Shorts and I think he would like them, too, because they're slim cut but have cargo pockets. It's hard to find cargo shorts that aren't too baggy, according to my dear husband. I also like the detail on this orange American Living Classic Crewneck Graphic Tee. I think this outfit would still fit in with Bob's style, such that it is, without looking super sloppy. Or actively filthy, for that matter.




JCPenney wants to give one of my readers a $100 gift card to take a dad in their life from Slob to Suave for Father's Day! To enter, post a picture of your makeover candidate in all his slob glory ("before" style in his own clothes) on your blog and leave a link in comments below. If you don't have a blog, email your picture to me.

Entries will be accepted through Father's Day, June 21st. By entering, you are giving me your permission to post your photo on this blog. Remember to be family-friendly, so no nudity or otherwise questionable photos, please. Winner will be chosen by a panel of experts… my kids.

In An Instant

In An Instant is a skin care system by supermodel and mompreneur Heidi Klum. Designed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, large pores and skin imperfections while building benefits over time with continued use, the best thing about In An Instant is how quick and easy it is to use. There are four main components to In An Instant: Gentle Foaming Cleanser, Intensive Firming Serum, Instant Tinted Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15, and a secret weapon, the Instant Wrinkle Smoother wand. There are two bonus products in the line, a Warming Facial Scrub (feels amazing!) and an Eye Cream.

I don't have a lot of time to worry about multiple steps in my skincare regime, so I really appreciated this system's no-nonsense approach to beauty. It would be perfect for younger, active moms who might be starting to worry about wrinkles. I especially love the Instant Tinted Daily Moisturizer, which comes out of the tube looking oddly like cement but smells lovely and fresh like cucumbers. It actually creates a healthy, natural looking shade that eliminates the need for makeup. If you're a wash and go girl like me, you will love it. The only complaints I have about In An Instant are minor: I know I said I prefer fewer steps in my skincare regimen but I wish there was a moisturizer without tint and SPF to use at night. Also, the Eye Cream seemed to help brighten my dark circles and diminish puffiness, but after a week or so I developed an allergic reaction to it. (This is a problem I have with MANY eye creams, since apparently the gas permeable contact lenses I have worn since seventh grade cause a reaction with almost everything. Sad fact.)

Overall, I think In An Instant would be great for women who appreciate a healthy, natural look with radiant skin. It made mine look smoother and more glowing but unfortunately it didn't make me look like Heidi Klum…

In An Instant is not available in stores but you can purchase an In An Instant 30-Day Intro Kit online for $39.95 with free shipping and handling.

Mom Central's Father's Day Gift Guide

Father's Day is coming up on Sunday, June 21. If your dad is hard to shop for, check out all the great ideas on Mom Central's Father's Day Gift Guide. They have a bunch of suggestions to suit every personality, and every budget. Better still, Mom Central will be posting dad-centric giveaways every day with fabulous prizes including barbeque accessories, a 7-person Jeep tent, CDs, DVDs, books, razors, and much, much more.




Click the button above to visit Mom Central's Father's Day Gift Guide and click on the "giveaways" link for your daily chances to win. You must register or login as a member of Mom Central to enter.

Tie Dye Frenzy! (Giveaway)

***WINNER PICKED 6/25 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, lisagee1234!!!***

her comment...
Heritage Ornaments with Jacquard Inkjet Silk-
those are really cool and I'd like to make them.



Jacquard Products offers a dizzying array of creative color tools for artists, hobbyists and crafters. Their products are highly sought after for textile applications and run the gamut from jarred paints to pens and airbrush liquids. Although Jacquard Products are designed for professionals, they can also help beginners achieve fantastic results. Their kits make it easy for anyone to make beautiful keepsake projects, anything from screenprinting to indigo dyeing to silk painting. We received the Funky Groovy Tie Dye Kit and Roo could barely control her excitement!



We picked out items from each family member's closet to tie dye and bundled them and twisted them and bound them with rubber bands. Then we soaked them in a soda ash solution which acts as a fixative for the dye.



While the bundles were soaking, I mixed up the dyes with tap water. These are incredibly vibrant dyes so gloves are a must!



We went out to the patio for the actual dye application, just in case of imminent disaster, but the squeeze bottles that come with the Funky Groovy Tie Dye Kit keep mess to a minimum. To say that Roo loved squirting dye willy nilly onto our shirt bundles is a massive understatement. I must admit that it was a lot of fun, especially pulling back rubber banded areas to squirt in between layers.



After you're finished dyeing, you let the bundles sit for 24 hours. This was the most frustrating part for Roo since she wanted to check it out immediately. The next day, I rinsed the bundles and then washed and dried our creations. It was hard to believe that they were laundry-safe considering how much damp dye still remained in our clothes, but once they were rinsed there was no staining or leaching onto other items. Yay! I'm not usually a big fan of tie dye (too bright or hippie-ish) but I think our stuff came out awfully cute:



The Funky Groovy Tie Dye Kit is recommended for up to five shirts but we had a LOT of dye leftover, so I think they must mean five extra super huge tees, not toddler and preschooler sized garments. We could have easily done twice as many items with this kit but if you have a bigger group or a huge project (drapes, duvet cover, slipcover), you might want to try the Tie Dye Kit for 15 shirts. We're going to try that one out with Roo's classmates very soon!



To enter and win a Funky Groovy Tie Dye Kit, please comment on this post with your favorite item from Jacquard Products.


Entries will be accepted through June 24th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, view my Whrrl story and click "I like it ♡" to help me win a trip to BlogHer '09, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.



Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Keeping Busy

Roo's been needing constant activity this summer, so I've been keeping an eye out for fun things to do with her. I bought this Sassafras Kid's Pretzel Making Kit at a local craft store a while ago and whipped it out last week.



Both kids love getting pretzels at the zoo so I knew this would be a hit. Roo especially loved rolling the pretzel dough into rods and then choosing shapes to make. Dipping them into the baking soda/water mixture was also thrilling.



She was pretty skeptical about the packets of squishy chocolate dip and nacho cheese, so we didn't use them. Roo overcompensated a little by going overboard on the salt:



Hearts, snakes, triangles and more… yum!

Check out Sassafras for all sorts of cool activities for kids and grown-ups.

Summer Unders (Giveaway)

***WINNERS PICKED 6/25 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS***

Jessilyn82

her comment...
I am loving the Bod-a-Bing! pants

and

darlanpaulsmamma
her comment...
Hide & Sleek Criss Cross Cami would be very nice to have

With graduation parties, Father's Day dinners and the inevitable summer wedding boom approaching, you can be sure there will be some harried moments in my closet. I've never been one to even contemplate going braless, but nursing two kids has completely nixed that possibility from my life. I need a bra, for sure, but preferably one that lifts and separates without calling too much attention to itself. In the best case scenario, I won't even realize I'm wearing one, aside from my enviable perkiness. While I am dwelling on my bosom, I should mention that my stomach hasn't really adjusted to not having a baby in there, either. Yes, I realize that Jasper is almost two, but still my flub persists. I need some help to make me look smoother and sleeker without trussing me up like a sweaty summer sausage.

Spanx, the brand that rescued shaping undergarments from the ranks of the matronly and undesirable, has plenty of ways to help. Their innovative Bra-llelujah! line erases VBL (visible bra lines) and minimizes back flab while emphasizing comfort with stretchy hosiery-based straps and front closures. I tried the Bra-llelujah! Racerback Bra and I am amazed at how comfortable it is.



The straps don't ride up my back or down my shoulders and the lightly foam-padded underwire cups give ample support while looking smooth and presentable under the sheerest summer t-shirts. The Bra-llelujah! Racerback Bra is available in nude, black and mocha. (Additional shades are available in the wireless and non-racerback Bra-llelujah! styles.) My only complaint is that my size, 38C (TMI, I know) is one of the largest available. I know there are bustier mamas out there who would love this bra.



The other item I tried out were Power Panties. I have to admit I was initially pretty reluctant to try these out because they're not cute. But danged if they don't smooth out your belly and your rear! There's a time and a place for pretty panties, ladies. What I like most about Power Panties is how comfortable they are while sucking you in. It's improbable but they feel as good as they make your clothes look. Obviously, I've been wearing low-rise clothes for a little too long; it's nice to have a reminder to suck it in and stand up straight.



The other big bonus with Power Panties is that they are fabulous to wear under miniskirts as well as under longer skirts and pants. If you've ever worn bike shorts or leggings under skirts to retain your modesty, you know how nice that is. (An old friend told me that before he met me, my code name among his bandmates was "shortskirts" which is mildly embarrassing but I am glad that I also wore a lot of black tights back then…) If you happen to be expecting, Power Mama is the preggo version of Power Panties with fantastic belly and lower support built right in. I looooved Mama Spanx tights when I was pregnant, so I am sure these are great, too.



To enter and win your own summer unders wardrobe featuring Power Panties and Bra-llelujah! Racerback Bra, please comment on this post with your favorite item from Spanx.


Entries will be accepted through June 24th and I'll pick two winners using Random.org. US readers are eligible.

For an additional entry, view my Whrrl story and click "I like it ♡" to help me win a trip to BlogHer '09, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Smooth Operator

I have a serious weakness for frozen frou frou drinks. The kind with bright paper umbrellas and straws, spears of fresh fruit jutting out of them, plastic doodads dangling from their rims. If they're served in something shaped like a tiki or featuring hula girls, so much the better. And if you can set it ablaze like your own mini volcano, so much the better…

I haven't been much of a drinker since I birthed my babies. My tolerance is laughable, which I am sure will be evident at BlogHer next month. But that doesn't mean I don't love an icy blended cocktail, my friends. I just go a little easier on the booze. It's not as sad as it sounds. Turns out if you lessen the amount of rum or vodka involved, you can actually taste the fruit! Who knew? Chiquita Banana, that's who. Yes, the people who brought you the anthropomorphic flamenco banana have also figured out a way to make fruity, blended goodness as simple as pressing a button on your blender.



Hold on! Can't I just throw some fruit and ice into a blender? I know that's what you're thinking and yes, you could. But maybe you don't have a variety of fruit at your disposal. Or perhaps, like me, you would love to have a tropical concoction but you don't want to bust open a can of coconut cream for just one or two drinks. Chiquita Smoothies are available in four flavors (Peach Mango, Mixed Berry, Banana Colada and Strawberry Banana), each featuring the perfect blend of 100% natural frozen fruit purees. Filtered water, guar gum (a thickening agent) and vitamin c (a preservative) are also added but there are no unpronounceable ingredients or coloring agents. All of the Chiquita Smoothies are dairy and gluten free and come in a recyclable plastic can. We received a sampler of all the flavors, plus a really nice blender to whip them up in. All you do is empty the concentrate into your blender, add a couple of cans of ice and about half a can of water and you're good to go. My favorite is the Banana Colada, unsurprisingly. (It's even better with a little shot of spiced rum in there!)



Roo likes the Peach Mango and Jasper prefers the Strawberry Banana. Sans alcohol, of course. Chiquita Smoothies will be part of our healthy treat arsenal as temperatures rise. I think we're going to be making plenty of smoothies this summer!