Tie One On Tuesday

Okay, before I let OMP take over, did anyone else realize that Tie One On Tuesday spells TOOT? Hee hee...I'm a 12 year old boy. Okay, before I get "the look" from OMP, here ya go!

How to stock your home bar OR how to get free stuff from your friends without really trying!!

So this week we are forgoing the drink recipes for a more important topic. What’s that you say? What’s more important then booze? Hold onto your highball there sparky, we are still going to talk about the fermented goodness but just not in the usual way. I want to help you people out there get your bar stocked in the proper way.

We all look at the different drinks and such (here and elsewhere) and drool, but then ask yourself – that sounds good but I don’t have a bottle of bitters or Vermouth.

Well I am going to talk some good old fashioned (uuulgh, an Old Fashioned……oh sorry, faded off there for a sec) sense when it comes down to getting the right stuff.

First do yourself a HUGE favor and go out and get yourself a good drink book. If you want basic Cocktails, then get a basic bartenders guide. There are lots on the market right now, or if you tend to be a girl drink drunk then pick yourself up an Exotic/Tiki drink book (HINT: Beach Bum Berry’s guides are tops in this genre).

Flip through the pages and pick yourself out a couple of drinks that sound really good to you. Look over the recipes. Make a note on the ingredients and then head off to the Liquor store. Pick yourself up the ingredients to just those two drinks. I might make the recommendation that you pick up the smaller bottles (Pints) of booze, this will cut down on your initial investment and still provide some juice for your bar. Now go home, lock yourself in and attempt to make said drinks – enjoy!!!

Now, that you have those two down, flip through the book and pick out a couple more, then next payday go to the store and get the mix’ums for those drinks. In a few weeks or so you will have a nicely stocked bar and know how to make some basic drinks. And yes start out with the easy ones. Biggest mistake I made years ago was trying to mix a proper Zombie. First two I made caused my friends hair to fall out they were so strong.

Okay – now here is a sneaky way to get “free” booze. Plan out a party and invite your friends over for a “stock the bar” party. Admission is a bottle of booze and one mixer. Now – this can back fire in a BIG way if all your friends like Margarita's. In the end your bar is stocked with 20 bottles of Tequila and Rose’s Mix. If worse comes to worse, drop polite hints as to what type of liquor your interested in, OR what type of drinks you like (and would like to make for them). In the end of a successful party, you have more booze in the cupboard and you’ve made your friends happy with some party dip and a few drinks. If you’re lucky – most of your friends will drink Beer and wine. It’s a win for all!

If you still have questions on any of the above please, do not hesitate to not ask them NOW! My head hurts from writing, I’ll be in my bar.

Next week – the tools of the trade………

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

This week's Scrappy dog is Margarita. She is the cutest little pupper! She is always well behaved, full of love and a mom or sister to any pet needing a little extra attention. She's kind of like the furry version of Mother Theresa (well, if Mother Theresa was full of sass). Here's a little bit more about my sweet fuzzbutt.

You are such a sweetie, is it all just an act?
Well nobody is perfect, I have my moments especially when Elsa has been mashing my head with a toy for ten minutes or she tries to steal my spot on the bed. My other fault is that I can't resist the lure of people food, if it is in a bowl or on a plate I want it.

What's it like having so many brothers and sisters?
The cats are pretty awesome, they leave me alone except when they want to cuddle. Elsa is a typical little sister, sometimes I really like having her around but she can be such a pest!

What's your favorite song?
Anything by Neil Diamond.

Your best day ever was....
The day that my mom was sick and she stayed home from work and we sat on the couch under a blanket and watched TV all day!! It was B.E. (before Elsa)

Bonus Question
Happiness is.....
A warm spot in the sun!

Margarita, you are such a lover girl! I'm so happy that you are out there. You have a better outlook on life than most humans! Now Scrappy dog fans be sure to stay tune next week to find out what Elsa thinks about her big sister!

Feel Good Friday!

BLECH! What a craptastic week! Has everyone been having the week from hell? You have? Well, I've got a few things to make you happy at least for a few minutes, let's hope more!

So, I've decided this morning that I need some fun music to get my blood pumping and put a little smile of my face, a little spark in my eye and a spring in my step. Here's my morning mix for you. It is a sure fire cure for anything that ails you.

Sweet Caroline-Neil Diamond-Chicks love Neil Diamond. It is a proven fact that if you put on this song, girls will be dancing on the table. I don't know one person in this world that does not like to belt this song out at the top of their lungs and if you don't like it, something is seriously wrong with you. Go to the doctor and get checked out immediately.
Fat Bottom Girls-Queen. Oh Freddy Mercury, thank you for singing a song praising the girls who have a little junk in their trunk.
Rock and Roll all Nite-Kiss. Don't lie, you KNOW you love this song. Everytime it comes on you put your fist in the air and  give it a good ol' horns up!
Tighten Up-Archie Bell. When soul was good and you could dance to it.
20th Centruy Boy-T Rex. This songs makes me dance and wish for the day of English Glam rock. No one did it better than Mark Bolen
Tick Tick Boom-The Hives. Now you know that I ALWAYS praise this band but they really are the best band out there right now. Those Swedes know how to do it. I can put on any Hives song on any given day and instantly be happy. They will make you happy too.

 

I love this piece from Bookwormbethie. The stitching blows me away. 

I came across this website on my daily surfing of the interweb. Creature Comforts offers daily inspirations, amazing  finds and wonderful downloads. Oh yeah, my favorite part-it's PINK!

Jesse Danger makes beautiful unique jewelry. It's so hard to decide which piece I love the best.

Well, there ya go! Get your butt moving and have a happy Friday. As always some warm fuzzy animals to make you smile. The ears people, look at those ears. Killing me!

Aw, You're a Doll!

A lot of people find dolls pretty creepy and granted some of them are  but I still love them. They take me back to a time when I was a little girl . I loved making up little stories for them and making differnt outfits for the daily lives. They had the adventures I couldn't have at five.

I love this doll so much. It reminds me of my mother when she was a little girl.  

 

These lovely girls are from a Meyer and Frank Back to School display 

 

I LOVE Blythe! This is not an original. I don't think I could possibly afford one. My friend Linda made her a bunch of clothes but I can't possibly take this kimono off of her-she looks way too sweet. I love that her eyes turn different colors and that they change direction.

 

Another popular doll that is on the same line as Blythe is a Pullip doll. They have different costumes and themes. She is a gothic Lolita. I have several of them but she's my favorite. 

 

I found these two in St. Augustine, Florida. I'm not sure what their history is but I love their faces and hands. They have been moved around so much that their dresses are kinda beat up.

 

Gene is my ABSOLUTE favorite doll EVER! She is a 1940's pin up actress that came with different outfits and stories. The original doll comes with corset.

I really wish I could show you all of my favorites but then there would be pages and pages. Doll collecting can be a scary world to venture in. There are a lot of  very serious people out there. Like I always say, have fun with it. Collect what you like.  It doesn't matter whether it is new or old or missing a shoe. It's your collection and you can do what you want, cause I said so!

Getting to know Bascom Hogue

I can't remember where I first discovered the breathtaking, eerie and beautiful work of Bascom Hogue. I just know I was blown away by the images and the rawness of the embroidery. As I've gotten to know him a little better I have found that he is a man true to his word, deeply spiritual and yet still an enigma. 


Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I am a Mennonite from Kansas. I love Jesus. I like potatoes, pies, homemade bread, dogs, road trips, the Great Plains, reading, sewing, painting, and the feel of freshly laundered sheets on the bed. My mother is Jewish and my father is Christian. I have advanced college degrees in social work and theology. I have seven older sisters.

Your images are so breathtaking and personal. How do you choose them?
Kansas is the land of contrasts. I have always known some folks who sin like crazy, are mean as hell, and go to church every Sunday. I also know many folks who are quite charitable in their thoughts, deeds, and epitomize what a Christian should be. I pick images by thinking about contrasts and distilling them to their essence. I try to make images that have the grand qualities of Tolstoy’s writings and the beauty of Johns’ works but always anchored to the things I know.

I love the old photographs and images you have on Flikr, where do you find them?
Some of them are family photographs passed sown to me. Some of them I found in junk stores, antique malls, old books, drawers in estate sales, and some from internet auctions.

Do you have a website?
I have a blog called Cottonwood Diner. I like cottonwood trees. I like diners, and I like people. http://cottonwooddiner.blogspot.com/

 Any advice for the masses? 
Like the song says, “…Love one another right.”

Thank you so much for allowing me to share your beautiful work with others. I wish you peace and happiness in everything you do and all adventures you set out to discover. You are a wonderful person and an amazing talent.

Tie One On Tuesday!

Alright, another week and another round of drinks for you out there in Cyberland! Once again I am amazed you booze hounds are reading this. I received another request from a faithful reader, this time for some recipes using the Orange Liqueur Cointreau. Cointreau is a brand name and essentially is a fancy Triple Sec. Grand Marnier and Patron’s Citronage are also well known higher end, quality Triple Sec’s.

I tried to mix it up (no play on words there) and actually used some Gin this week! But then again, I fell back onto my old standard and there is also a Rum concoction in the mix.

First up, a little slight of hand with the - Hocus Pocus Cocktail:

1 oz Gin

1 oz (a heavy ounce) Cointreau or Orange Flavored liqueur

1 oz  fresh lemon juice (go light on this as it can overpower the drink quickly!)

Shake  with ice & then strain

Serve in a cocktail glass (the recipe called for pouring over ice, but I changed it a little. BTW – it was extremely tasty!)

Garnish with a lemon peel

Now onto the main event – The Golden Gloves Cocktail:

1 1/2 oz Gold Rum

3/4 oz lemon juice

1/2 tsp sugar

1/4 oz Cointreau

Once again – shake with ice and then strain

Serve in cocktail glass and enjoy

It didn’t call for a garnish but I think a nice cherry or two would actually compliment the drink very well

So there you are  -a couple of orange liqueur inspired beverages for these last waining days of summer.

Next week we are going to take a little drinky break and Uncle OMP is going to let you in on the secret to stocking your bar on the cheap, or relatively. Until then – may your glass's ass be in the air and your ass stays off the ground!!

Happy Labor Day!

So, I had planned this very controversial, long, extensive piece on the working class verses the owning class. I had all sort of charts, diagrams and movies to explain my point of view. I even had a training on how to take down the man, but today is Labor day which contrary to the name, gives me a chance NOT to labor and to relax and enjoy the day.

Instead of my whole "take over the world and bring the man down" movie review I decided to go with something a little more laid back, but still very important. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Office Space.

The film tells of average joe Peter Gibbons and his stint as a software engineer in a cubeland known as Initech. Peter is just like most workers out there who have to deal with inane bosses, cheery perky workers and a few "off" workers obsessed with red line staplers. Thanks to hypnotic suggestion, Peter learns how have a more laid back attitude at work and about life in general. Eventually Peter learns of layoffs and schemes a plan to get back at the man. There is an awesome twist here that will leave you wanting more.

This movie is loosely based on Mike Judge's character Milton and includes wonderful character actors like Diedrich Bader and Gary Cole. It didn't do that well at the box office but just like the infamous red Swingline stapler, it became a cult classic.

If you are ever having a "Case of the Mondays" and want a good chuckle pop this movie into the DVD player, pour yourself a cold one, kick back and relax. If you don't rent this movie, I'm gonna burn this place to the ground ;)

Now,where did I put my manifesto against the machine.......