An Open Letter to Cracker Jack

Dear Cracker Jack,

Do you see the picture above? DO YOU SEE IT? It just happens to be the worst Cracker Jack prize in the history of your company. The paper said it was a pencil topper. My pencil broke the flimsy paper. That, sir, is hardly a pencil topper. It is a piece of paper with a hole in it. How dare you insult me with your crappy prize.The pencil part of the paper doesn't even match my actual pencil! The colors aren't even close!  You should be paying me to take that horrible thing off your hands. 

While we are at it, can we please discuss the image on my (insert sigh) "pencil topper". What in the hell is it? Are they suppose to be bees? Flies? Wasps? I'm not even gonna get into what I think they are doing. Let's just say, shame on you for putting such images on a kids' prize. 

Why do you hurt me so? I remember the days when I would open up my box of Cracker Jacks and find the coolest prizes ever. I would make charm bracelets out of the charms. I would play pinball on the little pinball games. Your tattoos are the reason I am surly like a pirate and not like a caveman. You made it so kids could live out little adventures with a small toy. Now, oh Cracker Jack, now you just make little children cry. Do you like hurting little kids and adults? When did you lose your love for the job? Do you need a hug? I need one after that crappy pencil topper. 

I'm giving you another chance Cracker Jack, but only because your popcorn is so good. Please restore my faith in humanity.  Give us back our charms, whistles, pinball games and tattoos. I beg you, Cracker Jack!

Thank You in Advance,

Pam 

Tie One On Tuesday

Have you guys ever had a Sonic Drive-In Cherry Limeade? It is a little slice of heaven. I am not even kidding! A little slice of cherry limeade heaven.

Recently while I was cruising around Pinterest I found a recipe for the Sonic Cherry Limeade. Well! I knew I had to make it! Here is the kiddie version and my own adult version of the of this yummy drink.


Sonic Cherry Limeade (Thanks to Top Secret Recipes)
1 12 oz. can of Sprite
1/4 cup pure cherry juice (for the kiddie version, get the tart cherry juice)
3 lime wedges
Fill a glass with crushed ice (about 1/2 to 2/3rds)
Pour Sprite, cherry juice into the glass
Squeeze limes into the mixture and stir slightly.


Adult version of Sonic Cherry Limeade
1 12 oz. can of Sprite
1/2 cup pure dark cherry juice
3 lime wedges
1 shot of gin
*If this is too sweet, change the Sprite for tonic
Fill a glass with crushed ice (about 1/2 to 2/3rds)
Pour Sprite, cherry juice into the glass
Squeeze limes into the mixture and stir slightly.

Now go!  Make it, take it to the masses and be praised for the gods and goddesses you are!

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

It's Easter at Casa de Pedersen and I keep looking for the Easter Bunny...Mama needs her chocolate!

Could this be the Easter Bunny?

Or this?

Nope, I think we found him! Funny, he's a little shorter than I imagined.

Happy Easter from Pam, OMP and the pups!

Feel Good Friday!

 via ivory lux tumblr.
Oh my lordy! It's Friday! I am ready to make this weekend amazing and beautiful!



I'm pretty sure I just died and went to heaven. This needlework is AMAZING, like I might just pee my pants amazing. Hanging by a Thread stitched this wonderful piece of work up. For us stitchy nerds, she stitched this up with silver passing thread and couched down with one single cotton thread. Check out her blog for more on this piece and other great works of art.

I would get this pillow for Pete, but he can't read. BTW, I really want to give credit to the person who stitched this, so if you know, please let me know. They are brilliant and deserve recognition.

This camper makes me miss our little vintage Ruby. One day I will be a Sister on the Fly! How can you not love a cowgirl caravan?

So very very true...add a little mud and you have a lover dog.

Alright my silly little beasts! OMP is walking through the door and that means some smoochy smooches and I was promised a night out on the town. Wish me luck! I might be able to stay awake till 8:00! Have a great weekend.

Every object, every being,is a jar of delight

~Rumi 

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Know all those April showers I've been talking about? Well, it's the perfect time for planting and because I love you so much. I teamed up with Craftster and made this awesome video on making seedbombs. Check it out and bomb the world with beauty!

Tie One On Tuesday

C'mon parents, you can level with me, you need a little cocktail to get through that Easter egg hunt coming up this Sunday. It's okay, we won't judge you. You're among friends. As a matter of fact, I will help you make up  cocktails to get you through the day.

Raise you hand if you like peeps? Again, we won't judge you. Now, raise your hand if you want a peep cocktail. That's what I thought!

Where's My Peeps Cocktail

2 ounces fluffed marshmallow vodka
1/4 ounce vanilla syrup

1 ounce light cream (not heavy whipping cream)

Pour vodka, syrup and cream in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and serve in a chilled martini glass, Serve with a peep on the side. 

Little girls in pink and white dresses are just too cute for words unless they are dive bombing, kicking and punching their way to that hidden Easter egg. For those little princesses, you need the Pink Torpedo. 

Pink Torpedo (via yumsugar)

 2 cups vodka, chilled
1 1/2 pints strawberries, hulled and sliced
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
Limoncello
One bottle sparkling wine or sparkling water, chilled 

In a large bowl, stir together the vodka, two-thirds of the sliced strawberries and the granulated sugar. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature until the vodka turns pink, about 6 hours.

Fill glasses with ice. Strain the vodka and divide among the glasses.

Add a splash of limoncello to each glass and top off with the sparkling wine or sparkling water. Garnish with the remaining strawberry slices.

Who doesn't love eating the ears off the chocolate bunny rabbit? You know you love it but then you feel guilty cause the bunny no longer has ears and just sits and stares at you until you eat that candy eye. Here's a chocolate bunny with none of the guilt (unless you have about six of them, then....yeah, you might feel guilty)

Chocolate Bunny Cocktail

1 tsp Cherry Liqueur

2 oz Brown Creme de Cacao

1oz Vodka

1 tsp Chocolate Syrup

Shake vodka and Creme de Cacao with ice. Strain over ice in a cocktail glass.

Pour chocolate syrup and cherry liqueur on top, as a float.

Ahh....don't you feel more relaxed? No more screaming, no crying, no kicking-and that's just the guy in the bunny suit. These beverages will relax you will the chaos known as the Easter egg hunt unfolds around you. You're welcome! 

April Showers

April showers bring may flowers so what do may flowers bring? Pilgrims! Hey, your five year old would think that's funny! Fine, here are some movies about April...whatever, just check them out while I work on my jokes.

The year is 1969, the movie is The April Fools starring Jack Lemmon as hardly happy married man who meets the beautiful Catherine Denevue who happens to be unhappily married to his boss. She wants to move back to Paris and demands that Jack come with her. Do they leave together? Do they live happily ever after? Rent the movie and find out.

When I first saw April Fool's Day as a teenager I had no clue what was going on. It may have been because there were cute boys in the row ahead of me and I was more concerned and boy #3 with his OP shorts and summer tan than with any stupid movie. Years later I watched it and again I wondered what was going on-this time I blame OMP and his cute butt in wranglers. Where was I, oh yeah, movie...I thought this movie might have a typical 80's horror movie plot but it doesn't. It has twist and turns that will make you wonder till the very end who is the good guy, who is the bad guy and who is the dead guy.

April ushers in springtime weather, unless you live in my neck of the woods....only 3 more months of rain! Guess I better pop some corn, snuggle in with the family and watch these fab April movies. 

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

As you know, I am a huge fan of the canine kind so when I heard that Toshiba was putting out a Petbook I just knew I had to have one!

It is the first of its kind to offer bark to text technology.

Did I mention that it is 100% organic rawhide. It will last for days!

With slobber guard, cleaning is quick and easy (does not apply to other "accidents", Pete, I'm looking in your direction)

Be the first on your block to get one. Lola is already enjoying hers.

Nutty Little Squirrels

There are some days when you need your friends more than usual. You don't have to tell them, they just know. They give you a stronger hug, a bigger smile, both shoulders instead of one.

I am lucky that I have a group of people, all around the world, who love and support me.

They are a bunch of nutty little squirrels who make me laugh so hard that my stomach cramps.

Love is not a strong enough word for my feelings for them. They are the air that I breathe, the sunshine that warms my bones.

Will Be Back....

You guys! I'm sick! Who gave me the creeping crud? I love you guys but my bed is calling me back. I'm taking my little bed warmers and heading back for some much needed rest and sleep. I promise you I'll be back in full force. While I'm sick, enjoy this...

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

We finally got some sun yesterday which meant yard work for OMP and play time for the pups.

Jujube supervised OMP. I'm glad someone has him under control.



Pete did not want his picture taken yesterday. He was all about sunning and saying "hello" to the ladies.


Can you tell Lola is 100% better? Can  you find Lola? Hee hee! Dog butt!


 One of Lola's favorite spring and summer time things to do is jump in the bush beside the pond and hunt for mice and make sure that squirrels don't get in the bird feeder.



Words can not express how happy this makes me to see her playing again and running around. It's like we have a new dog!

I hope you and your fuzzy friends can enjoy some sunshine today. It is good for the soul.

You're Welcome

I'm not sure what it is lately, but I feel like someone or something has been marshing my mellow. I think I found the culprit.

 

You're welcome. 

Every Once and Awhile

I usually don't talk about TV show but I every once and awhile shows come along that move you. They are so thought provoking that they lift you to a higher dimension. These shows will not do that. They are put on the TV strictly for entertaining you and nothing else. 

The Aquabats Supershow is over the top crazy. The brainchild of  Christian Jacobs of Yo Gabba Gabba fame,the show features the SoCal punk ska band, The Aquabats as superheros defending the world against evil. There are anime style cartoons, music and totally whacked out silly monsters. The show makes absolutely no sense but works brilliantly. You really have to have the mind of an eight year old to get it, that is not a problem here. You can check out the The Aquabats on The Hub Network, Saturday mornings.

Speaking of greatness on the TV screen, have you watched the show Psych? My bestie Becky and I watch it coast to coast every week. We text each other, quoting the show and I know we are laughing as we type. Psych is a buddy mystery comedy show about a guy who fakes being a psychic and his best friend who backs him up. The one liners are so hysterical and the obscure 80's movies references, priceless. You can check out the show Wednesday nights on USA Network. 

The last show I watch religiously is Phineas and Ferb on the Disney Channel. This show is so not a kid's cartoon. The small inside jokes are intelligently written. The songs are fun and the guest voice actors, such as Malcolm McDowell as Ferb's grandfather, are brilliant. The late Davey Jones even played a part in the rock group Tiny Cowboys. Agent P aka Perry the Platypus always saves the day from the evil Dr. Doofenshirmitz. Really, if you aren't watching this cartoon, you are missing out on a soon to be cartoon classic. 

From superheroes to a crime fighting platypus, these shows have got your covered. You will be holding your side from all the laughing. Would I steer you wrong? Okay, there was that one time but this time I am right on the money. You can trust me....and Agent P!

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

I need summer now. I need heat. I need outside puppies. Ahhhhh...the memories of outside puppies...

Lola in the yard debris...



Pete in the garden...


And Jujube looking for mice and other small animals...


Too bad right now I have to put up with rain and cold weather. At least there are rainbows to make me smile.

Feel Good Friday!

Oh my goodness! It's Friday night-I would have posted this earlier but I took a nap and I just couldn't move off the couch. I almost slept through dinner! Let's see what I have in store for you this Friday night.

See this quilt? My friend Linda made it for OMP. It's monsters! I am blown away by its awesomeness. It just came in the mail and it was totally unexpected. I love my friends so much, they lift my spirits and make me whole.

She also made these super cute cowboy booties for a few of my friends who are having children. I heard there is a pattern floating around Craftster, but I can't be sure of that.


I can't even get my dogs to roll over...

I need these when I am fighting crime. You can find the pattern over at Ravelry and you can email me and I'll give you my address so you can send them to me once you're finished.

Okay homies! Time for some homemade pizza and snuggling time. Hope your weekend is full of besties, superheroes and craftiness! Pam's out! Peace!

PUPPIES!

The best thing about these puppies are that they have bows in their hair and bows around their necks. How can anything be that cute? Two bows? So awesome!

Blog Awards and Random Facts

My friend Robin over at Snips & Snails gave me a versatile blog award. I am suppose to give you 7 random facts about me and then 15 blog awards to other bloggers I follow or love. Well, I'm not sure I am going to the the 15 blog awards, not because I don't agree with it but because I'm pretty dang lazy and yeah, I'm lazy...

Anyhoo, here are 7 random facts about me. Get out your pencils and jot these down! 


7 Randoms Facts about me
I was always a cat person until I met OMP and ended up with three Jack Russells. I think they brainwashed me. I can't be sure but I remember Lola having a pocket watch and mentioning "getting sleepy."

 I drive a big old grandpa car. It gets me out of a lot of trouble. I can be a crappy driver and people expect it cause they think I am a grandma driving the car. Shaking my fist at them usually solidifies this.

I love the rodeo, bullriding and cowboys.

I also love fancy vintage French photographs, old movies stars and glamor

My hair is completely 100% white/grey. It has been since my 20's.


I cuss A LOT

I once had a boyfriend try to tell me how to tell a joke. ME! I broke up with him that night. He didn't think that was funny either. 

Thank you so much Robin-your blog, your store and well, you, rock!

Tie One On Tuesday

It snowed here last night...snowed...here...last night. I am usually a fan of the snow but c'mon Mother Nature! Work with me! It's March, I need some sun, I need some warmth, I need to go to a tropical island. 

While I can't get away to a tropical location, I can have a few beverages to remind me of warmer weather. 

I can feel the water on my toes, Frankie and Annette surfing by me on their longboards. I can almost taste the Blind Surfer...no, not some random dude sitting next to me, but a yummy fruity concoction.

The Blind Surfer

2 oz light rum
1/2 oz pisco brandy
1 tsp Blue Curacao liqueur
3 oz grapefruit juice
2 oz mango juice
1 oz passion-fruit juice
1 tsp orgeat syrup

Shake that baby up and serve over ice. Umbrella optional. 

 

One of my favorite things to do when I visit southern California is to go down to the boardwalk in  Santa Monica. I haven't been in years but I love it nonetheless. Whipping up a Boardwalk Breeze reminds me of walking down the pier and finding the best vintage stores. If you ever get a chance, go there-if you can't make it, this beverage is the next best thing.

Boardwalk Breeze

1 1/2 oz coconut rum
1 1/2 oz amaretto  liqueur
1 part orange juice
1 part pineapple juice
1 dash grenadine syrup

Shake and strain ingredients into a hurricane glass.

Okay, so I don't have a beach (the Oregon coast is FREEZING) and I can't get away- but I can download some wave sounds to my ipod, burn a Hawaiian Tropic candle (to this day, I will always associated Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion with spring break), have OMP put on a cabana boy outfit and serve me by the pool or what is otherwise known as our bathtub.

By The Pool

1 oz  melon liqueur
1 oz peach schnapps
1 oz orange juice
1 oz 7-Up soda
ice

Shake briskley for 10 seconds and serve in a tall glass over ice.

 

 

It may be the alcohol taking effect but I am feeling warmer already.  Now, where is that cabana boy with a refill. He is never going to get a tip this way. I advise him to show a little skin-there's a fiver in it for him. Bottoms up!

 

 

Feel Good Friday!

Nothing feels better on a Friday than a sunny warm day, disconnecting from the world and playing ball with your besties. Have a great weekend!

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. 

 ~Samuel Butler

Daisy Chick Pattern

I couldn't resist posting these vintage daisy chickens and roosters. I love how the chick just has little polka dots on him, he hasn't grown his daisies yet!