Freaky Friday

The freaky friday halloween party was pretty packed with booze and costumes. Like Venom, trying on my glasses, and decidedly my favourite is the girl beside him who was a character from a Tim Burton movie.

Countess B and me, a Living Doll.

The ladies I was hanging with being super drunk and awesome. I'd say my costume is less living dolly here and more specifically maybe Barbie's funner sister Tipsy Skipper.

I mentioned my current obsession being anything drink related and I will just say that I did have two interesting drinks that night.  The first was basically the swedish berry shot you can order at bars... and I was told how to make it and of course forgot.  It was exactly it though.  The other drink was blueberry flavoured vodka and soda.  When I say soda I don't mean American soda.. we all had different interpretations when Josh asked for "soda" and mine was Coke, Brooke thought it was Sprite and his mom had no idea so just bought Sprite.  Apparently what he wanted was actual soda, as in tonic water to most of you.  Not a bad drink at all though.

I also had the BEST Mojito last night when we took my dad out for his birthday at the Olive Press.  I will be going back basically for another Mojito.  You know that one item people usually order in every resturant to see how good it is, that is the thing I order, and yes I'm aware it's no longer summer.  It's seasonless as far as I'm concered!

Speaking of food.  Nobody really ate that much of Brooke's kitty litter cake... I don't know why.

It looks pleanty delicious.

;)

Beware: Impenetrable Candy Apple

Oh how I wish I didn't live in a townhouse that literally no children want to climb, even if I do have caramel apples.  Open bowl on the steps for everyone, again!  I wish there were a safe phrase where you can wrap homemade candy with a note saying "seriously I'm not putting razorblades in this" because I would do that.

And yes I chose caramel this time because 1. it's way easier to make and 2. the candy apple fiasco of 2005 where I went a little overboard with the candy coating.

That's about 12 inches of candy on top of those apples - it would take a wolverine to eat them.  But I packaged them nicely with notes saying "not poison apples" .. what more do people want????

Speaking of safe codes for candy.  Here's a list of  Kids Halloween Candy Codes.

To get some more action at my house I'm drawing a freaking Werthers Original chalk code on my driveway myself; it's so freaking cute.  That's right everyone... they should have a code for me, the false candy coder.  Or maybe that's what the ominous BEWARE lollipop code was for? False coders... and the house that gives out aspirin or edible underwear.

Now that I think about it, I don't think that code was a lollipop at all... I think it's actually an impenetrable candy apple!  They must have heard about me.

Drink me

I've become slightly preoccupied with all things drink related lately.  It all started the morning of the wedding I made sure we HAD to have mimosas, and the chilly morning after breakfast we had a formal teacup tea party with the fireplace going.  Well, more like I conned everyone into having tea because when we left for the wedding one of my cousins left the screen door open and it was so ridiculously cold I'm sure I could have suggested pouring the tea in everyones pants and they would have agreed with the same enthusiasm.  I don't think I have seen anything funnier than Wes with a teacup asking if there was anything specific he's supposed to be doing with it.  lol.  Yes sing us a song!

Now I find myself only drinking the wine we had at the wedding whenever there's a choice... and really excited to use it in the new italian wine decanter we got as a gift.  So we did that when Brooke came over and I finally got to taste the red, which everyone thought was crazy awesome, because I am a wine spiller like I've mentioned and red wine on a white dress is the subject of probably a lot of night terrors for people.  I don't know who those people are but clearly we need to switch nightmares.  Anyway it was amazing and I'm sure just a momentary drink fascination.. if you start drinking expensive wine all the time I'm sure it'll seem regular eventually.  The decanter is great though, so I still have an excuse for a little while still ;)

I also have been making quite a lot of hot chocolate.  Starbucks actually just came out with some new "signature" hot chocolate flavours and I was excited for that - the ad even suggests its just like your favourite cashmire sweater.. it's like they read my mind!  One of my favourite things in the world is any kind of chocolate with hazelnuts but their hazelnut hot chocolate was actually really disappointing.  I'd even go so far as to call it NOT chocolate instead of hot chocolate.  Ok I would never call it that but it was pretty bad.. way too nutty or something that made it awful. I am planning having a halloween night Pumpkin Spice latte tomorrow, maybe it will help me to forgive them for screwing the hot chocolate right up.

If I have any other exciting beverages tomorrow night at the freaky friday party I will be sure to let you know.. I do know there will be a kitty litter cake so I may need just about anything to wash that image away.  Ohhhh gross.

Happy Halloween everybody!

Love & Marriage

We had such an incredible day and of course it seemed too short.  Before you knew it Andrea and Rob closed down the bar, dinner was done, the cake was cut, and with Sean and the boys and their flasks of hooch.. we were all involved in a lot of Irish dancing. Haha.  If I had no pictures I would think I just dreamed the whole thing.

We just want to thank all the family and friends for sharing such a lovely day with us, braving the brisk autumn weather to celebrate warmly in a lot of love and laughter. 

Vowels

Aaaahh!

Eeeeeeeee!...............last day!!!  hehe.  Getting some spa stuff with Brooke at 6, and Andrea comes tomorrow!  Planning a little tea party while we get ready when we're all together and my cousins get here. 

Oh I love my girls.

Green Tea for everything

Dear Product Marketers,

I don't watch your commercials anymore but I've notice that little by little you've turned most of the products I use into food.  For example, with all the shampoo, moisturizer and hand soap I use, my green tea intake is up 700%.  I think that's fine and everything but I have to draw the line somewhere.. and that place is my armpits.  I recently purchased some Dove "Cool Essentials" deoderant without noticing it has both cucumber and green tea in it.  Can I ask you why you think my body is a summer salad?  It's not particularly refreshing at all.  Instead I feel like a fruit smoothie, a glossy Lip Smacker, a new flavour of latte at Starbucks.  There is a reason I choose to put honey in the pantry and not in my hair; I just want it to be clean and not attract bees. That is my motto in life actaully, my only goal on earth, be clean and don't attract bees.  So from now on, you hungry little marketers, if you could keep edible things out of at least my armpits I would be satisfied.

You're friend,
Ann-Marie





 

Thanksgiving was turkey-full... I hope everyone also had a bunch of Turkey. I had a small dinner in Hamilton last night which was all the thanks for giving I could do this year.  The wedding was without incident and was a very fun night for us not having to worry about anything.  My grandmother was also hilariously under the infludence and I say good for her.. she is 7 million times less aggrivating after her gin and tonics.  On the other hand I think I stained the floor with all the red wine I spilled.  I know most of it ended up in my mouth but there is nothing subtle about being a wine spiller so it always looks like a lot.


Sunday the guy did some shopping and ended up sort of buying eachother a few pre-wedding gifts.  I bought him a fantastic vacuum.. it sucks great.  All I kept hearing about was how much it sucks!  Haha.  He had so much fun with it all Monday.. like a compulsive kid in a compulsive candy store.  And he bought me my new Autumn sweater.  I am so happy!  Apparently he was going to get me one of the ones I posted from Anthropologie, but I absolutely needed to have this one instead.  It makes those other sweaters look like a pile of puke.  Its grey and cotton-cashmire and fantastic and I smell the sea everytime I put it on.  I need to find a lighthouse and stand by it pensively.. whistfuly.. thinking about important things like, does my cell get reception here?

Probably not.

Fall Weddings

 

It's wedding weekend! 

No not mine, my cousin Christina's.  The food is going to be abundant, and drinks apleanty.  And of course Monday is Thanksgiving so I am a little glad I had some dental work done this week (wait I am?) so I won't eat myself out of my dress.  It's turkey, I can't ..or won't.. make that into some sort of smoothie. Anyway speaking of dresses.  Just so you know I've modeled the entire theme from Russian Brides magazine.  There I'll be in my gold dress with a fur cape, and Sean will be totally saturated in vodka while the groomsmen just won't even have on shirts.  What, disasters are fun.. those people look like they're having a great time, and if you puke on the dress who will know?  Exactly.


I'm sure the wedding this weekend will be great, and very far from anything you'll see in Russian Bride magazine, though it goes without saying that next weekend is really what we're looking forward to.  Although my divorced parents will be there, and nobody on earth can say they envied some of the innovative planning I've had to do, I've let that hold me back on doing this for a very long time.  Just repeat:  I am not my parents, I am not my parents.  Ah, all better.  To Sean and I, the papers saying we're married have honestly never been important, but we're admittedly giddy and nervous as school children to get to share the celebrating with an entire day and night of family festivities. I guess now that it's all done and I am actually sitting and thinking of it, and subsequently writing about it, the mountain of small details you have to make or decide on aren't as significant as that you made them all for each other.  Or more like the big fucking headaches have all been because you care. Love headaches.  Nice Hallmark moment on me! haha.  So yeah this weekend I will be avoiding food and next weekend will be comparable to being the next two people in line for the Superman ride.  Yaaaay!  No barfing!

Otherwise I have nothing to say at the moment other than when you order from Anthropologie, they don't let you know if something is back ordered if you order more than one of them.  Fuuuh Youuuu.  Oh and when your dentist lets you watch Gene Simmons Family Jewels or Family Guy with a lotta swears.. that's pretty damn hell ass cool.  

Tits.

Lookin' good!

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My prison tribute to Andrea

I am so glad they came up with that application.  It gives new meaning to my "tear tattoo.. you're next" !

A little more magic

I was looking up some old movies to watch tonight.. it was a nice night out, nice walk tonight.  I ran across Wag The Dog and I paused because I've actually watched that movie three times but never seen it.  How is that possible?  Let me tell you then.  It was actually my on-flight movie on the way to Italy.  I did not buy the in-flight headphones and chose to simply write and listen to music instead.  Typical!  So, I saw the lips move and just wondered occasionally what was happening.  As it happens I saw the movie again while I was actually in Italy.. my cousin Franca took me out where they showed it on a huge screen in an outdoor soccer field.  In any case, I saw the movie in another language and that was confusing.  Years later I saw it on TV somewhere, I don't remember really well, but I'm pretty sure it was the last 10 minutes of it.  No help there either!  Now I'm just confused every time I see tied shoes on a telephone poll.   Tonight I was absolutely convinced I am never supposed to see this movie, and have no desire to either.. so I passed.  We watched Fireflies in the Garden instead; it was fantastic.  How's that for a story with no point?  But Wag The Dog, the nice walk tonight, and how late it is to be all by myself... the whole thing reminds me of an actual really great story that is probably too inappropriate and therefore exactly what I'd like to write about.

We stayed for a month with family in Italy, and I was so lucky I got my own room.  I'd spend so many nights to myself happily reading or writing in my journal about what I did and the flowers I picked and smell them over and over after I pressed them between the pages.  So this kept me up for hours, one particular night, and I was reading and listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers Under the Bridge and timing it perfectly (along with Only in Dreams) to the little guitar strings in my heart, all while contemplating how thirsty I was.  16 year olds can, in theory, do so many things!  Well I didn't want to wake anyone, I was a guest and didn't speak enough Italian to explain what I was doing.... but at the same time I was very thirsty.  Somehow that led me out to the patio on the top floor of the apartment in only these white underwear I had on (it was a hot 1998 summer there) and I sat my (yes 16 year old self ) into a chair sipping a glass of OJ and looking down on everything.  It's funny because well, it is just funny... what was I thinking anyway? but at the time I was seeing the world was full of this amazing and awfully large sense of freedom that previously I either knew nothing about or wasn't supposed to know about.  A kind of cheerful "whatever" !  I decided to be a part of it by doing something just because I felt like it and not caring one bit if any other lonely person was outside at midnight and happen to see me.   HI HELLO I'M ENJOYING LIFE... how about you??

How could I possibly let that go on without me.

[taken on our walk]

Comfort able

Hell yes, ladies and gents, I believe it is definitely Autumn.  It has it's warm days, which is good for selfish reasons, but I am now in full on sweater seeking mode.  I know, I know, I have enough... but I cannot be stopped.  The perfect sweater is like the perfect man.. a magical idea that exists only to tease us lol.  Or me, but I am just assuming for arguments sake you're into sweaters as much as I am.  I do know men who are into sweaters and very manly about it, too.  So this is what it would be like if I owned either, or both of these beauties from Anthropologie.

Oh what a wonderful wonderful world it would be!  The sun would set in a pink and orange hue every time I put the sweater on, and I'd magically have a good hour of interruption and worry free time to wander around a tree-lined park, where red and orange leaves are falling and getting caught up in the crisp air.  And even with this air blowing around, my hair would remain perfect, or at the very least only be brushed by attractively.  Oh yes, it would be the best with me and my new perfect sweater!  Nothing could stop us, not time, not potholes, nothing.  We'd go anywhere, meeting such new and interesting people along the way... probably all while sitting on park benches, or grabbing a coffee and reading a book, or even somehow on our routine look-out of some large gaping canyon.  I mean, just look at them!  How could everyday not be perfect while wearing these?

Boy, would it be impossible to make a bad decision or fail at anything while wearing that.  It'd be my own personal perminent hug.  Oh... and I guess I wouldn't mind this shirt, too.  You know, while I'm in the store.

It looks comfortable.


I'll admit though, for the $400 or so dollars the perfect world would cost, someone could buy a lot of heroin.  Just sayin'!  I do like that store though, so while in my perfect universe of beauty and grace I bought these items, in my real universe I actually was there to buy gifts for other people.  I hope they like them.... lucky jerks.

Blue & Yellow

So I took one of those "what should I do" or "are you happy with your job" tests at careerpath.com .. mostly because one of my friends did and I dug their answers. 


 

People with Blue interests like activities that allow them to be creative. This can be through more traditional visual arts, writing or musical pursuits although not limited to these. The creativity is often expressed in thinking of new ideas or strategies that can have a broad range of applications. Blue interests often like thinking about the future and planning for long term benefits. Hobbies include: performing or listening to music, attending theater, story telling, journaling, decorative arts, painting. Career choice often are: Editor, Journalist, Teacher, Strategic Planner, Consultant, Performing Arts, Marketing, Communications, Research and Development.

People with Yellow strengths are good at managing details and creating sophisticated processes that allow them to get complex work done. Once a game plan has been put in place, it is implemented. Their decisions are based on facts and carefully reasoned. When working with other people, they are fair and democratic and always can be counted on to deliver what they commit to.

Now I'm thinking about all the Strategic Planning and Consulting I could for people getting married.  Actually wait a minute, that would suck! Yeah so I'll stick to blogging and coming up with inventions in my spare time.  Haha.

FYI: if anyone is wondering what happened to my search of the week... it's because the searches are becoming more like resources for anyone looking for under.age.toon.girl.on.girl.  I'm really starting to question my content.

Girls Night Out

You may be able to tell the fun and drunk levels were ridiculous... oh just slightly.  The lingerie party was so much fun, and my gifts were awesomely naughty.  I had a princess crown and sash and my own martini glass with a veil on it... yeah I was Brided out and it was fantastic!  I also had a special shot glass around my neck all night that held 2 shots.. and of what I even remember I had at least 15 shots.  Mix that with some wine and rum and cokes, and take a guess at how my night ended.  Antonella also bought me a shot of Whiskey.  No really, just a guess how it ended.  If your answer includes a sink, a very nice bathroom attendant, a toilet, a sleepy Wes in his car, and a lot of pink stuff.... you're spot on!  Otherwise we had a really fun and 'clean' night at the Dirty Martini though... the only "stripping" we saw was ironically from Maria, who took off one of her tank tops for me to wear out of the bar.  Haha.  What a great cousin I have, willing to take off her clothes.

Tell me how anyone can sell you enough alcohol to poison you, and yet public drunkenness is frowned upon?  Is that any way to treat an apparently good customer ...of alcohol?  I say nay.  Nay!

It has to be a staple of bachelorette culture that you see at least one other Bride while you're out and you give props to each other, and there's at least one guy who offers to marry you instead, in case things don't work out.  Sure, stranger I don't know, you're next in line!  Let me put a little number 2 on your forehead.  lol.  He actually gave me his card and I believe it had a race car on it.  I hope that means he sells cars and not just "likes" cars a whole lot.  Don't laugh, I once went to school with someone who did a book report via showing the class a video of Lamborghini's.  Just, Lambourghini's... driving around... aaaaaand there was no book.  He also wore jogging pants all of the time.  Just saying... if you want your kid to be all weird, put him in jogging pants until he's 14.

I should know, my grandma tried doing that to me.  They were neon peach and said "awesome" down the leg.  Awesome indeed.  Would you like to know what else is also awesome? Never drinking again.  That would be awesome.

Inauspicious stars

Lingerie + Bachelorette Party tomorrow night! Something tells me it's going to be epic.  I absolutely, positively, head to toes excited for all the messiness.  Bring it on, bitches! 

Ann the tank is back, out of retirement, for one night only.

Crazy number 33

Crazy number 33, originally uploaded by anna potatoes.

I forgot to post a few pics from the summer. There was a great night where Sean, Wes and I went to a Jays vs Boston game (for any Toronto sports fans, it was the game where they had the game get so out of control that they bumped their pitcher back to the minors).

So this was just a regular guy who decided to dress in a FULL baseball uniform. Pants, socks and shoes! He hung around the ticket booth at the end of the game and then RAN AWAY into traffic.

Maybe he was afraid of missing the bus back to the cornfield of dreams.


It was also funny how only Wes, in a sea of Boston fans, got randomly yelled at so many times to "go back to where you come from" ... you mean, Hamilton? Wes' all-star comeback was even better. "yeah well I've seen better stadiums". What? lol.

They said it couldn't be done

Well apparently I've finally done it - I have policed the internet. Everyone said it couldn't be done... and.. wow there are so many people to thank. I am honestly so shocked I don't have anything prepared!! Uh well I guess I'd like to thank me, for being absurdly awesome... without me many things in my life would just not be possible. I'd like to thank my parents, teachers and friends for being my audience while I pointed out exactly why someone sucks at life - especially when it doesn't matter at all. Because of you I received so much unnecessary encouragement and I am so, so sorry. And my Dad, the most, when nearly 7 years ago he suggested I have a website so anyone at all would know what I had to say about basically anything. If he only knew who was reading! Lastly but not least, I'd like to thank Beth-Ann... for stealing previously mentioned website bits as her own, because of her love of writing. Without her I wouldn't be here today.... well I would, but I wouldn't be here now knowing what it was like to be so fucking creeped out your blood literally ran cold for a few moments... and ALSO with the knowledge of what it's like to accomplish what many others can only dream of..... actually having policed the internet!

After receiving this email, I think I can retire. Enjoy.

Hello Ann,

I'm writing you from Kean University in Union, New Jersey. I am the editor of a small independent newspaper here at Kean, and we are currently recruiting writers and other contributors. I have a habit of vetting all possible recruits, including a Google search in the process, mostly to make sure we're not opening the paper to crazies or individuals with an "unwholesome" intent.

I thought you'd be interested in knowing one our respondents was none other than Beth Mandio, the "17 year old girl from white-trash New Jersey." I just wanted to thank you for that blog post which ousted her blatant plagiarism (and very, very creepy life-stealery). Rest well knowing this Beth character will not profit from her plagiarist ways.

Sincerely,
--
Angel Marino
Editor-in-Chief
The Steaming Pipe
www.TheSteamingPipe.com

Does she believe dinosaurs existed, I want to know that

Ya I'd also like to know.

Random story with no point: the unidentified bug

When I growing up I was a pretty odd little ball. Oh no it's true. Not in a creepy Dakota Fanning sort of way, but more like I didn't read Anne of Green Gables or have a coin collection or have tea parties or want to ride horses. I'm terrified of horses, and even ponies. I had Japanese tea parties and tried to ski with wrapping paper rolls, took Commander Keen very seriously, and listened to Ace of Base but only while walking in the space between apartment buildings.

Anyway, on to the story with no point.

If you can imagine my childhood room (I say room in the singular when really I had like 3.. so one of my childhood rooms) it had a window with a pull down blind, a wicker bed, a real traffic cone/nightlight, a red Sony ghetto blaster where I'd only listen to a Bill Cosby comedy tape (but only when my parents went out) and really faded floral wallpaper. Anyway! So keep imagining this, if you can possibly bare the idea, all this plus some teen dream posters mixed in with Ninja Turtles and even a huge 20x20 puzzle poster of New Kids on the Block... where Jordan was inappropriately unbuttoning his jeans. Very scandalous, Mom!

Well one day, possibly while I was listening to the hit single The Sign on my cool new portable CD player that just came out, I was walking between apartment buildings and I saw a weird bug. I ran and told my Dad to come see it, it was so freaking weird! My Dad had no idea what it was and encouraged me to catch it and look it up. So, that's what I did. This was before the internet though so all I had was Encarta, and Encarta shockingly didn't know what it was either. I managed somehow to bring myself to come close enough to it to put it in one of those tiny coffee crystal jars. It had a red lid - if you want to keep visualizing this. I poked holes in it, put a leaf in it to eat, and asked everyone what they thought it was. Nobody knew and now I didn't know what to do with it! I couldn't let it go, like my Dad suggested, for fear it would be out there and knows where I live so I might run into it again. Since I could not immediately decide what to do with it, I placed the jar in my room behind the pulled down blind on my window. It basically stayed there, as I grew more and more afraid of it, and I'm not even sure when it died because I simply would not even peek back there. Time passed and I was now too deathly terrified of the jar behind the blind to do anything with it. When I'd go to sleep I would have waking nightmares that the dead freak bug was mad at me and out for supernatural revenge! The window sill became it's burial place and, in this narrative, I suppose that would make me the girl who has to walk past the cemetery everyday on her way home from school.

That bug in the jar stayed there for what seemed like a year at least.. a freaking year. I don't remember what happened, but it's pretty likely I ended up confessing the nightmare that was my life and had my Mom or Dad finally throw it away for me. All I remember was it was a huge relief when it was gone!

I'm sure the whole thing is an analogy for something else but hell if I know what that is. I kinda just want to play Commander Keen right now, anyone else in?

Public Service - all our food has poo in it, enjoy!

For recalls involving allergens in food and whatnot I get regular updates from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Really great little thing when something like a Listeria outbreak happens. Now I get updates like 4 times a day.. from when they volunteer to recall things, to actually recalling them because someone is sick or dead, and then giving me the product names and where in the area they're sold. Honestly I thought the problem was just packaged meats and prepared sandwiches until today they're recalling CHEESE??

And this is why I started wondering is anything good for you anymore?

You know I bought packaged lettuce at Price Chopper a while ago (aka the last time I ever will buy lettuce there) and when I went to make a salad there were two bugs living in it. Like literally, living it up in lettuceville, eating their cares away and probably leaving bug poop or residue all over it. Suuuuure I'll just wash that off. Ewwwww!! I threw the entire thing in the trash and killed the bugs with hot water for their insolence. It's not the same as Listeria but it still makes me uneasy about the food that's out there to buy. If it were free food I'd agree that hey, it's a gamble! I'm pretty sure all the food in the stores aren't free though.

Ohhh Whole Foods.. you'd never sell me Listeria, would you? I mean, you make your stores out of recycled cars so it certainly doesn't seem like you would, but who knows! I've been let down before....

Hot tranny mess

The EX was a hot tranny mess this weekend. I gave more than a few people the look of death for absentmindedly walking around and almost tripping me with their strollers. I mean really, when there are that many people around where are you going to go? You're going probably in the same direction I'm going, so take some deep breaths. Fuck I hate Toronto.

I was expecting that so it didn't ruin any of the fun at the farm area and also the horses were great and the airshow was unbelievable. The only thing I didn't like.. aside from the hotness.. $2.50 transaction fees.. and wandering idiots was at the farm area. The animals were really neat and yet for some reason when it got to the pigs, possibly because they were asleep, people were all flicking their ears and picking up the baby pigs like it's some market in Honduras. Clearly it said you were not supposed to do that ON THE SIGN. None of the other animals were bothered so I don't get it.. maybe pigs look like they won't fucking bite you? otherwise it was a great area for the kiddos to learn about how the farm works. Even the live bee hive was neat, but itchy to watch. This guy was cool.





Spent a couple days out of the weekend in the pool, at the family picnic and at La Salle park. Its been a very busy weekend but now that it's over I'm glad since there won't be much summer left to do that stuff anymore, and September will be just as busy.

Oh we also tried some of the Mill St. Coffee beer one night and it WAS good. Especially if you follow up a few of those with something lighter. I'd try it if I were you. Speaking of coffee, I also realized there is only one shade I tan into, and that is some sort of cappuccino colour. I'm pretty sure I can't get any more tan than this but who knows, it happened on accident from just being outside so much this year. Actually I forgot to put on sunscreen this weekend except for my face and, true to my "I burn once" statment.. I never burned. Now I think about how badass the sun was I think it's a Labor Day miracle! I feel invincible to the sun haha. Annnnd because I said that I am going to definitely put sunscreen on today so I don't have to eat my words.

Hope everyone is enjoying the start of September!

Long Weekend

{Mad Men - Episode 10: Long Weekend}

2008 has been a pretty interesting summer, with all the heat, rain, hail and whatnot of the suburban apocalypse. I'm glad the last weekend is a LONG weekend since it's basically full of stuff to do; the annual Family Picnic, Georgetown BBQ hopefully, fun at the EX, and a mildly fun wedding meeting - depending on how much wine they serve ;)

Tonight Sean and I have a date with Whole Foods after work to do a little shopping and pick up my ring at Knar. So far I love shopping at Whole Foods and have decided I will miss it if we do buy another house somewhere else. When my Dad came with us he bought a lot of stuff, even a $25 T-Bone steak! If I had not mentioned he is a vegetarian, but mainly for animal treatment reasons. His review is, for the money, it's a twice a year thing lol .. but he enjoyed it so I was happy about that. I'm glad I could introduce him to a store that he has a lot more choice in what he can have. As for myself, after using the Henna shampoo I have to say it is really shiny - even Sean says so - apparently he'd been using it too! The only thing I don't love that we've bought so far is the Vega smoothie mix.. it's really not that great tasting although you feel great. I've been using it this week to stave off a cold that is trying to latch on to me. I'd just stick to the powder and bars for all my healthy needs.

Just thought I'd finish up my product reviews there. Hey, I'm here to help if I can.


I was thinking about how sad I'd be when summer ended, but really as much as I do love summer and the sun and all that warm goodness... for me the time of year I feel best at, for some reason, has always been fall. The start of a season, nomatter which, is always my favourite day.
I thought about this yesterday which was rather cool and figured maybe what I enjoy are the sweaters or the bright colours, or start of school - but whatever the reason I inately just feel good inside when it's fall. I almost can't wait for that day. Brooke noticed on our walk that despite the sun, the trees were already turning colours. I suppose it's the only reason the end of summer doesn't make me all that sad - there's always something better to look forward to.

On that note, enjoy the long weekend everyone. Stay out of trouble!

Pimento Memento

I got my MOO card order back and I have to say, very cute! I dig it. I made a card about how much I dig it. Would you like it? Go ahead and right click save it.. as a memento. MOO cards for everybody!

Ever notice how memento is spelled less like it's derived from the word moment, which is what my brain assumes, and more like pimento? As in I kept this memento from that moment we spent together, stabbing junkies.

Oh goodness, I hope this memento knife doesn't contain AIDS

And as much as I like mementos or pimento's I simply had no idea how much I'd have to think about their spelling since nobody ever uses them. I almost feel bad for words like that, and try to use them more. This is unrelated to my new use of the word fabulous by the way, since a lot of people say fabulous .. probably whilst standing around in some club shaped like a block of cheddar cheese being far more hip than I could ever be. The word fabulous really does not need any help from me.


Anyway back to the subject: I'd definitely recommend MOO cards to anyone in need of business-y fun. You can make all your cards look different if you want, which is great since I know would get bored of the same thing over and over. Maybe if you were a huge business like JetBlue? Sure I guess they can be considered a big company. Ok so if you're someone like that, this probably wouldn't be for you. They do non-business-y fun, too, like post cards and sticker books. Maybe I'll order our gift thank you notes from MOO! And seal them with a photo sticker of the top 20 drunk faces at the wedding. If only someone would encourage me when I come up with these ideas! lol.

On a totally unrelated topic, I've been making things with a lot of zucchini recently since my grandma brought over a bunch of huge ones from my aunt's garden. I'm not a lifelong fan of zucchini actually, I find it bland mushy and gross, but now I'm older I suppose I don't mind it if it's cooked a certain way. That way being A) sliced thin and grilled with olive oil. B) chopped like shoestring fries and stir fried with onions and garlic. or C) cooked that way and then thrown in pasta sauce. My point is, though I cook with it, I can't possibly cook three giant zucchini's worth of it before it goes bad... until my Dad gave me some of those Debbie Meyer green bags.

Unfortunately I feellike I must tell someone that they really do work. My zucchini's are as fresh as when I got them 3 fucking weeks ago. That also includes at one point Sean slicing an entire one up, realizing it wasn't eggplant, and having to put them back in the bag. I dunno, I guess his retina's were damaged from the Kenny Rogers Chicken sign we use as a nightlight in the bathroom. lol. Anyhow, it's a slow, slow pace but now I have the bags I'm sure Obama will be president before these things go bad! Honestly every week I throw out so much shit it's disgusting.. we just don't eat it fast enough. If you click on the Debbie Meyer link there, the Black and White video of the person opening their drawer to all rotten veggies is me... complete with that wahh wahh sound. I don't know where it comes from, but I hear it. Plus lettuce and bananas are basically the things we buy the most, which I'm convinced are the two most rapidly aging foods, and it's basically a race against the clock to eat them. So if you also have this problem just go ahead and buy these bags. According to my Dad he's used them many more times then their recommended 10 uses and it's just as effective. Oh but be careful when you order apparently, my Dad also said he ended up with too many because the website doesn't let you go back and change your order!

Debbie, why you gotta be like that?

My last post was NOT entertaining. Sorry!

If that offended you...

Math Problem

I was giving out info on some accommodations to over-night guests to the wedding and it was getting so frustrating I commented it's "like a math problem" !!
X person wants to stay somewhere both close and cheap. At first impression it sounds as if proximity is the priority so I find a page of hotels that list their cost and proximity to the wedding reception. That website alone really should have ended the problem, for me, since it had all the information you'd need. Somehow the closest choice was too expensive so I offer my very first suggestion, a second time, that you just go with the cheapest hotel since the distance is less than 4km away. In the end, they looked up the location (which was on the invitation) and found their own Bed & breakfast close by AND cheaper than either hotel.

Then I get asked.. but do you think I should go with the first one?

I DON'T KNOW?? Is this a math problem, or social engineering? Please, take pity on me, I don't understand the question! lol.

Ironically I ran into the same kind of thing again later on today. I was going through some orders, seeing what I need and what I ordered because the store ladies were really nice.. and then canceling the latter. Of course, it all seemed like a math problem.

Ann-Marie
man figuring out tax on this thing stinks its either 13 or 14 percent but either of those worked out more than the total here she gave for tax for the confetti the lady charged me 146.10 before tax 18.99 tax doesn't work out to 13 or 14 percent

kmarshall
that would be 13 percent

Ann-Marie
if you multiply 146.10 by 1.13 its 165.09

kmarshall
yes 18.99 in tax

Ann-Marie
but her total here is 155.09 obviously she made a mistake

kmarshall
she charged you 8.99 tax instead of 18.99

Ann-Marie
hmm well that would make my ring pillow that i wanted to take off my order 21.40 instead of 31.40 what to do.. what to do..

kmarshall
it's too confusing cancel the wedding

Luckily I don't consider that a viable solution - LOL! Logically though I suppose it makes the most sense since it would solve deciding on pillows right now.. and that would be fabulous. I've decided I'm going to start saying fabulous a lot more since that is basically all I hear from Toopy and Binoo, and that means little children are going to grow up saying it and I'll stay relivant - or gay - for years longer than normal. Did I mention micro-managing drives me insane? Pretty sure I have at least one or eight times.

My solution for the day.. whoopdity doo who friggin' cares! :)

Mahjong too long

When I want to write something, usually I just write one thing..

Sometimes.

And that's basically it. Obviously I have to think of more words to explain what I mean and that's where I lose the desire to continue. I have absolutely no point here, just saying it would be super if I didn't have to .. you know.. say stuff.




On that note, my cable box "took a nap" for 2 days so it's been pretty Amish at my house until today. Ironically I got a lot of housework done - ick. If they didn't fix it today I'm sure I would have started trying to make my own candles and soap. Instead, everything is clean and I am now the Mahjong Tile Master. Don't even fuckin' try me, I will tile the hell out of you! I even drink tea when I play! But you know you've played too much Mahjong Titans when you start thinking of the layouts (Dragon, Spider, Cat, Turtle etc) in mythical terms for devising a winning attack strategy. Like if I were playing the Spider layout, I would assume the best strategy to win is the way the ancient Chinese (I can only assume they invented the game and therefore this is how I am supposed to win) would destroy a Spider.. by trying to remove the tiles at the venom fang area, or remove it's legs. As for the Dragon, you'd gut his eyes out and attack the teeth... orrrr so I'd assume if they existed. Yep and that's the point when everyone should stop playing Mahjong.

All the wedding stuff is going good, got a lot done with my ladies on Tuesday, and then we had lunch. I only have to mention ONE slight out of body experience of someone telling me flowers will cost $800 and me not running screaming out of there. So.. so wrong. Sean and I are extremely upset we won't be able to at least donate the flowers afterwards or anything, but on the (faint) plus side I'm apparently the only bride ever who actually is going to be throwing her real bouquet in the crowd. I guess people get another one to throw and one to keep.. but I'm not sentimintal like that, I will never own wedding day potpourri that my future Dog will one day munch on. Plus, isn't it less authentic to throw a mock bouquet? Who ever heard of that till now, count me as one of them. lol.

This weekend is almost started - should be off in a few hours to Toronto to watch the Jays play Boston tonight. Apparently it's a sold out game for once.. and it was so hot today so the dome should be open. The rest of the weekend we're going to try and go to the EX and then visit with some family. Two of my cousins had new babies (one of them is linked in my blog!) and I can't wait to meet them. If we miss the EX this weekend I think there is only one more ..because of course as summer ends, the weekends are full of things to do! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer too :)

Boy I love summer!

This is outside my house, right now... you're looking at hail. This is the SECOND time I've seen hail in August and even though there has been thunder and rain everyday for weeks, I still remain mystified.

Ok God, I'll bite, what's bothering you? I'm listening! Uh huh, I see, you say it's been far too long since Lost has been on the air.. and Dexter? Hey I agree with you totally here but I didn't really plan on spending my summer icing my margaritas by catching hail in my glass, you know? It's just one more month.. for Dexter anyways, and it'll be alright again. There's enough Weeds and Mad Men to help you along.

Love,
Ann-Marie


Search of the Week Winner: Google: pizza slice with arms and legs

I've never gone 99% on anything and I think I'm awesome

Update on product try outs: Vega Berry flavour - not great, no. Four O'clock tea Blue Lagoon flavour, not a fan. Cult sounding "Nature's Gate" henna shampoo and conditioner.. so far really shiny :) I made sure not to use any other hair after-product to get a real result.

Wow I can't wait to get a hair cut. Oh and by the way, the sun totally said screw you to my brown hair and now it's some kind of sandy colour.. which I kinda like actually, but in case the cottage pictures made you wonder if I lied about dying it again - I didn't.

So we're taking my Dad to Whole Foods this weekend.. let me tell you right now, he is going to freak out! and it will be awesome. I'm also going to try and ignore the near-high I get from shopping there and just try a few more products to see what I like. I really don't think I'm going to get out of there without the glass bottled milk ... but I'll try. Also I forgot to mention, even though I did not purchase it, that Montfort's Restaurants now sells their Hummus etc. spreads at Whole Foods and it's wicked shit fucking awesome. We just walked by and ate a bunch of it but walked out without any even though Sean also loved it as much as me or more.. because for $8 I have to consider how much/what "spread" means to me. Same thing with those SIGG Swiss water bottles... really awesome, but $30 is looking really adorable in my pocket, hiding, bargaining with me for it's little life.

For that I could buy a year of pro Flickr, which I just did, since my Pro will run out in 2 days. Best purchase by far! So thanks to Rob again who got me onto it.


While I'm in the reviewing mood, I also feel like I absolutely must warn the public on the top 5 worst movies I've seen (almost seen) lately:

1. The Scorpion King 2. About as terrible as sleeping with your eyes open. Intense stares are so... INTENSE! Ouuu tension!
   
2. The Mummy 2. If you ignore every scene that doesn't include the Dragon Emperor plot, then it's a really great movie! If you watch the entire thing boy does it suck.
   
3. Vice. I didn't even watch past 15 mins. Micky Rourke makes me want to buy a snake and feed it lab rats that I only name Micky Rorurke.
4. Johnny Sunshine Maximum Violence. I also shut this movie off as fast as possible. I'm unsure if this is Canadian, or an actual Porno - but do not watch this ever. Ever.
5. WINNER/aka loser.
   The Lost Samaritan. I really liked Ian Somerhalder after his role on Lost, so I thought this would be a decent movie just because he's in it and it was made after Lost. Shockingly this makes my top 5 of bad movies of all time.. it's actually comedic in it's utter badness. The mere memory of the dialogue and events make me laugh hysterically but I assure you at the time I watched it I was nowhere near laughter. I wanted to shuck my own eyes out every time someone spoke. Nothing made sense about this plot whatsoever... AND I MEAN WHATSOEVER! The writers should be killed sued for even using the word "Lost" in the title... just in case it made anyone think of the show. He isn't even really LOST in the movie - the only places he visits are all familiar to him! Don't just take my word for it though... seems like at least one person agrees with me.
   
   Please watch the trailer... I just did and I've laughed so hard I may have peed 2 drops. I'm literally in tears... "funny by accident" is now my favorite emotion of all time.
   

the lost samaritan

A Whole Lot

Hey hey.

I am feeling pretty awesome after this weekend. 8.8.08 we actually celebrated Brooke's "1st anniversary of her 25th birthday" birthday, and that was a whole lot of fun craziness. We were staying at this gigantic house one of her friends, Nancy, was house sitting with all kidnds of funn crazy crap on the walls - went out to party at Zu Bar and let me tell you, that was quite a scene. No Gino face rash this time, and I rather enjoyed the crazy crap on the walls there as well to tell you the truth. We got back to the crazy huge house and Nancy made us a bunch of food, I think it included some really great cheese which I may have eaten all of. Somewhere around then I professed my undying love for all things that taste or smell like butter fried onions and sour cream.

Whatever! haha.

Anyways, if we (the msot being Brooke) didn't feel like honestly dying the next day I would have said the entire thing was fantastic. So just slightly less than fantastic. I spent the next two days biking in the thunder and hail - for fun - in an attempt to sweat the alcohol out of my body as enthusiastically and purposefully as I put it in there in the first place! For anyone in the know, in the area of Oakville was the worst hit by the storm... so it was truly a bike-venture, soaked from head to toe, hail in your eye kinda time. Then again I enjoy anything that makes me appreciate hot showers as much as that did.

We also managed to hop downtown and check out the Whole Foods Market. Didn't really expect to like anything in there, with how jacked up I heard the prices are.. but you know what, whatever that place is incredible. We literally window shopped ourselves into a fever, and decided to sit down and get something to eat before it all got out of control.

They. Have. Everything!!

Logically I know I don't need that much choice but you know, I love it! And it's all organic, non-preservative stuff that I do not mind paying a few extra dollars for, depending on what your food priorities are, you can walk away paying about as much as you do now since they have their own cheaper in-store organic 365 brand and low price locally grown stuff (and there are a lot of farms around here I enjoy buying from - side of the road or otherwise). Ya so we'll definitely be going back. Somehow we escaped with just a bag full of stuff each we wanted to try out. It took all my resolve not to buy the glass bottled milk! So you're welcome to try them out too and tell me what you thought - we bought:

1. 365 Organics Cosmic Coco Cereal
2. Soyarie Shefu Tofu bites
3. Four O'clock Tea Energy: 2 flavours Blue lagoon - Pomegranate
4. Earth Shake Chocolate Blast drink boxes
5. Vega Whole Food single snack packs: 2 flavours Chocolate - Berry
6. Nature's Gate Henna Shampoo and Conditioner
7. Natural Factors - Learning Factors DHA fatty oils blend
   (already use this, but not this brand)
   

The testing results are: the cereal is GREAT, yummy; Tofu; AWESOME FUCK YA. Pom Tea is GREAT, lots of energy; Earth Shake is alright, apparently tastes like you'd expect; Vega pack is GOOD, tastes like watered down chocolate milk with protien bar ground in. Satisfied full feeling.

Keep you up to date on the rest, I'll let the shampoo work for a week or so before I comment.

I'm Back.. Bitches?

{photo #1}

That title felt like it needed a 'bitches'.

Cottage week 2008 was great.. curious weather but basically relaxing and got to go kayaking twice. Actually I think kayaking and badminton were my favourite things to do from the whole week of cottage activites. The badminton field was a little muddy in one spot and Sean literally did this herioc dive splits.. and made the shot! SO priceless. Anna slipped once too but she hurt herself so that wasn't really funny... but her racket head flew off once and that was also priceless. Plus the trash talking, can't forget that!

Canoeing would have been up there too if Antonella hadn't wanted to beat Maria's boat so badly that she tipped us getting onto shore and the edge of the boat flipped right on my leg and cut and bruised it. It's ok though since the rest of the week I'd just randomly walk over and go "hey anyone want to see my boat bruise today?"

Little Fact: we always make everything "more intersting" in a game with penelties and prizes for the winners and losers. So you have to see it does really suck when you lose, and it's not like we weren't already competitive. For example my team lost a game of badminton and I ended up having to do 5 mins of back scratches. Then we lost a game of beach volleyball and I had to be bar bitch for Maria and Alisia for one drink. But then we won at bocce ball (represent team mean green) and Antonella and I got to hand out "anything shots"! I don't think there was a penelty for the canoe who got to shore last other than they didn't have to hear about losing from Maria, and obviously Antonella just couldn't take that! Haha.

Getting back to regular life, the extra vacation day was nice to get some stuff done - booked the photographer and got to see my dad, pretty sweet. Still getting over a few bites I have left, loving my tan, and basically wishing I could go kayaking some more. Boourns to the lake being an unreasonable drive away. Cottage pics will be on here this week... and they include fireworks!


















Oooooo.