Wedding Spoiler: The Handbag

With 60 days left before the day o' nuptials, I thought I'd share a tidbit about the wedding.

The handbag, of course!

Do to the nature of the of the event, I thought a clutch was appropriate.

A definition of "clutch", according to Webster: tending to be successful in tense or critical situations.

I'm hoping for success
.























[tags: kate spade, tisbury clutch, wedding handbag]

Same Great Flavor - New Packaging!

I change my outfit at least twice per day.
I change my hairstyle at least three times per day.
I change my purse selection several times per week.
My look is dynamic.

I just wasn't feeling the dots anymore. I could no longer take refuge in their splotchy uniformity.

Same blog flavor - new blog packaging!

[where: 55406]

Longfellons: No Pie Charts! Only Pies!

























Our neighborhood community council is hosting a pie potluck.

We're gonna get together, eat pie, and make some arrangements for the neighborhood.

I hope they'll give us the story on the new Tom Pham joint opening on E. Lake St.


[where: 55406]

Ambre?? For real??

From the beginning I was pulling for Daisy. I loved her emotionalrollercoasterbaggagitude, and I liked the fact that she was short.

So color me surprised when Bret picked Ambre to be his Rock of Love 2.

Leading up to the decision I was all, "Bret! Remember how you picked Jessica last time, and she was SO boring?? We all knew Heather was perfect for you, but you played it safe with pink-haired girl! Do you really want to go there again???"

After the decision I was all, "I'm pretty surprised he played it safe again...I thought he was all about Daisy! Oh well, at least we get to see the women scorned get in a fight on the reunion episode."

Regarding Daisy and the breakup, "Holy *$%#! She's a fuggin wreck!!"

Also, I hope Angelique gets her own show. She's hilarious and terrible and I *heart* her.


[where: 55406]

Nerd Alert

I guess I was a dweeb before it happened, but now I feel like a bonafied geek. I attended a conference with "con" in the title.

It was not a scificon. It was not a comic-con. It was a webcon. MinneWebCon, to be exact.

Having been charged with managing both the blog and the wiki for my day job, I was interested in learning more about wiki user adoption and internet law, so I hit the MinneWebCon.

The most informative and interesting presenter was Amy Kristin Sanders. If you need to book a speaker about internet law, try to get her...informative, interesting, smart, and funny. She holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in First Amendment law. HOT. HOT. HOT.

I'm *this* close to finishing my Master's Degree in Public Administration....it would be wikked awesome to top my education sundae with Ph.D. in Mass Communications and Administrative Law. That would be the rad and tough...and expensive.

Postscript - Anyone know of good books/good research about wiki user adoption?

Post-postscript - Anyone interested in funding a Ph.D. program for a bare-knuckled bruiser?

[where: 55406]

Restaurant Alma in your Kitchen!

Are you someone who enjoys the food at a few fine Minnesota restaurants?
Renewing the Countryside has got a book for you!!





















Renewing the Countryside et al have been busting their butts for the past three years working on a cookbook that features 100 recipes from 38 of Minnesota's crucial chefs and restaurants who are committed to locally grown, organic, sustainable food.

I got my hands on a pre-press copy a few weeks ago, and the book is goooooorgeous. It will certainly take center stage on your coffee table and your kitchen counter before it hits the cookbook shelf. Heck, someone tried to swipe the copy I had.

Recipes come from Lucia’s, Café Brenda, Spoonriver, Heartland, New Scenic Café, Angry Trout Café, Restaurant Alma, Brasa, Bryant Lake Bowl, Barbette, Red Stag, Bayport Cookery, Birchwood Café, Hell’s Kitchen, Nosh, Heartland, New Scenic Cafe, Minwanjige Café, and several more Minnesota favorites.

Buy it here.

PS - if you love Wisconsin as much as I do, check out Renewing the Countryside - Wisconsin.

"Simply stated, 'Renewing The Countryside: Wisconsin', which is also available in a hardcover edition, should be a part of every Wisconsin school and community library -- and would ably serve as a template for similar books featuring similar efforts with respect to the rural economies and conditions in other states." - Midwest Book Review

[where: 55406]

Very Important Monopoly Poll

When I was a kid, it seemed like getting the top hat made a Monopoly game better.
The top hat was, in my mind, the best Monopoly token.

It reminded of Planter's Peanuts, which reminded me of adults. And adults had money.
I mean, what's more grownup and money-rific than a top hat??

To me, the top hat reigned supreme.












[where: 55406]

Buffalo Chicken Chili Shower
















This weekend I was showered with buffalo chicken chili.
It was not raining men. It was raining chili.
It made me blush.

I'm not sure if chili is the most standard grub for wedding shower fare, but I wanted it. So my matron of honor made it happen cuz she's down with me. She also made pulled pork sandwiches, chicken cranberry salad, pasta salad, cupcakes, chocolate dipped strawberries, cheese n crackers, taco dip, croudites, sorbet punch, and iced tea happen.

I supplied the chicken for the chili, which came from Beaver Creek Farms, just north of the Twin Cities, in Mora, MN. At Beaver Creek Farms, cage-free, antibiotic-free birds are pastured in summer and free-roam in a greenhouse in winter.

The chili was wikked tasty. Bright red, tangy, but not too spicy, and the blue cheese dressing on top was a nice variation. Of course, I ate just a bit in a hurry, as I had 40 family members and friends there - for real.

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 lb. all-white meat ground chicken breast (I used shredded cooked chicken)
1 large carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 large onion, chopped
3 ribs celery, finely chopped
5 large cloves garlic, chopped
1 Tbsp. smoked paprika
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 c. low-sodium chicken broth
1/4-1/2 c. hot sauce, depending on how hot you like it
1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
Fat free blue cheese salad dressing, for topping

Place a large pot over medium-high heat; add the oil. Once the pot is hot, add the ground chicken. Brown it, using the back of a wooden spoon to break it up in to small pieces, about 5-6 minutes. (If you use cooked shredded chicken, like I did, you can skip this step.)

Add the carrot, onion, celery, garlic, paprika, bay leaf and some salt and pepper to the pot. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 3-4 minutes (add shredded chicken at this time, if using). Add the chicken broth and scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pot. Add the hot sauce and crushed tomatoes, and bring up to a bubble. Simmer for 8-10 minutes to let the flavors come together.

Top each serving with a dollop of blue cheese dressing.

I found the recipe on the Cast Sugar blog, along with the pic I swiped and posted above.


[where: Mora, MN 55406]