Lame

I’m pretty sure including a 9-year-old movie in a Mamapop guest post covering my CURRENT pop culture obsessions makes me incredibly lame, but here you go.

Cooper, you’re an amazing dancer and you’re a great choreographer, but as a boyfriend… you kinda suck.

I Think I’m in Love: Love Story meets Viva La Vida

Have you had the chance to listen to this song? Jon Schmidt combined two recent hits into a piece that gives me non-stop goosebumps. Love love love.

Read more about the song here.

(Found through Naomi at The Rockstar Diaries. She’s another blog crush - have you checked out her Here’s to Happiness feature? Puts a smile on my face every time.)

Thank God I’m Drinking Margaritas

We have just surpassed the 65-minute mark of non-stop, 194-decibel, Backyardigans theme singing and he’s showing no signs of stopping in the near future.

Bottoms up, my friends. Bottoms up. Happy Friday!

The Backyardigans obsession continues… from whoorl on Vimeo.

My Best Job Title To Date

I’ve been part of some really cool collaborations during the past four years of my internet existence, but this one personally takes the cake. Citysearch has just launched a new website called Mopshots - a website full of awesome hairstyles handpicked by some incredibly tyrannical people, aptly named The Dictators.

(Dude, that’s me!! I am a DICTATOR.)

There I am! Just casually planning global domination while twirling my hair! RUTHLESS.

At Mopshots, you can submit your own fabulous hairstyle, browse through the Dictators’ top choices, as well as find out what salons and stylists created the styles.

It’s pretty damn cool, if I do say so myself. (And I will because I AM A DICTATOR.)

(This is clearly going to my head.)

Thanksgiving Menu and Stalking Plans

We’re not traveling this Thanksgiving, so I will be entirely in charge of this Thursday’s menu preparation. The grocery shopping has been completed, my Wednesday Prep Schedule is hanging on the refrigerator and I seriously can’t wait for a full day of cocktails, grub and football. I’ll be serving:

Turkey/Gravy - This will be handled by the lovely folks at Whole Foods. I just really don’t see the point in cooking one for the 3 of us.

Great-Grandmother’s Stuffing/Dressing - You know the drill. Tell you, have to kill you, so on and so forth…

Hash Brown Casserole - the ULTIMATE in comfort/unhealthy food.

1 lb frozen hash browns
1/2 cup chopped onions
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can mushroom soup
1/2 lb. shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup butter, melted (1/2 stick)

Mix all together, put in casserole dish, bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Enjoy the clogged arteries.

Spanish Green Beans

Dinner Rolls/Biscuits - haven’t decided on which recipe exactly. Any good ones?

Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Whiskey Whipped Cream

1 8 ounce baguette, sliced into ½ inch slices
4 eggs
1 quart half and half
1 15 ounce can pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon coarse salt
cooking spray
1 cup heavy cream, very cold
2 to 3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons whiskey

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

1. Toast the bread on a rimmed baking sheet until lightly browned, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes.

2. In a large bowl combine eggs, half and half, pumpkin, brown sugar, spices, vanilla, and salt. Add toasted bread slices, cover with plastic wrap, pressing down. Place a plate that fits inside bowl on the plastic wrap and weight with a canned good. The bread must be completely submerged. Let soak until the bread is saturated about 30 minutes.

3. Transfer to a 2 quart baking dish that has been coated with non stick cooking spray. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes
until set and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Store, covered in refrigerator.

4. To make whiskey whipped cream, combine heavy cream, sugar and whiskey. Mix immediately on high speed with mixer for about 4 minutes, until fluffy. Spoon over bread pudding.

Of course, I will be cooking all of this food while sipping on a spicy Bloody Mary with pickles, olives and celery. Mmmm.

What are you making for Thanksgiving? More importantly, are you trying out any special cocktail recipes?

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I saw Twilight on Sunday night with my good friend Lisa. This might not seem like a huge deal to most of you snazzy moviegoers, but let me tell you a little something about myself. In the past 8 years, I have seen 3 movies* in the theater. (For those of you keeping track, that would be since Y2K. Y2K, PEOPLE.) I simply do not see movies in the theater, mainly because my husband has some sort of bizarre movie-induced narcolepsy, and let’s face it, it’s no fun watching a movie while your +1 is dozing. ALSO, it’s no fun when someone sitting behind you sneezes half-chewed Twizzlers in your hair. Just sayin’.

Before seeing Twilight, I didn’t think my obsession with Edward Cullen could grow. I was wrong.

I am seeing the movie again this weekend. With my good friend Lisa.

(GOOD GOD, WHAT IS WRONG WITH US.)

On a related note, anyone interested in stalking Robert Pattinson with me? My lovely cousins are providing the crazy stalker van, so we’re all set to go.

*The Royal Tenenbaums, The Squid and the Whale, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The Backyardigans Have Become My Babysitter

Well, THAT Labor Day sure came and went.

Things have been a little chaotic over here. Roadtrip adventures to Idaho (multiple posts could not do it justice), planning for a last-minute trip to Colorado this weekend, gargling my heart while doing Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred (today is Day 11), submerging myself in the Twilight series (starting Book 4 right now - NO SPOILERS PLEASE), keeping up with my freelance work (including a new weekly column that has me so excited, I can’t stand it), and of course, taking care of Wito the man.

(Oh, did I mention that my beloved nanny who watched Wito two half-days a week while I worked on said freelance projects decided to double major? And left my cheese in the wind? And I have no help right now? While I’m trying to write, hmmm, let’s see, 3 weekly columns and 2 blogs, among other things such as RUNNING A HOUSEHOLD? Can you believe she would choose furthering her education over a nanny job? I mean, WHY AMY? DON’T YOU WANT TO BE A NANNY FOREVER?

(No? I see.)

So, yeah, on top of that, I’m in the midst of nanny interviews. We all remember how interesting that was last time, right?

I guess you could say I’m feeling a little overwhelmed right now. In a good way, though.

Meanwhile, while trying to get everything accomplished, Wito has developed a major obsession with The Backyardigans. Tyrone, specifically. Have any of you seen the Polka Palace Party epsiode? Well, that episode has BECOME my part-time nanny for the time being.

If you aren’t familiar, let me introduce you to the world of The Backyardigans.

And if you see an enormous toddler in a cowboy hat running around town singing “Yip! Yip! Yip! Yip!”, that would be my Wito. Go easy, his mother is a little frazzled right now.

Polka Party from whoorl on Vimeo.

Starstruck at Blogher

Come take a stroll with me down memory lane.

It’s 2:45pm on Saturday. I’ve just run up to my hotel room in an attempt to briefly thaw my corpse-like legs before the next session. I turn on the television set, realize ESPN bowling just isn’t going to hack it and grab the nearest Blogher schedule to skim over. Holy shit! I forgot about the room I’ve been wanting to visit since I arrived! The “celebrity” of all celebrities is in that room!

I grabbed my bag and walked hurriedly to the elevator. My heart seemed to beat out of my chest while thinking of the possibilities. What if I get the chance to have a short conversation? What should I say? Should I go for an awkward hug?

I had no time to think. I needed to get to this room before the next onslaught of people arrived on their break. I weaved through the hallways, staring straight ahead, careful not to catch the glance of anyone who could slow me down.

And then I arrived. The minute I walked into the room, I saw the Blogher VIP across the way and immediately started to cry. CRYING, PEOPLE. “Oh, Jesus”, I thought to myself, “Get it together, Whoorl! What am I, FOUR??”

I couldn’t help it. I was staring at such an inspiration. I wiped the tears off my face and walked straight over to introduce myself and maybe secure a photo or two.

I must say, Grover did not disappoint. I was suddenly a five-year-old again, just thrilled to get a hug from the famous puppet.

Although, Grover, are you attempting to cop a feel?

Let me help you with that hand, Grover. Okay, much better.

For those Sesame Street fans, Eric Jacobson (whose face is in the second photo) has been the only person to puppeteer Grover besides Frank Oz. (Is it just me or do Eric and Grover resemble each other?)

More non-puppet Blogher fodder to come…

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