Words We Thought We'd Never Hear...

And this Vince Lombardi trophy goes to the New Orleans Saints...
What a happy joyous night we had and to wake up this morning with six inches of snow, unpredicted and out of the blue...surely pigs are flying.

And now for the picture...

Hard to believe "this" was the child at the photo shoot. Cute eh?

Thanks to Marci Lambert photography at www.marcilambert.com. You're the best!

Toddlers are Crazy Part 3

My photographer friend was running a Valentines portrait session so I figured we’d sign up Toddler and get some cutesy photos for my scrapbook. Thank God she’s used to photographing children as this was near disaster.

The exchange went like this:
Photographer: Please let me take your picture.
Toddler: No thank you. (he learned that in pre-school, we don’t claim to instilled such manners.)
Photographer: you are so polite! Will you hold this heart shape pillow for the photo?
Toddler: No thank you.

So this exchange goes on and on while clawing him off her furniture, trying to bribe, persuade, threaten, etc. to take his picture and be still for two seconds. The child who has never touched a lego at our house becomes obsessed with her daughter's legos. Then, we did the following charade that worked like a charm:

Me: Whatever you do NOT touch the heart pillow. Don’t touch it.
Toddler: (Looks at it and pauses.)
Husband: Seriously, don’t touch that pillow, don’t touch it!
Toddler: (sticks finger out as if to mock touch it)
Photographer: Don’t hug the pillow, don’t squeeze it.
Toddler: (delicately touches the pillow with what are you going to do expression)
Husband: (trying not to die laughing)
Me: Oh my! You touched the pillow!!!!!
Photographer: (snap, snap)

Voila. Valentine picture using reverse psychology.

Zumba Craze

I'm a little late but I've caught the Zumba dance bug. How fun are those classes? Unbeknownst to me, I signed up for "Zumba Gold" which was Zumba for Seniors as I didn't realize that's what the Gold meant until about three weeks in. I loved it when my 70ish instructor asked if we liked "Rock" and proceeded to play Footloose. But I'm not knocking her as she has a better figure than most 20 year olds I know. She is how Madonna will look in her 70's.

In addition to Zumba Gold, I've also participated in "Dance Fusion" and "Hip Hop Dance." Both of which have about obliterated the obliques but what a great way to pass an hour. I just hope no one is filming me as I'm sure I look rather ridiculous belly dancing, booty shaking Beyonce style, salsa dancing like Shakira, etc. It's a good thing to be obsessed with an exercise.

GiGi's Cupcakes Opens in Memphis

Must be the week of the cupcake for me here in Memphis. We had a new cupcake bakery to open just last week and it's awesome - Gigis! Ideal for those that like lots and lots and lots of icing. I got the Spumoni flavor (traditionally cherry, pistachio and chocolate) and then had a nice center surprise on cutting into it. It was filled with chocolate. And me, Mrs. Sweet Tooth Extraordinaire, could only eat half of the darn thing...it was huge! So the rest is being saved for later or maybe for the little one at home.

Hostess Cupcakes

I've mentioned in previous blogs how Cooks Country magazine is the best cooking magazine out there hands-down. So it was with delight that they "re-created" the Hostess cream-filled chocolate cupcake recipe that we all know and used to love. One of those foods that "just isn't the same" when we grew up.

Oh my. I've made a lot of cupcakes in my day but these take #1 place. I encourage you to pick up the current issue of Cooks Country (oranges on the cover - you'll likely need to get it at a bookstore) and make these yourself. But let me save you some trouble. For the cream center, mix about 3/4 cup of marshmallow fluff and 3/4 cup of fluffy white frosting. Seriously, it will be all I can do to not make these now every weekend for the rest of my life.

Sleepless Nights

This Haiti earthquake has affected me in a very deep way. For one thing, I was always "scared" of that country as from all I've ever seen, it looks like hell on earth. I think this fear started when I saw a horror movie in high school that took place in Haiti and it was about zombies and voodoo and all that garbage and it scared me so bad that I left the theater before the film was over (I think it was called "Serpent and the Rainbow") and still to this day I hate horror films and take no thrill in being scared.

So I find myself tossing in the bed feeling helpless and overall pretty worthless for not being able to do "more" than just a donation. I'm obsessed with every news report--please oh please get the aid there and quick. I cry when someone is still looking for a loved one and praying that their loved one wasn't dumped in some mass unmarked grave like what I saw on CNN that had my mouth agape. And I'm in awe at these doctors that have come from all over the globe to help, countless missionaries who stayed behind to look after orphans, and I feel like my job in "advertising" is meaningless in the big scheme of things. Advertising. Makes me want to rethink my whole career path.

I am reminded of when I applied for military service out of college and was denied. Those recruiters knew that I didn't have that thing that makes for a soldier. So although in my heart I wish I had that thing, the reality is, I am too squeamish, too girly, too scaredy cat and paranoid...they saw through me I'm sure. So I came to realize that there are people who do and praise God for them and those that support the doers behind the scenes and I'm in that latter cateogry, and I just need to feel "okay" about that. Compassion comes in all forms.