I, too, have been negligent about our baby blog here. So, as I sit here listening to one of my munchkins getting reamed by her piano teacher, I have decided that it is definitely time for a cocktail...  Coincidentally, this recipe comes from a fabulous calendar given to me by our FABULOUS piano teacher; therefore, it is only appropriate that this evenings entry be dedicated to him and his amazing level of tolerance!!

In following with the time of the season, I proudly give to you The Pumpkin Pie Martini:

• 1/3 cup of milk
• 2 T pumpkin puree
• 1 1/2 oz vanilla flavored vodka
• 1 1/2 oz creme de cacao
• 1 pinch pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup crushed ice
• Whipped cream
• Combine milk and  pumpkin puree in a cocktail shaker and shake to combine
• Pour in vodka and creme de cacao and add ice
• Shake well, and then strain into martini glass
• Garnish with a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice and a dollop of whipped cream

Chink! Chink!

~c~

Fun

Confession:

I've been a slacker about this little blog of ours. I've had so many things I wanted to write about, all these awesome ideas that were floating in my head: costumes for my first trip out to the infamous San Diego Comic Con, an amazing vintage costume retrospective at the El Paso Art Museum that tied in with the El Paso Film Festival, jewelry inspired by the fossils and dinosaurs at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History... heck, even a zombie-inspired cocktail to celebrate the premiere of The Walking Dead was in order. But when it came down to it, my ideas never quite made it to the page.

It's like my typing and writing skills went on summer vacation and never came back from enjoying days of extreme laziness.

So it's only fitting that the blog post that would me bring back to writing would ironically be about... fitness. Over a calorie-laden lunch, my partner in crime Christy introduced me to The Dirty Girl mud run, a 5K obstacle course for women that also benefits breast cancer research. I instantly wanted in... it reminded me of an obstacle course I had the privilege of running in a Marine boot camp experience for teachers... only this time, I could wear a pink tutu instead of camouflage. FUN!

I have a sneaking suspicion that November 17 will result in a lot of laughs, pics, and stories that will inspire me to write on our poor little neglected baby.

~m~

This will be us in a few weeks... woot!

Do you remember when you were a kid and that first day of school was quickly approaching?  Do you remember how vital that first day of school outfit was?  (For those of you who had to wear uniforms, I apologize...but your accessories had to rock the plaid skirts. I'm just sure of it!)  I distinctly remember planning every single detail of my back to school look, literally, tip to toe.

Fast forward a few years and I still get that same feeling as school approaches. Being a teacher, I realize the importance of my first day of school look. That is my single chance to make a lasting impression for the entire year!  It is a make or break day!!  One false move and I have lost the 9th graders for good...  I usually begin searching and plotting at the start of August. This year I was fortunate, I had three weeks to plan. (And I had purged shoes and clothing all summer long, so I needed to do a bit of restocking - yay!)

It is customary to start from the bottom up. Very large heels are in order for the first day. It does not matter to me how much those dogs are barking at the end of the day, I need those kids to know that I am no small woman to be pushed around...I'm here to teach you French and I mean business!

After much hemming and hawing, I found my back to school look:

I like to think that I made a lasting impression; only time will tell. 

~c~

Food

Throughout the year, my family and I often enjoy the delights of what we call a "Kitchen Sink Salad". It all started with Gigi, my husband's grandmother, who would often create one of these beauties for dinner. So easy to prepare and different every time, perhaps it should really be called "Everything But the Kitchen Sink Salad". It is an easy way to use the fruits and veggies from the fridge. I include a variety of beans, meats, potatoes and sometimes fruit. The kids love to choose what is going into the salad and love putting it together. It is a great way for them to take part in preparing dinner and usually guarantees that they will eat all that is put upon their plates. Whatever ingredients I have on hand are free game. The end product is always a gorgeous melange of colors and bursts of flavors. Since the salad itself is so easy to assemble, it is a favorite go to meal in our house.

Sunday night's Kitchen Sink Salad...including bell peppers, tomatoes, black beans, tuna and carrots 

I prefer to top it with a light coating of a traditional French vinaigrette:

• 1 clove of garlic, minced, 
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 t French Dijon mustard
• 2 t red wine vinegar
• 4 t extra virgin olive oil
• In a small bowl, mix the garlic, vinegar and mustard together. Add the olive oil and whisk vigorously. Add a touch of salt and pepper, to taste and pour immediately on your salad. The light addition of this dressing is the perfect compliment to your salad. 

Bon appétit!! 

~c~

Food

I'm all about easily prepared and delicious food, but those two qualities rarely go together. However, with a few common ingredients that are pretty much around every kitchen, I know I can always make oven roasted garlic in a hurry. Straight out of the oven, spread on a piece of artisan bread, and sprinkled with a little sea salt, it doesn't get any better.*

All you need is:
1-2 whole bulbs of garlic
Cooking spray
Aluminum foil
Sea Salt

First, you spray the bulb with the cooking oil, covering it completely in a thin coat. Next, wrap the bulb in tin foil and place in the oven at 375 degrees for about 12-15 minutes, more or less. When you unwrap the tinfoil, you should see a golden brown color to the bulb. Start to peel away the layers, and you'll notice the individual cloves are soft and golden. Spread on a piece of bread, and sprinkle some sea salt on top to taste. Yum.

*The yum factor clearly depends on the fact that you are a garlic fan and/or do not have a date later.








~m~

Food

I am Liz Lemon. Ok, not in the way that she lives in New York City, has Jack Donaghey as a mentor, or has a handsome geeky boyfriend with killer cheekbones (hello, James Marsden??). But the girl is an incessant eye roller, loves Star Wars in a very unhealthy way, and adores food. I'm sure that there are more glamorous and less socially awkward characters on tv to feel a connection to, but to me, the woman who rocks glasses and sings a song about cheese is the one I (over)identify with.

Recently, I went to a cheese party, an idea that I'm sure would receive the Lemon seal of approval. A friend and I have been talking about this for a while, and when it came together, it was everything we wanted it to be. A small group of friends were asked to bring cheeses and the only stipulation was that it be something a bit different. We were not disappointed in the spread. Even the brave, lactose intolerant partygoers were pretty excited.

Blessed are the cheesemakers....

Among the offerings were a smoked Gouda, a delicious Bleu Cheese, several goat cheeses, including a goat brie, some queso fresco, panela, and a delicious truffle pecorino. Along with the cheeses, there were various compotes, nuts, prosciutto-wrapped breadsticks, olives, mushrooms, charcuterie, and a delicious goat-cheese cheesecake.

Non-dairy goodies

I brought two types of cheese that I love. The first type was Spanish Manchego. I served it along with the traditional membrillo, which complements the cheese so well. This is how I was first introduced to Manchego while traveling through Spain. It's absolutely delicious.

I also took a nice wedge of brie. Usually, I love to serve brie with warm apricot preserves and roasted walnuts on top. But I picked up this great compote that has fig, pear, and orange. I've always served goat cheese with fig preserves, but I really loved the way the fig tasted with the brie.

Found this goodness at Spec's

Everything was so perfect. I understand more than ever why Liz keeps eating hard cheeses after all her root canals and sings a song about working on her night cheese.

She has a great dental plan.

I have those glasses. And that poptart.

~m~

Fun

When you're a diehard fan of something, you usually wear your heart on your sleeve when it comes to your devotion. In the case of the awesome shirts at TeeFury, fans of all sorts of pop culture icons can wear their hearts directly on their chests for the whole world to see.

I first learned about TeeFury a few weeks ago because of one of those ads that you see on your Facebook page. I saw a t-shirt that looked like an art nouveau poster, but when I looked at it closer, it was a picture of Gob Bluth, a character from the brilliant but now defunct Arrested Development.

"GOB Nouveau" from May 5, 2012

My heart stopped, the purchase was made, and from that day, I've kind of been hooked.

The deal with these shirts is beyond cool. They are only $10, but that's not even the best part. The t-shirts are truly limited editions in the fact that each shirt is only sold for one day, and the designs are submitted by various artists. While I find that really unique, it's also quite painful when you start scrolling through the gallery to see the previous designs you missed out on. The pain only continues when you realize that if you are lucky to find one of the designs on eBay, they are almost always XXL and the price is always more than the original ten bucks. But, again, if you're a diehard fan, you might just end up paying an incredible amount of money for that cheap ten dollar t-shirt that celebrates all you love.

~m~

"Theatre de la Rebellion" from July 24, 2011

The inspiration- Alphonse Mucha

"The Kiss" from February 14, 2012

The inspiration- Gustav Klimt

"Sherlock's Mind" from March 14, 2012

The inspiration- The amazing BBC series Sherlock

Inspiration Part Two- Benedict Cumberbatch....
Sigh.

Fabulous Summer Fun

Diva-tini time!!

With summer quickly approaching, it is time to think swimsuit, sunscreen, floppy hats and, most importantly, poolside refreshment!  I was recently introduced to this delicious beverage and am glad that I was. 

This diva-tini is easy to prepare...

• Fill a poolside appropriate glass with ice


• Fill 1/3 of the glass with Effen Cucumber Vodka


• Top with soda


• Add a twist of lime and leave in for garnish


• Place one slice of cucumber on the rim for an added touch

Chink, chink, mes amis!  Enjoy!

~c~

Fashion

When I was little, I always knew my mom was around just by smelling the air, which always had a hint of her perfume, Chanel No. 5. And I distinctly remember having to take magazines to grade school for an art project and being kind of shocked that my copies of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Architectural Digest were the only ones there in a pile of Good Housekeeping and Better Homes and Gardens that the other kids brought. Fashion, art, and design have always been a part of my life, from the very beginning, thanks to my mom.



She has always been this incredibly stylish woman, and she can get away with certain looks like no other. My mom's an artist, and she sees clothing and accesories as just another form of expression. She can mix a shirt from Forever 21 and pair of antique emerald earrings and just look... stunning. I love that she dresses with absolute abandon and just wears whatever she thinks is beautiful, no matter where she is going. She'll wear her Indian diamond jewerlry and beaded sari skirt to work. As a teacher.



My Mom the Style Icon is a blog that celebrates the stylish influence that our moms have on us. This blog is just an open love letter to all moms. Scroll through the pictures and see how these outfits from the 70's, 60's, 50's and 40's look so gorgeous and modern. I think of my awesome friend Christy and how she is so influential in her daughter's style: her daughter Sabrina is already writing her own blog, Fun With Accessories, after seeing her mom write about things that she loves on this one. And the love for clothes that these two share just proves the maxim "Like mother, like daughter."



Happy Mother's Day to all those fabulous moms out there. We love you.

~m~

My mom at her bridal shower-

Love the hair and the earrings!

Fashion

While browsing the aisles of Barnes and Noble recently, I stumbled upon this little treasure:

The Fashion Coloring Book by Carol and Lulu is fascinating and hilarious at the same time. Fashion inspired toys and books are nothing new. I remember loving my Fashion Plates, a series of interlocking plastic plates that you could mix and match to create outfits that were very Lauren Hutton, very 70's cool.

                                                                                                                                                                                       
But this is not some amateur coloring book about Disney Princesses. Please. This takes it to a whole other level. With the iconic Alexander McQueen "Armadillo" shoe on the cover, you know things are serious. This book features quotes from famous designers, fashion games and activities, and pages of designs from Céline, Versace, Stella McCartney and others. I'm struggling to figure out who the target demographic is: incredibly rich pre-teens who are already label whores or poor teachers who wish to be label whores. Here's a sample of the entertainment that appears in the book:

________________ (name) is late to the Marc Jacobs fashion show! She grabs her _____________ (accessory) and her ____________(accessory) and races out the door. But she never forgets to _____________ (verb) her hair.

And when you tire of playing Neiman Marcus Mad Libs, you can color in pages that are scattered with quotes from sartorial geniuses, like this one from Karl Lagerfeld:

"If you throw money out the window throw it with joy.
Don't say 'one shouldn't do that'--- that is bourgeois."

A coloring book that teaches parts of speech AND vocabulary? Amazing. And if you're still not sold, there are pictures of Anna Wintour and lingerie from Agent Provacateur just waiting to be colored.
I'm off to go find my markers.
~m~

My Fashion Plates were never this fashionable.
  

 Or this sexy.

Chanel Coloring Page

Anna Wintour NEVER looks this happy.

Fashion addictions

My partner in crime in this blogging adventure has a problem: she has an addiction... to stripes. Every time we shop, I attempt to intervene, although I have noticed that a majority of her stripe purchases go on behind my back.

Now it is time for me to fess up as well.  My name is Christy, and I have a problem.  I am a polka-dot addict.  I suppose I have had this issue for quite some time.  It was once I picked up on Michelle's adoration for stripes that I realized my own polka-dot desire.  In fact, this is how far I have taken it:

These are in honor of my son's little league game tonight.  I suppose I have taken baseball mom to a different level. But really, aren't they ADORABLE!?!  And truly assessing my addiction, I realize how many polka-dots there are in my closet:  a most adorable retro swimsuit, several scarves and dresses, and the most recent acquisition, a white sheer blouse with red polka-dots (thank you, H&M).

I am happy to report, though, that our love for stripes and polka-dots are currently very fashionable. Thankfully, for our pocketbooks, they are classics and will never go out of style.  And despite the striped shirt in the article costing $198.00, we are very on point this season with our patterns of choice!!

~c~

Fashion

I recently went shopping for a camping trip and bought a pair of pants that are basically the equivalent of a Swiss Army knife*. With a snap of a button, they go from pants to capris. There's a hidden zipper at the thigh that turns them into shorts. They are made of some material that keeps you warm in the cold, cool in the heat, and "wicks away moisture" (um, the manufacturer's words). They have a mesh lining for a yet unknown purpose. They have pockets everywhere for your compass, your map, and your other hiking accoutrements. They are a putty color that camoflauges any dirt/mud/rocks you fall into. They are completely practical, and I hate them for that.

And then there are these gorgeous shoes that I found at Target while buying a flashlight for my trip.

They are not going to save my life the way those pants did when I decided to slide down a slope of ice to make better time hiking down that mountain; in fact, I think an argument can be made that my life will probably be endangered when I wear these climbing the marble stairs at school. That cobalt color is probably not found anywhere in nature and won't camoflauge any dirt/mud/rocks I will fall into. These shoes are completely impractical, and I absolutely adore them for that.
~m~

*My Swiss Army knife is hot pink.

All Things French

I love France. No, not just a fleeting love, I LOVE France. I love everything about it (almost).  No country is perfect, I realize that, but the culture of France is just about as close to perfect as one can be.

But seriously, look at what France has to offer... the Eiffel Tower, cave paintings at Carcasonne, Edith Piaf, Marion Cotillard. The list is endless.

One of, if not THE, best parts about France and the French culture is the food.  Food is an experience, it is an art, it is simply amazing. Every aspect of food in France is something to be relished, enjoyed, and taken very seriously.

Shopping for food in France is something that everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime. There is simply no way to explain the feeling of walking through an open air market and seeing the beautiful food that is so perfectly displayed. One can find pretty much anything at these markets: produce, livestock, cheese, purses, scarves. . .again, the list is endless. On one of my most recent visits to the City of Lights, I wandered through a market where I met the most charming escargots vendors. When I asked if I could take a quick photo to share with my students, I was told that I must be in the picture as well...

Needless to say, I obliged.

Open air markets are such a multi-sensory experience. The colors, the scents, the sounds of the vendors . . . it really is indescribable. So I leave you with these pictures. When I close my eyes, I can almost hear the fishmongers selling their goods...

La poissonnerie  

  La crémerie  

 La boucherie  

Le marchand aux fruits et légumes 

~c~

Fun (For a Good Cause)

I recently stumbled upon a website called Own a Colour, where you can buy one of over sixteen million colors for a small donation to UNICEF, starting at only two dollars. It's an incredibly cool idea and one that allows you to help children all over the world.

I planned on choosing a color quickly, already knowing my favorite colors, but seeing all those colors was incredibly entertaining and my brief visit to the site turned into a colorful hour or so. After playing with several shades in the blue family, I chose a color that was inspired by a photo I took several years ago in Venice:

This is what I came up with:

I also gave a gift of color to my dear friend Christy, the friend who came up with this ridiculously fun blog that we write:

It was only after I submitted Christy's color did I notice a mistake in my story, which gave me a slight ulcer to know that my typing error was out there in cyberspace for everyone to see. But whatever. I love the color, and I know she will too.

Check out this website, pick a favorite color, tell a story, and help a child in need. I can't imagine anything better.

~m~

Fun

Happy St. Patrick's Day...you can either look at this as belated or a jump start for 2013 (it's never too early to plan).  This past Saturday, I was fortunate enough to attend the birthday party of a very Irish friend of ours.  It was at this gathering where I was introduced to a new St. Patrick's day refreshment, the Irish Car Bomb (not the best choice of names, but interesting nonetheless).  For those of you feeling a bit adventurous, give it a try:

1/2 shot of Irish Cream

1/2 shot of Irish Whiskey

1/2 pint of Guinness

Pour the Irish Cream and the Whiskey together into a shot glass.  Pour the Guinness into a pint glass.  Drop the shot glass into the pint glass and chug-a-lug. 

Try to drink it right away, as it does not look pretty in the glass.  When all of the alcohols mix, it looks as if the Irish Cream curdles.  The taste is delightful; it reminds me of dark chocolate.

And until the next Car Bomb blows: 

 

Sláinte agus táinte.

"Health and wealth!"

Fabulous Finds (?)*

* I apologize in advance for the overuse of all caps. I realize that it implies screaming... which is exactly what I intended.

Tonight, my friend Christy and I were watching the new NBC show Fashion Star. The show's premise is that you can buy the clothes of aspiring designers the moment the show is over. I found the whole thing unintentionally hilarious
, from the contestants to the judges. But the joke was on me when one of the
better designs was bought by H&M. It was a cute jersey dress with a small cutout in the back. As someone who has very loudly complained to anyone who will listen about the nearest H&M being in Phoenix, I didn't really care . . . UNTIL I FOUND OUT THAT YOU COULD BUY IT ON ONLINE!!!!!! Let me take a deep breath here for a second and explain that you can't buy ANYTHING on H&M online, so this was pretty freaking exciting.
So, at exactly 10:07, SEVEN MINUTES afters the show aired, I went to the site to purchase this awesome dress for 19.95 (!!!!!) to find out that it was SOLD OUT.
What. The. Hell.
Truly, I'm not an impulse buyer and when you throw in the fact that I have to measure myself to see what my tricky H&M size would be and then factor in the fact that I don't even know how to use a ruler, much less a measuring tape, this was never going to be a quick purchase. But really? SEVEN MINUTES?
I didn't want the stupid dress anyway.




~m~

Fabulous Finds

Poor genetics have blessed me with horrible eyesight, strange crater-like dimples, and the math skills of a really smart fourth-grader. But I thought I would give my elementary skills a go to figure out whether a certain purchase would be as great a bargain as it seemed on paper.

H&M has long been regarded as the Mecca for inexpensive fashion finds, and I always walk out of the store with something that I wear over and over. Since the closest H&M to me is in Phoenix, I usually just sigh at the ads in magazines, cry over the coupons being thrown at me on the iPad app, and roll my eyes at the incredibly priced items in Lucky layouts. But this little metallic number
                                                       
made me ponder the following sartorial word problem*:

                                                       How much does a $50 skirt cost?

Let's see.

It's 430 miles from El Paso to Phoenix. It costs roughly 3.65 for a gallon of gas, and I get 36 mpg. It will take 12 gallons to drive to Phoenix. It will cost 43.80 to fill up my Mini-Cooper's tank with 12 gallons of gas. Factor in $5 for a large Coke Zero and some candy bought somewhere between here and there. Add $5.95 for a #1 combo at In-N-Out as soon as I roll into Phoenix. Add $130 for a hotel. Ok, now add $50 plus some tax for the actual skirt. Realistically, add another $100 for other items that catch my eye; after all, I'm here only once or twice a year. Add $40 for a nice dinner and drinks to reward myself for finding such bargains. Another $45 for the gas to get back home. Now add $5.95 for another #1 (don't judge- again, I'm only here once or twice a year).

I believe the answer is (C) $425.70.

A total bargain. 

*This kind of math is fun. And to quote a very wise woman, if more math like was this, I would make every day "mathier."

~m~

Fun

Happy Lundi Gras!  Let the festing begin!


Tomorrow is Mardi Gras 2012 and people all over the world will partake in various festivities to commemorate the day. The real purpose of Mardi Gras is to clean out the house from all of the food and beverages that are forbidden during the Lenten season.  Modern day Mardi Gras is less about the religious aspect and more about the beer, boobs and beads; in other words the big party.  


The traditional beverage of New Orleans is the Hurricane, typically from Pat O'Brien's piano bar on Bourbon Street. It is a delish rum based drink that hits you, well, just like a hurricane: 

Ingredients:

• 2 oz light rum
• 2 oz dark rum
• 2 oz passion fruit juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• juice of a half a lime
• 1 Tbsp simple syrup
• 1 Tbsp grenadine
• orange slice and cherry for garnish

Preparation:

1. Squeeze juice from half a lime into shaker over ice.
2. Pour the remaining ingredients into the cocktail shaker.
3. Shake well.
4. Strain into a hurricane glass.
5. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

(This recipe compliments of http://cocktails.about.com/od/atozcocktailrecipes/r/Hurricane.htm) 

I have also found this recipe from www.drinkoftheweek.com to add to the debauchery of the day. It will be featured at my house tomorrow night along with our traditional jambalaya and King Cake...hopefully I will not get the baby!

King Cake Martini

• 1 ½ oz Absolut Citron
• 3 oz Pineapple Juice
• ¼ oz Agave Nectar
• ½ oz Chambord
• Green Confectionery Sprinkles

Combine Absolut Citron, Pineapple Juice and Agave Nectar in an ice filled mixing glass. Shake and Strain into a cocktail glass rimmed with green sprinkles. Take a bar spoon and drizzle ½ oz Chambord so that it settles at the bottom of the cocktail glass.

Serve with a beaded necklace and a smile!

Most importantly friends, enjoy the day and Laissez les bons temps rouler!!! 

~c~

All Things French

Dear France,
Merci beaucoup.
~m~

Fun

88 Reasons We Love Psych

 For years, my friend Dawnn would talk endlessly about the show Psych. She would quote it, laugh by herself thinking about it, and shoot me one of her famous "You're dead to me" looks whenever I questioned her love-verging-on-obsession.  But one of the most underrated traits in a friend is the ability to be an enabler, and so in order to understand my darling friend's lunacy, I started to watch the show. One episode in, and I was hooked. I started to quote the show, started laughing to myself when I thought of certain scenes, and became pretty excited about the prospect of stalking seeing  James Roday at this summer's Comic-Con.  And so, on this Valentine's Day, here is our love letter (or love list, if you want to get technical) to Psych, written over yummy food and hours of inappropriately loud laughter. Shawn and Gus would be so proud.

1. Like Your High School Reunion But Infinitely Less Painful - For a certain generation, the show is full of 80's and 90's nostalgia. Episodes have revolved around "Twin Peaks," The Lost Boys, the entire John Hughes oeuvre, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Karate Kid, Friday the 13th, Tears for Fears, Michael Jackson . . . the list goes on and on. Watching the show makes you feel like you're back in 9th grade, having deep conversations with your friends about why Keith was so in love with Amanda Jones when Watts was right in front of him the whole time.

2. Isn't That What's Her/His Name? - Part of the nostalgia comes from the casting. Guest stars recreate the personas that made them so famous the first time around. Case in point: Sherilyn Fenn (as an oversexed librarian in the episode "Dual Spires," the Twin Peaks parody), Carey Elwes (as a dapper art thief that brings to mind Wesley from The Princess Bride), and Ralph Macchio (as a wimpy police officer). I could go on and on... but I won't.

3. Clever, Clever, Clever - Here's the thing. Even the titles make me laugh. Out loud. When Dawn and I were going through the list, we couldn't decide which ones to include. But in the end, the ones that made the cut were the ones that kind of hinted at the story itself, the ones that were so pop-culture fantastic, or the ones that were flat out ridiculous: "There Might Be Blood,""Shawn and Gus of the Dead," "Shawn Interrupted," Indiana Shawn and the Temple of the Kinda Crappy, Rusty Old Dagger," "Spellingg Bee," "Lights, Camera . . . Homicidio." I literally giggled while typing this list.

4. Awesome Aliases - Shawn calls his best friend everything but his name. This is ridiculous and maybe only funny to the people who watch it, but it's our list and so it makes it.

5. Wait For Iiiiiiiiiit!  - Again, I realize this may only make Dawnn and I laugh (and people who watch the show), but we find ourselves quoting lines from the show ALL THE TIME. One of our favorites is Shawn's excuse for mispronouncing things: "I've heard it both ways." My favorite might be the best pick up line of all time: "Heard about Pluto? That's messed up, right?" There are more. Trust me.

6. Don't Be a . . . - Feel free to use these with the naysayers in your life.

7. Malarkey, Tomfoolery, and Shenanigans - Any show that uses these words in pretty regular rotation is just... perfect.

8. Foodies- Shawn and Gus think about food constantly. They talk about food constantly. They bond over food. And, just like me and my friends, I can see them planning what they are having for dinner while they are eating lunch. Some of the food mentionables include Pollo Loco, Panda Express, Del Taco, japadogs, churros, and the Psych original recipe fries quatro queso dos fritos.

9. Awesome Stuff You Never Knew Existed - This Christmas, I wanted to add to Dawnn's growing collection of Psych merchandise (friend = enabler, remember?) I found a pineapple pillow, a Psych pen, and customized pencils from Etsy that have some of Gus's more memorable aliases. Um, check out the awesome bobbleheads, magic eight ball in the show's signature color, and the pineapple stress ball. She might have a problem.

10. And those pineapples- Every show has hidden pineapples. It's silly, but sometimes looking for these pineapples happens in the most inappropriate settings. While watching The Descendants, Dawnn and I both giggled and pointed at a ceramic pineapple. Never mind that this was happening during the scene when George Clooney was finally telling people the news that his wife was never going to wake up from her coma. Yay pineapples!

11. James Roday- Finally, what's a love letter without admitting a bit of a crush? 

New episodes (#89) start February 29. 

~m~ and ~d~