This is the song that doesn't end....

There are certain songs that I can't cut off in the middle. If I pull into the grocery store parking lot and the song isn't over, then I have to sit in my car until it's finished. Lately I've noticed two songs that have this effect on me: "Freebird" and "November Rain." There are others, but these are noteworthy because they're particularly lengthy songs, and this can create a bit of an inconvenience.


By the way, how much ass does this video still kick 17 (!) years later? Epic.

Am I alone in this? Are there songs you have to listen to until the end?

Bookmark this: GiveMeMyRemote.com

You may have noticed that I enjoy watching TV. But you might not know that I also enjoy READING about watching TV.
GiveMeMyRemote.com is a fun blog that offers episode recaps, show info, and a daily preview of each night's TV. Check it out!

Really, Domino's?

Have you seen the ads for the new Bread Bowl Pastas at Domino's? They've taken their five types of pasta (Chicken Alfredo, Mac & Cheese, Pasta Primavera, Italian Sausage Marinara, and Chicken Carbonara) and served them spinach dip style. I can just see the folks at Domino's sitting around saying, "How can we make this mac & cheese even LESS healthy?" Now, don't get me wrong, the concept appeals at first, but I have to think it would be a soggy mess by the time it arrives at your door.

I can't wait to hear what the "Eat This, Not That" guy has to say about this!

What the what?!?

Tonight's season (hopefully not series) finale of Chuck: hella awesome, or hella lame?

Too soon to tell.

Drumroll, please

And the winner of the Lauren Nicole Gifts ceramic keychain is.......

Mary!

Aunt M: Just let me know what color you'd like, and I'll have her send it your way!

Can't help it.

I like this song. I can't explain it. I don't particularly like Soulja Boy...

It's definitely the best entry in the "phone number song" genre since "867-5309 (Jenny)."

Tolerable shorts

I hate wearing shorts with a fiery passion, but I live in Alabama (where it's already close to 90 degrees in April), so wearing long pants year-round isn't really an option.

I refuse to wear shorty-shorts (you're welcome), so I'm loving the Bermuda shorts tread. Only problem: On my short legs, they're often more like capris.

I found these Mid-Rise Linen Blend Bermudas at Old Navy, and they actually work well for me!

They're on sale for $20, so I ordered a few different colors. Definitely check out the selection online: They have more colors, and sizes ranging from 0 to 20. I think these will get me through the next several months!

Giveaway Reminder!

Don't forget to enter my Lauren Nicole Gifts giveaway! Just scroll down and leave a comment on the post below. Don't be shy! I'd love for you to enter even if you've never commented before.

(I just posted this via text message. Did you know you could do that?)

Rockin' Robins

Update: These little guys...Have become these little guys:

We've been keeping an eye on them, and they seem to be thriving.

Date Night: The movie of my dreams

Have you heard about this movie?

Date Night is a romantic comedy starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey.

It’s about...well, does it even matter what it’s about? It’s going to be AWESOME.

But wait, there’s more! The movie’s supporting cast includes Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Taraji P. Henson, Common, Leighton Meester, and Kristen Wiig.

The bad news? They’re just getting ready to film the movie, so it’s not going to be out for a year. But I’m laughing already.

Lauren Nicole Giveaway!!!!!

You know I love Lauren Nicole Gifts, right? I wear my wax seal initial necklace all the time and get lots of compliments on it.

Well, she just launched a really cute ceramics line: earrings, buttons, and key chains. These little beauties are hand-made: She fires them in her kiln and paints them. They come in tons of colors, so you're sure to find one for the person on your gift list (or yourself!).

I picked the black with white dots, but it was a tough decision!

Good news: One of you lucky readers will win your very own Lauren Nicole hand-painted ceramic key chain in the color of your choice!

(Click here to see all of the options.)

Just leave a comment on this post (any comment) before midnight on Saturday (April 25), and you'll be entered to win. I'll pick a name at random and announce the winner on Sunday. Good luck!

(Don't forget to check out the Lauren Nicole Gifts blog. She always has great discounts and giveaways. Head over there now to enter giveaways for a Lilly Pulitzer handbag and for her new handmade ceramic buttons!)

What'd you do this weekend? I made a quilt.

Sorry to brag, but I made a quilt, people. I'm pretty proud of myself. Pretty proud.

How did this happen? Well, I've been looking for something to do with the beautiful fabric I won on Anna Maria Horner's blog. I came across this charm quilt tutorial on Diary of a Quilter (via Design Mom), and it looked very doable. (And it was.)

So I found myself buying a rotary tool from Hobby Lobby at 6 p.m. on Saturday. By 9:30 p.m. Sunday, I was packing up my sewing machine and taking pictures. In between I furiously cut, sewed, ironed (more than I've ever ironed before), and even did a little math. I'm not good at any of these things, but somehow I ended up with this:

{Cue choir of angels.}

It's about 4 x 6 feet. I'm thinking it will fit a twin-size bed, or it would be a good throw.

It's definitely not perfect. Some of the corners don't match up exactly, but I'm okay with that.

Okay, so I'm not completely finished. I still have to do the borders and backing. I need some advice. My first thought was to use a very neutral fabric for the border and backing, but now I'm wondering if that would be too boring. What do you think about something gold (like the square in the top row of this photo)?

I can't help it

This makes me laugh.

Takes a marketing genius to put together SpongeBob, Sir Mix-a-Lot, and the BK King.

Will Vs. Wild

This should be good.

According to EW.com, Will Ferrell will be on a June episode of the Discovery Channel's Man vs. Wild. He "will engage in several wilderness survival activities with [Bear] Grylls in norther Sweden over 48 hours, including rappelling down frozen waterfalls and drinking his own urine."

Click here to read more.

Obsession

I have a weird new obsession with salt-and-vinegar potato chips. This Cape Cod brand makes the best out there in my opinion.

The weird part is, I'm not exactly sure that I like them. By the time I finish a handful, my tongue feels like it's going to shrivel up and die. But I can't stop eating them.
Feel free to stage an intervention. Or tell me I'm a freak.

Support a worthy cause

I'm taking up a collection...

...to buy the Jonas Brothers longer shirts.

{Blush}

I don't consider myself a prude by any stretch. But when I saw this magazine cover in the check-out lane, for the first time I found myself reaching for one of those plastic cover-up things. My first reaction was to cover my son's eyes (no, he can't read). I mean, no one should have to see the term "bare-assed" when they're waiting to pay for their groceries. (You shouldn't have to read it when you're looking at my blog either. For that, I apologize.) My second thought was, "50 things? Really? That's kind of an impressive number." Third thought? I'm glad I don't have to edit that smut for a living. (That's right, I said smut!) Maybe I am a little prudish after all...

Deadliest Catch returns tomorrow. Woot!

I love the Deadliest Catch. It's by far the best of the perilous jobs shows. (I tried watching Ice Road Truckers...and it's really just guys driving around in trucks. Snore.) The new season starts Tuesday at 8 CST on the Discovery Channel.
My favorite? Capt. Sig and the crew of the Northwestern.

Rock the vote!

Head over to my uncle's blog and check out our family Easter egg competition. I don't know how I'll choose. The competition is stiff this year!

Poor Jim.

It's just like a mini mall

Big thanks to Ryan from The Office for reminding me how much I enjoy this:

Bookmark this

The Meanest Mom is quickly becoming one of my favorite blogs. Jana, aka The Meanest Mom, has a 6-year-old, 5-year-old twins, a 6-month-old, and a really funny perspective on motherhood. Click here, and add it to your favorites.

They don't tell you in parenting class...

...how much of your time and energy would be focused on discussing, monitoring, and analyzing your child's bowel movements.

I'm just sayin'.

Good news for fans of Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, and Eli Stone!

Bad news: These shows are still canceled.

Good news: ABC is showing the remaining episodes this summer!

Click here for details.

(Thanks, Leah, for passing this along!)

Pumped

Did I mention that Steph, Leah, and I are going to see Wicked tonight? So excited!

Why do robins lay blue eggs?*

These beauties live in the tree beside my carport. I'm a little concerned about them--it's supposed to get cold tonight.

*Let me know if you have an answer to this question. I tried Googling it but got bored.

Welcome back to Tommy and the gang

I'm a big fan of Rescue Me. The series has definitely had its ups and downs, but it's still one of the most compelling (and at times hilarious) shows on TV. This season features a guest performance by Sir Michael J. Fox, and I'm really looking forward to that.
The new season starts on Tuesday at 9 CST on FX.

Click here to read Entertainment Weekly's review of the new season. They give it an A.

Casting my vote

I was perusing the entries for the Betty Crocker "Mix It Up With Betty" baking contest, and the entry for Chocolate Chip-Ice Cream Cake jumped out at me immediately. I didn't want to cast my vote too hastily (I was pretty sure that the chocolate-cookie-ice cream combo would be delish, but there was only one way to be absolutely certain), so I decided to perform my due diligence and test the recipe myself. (I used vanilla ice cream instead of cookie dough, but I imagine any flavor would work.) It's a winner!

Chocolate Chip-Ice Cream Cake
Prep Time: 40 min
Total Time: 3 hours 25 min
Makes: 15 servings

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® chocolate chip cookie mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 bottle (7.25 oz) chocolate topping that forms hard shell
1 container (1.5 quart) chocolate chip-cookie dough ice cream (6 cups)

1.Heat oven to 375°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms.
2. On ungreased cookie sheet, make 5 cookies by dropping dough by tablespoonfuls. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.
3. Meanwhile, press remaining dough in pan, using moistened fingers (dough will be sticky). Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
4. Spread 1/3 cup chocolate topping over baked crust. Freeze 10 to 15 minutes or until chocolate is set.
5. Meanwhile, remove ice cream from freezer to soften. Spread softened ice cream evenly over chocolate-topped crust.
6. Crumble 5 baked cookies; sprinkle over ice cream layer. Drizzle remaining chocolate topping over cookie crumbs. Cover; freeze 2 hours. To serve, let stand at room temperature 5 minutes before cutting. For serving pieces, cut into 5 rows by 3 rows. Store covered in freezer.

Will you see it?

I don't know how to feel.

Initial reaction: Where the Wild Things Are won't work as a live-action movie.

And the monsters look like that thing from The Neverending Story.

But wait: James Gandolfini is in it. Points for that!

Get your craft on with Martha

I checked out a copy of the new Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts from the library to see if I wanted to buy it. I haven't officially made up my mind, but...I think it's a little above my talent level. I suppose this should come as no surprise. Some of the projects (like making beaded letters and decoupaging furniture) look fun and doable, but I just don't see myself etching glass or making my own candles.
It's a beautiful book, but maybe not for me.

Try this: Diapers.com

If you read any parenting magazines, surely you've seen ads for Diapers.com. I'd seen their promotions but didn't try it...until now. I wish I'd ordered from them sooner!

My experience:
I bought a box of Pampers Cruisers (124 diapers).
Regular price: $46.99
Sale price: $41.99 {All Pampers products are currently on sale.}
Coupon: -$1 {You can apply instant coupons with a click of the mouse}
New shopper promo: -$5
Shipping: $0
Tax: $0

Total: $35.99
Not having to go to Babies R Us? Priceless. {Heh heh.}

Awesome, right? The best part: I ordered the diapers on Tuesday afternoon, and they were on my doorstep when I got home on Thursday. Obviously this wouldn't work if you suddenly realize you're out of diapers, but it's great if you can plan a little in advance.

The catch? Well, I didn't really find one. You do have to spend $50 to qualify for free shipping, but I just bought a second pack of diapers. They won't go to waste! They have lots of other baby products too.

Try it yourself: Shop now, and enter code KLDE8163 to get $10 off your first order!

Recipe of the day: Garden Harvest "Cake"

Let's get something straight: If a recipe calls for two kinds of veggies and no frosting, it ain't a cake. Nevertheless, I decided to try this recipe for Garden Harvest Cake after seeing it in the April 2009 issue of Cooking Light. See, I'm in a constant vegetable battle with my very picky son, and I figured it was time to get sneaky.

The so-called cake is packed with shredded carrots, zucchini, apples, and walnuts. It's very similar to zucchini bread. It's tasty and simple to make, after you get past all of the shredding.

{Sorry my food photography is atroche.}

Satisfied customer

{Okay, he ate about three bites, but that has to be better than nothing.}