April Wine

Yes we took some time off again.  Partly because the the Winter doldrums were long to go away, and party due to travelling to the beach to shake them off.  Didn't really work though.  But the recent heat wave did work to heal the soul I think.  We're fully back in healthy mind and spirit to kick this party off yeah!  That is, for the rest of the Spring and Summer (and even to the end of the year.)  We've got events galore now to fill out the calendar for the rest of 2013!

Let's start off with the short term events and see if we can attend?

So let's try some mingling with some old money (and even new money) by attending some of the Maryland Steeplechasing events!  Make it as highbrow-or-lowbrow and tailgating-or-toasting as you want to.  You owe it to your home state to spectate some quality horse racing...especially to warm up to the Triple Crown events coming up in the next few months.  We recommend at least the Grand National and Hunt Cup in Shawan Valley if you can.  At minimum it could add some good conversation to your Preakness party anyway.  ;)  (Try to speak like Thurston Howell when describing the day's events, or practice it here. And that's not me in the video.)  Check out Maryland Steepleschasing's schedule and notice that Sunday April 28th (Junior Hunt Cup) is especially kid friendly.

 Really, I'm just killing time waiting for the horses to show up, right?

 Or....You might have a conflict for the Hunt Cup on April 27th because it is the 2nd annual FashionEASTa in Harbor East on Aliceanna Street.  For this event let's refer to Ms. Charm's Guide, the most refreshing fashion blogger in Baltimore for the deets (also at http://mscharmschic.wordpress.com.)  Check out the link. 

Sponsored by Style Magazine of course.

Unfortunately for us, we have a conflict of events on that day (high school reunion)  :(  So please take pics and share them!

And the title of this post?  Well it's April, we are enjoying our wine, and if you are truly Old School, then you will know this song.

Winner!

OK so maybe we are semi-addicted to Twitter.  But we also love contests and vintage.  Sooo, we couldn't help but play @ModCloth's #LitLibations game on Twitter, and try to mix the name of a famous book and a drink. We were one of six winners, yay!  Thank you ModCloth!

Check it! We used our $50 GC won from @ModCloth's #LitLibations contest on Jan 23/24!

 ModCloth's "Pull Up a Cherry Dress in Black"

Oh yeah, our entry was "The Wizard of Ouzo."

Keep Calm and Carry On (My Wayward Son) <-- I saw what you did there.

Welcome back everyone.  We kind of took off for a month.  February is a time to be on the DL, to re-group, and to just do what it takes to survive the winter.  It's the time to gather the tax docs, plan for spring training, and change the brakes on the cars.  Wait, what?  Yes everything seems to need maintenance this month.

Now that we're back, it's time to forecast the rest of the year's celebrations, and we're going to start with this month of March!

Today, March 1st, is Peanut Butter Lovers' Day.  And I hope that merely means this is for people that love peanut butter, but not about the lunatic fringe who 'loves' peanut butter.

And unfortunately for us, pb is "just not our bag baby."  Due to allergies, we must love Soynut Butter instead, or even Sunbutter brand.  Check it and love it too.  Note to self:  Do not celebrate George Washington Carver Day.  Even though he had no idea the cataclysm that was to follow.  I guess he is forgiven.  But not so much for the Peanut Cartel though.

OK enough about today.  Tomorrow March 2nd is...
Old Stuff day! We can experience this on several different levels, so read up on it and choose what speaks to you.

March 3rd is National Anthem Day but that was so 20 minutes ago (sorry Mr. Key but we sing to you every day being that we are BMore'ians.)  ~OK this is a parody site people! --> Don't get all upset-and-all, our Fed Hill friends.~

But even more modern is that March 3rd is, "I Want You to Be Happy Day."  Well this is every day for us.  But if it must be a national holiday, then so be it.  So even if it 'was' really created by a corporation, own it for yourself, and say something nice to someone else.  It will make their day.  Everyone needs to be validated now and again.  And even Sam Clements said that, "I can live for two months on a good compliment." So do it!

We'll need to do a part two of March because we type too much tonight, and we'll end this post with March 9th. which is National Panic Day!

"Don't worry. Don't fret. and, above all, don't panic. However, if ever there was a day to panic, today is that day. [site credit pending]  So it's OK to wallow in it and not be embarrassed, because everyone else will be OK with it!"

Do NOT...push this button Stimpy.

More to come!  Yikes, Panic Day?, Ides of March?  What could be next?...

Purple Saturday! (which is really just) Purple Friday Part Deux

Yesterday we had a simple drink recipe for all you who have been scrambling to find something purple to drink for self or guests.

So we came up with a low cal cocktail that sure to score with everyone, and you don't even have to drink it in a martini glass, because we all know how clumsy the man-hands can be.

- Take your fav vodka or rum and put some in a glass
- Add just enough Blue Curacao to make it vivid blue.
- Slowly add a little Diet Cranberry or low cal black raspberry ICE brand drinks to it, stirring at the same time as not to over do it (meaning make it too dark.)

Tips:
Remember to add the blue first.  Sometimes it doesn't work as well the other way.
It might be better to use diet blueberry juice, as Blue Curacao is too syrupy for my own taste and it is sticky on clean up.

Like I always say, "Use what you have on hand and experiment."

 

Purplefection!  The ice cubes are in there just to show the color better.  You can use with or without.

Cheers!

Purple Friday in Baltimore!

Emergency Alert! - Fair warning to all local readers in the state of Maryland:  Please complete all of your grocery shopping prior to Saturday Feb 2nd, because the lines are going to be as long as 'just before a snowstorm,' or maybe worse.

We're all gearing up for celebrations on Sunday, and it's better to do it earlier than later.  You see, Sunday Feb 3rd, is....the anniversary of 'The Day the Music Died,' (not the song, but we'll get to that.)   In 1959 there was the tragic plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa that killed Buddy Holly (22), Ritchie Valens (17), and "The Big Bopper," Jiles Perry 'J. P.' Richardson (28).   And the trivia answer that you didn't know, was that the pilot's name was Roger Peterson.

So in wake-style fashion, we're going to celebrate the remembrance of those musical pioneer giants!

Another reason to celebrate (or to clean up your act if you're on the flip-side,) is that Sunday is 'Dump Your Significant Jerk Day.'  It's a good time to do some spring cleaning and use this excuse to sever the ties from that jerk you've been putting up with throughout the holidays.  Which even allows you some time to get a new jerk before Valentine's Day so you can at least get a present out of it.  (OK let's be optimistic and hope that the next one is thee one.)

So to celebrate all of this, we are going to go with purple drinks this weekend!  (And no one cares about Groundhog Day except Bill Murray, so we'll just gloss over that one.) 

And if you still have any energy left after all this celebrating, maybe catch some TV around 7 pm-ish and watch Beyonce lip-sync something?

I think there is something going on in New Orleans too.  Someone please tweet the deets to us. 

<-- Hey I see what you did there.   Also, rewind back a year and check out our post from Feb 5th 2012.   

Touchdown!

 

Smile

Marking a historical milestone today: I am half way through my Invisalign trays!  24 out of 48!

What the ... is that all about?  Secret: I'm wearing Invisalign braces (yes on my teeth) and have been for one year now and have only one short year to go.

This is not a plug for the product.  But maybe it is, because it is working out very well for me.  I did have metal braces as a teen, but over the years the teeth wander.  Hopefully, not down the wrong path of righteousness, (<-- I have no idea what that means, make up your own story.)  But they do move enough to make one's smile considerably less appealing. :(  <-- yes sad face.

So I figured that it is now or never that I do something about it..  And I didn't want to be a metal-mouth like the teen years.  It's OK to be an adult an have invisible braces.  No one notices, and people are actually interested when I tell them.

All-in-all, I do recommend it.  Go get your teeth straightened! (If you need it, which you prob don't.)

So if you've been needing some encouragement to start some self improvement this new year, this is a good one. You can research for a deal and maybe your insurance can even cover some of it.

After $1,000.00 down payment, and a discount of $750.00 and insurance covering $2,000.00,  I'm only paying $75.00 a month for 2 years.  Totally worth it.

So how does this apply to our theme?

Um....treat people like you would have yourself treated?  You do want to have smiley-brights while serving at summery events, right?  Yes!

Breaking Headlines

I'm not one to really follow the news, but I don't live under a rock, and sometimes it hits you in the face.

January 21st, 2013 was an eventful historic occasion. Check it:

- New Asteroid-Mining Venture to Be Unveiled Tuesday

- Housecat Journeys 200 Miles to Get Home, Baffling Scientists...

- Michelle Obama Chooses Jason Wu (Again!) For Ball Gown 

- Prince Harry acknowledges killing Taliban... 

And I think maybe there was even a Baltimore Raven's win, MLKJ Day, and some kind of Inauguration in another nearby town. 

Some of us might not have known that Jan 21 was The Most Depressing Day of the Year (and it really was, for any New England Patriots' fans that happen to be republican too - well, probably not many of that species exist.)  So don't forget to take your Vitamin D and cheery up will ya?

But what wasn't well advertised today was that the American Visionary Art Museum in downtown Baltimore was opening doors for free admission, in honor of what all is going on (especially the cat story.)

And although we weren't present on this very day, we were there just a few days ago. AND IT IS AWESOME!

And for a sneak peek inside... Yes I took these pics before I realized that there are signs all over the place stating: "Do not take pictures!"

We met with the creator of the glass sculptures outside and in, Bob Benson.  He introduced himself and led us to another of his exhibits downstairs.  One can easily pick up on his passion for creating glass sculptures and exhibits.  It was very informative and we enjoyed his enthusiasm.  His art work can be found throughout the museum and in the gift shop for purchase too.  Thanks for the private tour Mr. Benson!

 

 

<--Tree and DW
         

             Glass tree---->

Bob's Flatulence exhibit (a lot of history and humor behind it, too.  No pun intented.)


Thank you Bob!-->

 

 

 PEZ collection on 3rd floor. Star Wars characters not shown here.

 

"Mr. Rain's Fun House." Meet me here for drinks!  This is an awesome cool bar/lounge that has events 'every once in a while.'

Toothbrush floor mat.  I can't make out what it says.  But it cleans my shoes.

View from 3rd floor. Pretty sweet with a wine glass in hand. (Wishful thinking.)

Third floor Nest of adjacent building of the museum.

And inside where the balcony of the nest is behind.  This is the room that can be rented out for events or weddings, or even the October 'Urban Chic - Once Upon a Runway event.'  Check that out for 2013 and meet us there!

Cheers.