Category: Wipe the Drool

Uncategorized, Uncle Jesse, Wipe the Drool

The Postest with the Mostest – #100!!!

Go Jules Go

Hunky Chipmunks, this post is epic. It’s…

My 100th Post!!!

Can I get a what-what? I knew this one had to be special, and as usual, the guilty pleasure gods were on my side.

My most chipmunkalicious friend, Jenn (ya’ll probably remember her from this special post or our guest interview on JM Randolph’s blog), discovered a pet photographer through her volunteer work at the animal shelter, 11th Hour Rescue.

Meet Joseph Frazz.

Photo credit: reviewobserver.net.

Joe is awesome for a lot of reasons, like the fact that he volunteers his time to visit shelters and take amazing pictures of cats and dogs. Because what better way to help them get adopted than by showing them in their best light?

Jenn hired Joe to take pictures of her dog, Shunderson, last weekend.

Joseph Frazz Photograpy

She showed me some of the pics and I lost my shiz.

Joseph Frazz Photography

I told her I would have to hire Joe, too. She replied, “Well…I kind of already did as your Christmas present.” Cue tear-fest.

Joe came over yesterday and conducted Uncle Jesse’s first photo shoot. Naturally, Uncle Jesse felt it was long overdue. Much like his mother, he’s a supermodel at heart. He kept his demands low, and only required filtered water and hand-rolled cigarettes, a new squeaky toy and a bag of organic chicken-flaxseed treats.

Technically, he's Australian.

(Don’t worry, as soon as I get the rest of the pics, you’ll be the first to know.)

Make sure to check out more of Joe’s phenomenal photography on his Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joseph-Frazz-Photography/114981261894705

Uncategorized, Vampires, Wipe the Drool

Guilty Pleasure Overdose…Someone Call 9-1-FUN!

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Chipmunks, I… I can’t even… I mean it’s just so… Deep breath. Okay. I’m having trouble typing because of THIS ARTICLE.

Have mercy!

Second Husband (Darren Criss) + People’s Sexiest Man Alive photo shoot = eating peanut butter cups and drinking champagne on a cloud while watching Glee and having someone tell me I’m perfect.

Here’s a sneak peek:

Clearly the guilty pleasure gods wish to appease me.

He looks like Eric from The Little Mermaid*. Or, you know, like every dream come true.

I am going to have to add a new bullet point to my “Why Polygamy is the Right Choice for You” presentation (if you think this presentation is just a figment of my imagination, you don’t know me very well): You can be the pretty one in the relationship. Pinky swear.

All right. I think I can move on now, to what this post was originally supposed to be about (oops).

I saw Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 this weekend (I’ll give you a moment to recover from the shock). I thought it was a lot more carefully done than Eclipse and I always enjoy seeing my favorite books come to life on the silver screen. I especially loved the wedding speeches and the closing shot.

I have a whole new set of ideas for my second wedding now. Photo credit: twilightnewssite.com

What did you think of Breaking Dawn?! (Feel free to ignore this question to comment instead about how much joy I will bring to Second Husband’s abs life.)

*I spent a considerable amount of time coming up with Little Mermaid puns for this paragraph, and then thought better of it…until this footnote. Here’s my favorite:

You’re the dinglehopper to my bad hair day.

Just For Fun, Uncategorized, Wipe the Drool

My Very First Romance Novel Book Cover

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Not long ago, I added “Go Guilty Pleasures” to my blog banner in scandalously cursive, deliciously red text. I constantly occasionally amuse myself imagining people getting caught by their spouses/significant others/cats reading my blog on their lap tops, in the dark.

Imaginary spouse/significant other/cat: What is that?

You: N-nothing. Slams lap top shut.

Imaginary spouse/significant other/cat: No, no. I saw some girl and the words “guilty pleasures.”

You (laughing nervously): Ohh. It’s just a blog I like to read sometimes.

Imaginary spouse/significant other/cat: Is that code for… never mind. I don’t even want to know. Walks away.

Since you like to reread all of my posts before you go to bed, you probably remember that my banner photo is, in my fuzzy little chipmunk brain, the epitome of guilty pleasure. Sunset, beach, etc. I’m not particularly fond of the photo; I’m not even wearing make-up, for crying out loud. But, it evokes happy memories of when I first laid eyes on the Pacific Ocean, and of my first vacation with Peppermeister.

It also makes me think about my first romance novel book cover. I mean, the one I imagine being on after I’m done picturing you getting busted for reading my blog in the dark.

It looks at lot like this:

"I swear I felt a bobby pin in there somewhere. No?"

What would your smutty romance novel book cover look like? …If that question makes you uncomfortable (and it really should), here’s an alternate: how often do you read my blog before you go to bed?

Everyone Loves a Braggart...Right?, Food, Uncategorized, Wipe the Drool

Food Porn

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You know what I don’t talk about nearly enough for someone who claims to be a guilty pleasure connoisseur?

FOOD!

I love food. Food is great. I totally live to eat (and not the other way around). Last night I made an in-my-head-recipe for vegetable lasagna that was so good I feel compelled to tell everyone I’ve seen since then about it. I always use whole milk, full-fat cheeses (lots of different kinds: provolone, asiago, mozzarella, parmesan, ricotta), and this time I blended a bag of fresh spinach into the ricotta cheese blend – WOWZAH! Look:

The green on the sides is the ricotta-spinach blend...oozing out, delicious and creamy and gooey.

It also helps that I was able to use 3 kinds of fresh, organic basil from my husband’s (a.k.a. The Peppermeister) garden.

And as long as we’re on the topic of my culinary prowess, I should tell you I have quite a reputation when it comes to baking. I’m excited to share with you a few of my favorite online dessert recipes, along with some of my trade secrets. I hope you’ll try one (or all) of them out and let me know how it goes!

General Baking Tips (I wouldn’t do this for just anyone, guilty pleasure snookums)

  • With rare exceptions, FOLLOW THE RECIPE! People who like to cook sometimes struggle with this baking principle; the order and the measurements make all the difference in baking
  • I HIGHLY recommending using AirBake pans for your cookies and keep a close eye once they’re in the oven – cookies still look a little soft/raw in the middle when they’re done (that is, if you like soft, chewy cookies like me)
The AirBake pans I use look like this.
  • The more you try, the better you get! You have no idea how many things I’ve screwed up on the first go ’round
  • Don’t worry about having your butter and eggs sit out until they’re room temperature before you start making your recipe if you don’t have time (just soften your butter in the microwave and use cold eggs) – it really doesn’t matter that much, despite what you might have heard!
  • Barefoot Contessa would burn me alive for this, but don’t worry about using unsalted butter – just don’t add any additional salt to the recipe if using salted butter
  • One thing that DOES matter: real vanilla! I’ve heard real vanilla bean is best, but I’m very happy with McCormick’s pure vanilla extract (NOT imitation)
  • If you don’t bake often, be mindful of when your dry ingredients expire/go stale

Black Bottom Cupcakes – you and your family/friends will go into a happy food coma from one of these!

Cupcakes before frosting. Photo credit: http://www.allrecipes.com
  • Use foil muffin tin liners – they peel off easily
  • Once cooled, frost with cream cheese icing* and sprinkle with the leftover mini chocolate chips
  • Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight before serving (like anything with tomato sauce, anything with cream cheese seems to taste better after it ‘settles’)

Thumbprint Cookies – these are soft, buttery and delicious and changed my opinion on thumbprint cookies!

Photo credit: http://www.landolakes.com
  • If rolling in nuts, toast the nuts first (I use my toaster oven and it only takes about a minute) and then chop them into nearly a powder using a mini Cuisinart (if you have one). At Christmastime, I like to roll some in nuts and some in red or green sprinkles (they’re very pretty)
  • Make sure you’re using a jam filling that you would want to eat on its own (and remember that some people will only eat seedless jam) – it’s the centerpiece of the cookie. One of my favorites is Dickinson’s Cascade Mountain seedless raspberry jam (I can usually find this brand at any grocery store), but the best I ever had was some random gourmet brand I found at HomeGoods (I really should have written the name down!)
  • You do need to grease your baking pans for these (unlike with most other cookies) – it doesn’t really matter if you use a spray or softened butter

Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies – just like grandma made, if you were lucky enough to live near a grandmother that baked

Photo credit: http://www.landolakes.com
  • You also do need to grease your baking sheets for these
  • Remember to buy quick-cooking oats, not old-fashioned (I guess the name of these cookies is pretty misleading!)
  • I like to buy raisins that come in a ziploc pouch; they seem fresher/softer
  • I’ve determined that it’s the 2 cups of brown sugar that have people react by saying screaming they’re the best oatmeal-raisin cookies they’ve ever had

*My tried and true cream cheese icing recipe

1 bar (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1 stick (1/2 c.) butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. powdered sugar

Beat butter and cream cheese together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Blend in vanilla, and finally sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time so you don’t turn into one of these guys:

We should have listened to gojulesgo. Photo credit: http://www.partybuzz.com.

HAPPY BAKING!

Late Night, Music, New Jersey is breathtaking, TV Junkie, Uncategorized, Wipe the Drool

Two Things You Have to See Today

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#1 – Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon performing History of Rap PART 2 (!!!) on Monday’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon:

#2 – This parking sign I saw outside of Kohl’s yesterday:

Did they know I was coming? Seriously, what’s the deal with this?? (I did a little homework, but I’m still not sure what the credentials are.)

Uncategorized, Wipe the Drool

What Happens in Your Head, Stays in Your Head

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What’s a fantasy summer fling amongst guilty pleasure friends?

That’s right – it’s time to play: Name Your Top 5!

You know, it’s the game where you get to pick 5 celebrities you can hook up with -no strings attached- should you ever get the chance. Freebies!

Here’s my current Top 5!

#5 – Mila Kunis

#4 – Brody Jenner

This stand-by is purely physical. Photo credit: http://www.mtv.co.uk

#3 – Emma Watson

Photo credit: the-best-top-desktop-wallpapers.blogspot.com

#2 – Robert Pattinson

Yum. I think I'll need a bib, too.

#1 – Darren Criss

Photo credit: Out magazine

Now it’s your turn! Post your Top 5 in the Comments section below! …Pretty please, with lots and lots of whipped cream on top (or wherever you want it)?

…Wait, wait. A picture for #1 just wasn’t enough, was it? Duh. Here you go (a little piano, a little guitar, a whole lotta hot):

Animals, TV Junkie, Uncategorized, Wipe the Drool

Wilfred: A Doggone Hoot, Don’tcha Think?

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Photo credit: http://www.hollywood.com

You might laugh when you read this, but when it comes to television and movies, I’m pretty picky. I usually go in with low expectations, and it takes a lot to impress me. There’s a new show on FX that has, surprisingly, hit the mark. And that show is a little 30-minute comedy called Wilfred.

Sure, it’s quirky, even a little weird and mysterious, but haven’t we been prepped for that with shows like Ally McBeal and Lost?

I love it. 

And I’m pretty sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I had a GI-NORMOUS crush on Elijah Wood when I was 12. In a strange turn of events, though, my affable, will-watch-anything-as-long-as-it’s-not-TOO-girly husband, refuses to get on board.

This makes me a little worried. About the Fate of the show, I mean, not my impeccable taste.

Because of the disparate opinions in my own household, I’m dying to know, what do YOU think of Wilfred?? And if you’re feeling really deep, who/what do you think Wilfred represents?

I'm Going To Chop My Ear Off Any Day Now, Wipe the Drool

I’ve Really Outdone Myself This Time. Thanks, Harry Potter.

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I won. Everyone, I won. That contest you didn’t know was happening? The one where I try to top my own guiltiest pleasure geek out? Well, I won it. Last night.

Let me take you back in time. To last night, I mean.

I decided to order tickets to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” for next Saturday – the first showing, at 11:30am, like the old lady I am. Normally I enjoy ridin’ solo to the movies, but since they’re all now dine-in theaters around these parts, I feel a little awkward going alone. Thus, I told my sweet manly husband he had to accompany me.

“But I’ve never seen any of the movies,” he argued.

I merely grinned. “You have time to watch them all before next Saturday!”

“I haven’t read the books,” he reminded me.

His protests fell on deaf ears, but then he, like most married folk will eventually do, wizened up and busted out the Big C. No, no, geesh, the other one. Compromise. Condescension.

“How about you make a 5-minute presentation so I’m prepared?” he smirked.

“Yes! I would love to do that!” I exclaimed gleefully. I wasn’t about to let his sarcasm stand in the way of this incredible opportunity to not only write about Harry Potter in bulleted format, but also to use my knock-off PowerPoint software (thanks, Macintosh).

I got cracking right away, and at 10:30pm last night (well past my bedtime), it was ready. “It” being…

The most SPELLBINDING [less-than-]5-minute Harry Potter presentation you’ll ever see, sure to get any HP half-wit ready for the final installment!!!!! 

…I really should get out more.

HP-Presentation-for-Ed_Jul2011v2

Music, TV Junkie, Uncategorized, Wipe the Drool

The Real Warblers REVEALED

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Photo credit: musicbleed.wordpress.com

Boys and girls, do I have some news for you. Although apparently, much like Blaine Anderson, this has been out for a while.

The Warblers, as in those blue blazer-sporting Dalton Academy crooners you hear on Glee, are really Tufts University‘s Beelzebubs!! So cool, right?!

…What, you mean you never went out of your way to see them perform, and by out of your way I mean really just to a church in the next town over? Well, I have, because let me tell you, the Beelzebubs are THE top college a cappella group in the country.  Nay, the world!

As a long time college a cappella fan, you can take my word for it.

Now you might be asking – who the heck are those guys on the show, then? They’re the ones who do the background vocals for Glee, all those ‘boo bop bop bops‘ you hear as the football bullies go slush-happy or Sue Sylvester hatches another evil plan.

Before you start to think it’s all a sham, rest assured that Darren Criss is indeed the killer voice behind the lead vocals, and the Beelzebubs re-record their hit tunes specifically for Glee. Besides, isn’t it super spiffy that they’re using real a cappella kids??

For a fun article on this, including some Warbler vids, click here.

P.S. – Mini Warbler is back, and I think the ‘Bubs should save a place for him in about 12 years!

Music, TV Junkie, Wipe the Drool

My GLEEful Summer Starts NOW!

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Lucky Little Gleeks. Photo credit: timessquaregossip.com

I felt the presence of angels on Sunday night, and I think I can die a happy woman now. The only problem with that is I’d miss the remaining episodes of the Oxygen network’s new show, The Glee Project.

Take 1 part Glee, 1 part American Idol and 1 part (preferably the eyes) Darren Criss, and you get my new reason for living.

This show is a dream come true for anyone who ever fantasizes about a) getting on Glee,  b) casting the talent on Glee, or c) making Darren Criss uncomfortable with your crazy eyes (click here and skip to minute 8:47). During the first ‘intro’ episode, they narrowed it down from 40,000+  to just 12 contestants, who will now compete for a 7 episode contract on Glee. 7 episodes? You know I’m going to say it: AMAZEBALLS!

I’ve got my eye on the nerdy guy (top right) and the one in dreadlocks, what about you?

P.S. – For some clips, as well as exposure to another fly WordPress blog, click here.

P.P.S. – In case you didn’t know, it’s now 2 days and counting ’til the first NJ Glee concert, so if you’re expecting any other kind of subject matter this week, slushie in the face for you!

Photo credit: fanpop.com