Friday's freebie...

It looks like the eyes have it, with a new year starting tomorrow why not try something fun.  You can get a sample pair of colored Fresh Look contact lenses just for filling out your mailing information.  You can get colors as subtle as grey or honey or as vibrant as Amethyst purple.  This is a fun way to see if you would like to change the color of your prescription lenses or just spend the day having eyes like Elizabeth Taylor.  While your experimenting with color you can grab a sample of Two Faced Lash Injection Pinpoint mascara to really make your eyes pop.  You can get your free sample from Sephora inside JC Penny stores, just bring in the printable coupon.  

Have a terrific and safe New Years eve everyone!

C.Q.

Thursdays picture perfect deal...

The picture...

Last year we had an ice storm in March that coated everything and made it look like the world was covered in glass.  This is a picture of our grape vine trellis after the freezing rain had passed.  We are having a bit of the same weather today so maybe I will have to go out with my camera tomorrow.

The deal...

Crabtree and Evelyn is having their annual after Christmas sale with up to 75% off.  They have their beautiful scented soaps marked down from $8.00 to $3.00 and home fragrances marked down from $12.00 to $5.00.  Also, for a limited time, when you purchase two gift sets, you can get a third gift set of equal or lesser value free.  You also get free shipping on all orders over $65.00.  If you use coupon code PAYPAL10 at the checkout you will get $10.00 off any purchase over $50.00.

Have a great day everyone!

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

Pungle  \PUNG-gul\ ~ verb

DEFINITION: to make a payment or contribution of money -- usually used with up

EXAMPLES: We all decided to pungle up for pizza.

"They visited the pound over the weekend with their own Chihuahua, Kiki, to make sure the two dogs would get along. And they pungled up $107 to cover the adoption fee, castration fee, inoculation fee, licensing fee and microchipping fee." -- From an article by Steve Rubenstein in The San Francisco Chronicle, February 18, 2009

DID YOU KNOW? "Pungle" is from the Spanish word "pongale," meaning "put it down," which itself is from "poner," meaning "to put" or "to place," or more specifically "to contribute money." The earliest uses of "pungle" are from the 1850s and are in reference to anteing up in games of chance. It did not take long for the word to be used in other contexts. It was in Huckleberry Finn's deadbeat dad's vocabulary: "I'll make [Judge Thatcher] pungle, too, or I'll know the reason why," Huck quotes his father in Mark Twain's famous novel. Nowadays, "pungle" is mainly used in the western part of the United States.

~THE REBATE~

Looking to help the environment and save money on bottled water in the new year?  Try a Britta Pitcher, right now you they are offering a buy one get one free rebate on select models of Britta Pitchers.  You will need to send in the completed rebate form together with the original dated receipt with the purchase prices circled.  This offer applies to the Bella, Grand (Orange and Pink) and Space Saver (Blue, Green and White) models.  Purchases must be between now and February 28, 2011.
Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

C.Q.

Jalapenos Are Not a Secret Ingredient

My brother in law is single and currently unemployed. That means he has a lot of time on his hands to watch t.v. Instead of watching porn, car crashes or fighting, he watches the Food Network. Just watching it isn't enough, he feels as if he must try the recipes. Not just the simple recipes, not recipes that are somewhat mainstream. Nah, he likes to try the most outrageous things he hears of.

For example on Thanksgiving he made homemade cranberry relish with jalapenos. I know that when you think cranberry, you think jalapenos. He likes to put jalapenos in anything he can. I think he thinks of that little bundle of hot as his "secret" ingredient. He always claims its just "a touch", but its more of a punch.

On Christmas Eve we usually just have appetizers and a soup for dinner. A couple days before the big day, he stopped by to talk about the dinner with me. I explained that I was going to be making a wild rice soup for Christmas Eve. He then proceeded to tell me that he was going to go home and make 15 bean soup. My first thought was, Who even knew that there were 15 different types of beans? Then my panic set in and I asked him what he planned on doing with a big pot of bean soup. His reply set fear in my heart, "I'm going to bring it to your house for Christmas Eve. That way you guys won't have to cook so much." I tried to explain to him that I wanted to make wild rice soup, I didn't mind. I really wanted that. He chose to ignore my plea and proceeded to tell Mr. Bernie about his plan for the soup. Mr. Bernie reminded the brother, "Bernadette doesn't like beans." The brother in law had an answer for that. "Oh, it has lentils in it. She won't notice the beans. They shouldn't bother her." What??!! I hate beans. Its only in my 30's that I will eat green beans. A huge pot of beans doesn't rock my world. He brought the soup over on Christmas Eve. I avoided it like the plague. He was able to add his jalapenos to the soup.

For Christmas, Santa brought the brother in law a Taste of Home Cookbook. Those are normal recipes. Nary a jalapeno in the book. As brother in law was reading the cookbook, he would read some recipes out loud. He was really excited about one recipe in particular and told us what he would add to make it even better. "That recipe sounds good. All it needs is a bit of jalapeno to kick it up a notch!"

Meet Me On Monday...

Thanks for stopping by on the Meet me on Monday blog hop! 




Questions:
1. What are your New Year's Eve plans?
2. How tall are you?
3. What is your favorite pudding flavor?

4. What room of the house do you blog the most in?

5. What is your best physical feature?

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My Answers!

1. What are your New Year's Eve plans?

The same thing we do every year, go to bed around 11:00 pm then wake up and hope the new year will be better than last year.

 

2. How tall are you?

 

 

Now that's a tricky question, I always seem to be about 3 inches shorter than the shelf of the item I need to reach.

 

3. What is your favorite pudding flavor?

I would have to say Tapioca, even though that's not technically a flavor.

 

4. What room of the house do you blog the most in?

This depends on who has custody of my lap top, it has had many troubles lately and right now Best Buy has  full custody but I should be getting visitation rights again soon so when I do I will move from my office (Probably where I should be doing this from anyway) back to my cozy little home library.

 
5. What is your best physical feature?
 

My great big blue eyes.........no, wait, that's Jen, oh I got it, my beautiful brunette hair.......no,no, that's Bernie.......my cute perky smile?.................no, wait, that's my niece. oh, I got it!!!  My little toes, but only after a pedicure.  ;)

 

Have a great Monday everyone and enjoy the blog hop!

 

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

Very rarely does a movie sequel come out that is a enjoyable as the first movie to spawn the remakes but before the holidays I watched Nanny McPhee Returns and really liked it, OK maybe not as much as the first one because I already knew the lessons and the premise of the story, but it was a joy to watch non the less.  If you haven't seen the first on I am not going to give out any spoilers.

In the first of the movies, Nanny McPhee; "A nanny reveals ways of making children behave that are much more effective than a time-out in this fantasy comedy based on the "Nurse Matilda" books for children by Christianna Brand. Near the dawn of the twentieth century, Mr. Brown (Colin Firth) is a widower who must tend to his business as an undertaker while looking after his brood of seven children. Brown's offspring are a singularly ill-mannered lot who have managed to drive away 17 different nannies when their father arranges for one Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) to help out with the children. McPhee is an strange looking woman with a large nose, protruding teeth, and pock-marked skin, but it isn't long before the kids realize she has magical powers and isn't afraid to use them to help keep them in line. While the children aren't taken with McPhee's insistence on such things as saying "please" and listening to their elders, it becomes clear everyone has bigger things to worry about. Aunt Adelaide (Angela Lansbury) has insisted that if Mr. Brown cannot find a new wife within a month, she'll take custody of one of the children and cut off Brown's inheritance, and while Brown and the widow Mrs. Quickly (Celia Imrie) seem fond of one another, his ineptitude in courtship seems to insure he'll never get her to the altar. But while the Brown Children realize Nanny McPhee is a formidable opponent, she can also be a valuable ally as they learn to make use of her talents by being better children; they also discover that as they behave better, she begins to look less frightening. Emma Thompson, who played the title role in Nanny McPhee, also wrote the film's screenplay." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

I was able to find a new DVD copy of this movie at Movie Mars for only $9.14 with free shipping, if you would prefer a Blu-Ray version I found the lowest price of $12.48 plus $2.99 shipping for a total price of $15.49 at Import CDs.

The second movie, Nanny McPhee Returns, "A struggling mother receives some much-needed assistance tending to the family farm and raising a group of spirited children while her military husband is fighting overseas in this sequel to the whimsical 2005 fantasy comedy Nanny McPhee. Mrs. Isabel Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal) lives in a scenic valley with her two daughters and one son. They each understand the importance of working together as a family, and things are going remarkably smoothly for the rural quartet until a pair of spoiled cousins arrive for an extended stay, effectively turning the quaint little farm into a virtual zoo. As the situation quickly getting out of hand, Nannie McPhee (Emma Thompson) suddenly appears on her doorstep claiming that she can bring a much-needed sense of order to the out-of-control household. In time the mysterious helper does just that, using powerful magic to teach her young charges the importance of getting along, and gradually winning their trust in the process. But when the piglets escape from their sty, the contentious kids must work together to recover the family farm's most valued assets, or risk losing everything their father worked so hard to build before he went off to fight in the war. Rhys Ifans and Maggie Smith co-star." ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

I was able to find a new DVD copy of this movie for $18.99 with free shipping from Justuffexpress, if you would like the Blu-Ray version I found it at Amazon for $24.49 with free shipping if you order over $25.00 or are a member of Amazon Prime.

I hope everyone has a wonderful relaxing Sunday!

C.Q.

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night...

Twas the Night before Christmas

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863)

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Merry Christmas everyone, may you have a day filled with joy!

C.Q.

Friday's freebie...

Well the holidays are finally here, and with them the need to clean up afterward.  Today's free sample should help a little. 

First up for your favorite blouse that got hit with the plum pudding grab yourself a free sample of Shout with Color Catcher.  Just fill in your name and address that Johnson & Johnson will have it on its way to you in no time.  While your there if you would like they also have a free e-news letter that is full of great ideas and tips.

Next you can give new Mist8 a try on all your difficult house work.  Their website says it works for toilets, sinks, bathtubs (including walls), counter tops (granite, porcelain, laminate, stone, you name it), stove tops (and other kitchen appliances), floors (wood, laminate, tile, whatever), cabinets, windows, mirrors and other glass,  Just fill in your name and address on the web form and allow the 4 to 6 weeks for the product to get to you.

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!!

C.Q.

Thursdays picture perfect deal...

The picture...

A couple of years ago my hubby and I spent out Christmas in Chicago, this is a close up of the tree in the Walnut Room at Macy's.  It reaches to the ceiling of the second floor and is so packed with ornaments that there isn't a pine needle to be seen.

The deal...

Macy's is having their last minute sale with 10% off all home purchases in stores or on line, to get your in store pass just got to the web page and type in your zip code.  If you don't live by a Macy's check out Bloomingdale's sale of 25% - 40% a huge selection of items, plus if you shop with your Bloomingdale's card you can get an extra 15% off at the register until December 24th.

I hope you all have a fantastic Thursday and if you are leaving for a long weekend have a safe and fun vacation!

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

fossick  \FAH-sik\  ~ verb

DEFINITION:

a : to search about : rummage

b : to search for by or as if by rummaging : ferret out

EXAMPLES: As teenagers, the twins spent many summer afternoons fossicking for opals in the old mine.

"Meanwhile that little dog of ours, whose pedigree goes back some 400 years, is out the front fossicking round on the lawn and in the garden, following scents, sniffing at new growth, chasing birds (and flies), barking at cats or watching the world go by from the front doorstep." -- From an article by Garth George in The New Zealand Herald, October 7, 2010

DID YOU KNOW? The first people to "fossick" (in the oldest but still-current meaning of the word), back in the 1850s, were picking over abandoned mining excavations in search of gold or gemstones. But within a few decades "fossick" was being used more generally to mean "to search about" or "to rummage." "Fossickfussick," meaning "to bustle about," and the second "fossack" or "fussock," meaning "a troublesome person."

~THE REBATE~

If you over worked your food processor this holiday season have no fear, right now Kitchen Aid is offering rebates of $5.00 to $20.00 on many of their food processor models.  If you purchase a select Kitchen Aid between 11/18/2010 and 12/31/2010 then all you need to do is mail in the rebate form together with the UPC from the package and a copy of your dated cash register receipt.  All requests must be received by Kitchen Aid by 1/31/2011.  If you have questions about the rebate you can reach them at 1-800-324-5808

Have a great day everyone!

C.Q.

Living With a Writer Must Be Hard

I feel bad for poor Mr. Bernie. He is just sitting around absorbed in Mafia Wars and suddenly hears a whine from across the room. "I don't know what to write about." Keep in mind that it takes Mr. Bernie a minute to figure out what day it is to realize which writing thing I'm whining about. It could be for my own blog One Mixed Bag. It could be for the local Duluth Minnesota paper I write for. It could be for Living on Less. It could be the grocery list. It could be a birthday card. He never knows which. Some days I have a hard time keeping it straight too.

The Mr. will sigh and look up at me with a deer in the headlights look. Then he will carefully weigh the question posed to him and finally speak. "Bernadette, what day is it? Which one are you writing for?" I might say, "I don't know what to write about for my blog today. Help!" Bless his heart, he will actually pretend to look like he is thinking. He will say something like, "Hum, that is a good question. What should you write about." Then go on to play Mafia Wars. In his head he has done his husband duty. Acknowledge that I spoke to him and pretend to actually be thinking.

I will leave him alone for about 10.3 minutes and whine again. "Mr. Bernie......*whine, whine*...I'm stuck. Help me. You haven't done anything amusing this week." This is usually met with a mumbled, "Gee, I'm sorry. How thoughtless of me." I will figure something to write about and forget his lack of help until bedtime. He thinks that bedtime is a good time to say things that he feels will be helpful for me to be funny.

The other night is a good example of his being helpful. Mr. Bernie was all snuggled into bed and warm. I crawled into bed and had him roll over to snuggle with me. I was freezing! I asked him if my cold bottom felt like a frozen turkey. His reply was, "No, its too squishy." What?!! I flipped over and asked him to repeat what he said. Which he did. Then he said to me, "There I gave you something to write about tomorrow. No need to thank me. That was a freebie. Good Night." He rolled over and went to sleep.

He's such a help bee.



Image from http://homebasedentrepreneurism.blogspot.com

Meet Me On Monday...

Java at Never Growing Old has a fantastic and fun blog hop that I have really been enjoying!  I hope you like seeing my answers and getting to know me a little better.





Questions:


1. What will your Christmas dinner consist of?
2. Do you watch commercials or flip through the channels?
3. How long will you leave your Christmas decorations up?
4. What movie makes you cry every time you watch it?
5. Do you have a Facebook?

---------------------------------------------------------------

My Answers!

1. What will your Christmas dinner consist of?

This year we are having some of our family here for dinner and its supposed to be a kind of pot luck.  The hubby and I are making a ham and a turkey for the main dish and two different cheese cakes for the end of the meal other than that its a surprise to us.

Do you watch commercials or flip through the channels?





I don't watch a lot of TV but when I do watch a show I don't mind the commercials, I use that time to check my email on the iPad, grab a cup of tea or take a bathroom break.

How long will you leave your Christmas decorations up?

I haven't decorated this much in years but with the family coming I didn't want to look like scrooge so EVERYTHING is out, ugg!  I will take it all down starting 3 minutes or less after the last person leaves on the day after Christmas.

What movie makes you cry every time you watch it?


 


Oh there are actually several, all for different reasons but I would say top spots belong to a couple of the classics, Camelot and West Side Story. 
 
Do you have a Facebook?

Yes, and it came with a farm, a cafe, a whole town, the wild west, an island to get away from it all, some eggs, a bunch of gangsters and some weird looking pets, its a very interesting place that Facebook!!

Have a great week every one!!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

When I was visiting a friend in Montana we all decided to check out the local thrift stores, something I love to do because you always find some gem of a treasure.  This expedition was no exception when I stumbled across a book called Celebration; A Year of Parties, Extravaganzas & Gatherings with Friends and Family by Susan Branch.  The book is no longer in print but can still be found at Amazon new for $19.99.  I was also able to find a copy at AbeBooks.com for $7.81 with $3.99 shipping in brand new condition.  The premise for the book is  "A great deal of the joy brought about by any event or celebration is in the remembering. With that in mind, Susan created this keepsake book as a place where family and friends can share impressions, expressions of love, words of wisdom and friendly advice. Included are wonderful handwritten quotations and beautiful watercolor illustrations in Susan’s lighthearted style – with lots of room to record the memories that will truly make this book a keepsake. Every season has its events, from Spring flings and Summer celebrations to Fall festivities and Winter revelries. This keepsake book is designed to be a record of all the fun!" ~ Amazon  As always, with this or any out of print book be sure to check on Ebay as well, you may find a one cent deal with shipping under $3.00.

  

  

In doing this article today I found that even though this book is no longer in print, Ms. Branch does have other books available and I am excited to find them because I love to document important moments in life, Holidays, weddings, vacations, milestone birthdays etc.  A few currently in print are Christmas Joy : A Keepsake Book from the Heart of the Home, Days from the Heart of the Home, Girlfriends Forever and Baby Love: A Keepsake Book from the Heart of the Home. all of which look like really fun books and would make great gifts for Birthdays, Baby Showers and the holidays.  You can check out the Susan Branch web site for information about the author, more great books that are on the way as well as some great recipes, you can even order books and calenders direct from the author as well as some really fun stuff for sewing and baking as well as things for the home, including one of my favorite sections, the vintage area.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

C.Q.

Be sure to check out some other great blogs on the blog hop!

Keep your savings from going up in smoke...

Let me preface this with the fact that I used to smoke, and I know its not easy to quit.  I lowered the amount I smoked every day to about 5 cigarettes, but just couldn't seem to quit. I needed a prescription to help me finish what I started.  But in the long run it has worked great for me, I haven't had a cigarette since December 25th 2007, it was my subconscious Christmas gift to myself.  I didn't pick a quit date like they tell you to because that would have just set me up to fail; if I smoked on my quit date I would have just said "oh bummer I blew it" and I would still be smoking today.  Instead, I just got busy and involved in the day and before I knew it it was time for bed and I hadn't smoked all day, and finding out it didn't cause me to have a seizure, pass out, or even break a sweat?   Well that revolution has kept me from going back, OK, that and the money, which is why I am writing this blog. 

I started smoking when I was 17 and when I was smoking at the start of 2007 I was up to two packs a day, and at $5.00 per pack (the price back then) it was costing me $3,650.00 per year to smoke, then throw in the Doctor bills from when I would get Bronchitis and I was well over $4,000.  Now Cigarettes are up to $6.50 per pack and probably going up again after the New Year, making smoking a very expensive pass time.  If you are thinking 2011 is your year to quit the habit here are some options.

Nicotine replacement is a popular over the counter option and will help curb your cravings.  These aids include patches, gums and lozenges.  Most folks have heard of Nicoderm CQ, the program that helps you quit in stages over time, if you would like to give this method a try they have a very helpful web site that will help you customise a plan that fits your needs.  They are also offering a $7.00 coupon as well as a sample patch (which doesn't contain any nicotine) to see how your skin reacts to the adhesive.  If you decide you want to give the gum or lozenges a try the Nicorette web site has quit plan and it can be customised just for you, they are also offering a $7.00 coupon for their products.  As per the American Heart Association; "Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has been shown to be safe and effective in helping people stop using cigarettes when used as part of a comprehensive smoking cessation program"  Be sure to check out programs that are in your area, you can check with your health care provider or contact the American Heart Association for more information.

If you have tried the nicotine replacement in the past with limited or no success then you can ask your Doctor about a prescription.  Its important to talk to your Doctor to see which type of medicine will work for you, the drugs in the Bupropion class are a form of an anti depressant and include both Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL as well as Zyban.  Wellbutrin now comes in generic form so you can find it at a lower cost if this is the product that will work best for you.  Wellbutrin and Zyban are both made by GlaxoSmithKline who offer prescription programs that make their medications free or almost free to people that qualify, there are a few different plans on their website.  The other popular medication is Chantex which actually blocks the receptors in the brain which in turn makes the cravings stop.  (This is the medication I used)  It is put out by Pfiser who has a great Chantix web page that will help you understand how it works and create a quite plan for you.  They also have a coupon available for $30.00 off. 

In Minnesota we have a thing called Quite Plan that is run by the state, its a place where you can talk to a coach over the phone or use the online tools to help you get started and help keep you on your path towards your goal.  If your state doesn't offer anything then check out the US web site SmokeFree.gov for information and tools.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

C.Q.

Friday's Freebie...

If you are looking for something really nutritious for your cat then why not try the three free samples of Natural Nutrition Cat Food?  Just go to the Pure Cat web page and fill in your shipping information then sit back and and in about four to six weeks your three different flavored cans will be in your mail box.

I hope you all have had a great week!

C.Q.

Thursdays picture perfect deal...

The picture...

This little Chickadee was in our front yard waiting patiently for its turn at the feeder.  All the birds were busy that day to get as much seed as they could since it had just snowed along with some rain and there was more on the way that evening.

The deal...

Have some last minute gift to get?  Why not get the gift of snacks, better yet they can be delivered right to their door, saving you time as well as some cash.  Right now the Popcorn Factory is offering 10% off your order of $50.00 or more using coupon code CE10 or 20% off your order of $100.00 or more using coupon code CE20 through December 19th.  If the person on your list isn't a popcorn fan then check out the good stuff over at Fannie May.  They are celebrating their 90th year of Christmas with a sale you can tailor to what you want, get 50% off with coupon code 15650, or get 30% off and free shipping using coupon code 15630, the choice is yours through December 18th.  With these great saving you could send yourself a gift or two.

I hope you are all having a great week and staying warm wherever you are.

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

crapulous  \KRAP-yuh-lus\ ~  adjective

DEFINITION:

1: marked by intemperance especially in eating or drinking

2: sick from excessive indulgence in liquor

EXAMPLES: Most of the guests were still crapulous from the previous night's bacchic revelry.

"They were crapulous and carrying blue cans of beer, one of them with a can in each hand." -- From Paul Theroux's 2008 book Ghost Train to the Eastern Star

DID YOU KNOW? "Crapulous" may sound like a word that you shouldn't use in polite company, but it actually has a long and perfectly respectable history (although it's not a particularly kind way to describe someone). It is derived from the Late Latin adjective "crapulosus," which in turn traces back to the Latin word "crapula," meaning "intoxication." "CrapulaCrapulous" first appeared in print in 1536. Approximately 200 years later, its close cousin "crapulence" arrived on the scene as a word for sickness caused by drinking. "Crapulence" later acquired the meaning "great intemperance especially in drinking," but it is not an especially common word.


~THE REBATE~

You can get a $4 mail in rebate, when you purchase EAT PRAY LOVE on Blu-ray or DVD and any two Classico Pasta Sauce products.  You will need to mail in the original dated cash register receipt showing products purchased together with the completed rebate form.  The Classico Sauces and the DVD must be purchased between November 15th, 2010 and February 28, 2011 and all submissions must be received by March 15, 2011.  Allow up to 12 weeks for delivery.

I hope you are all having a fantastic week!

C.Q.

It's A Matter of Taste

In Minnesota folks don't use a lot of spices. Think of a lot of white bland food. Its the Scandinavian heritage that most folks have. Salt, pepper and ketchup are the big three of spices. Its very rare anyone will use chili powder or Tabasco sauce. Some cooks shake it up and use ginger and nutmeg in baking.

When I moved to Montana, I was in for a rude awaking. These people have spices and are not afraid to use them. They have cabinets full of spices. Everything from All Spice to Turmeric. I'm still not clear on when to use Turmeric. These people have whole cupboards of spices and are not afraid to use them.

My now, husband, used to cook for me when we were dating. He had a whole shelf system of spices in little jars, all labeled and all scary looking. As he would cook dinner for us he would use a minimum of three spices. As he cooked he would tell me, "I don't know about you but my ___ don't come pre-seasoned." It used to make me laugh, until he said it about everything he cooked. Then it got old.

I got to thinking about spices last night at dinner. I had made a new to us recipe. Before the Mr. dug in he asked, "What kind of spices did you use?" Well heck, I didn't even think about it. I told him, "None." He started to pout and said, "Not even salt or pepper?" Nope, the recipe didn't call for it. It had spaghetti sauce in it, so I figured that was enough spice.

We ate it and it and didn't die from lack of spice. However, in my head I thought it needed something. Living in Montana must have rubbed off on me.

Photo from LifeHacker website

Meet Me On Monday

I recently found a great Monday idea over at a blog called Nerver Growing Old and I loved the idea so I decided to join her blog hop, let me know if you like the idea and I would love to see your answers to the questions. 

1. How do you order your steak?



I like steak rare, if it dosen't moo when I put a fork in its over cooked, unless its a flank steak then it should be medium or its too tough.


2. Are you superstitious about anything?




Not as a general rule, but I do make wishes on falling stars.

3. Who is your best friend (not including your spouse)?



I would have to say that I am blessed to have many, Bernie and Jen who's sole goal in life is to make me wet my pants laughing, Tammi who I never see enough of, Jane who has one of the kindest hearts I know,

4. When is the last time your wore a dress (for the guys...a suit)?



I wore a long midievel dress for my friend Bernie's wedding, if that dosen't count then it would have been over the summer before I started getting problems with my legs.  I am planning on wearing one over Christmas though.

5. Do you have any trips scheduled?




Hubby and I are planning on going to Colonial Williamsburg for next Christmas.
 
Hope you enjoy the blog hop, have a fantastic day!
 
C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

The quintessential Christmas movie is A Christmas Carol, but which version is your favorite?  Personally the the 1951 Alistar Sim version.  Here is a bit of trivia that will go a long way to explaining one of the films most famous of words: "The word "humbug" is misunderstood by many people, which is a pity since the word provides a key insight into Scrooge's hatred of Christmas. The word "humbug" describes deceitful efforts to fool people by pretending to a fake loftiness or false sincerity. So when Scrooge calls Christmas a humbug, he is claiming that people only pretend to charity and kindness in an scoundrel effort to delude him, each other, and themselves. In Scrooge's eyes, he is the one man honest enough to admit that no one really cares about anyone else, so for him, every wish for a Merry Christmas is one more deceitful effort to fool him and take advantage of him. This is a man who has turned to profit because he honestly believes everyone else will someday betray him or abandon him the moment he trusts them."  ~ Amazon

It may surprise some folks to know that there was a silent version of A Christmas Carol released in 1910.  The part of Scrooge was played by William Betchel, although he was uncredited. Worldview Entertainment and the Killiam Collection has released a set of nine early movies about Christmas collectively called "A Christmas Past," with an original score by Al Kryszak. This movie is the eighth one, and has a running time of only 11 minutes and has no Tiny Tim.   You can find a copy of this version from Red Tag Market for $15.97 with free shipping, however it was out of stock as of the writing of this article.  I was able to find it in stock at DVD Empire for $17.99 with free shipping.

There was a really nice version of A Christmas Carol produced in 1938 staring Reginald Owen as Scrooge and narrated by Vincent Price.  When the movie came out MGM released a record-breaking 375 prints of the film so that as many people as possible could see it during the Christmas season.  Now you can find this version on sale at Walmart for $5.96 if you go to the store or they will ship it to you for an additional charge of $1.97 plus your states sales tax.

The 1951 version of A Christmas Carol stars Alistar Sim as Scrooge and is the only one leaves out Scrooge's famous line: "If I had my way, every fool who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled in his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart". You can find this one for $10.49 at Amazon and it has both the original black and white version as well as the updated color version of the film.

In 1971 an animated version of A Christmas Carol was made staring Alistar Sim as the voice of Scrooge.  Surprisingly this was the only film version of "A Christmas Carol" to win an Oscar and after the film won, the Academy changed its rules so that a made-for-TV cartoon could never again win this honor, even if it was shown theatrically.  This is a rare version and you can find this version on VHS at Esty for $25.00, I found a few others, some has high as $200.00.

George C. Scott tried his hand at playing Scrooge in the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol.  As with many films shot on location there are things left behind as reminders, this was no exception, Scrooge's grave can still be visited at St. Chad's Church graveyard, Shrewsbury, where the churchyard sequence was shot - the production team left the gravestone in place once filming was completed.  You can find this version for $7.49 at Amazon, it is eligible for free shipping if you are an Amazon Prime member or you order $25.00 or more.

1997 saw the release of an animated musical version of A Christmas Carol staring Tim Curry as the voice of Scrooge as well as Whoopie Goldberg as the voice for the Spirit of Christmas Past, Michael York as the voice of Bob Cratchit, and Ed Asner as the voice of Jacob Marley.  You can find a copy of this version at Beach Audio for $11.22 plus $4.00 shipping.

The 1999 version of A Christmas Carol stars Patrick Stewart as Scrooge.  Until the most recent 2009 version this was the only film version which follows the book when Scrooge and The Ghost Of Christmas Past visit Scrooge's childhood. In this film, as in the book, the walls and floor of the room simply vanish and they are instantly in the past. In all other versions Scrooge and the Ghost fly out the window and across the city.  You can find a copy of this version at Deep Discount for $10.94 with free shipping.

In 2004 a musical version of A Christmas Carol was released from Hallmark Entertainment staring Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge.  Aside from being a musical this version is also unique in that Scrooge meets all three Christmas Ghosts in human form before meeting them as spirits.  You can find this version for $10.11 at Smartz Place with free shipping.

Disney's A Christmas Carol was released in 3D in 2009 at the movie theatres at stars Jim Carry as Scrooge.  This was Jim Carry's first time working with Disney and Disney's first animated movie to release in IMAX 3D.  This version is almost completely true to Dickens' classic novel, but there are some differences: In the book, a lot more time is spent in the present, especially at the houses of his employee and nephew. Also, the novel shows us strife around the globe - in caves and on ships - that is relieved by Christmas joy.  The whole "future" scene with the horse chase and Scrooge becoming smaller is not in the novel. In the book, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is nearly immobile except for the pointing finger. You can find a copy of the newest version at Walmart for $13.00 plus $1.97 shipping plus any sales tax for your state.

I hope this gets you in the holiday spirit!

C.Q.