Got Bacon......envelopes???!!

Yes people, this product actually exists - bacon flavored envelopes! I saw these 'MMMvelopes' featured in the Hungry Girl newsletter today and I was quite shocked and intrigued by this interesting invention. The manufacturer of this bacon-inspired mailer is J&D's, who's slogan is none other than, "Everything should taste like bacon!".

They go on to explain their product with the following description:
"Technology has given us a lot lately. The car. TV. X-rays. The refrigerator. The Internet. Heck, we even cured polio. But what have our envelopes tasted like for the last 4,000 years? Armpit, that’s what.

Really, people? If we can’t overcome this kind of minor technical challenge, it’s only a matter of time until some super-advanced race of aliens with lasers, spaceships and a delicious federal mail system comes down and colonizes the world. And nobody wants that (except for the aliens, of course).

So, after thousands of years and kajillions of horrible tasting envelopes licked, we’re happy to report that J&D’s Bacon-Flavored MMMvelopes™ are here to save the day. No longer will envelopes taste like the underside of your car. You can enjoy the taste of delicious bacon instead.

That’s right, bacon. It’s not real bacon, mind you, so you won’t have to start storing your envelopes in the refrigerator. But it really does taste like bacon. Which is what you really wanted in the first place, isn’t it? And it only took us 4,000 years to get there. Eat that, alien invaders."


**Now I admit that I LOVE bacon - yes, it is quite a tasty and amazing food. But somehow the idea of licking a bacon-flavored envelope just seems plain WRONG. How about starting with something more universal such as cherry or grape flavored envelopes? And for some icing on the cake, J&D's also offers bacon-flavored popcorn...ha! Hmm.....gotta love America. : )

Dani comes to visit & counselor reunion!

My dear friend Danielle drove up from West Hollywood last Thursday for a visit to the Bay Area, and Zoey and I were the first stop on her trip! We had a lovely afternoon catching up on life, and Dani had a very engaging, intellectual conversation with Zoey...very cute! : )


Then on Saturday my friend Haydee hosted a reunion for our friends who all graduated from the SFSU Counseling program in 2005 and 2006. It was a lovely get together with an amazing group of intelligent, beautiful, FUN women that I just love! And it felt so great to get out of the house and have some adult conversation.

I feel blessed to have such wonderful ladies in my life - women who will hopefully be friends and role models for Zoey someday too!

My daughter

We are starting sleep training with Zoey this weekend, and although it won't be easy for any of us....it has become necessary. So in her honor, here are some adorable pictures of my sweet little girl.

Daddy's Eyelashes

Zoey definitely has her daddy's eyelashes - what a lucky little girl.

Disturbing and Sad

I admit that I watch a lot of television, especially now that I am home on maternity leave. And many of the programs I regularly watch and love are reality-based shows such as Survivor, What Not to Wear, Millionaire Matchmaker, Super Nanny, The Bachelor, Million Dollar Listing, Cake Boss, Project Runway, etc. For some reason I am highly intrigued and entertained by a glimpses into the lives of these "characters" on TV, even though I'm sure much of it is actually staged to some degree. Because I knowingly watch what some might call "crap television", I take it all with a grain of salt and I'm not that easily offended or disturbed by the programming I see. However, there is one exception to that previous statement....and the program is called "Toddlers and Tiaras". Have you heard of this program? Talk about disturbing and just plan WRONG! I don't know what is more revolting to me - the fact that some parents out there actually encourage their young daughters to make themselves over into scary little pageant barbies, or that TLC actually chooses to expose these families through a television program. These little girls, ranging in age from 2-8 compete in beauty pageants and talent contests, and most consider Miss America to be their most influential role model. They cake their faces with ungodly amounts of makeup, put in hair extensions, darken their skin with fake tanning spray, and some mothers even encourage their young girls to restrict their diets in order to stay skinny.

I have never watched this show for more than just a few minutes because I find it so highly disturbing, but I did just recently visit the website just to learn more about what goes on "behind the scenes" of these pageants. I was most shocked and horrified at the extreme role that many of the mothers play in their daughter's pageant preparation. Some seem so overly involved and dedicated to ensuring that their daughters win, as if they are trying to live out their own dreams vicariously through their poor, unknowing little angel. But perhaps the saddest part of all is that some of the girls become so brainwashed and focused on beauty and winning that they end up missing out on their childhood.

Does anyone else find this just as disturbing as I do? What happened to playing outside at the park, climbing trees and getting grass stains on your jeans, building forts out of sheets and boxes, and even just playing with dolls or playing dress-up like a normal child? I fear that one day these parents will look back on their child's pageant days with regret and shame for robbing their daughter of her chance to just simply be a kid.

Did someone say MOUSE?

6 More Weeks of Winter?!

I've never understood Groundhog Day - it's just sort of strange to me. According to Wikipedia, the holiday began as a Pennsylvania German custom in the 18th and 19th centuries, and has roots in ancient European weather lore. I understand that the day is more of a symbolic custom than anything else, but still....it's just strange that we look to a large rodent to tell us what the seasons hold. Heck, if doctorate level meteorologists can't accurately predict the weather and the arrival of the seasons, I don't think a groundhog with a brain about the size of a walnut could do any better. Or on second thought, maybe it could!? Anyhow, Punxsutawney Phil apparently saw his shadow this morning which means we have 6 more weeks of winter ahead of us.

Really?! Could have fooled me! Because ironically I was out for a lovely walk this morning and all I could see around me were sights, smells, and sounds of the imminent arrival of Spring. Birds chirping, squirrels nibbling at the grass, flowers sprouting all around me, dogs barking, and rays of sunlight shining down upon us all. It was gorgeous, and honestly one of the nicest mornings I've seen in awhile. But wait a second....if Phil saw his shadow, wouldn't that mean that the sun was out in PA too? Why would sunshine on the morning of February 2nd equate to a longer winter? Just another reason this whole custom is weird.

I don't know.....I guess we'll just have to wait and see if Phil's prediction holds true.