Weekly favorites

Despite the fact that all day Monday I thought it was Friday this week f-l-e-w by, which makes me giddy with happiness because that means we are 1 week closer to SpRiNg, green grass, warm(ish) sunshine, FLIP FLOPS and getting on the lake. Happy dance!

I'm wrapping up the week with a list of things that I couldn't get enough of or stop eating, listening to, watching - really, just things that were my favorites.

1. Edy's Samoas Ice Cream:

Oh. My. God.

Forget Kelly Clarkson. Whoever the hell Edy is should be the original American Idol.

I've discovered her secret ingredient. It's what those sneaky little Girls Scouts put in the Thin Mints:

2. Dark Chocolate covered Acai Berries:

You can get these little sinful nuggets of chewy - and I like to tell myself healthy because of the Acai berries which are probably just regular old boring blueberries - decadence at Costco. When paired with a tumbler of red wine the taste will blow. your. mind.

3. SMASH

I hadn't been this excited for a show to premiere since The O.C. (omg we loved that show), and lord knows NBC stuffed it down our throats for 4 solid months before it even aired, but it took me a few shows before I was sold. However, every time I see Debra Messing I keep wondering why Grace switched from Interior Designer to musical lyricist and why the hell Will isn't her writing partner. And if this isn't a show where "Just Jack" would fit in perfectly I don't know what is. That would be beyond awesome casting!!!  Hang on, I need to make a call.
I'm loving Ivy's stereotypical star-climbing-into-bed-with-the-director-but-is-a fool-that-thinks-helikesandrespectsme-Queen Bee.  She's a lovely bitch. And Katharine McPhee is a-dor-able. She totally shoulda slept with that director though. Doesn't she know that's how all the girls get the good parts on the Big White Way?? (**except for you my 16 year old daughter with big dreams of Broadway who is currently reading this. You will work hard and do your best and not sleep with directors twice your age and will be rewarded with fame and success because you took the high moral road. Love, mama.).
Loving the clever tunes and fab dance numbers - I'd get tickets to "Marilyn" in a minute.  And now I really want to write a Broadway musical. But the fact that I don't even know how to read music might hold me back.

4.  The Hunger Games:

I realize I'm a little late to this party, but I'm completely hooked by this tale of a clever, brave, honorable and devoted-to-her-family teenager who is sent to a deadly arena to fight with 23 other teenagers (most of whom are decidedly not honorable and devoted-to-their-families) to the death.  To the death!!!  I'm as shocked as my daughter by how much I'm enjoying this futuristic glimpse into class systems and injustice, socio-economic structure and unbelievably fabulous shower technology, but I will have to admit (and not at all surprisingly) that I was drawn to it by none other than all the Hollywood hype that is currently surrounding the movie opening in a couple of weeks (and that our family will totally be going to).  I really hate to be left out.

5.  Carrie Underwood's new single:

Good Girl (link to listen)







I Love Carrie Underwood (stop being a hater) and have since her AI days.  I'm not ashamed to admit that seeing her in concert a year ago (and sitting in the 2nd row) was an item on my bucket list (don't judge).  For the record, staying in George Clooney's Lake Como villa is also on my bucket list, so you get an idea  the depth of my lifetime goals and dreams.

6.  Baked zucchini coins:

I discovered a recipe for breaded and baked zucchini sticks on Pinterest (no surprise there) and adjusted it to these nifty little coins because they bake up so much crunchier.  I won't lie, they're a pain in the ass to make and your fingers get covered with egg/bread crumb goo which is totally gross (I keep a wet paper towel nearby and wipe off the goo about every 5 times), but the end result is worth the suffering.  I will make and eat 2 zucchinis with a salad and a tumbler of chardonnay for dinner like twice a week (what the rest of my family eats is the subject of another future scintillating blog).  If you care, here's how I do it:

slice zucchini into thin coins (about 1/8" thick)
dip in beaten egg white
shake in a baggie of Italian bread crumbs + grated parmesan
place single layer on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet (Oh - Parchment Paper. Another favorite thing)
spray lightly with PAM Olive Oil spray
Bake at 425 for like 20-25 min. until they are browned to your liking
Shake a little parmesan on top and dip in warm marinara.

7.  Cee Lo Green and his cat, Purrfect:

Our family has been long and faithful AI fans since the beginning, but this year my favorite t.v. watching partner and I are much more into The Voice.  Cee Lo Green pretty much definitely creeps me out with his tiny crocodile arms and sequined leisure suits and oversized watches (well, they're probably actually regular sized watches but just look so giant because of his munchkin hands) and leering looks and suggestive comments to the girls auditioning (grossly we know he gets a lot of action despite being an Oompa Loompa - it's a topic he likes to overshare) but I have to say the Dr. Evil action with the cat cracks me up. I love it. I just wait for the shots like the one above.

...which leads me to another reason - okay, the main reason - I watch The Voice, and a last minute entry into the weekly favorites list:

I think I'll leave it at that.

You're welcome.