Author: the outside lane

Happy. That about covers it.
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Santa, Spiders, and Stuff

the outside lane

Thor and I had a talk about world religions the other day.  He is fortunate to be part of a very diverse elementary school, so he encounters a number of faiths.  We were talking about the similarities and differences among them all, and I have been waiting for him to process our conversation and bring back his usual trove of questions.  Tonight’s big one was, “So…when we die, we go to Heaven, then we come back to earth as dogs?”  And then it was fifteen minutes of plucking delicately to untie the tangled knots of resurrection and reincarnation.  It was a little like when your necklaces get tangled in the jewelry box.

Right now, he is satisfied with two things:

1.  I was wrong about Santa Claus.  Olive the Other Reindeer said that Santa is real if you only believe.  He told me that he has chosen to believe, therefore, Santa is real. Also, he saw Santa at the WalGreens, so he knows Santa is real.

2.  When he dies, he has decided that he will go to Heaven for a while, and hang out there until he is finished.  When he is finished, he intends to return to earth as an animal.  He has not yet decided which animal, but thinks it would be nice to be a dog, or a jungle cat.  Maybe a dolphin.  Definitely not an insect, unless he can be a spider (we’ll get to the finer points between insects and arachnids in another conversation) because those can climb walls, and that would be cool.

He mixed pajamas tonight with Christmas pajama bottoms and a Spider-Man shirt.  He is Spider-Elf, he says.  I was happy for him.  Happy until he used his creepiest voice to say, “I want you to remember, Mama, Spider-Elf climbs up and down the walls all night long.”  Then I was doubled over laughing.  I love having this particular child.  He certainly keeps me on my toes.

 

holiday guest blog

Days of Christmas: Holiday Have to Read–Comics

the outside lane

I’ve been a comic junkie for as long as I can remember, and though I haven’t bought a lot of comic books for myself (aside from the Archies, Spiderman, and Superman comics that my grandmother let me buy when I spent summers with her) I never turn up my nose at a good strip.  I will even admit to being a fan of Elf Quest.  I have a group of strips I read daily, as part of my morning routine.  As part of today’s Holiday Guide, I’m sharing my absolute favorites.

1.  Sinfest

This comic by Tatsuya Ishida updates M-Su with a full color strip on Sunday.  My favorites are the Percy and Pooch strips, featuring “The Artist’s” pets in action, but I also love Ishida’s Devil Girl story lines, and his current treatment of feminism.

Monique checks out the patriarchy.

2.  Girls with Slingshots

I love, love, love, love, love Danielle Corsetto’s strip about friends.  This one also updates M-F, making me very happy.  Girlfriends, a talking cactus, ghost cats, and the most human and humane treatment of relationships of all kinds I’ve seen in any format.

And maybe because it reminds me of my friendship with Amy.

3.  Multiplex

Life in a movie theater by Gordon McAlpin, my only complaint is that this one doesn’t update frequently enough!  Only M and Th, but always worth the wait.  Right now, the Multiplex gang are filming their own zombie movie, and it’s as much fun watching how McAlpin’s art changes with scenes from the movie, back to scenes from “reality” as it is waiting to see who gets eaten next.

ZOMBIES! How could you not love it?
Chef Lane, Giveaway, holiday guest blog

Days of Christmas: Holiday Must Make–Truffles, Cake Balls, and Jars of Cake

the outside lane

I get 90% of my sweet recipes from Jamie over at A Dash of Domestic, including the idea for Jars of Cake and Cake Balls.  I saw this Holiday Truffles recipe on Facebook, and had to try it.  I figured it was a dessert I couldn’t bake to death or ruin in some other way.

I picked up the following at the grocery store, then Thor and I got to work tonight.

  • 2 bags of semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 bag of dark chocolate chips
  • 1 14oz can of condensed milk
  • 1 box of Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix
  • 2 things of Duncan Hines frosting (1 cream cheese, 1 chocolate)
  • 1 half gallon of whole milk
  • Assorted Sprinkles
  • 1 tin of cocoa
  • 12 4oz jelly jars with lids

Following the Holiday Truffles recipe, I melted up the chips and condensed milk, let Thor do the stirring, then popped it in the fridge to chill while I went to work on the cake.  Once everything was cool, I rolled up my truffle balls and then covered them in the assorted sprinkles.  I found it worked better to warm the chocolate in my hands a little before sprinkle dousing, and I found it worked really well to just roll the balls around inside a bowl of cocoa to cover them with that.  Now they are sitting in the freezer, waiting to go to a Christmas party.

Holiday Truffles

I made the red velvet cake batter as directed, then poured in 2 cups of chocolate chips (1 semi-sweet, 1 dark) at Thor’s behest.  Half the batter I poured into the tiny jars (situated on top of my Pampered Chef stone baking sheet–I love that thing so much!  Thank you Emily Reese!), filling the jars about halfway, then baked for 26 minutes at 350.  I used a teaspoon to scoop off the muffin-y tops of the cakes, then stuffed my cream cheese frosting into a ziplock baggie and cut a tiny pinch from a corner for a makeshift decorating tip.

After the cakes were cooled, I frosted them, screwed the jar lids on, and decorated one for you to see.  Those are now refrigerated, waiting to be delivered to their lucky owners.

Cakes cooling. I set them in warm water to help cool them down without breaking the glass. Ask me about my glass breaking story sometime.
Icing on the cake.
When is a door not a door? When it's ajar. Ahahahahaha! This is a cake in a jar.
Festive, non?

I baked the other half of the batter as a sheet, then mixed it up with about a quarter of the chocolate frosting (and the cake muffin tops I had cut from the jars) and formed cake balls with that.  I rolled the balls in cocoa, and have them in the freezer with the truffles, chilling and hanging out until it is time to be eaten.  Soon, my sweets, soon.

I did melt down some chocolate chips and mixed with whole milk, then dipped about 6 of the cake balls into that.  I caught Thor sneaking them from the platter where they were cooling.  The cake-faced grin would have given it away if the chocolate soul patch he was sporting had not.  Or the stomach ache he ended up with later.

We had fun.  Next up is the gingerbread train kit we’re putting together tomorrow.  Woo-woo!

On the topic of cooking, remember that if you leave a comment on ANY blog entry between now and December 30, like The Outside Lane on Facebook, or leave a comment on The Outside Lane on Facebook, you can win a month-long Premium Membership to my favorite Personal Chef’s website: JulieAnneRhodes.com

Giveaway, holiday guest blog, Style

Days of Christmas: Holiday Have to WIN!!! Jewelry by June Bijou

the outside lane

As part of today’s Holiday Guide, Win These Earrings!

The Gaby Earrings by June Bijou

June is one of those unforgettable people. You meet her and she makes an indelible impact on your life. Then you see her jewelry. Oh my word, the jewelry. For several years, June designed for brands and for her own June Bijou line in major department and apparel stores, but after having her first baby in 2008, she decided to scale back the operation to better suit her lifestyle as a mother. “Having it all” meant maintaining her art, but changing the way she did business to open up the time she wanted to spend with her growing family.

Now, with two little boys (and one big man!) at home, June has reinvented herself as a boutique jeweler, selling her meticulously crafted art directly to individuals, through her website and trunk shows.  You can “like” her on Facebook here.

When June and I reconnected (in a Barnes & Noble parking lot) last January, and she told me she was making jewelry, I expected to see pretty, Etsy-style crafts on her website. I did not expect to find fine metals and gemstones. I didn’t even know you could do what she does by hand! My first sight of her jewelry took my breath away. The collection features a variety of semi-precious, faceted gemstones and beads such as different types of quartz, jade, and various kinds of pearls. The metals, wire & chain used to craft this special jewelry include 14K gold filled, sterling silver, and vermeil.

Free shipping through December 15th.

Her collection is light and airy, and evokes white sand beaches as frequently as white powder slopes. What I am trying to say is that June’s jewelry would be perfectly at home on a sarong wearing supermodel in Ibiza, or a fox-furred socialite in Aspen, and you–at work, at play, at that glittering holiday party. It is amazingly beautiful and accessible.

These are a few of my favorites:

Green Garnet Almond Shaped Vermeil Rings
Vermeil Trio Disc Necklace. Look for the gorgeous matching earrings.
Bohemian Chic Earrings.
The Hope and Love Bangle. Would you ever guess that was handmade? So beautiful!

From now, through December 15, there is free shipping on any order, AND, June has offered The Outside Lane, the chance to give away a pair of her gorgeous Gabby earrings. Leave a comment about your favorite piece of personal jewelry here or at The Outside Lane on Facebook, and be entered to win!  “Like” The Outside Lane on Facebook for another chance to win.

holiday guest blog

Days of Christmas: Holiday Have to Do–Locked Out Comedy Improv

the outside lane

As I am putting together these blogs, I am realizing what amazingly creative people I know!  Today’s holiday tip comes from my friend Sheila Cooper, member of one of Dallas’ premier improv comedy troupes, Locked Out Comedy.  If you aren’t local to DFW, I highly suggest finding an improv group near you, and spending a couple of hours laughing.  Nothing makes the holidays brighter than a good belly laugh.

Thanksgiving is past and the Official Holiday Rush has started. That means pumpkin pie, Aunt Sylvia’s famous dressing and listening to Uncle Joe’s war stories for the 250th time. Show your relatives how to really have fun and bring them to Locked Out Comedy’s New Years Eve  show.

Join us at ScreenFX Academy, 6505 W. Park Blvd in Plano. Show time is 7pm. Please check www.lockedoutcomedy.com for more info.

Scientists say that laughing is a great exercise so go ahead, have another helping of potatoes. You’ll burn off the calories with us later.

Locked Out Comedy is fast, funny and family friendly comedy improv. Funny enough for a bachelorette party yet clean enough for your dear sweet  Grandma. Not only does Locked Out Comedy bring on the funny with improvisational comedy, we have a talented bunch of script writers among us. Check out some of our videos on YouTube.

Soon holiday parties will be starting. Who wants another year of watching the boss sing “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” while draped in garland? I don’t! Bring the fun folks of Locked Out Comedy to your company event. There will be laughter, fun and who knows, maybe we can get that nerd in accounting to lighten up! And I don’t care what kind of prints the copier made…I was NOT in the mail room with Greg, the intern.

Call us at214-995-4013 or check us out at www.lockedoutcomedy.com