AM~Erica's Seussical Snowy Day

So anyway...

It is another

Seussical day!

It has been

snowy, Seussical day!

Though the snow

was not as it seemed,

a change in the morning

schedule was deemed.

Early prep for the dinner

which I think is a winner!

I think I have

a Seussical

dinner winner!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

OK, I couldn't finish this in my Seussy-style rhyme. I was trying to get this written by last night (starting with the above rhyming), and there were a lot of distractions of kiddos & things. It became extremely difficult to keep up my rhyming when I could hardly keep a thought straight!

As I was saying...

I started the night before with chopping up the veggies for dinner so it would be easier to pop things in the lazy cooker the next morning. And it had so much Seussical color!

Around that time, the weather was getting pretty nasty. Hubby was trying to figure out if our church should cancel any services. He did decide to cancel the first service & Sunday School...so we were just going to have an abbreviated late service. That meant we got to sleep in! (Maybe...unless we got the 4-10" of snow & we needed to cancel the late one, too.)

So we got up the following morning to not a whole lot of snow...just super cold! Not enough to justify canceling church completely...so...hubby & I were getting ready for the day!

I got the lovely veggies in the lazy cooker, seared a rump roast & put it in the lazy cooker, added the seasonings, cider & worchestershire, too, to get the Roast Beast Who Hash going for dinner that night.

Since we were going out...and it was Dr. Seuss' birthday...of course, I had to look as Seussical as I could! Just needed to be smart about it since we were going out in the cold & snow. So...I sported my Seuss-striped shirt over a ribbed turtleneck sweater. I added long red & white striped socks over black skinny jeans, then put on my black boots so the socks could just peek out over the tops. Then I added my head scarf with large red polka-dots, then added a fun flower with long skinny feathers to it. I put some blue in my hair. I then put on a long gray sweater vest & topped it off with a perfect blue knit scarf that looked reminiscent of a thneed in the way I had it wrapped.

My friend, Renae (the one who got me started drinking coffee...HERE), brought up about bringing Seuss rhyme into the liturgical part of our church service! BRILLIANT! Right? I was trying to convince my hubby to at least do the greeting & benediction in they rhyme form! He wasn't too keen on it...he wanted to keep it at a certain level of reverence. I understand that...but I tried to convince him that folks would REMEMBER it! He didn't think it would be for the right reason. *sigh*
However...

Because of the switcheroo of services & times...he did more of a devotion. To begin the devotion...he talked about it being Dr. Seuss' birthday & about it being the kick off to Read Across America! Since Theodore Geisel was an advocate to encourage reading...my hubby talked about how that tied into the ability for us to be able read the Bible. I was so proud! Then he gave a great devotion about it being Transfiguration Sunday & about mountaintop experiences. Then he touched on us going to Colorado this past summer. It was beautiful for all 35 of us at service yesterday.

Then we got home, hunkered down (since we got more snow WHILE in service), and tried to figure out the rest of the day. I did more dinner prep, I could hear weird movies on the TV (not of any Seussical sort), and we were discussing what we could do.

In the meantime, I attempted to make fried eggs that looked like the ones from 'Green Eggs & Ham'...

Not pretty...but you get it! Right? RIGHT?

Yeah...not bad...but certainly NOT great! It may have to stay as scrambled eggs...but if anyone knows where I can find eggs with green yolks, please let me know! That would be awesome!

I also did up some painted toast in Seussical stripes!

Colored milk red with food coloring, then used a wide brush to paint bread,
then popped it in the toaster to set it.

This is what I used as the butter-side-up & butter-side-down bread. I was pretty pleased with how cool this looked!

I also found an adorable dessert idea! It's supposed to be a kid snack of Bar-Ba-Loot mix! I just happen to have chocolate teddy grahams & marshmallows to mix! I came across it on Pinterest, but here's the link to it HERE!

Remember the adorable Bar-Ba-Loots from 'The Lorax'?
The adorable brown bear creatures that discovered they loved marshmallows?
Yes, them. And you can mix them all together! So good! So fun!

Since we didn't do Green Eggs & Hamburger (like I brought up, HERE, in my previous post of ideas), I still thought about purple ketchup...and then my friend, Princess Jules, had a genius idea! She brought up putting blue food coloring in red ketchup! DUH! So...I tried it...
...and then I added some more red...
...and then I tried to add a bit of purple...

Well...it looked more like mud, no matter what I did. So I called it "murple". Pretty Dr. Seuss-sounding, don-cha-think?

BEHOLD: Murple Ketchup

When I grew up, we would have hash & top it with a bit of ketchup. So I thought adding a dab of Murple Ketchup to the Who Hash would be quite fitting.

Then I buttered the bread & stacked it up...

And I got out some colorful bowls in a stack...

Bowls in perfect Seussical colors & stack form

And the hash browns were added to the Who Hash for about 30 minutes before serving it up...

And the Seussical Spread was pretty awesome to look at!

But I mustn't forget the drink! I had Lil Guy make our Pink Ink koolaide to top off this meal! It's a gallon of strawberry & pink lemonade.

And we were ready to eat like a Who & drink like the Yink!

And it was time to serve it up! Notice I love to serve it up on fun dishes? Yeah...I go all out!

Served with Butter-Side-Down

Served with Butter-Side-Up

Of course, I was hoping for a Seussical-themed Oscars...since it was being broadcast that night. (how I pictured it HERE) So, we watched some red carpet...no Seussical gowns. The closest outfit was probably Liza Minelli's look.

I was hoping Ellen DeGeneres would show up in a Cat in the Hat type tux...and it was close...

She was just missing the hat! So...a touch of Seuss...

I thought we could watch a Seuss movie/special after I watched Ellen's opening. We ended up watching all of the Oscars. And...I did get one more Suessical moment...when "Let it Go" from 'Frozen' won for best song! The acceptance speech was SO perfect in SO many ways! Just watch...

OK...I didn't get to read a book for Seuss, or watch a Seussical movie. However, I did get to get more Seussical trivia, and rhyme all over Twitter & Facebook.

I'm hoping to work in at least a movie, today, to help kick off Read Across America...and find books. 

Since we had some Bar-Ba-Loot mix left, I did throw it in with some cereal this morning:

Bar-Ba-Loot mix in Fiber One Cereal...it's good for you!

Since we had 2 pieces of buttered Seussical bread left, I'm going to take the 1 leftover green egg, add cheese & ham to have a sandwich with some leftover Who Hash for lunch. I'm gonna make this last, people!

Leftover Roast Beast Who Hash with Seussical Green Egg & Ham Grilled Cheese

So...what did you do to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday?  Keep it up for Read Across America, folks!

Oh yeah...in the meantime, we got a snow day. May be why it's taken me so long to finish this post! Let's see what the rest of the day brings...

Stay tuned...(Mardi Gras is coming...)

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Imagines if the Oscars Were Seussical

So anyway...

I'm not sure if you can believe it or not...but believe it! February is almost done & we are nearing the end of the 1st quarter of 2014! WOW! This year is working it's way right along!

March is right upon us...and I make sure we celebrate several things during this coming month. (check out my celebrations HERE)

Once in a while, there's a holiday &/or event that collides with another. The first Sunday in March is no different this year...

The Oscars are coming! I know not everyone gets into those, but many do. Who will win best movie, actress, actor, supporting actor & actress, director, screenplay, animated movie, adaptation, makeup, costumes, foreign film, short film, cinematography, best original song, best score, sound editing, etc.? I find it fun to see who presents what, what the teleprompter tells them to say...or even some of the improvisational & off-the-cuff moments needed to fill some time or to make a better transition...or because there's now a running joke. I'm also excited abut Ellen DeGeneres hosting again! The People's Choice Awards were hosted by the stars of "Two Broke Girls", the Golden Globes were hosted by the dream team of Tina Fey & Amy Poehler...and now the Oscars by Ellen! Women are kinda ruling this hosting business!
(Yes...I know LL Cool J hosted the Grammys...but it's been mostly women this time around...)

Anyhoo...I also love the fashion. Who is wearing what on the red carpet. Seeing who breaks the mold & wears something totally crazy...who plays it safe & wears a sequin sheath dress...I like that part.

It's the hosting of Ellen & where the fashions could go that led me to this line of thinking:

What if the Oscars went Seussical??

Yes...I totally mean a Dr. Seuss-themed/inspired Academy Awards Ceremony!

The Oscars fall on March 2nd this year...which happens to be the birthday of Theodore Geisel!

So...imagine with me...

The wavy red carpet would contain styles you would find from the 1980's, mid-late 1960's, and things that have stripes or polka-dots, featuring puffy things & feathery things, full of bright colors, and maybe channeling your inner Lady Gaga or Helena Bonham Carter!

Can you see it? And Jay Manuel should loan out his tuxedos for that night, too!

See? Like Tim Burton took over the red carpet!

OH! Could you imagine if he directed the Oscars? Danny Elfman would be the musical director for it!

Ellen could totally be in a Cat in the Hat inspired tux!

Right?? RIGHT???

And then imagine if all of the teleprompter scripts & speeches were all in Seussical form!

Oh, wouldn't that be glorious? You know...just to shake things up a bit. And Ellen at the helm could TOTALLY do it!! Amm-i-rite??

The set would look a little like Whoville & the Wonka Chocolate Factory (Tim Burton's version)...

The whole thing would be like "Fancy Grammys"!

I'm so disappointed in myself for not thinking this thru WAY sooner! This would have made an awesome crossover party!! But I wouldn't have had time this year, anyway...maybe in another 11 years.... I'm starting the planning NOW!! It will be EPIC!!!

Stay tuned...

*SCREECH* WAIT!!! Since we did the Wayne's World travel-back dissolved for this Oscars post, it's only fitting this is thrown in:

You're welcome.
(Hey! Mike Meyers was Cat in the Hat after all...)

God Bless, AM~Erica

The Kind of Berry AM~Erica Has an Allergy To

So anyway...

There is a lot of talk about things that are good for you. One of the foods with very little fluctuation of where it stands in nutrients...berries.

Now I love me some fruit...and I can pop strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, etc. like candy! Sweet & juicy...and also doing the body good!

However...there is a type of berry that I cannot deal with. Many of you may be shocked.

Now then, as many of you may know or have heard, the Oscars took place last night. We watched the whole thing & I really enjoyed Seth MacFarlane as the host. And I'm a sucker for the dresses & big production bits. I'm a bit cheesy like that. But I don't have Oscar parties. Maybe I will in the future... But I see where people do get dressed up & have these parties & fancy-schamcy appetizer thingys like bacon wrapped something on a stick, lovely little quiches, and super fancy crudite & fruit platters...that usually have berries.

Still not what I'm talking about...

The one berry & one of the Hollywood staples that I absolutely, positively canNOT do...

...


...


...is...

...

...

Halle Berry.

*shudder*

I'm pretty sure I just heard several of you gasp...but I don't care! I really don't.

OK...I actually think I developed an allergy. I'm serious, people! I have a Halle Berry allergy!!

People, folks & people & others...simmer down...

The allergy began slowly. I mean...my first attack hit me hard, but I didn't realize it was the possible onset of an developing allergy.


Here's how it went down...

There was a time when I enjoyed me some Halle...I looked up to her. LOVED HER! But then...things changed between us...

See, there was this time while I was preggo when I felt disgusting & super hormonal. When my hubby's folks had a swimming pool, we would go over so the family could get in during the summer. Summer...the best time to be pregnant EVER! I didn't even want to be seen in a swimsuit. I sat on the patio by the pool while the others would be in. And then this conversation somehow started:

"Who are the most attractive colored women in Hollywood?"
And the conversation between my BIL & hubby began...
Several names came up, but this particular utterance by my hubby stuck in my head:
"Oh! Halle Berry! She's HOT!"

*ahem*

Yeah...beached whale preggo wifey on the sidelines heard it. Beached whale preggo wifey felt even worse in that moment than already felt.

But I figured I was being hormonal & I tried to blow it off that my hubby was finding someone else "hot" in that moment of me feeling so...bleh...when he got me that way. *sigh* Whatever...

A few weeks later, we were back at the pool...at the in-law's...
I was back on the sidelines, feeling all beached-whale-like & disgusting.
And then this conversation somehow started:

"Who are the most attractive colored women in Hollywood?" (yes...the SAME conversation)
The conversation was happening, shockingly, between my BIL & hubby.
The same names seemed to come up. Then I heard this from my hubby:
"Oh! Halle Berry! She's HOT! Oh...but...you know who's really hot? My wife over there!"

*ahem* Too late...damage was already done.

I was no longer too fond of The Berry.

>>> Fast Forward about 7ish years >>>
I was preggo. Feeling huge, gross & super hormonal.
Sitting at dinner with the family, a conversation got started...

It is not the same one you think...THANK GOODNESS!
However, it only started with one sentence. My stepdaughter said,
"Hey Dad! Remember when you said, on the way home, that Halle Berry is HOT?"

Something in me clicked. My allergy kicked in full force, my eyes began to water & my tear ducts began to swell.

I can tell you, that it has never come up during my times of being NOT pregnant. Only times I was. Feeling gross & hormonally.

Now then...I am done being being preggo. Lil Guy is often referred to as "Our Last". But I have been scarred by my allergy to the Hot Berry. I didnt' even watch Ellen's 12 Days on THE ELLEN SHOW during the holidays due to her ongoing mascot for the year. Yep, you guessed it..."Holly Berry". Bleh...

Ellen & Holly Berry - my gag reflex just kicked in...

So, when SHE ends up on a show or something, I won't watch.

I'm sure she's a lovely person. But I know where she stands when I'm feeling the grossest of all.

My hubby laughs about it. I do not. But it really doesn't come up much anymore...still scarred...for life.

So when everyone is putting her pic of their selection of "Best Dressed at the Oscars", just note that my gagging is my allergy flaring up.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Wants to Talk Music

So anyway...

I got the opportunity to watch some of the 54th Grammy Awards, last night. After watching the bit that I did, with my hubby...it brings up a conversation that he & I have had on more than one occasion: Today's Music.

In the last several years, the overall music quality has dropped significantly. There is a lot of copycatiness going on (yes, I just made that a word) & failed attempts at originality that doesn't showcase musical talent at all. It does showcase theatricality, though. I'm all about theatrics...and, if you know me, then you certainly know that. However, for an award show about music, then it is all lost in translation.

In the hopes & aims to reach superstardom, the length these artists go to make such a mark in these major performances just to be remembered end up leaving us scratching our heads. So...that's what someone wants to be remembered for? Just to get them talking about YOU & not your talent? Sad.

The Foo Fighters, rightfully, won for best rock performance. They even included in their acceptance speech that it was a garage recording with no computer anything...totally old-school. Rock on, man. They even got a standing ovation for these remarks at the digs of today's overall music. But then they show up in the dance music segment of the show. You know, the one that counts on over-synthesized & over-computerized techniques for the end product. D'oh!

And...I do want to talk about Niki Minaj for a moment. I think she might have talent. But I'm not positive. Her copycat performance that mirrored Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' on steroids while copycatting a Lady Gaga-type entrance & style is overrated. Simmer down to those who like her. She is colorful & certainly turns heads. She has even spawned a spark in talent from the adorable British kid duo of Sophia Grace (8) & her hype-girl cousin, Rosie (5) that have been featured on Ellen about 5 times in the last few months. Little Sophia Grace has shown more promise of talent than Niki shows right now. Do you know why? You hear Sophia Grace's VOICE! That's why. (Have you heard her? She's amazing!)Niki only concentrated on this crazy, sacrilegious performance that I think could get her some acting gigs in the future. Song? Where? It wasn't there last night...only an attempt at a confusing shock factor of an alter ego. Ugh.

And as for the snubbed Lady Gaga, she is one who appears to be original, but she is a Madonna copycat who is the ultimate parodist! Her songs really are the underlyings of other artists' songs with her own lyrics, but with bigger theatrics. But here's my deal with her...she really IS talented! She is amazing on the piano & in her singing. Really. Did you know that? Maybe not, to the casual listener. But her actual talent is drowned out by her antics & theatricality. It's sad.

There was a writer that compared to blogging to internet graffiti. I have my own opinions on this, but this is not the place to do it. However, the analogy works well for today's music. There's a some wonderful audible art out there, but there is more ear graffiti than the good stuff. (should give you an idea of my blogging opinion)

However, on subject of Grammy performances, the two acts that got the most praise last night? Adele's return & Jennifer Hudson's tribute to Whitney Houston. Why? They used their God-given talent of their voices. No antics, no theatricality...just sharing the amazing gift of singing they possess. Kelly Clarkson had the same thing when she sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl.

This gives props to the show 'The Voice' as the blind auditions are solely based on the person's singing ability...not "the whole package" as other shows rely on *cough, cough* (Idol) *cough, cough*

My hubby & I have talked about the days-of-old when music be fun, singable & still say something (maybe). But things are so intense now, or you can't understand them. All in the name of trying to make a point that ends up senseless & make a name for themselves. Bad press is still press, right? Ugh.

So the question becomes...where's the music? What really is good music these days?

Adele is great. I will give her a vote. And my hubby knows that I will give props to Harry Connick, Jr. And those that have put out good music, we are losing quickly. Very quickly.

OK...I've gotten that off my chest. For the most part. Now...can we go support & promote ACTUAL talent? Thank you.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica