Shamrock Shakes

Why wait another 11 months for a Shamrock shake? Make one yourself!

2 c. vanilla ice cream

1 1/4 c. milk

1/4 tsp. mint extract

8 drops green food coloring

Blend until smooth (I used my magic bullet!). If needed, stop blender and stir with spoon to help blend in ice cream.

These suckers are pretty thick! I ended up adding a tad more milk to help the blending process.

Mint extract is STRONG. Don't pour a lot in. It will knock your socks off.

Hug somebody today!

Here's a photo of the car accident I witnessed yesterday.

That's no zoom ... that's how close I was.

So hug your friends today. A hug never hurt anybody.

I love God and Shamrock Shakes ...

... in that order.

So today is St. Patrick's Day. I'm not much of a drinker, nor am I Irish, so I don't really celebrate. However, I do *heart* McDonald's Shamrock shakes. Not only are they delicious, but they remind me of my childhood. Nothing weird or anything, but I just drank them as a kid.

So today, driving home from a friend's house, I decide to get one. McDonalds #1 - sold out. McDonalds #2 - sold out. McDonalds #3 (which I hate going to, because when you exit the place you can't turn left. You have to turn right, drive 2 miles down the road and make a U turn) - sold out. Way to go McDonalds. I can't imagine how much revenue you're losing today!

I knew at home I had a recipe for home made Shamrock Shakes. I had all the ingredients except mint extract, so I was off to Wal-mart.

As I'm slowing driving over the speed bump that's in front of the gate in my community, I hear a noise. I look up as 2 cars are plowing into each other on the highway. One car's right side was totall smashed (the wheel was turned 90 degrees) and the car in front of me was totally crunched. It was also leaking a ton of fluid. I just kept imaging cars in movies exploding on impact.

Everybody was totally ok, but I just kept thinking to myself, "I owe you one God! If I was driving even 5mph faster I might have been right in the middle of that."

Hitler Reacts to the Fantasyland Expansion

"... first we loose the Adventure's Club, and now my beloved Toontown Fair."

I feel like a total jerk typing this ... but I kind-of agree with Hitler. Only on the Fantasyland stuff ... not the WWII stuff! Just to be totally clear. *doh*

FYI - watch out for a couple f-bombs.

Who ever makes these Hitler You Tube videos is a genius.

Top 5 Things I'm Afraid Of

1. Snakes. We have them in Florida. I found a snakeskin this evening on a jog around the block. One was sitting on my doormat earlier this year. And another one lives in my flower bed. Yuck

2. Cockroaches. My heart stops every time I see one. Stupid humid Florida weather - they are everywhere!

3. Driving in the pouring rain. Just makes me really, really nervous.

4. Max, my neighbor's dog. He likes to hang out in the garage, leash free. Then, when an unexpecting jogger runs buy, he charges out of the garage, gets in your face and barks really loud. He hasn't jumped on me yet, but he's run half way down the road to 'get' me. This is when I change up my jogging route for the day.

5. These stupid things! Who invented them? I mean, what the business?!? I juste want the delicious rolls inside, but I have to have a mini heart attack just to get to them.

Cinnamon vs. Chili

Really Walmart ... really?

Did you HAVE to label your generic cinnamon with the exact same color system as the chili powder?

I can't tell you how many times I've reached for the chili powder instead of the cinnamon.

Thankfully, I've never actually USED the chili instead of cinnamon ... but that seems to be a mistake that anybody could easily make.

Fail!

Project 365

If you're not facebook friends with me, I'm taking the "Project 365" (taking a photo a day) challenge. So far, I've only had one day where I was about to go to bed and though, "crap, I haven't taken a photo yet!"

One of the unexpected perks I've discovered is that I often take 4 or 5 photos a day, just to make sure that the photo I choose is a good one.

So I give you: February 10, 2010 ... the rejected photos.

I sleep in socks. I've discovered that most people find this to be very odd, but socks are the key to warmth. I always seem to wake up with one sock dangling off my toes. It's a physics miracle that the sock hasn't completely fallen off, yet it always stays on. I got these awesome socks for Christmas.

This is what I do with my days off. I sit at our kitchen table and screw around on the computer. My feet barely touch the ground in the chairs, I so always sit with my legs folded up like this. It's doesn't get much sexier than this! I'm rocking my Bears sweatshirt, my striped socks, PJs I bought at a thrift store and no shower.

It's been officially 1 month since the WDW marathon, and 30% of my

toenails are still pretty ugly. They don't hurt, and they don't look like they are going to fall off. I hope they get better before flip flop season. Since I live in Florida, flip flop season is all the time!

I gave Jonathan his Valentine's day gift early, since I had an entire day at home by myself. I made these cheesy Princess and the Frog inspired cupcakes. Those are supposed to be little frog eyes sticking out of water. All I know is that they are delicious!

If you're reading this on facebook, this is my blog uploading to facebook. If you have a blog, I'd love to add it to my google reader!

Bingo!

Last year I was introduced to Super Bowl Bingo. It's so much fun. I love watching football, but Bingo just makes the game extra fun, especially if you don't really care who wins and who loses. I highly recommend it!

Here's how it works:
1. Make blank Bingo sheets
2. Write down about 35 or 40 things that can happen during the game and during commercials.
3. Cut them out, pick them out of a hat, and fill out your game board.
4. As the stuff happens in the game, cross them off your sheet
5. I think the rest is self explanatory.

Here's a couple things I crossed off this year:
Pierre Thomas touchdown
Injury time out
2 point conversion (I didn't think that would happen!)
40+ yard field goal
Joseph Addai touchdown
Commercial with monkey

Here are some thing I didn't get to cross off:
Reggie Bush touchdown
Failed challenge
30+ yard run
Face mask penalty
Fat, shirtless fan in the stand sighting
Interception (there was an interception, but since it was run back for a touchdown, I crossed off "Defensive TD" instead of interception)

Urban Dictionary: Amber

So this is all over facebook, but I figured I'd throw it on my blog:

"Go to urban dictionary.com and search for your name!"

I assumed I would find something about Amber the fossil or Amber the gem.

Instead I found this beauty:

An extremely attractive girl whos flirty personality and curvacious figure will keep you coming back for more. She's typically a brunette but occasionally acts blonde. She enjoys long relationships and has many close guy friends. Often mistaken for a "slut" but really isn't. She can also be a super bitch if you get onto her bad side.

"dude, i want to hang out with that girl, shes such an Amber"

Wow - not even close. I guess I am a brunette, and I do have more guy friends than girl friends. And that attractive thing is spot on ... riiiiight!

Good times though!

Duck!

So you might have read this on my facebook page ... but here is the story again.

Long story short:

I hit a duck today!

Short story long:

So I'm driving home from work on the road that does by Downtown Disney, Boardwalk and Hollywood Studios. As I accelerate from the light to enter Studios I see something out of the corner of my eye.

Turns out to be a duck (a pretty good sized mallard), flying towards the Boardwalk Inn from Studios. Why it's flying only about 4' off the ground is beyond me. I mean, the stupid bird has the ENTIRE sky to fly in, and he flies at car level.

Instead of slamming on my breaks, I just let a loud swear word fly, close my eyes for a second and *bam*. I smashed the duck with my wind shield.

First words of out my mouth to my carpool buddy were, "what just happened?!?".

Seconds words out of my mouth were, "Where's my camera when I need it?!?"

I immediately looked in my rearview mirror, but I didn't see the duck on the ground. Maybe it escaped unharmed. I did have some random liquid on my windshield, but no feathers or anything.

Looking back, I guess I'm thankful that my windshield didn't crack or anything.

Crazy stuff!

You're right Kurt Warner ...

Jonathan loves Kurt Warner, so I watched & DVR'ed his press conference on Friday. (If you're not a football fan, Kurt Warner announced his retirement yesterday)

He mentioned that he'll obviously miss the couple hours he spent on the football field every week, but what he'll miss most of all is the 5 hours each Sunday he hung out in the locker room with the guys. Sure, he'll still stay in touch with many of his teammates, but it just won't be the same.

This made me really think about my current (and temporary) job. I'm working in a computer lab, sitting inches away from my co-workers. I could pull my chair away from my desk, swing around with my legs extended, and smack 4 people in the back. We all eat lunch together, work together, heck - we even carpool together (ok, I carpool with 1 other person I carpool with, but you get the idea).

Sure, after the job is over (which, for me, is probably sooner than later) I'll stay in touch with some of my co-workers, but it just won't be the same. When you spend 9 hours a day with people, all sort of fun and odd conversations happen. Plus, I really stink at keeping in touch. Facebook makes it easer ... but I just really, really bad at keeping in touch. It makes me sad.

So thank you Kurt Warner! You were the greatest show on turf, and you're one smart son of a gun.

Graph Jam

I found a great new blog to follow.

www.graphjam.com

It's great stuff!

Notes from the WDW marathon ...

I really wish I brought a notepad and paper with me during the marathon. I tried to remember stuff, but I'm sure I forgot it all. Mostly, I remember my hamstring ripping away from what ever hamstrings are attached with.

If you've never done a marathon before - I highly recommend it. While you're in the process, it seems like torture, but when you're all done it's a great feeling! As my friend Hiromi said, "Very spiritual ... yet at the same time and awful experience." Yesterday I swore I would never do it again, but today I'm all pumped to have at it again!

Pre-race: People are wearing shorts and the temperature is in the 20s!!! I'm prepared wearing 6 shirts, a scarf, hat, gloves, sweatpants and shorts. Also, pre-race is the last time I saw any toilet paper (remember that for later ...)

Mile 1: There goes sweatshirt #1

Mile 2: Adios sweatshirt #2 and my scarf. "This isn't so bad!"

"Is that guy wearing a really fancy, Norwegian style sweater?"

Mile 3: "My hands are kind-of hot, I guess I don't need my gloves any more"

The water stop water was partially frozen!

Mile 4: "I want my scarf back!!!"

My 3rd shirt is thrown to the side of the road.

Mile 5: My face is partially frozen.

I'm desperately looking for gloves that somebody threw on the side of the road.

Some guy wearing JEANS passes me. Jeans?!?

Mile 6: The sun finally rises!

"Why does my back hurt of all things?"

Mile 7: A high school band is playing the theme song from Rocky. It rocks and totally pumps me up!

Mile 8: "Is somebody stabbing me in my quads? I really think somebody is ... I'm never doing this again!"

Mile 9: I finally found a glove on the side of the road. It was a super nice warm winter glove. I could only find one, but it was awesome!!

Mile 10: I made it inside the Magic Kingdom. Sweet!

Mile 11: Tiana, Naveen and Louis (Princess and the Frog) are out posing for photos. It's impossible to meet Louis inside the park. I wish I had brought my camera.

Two of the Country Bears run along with us from Diamond Horseshoe down to the Jamboree.

Mile 12: It's 9am - I should be at work, but instead I walked 12 miles.

I make the hard decision to throw my hat away.

Mile 13: I think my hamstrings are going to detach.

I stop my 'walk 5 minutes, run 1 minute' routine and start a similar 'walk 5 minutes, run 30 seconds'

Mile 14: I eat 1/3 of a banana. I don't even like bananas, but they are giving them out.

"What's that loud stomping noise?!? Oh, it's my feet slamming against the ground."

Mile 15: The piano guy that plays near Casey's Corner is randomly on the side of the road.

Mile 16: I've had to pee for about an hour, but the lines for the port-a-potties are so long. I finally give in and wait 4 minutes. No toilet paper anywhere!

16.5: I wipe my nose. I realize I just went to the bathroom, didn't use toilet paper, and didn't wash my hands (nothing to wash with). Gross.

My walk/run routine is getting really hard.

Mile 17: "There are tons of hills inside Animal Kingdom - this is awesome!"

They are giving out cold sponges. Why in the world do I want a cold sponge in 30 degree weather?!?

Should I shed my 4th shirt? I don't, and it was a great decision.

"Only single digit miles left!!!"

Mile 18: "Crap, I thought this was mile 19, but it's only mile 18."

Mile 19: They are giving out more bananas. I eat the entire thing this time.

We walk up a massive hill outside Animal Kingdom. I walk backwards for about 1 minute to shake things up.

Mile 20: "I could come in last place ... as long as I finish, I'm cool with that."

It's amusing to say to yourself, "awesome, only 6 more miles to go!" When is it normal to say ONLY 6 more miles?

I can't believe I kept up the walk/run routine. It's a miracle. I decide to power walk the rest of the way.

Mile 21: I see a chubby guy dressed as Mr. Incredible.

"If and when my hamstrings detach from what ever they are attached to, I could still limp 5 miles and finish."

Mile 22: I decide to go to the bathroom again. Again, no TP.

Mile 23: I get a 2nd wind from out of nowhere. It doesn't last too long.

They give out a box of raisins. It could've been a box of broccoli and I would've devoured it.

"I've got this thing in the bag - no problem!"

Mile 24: Walking along that water's edge between Studios and the Boardwalk was super cold!

Mile 25: I get my 3rd wind. I pick up the pace and breeze thru Epcot.

A crazy Japanese lady dressed up as Donald Duck is right next to me. I bust my butt to pass her, so my 'crossing the finish line' photo isn't with her in it.

Mile 26: I've passed Donald Duck lady.

"Where the heck is the finish line?!?"

.2 miles & a sprint later: "Woo-hoo!"

If you're still reading this, congratulations. This might be my longest blog ever.

Wish me luck!

So if you're reading this at 4:30am on Sunday, then you're inside and I'm outside waiting for the Disney marathon to start.

I signed up about a month and a half ago on a whim. I've done it before (and it was super hard!!!), but I kept thinking, "can I do it again?" It's not every day that you are able to push yourself to the extreme and accomplish a goal. It's a pretty cool feeling to say, "heck yeah - I did this!" Well, hopefully I can say that again tomorrow.

I'm scared to death and really nervous, because you have to keep up a certain pace, otherwise they remove you from the course. I'm not out to set any land speed records, I just want to finish on time ... and get that awesome Mickey Mouse metal!

So, wish me luck! Hopefully this afternoon I'll be back with some photos. I plan on 'running' with my digital camera. (I use the word 'running' very loosely. There will be much, much, MUCH more walking than running.) Although my stupid camera batteries die so quickly. I'll probably get 3 or 4 photos taken before they die. Then I'll have to lug my stupid camera with me for another 15 miles. Stupid batteries!

Universal Studios

Bart: Cool! Personalized plates. Barclay... Barry... Bert... Bort!? Aw, c'mon! Bort?
Little Boy: Mommy, Mommy! Buy me a license plate!
Mother: No! Come along, Bort.
Man: Are you talking to me?
Mom: No, my son is also named Bort.

PA Announcer: We need more Bort license plates in the Gift Shop. Repeat, we are sold out of Bort license plates.

(a couple of my favorite quotes from the Itchy and Stratchyland Simpsons episode)

I wonder if the Bort nametags were actually sold out (I would've totally bought one!!!), or if they are ALWAYS sold out to go along with that famous scene from the episode? Hmmmm ...

A couple weeks ago Jonathan and I went to Universal Studios (free tickets from my friend Monica - yay Monica!)

I took 2 dramamines and made Jonathan go on the Simpsons Ride with me. That will probably be the last time I go on that ride. Normally my stomach can't handle simulators, and this one is super duper bumpy.

As you can tell from the photo ... it was a very crowded day at Universal ...

Here is a crappy quality YouTube video of Bort ... classic:

Love/Hate

How cool is this t-shirt?!?

It says "hate", but when you look in a mirror it says "love".

No clue where to buy one, but I was just amazed when I saw it.

I guess I won't actually buy one. I don't really want to walk around with the word "hate" written across my chest.

I mean, how often are really you in front of a mirror besides the bathroom?

Stranger Danger?

So I've been carpooling to work with Chris, a neighbor, for about 3 months now. We have a pretty sweet setup ... every day we rotate drivers.

So a couple weeks ago we had to work on Saturday, and it was his turn to drive. When he picks me up, I wait by the front door (with the door open, I don't have any big windows to look out from). When he stops in the road in front of my house, I run out and hop in his car.

Well, on Saturday a strange car stopped outside of my house.

Assuming it was his girlfriend's car (I've seen her gray car in the driveway), I ran out the front door towards the car.

As I opened the car door, I see a leg with shorts on. Normally I see a leg wearing work pants.

Still, I assumed it was Chris' leg so I hopped in the car.

Now, it DID end up being Chris in the car (wearing casual shorts since it was a Saturday), but it got me thinking . . . any total stranger could stop in front of my house at 8:25am in the morning, and I would probably hop in their car!

Connect the DOTS ...

How to sneak food into a hockey game.

1. Wear un-tight jeans

2. Wear a giant hockey jersey

3. Enjoy candy that doesn't cost $5!

Happy Resolution Day!

Besides dusting off those old usual resolutions (lose weight, eat more veggies, get more sleep ...), I'm going to do a fun resolution this year.

This was all the rage last year, but in typical "Amber fashion", I'm always behind on the trends.

I'm going to take at least 1 picture every day.

I think that will be a fun 365 end-of-the-year yearbook for me.

I stole the idea from a facebook friend Allyson. She did it last year, and I always loved looking at her photos. Granted, she is a professional photographer, so they were alway quality photos.

My photos will just be ... whatever. Whatever the heck I'm doing. And what I'm normally doing is A) working or B) watching TV. So, if you work with me, watch out! I'm bringing my camera to work next week!

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

I'm a little behind on my blogging. Everybody always says "December is such a busy month!" Well, for me, it's honestly not, so I don't really have a good excuse.

But way back on 12/4/09, Jonathan and I went to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party at the Magic Kingdom. It was raining and freezing. Needless to say, I was NOT excited about going.

Right off monorail was a "lake" we had to walk thru. I figured "what the hell!" and barreled right thru the humongous puddle assuming my feet would get soaked inside the park.

Naturally, they didn't.

Even though it rained all night long, it was a really weird rain. You really couldn't feel it.

The bonus about Mickey's VMCP is the free food. They have free sugar cookies, hot chocolate, apples and apple juice. My goal was to eat as many cookies as possible. I was forced to stop after 3. They are pretty big cookies, and my stomach was not really happy with my decision making.

To kill time before a stage show (that ended up being cancelled b/c of the rain) we road the TTA. For those of you unfamiliar with the TTA, it's a lazy shuttle ride that goes all around Tomorrowland, including inside Space Mountain.

Space Mountain has been under construction lately, but it had opened a couple days prior.

I guess it wasn't 100% ready, b/c the ride was shut down the the lights were on. It was really hard to take pictures because:

A) I'm on a moving vehicle

B) there is a huge pane of glass between you and the ride, so you can't use flash

This is the best I could do.