Sweet Nights in San Antonio

Sweet Nights in San Antonio.  Engaged in the Riverwalk with thy vino.

Hugs &Quiches, Angela O' 

Street Fighter V Champ

Yeah!!  First public play and already winning!! Kicked butt at PAX South 2015. xoxo, Angela O'

My date with X and Sue Grafton

Sue Grafton's latest novel X would make a great Christmas gift!

To order the Hardcover Book

Not Gun Shy at Christmas

When it comes to wrapping gifts for Christmas, I am certainly not gun shy.  Each year I wrap hundreds of gifts (personal and professional) and it requires some creativity.  I certainly want each gift to look their best and be individualized.  However, when using the full glitter wrapping paper no matter how beautiful it may be it is complete pain in the next to work with.  Because of the layers of glitter and adhesive used in the manufacturing process of that wrapping paper roll it does not want to stay folded and even worse no tape will hold it in place.  That is when I pull out the big guns!  A hot glue gun, glue sticks, extension cord and poster board save the season.  I may come out with a few burns but I gotta do what is necessary!

Well, another trick to add to the list.  Check.

Check out those perfect glitter folds!

Merry Christmas from Austin

Hello Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookie!

So my Autumn addiction this year has been gluten free peanut butter cookies.  You can blame sweet Emily, owner of The Steeping Room in Austin, Texas for that.  Well thankfully, I found a grocery store brand that I've been able grab in a pinch since I've had zero quality baking time this month.  Immaculate Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, found in the cold case.  My personal opinion is that these are this most suitable pre made cookie dough is ever tasted.  I'm a scratch girl.  I'd like a little more PB in them just so they are more Gramma-like, but I still love them till the last drop!!  At about $3.28 per batch they are inexpensive to use for little shindigs! 

~ Angela O'

Chipotle Guacamole

All of my friends that love Chipotle love their guacamole.  I don't know a single person who doesn't.  Anytime my friends come over to my house they also love my homemade guacamole!  The first trick:  Never add raw tomatoes to a good guacamole....it ruins it every time.  The second trick: My guacamole recipe is the exact Chipotle guacamole recipe, handed directly down from the restaurant.

All, Chipotle has made their recipe available to the world right on their own website.  Most don't know about it.  So here I share!  

Recipe Credit:  Chipotle Mexican Grill at  

https://chipotle.com/guac-recipe

THIS IS ALL YOU’LL NEED:

2 ripe Hass avocados (In the restaurant, we use 48 per batch, multiple times per day)

2 tsp lime juice

2 tbsp cilantro (chopped)

1/4 cup red onion (finely chopped)

1/2 jalapeño, including seeds (finely chopped)

1/4 tsp kosher salt

HOW TO DO IT:

1. Choose the right avocado. It should feel squishy yet firm (like the palm of your hand), and be a nice dark green color on the inside.

2. Cut the avocado in half and the remove the pit (carefully!)

3. Scoop the avocados and place in a medium bowl.

4. Toss and coat with lime juice.

5. Add the salt and using a fork or potato masher, mash until a smooth consistency is achieved.

6. Fold in the remaining ingredients and mix well.

7. Taste the guacamole (over and over) and adjust seasoning if necessary.

**Disclaimer: So that you know I made zero mistakes in blogging and editing of the recipe, I have copy and pasted it directly from the Chipotle Mexican Grill website.  So if it doesn't taste right to you go back and reread their recipe and maybe add a little more of one of their ingredients.**

With Angela O'

The Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs

The majority of Americans rely on convenient processed food off the shelf and/or constantly eat at food chains where everything is mass produced.  Those food habits alone act as a drug and do not allow the brain or stomach to comprehend how bad the processed and mass produced food products really are until the individual finds they have an ailment.

The society norm today for sickness is to instantly run to a medical facility and take a drug that has been chemically compounded.  In some cases, using a drug or going for more advanced medical help is the answer (such as a broken limb, etc, etc) but in most cases it is not the correct solution.  Humans today have really lost touch with themselves and their connection to mother nature.  It is a serious problem when you turn on the radio, tv, or flip a magazine page to hear the continuous commercials for depressional drugs. So many humans today suffer from depression and many cannot get down to the deep root of the problem or they don't have the support try natural remedies before permanently getting onto a chemical substance.

I personally had always been intimidated by going to natural drugs because it was all just so overwhelming.  Some of the herbal names alone scared me away as I thought that they were something only to be used in a witch's cauldron.  Hah! But the truth is I bet most of you have had similar thoughts.  Long story short, I pretty much just stayed away unless I had a specific ailment which required immediate treatment.  Not the way to do it.  Really, you need to get an idea what is going on in your body and take your daily doses of preventative measures to nip it in the butt.  Not wait until you are in dire need of care.  It's the whole "Yogurt Effect" that I have coined.  You know all the ridiculous commercials about probiotic yogurts such as Activia???  Well, that is a great marketing scheme.  If you were to just eat a qualified yogurt every day then you would already be giving yourself a healthy daily dose of probiotics.  The activia types of yogurt are marketed for the cluster of individuals who wait until there is a problem to start taking care of their body.  Now this is not to be negative to the Activia yogurt as there are some great benefits to it versus competing yogurts,  it is simply just to give you a broad idea of the let's-wait-to-help-ourselves-until-we-are-sick-syndrome.

The time came where I needed to make my annual trip to the library to renew my library card.  I'd been happily spoiled by audiobooks delivered to my iPhone so never needed to look at physical books on the shelves but decided to make the most of my trip by browsing through numerous aisles.  One book that caught my eye was

The Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs

because of the great bold and simple title!  No fuss, it stood out.  So I grabbed it along with five other books and took it home for three weeks.  Once I began to flip through it I couldn't stop.  I realized this book was exactly the introduction into the natural world I'd been seeking.  The book, highly informative is broken into two sections, the first by ailment and the second by the nutritional supplement.  I could chose to look up Magnesium and see the benefits, what it should or should not be taken with, how it should be taken, etc.  Or I could look up eczema and see the suggestions for caring for and reducing a flare up.  Oh it was great.  I just knew I had to buy this book for myself.  Since that day I still refer back to the book regularly and loan it out to my friends.  I'll admit that some evenings I lose myself in the book because it is so interesting.  Use the link below to order this book from Amazon and proceeds will go to this blog.

Skeptic that natural remedies work?  From my own research I learned and diagnosed myself with a magnesium deficiency.  I added a magnesium softgel in my daily routine (and attempted to increase my magnesium-rich foods) and have found that many of the symptoms that I had suffered during that low period have been resolved.

Treat Yourself and Check Your Health, 

With Angela O'

The Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs

The True Voice of Kinsey Millhone

I have read most of the Kinsey Millhone series written by Sue Grafton.  Sue is such a great writer that if you don't have the chance to read the series in chronological order you are able to jump into any of the books and know exactly what is going on.  That is exactly what I had been doing over the past 5 years.  I had skipped around to whatever book I could find at the library, primarily because I am audiobook driven and it is not easy to locate all the audiobooks in one library.  At my current library I am an Overdrive user which allows me to download all the audiobooks to my smart phone but when I first began the series I lived in a tiny town that had a even tinier library that did not connect with smart phones.

So by reading the series over the course of five years I have read quite a few of Sue's books (I'm sure many of you are mentally noting that it only took you a few months but I don't usually read the same author back to back).  This month (in between me actually communicating with Sue herself!) I had realized that I had never read books A or B and decided to download both of them.  While Sue's writing is amazing as always, I find that I was utterly disappointed because my only download option via library for "

A" is for Alibi

and "

B" is for Burglar

was the narration by Mary Peiffer and not Judy Kaye.  I had no idea that there were two readers for the series and really feel that it is such a shame.  Judy Kaye represents the absolute perfect voice for Kinsey's character.  No one can quote a "QP with cheese" as well as Judy Kaye.  Judy gives Kinsey so much personality that at the end of the book when Judy introduces herself my mind gets a little warped into believing Kinsey is a real person.  

Mary Peiffer's depiction of the Kinsey Millhone series leaves the reader with a bland taste in their mouth.  To make it worse, many times in the book I was confused as to which character was speaking and could not distinguish between Kinsey and her counterpart.  Many of the characters are just all wrong when Mary reads the series.  Henry for one is in his eighties and when Mary portrays his words he sounds like a young gun living up his thirties.  I do believe that Mary is a talented reader but she does not belong on the Kinsey Millhone series.  Kinsey's true voice is Judy Kaye through and through.

If you have not yet had a chance to read the series, take advantage of listening to online samples.  The books have been narrated by both authors.  See photo examples below.  Some people really detest Judy Kaye's readings and I honestly believe that those people are not seeing or feeling Kinsey's true character.  

Angela O'

P.S.  Austin Loves Sue!

To Purchase the Judy Kaye narrated Audiobook for "

A" is for Alibi

click on this link:

A is for Alibi: A Kinsey Millhone Mystery

Internet Photo of Judy Kaye narration

Internet Photo of Mary Peiffer narration

UPDATE 10/22/2015:  Wanted to share this facebook post that I ran across on Sue Grafton's page.

Better than a Pedi

This spring my feet are going to be better than ready for those pretty little Michael Kors flip flops.  I personally do not like getting pedicures because they are uncomfortable.  I love having cuticle work done to hide any yuckiness but I cannot have my nails shaped by a technician because I'll be in pain for two weeks following the pedicure.  In addition, I have eczema so submerging my feet into a tub of hot water for more than a minute is quite tortuous.  Those of you who are plagued by eczema hear my sorrows.  

So when a friend told me about a product that her spa was featuring I was quite skeptical.  I was even more hesitant because I was sitting in that dang tub of hot water while she was pedicuring my feet for that annual-must-have-my-feet-done-once job.  Obviously, I was smiling through gritted teeth as she explained the product.  With my skin being super sensitive and having eczema as the sour cherry on top, I have learned through many years of trial and error that products with fragrances, chemicals, and even "great for you botanicals" and the most natural forms of "good" are usually a bad, very BAD idea.  Trust me, I'll break even out with non-comedogenic products and sensitive shave products tend to ignite my skin.

Listen, I figured I'd give it a try.  She was sweet enough to make my one pedicure at this lush, highly sought after and frequented by celebrities Austin spa a birthday gift to me.  So why couldn't I humor her and give it a whirl.  Well, I am glad I did because now I never have to have another pedicure!  

Introducing....

Baby Foot

Photo Credit: Amazon.com

Baby Foot is an exfoliant foot peel.  Never heard of it? Think of facial peel for your feet.  The first best benefit about Baby Foot is that you can apply the foot peel at home in one hour.  A box of Baby Foot includes one application of two gel holding booties.  Go home one night and apply the booties to your feet, put socks on over the booties to hold them nice and taught and then turn on the television and watch an episode of Mad Men or Sex and the City.  The second best benefit

 is that it works in through layers of dead skin to where a pedicure technician could never explore.  Seriously.

So how does it work exactly?  Baby Foot is made to naturally exfoliate the dead skin cells off of your feet.  When you remove the booties you will need to thoroughly wash off the gel and then let your feet dry.  Over the following 5 to 7 days you will fill a drying effect on the foot skin which is completely non-bothersome unless you have a foot patch of eczema which you can easily remedy by applying moisturizer to the patch.  Around the fifth to seventh day, you will notice your skin starting to peel around your feet and ankles.  This process may take up to two weeks.  My suggestion from personal experience is that you should continue with your daily showers and use a wash cloth to lightly rub and help remove the already loosened dead skin during that daily shower.  Don't use excessive force or pick unnecessarily at the skin but the wet wash cloth will help to remove the loose dead layers.    

Word of Advice:  During these two weeks you do not want to be wearing sandals, open-toe or open-back shoes of any kind.  Why would you want anyone to see that nasty mess you have been harboring for so long?  

The photos that I would never dare to share.  Only for your benefit of understanding the product are you allowed to view these scary candid shots.  Ahhh!!  I had no idea there was so much dead skin.  The loose skin was not visible prior to baby foot but all the nasty cracks were!!  You can see the baby soft new skin with zero cracks underneath.  Today my feet are gorgeous and yours can be too!  

For purchase, please click on my referral link below so that a portion of these proceeds supports my blog.  

Angela O'

Baby Foot Deep Exfoliation For Feet peel, lavender scented,2.4 fl.oz.

Horribly Up Close and Personal :

dead skin layers removing from feet and leave baby soft skin

dead skin layers removing from feet and leave baby soft skin

Baby Foot Deep Exfoliation For Feet peel, lavender scented,2.4 fl.oz.

How to Delete Individual and Multiple Photos & Videos in Flickr

This is strictly an informational post for all of those consumers who have to dealt with Flickr.  Those of you who do use Flickr know that it is a horrible photo storage option.  Despite all of the postives that various blogs and news articles will post regarding the pros and cons of each photo storage community they seem to fail at knowing actual negative user details for Flickr.  These are negatives that paid accounts experience.   Example:  Flickr does not want you to download your own (owned by you) photos all at once.  Therefore, they make you download them one by one.  That sucks for someone who has 20,000 photos out there.  Luckily, someone created an app for that.  Another issue is that Flickr wants to make it very impossible for you to delete all your photos in your account in one motion.  Most likely because they want to have access to your photos if your account is ever terminated due to lack of payment or whatever the case may be.  I understand that companies will make fail safe ways in order for an individual not to accidentally delete their photos but we are talking about intentionally deleting all photos.  Summed up, there is a reason as to why there are so many forums online regarding consumers trying to help one another through their Flickr problems.

Today I am sharing with you how to delete ALL of your photos on Flickr if you ever feel the need.  It took me a couple days to find this forum that had an old response from a Flickr representative.  I apologize as I have no idea which site I actually found this one but I had it pasted in one of my emails. Now I present it to you.

Delete photos or videos in Flickr

It's easy to delete photos and videos from your Flickr account.

Are you sure? Back up your media because deleted content can't be restored.

Delete individual photos or videos

1. Click on any photo or video.
2. Click the Edit icon  | select Delete.
3. Click Delete to confirm.

Delete multiple photos or videos at once

1. Mouse over You, then select Organize.
2. Drag and drop content to the batch area.
3. Click Edit photos | Delete.
4. Click Delete.
5. Click YES, GO AHEAD, then click it again to confirm.
6. Click Thanks!

**Current as of 12.27.2014**

Thank goodness I am free of Flickr for good!

~ Angela O'

Bare Hands and a Cow Heart

In 1994 I was just 10 years old, a 5th-grade student at Beckemeyer Elementary in Hillsboro, Illinois.  That was twenty-one years ago and so much has changed for our generation in those twenty-one years.  Today, when working with animals, body-fluids, or any other questionable substance the most mild and lenient form of protection is to wear gloves.  Meanwhile the average person won't even get that close to said subject as it is a topic of disgust.  Of course, when I say animals I am not referring to the daily energetic and lovable dog.  

In 5th grade our classroom got to dissect a cow's heart.  Rather I should say that our teacher Mrs. Paden dissected the cow's heart while we watched.  The one thing that we all participated in, was to eagerly stand in line so that we could put our bare hands on it and in it.  I distinctly remember sticking my bare finger inside the aorta.  Mmmm.

In 2015, some parent would flip out!  Haha!

~With Angela O'

SXSW Day 1

Baby Shower Game: Nursery Rhymes

My Aunt Shirley made up this game!  It is definitely a good one to keep you on your toes.  If you haven't been around babies in awhile it will definitely make you think.  When I played at my cousins shower, I only got 3 right! Yikes.

~With Angela O'


Nursery Rhymes
"Who" or "What" is it?

1.  Stuck a feather in his hat

2. Eating her curds and whey

3.  The clock struck one, and down he run

4.  (Her garden) grow(s) with silver bells, and cockleshells, and pretty maids all in a row

5.  I frightened a little mouse under her chair

6.  Went to the cupboard to get her poor dog a bone

7.  Kissed the girls and made them cry

8.He's under the haystack fast asleep

9.  Sings for his supper

10.  Lost her sheep and can't tell where to find them

11. Could eat no fat

12.  He went to bed with his stockings on; one shoe off and one shoe on


****************************************************

Nursery Rhymes
"Who" or "What" is it?
*With Answers*

1.  Stuck a feather in his hat
a.  Yankee Doodle Dandee

2. Eating her curds and whey
a. Little Miss Muffet

3.  The clock struck one, and down he run
a. The Mouse

4.  (Her garden) grow(s) with silver bells, and cockleshells, and pretty maids all in a row
a. Miss Mary Quite Contrary

5.  I frightened a little mouse under her chair
a. Pussy Cat Pussy Cat

6.  Went to the cupboard to get her poor dog a bone
a. Old Mother Hubbard

7.  Kissed the girls and made them cry
a. Georgie Porgie

8.He's under the haystack fast asleep
a. Little Boy Blue

9.  Sings for his supper
a. Little Tommy Tucker

10.  Lost her sheep and can't tell where to find them
a. Little Bo Peep

11. Could eat no fat
a. Jack Sprat

12.  He went to bed with his stockings on; one shoe off and one shoe on
a. Deedle Deedle Dumpling

Baby Shower Game: All in the Family Celebrity Trivia

For showers and parties I tend to gravitate towards making them unique.  Baby showers I especially am not fond of the over-used games found online.  Recently, my cousin had a baby shower which was themed "The Modern" and the colors were Black and Grey with a very small splash of pink.  I created this trivia game and would like to share it with you for your your parties.

~ With Angela O'

All in the Family Celebrity Trivia

1) North West is the girl baby of which celebrity couple?  

a. Kim Kardashian & Kanye West

2) Who is Kate Hudson’s mother?

a. Goldie Hawn

3) Who is Liza Minneli’s mom?

a. Judy Garland

4) The two girls Harlow & Sparrow are adopted granddaughters of whom?

a. Lionel Richie

5) Paris, Prince, and Blanket are whose children?

a. Michael Jackson

6) Who named their children as an extension of their own names? The children are Willow and 

a. Will & Jada Smith

7) Rumer Willis is the daughter of which two people?

a. Bruce Willis & Demi Moore

8) Jack Quaid, kid who played Marvel a district one tribute in the movie of The Hunger Games is the son of which two people?

a. Dennis Quaid & Meg Ryan

9) The actor, Ethan Peck who played in the hit television sitcom Ten Things I Hate About You is the grandson of which star who played Atticus Finch in the movie classic To Kill a Mockingbird?

a. Gregory Peck

10) Zoe Kravitz who played in the movie X-MEN First Class is the daughter of which famous rock star and The Cosby Show actress?

a. Lenny Kravitz & Lisa Bonet

11) Michael Jackson’s ex-wife Lisa is the daughter of whom?

a. Elvis Presley

12) The fashion designer Stella McCartney is daughter to whom?

a. Paul McCartney

13) Who is the father of Carnie & Wendy Wilson of the 1980’s group Wilson-Phillips?

a. Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys

14) These male country music stars kept the family line going with Senior, Junior, and the III.  Who are they?

a. Hank Williams Sr., Hank Williams Jr., Hank Williams III

15) Musicians Stephen, Ziggy, and Damien are the sons of which famous Reggae musician?

a. Bob Marley

Angela Angela Angela

When I was a kid it was very rare to find someone to share my name.  There was a girl in the grade ahead of me but no one else in a near grade to my knowledge.  As a kid, if you shared a name it was one of the "cool" things.  There were a ton of Amanda's, a bazillion Jenny's (all spelled differently of course) and a few Megan's (again spelled differently) and mostly all the male names were a repeat. Haha, girls always have to be unique right.  So as a kid I was sad there were so few to share with that commonality.  Holy Crap move to Austin! It seems that all Angela's have and I think it is rather cool.  The office manager at my dentist's office is an Angela, the nurse at my doctor's office is an Angela, my friend and vintage jewelry dealer is an Angela, and the lady who serves me my burger at P.Terry's down the road is an Angela.  Oh and well, I met a sweet lady at a friend's Thanksgiving dinner this past year named Angela.  I am so loving it.  There is certainly a special bond amongst us.

Unfortunately, the pretty red-headed girl I knew as a kid named Angela past away a few years ago from cancer.   This was very sad to hear as this Angela was a very sweet person.  As an adolescent she was active in our community and despite whatever social status you might be she was nice to everyone. I was so glad she could be in our not-so-secret but member's-only Angela club.

~ Angela O'

Platform Beds... Still Confused

Really, I just do not understand all of the rage for platform beds these days.  Why?  Who would really want one.  They are less expensive (most of the time) because you are not required to have a box spring, but is there a reason you want to be low to the ground?  Perhaps, it would be good for an adolescent, but when you become of age and are ready to play house...still?  Yes, you can opt to have the dresser drawer option underneath of the mattress which solves the height issue.  That style would make sense to me, a nice way to stow and go.  But aside from the stylish and space-saving option under the platform, I still just do not get platform beds for adults.  Ew.

I'd be happy to entertain opinions as to why platform beds are a benefit.  Maybe you can change my mind and I'll go buy one.  I am in the market for a new bedroom set.  Any rebels?

~Angela O'

The Red Party

Throw a Red Party to entertain your friends this Valentine's Day.   A red party is the destiny for adults as were a Valentine's Day Party is for youngsters.  Make it sultry and daring, sassy and sweet, black and red.  These are images for the Red Party that I planned for an event client a few years ago.  I hope you enjoy.  Happy Valentine's Day!

The Invitation:

Your presence is requested at Le Rouge de Maison,
scarlet and crimson are the look of the night,
you'll be be dazzled by garnet, rubies and wine of your delight.

We'll see you at the boldest soiree of the season,
where ladies in red lips and gents are sure to charm,
the beauty of the night will have you arm in arm

Repondez, s'il vous plait, for the 
(Your Name Here) Red Party by February 3rd.



The Menu:

Chocolate Sauce Drizzled Beef Kabobs
Peanut Butter Sauce Drizzled Chicken Kabobs
Raspberry Chipotle Sauce Drizzled Shrimp Kabobs
Grilled Vegetable Skewers
Garlic Roasted Potato Skewers
Bacon-Wrapped Queso Jalapenos
Feta, Spinach, Red Pepper Stuffed Mushrooms
Cilantro Lime Salad
Sweet Whipped Deviled Egg
Apricot Cayenne Cheeseball
Roasted Red Pepper Cheeseball
*All skillfully designed by myself and the head chef, 
always find a caterer who will customize a menu the way you want it *


The Dessert Table:

Red Velvet Cake Balls
Chocolate Mousse Parfaits
Red Wrapped Lammes Valentine's Chocolate Mints
Red Jordan Almonds
Red & Black Sixlets
Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Unique Features:

Handmade and Artfully Scavenged Decorations
Chefs in Red Coats
Crushed Velvet Table Linens

Red & Black Gumballs, Red Candle Holders, and Red & Black Nerf Footballs in the Game Lounge

Ribbon added to the everyday decor (Giant Human Sized Chess Pieces)

The beginning stages of the dessert table.  It's an easy build.

The beginning stages of the dessert table.  It's an easy build.

The beginning stages of the dessert table.  It's an easy build.

The beginning stages of the dessert table.  It's an easy build.

Sweet Whipped Deviled Egg (Strawberries and Raspberries)

Red Velvet Cake Balls

With Angela O'

New York City Party

Earlier this year I organized a New York City themed party for a high school Post Prom (after prom) event.  I ordered cardboard stand-ups online and made a few other decorations.  The food bar included popcorn with a 1920's styled machine, bagel bites (NYC Pizza), hotdogs (Coney Island), Pretzels, Apples and Jelly Beans.  Ice cream bars were part of the plan but we decided to avoid the mess and served a tray of cookies instead.  I handmade man holes by using aluminum foil, cardboard, glue, paint, foam alphabet stickers and $1.00 round pizza pans from the Dollar Tree.  One activity that was planned was New York City trivia.  After a long search I determined that I could not find a satisfactory trivia game for NYC so I decided to make one and today I am sharing it with you. 

~ With Angela O'

_______________________________________________________________

NYC Tourist Photo Center

NYC Decorations

NYC Decorations

NYC Food Carts

Pizza, Popcorn, Pretzels, Bagels, Giant Pickles, and Other Cart Goodies

Old Fashioned Popcorn Machine

NYC Mocktails for Underage Guests

A Bit of Breakfast for Morning Survivors

_______________________________________________________________

Manholes:

Completed Manhole. (See larger photo at end of this blog post)

$1.00 Pizza Pan from Dollar Tree

Cut cardboard pieces glued on to pan.  Foam Alphabet Stickers.

_______________________________________________________________

Cash Cab Trivia:

1.  What supernatural action movie from the 1980’s starring Bill Murray filmed a scene inside the New York Public Library?

A: Ghostbusters

2.  Name three famous talk shows based in NYC?

A: The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon, Late Night, The Today Show, 

Rachel Ray, The Colbert Report, Good Morning America

Late Show, The People’s Court

3.  What actress is famous for her little black dress, black gloves, sunglasses, and her up-do when she walks up to Tiffany & Co. with a pastry in her hand?

A: Audrey Hepburn

 4.  Name the four female characters of Sex and the City?

A: Carrie Bradshaw

Charlotte York

Miranda Hobbes

Samantha Jones

5.  Name three epic film couples of New York City.

A: Carrie Bradshaw & Big – S&TC

Chuck Bass & Blair Waldorf – Gossip Girl

Ross Gellar & Rachel Green – Friends

Maria & Alan – Sesame Street

Peter Park & Mary Jane Watson – Spider Man

Jay Gatsby & Daisy Buchannan – The Great Gatsby

6.  What show holds the record for the longest-run in the history of Broadway?

A: Cats

7,  List two old-timer shows that were set in New York.

A: I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Welcome Back, Kotter

Different Strokes, Bewitched, Family Affair

All in the Family, The Cosby Show

8.  What was/is the tallest building in Manhattan?

A: One World Trade Center

9.  What are the names of the pizza-loving, crime-fighting, skateboarding turtles that reside in the sewers of NYC?

A: Leonardo, Michaelangelo

Donatello, Raphael

 10.  What show is famous for their deliveryman who drives a brown truck dropping off packages before coming home to his wife in Queens?

A: The King of Queens

11.  What show about nothing was filmed and takes place in NYC?

A: Seinfeld

12.  Which animated tv show that takes place in the year 3000 (aka the 31^st century) takes place in New York? 

A: Futurama

13.  Who plays Doug Heffernan in The King of Queens?  He also played in Grown Ups and Mall Cop.

A: Kevin James

 14.  In what community does Peter Parker live with his Aunt May?

A: Forest Hills, Queens NY

15.  What currently aired television series takes place in NYC during the 1950’s through the 1970’s?

A: Mad Men

 16.  What is NYC’s nick name?

A: The Big Apple

17.  What movie took place in New York during the Revolutionary War era? Hint: It starred Johnny Depp

A: Sleepy Hollow 

 18.  List how many and name the professional football teams in the state of New York.

A: NY Giants

NY Jets

Buffalo Bills

19.  Who is the biggest rival team of the New York Yankees?

A: Boston Red Sox

 20.  Name the two baseball teams in NY.

A: NY Mets, NY Yankees

21.  What is the name that is collectively used for the 5 communities that make up New York City?

A: The Boroughs

 22.  What are the five boroughs of NYC?

A: Manhattan, The Bronx

Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island

23.  What NYC baseball team did Jackie Robinson play for in the late 1940’s to mid 1950’s?

A: The Brooklyn Dodgers

24.  How I Met Your __________ takes place in NYC with the architect named Ted and the Canadian news anchor named Robin?

A: How I Met Your "Mother"

25.  What foods are NYC most known for?

A: Bagels & Pizza

26.  The famous movie featuring Macy’s and the Macy’s Parade during the Christmas season, took place on what street?

Hint: Miracle on ______ Street

A: 34th

27.  What movie starred Audrey Hepburn at a now extremely famous jeweler in 1961?

A: Breakfast at Tiffany’s

 28.  What large animal is legend to live in the sewers of Manhattan?

Hint: Because people would flush these down the toilet as baby pets

A: Crocodiles

29.  Who directed The Godfather?

A: Francis Ford Coppola

 30. Who played the Don in The Godfather?

A: Marlen Brando

31.  Who played Michael Corleone in The Godfather?

A: Al Pacino

32.  Home Alone 2 is _______ in New York.

A: Lost

33.  This Real Estate Tycoon is famous for his tagline “You’re Fired” on The Apprentice.

A: Donald Trump

 34.  What NBA team does Jay-Z partially own?

A: The Brooklyn Nets

35.  Name three films that New York City is devastated?

A: King Kong, Independence Day, Planet of the Apes,

Armageddon, End of the World, Godzilla,

        Ghostbusters, The Day After Tomorrow,

War of the Worlds, I am Legend, Cloverfield

_______________________________________________________________

Zoomed View of Manhole.  Finished by covering with aluminum foil, pressed and then grey paint.

Sticker Storage

I'll admit I am sticker crazy.  I loved to put stickers all over snail mail as a young child and still do!  But there was also a time when I was an extreme scrapbooker which required a ridiculous amount, more of an over-abundance of stickers.  After 15 solid years of hardcore scrapbooking I got burned out and I demoted myself to paper-crafting only.  Literally fifteen years of scrapbooking, from 15 years old to 30 years old, from 1998 to 2013.  During that time, I created a divided sticker box to control the clutter and to make them easy to find.  

 No longer do I own this box but I wanted to share with you a great way to organize your stickers.  This is perfect for anyone who owns stickers, not just scrapbook and paper-craft hobbyists.  We are all too well aware of how sheets of stickers can become overwhelming to take care of.

**Disclaimer** This is not my best work.  I created the box years ago with whatever I had lying around the house and did not use exact measurements.  Please excuse the sloppiness.

Materials Needed:

Large storage box 

Poster board

Pencil or Pen

Self-Adhesive Tabs

Ultra Fine Sharpie

Staples
Stapler

Titles to List on Tabs:

Letters

Words

Phrases

Quotes/Sayings

Celebrate/Party

Seasons

Holidays

Travel

Family

Animals/Pets

Food

School/Education

Wedding/Religious

Flowers/Nature

Hearts/Romance

Fashion

Vellum 

Borders/Designs

Congratulatory

"Licensed" (for things like Major League Baseball or Disney)



Instructions:

1. Measure the poster board down to whatever size you need to fit inside your box.  Make sure you have cut enough for all of your categories.

2.  Hand write or type the categories for your tabs.

3.  Attach the tabs with staggered positioning so that they are easy read.

4. You may need to reinforce the tabs with staples.

Tips:

• Use a fun fabric covered storage box.  These are easily found for a low price at stores like Home Goods, Marshalls, and T.J. Maxx.  
• Create as many tabs as necessary for your collection.  Everyone's is different.
• Putting all vellum embellishing sheets in one tab makes it easier than several separate tabs for pictures or sayings.  Unless you are making a separate box just for vellum.
• "Licensed" would be for various stickers like Major League Baseball or Disney.
• Label the outside of the box as "Stickers" for easy access.

Fabric box with fabric lid

Various titles are labeled and staggered.

All Vellum in one area

Due to tabs not adhering well, I stapled them in place

~With Angela O'