So, Dad, how did you like the iPad we got you?

You don't need the video translated. Just watch. This happens to ring true in our family, so I especially enjoyed. it.

Parenthood Christmas play revisited || OM [one moment] meet up

If you are a parent and haven't seen the 1989 Ron Howard movie Parenthood, you probably should (also not a bad idea if you are planning to become a parent).  I cannot tell you how many times I've referenced that movie to my own parenting situations. One particular scene is the Christmas play below and the very feeling that I'm on a roller coaster in life speeding out of control.



E embarrasses easily and hates (H A T E S) to be in front of a crowd. Naturally, concerts are not his favorite thing. Even less palatable to him is photo/video taking by his parents. So his reaction to Chris taking a photo with his iPhone last night should not have surprised us.  However, it was. And not in a good way.

Between songs, and after the applause quieted, E shouted "Put down the iPhone" accompanied by a scowl. That was the point at which I was on top of my parenting roller coaster plummeting toward the earth.  Luckily, my ride came to an abrupt halt when another boy in the front row acted out, in full squat and red scrunched face, 6 geese a-laying [eggs].

NOTE: I really like the Parenthood TV show based on the movie.
NOTE 2: The diarrhea song scene is another scene we often relive.

Woke up to find this addition to my Christmas tree :: Hump Day Humor

My 15 year old son's sense of humor:

Kids do the darnedest things

This was just found...a note written by E.  Ominous but funny.

BFF visits over the weekend and other FYIs

I'm sorry to not have posted my OM this week.  My BFF came in from Seattle.  It's been an extremely busy week/weekend: Max's homecoming weekend (football, dance, sleepovers), showing my friend around Tahoe/Reno, dad in hospital...and it only seems to be getting crazier.  Suffice it to say, if my blog isn't updated regularly in the coming weeks know it's because things have gotten hectic personally.  I may even go back home for some time.

Anyway, here are some fun links I came across recently.

Reno Zombie Crawl - E and I may be doing the Thriller dance to help break the world record.

Easy bat decor for Halloween - I wanted to do this but decided I didn't have the time/energy (see above).
Bat template here.

Pink lemonade fondant - I love the look of fondant but not the taste. I'd love to try this recipe.

30 alter egos of Amy Poehler - I have a girl crush. See slide show here.

Beware, I'm currently wound a bit tight

Hi everyone!  I feel like I'm completely out of the blog/cyber loop.  We are down to the last few weeks before we move to Reno.  27 days, to be exact.  I was fooling myself in thinking that I'd be anything but harried, emotional, overwhelmed, and nervous.  Simply put, I'm wound up as tight as barbed wire.  Watch out!

Last Friday, I decided to take my products off of my website temporarily.  It's too difficult for me to continue sales when most of my studio is packed away.  You can still access my site as well as contact me.  You just can't buy from it right now.  If you want to be the first to know when products are again available, please join my mailing list. 

I'm trying to tie up loose ends.  My great friends are organizing our goodbye parties and I'm still sorting, selling, and separating our clothes and household items.  As nomadic as I thought I was, I do not want to move again.  Ever.

I've seen Bridesmaids twice now because I've needed to laugh.  Nothing makes you laugh harder than a girl crapping her pants in a formal gown.  I'm trying to think of things I want to do before we move.  Funny how my brain gets stuck and simple decisions get harder to make.  I find that I just get up and go without actually thinking about it.  I may head to the Lizzy Borden Bed & Breakfast in Fall River later this week for a tour.  It's something I've wanted to do.

What's going on with you currently?  I know some of you are renovating and gearing up for summer.  I'd love for you to share what's on your plate.

Having some fun with cheeky holiday gear - ornaments, t-shirts, and more

Some of you may know that I have a Zazzle shop online.  I know, I'm everywhere.  I can't help myself.  This shop started long ago because I wanted one of my designs (no whining) on a mug.  Voila, the shop was born.  Last year, I began hand making some funny ornaments and gift tags that were popular.  This year, I didn't have time to make them myself.  So, I've added them to my Zazzle shop.

If you are looking for something with a little sarcasm and humor (great for the office), my Holiday Cheer Gear line should do the trick.


See more fun products (all customizable) in my Zazzle shop.

15 funny signs from the Rally to Restore Sanity

I missed most of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear on Saturday but I've enjoyed seeing some of the signs people were carrying. Only in this country would such an event take place. I think that's a good thing.

Hump Day Humor - make mine a grande!!

Hump Day Humor: The truth about computers

[source:  Fake Science]
click image for larger view

The Bugs Bunny factory song - Powerhouse

I'd like to dedicate this post to all of my friends who, like me, are in full on holiday production mode.




The back story - I was explaining this song to E one day last week and looked it up to show him.  I found it when I googled "bugs bunny factory song."  I love Google.

Hump Day Humor: Margo's disappointment

Margo's disappointment, originally uploaded by alamodestuff.

The camel meant that Margo wouldn't be getting a car for her 16th birthday.

Hump Day Humor: Passive Aggressive Notes

For a good laugh, check out  Passive Aggressive Note's photo stream on Flickr.  A few favorites of mine:  here, here, here, and here.  There is something for everyone!

Hump Day Humor: If Michelle Obama married someone else

 [photo source]

One night President Obama and his wife Michelle decided to do something out of routine and go for a casual dinner at a restaurant that wasn't too luxurious. 

When they were seated, the owner of the restaurant asked the president's secret service if he could please speak to the First Lady in private. They obliged and Michelle had a conversation with the owner. 

Following this conversation President Obama asked Michelle, why was he so interested in talking to you. She mentioned that in her teenage years, he had been madly in love with her. 

President Obama then said, "so if you had married him, you would now be the owner of this lovely restaurant,"  to which Michelle responded, "No, if I had married him, he would now be President."  

****

Oh, snap!

- thanks, Nisha!  I love this one! 

Hump Day Humor - Dr. Demento goes off the air after 40 years. Who's Dr. Demento?

I have very fond memories of staying up late in bed listening to the Dr. Demento radio show on WLS, Chicago.  I was in elementary school at the time. I suppose fans of this show may be categorized in the same vein as Trekkie or Sci Fi fans.  I'll admit, all are in my blood.  Don't hold it against me.

If you, like my husband, are unfamiliar...

The Dr. Demento Show is radio's weekly two-hour festival of "mad music and crazy comedy" heard on stations coast to coast. It is a free-wheeling, unpredictable mix of music and comedy. Along with legends like Spike Jones, Tom Lehrer, Stan Freberg, Monty Python, and Frank Zappa, the Doctor plays new funny songs sent in by amateur and professional singers and comedians. That's how the world was introduced to "Weird Al" Yankovic, who went on to become rock music's best-known funny person. A home-made tape that Al made at age 16 and sent to the Doctor provided him with his very first media exposure. [source]

I recently came across an interview on NPR and learned that the show, which has been airing for 40 years, has finally gone off the air.  The end of an institution.  So sad.  But, alas, the show will continue on internet radio.  Phew!

The thing about Dr. Demento, and comedy in general, is that anything that made me laugh changed my world and mood instantaneously.  To this day, humor and laughter are very important parts of my life.  I use it in this blog and in some of my products (jewelry, switch plates).


While searching around for some classic Demento tunes to share with you, (like Monster Mash, Fish Heads, They're Coming to Take me Away, etc.) I came across this very funny comedian who has a beef with Pachelbel's Canon in D.  I think my music friends will particularly appreciate this.  You know who you are.



BTW, I'm trying to remember a cheerleader song by a funny female comedian in the late '70s.  It was about cheerleaders on a float.  Can anyone help me with this?

[update 12:49 PM]  Tracy (aka SeaFindDesigns) you rock!  This is it!! Not sure where I got cheerleaders and a float...

Hump day humor - a review of some funny finds this week

Some weeks, I'm simply inundated with funny finds.  This week was one of them.  I may have shared a few via Twitter or Facebook, but this week I'm sharing several in this post for those of you who only read my blog.  Laugh out loud!  It will do you good!

[source]

[source]

Hilarious "Short Imagined Monologue" by Mike Lacher
Comic Sans speaks out; runs off with Papyrus

Video: Jimmy Fallon with Brian Williams and The Roots

Slow Jam the news re:  financial turmoil in Greece, May 19, 2010(not for kids and may not be SFW)

Hump Day Humor - This isn't going to end well

[source]

Hump Day Humor: Silly Bandz, the newest craze with kids

Have you seen or heard about the newest craze with the kids - Silly Bandz?!  It's been in the news, in the New York Times, even the guy at McDonalds (yes, I go there once in a while bc I like their fish sammys.  There, I said it.) was talking about it.  This one creeped up and surprised the heck out of me. 

Two weeks ago, the elementary kids were collecting the gel pencil grips and then BAM, these Silly Bandz came out of no where!

Our local bookstore sold 76 packs the day they got them (79 after we came in)...at $2.50/per for a small bag of 12.  They had buckets full of them and more were coming in next week.

collect 'em...trade 'em...wear 'em...

Let's cut to the chase...these are rubber bands, people...rubber bands!!

So, I want to know how the company development meeting went.  Was it something like this,

Aren't you sick of the old tan rubber bands?  Let's shake the office supply world up a bit with bright colors and wacky shapes.

OR

Let's market rubber bands to the kiddies by telling them they can collect 'em...trade 'em...wear 'em...Parents will buy their kids anything!!

From a capitalism/free enterprise/gorilla marketing standpoint, these are genius. 

From a parent's standpoint...ARGH!!!  I haven't caught my breath from the last "gotta have them" craze!

I know, I know, who's the idiot here?  > pointing at self < 

I don't fault the entrepreneurial mastermind behind these things.  $5.00 for 24 rubber bands - the profit margin must be amazing on these things!

I did make E pay for them himself.  Well, actually he took out a loan from me.  $12.00 later we have 57 bands (55 since one has broken and one was given to his friend).  But, he still doesn't have the rare, elusive blue elephant. 

Pet rocks...beanie babies...Pokemon (insert any name here) cards...rubber bands!!!

Friends, we are smart people.  Let's put our minds together and come up with the next big craze to push to our kids.  Maybe even one with some staying power...cotton candy flavored broccoli?

alamode May giveaway with Septic Soaps

- Giveaway closed - congrats to Cyn!

A few months ago I posted some funny Etsy finds.  Septic Soaps, a handmade soap shop with sass, was one of the shops I featured.  You know how I'm a sucker for marketing (and a cheeky sense of humor) and these soaps caught my eye immediately. 

Need to wash some childhood trauma from you life? 

Here's the solution! 

Lori Holcomb is the creator of these soaps:   

I began making soaps about 2 years ago because everything seems to bother my skin and I ended up making my Lucky Lather Soaps (luckylather.etsy) first. They are so pretty and yummy. My husband and I both have a pretty naughty/wicked sense of humor...one night we wrote up about 3 pages worth of funny/insulting soap names and said we should try to make some. I came up with the "Septic Soaps" name when our septic tank at home exploded (fortunately outside of the house and not in)...it seemed very appropriate for what we wanted to do. It took me around a year of procrastination and unhappy packaging problem solving that was holding things up...then BAM! I figured out what I wanted to do and did it. (Standard creative process for me with both soaps and my jewelry shop: cherrymatador.etsy) I am always doing things in bursts, leaps and bounds. 

My husband helps with the creative, brain-storming, back-seat driving part of our business but I am the one-person workforce cooking, pouring, wrapping, designing, selling and all the other nonsense that goes along with this business. [He has the 'real' job...I used to work for attorneys but, once my two kiddies (8 & 5) got big enough for school, the hours were murder on our household and I was forced to make some changes.]

My soaps are currently in two local boutiques and I plan to try to expand that number by the end of the year. Cooking is probably my most favorite thing in life (aside from my family). Soaps fall into that same category...I get to cook/create, mix and sniff (instead of tasting) and try to get the color and texture 'just-right'. I am all about a good laugh, too...and I hope that our Septic Soaps give people a good chuckle or a blush with a "oh, my!" or something that takes away from the monotony of the everyday for them. We will have many more coming very soon!

Lori has generously offered her OCD 3 bar set of soaps to be given to someone with a wicked sense of humor!  The set will include lonely loser, childhood trauma, and lawyer lather.

Thank you, Lori, for sponsoring this giveaway and for your fun sense of humor!

Entry details:
Visit Septic Soaps here and come back to this post and leave me a comment about your favorite soap and why.  Make sure your comment includes contact information. (1 entry)

3 Additional entries when you:
1) Tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to include @alamodestuff in your tweet so I can keep track. (1 entry)

2) Blog about this giveaway with a link to the post. (1 entry)

3) Follow this blog.  If you already follow, let me know. That counts, too. (1 entry)

Please let me know if you done any of these to ensure you get your extra entries.

One (1) winner will be randomly chosen (through Random.org). Contest ends Friday, May 21, at midnight EST.  Winner will be notified by Monday, May 24.

Hump Day Humor: More funny signs

I can't help it. I have a thing for funny signs. Here are two I found recently:

[Odddly Specific]



[the Gothamist]