There is a wine called Chakalaka!

A wine after my own heart
(not a stretch - most of them are.)

Ab Fab Delicious Cake Balls!

I had mentioned these before based on a friends recommendation, but now that I have actually tried them - OMG! These are absolutely delicious, and a little addicting. I think the vanilla and the carrot cake are my faves, but if you get a chance try these, I can't believe how yummy thet are. And I just like saying "cake balls" SERIOUSLY: http://angiescake.com/

Holiday Shopping Card at Paper Daisy

Raising Malawi Charity - Ingot Pendants

This is Madonnas charity and they have beautiful necklaces - my sister in law got me one for my birthday and I love it - I have not taken it off since I got it.

The jewelry designer is Aurora Lopez Mejia created the custom jewelry line inspired by the children of Malawi and the work of Madonna’s charitable foundation, Raising Malawi. The creation of the “Mtima” necklace was motivated by Aurora asking Madonna, “What word would best describe Raising Malawi?”. Madonna responded with the word “Mtima” which means heart in Chichewa. All Ingots are inscribed with “Mtima” on the front and “Heart” on the back.

All profits made from the "Mtima" necklace line will go to benefit Raising Malawi.

web site: www.auroralopezmejia.com

WAY too long since I updated!

In my lame attempt to learn Dreamweaver (which means checking out Dreamweaver for Dummies and setting it on my computer in hopes that it would learn to generate a web page that way) I have severely neglected to blog. Been trying to reign in my narcissism, here is what is up with me:

JOB ...
Left Texas Monthly in June and started in Admission at the art Institute of Houston. Love it - but work really long hours so have not been as happy houresque as I like. But on a side note, my ass has shrunk a little bit. Skittles was unfortunately laid off right before his Iron Man - but we are holding hopes that the Dry Cleaner aka Mr. Jefferson Project gets off the ground SOON. My inlaws have been fabulous in helping us with this so big huge kudos to them.
WEB SITE: www.artinstitutes.edu/houston/

FUN ...
Still selling Southern Living which I really enjoy but have almost gotten everything I want from the collection, which was the point. Cool new thing I have found is Stella and Dot. May venture that way if it is a hit at my wine party tonight. It is a jewelry line that is fun and affordable, and one of the founders was thejewelry designer for Banan Republic, which must be why I like it to much.
WEB SITE: www.southernlivingathome.com/loripinter

HEALTH ...
Just got overthe flu - and it was NOT swine Flu. Need to start posting my weight on here to shame me into starving ... hmm .. is that a Weight Watchers concept?

LOVE ...
... to my my friends, family - and my husband - who is not keeping the house super clean during his stint on the couch, but is getting better and is cooking some awesome healthy meals from the Flat Belly Diet Book AND doing the dishes. We will keep him.
WEB SITE: www.FlatBellyDietPlan.com

The 23rd annual Houston Croquet Classic

Please join us for
The 23rd annual Houston Croquet Classic
benefiting the Sunshine Kids Foundation

Croquet Tournament - Silent Auction
RaffleLive Music - Lunch - Open Bar

Space is limited to the first 64 teams to register so sign up early!

WHEN: Saturday. March 14, 2009
Registration at 8:30 a.m. - Play begins at 9 a.m.
WHERE: The Outdoor Fields at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
8900 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX 77036

TICKETS:
TEAMS OF 2: $125 per team in advance, $150 at the door*
INDIVIDUALS: $65 in advance, $80 at the door*
*if available

TO RSVP:
PLEASE REGISTER AT OUR WEB SITE:
http://www.houstoncroquetclassic.org/

Or to pay by Check mail to:
Houston Croquet Classic
PO BOX 540306
Houston, TX 77254
Checks payable to Houston Croquet Classic

LAST DAY TO PRE REGISTER IS MARCH 7

2009 Houston Croquet Classic Committee:
Wayne Arnaiz Sheila & Dan Berggren
Daniel Born Shannon & Jay Caldwell
Ellen Chang Debbie Dill
Jen & Hank Fuselier Kathy Haveman
Corinna Klinger Lori & Jeramie Pinter
Cara & Gene Riccetti Mike Riccetti
Michelle Santos Michael Wells
Jenna Whatley Kent Wuensche

SIGN IN BEGINS AT 8:30, PLAY BEGINS AT 9 - RAIN OR SHINE

To learn more about croquet:http://www.croquetamerica.com/
To learn more about the Sunshine Kids Foundation:http://www.sunshinekids.org/

We got power Friday!

Back in business. Super special thanks to Lindsey for being a fantastic friend and taking in me and Skittles and Schlitz and Elsie - her kindness and patience were unsurpassed and we are so appreciative. Of course when we got home and turned on the lights Ike had sure made a mess. I have been cleaning for days!

Hurricane Education

This was not written by me, but worth posting!

1. Coffee and frozen pizzas can be made on a BBQ grill.
2. No matter how many times you flick the switch, lights don't workwithout electricity.
3. My car gets 23.21675 miles per gallon, EXACTLY (you can ask the people in line who helped me push it).
4. Kids can survive 4 days or longer without a video game controller intheir hand.
5. Cats are even more irritating without power
6. He who has the biggest generator, wins.
7. Women can actually survive without doing their hair- you just wishthey weren't around you.
8. A new method of non-lethal torture- showers without hot water.
9. There are a lot more stars in the sky than most people thought.
10. TV is an addiction and the withdrawal symptoms are painful.
11. A 7 lb bag of ice will chill 6-12 oz Budweiser's to a drinkable temperature in 11 minutes, and still keep a 14 lb. turkey frozen for 8more hours.
12. There are a lot of dang trees around here.
13. Flood plane drawings on some mortgage documents were seriously wrong.
14. Aluminum siding, while aesthetically pleasing, is definitely not required.
15. Crickets can increase their volume to overcome the sound of 14 generators.
16. People will get into a line that has already formed without havingany idea what the line is for.
17. When required, a Lincoln Continental will float, doesn't steer well but floats just the same.
18. Tele-marketers function no matter what the weather is doing.
19. Cell phones work when land lines are down, but only as long as the battery remains charged.
20. 27 of your neighbors are fed from a different transformer than you, and they are quick to point that out!
21. Laundry hampers were not made to contain such a volume.
22. If my store sold only ice, chainsaws, gas and generators ... I'd be rich.
23. Price of a can of soup rises 200% in a storm.
24. Your water front property can quickly become someone else's fishing hole.
25. Tree service companies are under appreciated.
26. I learned what happens when you make fun of another states' blackout.
27. MATH 101: 30 days in month, minus 6 days without power equals 30% higher electric bill ?????
28. Drywall is a compound word, take away the "dry" part and it'sworthless.
29. I can walk a lot farther than I thought.