History Lesson from Professor Timberlake

Justin and Jimmy Fallon - history of Rap!  Pretty much obsessed with Justin...and all of these songs....

Wish Justin would record a new album - Meghan and I saw him bring Sexy Back at the 930 Club in DC during his club tour - and it was AMAZING!  My heart started beating to the rhythms of "Cry Me A River" - I kid you not!  He is popping up everywhere this week....see below for the EW cover - "LIKE" doesn't even cover it...

I'm a slave...for GLEE

Last night was the much anticipated Britney vs Brittany episode Mary and I have been talking about for weeks - see post here.

I learned this morning that Brittany S. Pears (Heather Morris) is actually the head dance choreographer for the show and was not originally supposed to be a character.  So glad they added her - I love her bonehead comments ("Finn Can Fly") and amazing dance moves.  Last night she seriously rocked it - I think she even....dare to say - out-danced the real Britney videos....

The show was amazing but I must admit I was a little sad that Miss Spears did not perform  - just made random cameos (also here and here) - but the Glee cast did not disappoint.  From the New Directions of Toxic, Brittany's amazing dance tribute via Slave For You and Me Against The Music, Santana telling John Stamos "You can drill me anytime," Sue Sylvester telling Schuester "You own more sweater vests than the cast of Blossom," and Arty performing Stronger during his dental chair hallucination - Britney of course sides with Arty and give him the confidence to make the football team!  Such a great episode!  

Wish I could have a Britney fantasy while at the Dentist office....I think I'd perform either Slave For You or Womanizer - or maybe Me Against The Music (Mary and I could go under together - like Santana and Brittany - Mary of course would be the Madonna character rolling around in the fall foliage in her white suit!)

Killer Cupcakes

To celebrate Brian's 29 years of greatness - I broke out the food coloring (a whole tube of it) and made his favorite Red Velvet Cupcakes from scratch.  This was my first attempt - but they turned out bloody brilliant if I do say so myself.  Just glad no one walked in while I was baking; the batter (RED RUM...RED RUM) was all over my kitchen and would have frightened anyone who mistook the spatula in my hand for a weapon. See below....

Finished product - complete with windmills from Pier 1 Imports

The scene kind of reminds me of these Dexter ads - 

Anyways they were easy to make and delicious - will most definitely keep this recipe (Food Network) in the file for future bdays or Murder On The Dance Floor celebrations!

29 Red Balloons Go By

We have a 29th Birthday today in the Hanna House - Happy Birthday Brian!  I love you!  

Make it a great day and I can't wait to celebrate with you tonight and this weekend! - EJ!

Did you know the lead singer looks like the IT guy?

Very well said Brian....Monday night we checked out The Hold Steady at The National here in Richmond.  It was a great show - watching the lead singer Craig Finn's crazy arm gestures could entertain me for hours (we've decided he looks like a cross of Mozzie from White Collar with a splash of Pee-wee Hermans moves)...but really it was the amazing guitar solos that made me want to quit my job and play rock band full time.....

Today I Wikipedia'd the group to learn more about their humble Brooklyn beginnings and learned the following....


"In 2003, Minnesota-raised vocalist, lyricist, and guitarist Craig Finn and New York City bartender and bassist Galen Polivka began talking about starting a band. Finn and lead guitarist Tad Kubler (both formerly of Lifter Puller) developed the idea of The Hold Steady when, while watching The Band concert film The Last Waltz, Finn asked Kubler, "Dude, why aren't there any bands like this anymore?" - Wiki

Interestingly enough I first met Brian at a cover band of the band (The Last Waltz Orchestra) show here in Richmond....hmmm...guess music has been connecting us from the beginning...


Great show - hope to see them again on their next stop in RIC!  Below is a pic I took a the show...

1st Night of their fall tour...RIC, VA

Wipe that slushie off your face...GLEE is back tonight!

Going Coastal_Part 2

After our quick cruise around Southern Cali - we continued our Party in the USA tour and  flew to NYC for two days in the city with our fabulous hostess  Becca (love your new apt!) prior to Blake/Alec's wedding in Montauk, NY...

Our days in the city were spent eating at some of our favorite old haunts Grey Dog (the one on University near Union Square - where Brian and I used to meet for lunch when he would visit me in the city), Otto, 16 Handles, Indigo....walking around downtown....shopping...and visiting two new NYC sites for The Hanna house...The Frick and The High Line park.  Pictures are below...

mmmm Grey Dog Club 

Briguy "Because you're mine....I walk the HIGH line"

The Frick Mansion - along Central Park (upper East Side Manhattan)

The Frick was spectacular and I would add it to the NYC must list - the story of Henry Clay Frick is very interesting and I was amazed at the abundance of art and furniture from his collection that is not permitted to be loaned - so you can only see it in this amazing mansion/museum.  The size and scope is spectacular but it is not an overwhelming experience that you often feel when visit The Metropolitan.  You can take your time and enjoy the free audio tour at your leisure (you punch in the numbers corresponding to the artwork/furniture number - so there is not a set course through the mansion)  It is fun to teleport yourself to the turn of the 20th century when the home was built and furnished (1913-1914).  We listened to a docent welcome speech and learned that formal tours of the facility have never been permitted as stated in the Frick will.  Mr Frick wanted visitors to see the collection in a home - not a museum.   Children are not allowed so the experience feels elevated and free of field trip pushiness you often encounter at other popular landmarks.  My Nana had insisted I visit and I am so glad we did - the Frick collection is breathtaking and a truly wonderful experience!  Below are two of my favorite pieces from the collection....

La Promenade - Renoir (gorgeous painting was in the Oval Room at the Frick)

Whistler - Arrangement in Black and Gold: Comte Robert de Montesquiou (only American artist besides Stuart's George Washington painting that are part of the collection)

After our NYC visit we rented a car and headed to Montauk for our dear friends Blake and Alec's wedding. The weekend was so special and we enjoyed catching up with "the family"!  I think we may have left our mark on Montauk - or at least Nick's - love that place!  Congrats to the bride and groom - few pics below!

MTK Cafe...mmmm Ranchero Omelet - Hang Ten to the surfer threesome sitting at the table behind Brian...we had the "pleasure" of sitting next to them and got to hear how their bodies "just crave surfing" - haha - too funny!

Gals at rehearsal dinner

Blake's flowergirl trying on her veil - so precious!

The Family and Richmond friends - a girl was about to walk through our pic making us all laugh

TOLD YA - There she is.... haha

The Happy Couple (such a gorgeous bride!)

Congrats you two!

Memories from the weekend - NICKS!, dance party on the bus from the rehearsal dinner,  Royal Atlantic hotel...no shampoo...or towels in the "renovated" units, Michael Jackson showing up at the reception, bonfire on the beach, great times with our buddies! 

Going Coastal_part 1

Last week the Hanna House was jet-setting around this great country - first stop California for Kyle and Ashley's wedding in La Jolla....

The wedding was beautiful (such a gorgeous/sweet/California cool couple) and we had a blast - delicious brunch at Cody's in La Jolla, shopping at Summer Elizabeth (Ginny and my favorite new boutique), Del Mar horse races via electric blue Mustang convertible (see below), San Diego Zoo, Padres baseball game, and a little bit of California dreaming....

 My California Rose - The zoo!  It was incredible - would highly recommend anyone who visits - to take a full day to visit.  We saw pandas, "Max" the tiger, koalas, rhinos, a large variety of monkeys, giraffes, kangaroos, polar bears, flamingos, a leopard (who is best friends with a yellow lab - cute!), gorillas, and many other amazing species - it was a fun afternoon and I could have spent a few days exploring!

Funny memories along the way - obviously the blue mustangs above, the travellodge manager telling us that it was "the best" when we asked him if it was a safe area to walk, the elevator in GasLamp Ramada being a marvel in the early 1900s - now taking forever, the way Brian says "Gaslamp", Balboas eating their own...yeah, going the Firefly club post wedding, Brian and I navigating SD via busline 7 (yikes!), Chilaquelas at Cody's (yum favorite meal of the trip!), getting drunk at the Brewhouse on Sunday/everyone telling wetting the bed stories from the past (weird!), and in general seeing lots of blast from the past Richmond folks in La Jolla for the wedding.

It's all GREEK to me!

"There are three things that every Greek woman must do in life: marry Greek boys, make Greek babies, and feed everyone."  My Big Fat GREEK Wedding 


I am not Greek - so the first two do not apply  - but the third one rings true with this dish....

Last night the Hanna House went GREEK!  No togas or ice luge were involved - instead we cooked a delicious/quick/easy cous cous dish topped with Greek yogurt....It was quick and easy to prepare (especially since my sous-chef is a master chopper) - we used frozen shrimp to keep the cost down which we sauted and then peeled prior to adding it to the cous cous mixture.  The recipe is a one pot supper for four servings  (we had asparagus as a side - but didn't really need it). It would make a lovely side dish for a potluck supper (as a side I'd eliminate the shrimp and add some feta for a delicious Mediterranean side salad that would feed an army).....we had two healthy servings last night for dinner and will be enjoying a large second helping this evening!

απολαύσει

(enjoy!)

Quick Greek Cous Cous with Shrimp in the September issue of Cooking Light.

Ingredients

·         1 1/2  cups  water

·         1 1/3  cups  uncooked couscous

·         1/2  teaspoon  salt, divided

·         1/2  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper

·         3  tablespoons  olive oil, divided

·         1 1/2  pounds  peeled and deveined medium shrimp

·         1  cup  grape tomatoes, halved

·         1/2  cup  thinly sliced green onions

·         1/3  cup  pitted kalamata olives, halved

·         1/4  cup  2% reduced-fat Greek-style plain yogurt 

Preparation

1. Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add couscous, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to pan. Cover, remove from heat, and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to pan; swirl to coat. Sprinkle shrimp with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add shrimp to pan, and sauté for 3 minutes or until done. Add shrimp to couscous mixture.

3. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons oil, tomatoes, onions, and olives in a large bowl; toss. Add tomato mixture to couscous mixture; toss to combine. Serve with yogurt.

Hey Cher - Can you hold my meat purse?

Yeah GaGa - her new album is called Born This Way - which she announced after winning the video of the year VMA for Bad Romance - 2011 is going to be a GAGAreat year!

Accepting her award and asking Cher to hold her "purse"

They call me the working man I guess that's what I am

Today is Brian's first day of work....I am so proud and of course insisted on the obligatory first day of school picture this AM....looking good Briguy....

He's a working man!

Can I get a Mike Check?....Today is 9.02.10

It only happens once every 100 years - today is 90210!  You should celebrate by stealing Steve Sanders Corvette and cruising over the to the Peach Pit to visit Nat and order a piece for pie from Brandon or even better Laverne....

Brenda couldn't make it....call me "Lavoine"

Few thoughts....

Obviously high school was the best....The Brenda/Kelly/Dylan love triangle, Brandon's gambling days, Emily Valentine signing "That's Where It Is" and then burning the homecoming float, Donna Martin Graduates rally,  Brenda and Donna eating "Brains" in Paris, Kelly and Brenda wearing the same black and white dress to Prom on Steve's birthday, steroid use on the track team (with the Nark Jake from Hey Dude!), Mel and Jackie's wedding/Kelly and David becoming Bro/Sister, Brandon and Aundria co-chiefs of the Beverly Blaze, Kelly passing out at her 18th birthday party after too many diet pills, Brenda and Dylan sneaking off to Tijuana and being stopped by border control, Brandon playing a cabana boy at the Beverly Hills Beach Club, Changing the Hollywood sign for graduation......so many memories....

The opening credits saw a dramatic improvement from....Season 1



To Season 2 and 3.....As did Brenda's wardrobe....guess that's Kelly and Donna's  California influence....goodbye Minnesota...hello LA....



Cheers to the West Bev Class of 2003!

Do the Running Man!

I don't mean this one....

I'm talking about HTML5 video

http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/

You must check this out - it requires Google Chrome - but its an experience built in HTML5....kind of creepy - but visually stunning and thought provoking....and I love the Arcade Fire song that accompanies the running man....

My message to a younger me....

Send me your postcard and any sweet 80s moves I may not have learned from Totally Rad Dances with Dancing Kim up there!

Ska ska ska, Jamaica ska.

Not many people can cha cha cha.
Not everybody can do the twist.
But everybody can do the ska,
It's the dance you can't resist.

Ska ska ska, Jamaica ska.

Last weekend the Hanna House headed  "Back to the Beach" for a final summer weekend in VABeach...

It was a perfect August weekend filled with delicious meals, amazing weather, "Howdy" Cake, and huge waves that were perfect for us to "Try Our Boogiest"....

Beach Bum Tilly Chillaxin

Ahhh the Boogie!

Sister Picture! "I think I saw a thing, but I don't know what thing I thought I saw."

I dig chicks. Chicks dig me, diggin' them? Dig?

To quote B2theBeach - "Are we the cheesiest couple you've ever met, or what?" ... Thanks Annette!

Mary the devoted student - case books on the beach?  Why o-why o-why o....did I ever leave Ohio?

Mom froze at Sugar Plum when asked what she wanted written on her cake...final answer..."Howdy"