Good Day!

I have a few items to go through before we get to the real reason you’re probably here . . .

First, we had another International Office Tour on Friday! (that’s right folks, its not too late to do yours.  Just look at the long list on my sidebar over on the right – are you feeling left out?  Then get on it!)  My favourite jewelery designer & army wife, Allyson from Magnolias & Mimosas, coughed up the goods.  Be sure to check her’s out right here.  Don’t let the glass head put you off.

Next, I had the opportunity to hang out in Chicago on Saturday!  Okay, well maybe not so much “hang out” but more like “was featured” over at A Modern Day Ricky and Lucy.  I wrote a post about a few of the things new Moms of boys should watch out for.  See?  I’m entertaining AND educational.  Check it out here.  Or else.

Next, I’ve added a “Subscribe” button over on my sidebar.  Due to an overly busy life recently, and not wanting summer to pass me by while I’ve got my head stuck over a keyboard, I’m currently trying to post on a Monday / Wednesday / Friday schedule.  I figure that’s better than not posting at all.  Or is it?  Whatever.  So if you’re not using a Blog Reader, and you get tired of clicking your bookmark to my site all the time and coming up disappointed when there isn’t a new post there waiting for you, this is the button for you!  Simply add your email address and hit subscribe.  Then, Feedburner will send you a confirmation email.  Once you confirm, they will email my posts right to your In-Box on the day I post them!  That’s some sweet service!  You can also cancel your subscription whenever you want.  But what loser would want to do that?!

And finally, we get to the celebration giveaway!

This is officially my 200th post!  I started blogging back in August of 2009 and can’t believe it’s been 200 already.  I either really like writing, or I really need a way to ignore my family.  Regardless, I think it’s cause for celebration!  Which is why I’ve decide to award one of you with a little piece of me.  That’s right folks!  I’m giving away Butter Tarts!

Many of you might remember that I blogged about this Canadian delicacy back in May.  You were very curious and rightfully devasted that these little darlings could not be purchased in other countries.  So, here’s the deal – the winner will receive 1 pack (I believe there’s 6 in a pack) of my favourite ones delivered right to their door!  Huh?!  Huh!?  Has THAT ever been done before???

Now, I feel that I need to add a few caveats . . .

1)  I can not guarantee what condition they’ll show up in.  I’ll pack them well and cough up large for a quick reliable delivery service, but shit happens.

2)  I hope that the quick reliable delivery service can get them to you while they’re still fresh.  But again, no guarantees.

3)  I have no control over the beasts at the Canadian, or any other country’s, Customs Department.  In fact, I’m not even sure I’m allowed to send food across the border.  So if it doesn’t work out, I’ll send you something else.  It’s the chance you’ll have to take.

4)  Although I’m SURE you’ll love them as much as I do, this also can not be guaranteed.

So, if you’re interested, here’s how you earn entries;

• simply leave me a comment today – 1
• be a member of this site using Google Friend Connect – 2
• subscribe to me via email (with the swanky new button) or in a Reader – 2
• follow me on Twitter – 2
• Tweet this giveaway – 2 entries per time (please include @theonlygirlcher so I know you did)

And, for those of you that left me a comment on Friday’s post BEFORE today, I did promise you’d be looked upon favourably.  Which means you automatically get 1 extra entry if you leave me a comment for today’s contest.  Kinda like a “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today” thing.

Now, since I never understand that whole “leave one comment for each entry thing”, you don’t have to do that.  Just leave me ONE comment detailing all the requirements you meet and the total entries you feel you’ve earned.  Good?

Contest closes Wednesday July 14th, 2010 at 6pm EST.

I’ll use some kind of random selection thingie, or maybe the boys will do a draw.  Haven’t thought that far ahead yet.

Winner to be announced here on Friday, July 16th.

Okay . . . GO!

*UPDATE:  This contest is now closed.  Winner to be announced Friday July 16/10.

First order of business – we have another Office Tour!  Apparently guilt is a powerful thing because ScoMan has finally coughed up!  Be sure to check out what an Australian Accountant’s office looks like and leave him some love over here.  Who’s next?!

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It has recently come to my attention, via Beckles at Foresight Is So Often Blind, that some Americans do not know what a “butter tart” is.

This news was shocking news to me.  And outrageous.  And unacceptable.  And frankly – horrifying.

As I tweeted about these little pieces of Heaven the other day, Beckles replied that she had no idea what they were, and that she had to Google them for more info.

Again – utter disbelief.  Disbelief that there are people out there that are completely in the dark about Butter Tarts.

So I Googled them myself to see exactly what info Beckles would have been given.  And low and behold, I discovered something that stopped me in my tracks.

Wikipedia (the source of all things) says that the butter tart “is a type of pastry best known as a Canadian treat.  It should not be confused with butter pie (a savoury pie from the Preston area of Lancashire, England) or with bread and butter pudding.“

A Canadian treat?!  I had NO idea.  Honestly.  I thought the entire planet, or at least North America, enjoyed these little babies.  I was shocked.

Wiki continues to say “Butter tarts were a staple of pioneer Canadian cooking, and they remain a characteristic pastry of Canada, considered one of only a few recipes of genuinely Canadian origin.”

Canadian Pioneers?  Seriously?  Why do I suddenly feel so grossly inferior?  I would have put money on the fact that they were a French thing.  As in – from Paris.

So all weekend I conducted a very informal and non-scientific survey of many other Canadians.  The questions included in this survey were;

a) are you familiar with the Butter Tart?
b) were you aware these were a Canadian delicacy?

The results were a resounding OF COURSE and NO WAY – YOU’RE KIDDING respectively.

Let me tell you a bit about my love with Butter Tarts.  I’m not big on chocolate.  Sure, I like it.  But it’s not really my thing.  However I have always loved butter tarts.  And not the homemade kind.  No, no.  I like the cheap, mass produced, convenience store, pre-packaged kind.  So don’t try making a recipe to see what it is I eat.  It won’t be the same. 

Basically, they are a pastry shell with a sweet, gooey filling.  I like mine with raisins in them, not nuts.  And I like when the middle is less runny and more like gel.

They look like this;

(I did not make these – I don’t bake.  Ever.  Via Google)

And they taste like this;

(supposedly Heaven, but who really knows - via Google)

There’s a restaurant in the lobby of my building that sells just such an animal.  And they are divine.  I spend most days trying to avoid jumping out of my chair and racing down there to buy one.  But every now and then I simply can’t resist.  So I somehow convince myself that I deserve it.  Whether I’ve had a very productive day at work, or a very bad day at work, or I’m PMSing, or maybe just feeling sorry for myself because my gosh darn Friend Connect numbers are so low, I can always find a good reason to go on a butter tart run.

You foreigners have no idea what you’re missing.  I’m sad for you.  Like REALLY sad.

Have YOU ever heard of butter tarts?  Ever had one?  Like or no like?  What’s your most favourite guilty pleasure treat?

Huge props are going out to Monique at “A Day In The Life Of A Surferwife”.  She joined in the International Workspace Tour the other day and upped the ante by doing a VIDEO tour!  Before you head over to check it out and hear her darling voice, I must warn you – if the fact that she lives in sunny California isn’t bad enough, she gives us a peek at her kick ass backyard and you will immediately become sick with envy.  I’m just saying.

You can see all the other tours over on my sidebar.  Who’s doing the next one???  

And thanks to everyone for their vlog questions.  You people have really submitted some doozies.  Of course as both the vlog’s Director and Producer, I have given myself full authority to only select the easy questions.  I hope to post it tomorrow.  If I can only figure out how. *pounds fist in frustration*

Next item . . . a few weeks ago I placed an order at Daisy & Elm, which is the fab Etsy store from my girl Allyson at Magnolias & Mimosas where she sells her gorgeous handmade jewellery.  Each piece is an original because she makes only 1 of each item.  I had wandered over there from the link on her blog and immediately fell in love with a certain item named “Not Your Mamas Pearls” (I love how she gives each piece a name!)  A quick click or two of the mouse and it was mine, all mine!  

You can imagine how excited I was when this beautiful box came out of the package in my mailbox!

And here’s me sporting my new little beauty!  It’s it lovely?  Just wait and see how good I look once if I get a tan.

Although, while surfin’ the net the other day, I couldn’t help but notice that it bares a striking resemblance to a little number that a few other people have worn . . . is it just me???  

(Charlize Theron)

(we all know who)

(Monique’s BFF aka Chelsea Handler)

(The Ga)  

Ha –  I kid!  I like to showcase practice my crazy photoshop skills whenever possible. 

Seriously, Allyson’s pieces are truly originals, top quality and gorgeous.  Be sure to check them out.  

Laters!

A little known fact about The Only Girl is that I’m a big fan of “The Office”.  BIG.  I frequently cast myself as Pam in my daydreams, and secretly wish I could work for Dunder Mifflin.  I’m pretty sure I once dated a guy that could be related to Dwight Schrute, and I find Oscar delightful.  Angela scares me but Phyllis makes up for it.    I’m concerned about Meredith’s drinking and Stanley’s weight.  I’m curious about Andy and Kevin, while I find myself feeling bad for Toby and am puzzled about the woman that is Jan.

But mostly I love Michael.  What’s not to love?  He’s cute, quirky, as politically un-correct as they come and hasn’t got a clue about anything (although I’ll give him credit for nice suits).  His horribly awkward meetings are as difficult to watch as they are entertaining.

It’s a 30 minute roller coaster ride of emotions.  It’s prime time comedy at it’s best, people!

And I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a theme song as much as this one in years.  Willie is restricted from fast forwarding through the song because there’s always some fun couch dancing involved on my part.

So naturally, I insist on watching the show every week, or at the very least, taping it.

The past couple of weeks have been the taping kind, for one reason or another.  The PVR has been set.  The little “set for taping” icon appears in the on-screen channel guide, and so I go about my business of doing whatever it was that prevented me from watching my beloved Office in the first place.

But then . . . nothing.  NO. TAPING. TAKES. PLACE!  Twice this has happened!  I missed the birth of Pam’s baby for God sake!

WTH is going on?!?!?  Does my PVR not enjoy “The Office”?  Is my PVR haunted?  Is it perhaps allergic to my favourite show?  Has it been invaded by tiny little PVR aliens?  Is it trying to tell me something?  It has no trouble taping other stuff so it’s clearly not broken.  It just seems to have a hate-on for “The Office”.

Well get over it PVR!  You two need to kiss and make up – and fast.  Thursday at 9:00pm Eastern is quickly approaching and I need my fix.  I’ll give you one more chance this week, but if you fail to deliver . . . well, I think we all know what’s in store.  You will be disconnected and relocated to a box in the basement.  At which time the good old VCR will be resurrected and placed back on top again.

And that’s what she said!*

* a reference to an on-going “The Office” joke.  If you’re not a watcher, you won’t get it.  So you should watch.  So you can get it.  Because it’s funny.

Since I’m a big time celeb/Hollywood aficionado, this Sunday evening I will be hosting my Annual Oscar Party.  You’re all invited.  Please be sure to RSVP in a timely fashion because I’d like to make sure I have enough eats & drinks on hand.

I’ve held this party for the past few years and in it’s prime, I had a total of 1 person attend.  That being me.

I do invite Elle and Willie every year, but so far they’ve failed to show up.  And why?  I don’t know.  I’ll run down the itinerary and you can let me know where I’m going wrong.

Of course there’s the formal attire.  I like to wear something full length and with heels.  After all, this is the Oscars people!  I also like to be dressed a few hours before the Red Carpet portion of the evening commences, which in my timezone, means just before dinner.  I think the boys enjoy seeing a glamed up Mom cooking and loading the dishwasher.  Or at the least they find it strangely amusing.  It’s just something they don’t see every day and I like to keep them on their toes.

Full make up and an up-do simply goes without saying.  I’m just saying.

There will certainly be snacks served.  I’m big on snacks.  This year I will be serving a tray of cheese, crackers and yumyum pickles.  There may also be some salmon & cream cheese or a perhaps even nachos and guacamole.  All washed down with gingerale.  I mean, I like a good flute of champagne as much as the next Nominee, but it is Sunday night after all.  I have to get up for work in the morning and these Oscars do tend to go late into the night.  We don’t need The Only Girl all relaxed and messy before the Best Supporting category even airs.

At some point after 9:30pm EST, I give myself permission to change into pjs.  They’re much more comfortable than the full length satin number I’m planning on previewing that night and seem slightly more apropos for lounging on the couch late into the night in front of the TV.

Tissues will be supplied because there is inevitably a tear-jerking speech or two that will warm my heart and cause me to leak.  Likely something about an actors wonderfully supportive mother, or an award winning directors wonderfully supportive wife.  Which leads me to pretend that I am that wonderfully supportive person and then I get all choked up picturing myself in the audience trying to graciously accept the kudos in front of the entire Academy.

I have already completed my Nomination Ballot  Form and will be sure to report my success rate compared to the actual winners.  Don’t hope for much – I usually get these things wrong.

Now, I implore you.  Who wouldn’t want to come to this party?

What time shall I expect you?

If you’re having your own party, no matter how big or how small, be sure to send me pictures of your outfit and your snacks so I can post them, along with my own, next week.

Apparently Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, considers herself my best friend.  No, really.  She does.  I mean, I blog and she blogs, but that’s kind of where our relationship ends.  Perhaps I’ve mislead her.  I think it all started when I sent her this letter last month . . .

Dear Ree,

Enclosed, please find 2 of your fab cookbooks.  One is mine, and the other is my BFF, Elle’s.  I gave it to her for Christmas.  She claims it was the best gift she received.  And I believe her because I do give great gifts.

We’ve both been big PW readers for awhile now and were so excited when you announced the launch of your cookbook and the book tour!  Yay – we would finally get to meet you face to face!  After reading you for so long, and feeling like we totally and completely kinda know you, this was a very exciting prospect.

But then we read through the list of cities you would be visiting.  Shock!  Horrors!  Not only was our beloved city excluded, so was our country!  Surely to God you have many loyal readers and fans up here in Canada!  Let’s take the Calgary Stampede for example – that place is CRAWLING with cowboys.  Surely they’d ALL want their wives to have a copy of your book.

But alas, it was not meant to be.  Calgary was not on the list, and nor was our beloved Toronto.

But we will not let that deter us.  No.  We will continue to read, to enjoy and to admire our PW.  And in the meantime, we really hope you’re still doing the “book signing by mail” option.  Otherwise we’ve waste time and postage sending you our books.  And you can probably get one for free whenever you want.  I imagine you probably have a whole case of them in your house right now.  In case someone comes by the door.  You seem like you’d be really generous like that.

Anywhoo – we’re lost without our cookbooks and our families will not be eating until they are returned.  We hope that inspires you to sign and re-mail quickly.  But not too quickly – I’d be really annoyed if you rushed things and spelled my name wrong.

We’d be most appreciative if you could make one out to Elle and the one with all the post-it flags to Cher.  Please don’t remove any of the post-it flags.  Those are all the recipes I didn’t like – ha!  Just kidding.  Those are the ones I’m dying to try for my house of annoyingly picky boys loving family.

Many thanks – for the great website, for the awesome cookbook, and for the signings.

Much admiration,

Cher

And a couple weeks later, our cookbooks showed up in my mailbox.  Here’s mine;

See?  “from your BFF“.  And a heart.

Sorry Elle.  I think you’ve been replaced.

And if any of you also have one of The Pioneer Woman’s books signed in a very similar manner, please keep it to yourself.  I don’t want to ruin my fantasy.

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Be sure to enter yesterday’s Olympic Prize Pack give away.  Deadline is today (Tuesday) at noon Eastern time.

Oh how I miss full serve gas stations.

And I admit that I may be aging myself here.  Yes, they still had them when I started driving.  What of it?!

But when it’s really cold out, or very windy, I do long for their return.  Because it doesn’t get any better than full serve, does it?

You’d drive up, right over the little rubber wire that would announce your arrival with a happy “ding ding” of the bell.  Then out would come a man in a uniform (good reason right there!).  Sometimes it would be a delightfully cheery older gentleman.  Or if you were lucky, a buff young mechanic type.

“Fill ‘er Up Ma’am?” they’d ask.

“Yes please” I’d happily reply.

And you’d sit in your warm dry car, listening to your favourite tune.  Watching them work away.  Tending to your car.

And while the gas was filling, they would squeegee your front and back windows till they were sparkling.

And they would check your oil – pop the hood, pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, stick it back in again, pull it out again . . . I’d always keep an eye on them through that little crack between my car and the open hood.

“You could use a quart, Ma’am” they’d say.  Cars never seemed to run low on oil back then.

And if you asked, they would also check your coolant.  In fact, I think they’d check just about anything you asked them too.  Well.  At least they do in my head I think they would.

Yep.  Those were the good old days.  Why can’t they bring that back?  Who’s idea was it to make me pump my own gas?!  I would pay an extra dollar or two on a freezing cold day to avoid having to be out there pumping.  I should at least have an option, no?  But you can’t even find full serve stations anymore.  Nope.  I’m going to lodge a complaint.

I will single handedly bring back the full serve.  Buff young mechanics and all.

You’re welcome.

Before we get to the winner of Friday’s 100th-ish Post Celebration Giveaway, I feel the need to clear something up.

There’s been some significant concern over the hand in Friday’s picture.  Yes.  That is indeed MY hand.  But as I clearly stated then, and will reiterate now, I don’t have fat hands.  But I’m afraid that no one is buying that because clearly . . . the picture speaks for itself.

SO.

In an attempt to remove any false mental images of me you may or may not have formed, I will provide some evidence.

Exhibit A

Okay.  I had trouble finding a picture that shows my hand(s).  This one is the best I came up with.  It was taken immediately before I had my nose pierced a few months ago.  I was nervous – can you tell?  BUT the point I’m making here, and there is one, is that the hand is not fat.  It is not bloated.  And I don’t feel it’s manly.  Nor am I elderly.  Told ya so.  Believe me now?  Can we put this matter to bed?  Thank you.

Okay then.  On to the matter at, um, hand.

The winner of my most favourite foldable portable reusable shopping bag is . . .

Which happens to be Kiran of Masala Chica.  Congrats!  You are SUCH a Winner!  And you can tell all your friends and family that I said so.

Thanks to all for the comments and drink suggestions.  I’ve compiled a list and will actually be bringing it on vacation with me at the end of this week so I can have each and every one of your favourites.  Perhaps not all at the same time mind you . . . I may not have fat hands, but I’m no spring chicken.

Okay – well that was fun.  Let’s do it again sometime.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of cleaning up to do.  At the celebration party some idiot put a slice of pizza in the VCR and the beer keg leaked all over my hardwood floors.  Oh, and Willie’s really pissed about the burn mark in the carpet.  Sheesh!  Can’t a few girls celebrate from time to time?

Well, since today may or may not be my 100th post (see confusing explanation here), and since I promised you “something different” yesterday . . . here it is.  My first ever self-sponsored giveaway!  In fact, I think that from now on, whenever I find a product I really like, and it’s small, light and shippable, I’m going to give one away.  I’m just so generous like that.

So without further ado, I now present my 100th-ish Post Celebratory Giveaway, um, Post!

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We’re going green.  Not so much by choice, but rather by bylaw.  Don’t get me wrong – I’m a big fan of the environment.  And I certainly try to do my part.  Sure, the green bin may disgust me, but it’s one of the things I participate in anyway.  It’s the right thing to do.

So when Toronto decided to take some steps towards being greener this past summer, I approved.  I don’t live there, but I do work there, so it affects me.  One of the initiatives they implemented on June 1/09 was the introduction of a new bylaw that concerns, among other things, plastic shopping bags.  Here’s the deets;

• Retailers must charge 5 cents for each single-use plastic bag “or provide a free alternative”
• Signs must be placed to let customers know about the charge
• The charge must be listed on your receipt
• Retailers will be required to fill your reusable bag if you bring one

Excellent!  I did feel as though I was drowning in the sea of plastic shopping bags that were starting to pile up in my house, so eliminating many of them was a good thing.  And yes, I witnessed the floating circle of garbage in the ocean on my good friend Oprah’s show and was duly disgusted.  So, now we faithfully take our reusable grocery bags to the store every weekend and, in fact, I really like them.  They hold way more stuff so you make less trips out to the car to carry your groceries in.  Win-win!

On my lunch hours, I take a shuttle bus (yes, I should probably walk, but I only have 1 hour for lunch and time is of the essence!) to a local mall where I can get some errands done.  A BIG mall.  With every store you would want.  It’s VERY convenient.  Maybe TOO convenient.  Never mind about my habitual shopping right now, the point here is that I find myself shopping – a lot.  Particularly through the Christmas season.  So I keep a drawer full of shopping bags – both plastic and reusable alike – at work where I store my purse.  The idea being – take out the purse for a shopping excursion . . . and take out a shopping bag at the same time.

But do you think I can ever remember to take out a shopping bag?  Even though they’re RIGHT THERE?  No.  Never.  I ended up doling out nickel, after hard earned nickel, on stupid plastic shopping bag, after stupid plastic shopping bag, once I get over to the mall.  Time and time again.  Grrrr.

Until . . .

I discovered this very small, very cute little fold up reusable bag that fits very nicely in my purse!

(Please excuse my fat hand.  It’s really not fat.  Maybe I was bloated or something.  They do say the camera adds 10 pounds.  Or maybe it’s just a bad camera angle.  Don’t know.  But I assure you – I don’t have fat hands.)

It folds out to a really good size and can hold lots of things.  And I keep it in my purse now so I always have it with me.  I’m SO clever!

And since I love my fold up reusable shopping bag AND I love you, my dear Readers, I’m gonna be all full of the giving today and award one to a lucky winner.  Will it be you?  Will YOU be the winner?  Or are you just a big looser?

All you have to do is leave me a comment that states:

1) your correct email address (so I can get a hold of you to let you know if you are in fact a winner)

2) whether or not your town charges for plastic shopping bags

3) if we were going out for a 100th-ish post celebratory drink, what would you be ordering?

Comments will be open until Friday January 8, 2010 at 11:59pm Eastern Time.  I’ll use a random number generator to pick a winner from all the comments.  The winner has 48 hours to respond or I pick another one.  Anyone can enter – loyal comments and lurkers alike.  And it doesn’t matter what country you’re from.  This small, light little baby will be easy to ship anywhere.  Oh, the fun!

Okay go!  Leave me your comment entry . . .

Comments have now been closed.   Thanks for playing everyone!  Winner to be contacted soon.

This isn’t exactly a product review.  More like a recommendation.  Because when I find something I really like – I share.  I’m good like that.

At Christmas, my sister-in-law gave me, among other things, a pack of Kiss fake nails.

I’ve never been able to grow my nails to any good length.  For one, they’re thin and they break easily.  And for two, my hands are always very busy.

Nor have I brought myself to get acrylics at the salon.  I don’t have the time to sit there and get them done every other week, and I’m cheap and don’t want to spend the dosh.

So these babies seemed like a good alternative.  I tried them out while I was on vacation last week and I tell ya – I LOVE them.  They have a nice french tip and are really shiny and natural looking.

They were easy to apply.  It only took about 15 minutes.  And they’ve stayed on for a full week now and are still going strong.  Two fell off – more my fault than theirs to be honest, but I just glued them back on and away I went.  Although the kit even comes with some extras.

I got the “real short” length for flat nails.  And to be honest, I think the short length is the key.  It makes them quite hardy.  And trust me, I really put these babies to the test.  I’ve been washing pots & pans, making beds, de-Christmas-ing the house, building a new shelving unit, doing laundry, blogging . . . you name it.  And they’ve still lasted a full week!  And they don’t slow down my typing at all, which is important because I’m on the computer all day long at work and that would drive me crazy.  And when the 2 did come off, there just seemed to be a little hardened glue left on my nail that I could easily buff down.  No damage appeared to be done.

From what I could find on the web, the price seems to range anywhere from $10 – $15.  Give them a try and let me know what you think.

Okay, your turn  – what’s YOUR favourite new product “find”?