Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people. ~Martina Navratilova

October 11,

National Coming Out Day

Today is National Coming Out Day (NCOD), and I'm not talking about coming outside. NCOD  is observed in many countries, including the United States,  Australia, Canada, Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It is a civil awareness day celebrating those in the LGBT community. For those of you who have been living under a rock for that last thirty some years, coming out (of the closet) refers to coming out about one's sexual orientation or gender identity. This is the 24th annual NCOD, the first one was founded in 1988 by Dr Robert Eichberg. The date was chosen to mark the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

So cheers to all my LGBT friends! Cheers to letting people be, who people gotta be!

Nuclear Rainbow

Ingredients:

1 oz Midori

1 oz Bacardi 151 rum

1 oz.  Blue Curaçao

Splash Sweet and Sour

Splash Grenadine

Directions:

Let's double the fun with two shakers today, Hey ya!

In the first shaker filled with ice add Midori and Sweet and Sour

You know what to do!

In the second one my talented little friends, Bacardi 151 and Blue Curaçao 

 Pour Midori mixture into a martini glass.

 Sink a small amount of grenadine to the bottom. 

Carefully layer the Bacardi and Curaçao mixture on top. 

Fabulous!

“Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.”

 John Jakes quotes

Let Your Life be Like Angel Food Cake, Light and Sweet

October 10,

Angel Food Cake Day

I don't know about you, but I am loving all of these delicious dessert holidays! Said to be the food of angels,because of it's light airy demeanor, Angel food cake is one of my favorites. Now that I think about it, I really like Devil's food cake as well, go figure!

The dieters delight first became popular in the U.S, during the 19th century. "Angel's Cake" was first seen in The Original Boston Cooking School Cook Book by Mrs.D.A. Lincoln, published in 1884. . In Fannie Merritt Farmer's 1896 updated version of the Boston Cooking School Cook Book, she uses the same recipe and calls the cake "Angel Food Cake."

So my friends..Eat, Drink and be Blessed! Cheers!

Angel's Food Martini

No words necessary! This one is straight from Heaven.

Ingredients:

1/2 oz. Vanilla Vodka

1/2 oz. Amaretto

Splash of Cranberry Juice

Splash of Pineapple Juice

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Then Come on Baby, Do the Twist!

Strain in to a martini glass.

Feelin' fancy? Garnish it with shaved coconut!

May neighbors respect you,

Trouble neglect you,

The angels protect you,

And heaven accept you.

I Say Potato, You Say ... Potatoe? Really?

October 5,

Zinger Day!

Not the amazing little cakes. You know, a Zinger: a quick, witty, or pointed remark or retort.

After an afternoon spent recounting every person in the media's take on the debates Wednesday, this is a fun distraction. Do you remember the days of truly entertaining debates? These are the times when we miss our nations first clown Vice-President, Dan Quayle. What? He wasn't a clown, he was for real?! Ohhh, I see. Any ways we can thank him for our fun today.

On October 5, 1988, during the U.S. Vice Presidential debates, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen faced Republican Dan Quayle. Dan the Funny Man stated,  "I have as much experience in the Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency."

Bentsen quickly shot back with the oft-parodied zinger: "I knew Jack Kennedy; Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

Since that night, October 5^th has been known as Zinger Day. So let the sarcasm roll!

I'm gonna leave you with a little present today... The Best of Dan Quayle. They just don't make vice-presidents like they used to, thank God!

"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."

"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child."

I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future." 

"The future will be better tomorrow."

"We're going to have the best-educated American people in the world." 

"People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history."

"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe." 

"I am not part of the problem. I am a Republican." 

"I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix." 

"It's wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago."

"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls." 

"When I have been asked during these last weeks who caused the riots and the killing in L.A., my answer has been direct and simple: Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters are to blame. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers are to blame." 

"Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it." 

"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur." 

"For NASA, space is still a high priority." 

"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children." 

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." 

"[It's] time for the human race to enter the solar system." 

"The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Dan Quayle may or may not make."

"Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things." 

"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."

Wedding Cake Martini

A really great couple I know is getting hitched tonight! I invite everyone to share a toast for the happy couple and send them all your best! Congratulations Matt and KT!

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 oz. Amaretto

1/2 oz. Vanilla Vodka

1 oz. Pineapple Juice

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice

Shake it up ooh yeah, Shake it up

Strain into martini glass

Toasts a long and happy life

Enjoy!

May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.

“I've developed a new philosophy... I only dread one day at a time.” Charlie Brown

October 2,

Good Grief!

On October 2, 1950, the first ever Peanuts strip debuted. Written and illustrated by Charles M Schulz, the comic strip ran through Februaury 13, 2000.  With 17,897 strips published in all, it is considered to be the most popular and influential comic strip in history. At it's peak the strip ran in over 2,600 newspapers, with a readership of 355 million in 75 countries, and was translated into 21 languages. 

The television debute of the Peanuts gang came in  1959 with a series of color television commercials for Ford Motor Company. The first half-hour animated special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas", aired on December 9, 1965 on  CBS. Charlie Browns All-stars and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired in 1966. Thirty animated specials would run through out the years. 

It was the death of Charles Schulz on February 12, 2000 that brought the series to an end.

Cheers to Charlie Brown, the lovable loser who never quits...To holiday specials that continue to shape generations!

"Peanuts" Butter Cup Martini

This is a seriously delicious treat!

Ingredients:

Chocolate syrup

1.5 oz  Chocolate Vodka 

1 oz Castries Crème Peanut Rum (may subsitute Frangelico)

.75 oz Chocolate liqueur

.5 oz Cream

Directions:

Drizzle chocolate syrup along the inside of the Martini glass

 Add the remaining ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. 

Then there should be A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On!  

Strain into the prepared glass.

 Garnish with a peanut butter cup.

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.” 

― Charles M. Schulz

Flattery is like chewing gum. Enjoy it but don't swallow it. Hank Ketcham

September 30,

 Chewing Gum Day

This day would certainly make Violet Beauregarde happy! Did you know chewing gum has been around for over 5,000 years. In 1848, the first commercial gum was put on the market, The State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum. In 1860,  chicle was exported from Mexico for use as a rubber substitute. Chicle didn't go far as a rubber, but thanks to companies like Adams New York Chewing Gum (1871), Black Jack (1884) and “Chiclets” (1899), it dominated the market as a chewing gum.  Most chewing gum companies now use synthetic gum bases as they are cheaper and more readily available.

So here's to a whole day of bubble blowing, gum popping, all out obnoxious fun!

Blow Pop Martini

These yummy treats were orriginally creaated in 1966 at the Triple T Candy So in Atlanta Ga. They became Charms Blow Pops in 1973.

Ingredients:

1.25 oz. Buble Gum Vodka

.5 oz. Pucker Flavor of your choice

.5 oz. Sour mix

Splash of Sprite

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice

Shakashakashake

Strain into a martini glass

Garnish with a mini Blow Pop *take the wrapper off first, Duh"!)

Oompa Looma Song

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Listen close, listen hard / The tale of Violet Beauregarde / This gentle girl she sees no wrong / Chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / She goes on chewing till at last / Her chewing muscles grow so fast / From her face her giant chin / Sticks out just like a violin / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Oompa Loompa, Oompa Loompa, Oompa Loompa, Oompa Loompa/ For years and years she chews away / Her jaws get stronger every day / And with one great tremendous chew / They bite the poor girl's tongue in two / And that is why we try so hard / To save Miss Violet Beauregarde / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing all day long./ Chewing, chewing all day long./ Chewing, chewing all day long./
Blueberry Violet: Mr. Wonka!