Old School Thursday: Cavities Edition

Today is National Bagel and Lox Day, though it should probably be National Hard Candy Day or something like that, since it is also St. Apollonia’s day and she is the patron of dentists (and there is probably a Prince joke in there, but I’m too lazy to figure it out).

Appropriately, today in 1894, Hershey’s Chocolate Company was founded as a subsidiary of the Lancaster Caramel Company. Dentists thank you, Milton Hershey. So does St. Apollonia.

Tuesday Tables: Ready for Spring

Last week, I finally gave in and joined Pinterest. I'd been resisting for months. I may still come to regret it - I am sure I don't actually have time for it - but for now, I'm happy because it's helping me find things like this:

Rustic table? Check. Spindly-leg chairs? Check. Billowing sheets? Check. Fancy chandelier? Ooooooh, check. I'm such a sucker for settings like this one. How could I not be?

Happy Hour Friday: Just Purchased

This magical poster:

Classic cocktails + infographics? Yes, please. I haven't figured out where, exactly, it'll be hanging in our house, but as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it. So many things I love, all in one place.

From Pop Chart Lab.

Old School Thursday: Groundhog Day (among other things) Edition

Kind of a big day today. In addition to it being Groundhog Day (shoutout to Punxsutawney Phil, who made his debut in 1887), today is also National Heavenly Hash Day and California Kiwifruit Day. Heavenly hash and kiwi – to me, that screams ‘80s, though I’m sure heavenly hash is really more ‘50s.


Now on to the good stuff – and it is good stuff. Today in 1659, Jan van Riebeeck, who was then governor of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, made his first wine from grapes he’s planted on the cape in 1655. Winemakers all over South Africa rejoice.

It’s also an enormous day for the French. Today is Talleyrand’s birthday (1754) – the French statesman whose chefs included Bouchee, Careme and Avice - and also the anniversary of the death of Brillat-Savarin (1826), whose contribution to food criticism and philosophy just can’t be measured.

Those anniversaries bookend a February 2, 1795 announcement of a French government prize going to someone who invented a method of preserving food to transport to the French army – the prize was won by Nicholas Appert for his canning method.

And finally, today in 1897, Alfred Cralle of Pittsburgh patented the basic ice cream scooper design still used today.

So much to celebrate today – including, apparently, six more weeks of winter. It’s been a warm winter so far, but it looks like that ice cream scooper might come in handy for snowball-making, after all.

Tuesday Tables: Hydrangea Bar

Today's table is only a table in the technical sense...as in , it's a table, but it's used as a bar:

Aren't those hydrangeas amazing? Pretty bars make me extra happy.

Photo credit: I pulled this from MFAMB, but I know - know - I saw it in a magazine a while back. I just can't remember which one.

Happy Hour Friday: Boozy Ginger-Lemonade

Some moms (good ones) build traditions with their children around storytime, or playground visits. At our house, traditions are built around cocktail hour. For real.

But in a responsible way! I set out a few snacks, turn on some music, then make a couple of drinks - a real one for me and a kiddie version for Dixon. It's fun.

Usually we reserve cocktail hour for Fridays, but this week was crazy busy by Tuesday, so we really  needed a little break. Plus, earlier in the day, I remembered that I had a bag of Meyer lemons in the fridge (a gift from Cooper's mom) that were probably getting soft. An idea was born.

I also had a bottle of ginger syrup (another Patsy gift), which seemed like a good fit for the lemon. Dixon found a spare can of lemon selzer in our downstairs refrigerator...and the cocktail was born.

For my drink: 1 shot of vodka, 1.5 tablespoons of Meyer lemon juice and about a half a tablespoon of ginger syrup, poured over ice and topped with selzer, then stirred vigorously. Very tart, very refreshing.

Dixon's drink was basically the same, minus the vodka and plus more selzer. He took his down immediately.

Just add Trader Joe's sesame honey cashews (so good!) and "Video Killed the Radio Star" on repeat (it's Dixon's new favorite song, as of this week). And there it is - recipe for a great Mommy-and-Me cocktail hour!

I Want to Have a Party Like This

How great is this space?

It's the site of a 30th birthday party, thrown by Savory Sister, Wesley Shaw (details here, from Garden and Gun). It's also entirely reasonable inspiration for me. We have a garage, Cooper built me a beautiful, long wooden table, and I have about a trillion Christmas lights that would be easy to string.

And let's talk about this:

I could make that sign! Cooper could (easily) build that bar! We could use chalkboard paint to turn an old door into a menu board! This is so happening.

The last time we had dinner in our garage, it was crabs on top of plywood. But that doesn't mean this won't happen, as soon as it's warm enough to sit out there without gloves on.

Photo credit: Kickstand Studio.

Old School Thursday: Vices & Fixes Edition

National Peanut Brittle Day! Woohoo! Actually, I really do like peanut brittle. Also, today in 1875, the first battery-powered dentist’s drill earned a patent for George F. Green of Kalamazoo – and I can’t help but think the need for dentist drills and peanut brittle are closely linked. In my mouth, at least (and believe me, I’ve seen many a dentist drill).

In other January 26th news, today is St. Timothy’s Day and he is the patron saint of NO stomachaches. So useful!

In 1838, Tennessee passed a temperance law, the first state in the union to do so. To that, I say boo. And Tennessee, the land of bourbon, of all places!

Finally, today in 1932, William Wrigley, Jr., of chewing gum and baseball stadium fame, passed away.

So to celebrate today, eat some brittle, gum, drink some bourbon – and pray that you avoid both stomachaches and dentist drills, at least for the time being.