Random of the Day; Germ Fighting

I found these germ fighting tips on a newsletter at work. Germs are bad, people. Germs are bad!

1. Take your shoes off and put them on a rack or in a closet nearest the door where you enter your house. Germs, allergens and other contaminants collect on shoes and can be tracked throughout the house.

2. Keep your toothbrush and toothpaste in the medicine cabinet. Flushing the toilet disperses microbes as far away as six feet, and many of them collect in the bathroom sink.

3. Avoid putting your purse on the kitchen counter or on any surface where food is prepared or eaten. Researchers have found that purse bottoms can contain more than 10,000 bacteria per square inch.

4. Use the end stalls in public bathrooms. The middle stalls harbor the most bacteria.

5. Frequently clean your cell phone and your hands-free headphones or blue tooth with an alcohol swab to remove bacteria.



Do you have any germ fighting tips to share?

I eat the turkey then I take a nap.

Thanks to my wonderful husband and his holiday bonus, I will be the proud owner of a new Dell laptop later this week. You don't know how much this excites me. We've been using a borrowed laptop the last couple of months. I don't want to sound ungrateful because this laptop saved my sanity on several occassions, but it's been extremely tempremental. The power cord has to be plugged in at all times even if the laptop is fully charged. If you bump the cord in the slightest, you have to jiggle it back in place. If you're not fast enough, it shuts off. Basically, I could only use it on a flat surface like a tv tray or the kitchen table. I also had to use it when the kids were occupied or asleep. It'll be nice to once again blog in bed in front of the tv... like it's supposed to be done.


Our weekend was full of food, family and friends. We spent part of Thursday visiting The Hero at the fire station. On Friday, we spent the day with my family at my grandparent's house. My grandparents are enjoying my kids so much. I consider myself extremely lucky to still have them in my life. On Saturday, we spent the early part of the day with The Hero's parents and his extended family. It was a packed house. After lunch, we headed home to watch the biggest game of the year. {Florida State vs Florida} After six years of defeat, we beat the Gators! And, to top off a perfect day, we found out that the Noles will play for the ACC Championship after another team lost.

Yesterday was Little Bit's birthday party. We were once again surrounded by our wonderful family and friends. This shindig was kept much smaller than the last though. Little Bit racked up on clothes and goodies. I hope to share pictures from the party in a day or two. The Talk of Tinseltown will resume next week when I have more time. Until then, enjoy your week.

Guilty Aversions

I was planning on scheduling this post weeks ago, but never got around to it. I ran across this idea on one of my favorite blogs, but can't remember which one now. Anyway, the premise for today's post is pretty simple. We all have guilty pleasures. I've talked about many of mine on this blog. Well, today, I'm going to share my guilty aversions with you. These are things that a lot of other people like, but me... I just don't.



Anthropologie
I don't think their clothes are that cute.
I also think they're extremely overpriced.



Dave Matthews Band
I don't think their music totally sucks,
but I don't get all the hype.



Wine
I've tried red.
I've tried white.
I don't particularly like either.



Real Housewives
I don't watch any of these shows.
I don't plan to start either.



Black Friday
You won't find me in a store on Black Friday.
I don't have the patience for asshole shoppers.

Giving Thanks

The Hero works today so the kids and I will be visiting him at the fire station. We'll be celebrating the holiday with my family tomorrow and celebrating with his on Saturday. And, on Sunday, everyone will be coming to our house to celebrate Little Bit's 2nd birthday.

What am I most thankful for? I'm thankful for my husband, my son, my daughter, my supportive family, my loyal friends, our jobs, and the roof over our head. I'd say that's a lot to be thankful for.



I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Easy Cooking & Dieting Tips for Turkey Day

From MSN.com:

1. Go for light, white meat.
This part is easy. Turkey breast is already super lean: just 44 calories, 1 gram of fat, and no saturated fat per skinless ounce. Plus, the big bird is a great source of iron, zinc, potassium, and B vitamins. Eliminate drumstick temptation by serving a breast ready for slicing. Or, if you do cook a whole turkey, roast or bake it. Don't even go near a deep fryer. {Well, that's no fun.}



2. Add gravy that has more flavor than fat.
Use low-fat, low-sodium broth rather than drippings from the roasting pan.
If drippings are a family requirement, stick them in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Chilling makes it easier to skim off the fat before using
the juices to make gravy.



3. Stuff your bird with whole grains.
Bake the stuffing separately so it doesn't soak up grease from the bird. This
will ensure the stuffing is cooked all the way through and eliminate bacteria. Instead of boring white bread crumbs, wow your guests with a whole-grain mixture. Try the slightly nutty flavor of quinoa or rice pilaf. You won't save calories, but you'll gain oodles of antioxidants plus fiber, iron, magnesium, selenium, B vitamins... and compliments.



4. Add a touch of green.
Cut calories in half by shelving the green bean casserole this year and boiling fresh beans until just tender. Season them with just a touch of olive oil, sea salt and black pepper. It sounds simple, but the flavor's amazing. And you'll get fiber, protein, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium,
and vitamins A, C, K, and B6.



5. Don't forget the cranberries.
Skip the canned sauces which are jammed with added sugar. Instead, type "cranberry sauce recipes" into Bing and pick one of the recipes that's sweetened with fruit then use half the sugar called for. You'll be amazed.



6. Slim the spuds.
We learned this trick from our friends at EatingWell. Simmer your spuds
with some garlic to create a robust flavor then mash them with parsley
and buttermilk instead of cream. The flavor's great and despite its name, buttermilk has almost no fat. If you want to top it with a pat of butter just before serving, no one will ever know that's all there is.
Neither will their waistlines.



7. Watch the liquid calories.
Even tiny trimmings add up. Stretch one glass of white wine (about 120 calories) to two by mixing it with bubbly water for a white wine spritzer.
{I'm going to disagree here. Drink up!}



8. Oh my, don't skip the pie.
Trim more than 100 calories and 7 grams of fat from a slice of pie
just by forgoing the crust.

iLove Tuesday Tunes; Like a G6

Far East Movement's Like a G6 makes me want to shake my booty up in da club. It reminds me of my younger days... when I used to go out in my faux leather pants showing off my midriff just because I could. It reminds me of my younger days... when I'd put Peppermint Schnapps in my Route 44 Cherry Limeade before heading to the club. It reminds me of my younger days... riding around with my girlfriends with the windows down screaming lyrics at the top of our lungs.

Poppin bottles in the ice, like a blizzard
When we drink we do it right, gettin slizzard
Sippin sizzurp in my ride like Three 6
Now I’m feelin so fly like a G6
Like a G6, Like a G6
Now I’m feelin so fly like a G6





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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

You all know how much I love Twilight. Did you know that I love Harry Potter too? Well, I do. I've been anxiously awaiting the release of the last two movies. I didn't jump on the Potter bandwagon until the last book came out. I tore through all of them in a matter of weeks. I was upset that I hadn't read them sooner. I can say with certainty that I'll reread them ever so often until I die. Ever so often? Is that proper English? Anyway, I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 this weekend with a girlfriend. I'll be seeing it again in a week or two with The Hero. It's everything I expected it to be and more. I have yet to be disappointed with a Potter film. They've really done the books justice with the actors, the story and the special effects. I'll be sad when the final film comes out in July 2011, but I'll always have my books and eventually all of the movies on DVD.



So, do you love Harry Potter?

If not, what the hell is wrong with you?

The Talk of Tinseltown; Happily Ever After or Not

Britain's Prince William will marry his longtime girlfriend, Kate Middleton, next spring or summer in London. A spokesman for Prince Charles said Prince William gave Kate the engagement ring that belonged to his late mother, Princess Diana. The ring is an oval sapphire surrounded by diamonds. A lot of people think this is weird. Yes, there was definitely a scandal surrounding mom and dad's marriage, but there's nothing wrong with a young man wanting to give his future wife his mom's ring. I hope these two live happily ever after just like a prince and princess future king and queen should.


Beyonce's parents may not be getting divorced after all. Neither showed up to court so the judge dismissed the case. It's unclear if Tina and Mathew have actually reconciled. They originally split because he turned out to be the father of another woman's baby. Whoops!


Julianne Hough has been dodging romance questions for months, but on the "Ellen DeGeneres" show Tuesday, she finally opened up about her relationship with Ryan Seacrest. "Oh my gosh, he's phenomenal," she told the talk show host. "He's really romantic." She said she finds her car filled with flowers when he's not even in town. Say it with me now. AWWW!


Teen Mom star Amber Portwood is in trouble for beating Gary Shirley, the father of her child, in front of their daughter. She was officially charged with two felony counts and one misdemeanor count for domestic violence and battery. Under Indiana law, an incident of domestic abuse is considered a felony if a child is present for the abuse. MTV issued a statement saying, "We are cooperating with all parties and hope for a quick and fair resolution that allows everyone involved to move forward in a positive manner."

I don't watch this show, but I know a lot of you do. Personally, I think it's a horrible example to set for young girls whether they're pregnant or not. MTV actually filmed and aired one of the incidents she's being charged with. What do you think?


Britney's parents, Lynne and Jamie, are back together after filing for divorce in 2002. Well, ain't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard?


While conveniently in Thailand delivering a speech on clean energy, Bill Clinton managed to land himself a cameo in The Hangover 2. Clinton, who’ll play himself in the film, shot his brief appearance in Bangkok, where part of the production takes place. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see this movie!


If you don't know about Eva Longoria and Tony Parker, you must be living under a rock. Well, Eva apparently filed for divorce and leaked the story of Tony's sext messages to his ex-teammate's wife without warning him about any of it. They were reportedly still working out the details when she decided to go public. Good for you, Eva. Good for you!

When The Hero first heard about this, his exact words were...

"HE CHEATED ON EVA LONGORIA?!"

I couldn't have said it better myself.



The Talk of Tinseltown was brought to you today by...


Beyonce

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The Talk of Tinseltown; Engagements are contagious!

Us Weekly is reporting that Pink and Carey Hart are expecting. The singer has yet to confirm or deny the story. Come on, Pink! Inquiring minds want to know.


Dean Sheremet proposed to his girlfriend Friday morning in their NYC apartment. Dean was divorced from LeAnn Rhimes back in June. LeAnn congratulated her ex via Twitter because that's what exes do.


Jenna Jameson posed with her twin boys, Jesse and Journey, for the family issue of W magazine. She said, "I really don't think I need to say, 'Mommy was a porn star,'. The moment I decided to have children, I quit. I won't even do a Maxim cover."

I give her major props for giving it up, but the conversation is going to come up eventually. She's like the biggest porn star in the history of porn stars.


Two of the Gosselin sextuplets were expelled from their Pennsylvania private school. The two are reportedly being homeschooled after getting kicked out for 'rage issues'. If your children have rage issues and get kicked out of school at the age of 6, there's something seriously wrong. The tv cameras need to go. Mom and Dad need to quit worrying about fame and parent their damn kids.


After hearing of Nick Lachey's engagement to Vanessa Minnillo, Jessica Simpson told Ryan Seacrest she was extremely happy for her ex-husband. She was so happy that she went out and got engaged herself. Jessica is now engaged to former NFL player, Eric Johnson. Well, that's one way to deal with it.

I'm not the only one who finds this to be weird, right?


Lindsay Lohan is allowed out of rehab from time to time for good behavior. She was seen spending time with her father a few days ago. Well, Michael's already gone and messed that up somehow. He came to her apartment with Chinese food this weekend and she had security escort him out. I guess I'll give him credit for trying, but now's probably not the best time to reconcile with his daughter. Why can't everyone just leave her the hell alone so she can heal?


Kendra Wilkinson is in the upcoming December issue of Playboy. She admits that the pictures were taken two years ago, but were never used. She looks great, but the cover is hideous. Whose idea was it to use red and green fonts and put her in pink and blue? That's just tacky.

And, yes, I know the people looking at the magazine are not worried about...

BOOBS!

Please forgive me. I got distracted.



The Talk of Tinseltown was brought to you today by...


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Some things just need to be shared.

You should check out this post at Fetch My Flying Monkeys.

It's hilarious.

I promise.

Free Holiday Cards from Shutterfly

It’s time for me to start thinking about what picture(s) I’ll be using for this year’s holiday card. For the last two years, I’ve only included pics of the kids. That’s what everybody wants to see anyway, right? Do you know how hard it is to get a good picture of four people? I don't think I have the patience to try.

In case you didn’t know, Shutterfly has a great selection of holiday cards. I’ve used them for the last 3 or 4 years. One thing I love is how fast their items ship. In the past, I've ordered address labels, photo books and personalized calendars for the grandparents. I've recently learned that Shutterfly is offering bloggers a chance at earning 50 free cards. Yes, that's right. You can get 50 free cards! You can click this link to find out more.

Here are a few of my favorite 2010 card designs.







Remember, for this fabulous offer, visit Shutterfly here.

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Do you send out holiday cards?

I always do, but they're never sent out in a timely manner.

{slacker}

My Hero

My husband saves lives almost every day as a firefighter. To him, it’s a job. It’s a job he loves, but a job nonetheless. Sometimes, no matter how hard the guys try, they can’t save everyone. Just recently, a girl was pinned inside her car on the side of the interstate after being hit by a drunk driver. She was talking and didn’t seem to be in a lot of pain. The firemen cut her out only to see her take her last breath immediately after. She was only 21. To hear my husband share stories like these is heartbreaking. Heartbreaking and beautiful… because he works hard to save the lives of people he doesn’t know. And for that, I am thankful.

Roll Call; Where You At, Who You Be

I don’t pay much attention to my blog stats. I look from time to time, but mostly I forget. All that really matters is how many comments I get. {Don’t hate. You know it’s true.} Well, blog comments have been way down. I could be boring you. You could be busy. Maybe you’re shy, or don’t have anything nice to say. Today, here at Handbags & Handguns, I’m taking names. If you read this post and comment, you’ll receive an imaginary gold star. {Come on, people. You know you want one.} Tell me something about yourself. What’s your name? Where are you from? Tell me how awesomesauce you think I am. Share a favorite quote or fun fact. Sing me a song.

My inbox has been feeling rather empty lately. What are you going to do to fill it up?