Frozen Deliciousness

LifeHacker.com addict right here, folks.

These awesome recipes from WiseBread.com (living large on a small budget) are super simple... and sound awesome. Will be making some of these ASAP.

Cool Off With Six Simple DIY Frozen TreatsI'm a fresh fruit junkie, so these will be whipped up first:Frozen fruit bars – These are my favorite, and unfortunately, they are the most costly of all my freezer-case passions. Choosing bars with no sugar or organically-grown will cost you more, so why not make them yourself?

Here is a super recipe from SparkPeople to get you started (you can omit the sugar, add 100% fruit juice to help in the blending process, or substitute organic fruit.) Sticking to one or two kinds of fruit keep them simple and yummy!

* Blend 2 cups cut-up summer fruit (strawberries, peaches, watermelon, etc.) in a blender until smooth.
* Add 1-2 tablespoons water (or juice), if necessary.
* Add 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
* Cover and blend until well mixed.
* Pour into molds and freeze until solid.Also included on WiseBread's DIY freezer treats: pudding pops, frozen yogurt bars, ice-cream bars, popsicles, and frozen bananas.

July is "Firefighter Appreciation Month"

From the City of Raleigh eNewsgram:

Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker will proclaim the month of July as “Firefighter Appreciation Month” at a press conference scheduled for Monday, July 14 at 10:30 a.m. The event will be held at the Firefighter Memorial in Nash Square Park.

The conference is hosted by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to honor City of Raleigh Firefighters. The event will also kick off the firefighter’s “Fill-The-Boot” campaign to raise funds for MDA. Firefighters across the country have been raising money for the MDA since 1954. The Raleigh Fire Department has hosted the “Fill-The-Boot” campaign for the past 10 years.Additionally, a quick Google found more info on the success of this event from the Downtown Raleigh Alliance:In recognition of Raleigh firefighters’ dedication to battle against neuromuscular disease, Mayor Meeker will proclaim July “Firefighter Appreciation Month” at the firefighter memorial in Nash Square.

Committed to the eradication of neuromuscular diseases, Raleigh firefighters have been long-time friends and supporters of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Fill-the-Boot drives are the primary means by which firefighters have raised over $320 million for MDA since 1953.

Last year, Raleigh firefighters raised over $12,000 in support of MDA. Fill-The-Boot funds support MDA’s services locally and nationally, including medical clinics staffed with specialists in muscle disease and accessible summer camps for kids. Nationwide, firefighters raised $25 million in 2007. The mayor’s proclamation will precede Raleigh’s Fill-The-Boot campaign on July 26, during which 100 of Raleigh’s firefighters will take to the streets for the tenth consecutive year to raise funds for MDA.

MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat more than 40 neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. The Association’s programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributions.This is one contribution that the "girl who never carries cash" would gladly find some cash for! (As well as Barry's Feed the Firefighters organization... that supports those who are clearly such public servants in all aspects of their jobs.)

A Little Southern Humor for Today...

Thanks Aunt Deb!

How to Install a Home Security System in the South
1. Go to a second-hand store and buy a pair of men’s used size 14-16 work boots.

2. Place them on your front porch, along with a copy of Guns & Ammo Magazine.

3. Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazines.

4. Leave a note on your door that reads:

"Hey Bubba,

Me, Big Jim, Duke and Slim went for more ammunition.
Back in an hour.

Don’t mess with the pit bulls– they attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up real bad. I don’t think Killer took part in it but it was hard to tell from all the blood. Anyway, I locked all four of ‘em in the house. Better wait outside.

‘Cooter’"Clearly, that's not relevant AT ALL in the Jeffries family...

(From left to right... sort of: Cybill, my "little" sister Mandy, Rocky, Alfie, Delta, Tank, Me, and Sonar. Christmas card picture, December 2007 at Mom and Pop's house.)

Update: NC Ag Jam

First, let me say how super exciting it was to get a personal update in my comments from a blogger by the name of Jeff (who I'm guessing may have something to do with the event) - thanks Jeff!!

So here's the skinny... I hope to see ALL of you at this great event. I will be there with bells on! (Please note that metaphor of "bells" really implies cowgirl boots.)

Original Post: NC AG Jam

Update: The Diet Pepsi Got to Be NC Ag Jam has been announced.

Blake Shelton, Tracy Byrd, Eric Church, Jake Owen, Jamey Johnson, Heartland and Blackberry Smoke will perform.

Gates will open at 11am with music starting at Noon.

This is an all day event and tickets will start at $15 (Lawn) up to $25 (Gold Circle) for all day (on sale July 26).

Local, North Carolina companies will sample and sell products. This is not your typical show, it will be a one of a kind event.

The site, www.ncagjam.com, is up and running for more information.My tailgating buddy Craig found me at the bar last night to tell me about this... silly boy... he should've known I was WELL aware of this already! I am really stoked about getting to see Eric and Jake LIVE!!!

Soon-to-Be Tailgating Favorites!

Mandy from Swagger is at market this week... and the good stuff is already coming back to town via her market update blog posts!

I have a feeling these southern collegiate essentials she blogged about yesterday are going to be totally necessary come football season:

Market Watch July 08 - Day 3
Today we found some really great collegiate gifts! One of my favorites was this grill cover! I would have been in the photo but I the sample was a UGA grill cover and I went to Georgia Tech so there was NOOOO way that was going to happen! I forced my mom to be in it but I think she dislikes them as much as I do!:)



One of my other favorite gifts was a really cool coozie that was magnetic so you could stick it to the side of your car when you are tailgating - now that is a great idea! The salesman said you can even stick it to the side of your lawn mower - now you might be a redneck if.....:) I will let you guys know when we actually get this stuff in the store!

MandyI am really excited about the koozies that you can have your car hold for you... you know, for when you don't have a free hand thanks to the plate of bbq in one, and your fork in the other! It's freakin' genius I tell ya.

I double love the redneck inspiration to have your lawnmower hold your beer while you cut the grass. (Chad from A-1 Lawn will be getting one for Christmas this year no doubt!)

Two Enthusiastic Thumbs Up...

Quote of the day:

"I rarely fall in love with kitchen gadgets. For the most part, they do what they do, I do what I do, it works, and we move on. This is an exception."Lisa S. is only a few posts in to her new blog... but I have a feeling it's going to become a daily read for a good chunk of y'all who enjoy detailing your own "domestic adventures and mishaps" (to put it mildly) on your blogs that are in my Google reader.My Domestic AdventuresCheck it out and add it to your daily reads, too. I mean, what's not to love about a blog with a post dedicated to a mini-food processor?!

PS - Polos & Pearls... invite please? Thanks doll!
PS #2 - Any of my other lovely readers who are private who have yet to comment... can I go ahead and preemptively request an invite? ncsulilwolf@gmail.com is the name... reading blogs about all things Southern is my game!

Finally! Something Useful from UNC...

Har, har, har. Had to jump at the opportunity to pick on the silly hue of blue down the road.

I do love this article though from TBJ... more reason for me to return to 4-a-weeks at Buckhead (ie: hanging out all on each of the four nights Buckhead is open each week). Lace up those drinkin' boots Renee!

UNC study links alcohol abstinence with depressionCheers!

PS - $5 says Ashton can use this in her daily email/blog tomorrow and that it'll be the most popular link of the day. Sign of the impending apocalypse too possibly?

Local Legend Finally Officially Closes

For anyone who follows my MySpace blog on truly random stuff... this shouldn't be surprising.

Longbranch Saloon shuts down in bankruptcy messWhile I rallied behind them in their first attempt to recover, the fact that they still employed the use of stiff cover charges, no acceptance of any kind of credit/debit cards, and maintained a staff with an attitude worse than any DMV office is still something I've yet to be able comprehend.

I guarantee you I run up a much higher bar tab when I've opened a tab with a card than when I'm paying with cash.

(Actually, while on the phone with a Nashville booking agent a few weeks ago, I mentioned to said agent that "the Longbranch still to this day doesn't take any type of credit card" and he laughed hysterically louder than I've ever heard any grown man laugh in my life. Ouch.)

PS - Bartenders that smile and say "you're welcome" when guests thank them for their drink and leave a tip usually help, too. I'm just sayin'...

PPS - Also via MySpace (and trust me, I cringe writing that... I truly do detest MySpace), the "artist formerly known as the Longbranch DJ" writes that the newest place in the Triangle for country music is... Sinners and Saints Saloon?

While I think the name is quite nice, I don't see it being on constant repeat in my calendar. For one, it's in Clayton. I'm all for visiting my Johnston Co. folks for a hell-raisin' good time... but not for a $10 membership fee with a $10 annual renewal.

City Limits and Buckhead Saloon can go after the country music market all they want and have me along for the ride any day over that crap. (Ok, excuse my crabbiness as I will probably possess said membership if they book enough country acts so that the fee is off-set by a member-price savings at each event... but in all honesty... I'm very skeptical. We'll have to see what happens.)

Volunteers Needed for the 15h Annual Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic

If you're in Pinehurst, or care to be on August 10th, please consider volunteering for the Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic! It is SO much fun and for such a great cause.

Volunteers Needed for the 15h Annual Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic
Cary --- Each year, the Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic, one of the nation’s premier celebrity golf events, strives to raise money to help find a cure for cancer and change the lives of those facing this terrible disease, but they cannot do it alone; they need your help. The 15th annual Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic is scheduled for August 10, 2008 at the world famous Pinehurst Resort® in Pinehurst, NC and volunteers are needed in several key areas.

Volunteers were the center of Jimmy V’s dream when he started The V Foundation. One of his favorite concepts was that ordinary people, working together, are able to achieve extraordinary things. The magical weekend is made possible because of the tireless efforts of more than 1,000 volunteers; ordinary people working with extraordinary passion to make things run smoothly and helping to achieve the goal of finding a cure for cancer.

How To Volunteer
To register, visit www.golfclassic.org and fill out the online application. All volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Volunteer positions needing the most help are Marshals, Transportation and Standard Bearers. For questions regarding volunteering, please call (919) 656-6926 or email to volunteers@golfclassic.org.

“Volunteers are what make this event so magical,” said Pam Valvano Strasser, wife of the late Jim Valvano. “I just love to meet all the amazing people who make a difference and make this magnificent tournament possible. It is, by far, the best part of the weekend for me.”

Don't Miss This Downtown Event

I think I can find a few hours in my Wednesday to check this out!

"Hot Air 'Balloon' Tour over Downtown Raleigh!"
Wednesday, July 9

Attend the Raleigh, NC. stop of Americans for Prosperity's nationwide hot air balloon tour at the Halifax Mall Behind the General Assembly on Jones Street.

We invite you and your entire family to come out for our event, which will feature music, free food, t-shirts, and free tethered hot air balloon rides (weather permitting).

At our event you will also learn about the serious threat global warming alarmism poses to our prosperity, including legislation being considered by Congress that would more than double gasoline prices.

The entire event is free and begins at 11:30am!Dear Mother Nature: Please, please, please hold out until after this event!

One Small Request

I love reading (and writing!) blogs, all kinds of blogs: Raleigh blogs, Downtown blogs, business blogs, tech blogs, wedding blogs, tech blogs, and of course... the random blogs that are more like journals.

Here's a simple request I have for those of you who enjoy writing blogs too: please blog often about things you find important! Take me for example - the girl with a special place in her heart for animals (especially puppies). Why you ask? Google.

My marketing background has taught me the importance of testimonials and word of mouth and it makes me SO happy to read emails like this:

Hi Lisa,
I did a google search on our facility and your blog entry about DBTT came up. Thank you so much for your kind words about us! I hope all is well with you and Delta!

Carole

Carole Smith (Lawler)
Development Director
SPCA of Wake County
Phone (919) 532-7065
Fax (919) 772-2482

www.spcawake.orgAs I told Carole, they are most certainly welcome and I truly mean every positive word I've ever said/written about the SPCA of Wake County.

I look forward to supporting y'all and reading about your favorites! Almost everything that I'm passionate about has been thanks to a friend or family member who has introduced me to things they find important.

Ready to Shag?

I'm dedicating this post to Beaufort Belle who told me in my comments that I really caught her eye with my beach music posts... so here you are dear and thanks for the comment!

NC State Alumni Beach Music Party

Whether you shag every weekend or you just enjoy the music, join the Wake County NC State Alumni Club and the Meredith Alumnae Association for a Beach Music Party!

Music will be provided by Soul Dog, one of Raleigh's finest beach music DJs.

July 17, 2008
6:00 - 6:30 p.m. Shag Lessons
6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Beach Music Party

Dorothy and Roy Park Alumni Center
2450 Alumni Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27606

$15 in advance or $20 at the door - includes hors doeuvres and raffle ticket.
Cash Bar

Register by July 11, 2008
www.alumni.ncsu.edu/events
800-627-2586This sounds like a really, REALLY fun alumni event. I'm sure I can count Miss Styron in for this one ;-)

Newsworthy? Not So Much.

Proof that either A: NC has not gotten as big and grown-up as we'd like to think or, B: a writer/producer at WRAL still has a chip on her shoulder for not being crowned homecoming queen.

This just came as a top news alert to my email inbox (note: I'm only signed up for the most important news headlines and weather alerts):

WRAL.com Breaking News: Vance County sheriff's daughter charged with DWI
The Vance County sheriff's daughter has been charged with DWI in connection with an Easter Sunday traffic stop.

Keep up with breaking news at http://www.wral.com/See, I don't really consider that need to know or important enough to have emailed to my blackberry. I guess that's one way to drive traffic to your site on a slow news day to sell online advertising. I was really tempted to unsubscribe last week when I got a brief summary of the recently un-sealed documents from the Eve Carson case (a prime example of the lack of class by N&O)... and this really tips the scale even more. I bet that's not exactly the type of traffic WRAL was anticipating from me, huh?

Update: Summertime in Raleighwood

So this is a post update, almost a year in the making! (Please forgive my utter-disregard for doing anything blog-related in a timely fashion.)

Original post here, for those of you who haven't been an avid reader since day 1: Summertime in Raleighwood



Sidetrack Brewpub --> Boylan Bridge Brewpub: A lot has gone down in the making of "Sidetrack Brewpub" (who received a cease and desist demand out of Chicago, IL I believe... which I still maintain is a load of crap that someone can claim the right to the word "sidetrack"). The re-named Boylan Bridge Brewpub is scheduled to open August 25th - thanks for the update Ashton & Leo! For a hands down best view of Raleigh... their patio (see pics here) which I've been driving by every day is where I'll be spending some time. I'm not a beer girl, but I'll admit it, I'm in it for the view.



Big Boss Brewery: When Buckhead first opened, we carried Big Boss. We don't anymore, but that sure doesn't stop me from recommending it anyone who truly enjoys beer. Go on their brewery tour sometime... it's a crap ton (official term there) of FUN and you get to sample some of their brews for free. Sales Manager Jonny Johnson sends out a weekly email of their local happenings too for any of you interested in getting on that list. I've been a fan of his since I first met him at one of their Monday night tastings (teamed up with a local wine distributor, too) at The Point. I've been an even bigger fan since finding out about his love and support for the SPCA.

And since my original post included the nickname "Raleighwood", I figured that'd be a great opportunity to introduce an event we have coming up at Buckhead this month that I'm really excited about. (And if any of you win the free trip to Hollywood.... you have to take me since I told you about it :-))

I'm sure I'll have some free tickets to the party to give away... so let me know via comments or email if you'd like some!

New Retailer in Downtown Raleigh

From my retail therapy blog, just a bit about a new retailer downtown that will be changing up the merchandise regularly - constantly offering up new merchandise to Downtown shoppers!

Purple Armchair in Downtown RaleighAnyone had the pleasure of shopping here yet?