Saturday, June 27, 2009

Would you do this for $1000?

The contest was simple -- Hang out in a port-o-let for an hour in 100 degree temperatures. The rallying of the troops and rules are below as written by an executive from the Indy Racing League...

Mr. G says he will stay in the port-o-let outside the business affairs trailer for 1 hour tomorrow for $400. I’m looking for funding to help underwrite this venture.

Rules:
1. No blackberry
2. From 4pm – 5pm Eastern
3. No fanning devices allowed
4. Must go in with only the clothes on his person
5. Cash to be paid upon completion of the 60 minute period.
6. The 60 minutes start upon backing the Dodge Avenger up to the door to assure no escape.
7. “Tapping Out” will signify an aborted attempt

Who’s in? Please feel free to consume as much pork, coffee, tobacco products, potato salad, Thai food, spicy chicken wings, braunschweiger, Mexican cuisine, White Castles, old broccoli and Guinness as you see appropriate. You have until 3:59 to purge.

After having gained support of several additional executives, Firestone, Honda and Tony Kanaan, the funding had been raised and more than doubled to $1000.

The emails and tweets flowed prior to the clock until well after. He succeeded! I'm pretty sure I would have done it too. Would you have?

Update (9:30amET 6/29) - The local media heard about it too.

Giveaway: customized photo necklace


So you might remember from last year when I reviewed Little Fish Designs. If you don't then let me remind you of this incredible company that allows you to wear your kids in a very fashionable, funky, creative way! Amy Baas, a freelance graphic designer and full time SAHM is constantly finding new ways to show off her kids, make gifts for friends and family and having fun while doing it!

Little Fish Designs "Wearables" jewelry was born January of 2008 while creating gifts for Amy's grandpa's 90th bday celebration. Her first trial run of necklaces and key chains were for her 7 aunts and uncles with photos of her grandparents. From there she has done over 65 custom orders. Necklaces come in 3 different lengths and can be made horizontal or vertical. Charms come in 2 sizes and can be purchased alone or be paired with a necklace. Each design is sandwiched between microscope glass and hand soldered using lead-free solder. Necklaces come complete with 18" - 20" of ball chain to give it that dog tag feel.

I have my favorite posted below! A wearables necklace is such an incredible unique gift. A year ago I gave each of the boy's grandmothers a necklace and this year for Mother's Day I was able to wear both LA and Boatboy. I love it! Not only are the prices great, but Amy is so incredible to work with! I also own a 1in x 3in and really like it too!

Buy it: Head over to Little Fish Designs and order a customized photo necklace of your little ones.

Win it: Amy at Little Fish Designs is giving one Blondes, Poop & Mascara reader a personalized 1in x 1in charm. Go to her site and tell me which wearable you must have and who would you put in your charm.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow my blog through Google's easy reader tool.
2. Subscribe to my blog via email
(and except the confirmation email).
3. Follow me on twitter... mrsblonde1

4. Tweet about this giveaway.
5. Grab my button and post it to your cyber space.
6. Blog about this contest and leave the link in your comment.
7. Email this giveaway to 4 friends and copy me.

8. Follow Little Fish Desgins blog

The winner is...Carley
Anonymous carly said...

i really loved the 1' swallow bird! very fun! and of course i would put jayms and jahger in one! jayms would say "ahhhh mom your so sweet!" lol thx carly

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Friday, June 26, 2009

a drug addicted, self-disrespecting, baby-dangling music icon left us with what?

When Mrs. Blonde and I first began dating 6 years ago one of the first questions I asked her was "What do you want your legacy to be?"

Last night the aforementioned beautiful bride of mine and I were out to sushi with a couple good friends of ours when news broke on a nearby tv (yeah, a television in a sushi joint is weird, I know...but it's authentic Japanese cuisine without the American jacked up prices so it's "our place") that Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, had died. I didn't believe it when the other husband at the table read the headline. Then, it settled in a bit.

"Michael Jackson is dead. Dead! This is a really big deal!" I thought (and probably said out loud). But, what does that mean? What was accomplished? What was left behind? In short - A LOT!

He is arguably amongst the Top 5 most popular worldwide music entertainers in history. Likely categorized alongside The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and maybe Madonna. He broke the color barrier on MTV. He invented musical notions and dance moves that will never be replicated. He's won every possible video and music award. Thriller is still the most sold album in music history at 65 million. He became a cultural icon.

And, he was a mess. So fixated on his lack of comfort in his own body, he'd had over 50 plastic surgeries. He was accused of child molestation. He was quirky. He was married and divorced. He was addicted to pain killers. He had debt in the millions.

He's left behind three children. Little is known of them other than the third having been draped over a European balcony over a few years ago in what he later referred to as a poorly decided prank. Ya think? I worry for those little ones.

The 2000 edition of the Guiness Book Of World Records honored Jackson for the "Most Charities Supported By a Pop Star." It's estimated that he gave over $1,000,000,000 to charity. That's 1 BILLION...with a B.

After our dinner was finished, we got to the car and I quickly scrolled through my iPod to play us a tribute MJ jam. Guess what? Nothing. My music-obsessed 8,000+ song-filled mp3 player completely vacant of anything King of Pop. A day later it's clear to me...Michael Jackson meant something to me. I just don't know what that something was.

The man brought shock. He brought awe. He brought extreme talent. He brought bizarrity. He brought confusion. He left questions.

I want my legacy to be something defined. Something sound. Something unquestionable. Something to laugh about. And, cry about. I want to be a man who constantly pursued the best for those around me by giving myself up. A brilliant husband. An unfailing mistake-making father who celebrates triumphs and leaves room for acceptance of error. Someone known and seeking to know. Someone replaceable only by a Love found not given by me but given through me.

What do you want your legacy to be?

-Mr. Blonde

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

celebrating Ahnu shape


5K trail run? Yes! I am training for my first 5k trail run with my hubby. It was part of the "5" gifts he gave me for our 5-year anniversary celebration. Because I'm a goal person (ex-jock) and I've never been signed up for a run, I've lacked motivation. But, now that I'm signed up, it's on. -- In addition to the entry already having been sent, I am trying to shed some weight before even thinking of conceiving baby #3. I don't know if it is the same for you but I feel better if I know my feet aren't barking while I am running.

I've hit the ground running with a sweet new pair of Terra Linda XTR's from Ahnu. And, I adore them. You know that they're-new-so-give-them-a-couple-weeks-to-feel-good notion that crosses your mind every time you're wearing a pair of new shoes? Not necessary with these kicks. They felt good from the first step. Ahnu believes that balance is vital in performance footwear. The balance between cushioning vs. stability, traction vs. flexibility, and comfort vs. durability is all considered in their engineering process. They make shoes geared for walking, hiking, pavement running, trail running, etc. They have some cool souls for men too.

I will say they are a little more pricey than we usually spend on running shoes. But, I would rather pay a little more and know that my money is going toward a company who preserves ethics as much as they care about their products. Ahnu is one of the few footwear factories in the world that is SA8000 certified.

SA8000 is an international standard for improving working conditions. Based on the principles of thirteen international human rights conventions, it is a tool to help apply these norms to practical work-life situations.

It's easy to not care about these things. You might think where/how a pair of shoes or a shirt are produced doesn't really matter. It does! Ahnu also uses post-consumer recyled fibers in their catalogs and packaging. Check out all the ways Ahnu is giving back. Way to go Ahnu for making a difference!

Head over to Ahnu and check out their collections. I am a huge fan and I can't imagine buying running shoes from any other company now that I've experienced them. Stay tuned for more updates as I continue training for our run as well.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

HaPpY DaDdY DaY!


Thanks for being an amazing role model to our children. I can only pray that our boys will turn out just like you. I love you and so do our boys!