This weekend, my political fire was re-ignited. Like all good re-lights, it took the blatant celebration of everything I oppose to do it. Thanks to the national media, I am motivated and ready to charge through to November.
Just a warning to my righty pals who I adore and love and usually completely disagree with, this will be lefty land for a while and I hope you’ll visit and share in the debate. Read: I hope you’ll visit and let me tell you how wrong you are…lol, I kid. Sorta.
I challenge anyone desiring resolution and governing from our leaders, no matter which side of the aisle they are on to go here and read this. It’s a wake up call to the majority of Americans who are now being drowned out by loud, obnoxious (though oddly not very clearly defined) minority out there guzzling their tea.
“When it comes to reenacting our patriotic founding story, we’d better keep choosing to play the deliberative gentlemen engaged in careful compromise more than the apoplectic vandals dressed up as Indians and throwing things overboard.”
Two Saturdays ago, I, along with a few other local bloggers, was lucky enough to be invited by Downtown Cincinnati, Inc. to get a sneak-peak of all the holiday fun Downtown Cincy has to offer. Everyone’s toddlers tagged along – all three and four years olds – and P had just as much fun as I did. Nicholson’s provided a lovely lunch for all of us (heck, we’re such big stuff the MAYOR even dropped in to say hello!) and then we hit the town. I knew about some of the things – like the world’s best Santa at Macy’s and the ice-skating of course, but there is so much more to see and do in our Queen City. Carriage Rides courtesy of Macy’s….Holly Jolly Trolly Rides courtesy of P&G….the train display at Duke…a lovely gingerbread house display at the Hyatt. I’ve said it before – Christmas Time makes Cincinnati shine.
Click on photo to enlarge
You can read all about everything there is to do at DCI’s website. Believe me, there is too much for one afternoon or evening surely, so plan a couple trips Downtown this year. This is a holiday tradition that makes great memories and does good for the heart of our amazing city.
So armed with all this new information, I wanted to make a family day of it so Doug could experience it too. This past weekend we jam-packed Saturday and didn’t stop til we dropped.
Next, we headed to McCormick and Schmick’s (DCI provided us with a gift card to come back and of course it was burning a whole in my pocket). Dinner, as always, was delicious and bonus – KIDS EAT FREE ON SATURDAYS with the purchase of an adult entree. SCORE!
Not that P ate anything – she was too strung out anticipating the arrival of SANTA CLAUS. After dinner we headed over to Fountain Square which is so beautifully decorated, you can’t help but hum along with the Christmas music. The Big Guy himself arrived in high style jumping off the 525 Vine Building along with Rudolph and a very wild Elf, followed by take-your-breath-away firework display. It was quietest P has been since…well…ever.
After that, the masses descended on Macy’s for pictures with Santa and story-time with the woman behind the legend – Mrs. Claus. We held back and P took a turn (well a half turn) around the skating rink. It was hilarious and adorable of course. I don’t think the little gal is ready for the big ice, but I know she had a blast giving it a try.
Once Doug and P were sufficiently cold and exhausted from the ice, we headed over to Macy’s to check in with Santa (as all parents know, the list for Santa changes with each new commercial). The great thing about Macy’s Santa is you can take your own pictures. No high-priced mall packages here baby! I love that. It is incredibly generous of Macy’s and their Santa is splendid with the children.
We finished the night with some Hot Cocoa and a stroll around the city. P didn’t make it out of the parking garage before falling fast asleep.
Out of town? Cincinnati is a perfect weekend destination and now is the perfect time to plan your visit. More information on accommodations can be found here.
I’ll admit it: Doug and I have been using the Santa card a lot lately. P is three now and more into Santa than ever. Lists are made daily, changed hourly and added to with each new commercial. You can’t blame us for incorporating Santa’s cult-status into our questionable parenting method.
P won’t eat? Uh oh, Santa is watching.
P won’t go to bed? Oh boy, you’re heading for the naughty list.
P won’t comply with any of our many demands? That’s it! Santa isn’t coming, we’re welding the chimney SHUT! (At this point Doug typically grabs his drill and blow torch for the ultimate dramatic effect – it’s rather riveting truth be told)
We’ve even gone so far as to have Santa call P when she’s being especially THREE. Afterall, he knows when you’ve been sleeping, he knows when you’re awake…dude, he’s bound to know your digits.
So I guess we had only ourselves to blame as P played her own Santa card when our cat refused to be tormented for the hundredth time today. Peppermint (yes that really is her name) swatted at P with a bit of a hiss. P, not missing a beat, said “That’s it kitty! You’re not getting any presents from Santa”. She went further so kitty would know she meant business and called Santa. Caller ID’s a bitch Claus.
The next eight minutes might only be bearable enjoyable to P’s mom and dad, and maybe Grandma, but I had to share cause she cracks me up.
Sitting here watching the Bengals game – don’t worry, there will be a full episode of Monday Morning Quarterbacking tomorrow. But just wanted to share my appreciation to the NFL for rallying such a visual scream of support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink armbands, gloves, pins, shoes, and hats – its absolutely wonderful. Who knew how purdy pink would look with our black and orange?
www.amystable.com
But we can’t all be Ocho-Cinco, so there are plenty of ways to help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. My favorite? Buy Amy Tobin’s cookbook. During the month of October, she is donating 100% of her royalties to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Word has spread quickly and Amazon is now SOLD OUT! What a great response!
Heck, if you want to buy one, leave me a comment here and we’ll make sure you get a copy! And keep this under your hat, but I’ll be raffling off a SIGNED copy of the cookbook here at Amy in OHio next week. I’ll keep you posted, but keep that on the DL, eh?
When all is said and done this month, the one thing I hope is that all of you remember to self-check, get your mammograms if you are supposed to and prioritize your health. I want healthy, happy readers ’round here!
I gotta be honest, I’m a little bit of an ice cream snob. I like the fancy (aka expensive) stuff. I think it comes from childhood when the hoarder my mother would hide her Graeter’s or Aglamesis pints in the way back of the freezer so we wouldn’t see ‘em. Then, late at night she’d dig ‘em out and scarf it down thinking we were tucked in our beds fast asleep. To her I lovingly say: BUSTED – THE JIG IS UP SISTA. WE KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING YOU GREEDY, GREEDY WOMAN. And this, all the while she was scooping us the cheapest stuff the grocery store had to offer. Fine, I’ll say it: it gave me an ICIC*
For years (well up until last week truth be told) I was convinced that grocery store brand ice cream was basically where joy went to die. If it wasn’t good enough for my sneaky mother, I sure wasn’t going to eat it now that I was running the show! “I’ll go without before I lower myself to the cheap stuff!” would be my chant through the ice cream/novelty aisle. It was all very Scarlet O’Hara (meets Carol Burnett). Side note: If you get that reference you’re golden; you’re old, but you’re golden.
Then Kroger’s asked me to try their Deluxe Ice Cream and sensing my reluctance, gave me some gift cards to try it for free. Sure, my snobbery had me skeptical, but I figured if I didn’t like it, I’d just give it to Doug, right? So while shopping recently, I picked up a couple flavors – Crispy Candy Crunch and for my healthier side (ha), some fat-free Orange Sherbert. P and I tried them on Sunday after the Bengals’ exciting victory. The Crispy Candy was good right out of the container and we added a little Hershey’s syrup to the sherbert (wouldn’t want it to be too healthy afterall). Creamy and rich, they were both delicious – definitely “way back of the freezer-worthy”!
Yes folks, I’ve become my mother.
Thanks to Kroger’s and their social media team, I’ve got some free ice cream to give away. Simply leave a comment here and start making room in your freezer. One lucky winner will win a six-month supply of ice cream. Warning: if you’re like me, that ice cream won’t see Halloween – it is so yummy. I’ll choose at random on Friday, October 2nd at 11:58 pm – so hurry.
In the meantime, check out Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream’s Facebook page and get the scoop and dish with other ice cream lovers. I’ve already checked out the comments and have a list of flavors I MUST try next, so look for me in the ice cream case. With a spoon.
Maybe we’ll try out the Kroger Deluxe Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream and top it with some crumbled Kroger’s Private Selection Chocolate Two-Bite Brownies – though its such a challenge just to get that bag of yummy goodness home from the store!
*ice cream inferiority complex
Comments are now closed – thanks to all who entered – I’ll announce a winner soon!
Still high from the Bengals’ I-can’t-find-the-words-but-can’t-stop-talking-about-it comeback victory yesterday, I’ve decided to start a new feature here at Amy in Ohio – Monday Morning Quarterbacking. The.crowd.goes.wild. Don’t worry folks, we’re still keeping this lackluster and unimpressive as always – there shall be no fact checking or stat looking-up. No in-depth analysis or witty color commentary. I leave that to the folks in talk radio.
No, this’ll just be something to distract me from my Monday workload when the boss ain’t looking one last chance to champion the victories and bitch about the defeats before we head into the week. And with that I give you my recap:
AP photo from www.bengals.com
BENGALS BEAT THE STEELERS TO BREAK THE TERRIBLE STREAK AT HOME
If you’re like me, you might have been tempted to switch the channel early. After Big Ben had wiggled his way out of one too many tackles. Or after Willie Parker ramped up his yardage in the first four minutes. Maybe even after that smug face of Heinz Ward came on screen five times too many (those cameramen do luvs them some ketchup, eh?). Yep, my remote might have been itching to check out what was running on Lifetime. But I stayed the course, ordered some pizza and prayed for a better second half.
And saints be praised, the football gods were listening.
That fourth quarter was nothing short of amazing – voice hoarse from screaming, fingers numb from trash-talking on twitter, spirits soaring! Bengals – you made me believe again. Just like Santa Claus.
www.bengals.com
Cedric WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE Benson – Man, he can run and take a hit over and over and over again. I heart you Cedric. May I call you Cedric? Or love-love?
www.bengals.com
Brian “STRETCH ARMSTRONG” Leonard whose extra effort and amazing elasticity got us that first down in the final minute of the game keeping the dream alive. I’ve got some stuff on the top shelf of my closet and I needs you.
And Dhani Jones gets an extra special shout since my dear firend Katy wrote about him and his participation at Zoofari this past weekend. Bengals with a heart - so sexy! And ain’t my Katy hawt too!
@Kate_the_Great and Dhani Jones at Zoofari
My only regret is that I was home watching it – I can only imagine electricity in that stadium. Watch out Cleveland – these cats are hunnnn-gry again!
PS: I just learned it was Marvin’s 100th game here in the Queen City - time sure flies. Glad you’re still with us Mr. Lewis and we’re still with you.
There is one more show here in Cincinnati for Disney on Ice – tonight (Sunday) at 7:30 pm – be spontaneous and surprise your kids or grandkids. Believe me, it is a great show for all ages! I’m tempted to go back myself! Take a look at how much fun we had here!
Why get so riled by the events of the world, you ask? Because…
"Becoming a mother makes you the mother of all children. From now on each wounded, abandoned, frightened child is yours. You live in the suffering mothers of every race and creed and weep with them. You long to comfort all who are desolate."
Charlotte Gray
This weekend, my political fire was re-ignited. Like all good re-lights, it took the blatant celebration of everything I oppose to do it. Thanks to the national media, I am motivated and ready to charge through to November.
I gotta be honest, I’m a little bit of an ice cream snob. I like the fancy (aka expensive) stuff. I think it comes from childhood when 
Then Kroger’s asked me to try their 
Maybe we’ll try out the Kroger Deluxe Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream and top it with some crumbled Kroger’s Private Selection Chocolate Two-Bite Brownies – though its such a challenge just to get that bag of yummy goodness home from the store!
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