It’s not Midnight Sun but it will do….

I squealed with excitement today. I actually squealed and made the “SQUEE!” sound when I heard the news. Stephenie Meyer is publishing a new novella* tied to Eclipse! And it’s coming out in June! And it’s going to be FREE!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with anything and everything Twilight. I have read all of the books multiple times and seen all of the movies multiple times (I even have a questionably downloaded copy that I procured from a very dear friend of mine); I own all of the soundtracks and I even have Wolf Pack PJs (but everyone knows I will forever be Team Edward); I have an embarrassingly vast knowledge of Twilight trivia and, on more than one occasion, have fantasized about becoming a vampire. I am a Twihard**. I proudly let my Twilight Freak Flag fly.

According to Stephie’s website (that’s what I call her because we’re tight like that), the novella titled The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner focuses on the newborn vampire Bree that we met in Eclipse. It’s basically the last week of her vampire life as a part of Victoria’s vampire army. Stephenie originally wrote this story as part of The Twilight Saga: The Official Guide. The story was deemed too long by her publishers, who later offered to publish it on its own, coinciding with the upcoming release of the Eclipse movie.

I’m pretty sure this will be a very anti-Cullen book but I’m willing to give it a chance, especially since I won’t fully be satisfied until she releases all of Midnight Sun. All of you Twihards know exactly what I’m talking about.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner will go on sale at 12:01 a.m. June 5 and for every book sold she will donate $1 to the Red Cross. However, if you are cheap thrifty like me, you’ll want to wait for June 7 because the story will be available for free at www.breetanner.com until July 5 as a thank you to all of her loyal fans. On behalf of Twihards everywhere, I graciously thank you Stephenie. Now what about Midnight Sun?

* A fancy word for short story

** It’s a real term. It’s very common. You can google it. ;)

I Love The Oscars!

The Academy Awards is like my Super Bowl. I love the awards season; the dresses, the movies, and sometimes even the speeches (as long as they don’t get too long winded or political. I hate that.) I also get bored when they get into Best Documentary Short, Outstanding Art Direction, blah, blah, blah. Anywho, since I feel like I am only writing about food lately I wanted to do something a little different but something I still love. I will keep a log of my comments until I get too tired and I go to bed. It’s scheduled to go until 11:30 but you know it always runs long. Yawn. Well I hope you enjoy! Here are some of my observations:

ABC Pre-show:

Kathy Ireland? Seriously? She looks so different. Must have had a face lift.

Helen Mirren looks beautiful! I hope I’m that hot when I’m her age.

J-Lo’s dress is gorgeous but what’s up with her hair? It looks so messy

SJP looks so rough! I love her so much but somebody jacked up her Mystic tan. Maybe it’s the HD…

Cameron Diaz looks hawt! She looks so young!

8:15: Taylor Lautner sighting #1!

Whoopi Poise commercial – WTH?!?

Tina Fey looks beautiful but I would have had fancier hair…

Who was the goober standing next to Gerard Butler? He’s already good looking; he doesn’t need a dork to make him look better.

Kate Winslet!!!! You are my favorite!!!! You always look so beautiful!!!!

8:25: Taylor Lautner sighting #2 with interview!!!

Last night I saw Julie and Julia; so loving Meryl! I’m a little dismayed by her low cut dress because she looks like she has no cleavage. It’s just odd.

Show:

Neil Patrick Harris!!!! The sparkly tux suits him.

8:30: Taylor Lautner sighting #3 – in the audience with Kristen Stewart

Loving Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin! Old school shtick

Damn Helen Mirren = Dame Helen Mirren; classic!

8:43 Taylor Lautner #4

Best Supporting Actor – Christoph Waltz, excellent speech; heartfelt and not too long. Unfortunately I haven’t seen the movie yet but it’s next in our Netflix queue.

Has anybody noticed that nobody smiles in the audience when they cut to commercial? Is it that boring?

Cameron Diaz doesn’t look as good. That makes me feel better :)

Up won for Best Animated Film! I loved that movie! It was such a great story and I really… Squirrel!

Amanda Seyfried and Miley Cyrus seriously have the biggest dresses I have seen! It looks like the Tooth Fairy exploded.

Is it just me or is T Bone Burnett James Cameron’s doppelganger?

Hey Robert Downey Jr.! The Mad Hatter called and wants his bowtie back.

Molly Ringwald looks like a deer caught in headlights, Jud Nelson looks like he’s channeling Johnny Depp, and Macaulay Culkin still looks like he’s 9.

9:28 – Taylor Lautner #5

Zoe Saldana’s dress is gorgeous from the waist up; from the waist down she looks like Carmen Miranda.

Holy cow! Total Kanye moment for the Best Documentary Short! The co-winner for the Oscar just interrupted the other winner’s speech. So odd!

I didn’t see Avatar but Ben Stiller is freaking me out! Love the tail!

Ana Kendrick nominated for an Academy Award. Jessica Stanley you’ve come so far!

I love that Mo’nique won an Oscar. It’s not every day a comedian wins one. I expected her speech to have a least one funny quip but she looked like she was about to pass out so I’ll forgive her.

Ok so I haven’t seen Taylor in about 30 minutes and I’m feeling sleepy so I’m going to bed. Good luck to all the nominees still to come; I know you’ll all reading this so I wanted to send you my best wishes.

Adios y’all!

I am so sorry....

First of all I must offer my humblest of apologies for not supplying you with a Foodie Friday post last week. Last Friday, nay, last week was very hectic and dramatic. It was The Princess’s birthday and we were going to have a house full of people which included my in-laws, my BFF and her daughter. Unfortunately at the last minute (literally) BFF’s daughter came down with strep throat! Horror of horrors! I do not get to see my BFF very often as she lives in a far away land known as South Carolina and we were both looking forward to some really good girl time. Needless to say I was heart-broken. However I soldiered on and The Princess had a magnificent birthday. But I digress.

I know you were disappointed when you checked in and saw there wasn’t a new post. You might have even cried at little. If that is the case I am truly, deeply sorry. But fear not! I have returned with a glorious new post and it’s a goody. This recipe is a favorite around my house, especially in the summer time. In fact, I just finished making it for the kiddo’s Teacher Appreciation Dessert Fest tomorrow. FYI, being the wife and daughter of a teacher I know how under-appreciated they are so don’t forget to tell the teachers in your life how important they are. Love to all you teachers out there! Mwah!

Anywho, this is an awesome dessert. And it’s ridiculously easy. I give you…

Chocolate Chip Banana Pudding

8 oz. sour cream (don’t freak out, I swear it’s divine and you don’t taste it)
8 oz. frozen whipped topping, thawed
5 oz. package instant vanilla pudding
2 cups milk (whole works best but if you’re watching your waistline/it’s all you have in the house, any kind is fine)
2 packages of break and bake chocolate chip cookies (I prefer Tollhouse but I’m a cookie snob)*
3-4 bananas, peeled and sliced**

Bake cookies according to directions on the package.

In a large bowl combine sour cream, whipped topping, pudding mix, and milk. In the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking pan (or a trifle bowl or casserole dish or whatever you have handy) put a layer of cookies and bananas, then a layer of pudding mixture. Alternate until all ingredients have been used. I try really hard to have enough of my prettiest cookies to go on top. It makes for a very nice presentation.

*If you don’t have time to bake cookies you can just pick up a bag of Chips Ahoy and use them instead. But I wouldn’t because the fresh taste so much better. Trust me.

** Try brushing your sliced bananas with a little lemon juice to keep them from turning brown. They won’t taste lemon-y if you just use a little, I swear.

And there you have it! The world’s best and easiest banana pudding! And if you’re a dire hard traditional banana pudding lover you can substitute the chocolate chip cookies with vanilla wafers but where’s the fun in that? Oh and FYI, I don’t use all of the cookies. I bake them all, use the prettiest ones and eat the rest. And I highly recommend taking one (or all) of your fresh baked cookies and swirling them around in the bowl of leftover pudding mixture. Yummy!

And my hubby just told me I need to give credit where credit is due for my recipe (which I totally was going to do, btw). My mother discovered the sour cream banana pudding recipe a while ago and has been making it for years. Delicious! I got the idea of pairing it with chocolate chip cookies after a visit to Swallow at the Hollow in Roswell. It’s a magnificent BBQ place with live music and incredible food, which includes Chocolate Chip Banana Pudding. Now they make theirs from scratch, right down to the whipped cream, and it is marvelous! Make sure you go there if you’re ever in the area and I recommend ANYTHING on the menu.

Adios ya’ll!