The Dish Featuring TexaGermaNadian

Good morning, my peeps! Guess what day it is? That's right. It's Day of The Dish at Chicken Noodle Gravy, but more importantly, it's also Frackin' Friday! Now, if you're familiar with Frackin' Friday, then consider yourself lucky already, and if you're not, then consider yourself about to become very lucky indeed, because today we're celebrating Frackin' Friday by celebrating the blog behind it, one of the funniest and most entertaining blogs I've had the pleasure of following. A worldly blog that manages to be many things all at once, as reflected in its worldly, multicultural title: TexaGermaNadian. I know, it's pretty much the coolest blog title ever. Almost as cool as the blogger behind it. Almost.
How can you resist clicking on that adorable button? And guess what? The blogger herself designed that cute-as-a-button button and will use her talents to design one (or a blog header) for you, too. For details, click here. 

A Storyteller


Lindsey, aka Texa (cute nickname, huh?), the creative and not-at-all sarcastic genius behind TexaGermaNadian, is one of the those people who is effortlessly funny. She can make you laugh about something as simple as a pair of truck testicles (be sure to stay updated on Nad Watch 2011...there are late and great developments) and just wait till you read about this... Point is, Texa is funny and manages to tell the stories of her daily life in a hilarious and fun way. Of course, her daily life is pretty darn interesting in its own right. The blog title TexaGermaNadian is actually derived from Texa's globe-trotting life with her hockey-playing husband. She recently returned to Texas after living in Germany for the last year or so (welcome home!). And the best thing about her living in Germany? The fact that she shares her awesome and unique experiences there with her readers. Just from reading her blog, I feel like I've visited Germany myself, and I love it there!


Simply put, Texa's a natural-born storyteller, which brings me to the next rockin' thing about TexaGermaNadian: The Storytellers Blog Hop. At the end of every month, Texa hosts this hop, which has quickly become one of my favorite blog hops. The only real rule of the hop? No blogs that specialize in ads, coupons, and giveaways. Those blogs get the spotlight enough; this is for the little blogs, the blogs with stories to tell. There are no follow rules or anything, just an opportunity to meet other bloggers and also to link up your own blog and "let it shine."

Frackin' Friday, Zombie Sunday, and Other Interesting Days of the Week

I love blogs that run weekly features and events. There's just something organized and cool about knowing you can return to a blog week after week for an awesome feature. Frackin' Friday at TexaGermaNadian is one of those awesome features. Every Friday, Texa or one of her guest bloggers, shares culturally significant and educational bits of wisdom, bits of wisdom that help readers expand their horizons and flirt with learning a new language. Specifically, Frackin' Friday teaches us all to cuss in a foreign language, which really can only help to make the world a better place. TexaGermaNadian, I salute you. :)


Oh, and lazy Sundays over at TGN are taken to a whole new level with Zombie Sundays. But Texa's "boring German Sundays" are usually anything but when she tells her tales. I'm telling you this girl could probably make paint drying sound funny and interesting. She rocks THAT much. 

Scrumptious Survey: Survey questions answered by blogger. 

What’s your favorite dish/food? 

Really, I would love to say cereal. I eat it out of the box everyday. There is something about the crunchiness, and the way it annoys the hubs as I crunch. 

But seeing that I actually want people to take me more seriously than a 10 year old, I'll say a good shrimp boil. Fresh jumbo gulf shrimp, corn on the cob, red potatoes and sometimes sausage boiled in a spicy cajun seasoning. Mmmm, mmm. Always makes me think of home!

What’s your favorite type of cuisine (Italian, French, etc.)?

Hmmm, I think it might be a tie between Mexican food (uh, hello, we think it is 'our' national food down here in Texas) and Greek food. The time I spent working in Greece made me fall in love with all the savory flavors of the Aegean islands.

What is unique about the cuisine in your part of the world? 

Well, in Texas I would have to say TexMex or BBQ. Both are great down here! In Canada, they take pride in their Alberta beef, so I would say steak. And in Germany, everything seems to be 'unique' to us. But our favorites are the schnitzel and sauerkraut! So good!

Sweet or salty?

Salty, for sure. Sea salt, at least stay a little healthy with that one.

What food are you craving right now? 

Popcorn. I am a big popcorn fan. And none of that microwaveable bag crud. Air popped popcorn, tossed in olive oil, cayenne pepper and Parmesan cheese. Oh, so good and mouthwatering!

Do you like to cook? If so, do you ever share recipes on your blog?

I LOVE to cook. I actually look forward to making dinner every night. Weird, I know. I don't often share recipes on my blog, but only because I have a bad habit of not following recipes and/or making them up as I go. And then of course I tend to not remember what all I put into the dish, so therefore they are unable to recreate. Should really write those details down more often! Lol

Where do you get the recipes you use? From cookbooks, blogs, online directories, etc? 

Does google search count?? I usually look up a few different recipes and then mix and match to my taste (and to what I have in the pantry at that time). But there are some good go-to's from my grandmother's and mom's cookbooks. You just can't find anything like those old reliable recipes online.

What food-related word would you use to describe your blog? (i.e. salty, sweet, savory, delicious, yummy…) Get creative!

Ambrosial - fit for the gods :) 

Or maybe Piquant - agreeably biting and sharp.

(thanks 'words describing foods' google search! haha) 

So if you haven't already clicked all the links above, I suggest you do so now. Seriously, like right now. What are you waiting for? Spend the day getting to know Lindsey and TexaGermaNadian. You'll probably pick up some new German words, share in some Texas-sized fun, and who knows? You may even learn some Canadian trivia along the way. And just remember, Texa is anything but Lächerlich. In fast, she's just the opposite of Lächerlich...she's the German word for awesome, which I don't know because it's not a cuss word, and I only bother learning cuss words in foreign languages. But you get my point. Show Lindsey some love and enjoy her awesomeness.

 

The Dish Featuring The Adventures of Artsy Nina

Welcome to Friday and another edition of The Dish! I hope everyone had a fabulous week. This week's featured blog is sure to end it with a smile. When I first visited The Adventures of Artsy Nina, I knew it was going to be a favorite. I'm sure you all know blogs like that. That capture your attention from the moment you arrive. For me, I think it was the Artsy Nina banner. The retro wife smiling over her shoulder at the retro husband, who's drying the dishes. She looks like she's up to something, like she's got a funny secret she's just dying to tell, and I instantly wanted to know her secret. 

Turns out, the secret was that The Adventures of Artsy Nina rocks, no foolin'. Nina, our blogger hostess, shares her "adventures" as a "1950's housewife, complete with apron and cloth diapers," hence the retro housewife banner. You'll fall in love, as I have, with her fun stories, her vintage style, and her yummy recipes. Oh, and did I mention she makes me laugh? Yep, she has that sarcastic, dry sense of humor I can't help but love (see: her post on Blog Overload). Do I have you convinced to visit yet? Well, just wait, it only gets better.

The House

I admire people who take on huge projects. I admire them, and I want to be them, but I'm unapologetically lazy, so chances are I'm not going to be them. Nina is one of those people I'll never be. She and her husband bought the 1884 house and have been busy updating/remodeling it ever since. Jeremy and I felt very accomplished when we stained our deck, but this couple, well, let's just say they're truly accomplished. 

I love when Nina posts something about the house. I love pouring through the before and after pictures, admiring they're hard work and perseverance, feeling jealous of their interactions with actual, real-life Turdologists. But most of all, I love that Nina and her husband are taking something old and long-neglected and restoring it to its former glory. When I was a little girl, I dreamed of living in a house like Nina's and remodeling it to perfection. Nina's living that dream now, and it's sure a great time seeing her progress on this charming and unique house and its transformation into a home. 


Crafty Cook

One of my favorite things about reading blogs is discovering great new recipes from around the country and the world. The Adventures of Artsy Nina takes recipe hunting to an entirely new level with the recipes she shares from vintage cookbooks. Ever tried making Fresh Orange Chewies (which look delicious, by the way, click "vintage cookbooks" for the recipe and pics!)? What about Barbecued Spare Ribs? And then there are the recipes that Nina writes and embellishes herself: Potunas, anyone? 

To see all of her recipes in one place, visit her Recipe Box. 

Nina's not only a good cook, she also happens to be a good crafter. As a woman lacking a single crafting bone in her entire body, I find this particular characteristic to be outrageously awesome. Which would explain why I'm outrageously jealous of it. :) She does fun things like making recycled soap and creating adorable magnets and wreaths. You know, she does the things that I would do...if I were even a smidgen crafty. 

Scrumptious Survey: Answered by Blogger

What’s your favorite dish/food?

I don't like to be pigeonholed.   How can I pick just one item? If you saw my thighs, you would understand that no food is discriminated against in this house.  I eat it all, too much, and too often.

What’s your favorite type of cuisine (Italian, French, etc.)?

  Mexican.  Hands down.   But not the Americanized Mexican restaurant type, with crappy margaritas and bland flavors.  I'm talking roadside stand, pork wrapped in soft corn tortillas, smothered in fresh cilantro and onions and lime, cooked in a dirty trailer Mexican.  And it's usually cheaper too!

What is unique about the cuisine in your part of the world? 

I think Minnesotans specialize in tatertot hotdish.  Or lutefisk and lefse.  Do I eat any of that? If it's around, ya sure you betchya!
Do I actually make any of that in my kitchen? HECK NO.

Sweet or salty?

I have been described as both.   Oh!   You're not asking about me.  Well, my palette usually prefers salty. And my husband says I use salt too much.   I have recently discovered the wonderfulness of sea salts and other fancy salts for seasoning. I won't be seeing that cute little Morton salt girl in my cupboard any more.

What food are you craving right now? 

I am in the mood for something really fresh and light.  Specifically a Greek salad.  Cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, kalamata olives, feta and a vinaigrette (EVOO, oregano, red wine vinegar).  Best Salad Ever.  Sadly, I am out of olives and feta.  *weeping*

Do you like to cook? If so, do you ever share recipes on your blog?  

I am a Domestic Goddess, and as everyone knows, a well-rounded Domestic Goddess likes to cook!  It helps that my husband is a human garbage disposal and will eat (and like) everything I cook.  Except that one dish (Coq Au Vin), as he often reminds me.  It's been a few weeks since I have posted a recipe, but you can find them sprinkled throughout my posts.  I also have a page dedicated to recipe links.

Where do you get the recipes you use? From cookbooks, blogs, online directories, etc?

I love using allrecipes.com to plug in random ingredients and find inspiration.  Next, I consult my trusty stash of vintage cookbooks.  Most are the church or community group style with simple recipes written by housewives past.  I also have been referencing The Good Houskeeping Illustrated Cookbook since I first moved out of my parents house back in 1998.  And of course, I read blogs!

What food-related word would you use to describe your blog? (i.e. salty, sweet, savory, delicious, yummy…) Get creative!

“A delight to the readers palette, served with grace and finesse.”
A small intimate blog which oozes passion. The entries were served with an exquisite attention to detail.
The writer was friendly and intimate and each dish was commensurate with the care and passion with which it was prepared.
I highly recommend this and hope you enjoy it too. 

OK, so I altered a fancy restaurant review to make it blog appropriate.  I can only hope my readers feel somewhat like this.  HA! (Editor's Note: LOVE it! Way to be inspired, Nina :))


The Adventures of Artsy Nina is where to go if you're on the lookout for inspiration or motivation or a nice laugh. This blog has an "old soul" feel to it that I love, and I know you'll love it, too, with all of its vintage charm and artsy appeal.  Oh, and before I leave you to do your own surfing of Artsy Nina, visit THIS PAGE for a look at one of the most beautiful rings ever, and yes, it's vintage. Next time my hubby proposes he's getting me a ring like that! Unique, vintage, and with a beautiful story behind it...a lot like Artsy Nina.

Linking Up!

 

The Dish featuring Life and Love of a Parrothead

Welcome to this Friday's very late edition of The Dish! This week's Dish is brought to you by Blogger. Thanks for finally rejoining the land of the living, Blogger. Us bloggers sure appreciate it!

I'm super excited about today's featured blog(s) and blogger on The Dish as I've only recently discovered them, and this feature has given me the opportunity to really discover and get to know the wonderfulness that is Breann of Life and Love of a Parrothead. Breann is one of the newest bloggers on my lists of reads, and I’m so glad that I found her. In addition to hearing a great Jimmy Buffett soundtrack in my head every time I visit her blog, she posts fun and interesting entries, and you never really know what to expect when you drop by. Through Life and Love of a Parrothead, Breann shares stories of her family, particularly of the cute little Logan, of her romantic courtship with her husband of six years, and, of course, there's the occasional anecdote (okay, maybe there's just the one, but it's hilarious!) of her history with Livejournal (remember those days?).  And, obviously, much, much more!

Delicious Design

Remember that Jimmy Buffett soundtrack playing in your head? Are you wasting away again yet? Well, the Parrothead reference isn't the only thing that takes you away to the beach after visiting Life and Love of a Parrothead. Yep, Breann’s beautiful blog design reminds me of trips to the ocean almost as much as that lovely blog title does. Her sand dollar logo is absolutely adorable (as you can see from above). And once again the blog featured on The Dish is one with a clean and simple design that compliments the actual content perfectly. Go see now! You'll love it. 

Oh, and one of the cutest and most unique things about Breann's design is her "Cast of Characters" in the right column. It helps to put faces to the names she mentions on her blog frequently. Plus, having her cute little boy and pets staring back at you every time you visit just puts a huge smile on your face. 

Sticks to Your Ribs

One of the best things about Breann? She brings readers TWO great blogs for the price of one! Sticks to Your Ribs is Breann's food-centered blog, where she shares some of the yummiest looking recipes imaginable. Even a quick visit will have your mouth watering, guaranteed!

When did I know I was in love? When I saw a Chicken Salad recipe featured on Sticks to Your Ribs that looked delicious to me...and I happen to hate chicken salad. Anyone who can write about and take pictures of a food that I don't particularly like and make me wanna try it is a total winner in my book! Plus, Breann is excellent about taking great pictures of each step of the recipes she tries. Sure, as a writer, I love to read recipes, but something about just reading recipes without visual aids doesn't do much for me. Sticks to Your Ribs has it all! It's just the kind of food blog I love with recipes and fun anecdotes mixed throughout.



Scrumptious Survey: Questions answered by blogger.

What’s your favorite dish/food?  

I have always loved classic Spaghetti with meat sauce. Over the years it has migrated a bit to meatballs instead, but now and then I will make a rich bolognese sauce and I am always happy I did. When I was pregnant, I would eat any form of spaghetti I could get my hands on! 

What’s your favorite type of cuisine (Italian, French, etc.)?

 Even after all that talk of spaghetti, I could still eat Tex-Mex 3 meals a day. Huevos Rancheros for breakfast followed by Enchiladas for lunch and Fajitas for dinner? YES PLEASE! Living in Houston gives me access to wonderful Mexican food so I have ended up with my go to places for certain dishes. 

What is unique about the cuisine in your part of the world? 

Houston is awesome because you not only have access to classic Southern food, but to every type of food from all around the world. Authentic Chinese food (not that buffet mess!), Indian, Lebonese, Korean... Name it and we can hop in the car and go eat it. Seriously, come visit and I can take you to eat anything from the best Chicken Fried Steak to Vietnamese food that will knock your socks off.

Sweet or salty?

Sweet. Always. Usually in the form of a chocolate chip cookie. 

What food are you craving right now? 

Huevos Rancheros as a matter of fact! HA!

Do you like to cook? If so, do you ever share recipes on your blog?

 I love to cook. Before I had Logan, I would delve into very complicated recipes on the weekends like Julia's Bouef Bourginon. But now that's a little more difficult. I cook at least 5 days a week, usually simple meals like stir fry or a cassarole. If I do something bigger it's always on a Saturday or Sunday night so that I have the time and Lee can watch the baby. I have a food blog that is linked under "Recipes" on my main blog. I generally don't make my own recipes, other than throwing things together sometimes. But I love to cook other's and give them credit. 

Where do you get the recipes you use? From cookbooks, blogs, online directories, etc? 

All of the above. Although Lee did ask me once if everything we ate was Pioneer Woman! Food Network is my go-to when I search for a recipe. I even try recipe's from other blogs all the time. 

What food-related word would you use to describe your blog? (i.e. salty, sweet, savory, delicious, yummy…) Get creative!

 Appetizing - or at least I hope everyone thinks so! 

Trust me on this: Both of Breann's blogs are VERY appetizing, and I hope you'll take a hint and go over and visit already. You're missing out! Hope you enjoyed this edition of the Dish. I've got to be going now...I'm getting ready to waste away in Margaritaville. If only I could find that lost shaker of salt....

 

The Dish featuring House Unseen, Life Unscripted

Author's Note: I'm revamping The Dish a bit. I felt like I was getting a little stale and boring with the same three Dish sub-titles each week, so with this feature I'm ditching the rules and seeing where it takes me.

Once upon a time, in a bloggy land not so faraway--Michigan to be exact--there lived a beautiful and witty blogger princess, who entertained her royal court with stories of snakes in the wall and goats and excessively friendly Wal-Mart check boys and other fuzzy and cuddly things. The blogger princess--let's call her Dweej--had an incredible gift, a talent for making people laugh. She was so full of happiness and joy, that just by association her devoted readers would become filled with happiness and joy as well. Well, by association and also by reading her lovable and sarcastic blog posts which chronicled her fascinating life as a blogger princess transported from Southern California to rural Michigan. The more the princess wrote the more she was adored, and she and all of her blogger friends and, oh, yeah, let's not forget That Donkey Guy, all lived happily ever after...as long as she never stopped writing. The End...

...But if you're only just discovering Dwija and House Unseen, Life Unscripted, then it's really only the beginning. You can thank me later. I take checks, cash, or baby goats.

What's In a Name?

Sometimes a title hints at a world untouched and undiscovered. For instance, when I first read the name "House Unseen, Life Unscripted," I remember thinking to myself "Self! There's a story behind this blog. I gua-ran-tee it!" You see I'm very intuitive. You may even say I have a sixth sense when it comes to these things. To give you, reader who hasn't been introduced to Dwija's blog and therefore now owes me a baby goat, an indication of what this mysteriously compelling title means I give you this condensed explanation, aka House Unseen, Life Unscripted, abridged:

Couple purchases home off of internet without setting eyes on it. Couple move themselves and brood of four kids halfway across the country to live in said home. Couple begins to transform fixer-upper into fixed-upper. Couple and brood of four kids grow with addition of dogs and chickens and various other happy things. Couple shares joy with the world via hi-larious web series about an enthusiastic donkey with a sexy Spanish accent and hi-larious blog chronicling the day-to-day adventures of their household joy and fabulosity. (Yes, that just happened.)

The long and short of it? The title gives only a tiny glimpse into the awesome adventure that is Dweej and her family's story. Read this blog. It's like a great book you can't put down. 

The Gift of Dweej

Dweej, the blogger princess behind House Unseen, is a gift that keeps on giving. Her positive attitude and seemingly effortless sense of humor (<---CLICK ME for laughs!) is lovely and endearing and addictive. I only recently discovered Dwija and House Unseen, and yet, I already consider her a friend, and I can honestly say I'm glad to "know" her. Both she and her words uplift me, even when I'm feeling blue. As I was preparing this post last night, I had the pleasure of reading some of her older posts, posts I had previously not had time to catch up on. I took this feature as the opportunity to catch up as much as possible, because I don't want to miss a second of her story or her message. I came across this post, which inspired me in so many ways. In addition to laughs and entertainment, be sure to take away the wisdom that Dwija shares. Her mantra "always wonder, never worry" is one I will hold close to my heart forever.

Dwija really is a princess, and I hope you all will take the time to get to "know" her. You'll love her and House Unseen, Life Unscripted and That Donkey Guy and her four adorable kids and her three cute puppy-wuppies and her darling little chickens and her house that's becoming her castle. I promise. And remember that when you do fall in love with all the above, because you will, you owe me those goats.

And without further ado, a look inside House Unseen's mind and tummy...

Scrumptious Survey: Questions Answered By Dwija at House Unseen, Life Unscripted

What’s your favorite dish/food?

Well, when I was little I ate lots and lots and lots of Indian food, even for breakfast (true story), so curry and spiciness both hold very special places in my heart.  And tomato products.  If there is any such thing as spicy tomato curry, then that is totally my favorite food.

What’s your favorite type of cuisine (Italian, French, etc.)?

I know I just said Indian up there, but if I had to pick one cuisine I'd say Thai.  Probably because it's something we just can't make very well at home so we're "forced" to go to a restaurant where someone else cooks and washes the dishes and sweeps the rice up off the floor.  Doesn't that just sound awful?

What is unique about the cuisine in your part of the world?

My current part of the world is Michigan so you are gonna find some amazing home-cooked Polish food.  Pierogis, kielbasa, delicious soups.  Hearty, comforting and handmade by my awesome aunts!

Sweet or salty?

Salty for sure.  Chips and salsa? Chips and dip?  Chips on a sandwich (try it. delish)?  You just can't go wrong!

What food are you craving right now?

A big bowl of Tom Yum Gai (spicy level 2) and a side of potato chips, naturally :)

Do you like to cook? If so, do you ever share recipes on your blog?

Girl, you best check yo self before you wreck yo self.  No, I cook out of necessity only, and then only occasionally.  My husband is a GENIUS in the kitchen, and for that I am eternally grateful because I am a HUGE fan of eating, but it makes anything I manage to eek out seem...lame.  He can, like, make up his own recipes and stuff.  Meanwhile, I'm wondering what "lukewarm water" means.  Is that something you buy at Whole Foods or what?

Where do you get the recipes you use? From cookbooks, blogs, online directories, etc?

Is this a trick question?  Actually, we do have a cookbook that even I can use.  It's the America's Test Kitchen Family cookbook and it'll knock your socks off.  Not for ethnic foods, but for basic daily cooking and American cuisine it is really fantastic and informative.  Also, when I spill stuff on it, it doesn't get as angry as the computer does.

What food-related word would you use to describe your blog? (i.e. salty, sweet, savory, delicious, yummy…) Get creative!

My blog is like a buffet of all sorts of flavors, but some sort of magical good buffet where the stuff is actually yummy, not those normal buffets with the canned peas.  Those are gross.  No canned peas here, my friend.  Is there a buffet somewhere that has savory bacon-wrapped scallops, wood-fired pizza with spicy jalapenos, and not-too-sweet Viennese torte?  If there is, then that's my blog.  All there just to make you happy.

The House Unseen, Life Unscripted love-fest ends here. I hope you all enjoyed my tribute to one of my very favorite blogs and its truly fabulous blogger princess. 

  

The Dish Featuring My3littlebirds

Welcome to another edition of The Dish! This week is not brought to you by my dead laptop and is co-sponsored by the letter M, as in Mary Lauren and her magnificently mighty blog My3littlebirds. As I've put together each edition of The Dish, I've noticed one glaring similarity between every blog I've featured so far, and this week's featured blog is no different. These women can write, man! They all do an incredible job of weaving together posts that capture their readers' attention and keep people coming back for more. Mary Lauren of my3littlebirds perfectly embodies this shared characteristic of The Dish bloggers and their blogs.

My3littlebirds doesn't fit into any neat categories. It's not a mommy blog or a recipe blog or a writing blog, because any of those labels wouldn't give it the credit or justice it is due. To describe it best, I would say that M3LB is an addictive blog full of creativity and charisma, and each visit I take there leaves me wanting more of Mary Lauren's wit, insight, and beautifully woven tales of family and the memories that make life so precious and unique.




Delicious Design

What could be cuter than a yellow polka-dotted background? Not much! But three little birds woven into the title art are one thing that give the yellow polka-dots a run for their money. One of the first things that captured my attention about this blog would have to be the title and title artwork. The title itself reminds me of my absolute favorite song EVER "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley. Whenever I see M3LB pop up in the recently updated list on blogger, this song automatically starts playing in my head, and I love it. In actuality, and as I learned just tonight, the blog title is derived partially from the author's three adorable children, as well as from a beautiful and meaningful painting. While my3littlebirds certainly does not focus on the blogger's children solely, the stories she shares of her "three little birds" and her adventures as a mom are likely to keep you laughing your butt off each time you hear one...see The Bad Mom Chronicles. I'm still laughing over Part Two and the "Code Brown."

But back to the design of M3LB. Like so many of the blogs I love, my3littlebird's design is simple and minimalistic. No crazy sidebars full of worthless crap, just a nice, clean look with an adorable banner that allows the blogger's words to shine.

Oh, and I should mention her adorable design comes from Seven Thirty Three Custom Blog Designs, who obviously know what they're doing!

Appetizing Content

As I've already pointed out, my3littlebirds doesn't follow any kind of "typical" blog formula. Mary Lauren isn't bound by the limitations of a specific blog "genre" or topic. She writes about life, in a hilarious and usually thought-provoking way, and she shares her experiences and expertise on everything from stockbroking to Mom Hair. Regardless of the topic, every post she composes seems to either make me laugh or make me cry; I'm always affected in some way by her words...which is the mark of a true writer in my humble estimation.

My3littlebirds also hosts a linkup party each Monday called What's For Dinner, where she allows other blogger's to join the fun and linkup to their recent recipe posts. Through this linkup, I've already discovered some other great bloggers, which makes it a rousing success if you ask me! I urge any of you who regularly post recipes to join in on the fun every Monday at M3LB.





Probably my personal favorite of the posts that are shared on my3littlebirds would have to be the ones which showcase the blogger's incredible writing talent. She posts poems and has recently started participating in writing prompts, and I just love her writing style! I could go on all day, but checking her out for yourselves will sell her case better than I ever could.

Scrumptious Survey: Answered by blogger.

What’s your favorite dish/food?

If I'm eating at home, I love a simple roast chicken with vegetables. If I'm eating out, I often order seafood (scallops are a favorite of mine) since my family doesn't really eat it. And for date night at home, my husband and I love to share a bottle of wine and eat crusty bread with cheese (I love Danish Blue and he prefers very sharp cheddar).

What’s your favorite type of cuisine (Italian, French, etc.)?

Well, I love it all. But for me a perfect night out with friends would include a Spanish tapas-style meal with lots of yummy things to try. 

What is unique about the cuisine in your part of the world?

Our area is known for traditional southern style foods. Not the healthiest stuff in the world- that's for sure!

Sweet or salty?

Salty wins by a landslide.

What food are you craving right now?

I am looking for a great recipe for cinnamon raisin bread. My kids love it for breakfast and I can't seem to buy enough! Send me a message if you've got one, pretty please?

Do you like to cook? If so, do you ever share recipes on your blog?

I do like to cook. I do share recipes but they tend to be "this worked for my picky 3 year old" type meals, and not exactly gourmet. 

Where do you get the recipes you use? From cookbooks, blogs, online directories, etc?

Most of the recipes I use these days come from online directories and blogs. I love Simply Recipes, Our Best Bites, and of course The Pioneer Woman Cooks. But I also refer to my collection of cookbooks and food magazines.

What food-related word would you use to describe your blog? (i.e. salty, sweet, savory, delicious, yummy…) Get creative!

Sweet. For sure: )

As always, I hope you enjoyed this week's edition of The Dish, and I certainly hope that I was able to introduce you to a new blog to fall in love with. If you haven't already, be sure to visit my3littlebirds; it's sure to capture your heart instantly and make its way onto your must-read list.

The Dish featuring One Mixed Bag

This week's feature on The Dish is one of the first blogs I discovered after joining the For the Love of Blogs Community...which has been about a month ago now. I'm so grateful I joined this amazing community, because without it, I would have never made such great friends with such great blogs. While linking up for my very first Fab Friends Friday, one of the tiny buttons representing the other linked up blogs immediately caught my eye. 

It was such a beautiful image, such a perfect, strikingly gorgeous lady looking back imploringly at me. I couldn't help but click...it was like I was being drawn in by her pink rollers, flowery dress, and truly excellent purse. I couldn't have resisted her if I tried. Just take a look for yourself, at the fabulous button of the truly fabulous One Mixed Bag. I can't tell you how glad I am I was tempted by this siren's song. I now visit One Mixed Bag on a daily basis, and I'm never disappointed, and I can promise you won't be either.

Delicious Design

The design of One Mixed Bag matches its content perfectly: light-hearted and cute. And of course, when you first arrive, the beautiful lady with her beautiful bag is there to greet you. Bernie, the author of One Mixed Bag, has a love affair with purses, hence the name of her blog and all the cute purse details on her site. Even her cute little buttons are cute little purses. I love it!

Bernie's another one of those bloggers who doesn't busy-up her blog with lots on unnecessary stuff. She's got a clean, simple layout that lets you focus on her content and doesn't take forever to load. The blue and white colors compliment her banner and buttons well and just look dang pretty. I feel happy when I visit One Mixed Bag, but only part of that is because of her cute design.

Appetizing Content

Bernie's blog title says it all. You never really know what you're going to get with a visit to One Mixed Bag. Well, sometimes you'll know because she's got some regularly scheduled events. Like a hilarious and informative Wordless Wednesday feature with fun (and surprisingly personal and revealing!) vintage ads. My favorite so far has been one from Scott Tissues, which focuses on the "troubles caused by harsh toilet tissue." Umm...yeah. The vintage ads are always worthy of a good laugh.

One Mixed Bag also features some cute and crafty content, which I always love to admire from afar. Crafting is most definitely not my thing. I think I'm too uncoordinated for that. If I can't dance, how can I be expected to work scissors and cut actual paper at the same time? But Bernie makes crafting look fun and easy, especially with her cards. I absolutely adore the cards she made for her mom's birthday a couple of weeks ago. Her craftiness is due in part to a goal she set for herself for 2011, and she posts updates every Thursday relaying her progress towards her goal. I'd say she's already made it!

Even better than the awesome regular features on One Mixed Bag are the spontaneous and uncategorized posts. The first entry I read on this blog is probably one of the most memorable blog posts I've ever encountered. It definitely is one of my top three favorite blog posts, if its not number one. If you don't read any of the other posts I recommend to you today, please at least read "He Went For a Hair Cut and Came Home With a Note." I kid you not when I say this is probably one of the funniest things I've ever encountered, and this little story serves as a perfect example of Bernie's writing style. She's got the most conversational and friendly voice. As soon as you start reading, you feel included, as if you're one of her oldest and dearest friends, and she's just sharing another one of her quirky and humorous tales.

Oh, and how could I possibly forget Mr. Bernie? Mr. Bernie, who is Ms. Bernie's devoted, loving hubby and who often co-stars in One Mixed Bag. The posts co-starring Mr. Bernie usually keep me in stitches!

Scrumptious Survey: Questions answered by blog author, links added by me :). 

What’s your favorite dish/food? Pizza. I would assume that is everyone' favorite dish. If its not, it should be. My husbands pink and chocolate chip pancakes come in a close second.

What’s your favorite type of cuisine (Italian, French, etc.)? Chinese. I love a good Chinese buffet. The array of dishes are amazing. Chicken Lo Mein, rice, Sesame Chicken, Pot Stickers. I could go on, but I'm starting to drool on my keyboard just thinking about those dishes.

What is unique about the cuisine in your part of the world? In Montana they do quite a bit of Mexican cooking. That surprise me. Montana is not the Hispanic capital of the U.S. They like to use a lot of chili's and spices. I'm from Minnesota and we don't spice our food. Its rare to use salt or pepper!

Sweet or salty? Both. I enjoy butter salted popcorn with M and M's thrown in for good measure. Don't knock it until you have tired it. Lately, I have been trending towards salty pretzels. I'm sure by the middle of the month my chocoholic side will rear her ugly head.

What food are you craving right now? Other than pizza, Chinese and chocolate? *lol*

Do you like to cook? If so, do you ever share recipes on your blog? I do like to cook. My husband Mr. Bernie likes to be a "helper bee" when I'm cooking. It makes me nervous. I love to make hot-dishes, (that is a casserole for those of you anywhere else in the world) Wild Rice Hot-dish is my specialty. My folks bring us bags when they come to Montana to visit. I have more creamed soups and wild rice than most folks in Minnesota. I didn't really start cooking until I moved to Montana 7 years ago. I used to live on Ramen, popcorn and Mac and Cheese. Those were my three food groups. I make some mean bars, ones that will make you want to slap someone. (Most bars are like brownies.)

Where do you get the recipes you use? From cookbooks, blogs, online directories, etc? Cookbooks are my main source. My brother and his wife put together a cookbook for my wedding with all of their recipes. A church cookbook from my home church that has recipes from my Great Aunties and Grandma. I read Taste of Home Magazine. A Serbian cookbook is another one of my favorites. I'm famous for printing something off the internet and never being able to find it. My new pride and joy is a cookbook from my husband, "The Essential New York Times Cookbook". It covers recipes from the start of the Times recipe section. It offers suggestions for pairing different eras for meals. It might suggest a 1910 appetizer, a 1940 main course and a 1950 drink recipe. Have a I made anything out of it yet? Nope. Have I read it quite a bit. Yup.

What food-related word would you use to describe your blog? (i.e. salty, sweet, savory, delicious, yummy…) Get creative! My blog is salty if I'm feeling feisty. A bit cracked like crackle candy. Bitter if I get on a roll or something makes me mad. Add in a sprinkling of sweet when Mr. Bernie is being particularly sweet and adorable. My blog readers add the savory with all their wonderful comments.

Bernie at One Mixed Bag is one of those rare people you'll "meet," who has true wit and wisdom. She'll make you laugh guaranteed, and if she doesn't, then you just don't have any kind of sense of humor at all, ha! Seriously, pay Ms. Bernie a visit and treat yourself to some fun and a few (more like a lot of) laughs. 

The Dish featuring The Fancy Flea

Sometimes an image comes along that is so perfect and moving that you feel like you could reach inside and become a part of it. With this week's featured blog, this kind of image comes along often. Visiting daily will make you feel like you've blessed with a fabulous gift, the gift of being able to gush, drool, and dream over the lovely photographs of Lauren, author of The Fancy Flea. 

But The Fancy Flea, and Lauren, are both much more than just a pretty face (or pretty pictures). This is a wonderfully diverse blog with wonderfully diverse posts and an obviously kind-hearted and passionate author. When I visit, I never know what's going to be in store, but I always know it's going to be superb and probably make me either smile or drift off into dream-land or both.


Delicious Design


Soft, feminine, and simple: three words that come to mind when you visit The Fancy Flea. Lauren's kept the design of her blog very minimalistic and...well, there's no other word for it but pretty. The layout and background are both perfect to showcase the beautiful photography she posts.


I always feel so relaxed and happy after I check out The Fancy Flea. I just can't help but love the look and the feel of the blog. There's something about it that makes it stand out from other blogs (and not just because it's WordPress hosted and so many blogs are blogger hosted); it's just different and nice. Never the same ol', same ol'. But don't take my word for it, check it out yourself and see what I mean!


Appetizing Content
So there's probably no way I can ever say enough about the photography of The Fancy Flea. No possible way. These aren't typical photos; they're unique and different and usually make you think. They're art, and yet, they're not high-brow, over-your-head art. They're realistic, familiar, everyday images that are anything but ordinary. But again, I could never really say enough about the photography of The Fancy Flea, so I'll share some links to some of my favorite posts/images:


For Katie  (of course this would be one of my favorite posts, beautiful images of a darling edition of Black Beauty)


'Neath the Orange Tree (one of the first posts I read/viewed at The Fancy Flea...breathtaking photos of a picnic beneath an orange tree)


56/365 (the photographer calls this "the quickest photo" she's ever taken. Sometimes it only takes a moment to create something beautiful)


Honestly, there's so many more it isn't funny. Go through The Fancy Flea older entries pages...it's like a gold mine of prettiness!


Oh, and The Fancy Flea isn't just about photography. Lauren also shares great recipes, funny and sweet stories, and this girl and her hubby have the most beautiful and fabulous picnics ever. One thing I look for in a great blog is how varied and versatile the blogger is. I don't like one trick ponies, and The Fancy Flea is most definitely NOT a one trick pony. 

Scrumptious Survey : Filled out by Blog Author

What’s your favorite dish/food?

I am a huge fan of stirfries and curry.

What’s your favorite type of cuisine (Italian, French, etc.)?

I have two - my favourite type of food from a specific region would have to be Asia. The aromatic herbs and spices get me every time! My other favourite "type" of cuisine at the moment is Vegetarian - discovering new ways of cooking is so much fun.

What is unique about the cuisine in your part of the world?

I live in Australia, and as most people know we're a young country of migrants and settlers. There is such a diverse range of food, and such different cultural influences combining together to make a very colourful cuisine!

Sweet or salty?
Sweet! I have an insatiable sweet tooth!

What food are you craving right now?

My Mum's spicy pumpkin and lentil hotpot. I could make it but it wouldn't be the same as her making it for me!" :P

Do you like to cook? If so, do you ever share recipes on your blog?

I love to cook. I inherited it from my Mum. And yes, i share recipes on The Fancy Flea!

Where do you get the recipes you use? From cookbooks, blogs, online directories, etc?

I have an ever-growing collection of recipe books, but also gather inspiration from magazines, other blogs and www.taste.com.au

What food-related word would you use to describe your blog? (i.e. salty, sweet, savory, delicious, yummy…) Get creative

Experimental! Life is too short to not try new things :)

I'm a gusher; it's true. But I only gush about things that I'm totally passionate about. I hope you'll wander over to The Fancy Flea to see what all the GUSH is about. 

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