TWO.TWO (second observance of whacky holiday)

     We're only two weeks into April and it's already been a busy month! I hope you all enjoyed April 8th whether the day had anything to do with birds or not. Draw a Picture of a Bird Day is so appropriately placed at the beginning of spring when you really appreciate the little creatures finding their way back to your open window with a song. I'm so excited about all the entries we received- they are each so different and so great! I can't wait to share them with you, so I'll stop yapping. But I do want to wet your whacky holiday taste buds by making you aware of a few other great holidays this month: April 13th is Scrabble Day, April 14th is Reach As High As You Can Day and April 28th is shared by Kiss Your Mate Day and Great Poetry Reading Day (both of which I will be observing given that I've got a kissable mate who happens to write great poetry, fabulous) AND it's BLONDE'S BIRTHDAY! We'll be announcing the BIRD winner TUESDAY so check back!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Lindsay from Nashville TN - check out more of her fabulous work at 

http://lindsayanneshepherd.blogspot.com/

and her website here : http://www.wix.com/lindsayanneshepherd/pinsandneedles

Luke from Chicago, IL age 8 - our youngest reader!

Merry from TN - don't tell, but she did this at work!

A watercolor beauty from Beth, Columbus OH

                                                    

some funny birds from Nichole from Columbus, Ohio

This is George Elroy Davis 

who was sent to me via snail mail all the way from Columbia, SC from Emily, RN

and this little action film from Amy in Columbus  - love it!

"Betty" from graphic designer Laurie in TN - you can see more of her fine creations here: http://fancifulink.wordpress.com/

BROWN:TWO Calling all Coffee-aholics!!

Diet coke with vanilla is Claires love second to Blake ( and us) where as Lily and I would never pass up a coffee drink. Everyone has their favorite drink weather its coffee or something else. But we coffee lovers are not as fortunate as Claire when it comes to the cost of our beverage addiction! I just made an iced mocha at home and it was so great!!! Because who wants to pay crazy prices for coffee all the time??!!! Go to the tasty treats page to see what I did! ITS SO EASY!!!

You will need:

-Handful of milk chocolate chips

-Milk ( your % fat choice, I used 1%)

-teaspoon of coco powder

-teaspoon of honey ( optional)

-frozen cool whip

-chocolate syrup

-1/8 cup espresso.

Plan of Action:

Heat up milk, chocolate chips, coco powder, honey in a pot on the stove until chips are melted and it is hot enough to your taste. Meanwhile make your espresso ( or if you don’t have an espresso maker/machine just brew some coffee really really srtong) Pour your espresso in your coffee mug (for a hot drink) and poor your milk/ chocolate mixture on top, stir and top with a dollop of frozen cool whip. Drizzle with some chocolate syrup and ENJOY!

For a cold version, poor over a glass full of ice, dollop of frozen cool whip and drizzle with chocolate syrup!!

( I use frozen cool whip because whipped cream dissolves after a few seconds, but cool whip will last through out your whole drink so you will have a creamy taste to the last sip)

- B R O W N

REDBROWNBLONDE CONTEST!

IT'S OUR FIRST BLOG CONTEST 

and we couldn't be more excited!

 What's not to love about readership participation and prizes?! 

Remember numero uno on Red's list : observe one whacky holiday a month...? 

April 8th is officially Draw a Picture of a Bird Day. 

Who knew?! So you've got TEN days to submit your bird drawing to us! 

We'll pick our top three favorite and feature them on the blog - first place gets a FABULOUS PRIZE

. . . . . .

. . .  this sweet little vintage owl pin. It's just delightful. He's a little copper gem just waiting to adorn you!

The Who, the How, and the When: 

Any medium is acceptable. You do not have to be a professional artist, or even good at drawing to enter! Scan your drawing or take a photo of your entry and send it to : REDBROWNBLONDE@GMAIL.COM
by April 9th -- we're giving you an extra day, in case you want to draw the picture on draw a picture of a bird day... Don't forget to include your name and the medium you used! HAVE FUN!


Below we've featured some beautiful examples from Etsy 
click on any image to be taken to its shop!

Suggested Playlist for Drawing Time : 

Sparrow by Neko Case 

Two Birds on a Wire by Regina 

Blackbird by The Beatles. 

TWO.ONE (first observance of whacky holiday) -- RED

First, I would like to extend my sincerest apology to my incorrectly promoting the 24th as National Waffle Day - when in reality, the 25th was INTERnational Waffle Day. Please accept this, my promise to more carefully observe the calendar from this point forward. That said, here's a tale of our attempt to celebrate Waffle Day one day early...

I carefully scheduled my lunch hour so Ben and I could appropriately celebrate the holiday at an extra special waffle venue - Taste of Belgium -- nestled in the fabulous North Market, downtown Columbus. We'd passed by them several times, but never stopped to sample their personal-sized Belgium delicacies. I had my camera,

meter money, and had even taken a bit longer to get dressed that morning because of the possibility of a mini waffle-photo-shoot (I know, I know). We park, we pay, we enter, I'm starving.... they're gone. That's right, a carefully measured square lot lay empty between a  gourmet

popcorn stand and a bakery. I was forlorn to say the least. Now how was I supposed to observe Waffle Day and then suffer from a sugar coma at work two hours later?! My lunch hour was half over and I settled for a lame hamburger and frosty combo before heading back to work.

Not an hour later, I was bombarded with text messages correcting my holiday observances- Waffle Day was tomorrow! Sweet glory, there was still time. I called Ben to share the news and in turn, he informed me that the Taste of Belgium had relocated to the one corner we by-passed in the North Market. Tomorrow it was.

Following work the next day, we returned to the North Market and informed the employees at The Taste of Belgium that it was, indeed, International Waffle Day - they had no idea, which is a shame. I had a delicious strawberry and cream waffle while Ben enjoyed a chocolate version. Our friend Beth went with one of their fabulous spinach crepes. A yummy time, had by all.

Just for the record, today is National Joe Day which gives a break to people who don't really like their name. It's a chance to go by "Joe" and have no questions asked.

Our next holiday is just around the river bend - April 8th is Draw a Picture of a Bird Day. And let's just say, a little birdie told me that there will be contests and prizes involved... get ready.

Brown: TWO Make a handmade gift for someone special!

After living in Fort Knox for several months now, I have met some of the sweetest ladies who live my neighborhood ( and I love that Andrew has made friends with their husbands ). We enjoy monthly lunches, nutrition classes, coffee dates and sunny walks around the loop. One of my sweet friends has a baby girl and it has been such a great joy to interact with such a bundle of energy and pure delectability. Through her, have also become friends with another sweet friend who is expecting…..and guess what? ITS A GIRL….you have to admit, girls are just more fun!!! So was I recently invited to her baby shower, and my little brain wheels started turning. Handmade gifts are thoughtful and special, so I got into the studio and started working. I made her three appliqué onesies by cutting out cute shapes (flowers, a bird, and a butterfly) and sewed them on with thick craft thread ( you know? The kind you used to make bracelets out of when you were little).

This craft thread gave the cute shapes another dimension on top of the layered cut outs. She decided on the name Lucy, which is so cute for a baby, but beautiful for a lady….how perfect! I also painted her a little canvas. I was told her nursery was neutral colors, so I chose light pastels and painted her name over some intricate paisleys….who doesn't love paisleys? I attached a light pink ribbon with hot glue and tied it into a bow for hanging. I stuffed everything into a basket and wrapped it into some shrink wrap, and tied it off with the same ribbon used on the canvas. Let me say that this gift was so super easy to make, and it gave another dimension and meaning because its handmade instead of store bought. TRY IT!!!

--brown