Seriously?

Ice Cream Cone Mascot Mistaken for a KKK Member

An ice cream shop in Ocala, Florida thought it would be a clever marketing tactic to have an employee dress up as an ice cream cone and stand out in the parking lot with a sign advertising their goods. Little did they know!

Managers and staffers at the two-month-old Ice Cream Family Corner and Sandwiches say that many townsfolk have avoided their shop because of the ice cream cone man, whom they've mistaken for a Ku Klux Klan protester. The Ocala Star-Banner reports:

Liza Diaz, who manages the store... said an employee at the bank where she does business told her a co-worker was so frightened by the white dollop patrolling the street corner that she called her husband crying and refused to drive through the intersection.

"One (customer) told me, 'I had to think twice before coming in here because I thought it was KKK,' " Diaz said.

Diaz is from Puerto Rico and had never heard about the KKK until a reporter informed her about the group. The shop owners are named Jose Cantres and Jesus Diaz, which seems to disqualify them from KKK membership. Photographs show that the men who wore the foam ice cream cone costume—which features a hole cut out for the wearer's face to show through—had brown skin. Also, KKK robes don't usually come with sprinkles.

So how could anyone conclude that Ice Cream Family Corner was some kind of white supremacist operation? The Star-Banner offers a credible hypothesis:

The costume tends to sag around the wearer's shoulders, and the waffle cone is mostly obscured by the sign the mascot holds in front of him. So to a motorist who gets only a glance cruising past at 40 mph, it can—and apparently does—look like a menacing Klansman.

Ice Cream Family Corner isn't using the ice cream cone mascot anymore.

They only had to think twice?,,, dang, they really wanted that ice cream.

Color

The green is so incredible in this room. I'd love to do that
kind of a vibrant punch in my formal dining room somewhere. 

 So my husband told me the other day that he thinks I've been too heavily influenced by Martha's prison chic and he wouldn't mind a little color in the house. Luckily, I totally agree and am ready to add some big pops of color. No more living in a sepia photo!

Here are some beautiful rooms with lots of color and hints of color. I don't know that I want to do an entire room in hot pink or anything as daring as that, but here and there yes. Martha's been out of prison for a while now and I need to liberate myself as well.

When I start redoing walls and repainting furniture, I'll totally post before and afters. Those are my favorites!

Okay, so maybe not hot pink in my living room, I don't think Scott
would go for that, but it still inspires me. It's super fresh feeling!

There isn't a ton of color in here, but the dark teal and orange are enough with
all that gorgeous artwork! Maybe I could do a darker color around my fireplace?
Hmmmm...

That persimmon color is my favorite right now and I love it on
that lamp! It just brings everything else to life!!!

I've always loved this room. Bright color doesn't have to be jarring,
it can be cozy and fun at the same time!

This is probably a little more country than what I typically like,
but I love it anyway. It's happy and homey. I need a little of that
here! 

Soup

I love soup, all varieties... cold, spicy, creamy, chunky, smooth, etc... Soup is so good!

Here is a kind of Mexican soup I make when I am stressed for time and money. You can make it as fresh and fancy as you want, OR you can use canned/frozen veggies and it's still good.

I start off with a basic chicken broth. Whenever I boil chicken, I always keep the broth. It's much healthier than store bought (no MSG) and all you have to do is skim off the fatty bits on top and freeze it in a marked container. However, store bought is still good or even chicken bouillon cubes and water if you're out of everything else.

So once you get that nice and bubbly in a pot, you can add a little chicken (canned is fine if you don't have a frozen or fresh piece as well) and fresh garlic if you have some. Then let it simmer for a bit. I also salt my soup a little between each step.

Then add your veggies. My favorites are: carrots, potatoes, black beans, corn, green beans and onions... in that order. It takes a lot longer to cook carrots and potatoes, but again, you can also just get a big bag of mixed vegetables too!

Then goes in a little tomato paste and a can of ROTEL. This is my favorite ingredient! It adds a little spice and color.

Then a little garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Last but not least, I always throw in a handful of cilantro right before serving.

You can serve this with some tortilla chips sprinkled on top and buttery rice with lime on the side. YUM!!!

Seriously?

"There's Black Friday, then there'sTarget Tuesday.

In a scene that was reminiscent of the shopping frenzy that typically comes on the day after Thanksgiving, Target's website crashed several times throughout the day and more than hundred shoppers lined up at many of its stores early in the morning on Tuesday for a sale of limited offerings of its Missoni for Target collection of bikes, luggage, clothes and housewares.

The 400-piece line made by the Italian luxury knitwear designer Missoni exclusively for the cheap chic retailer features its trademark zig-zag patterns for between $2.99 for stationary and $599.99 for patio furniture -- a fraction of the price of the designer's real duds that can cost $595 to $1,500.

"This was Missoni mayhem," said Joshua Thomas, a Target spokesman. "This is unprecedented."

Okay, so while I think the Missoni line for Target is kind of cute, I don't know that it is worth the "mayhem that ensued" this morning. To me it looks a lot like the other brands they regularly carry. Nevertheless, feeling a little curious after reading this article, I went in to check out what all the ruckus was about and am extremely underwhelmed. I can only take so much zig-zag or chevron and have no desire to throw someone into a full-on epileptic seizure upon entering a room or walking down the street. However, BRAVO to Target and Missoni's brilliant marketing team. When the time comes for me to unveil my own line of nothing but, oh I don't know, matelasse 70's inspired sweater dresses, ottomans, makeup bags and rubber boots etc..., I'm totally giving them a call!

V & Co.

http://www.vanessachristenson.com/

This tremendously talented girl, Vanessa Christenson, has a very well written and simple tutorial on how to make a ruffle skirt. Check it out!

Random Things I've Thought/Learned Today, so far...

-I love the work I do at church. I love working with the Young Women, they are beyond wonderful!

-I am not that good at putting makeup on. My husband says he likes me better without makeup anyway so that's good. I also need a haircut in the worst way.

-It's okay to cry in public. It really is.

-DO NOT buy too many boxes of Graham crackers (food storage) because they will start to smell and taste like the box and plastic they come in. Buy in moderation and make sure you eat them quickly. Luckily we had another new box and little Sophia got her snack.

-There isn't much better than an honest, sincere and humble testimony that our Savior lives and knows us each personally. He knows what we need, what we are struggling with and what our true potential is. He can see far beyond the pain and troubles we are dealing with in this moment. He will put us in the position, difficult or simple, to learn the things we need to learn to be able to take that next step down our own individual paths. Every soul is important to Him.

-Missing someone you really love can hurt so deeply that you almost can't catch your breath sometimes. It's sort of unbelievable.

-10:00 PM... Frozen custard is very time consuming and difficult. Buy Culvers and forget about it!

Stenciled Curtains

I can't tell you how many great ideas I've found on Lori's "Be Different Act Normal" blog, but this one might take the cake!

She found this stencil idea from Beth's "Home Stories A2Z". Beth was inspired by some lovely but expensive Ballard Design curtains and decided to make similar ones herself.

I think her curtains are even prettier than the more expensive ones and I can't wait to try this myself.

I love blogging!

http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/2011/08/royal-design-studio-stenciled-curtains-knock-off-ballard-designs.html

Yes, Please.

I only buy Anthropology if they're having a really good sale because I'm not rich. BUT, I might have to start selling stuff  on Craigslist to order this pretty little number. It's actually not THAT expensive, but on top of Oliver's tuition, Target's looking too rich for my blood.

So yes, yes yes please, and can I also get whatever super expensive shampoo this girl uses to get that full bodied hair? I'd also like to go to India and grow a few inches.

Easy Care Perennials

 It's so hot that I really don't want to get out in my garden at all. Even early in the morning when it's cooler, the humidity is sick. So thank goodness for flowering plants that, (with an irrigation system) are low maintenance. I love coming home and seeing beautiful, healthy flowers. Exotic... not so much, but still beautiful.

Nandina is my favorite bush for flower arranging. The foliage adds height and
the berries start as a white flower, turn into a lime green berry, and later turn this bright red
gorgeous color, perfect for holiday wreaths. Love it.

Okay, so Privets might be the least popular,
weed like perennial BUT I LOVE THEM. I like their veriegated leaf and
lacy white blooms in the spring. They are indestructable and add movement
and softness to any style of landscaping. You just have to make sure you have enough room to let them
grow free... I don't like to prune them and they get huge.

Who doesn't love Peonies?! I have the single and double bloom in white, but
would love to add other colors. Once established, peonies are incredible!!! Even after
their blooms fall, the "peony hips" are beautiful and can still be used
in arrangements.

Oh Hellebores! What else can I say, so so so pretty.

Azaleas are easy as long as they have some shade and water. I have a repeat bloom
variety and the only thing I have to do is dust them once a year for mildew. I guess that's
not as easy care as the other ones, but they're worth it.

Hydrangeas are my favorites and I have three varieties:
Blushing Bride, Endless Summer, Oak Leaf
They need LOTS of water and some shade. Other than that,
easy!

I like to mix herbs in with my flowers and Lavender is perfect!  The purple bloom is
lovely for months and the smell is just beautiful. 

I planted Wine and Roses last year and they have tripled in size . I love
the dark foliage and the bloom is absolutely stunning in the spring. I don't prune
or dead head them either.

I resisted planting Knockout Roses for a long time, but they got me. They bloom for nearly three
whole seasons and require no attention. This double bloom variety is my favorite because they
actually look like roses. That was my complaint with the single. Anyway, no spots,
no bugs, no pruning. 

I know everyone has Daylilies but I still love them. They add so much color, texture
and pop to a garden. 

Seriously?

Kids lose "bad mother" lawsuit. Can't take mom to court over bad birthday cards.

• by Piper Weiss, Shine Staff, 20 hours ago

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Did you know you can sue your parents for skimping out on your childhood birthday gifts? You can, but you'll probably lose. Two years after Steven and Kathryn Miner, both in their 20s, sued their mother, Kimberly Garrity, for bad parenting during their formative years, the case has been dismissed. The $500,000 lawsuit accused 55-year-old Garrity of causing her adult kids emotional distress.

Their claims about their poor upbringing had more to do with what mom didn't do, than what she did. For starters: she didn't send her son college care packages, or buy her daughter the homecoming dress she wanted. And their birthday cards? No cash or checks, just Hallmark sentiments. 

The Chicago Tribune reports Exhibit A in the case was a check-free birthday card for Steven, now 23. 

"The card pictured tomatoes on a table with one tomato that had googly eyes. Inside the card read:  'Son I got you this Birthday card because it's just like you...different from all the rest! Have a great day! Love & Hugs, Mom xoxoxo.'" 

"Such alleged actions are unpleasant and perhaps insensitive, and some would arguably fall outside the realm of 'good mothering,' but they are not so shocking as to form a basis for a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress," said Judge Kathy Flanagan in a court statement, adding that ruling in favor of the children "could potentially open the floodgates to subject family child rearing to ... excessive judicial scrutiny and interference."

The Miners were raised in an affluent Chicago suburb which may account for some lack of understanding of normal privileges outside of their luxury bubble. But there's more to the story than just a couple of spoiledadult kids. One of the Miner siblings' three lawyers is their father, Garrity's ex-husband, also named Steven Miner. When the couple divorced in 1995, the kids moved in with their dad. 

The judge called the claims "petty grievances of parental attention or inadequacy."

Father-slash-attorney Steven Miner told the court his kids weren't out to get back at their mom, they just wanted her to assume some accountability. "Everyone makes mistakes, but … there must be accountability for actions," he wrote in a statement for the court. "Parenting is no different."

Despite the ruling, the Miner kids may get the accountability they were looking for. Garrity's attorney suggests that her client's legal fees may end up costing her more than 18 years worth of birthday checks.

Hey Summer...

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F° | C°

Enter city or zip code:Current conditions as of 7:52 AM CDT

TODAY	TOMORROW	FRI	SAT	SUN	6-10 DAY
Sunny	Sunny	Sunny	Mostly Sunny	Isolated T-storms	Extended Forecast
High: 96° Low: 72°	High: 98° Low: 72°	High: 100° Low: 73°	High: 97° Low: 72°	High: 91° Low: 67°

...I'm officially over you. Please go away.

Ultimate Recycling Project

                            
Corrugated Shipping Containers turned into....

Beautiful, modern homes and apartment buildings.

 "Corrugated steel shipping containers have attracted the eye and attention of architects and city planners alike.

Is it really possible for a hunk of junk to become something beautiful? The answer is a resounding “YES!”  Never mind DeKalb Market—Downtown Brooklyn’s brand-new food-and-retail center formed entirely of used shipping containers—the recycled structures are now icons of cool, earth-conscious, and very chic 21st-century residential living. The building movement was arguably sanctified in the pages of modern-design magazines such as Dwell and has already evolved beyond its students-on-a-budget, hippied-out roots. While crafting houses from shipping containers is certainly a money-saving building method, creative architects also aim to find a balance between the practical and the aesthetic." 

(Found on Yahoo News)

What's For Dinner?

Fried Cabbage and Bacon
Mashed Potatoes
French Bread with Rhubarb Jam


Fried Cabbage and Bacon:

1 head cabbage, coarsely chopped
1/2 package of bacon, diced
2 julienne carrots
1 chopped onion

Fry bacon, and then add the carrots, onion. When carrots start to soften, add the cabbage. Salt and pepper to taste. Easy comfort food!

Let Your Love Flow

STRESS + Bellamy = A better morning.

Try Something New!

I've never made this, but it looked and sounded delicious. I'll make it some time this week because I have all the ingredients already and can top it off with "Greek Gods" yogurt. Love that stuff! (It's really good on naan bread with a little jam for breakfast. Full fat, just fyi.)

I would probably serve these peppers with some seasoned turkey patties on the side and fresh tomato wedges alongside the lemon as well. Thanks Martha once again, for being so awesome!

Ingredients

• 4 large bell peppers
• 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup crumbled feta (4 ounces)
• 1/2 cup couscous
• 4 scallions, white and green parts separated, thinly sliced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

1. Slice a very thin layer from the base of each bell pepper so they sit flat. Slice off tops just below stem. Discard stems; chop tops, and place in a medium bowl. Remove ribs and seeds from peppers.
2. Add beans, feta, couscous, scallion whites, garlic, and oregano to bowl. Season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Stuff peppers with bean mixture; place upright in slow cooker. Cover; cook on high in a slow cooker, 4 hours.
3. Sprinkle peppers with scallion greens; serve with lemon wedges.

Cook's Note

To make in the oven: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In step 2, use a 5-quart Dutch oven or ovenproof pot with a tight-fitting lid; add 1 cup water. Cover; bake until peppers are tender, about 1 hour. Proceed with step 3.