David Gandy is Dandy and my choice for Christian Grey

I have been a busy girl lately, I am going to hesitantly admit that I succumbed to pressure to read 50 Shades Of Grey. That's right! This self professed anti-romance novel reader has fallen in love with the story of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, so much so that after reading the trilogy I longed for another book that was similar to Grey.

That search led me to Bared To You and Reflected In You by Sylvia Day. Again, for the most part I fell in love with the characters, especially Gideon Cross. Once I was done with that spicey bit of Mommy Porn, I found myself reading Gabriel's Inferno and Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Raynard. I adored the story of Gabriel and Julia just as much as that of Christian and Ana.

It came as a very very big surprise to me that I would enjoy books like 50 Shades, but I think it was just what this desperate housewife needed to put a pep...uh hum...in her step! Now that I have admitted in a very public forum that I have read Mommy Porn, I am now going to admit something else that is a tad embarrassing, I have also been mentally casting the movie of 50 Shades Of Grey.
From my searches on the web I have seen many suggestions for who should play Christian Grey, and honestly most of the men just don't cut the mustard. When it comes to overall looks and handsome swagger Matt Bomer, would certainly make a good choice and he is a decent actor. Matt's best quality is his eyes, they are captivating. He is very handsome and rocks a suit, but for me he is just a tad too soft.

My perfect Christian Grey would be much more macho looking, but still have an air of sophistication. I am not a fan of Ian Somerhalder, sure he is OK looking but lacks that edge that Christian has.
Ryan Gosling is another that has been suggested for the part, while he could certainly play Christian very well without a doubt, he just does not have the looks. Chaning Tatum....um no, not doing it for me either. Henry Cavill is also a good choice, but I see him more as Gideon Cross.

But, I do love...and I mean love...the kind of love that if he showed up at my door I'd run off into the sunset with him kind of love...Joe Manganiello. He is so sexy, but sadly I don't think he would have the polish or charm to pull the role off, plus he might be just a tad too beef cake for the part.

So while I was searching the web for the best man for the job I encountered David Gandy. For those of you who are not familiar with the name, you may know him as the man in the white pants from the Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue adds....yeah....that guy! I did a little more looking into him and am now obsessed with the British born super model. I have had restless nights thinking about this man! He is the perfect man. He is tall, has a muscular athletic build, piercing blue eyes, perfect lips, and even a little scar near his eye that puts him over the top in sexiness. While Gandy really is not an actor, and I doubt that he would even be able to pull off Christian Grey, I certainly picture his gorgeous face and body when I read 50 Shades...again for the 4th time!

The Dolce and Gabbana add that made David Gandy famous.

David Gandy is the most famous male supermodel....check out those eyes....

David Gandy would look smoking hot as Christian Grey, imagine him misusing the company airplane

Those eyes...those cheek bones....oh and he has a sexy accent too!

What can I say about this.....

If David Gandy can't fill Christians shoes I would nominate him to play Gideon Cross of the Bared To You novel or even better as the sexy professor Gabriel Emerson from Gabriel's Inferno. If he is not interested in those roles he could be my new boyfriend....just a thought....fantasy....what was I saying.....need to take a cold shower now!

Bad Attitude

Well hello readers, it has been a while. I come to you today with a confession, not an apology. I am lazy, and if I recall I may have wrote another blog entry at one point stating the same fact!

I took an unplanned leave from the world of blogging and photography. Why you may ask? Well, because my heart has just not been into it. I am lazy. Seems like way to much work for little to no payoff. I have lost my mojo.

It would be less humiliating to come up with a tonne of excuses and lame reasons for my disappearing act, some of which are completely valid, while others are full of shit. I could post meaningless mindless mumble jumble as I have more frequently than I care to admit. I could re post other peoples work as a way to get content into my blog, but I am even too lazy to do that! I have tried getting this blog mobile so that when I am away from the computer I can share morsels of wisdom, but I didn't bother to do anything with all of those apps that I purchased.

I could tell you a tall tale about how I was abducted by alien pirates and forced into cooking and cleaning for them. While that is not far from the truth, I must let it be known that my family are not aliens nor pirates. Being a full time stay at home Mom kept me very busy for many years, but the kids are getting older now and are in school full time. They don't keep me away from my "work" unless it is March Break or summer vacation.

I would like to tell you that I live in a 20 room mansion that requires all of my time to keep it clean and running smoothly. But lets face it, if I were wealthy enough to live in a mansion, time is not what would keep me away from blogging. If I am that rich, I wouldn't give two craps about sharing anything with the common folk ;)

2011 and so far 2012 have been fantastic. We were blessed to take a few really nice vacations all of which I could brag about here, but then that would just be bragging. Maybe the odd person out there would like to hear about my adventures in Italy or how when we went to Puerto Vallarta over Christmas we went swimming with dolphins. Sure they were great vacations and I have wonderful stories to tell, but I think my family and friends would rather hear about it, not the reader.

Perhaps I could share the fact that I was sucked in by all of the hype over the book 50 Shades of Grey, and much to my surprise I actually enjoyed the series. I know, shocking! I don't like romance novels, give me a good murder mystery any day, but there was just something that captivated me with the books. Do you really want to hear about how I found myself become hot and bothered by those books? No...I didn't think so!

As I sit here writing this, I realize that it does sound like an apology, a lame one at that. But let me assure you it is not. Honestly, I am sure that readers don't care if they ever see anything in this blog again. I don't share content that is going to change lives. I share stories about my life, interests and the things that make me go Hmmmm. That's it. I blog about my views and opinions, right or wrong, I don't care, they are my opinions. I may come off sounding surly in this entry, and that is fine by me, I am surly. I have often been called a bitch even by the people who love me the most.

I hope that getting this off my chest will inspire me to share more of my pissy attitude with you, sooner rather than later. Perhaps next time you check in I will have written 3 posts! Fancy that! So until next time, bugger off!

Why Some People Should Not Be Parents

It is no secret  that parenting is a tough job. I would like to think that many of us who chose to become parents did not go into it blindly and expect it to be a cake walk, to smell like a bed of roses. Quite frankly it is often like walking on egg shells and reeks of shit! But if you are a good parent (not perfect...perfect parents do not exist and don't let anyone tell you otherwise) you know there will be challenges and you opt to make decisions that are in the best interest of your kids. You feed them a healthy diet, you provide them with all the necessities of life. Discipline is difficult but you do it because you know it will help your child to grow and become a responsible adult. You love you kids unconditionally. They are your world, your light, your everything. You would do anything (within reason) for your children. You do not abuse them physically or emotionally. You shower them with attention and affection. These actions and choices make you a good parent. Sure we often catch ourselves making poor parenting choices, but being the good person that  you are, you make sure it doesn't happen again. Your a good parent.

Then you watch the news and stumble through blogs and social media and are astounded that there are a large number of people out there that are just Horrible parents. Period. Too many to mention, too many to dwell on. From the idiot Mom who leaves her sleeping infant in the car seat while she goes shopping for 3 hours in sweltering heat, to the Dad who beats his toddler to the point that he suffers severe brain damage. There are way too many of these horror stories floating around out there. Which brings me to my next examples of poor parenting ( or just plain dumb ass people ). We have all seen photos like this on the internet. But I thought I would share a few with you anyway, just to drive home the point that some people are just crappy parents.

I am sure that the parents who took some of these photos thought it was cute or funny that the kid was playing with a bong or guns. Its all right to smoke a giant doobie while your kid sits on your shoulders...isn't it? It was funny putting the baby in the microwave. NOT! I firmly believe that people need to be licensed to have children.

My Crush on Dave Grohl....Is this normal at my age?

When I was a teenager I had so many "crushes" on boys at school or Hollywood celebs it was nauseating. The walls of my bedroom were plastered with posters of Johnny Depp, River Phoenix and Michael Hutchins (INXS). For hours I would day dream about one day meeting one of these hunks and have him fall madly in love with me. Sadly that never did happen.

In my twenties I had a few crushes, but my infatuations with celebrities came to an end. Sure I thought Brad Pitt was a hunk, I still do. But I did not fantasize about him. I had crushes on real men now. Of course these were just the guys I would chase more for the game than to actually catch him. Then I met my hubby when I was 23. We started dating and all the men in the world no longer interested me.

Now I am 39 years old and finding myself developing a crush on a celebrity. It is the funniest thing. I feel the same way I did when I was 15 and loved Johnny Depp! I get all excited looking for any bit of information on the person as I can find. In this case my crush is on Dave Grohl, the front man, uber awesome musician and rock God of the Foo Fighters. I find this so humorous because it seems silly to crush on a man who is a tad older than I am, who is married with children and frankly he is not Brad Pitt. But he has the boyish charm or sillyness about him that I just can't resist!

I have long been a fan of Dave Grohl from his days as the drummer for Nirvana to present. I have followed his career closely and have always admired him. But trouble started brewing with the release of the Foo Fighters latest album Wasting Light. The first song released just got me. I was ensnared. Then I watched the documentary Back and Forth that they released and decided at that point that I love Dave Grohl. He appears to be a regular guy who just happens to be a rock star. He seems normal for lack of better word. He often displays a great sense of humor which is probably what caused this crush of mine in the first place. From the funny Foo video's to Fresh Pots, Suing Scissor Sisters and Hot Buns....Dave Grohl proves he is a funny guy.

I have taken my fondness for Dave Grohl and all things Foo Fighters and am trying diligently to shove it down my husbands throat. I am forcing him to have a man crush on Dave Grohl and I have him pretty hooked! I figure I just can't look like a fool all by myself....strength in numbers and all.

So all these thoughts of running off with Mr. Grohl into the sunset are pretty childish, it begs to question, is this normal? Is it normal for a happily married woman of my age to crush on a rock star? Please tell me I am somewhat normal! I also wonder, how many other gals out there are like me, who do you have a crush on?

So this near middle aged woman will shuffle off now and browse for some more You Tube content featuring Dave Grohl while my kids stare at me all bewildered "Mommy do you know that guy, you watch him a lot on the computer".

xoxo Mr. Grohl

10 Secrets of Super Happy Couples......Really?

I have a subscription to Women's Health magazine. Every month I like to torture myself with useless information about losing weight, eating healthy and having great sex. Seriously, every single article is the same over every issue, just worded differently! Yet still I read this rag hoping to learn something new. I wait for that light bulb moment when I can say "That I can do!".

The latest issue of Women's Health magazine had an article in it that just rubbed me the wrong way. I could not help but read it and actually laugh out load all while belittling its author. No offense lady, but really....really? The article is 10 Secrets of Super Happy Couples.

Naturally being a married woman I read this article and immediately formed my own opinions. Join me in rehashing this morsel of stupidity and tell me your opinions!

1. Pretend You Just Met - "Whether you've been together for six months or six years, spend some time each day acting as if you just started dating".  My opinion: the dating days were not all that fun.  Why would I want to revisit them? They were filled with uncertainty and neediness and heart break. Sure the very first few months of a new relationship may be wrought with sexual tension and exploration, but that quickly fades then you find you really don't like that guy. If you do stay and decide you like him then that is awesome!  I was much happier and confident in my relationship after time passed. I figured that if he could tolerate me for this long , he must be a keeper. Then I relaxed and could be myself!

2. Limit Chick Flicks - "Romantic comedies can set up unreasonable expectations, which may lead to unnecessary suffering," says Sean Patrick Hatt, Ph.D., a psychologist in Seattle.  My opinion: No shit batman! Seriously who the hell calls  up a guy she just started dating to come over only to subject him to these sappy movies. If you think that you are feeding him ideas about how to be romantic and a good man, you are not. You would be better off showing  him super hero movies! If you are trying to get him in the mood rent porn. Chick flicks are just lame.

3. Be Beauty to His Beast - "Coupling up with an average Joe (with a beer belly) may be the key to long-term love"....My opinion:  Was I just told to find an ugly guy? Most men are average Joe's they just come in different shapes and sizes.  It shouldn't  matter if he looks like Brad Pitt and you look like a junkie street walking whore! If he likes you and you look like him all is good. Don't lower your expectations just because you thing you have a better chance at keeping a guy.

4. Control the Boozing - "Partyers may be more likely to have commitment issues to begin with, and once they couple up their bonds may be unstable."  My opinion:  I can actually agree with this. Back in my dating days I had a few booze fueled relationships that inevitably went nowhere. Looking back I realize that not one occasion went by where booze was not involved with some of these guys. I never had a chance to see the sober guy, maybe he would not have been so much fun, maybe he would not have slept with my friend if we weren't all drunk!

5. Hold a Grudge - "Provided that your partner is able to bounce back from spats, you'll experience greater satisfaction, even if you tend to stay P.O.'d".  My opinion: I just don't get this one. Seems rather conflicting from what most of us have been told about keeping relationships happy. "Never go to bed mad" we've been told. Isn't a grudge  just an extension of anger. So which is it, settle the dispute and let things go or hang on to it and poison the relationship. I guess it all depends on what the spat was about in the first place. If he left the cap off the toothpaste again...get over it. If  he gambled away the money for your mortgage hold a grudge!

6. Tweet Responsibly - "Avid tweeters tend to have shorter relationships".  My opinion: Another point that I  agree with (which came as a big surprise to me as I never agree with this stuff). Nothing pisses me off more that trying to hold a conversation with a person all while they keep glancing at their iPhone or ask me to wait while they quickly Tweet! My blood just boils. Another thing that I commonly see is that women often Tweet about their partner and sometimes they make their man look like total douche bags....just sayin'.

7. Don't Win an Oscar - "A Best Actress winner is 63 percent more likely to have her marriage end before her category mates do".  My opinion: WTF! Are you serious! If a man does not have enough self worth, self respect and self assurance to have a woman who may earn more money and be more successful than he is, then clearly that powerful woman should not be with that loser. This tidbit while at the very end says to "Encourage and celebrate each other's successes, big and small" is completely correct, it also dangerously implies that as a woman you should strive for mediocrity if you want to keep a man!


8. Burn Bras Together - "Women whose male partner is a feminist report better relationship quality". My opinion:  I am a touch old fashioned. I like my man to be a touch boarish. I don't want to be treated like crap, but I don't want him to be a  feminist pussy who's afraid to speak his mind for fear of offending the feminist me. I have no problem with a woman fighting for equality and rites, but when a feminist starts taking it to the extreme like bitching about terms such as "fireman" or "man hole cover" I don't respect them. Even worse is the wimpy guy standing right behind her agreeing with her stupidity. I think it should be a two way street, he should respect you as a woman and you should respect him as a man.
 
9. Nurture you friends Relationship - "Some people may see another's divorce as permission to change their own life,"  My opinion: Stay out of other peoples business. If your best friends marriage is on the rocks be supportive of her, but don't try to mend it! Just turn all of your good intentions onto your own relationship because that is the only one that matters. Often we become so wrapped up in other peoples problems that we neglect our own relationships.

10. Twist the Sheets at Least Once a Week- "Couples who like each other end up in bed more often."  My opinion: Oh how nice would that be. In order for this to happen though I would have to wake at 2 am and jump him. Sure sex is important to keeping a marriage strong and happy. But sometimes our expectations just do not meet the reality that is our life. Many couples find it difficult to make time for nookie when they have kids always buzzing around, work and household obligations to meet.  Often exhaustion trying to meet those needs sets in. Sometimes sacrificing 30 minutes of pleasure for 30  minutes of extra sleep is just way more appealing.

What are your secrets to staying a happy couple?

I made Limoncello!

I made Limoncello!, originally uploaded by leelicini.

The first time I had Limoncello I swear I heard the angels sing. I am a lover of all things lemon so naturally this is a spirit that speaks volumes to me.
I did much research and decided on this recipe for limoncello.

1 750ml bottle grain alcohol (Everclear)
10-12 organic lemons
5 cups water
3 cups sugar (or to taste)

Pour the booze into a large glass container with a tight fitting lid. Add the rind of the lemons. Remove the rind with a sharp potato peeler or super sharp knife. IMPORTANT! Be careful to not get any of the pith with the rind (the white stuff....it is bitter). Cover top of jar with plastic wrap then replace lid. Give it a swirl and put aside in a cool dark place for 2 to 4 weeks.

After the extraction period is up, drain the lemony boozy goodness into a cheesecloth, fine strainer...you get the point. Discard the rinds.
In a pot add 5 cups water. Bring to boil (my extra kick was to add the peel of one lemon while it was boiling...freshen up the lemon flavor). Add the sugar. Stir until dissolved. Let the syrup cool then add to the booze mixture.

Tada!!! Now you have limoncello! It is best to let the limoncello sit in the freezer for at least a week so the flavors can marry.
Enjoy this awesome drink straight from the freezer in a nice shot glass.

Limoncello is also nice served with some sparkling wine or over some vanilla gelato You can also make Limoncello Tiramisu as well. Just replace the coffee and rum with limoncello!! Delish!

Enjoy a taste of the Amalfi Coast!

Braless In Public....Would You?

A few weeks ago I was watching The Talk a show that I have grown rather fond of over the summer. One of the topics was Would You Go Braless in Public. Not a topic that I would give to much thought to in general. I have been out and about many times and encountered a woman or two who had no bra. Usually these women were young, childless and not overly endowed. They looked perfectly fine to me.

Then it happened. I was for the first time ever insulted, disgusted dare I say by seeing a woman in her mid 40's going braless. What a horror show that was! Seriously! The vision of the woman will be etched in my mind for many years to come. Normally, I could care less about such trivial things as how people dress in public, but this woman looked like a street walking junkie, and I am pretty sure she was not. I saw her while at the grocery store. Problem number 1 right there. Obviously her nipples were erect due to the cold temperature in the store. To make it even more disturbing,  her nipples popped out roughly around the area of her belly button....enough said! What made the whole sight even more frightful was that she was wearing a pair of skin tight, ultra short cut off jean shorts, and a bright pink g-string peaking out for all to see. Even more disturbing she was with a teen aged girl who I can only assume was her daughter. The daughter was dressed just like the mother, right down to no bra and showing g-string.

I can't believe that I am being so silly about such a small thing. Perhaps I am a tad bit jealous that I don't have the stones to go braless in public. Sure, the minute I walk through the door that bra comes off and I free the girls. I never have had an issue with sagging and all....I haven't much in that department, frankly I consider myself lucky. Even if my boobs are still perky, I would not go out in public without a bra. Nobody wants to see my 'headlights'. I am sure that my 7 year old son who was shopping with me at the time, did not want to see that woman's tata's either!