Get to the Point

Side note. Has anyone else noticed Ray Wattson roaming the front page of our blog sporting all kinds of construction equipment? Monday a blue print, yesterday a ruler, today a shovel. What's he up to?

Food. That's the thing that holds today's blog topic together.

First food of old. Does anyone remember last April when we hosted our very first Fancy Flours Cookie Cutter Challenge? I was tasked with using a porcupine cookie cutter to celebrate Earth Day. Most memorable was the "sharp" (no pun intended), but anonymous reader who was kind enough to point out that I packaged my porcupine cookies in plastic bags. All while I had the nerve to ask, "What quill you do to help save Mother Earth?" Ouch... literally and figuratively.

The high of the day, however, was when one of our oh-so-creative-readers suggested using the porcupine to celebrate Valentine's Day. Her slogan, you might have guessed, was... "I'm stuck on you."

I know a good idea when I hear one, so I couldn't wait to bake up my very own batch of pink, red, and white porcupines. This will make the perfect treat for all the teachers and helpers at Matthew and Jack's school.

Next. More food.

Monday Struble Suds provided a great recap of Highlowaha's Super Bowl Snack Throwdown. Cristine shined like Howard Cosell, giving a play by play of Kate's Frito Fantasy Candy versus Ray's Two Bean Lettuce Wrap. Nobody commented. Nobody.

I am going to venture to say it's because the team we were all rooting for (Team Kate) didn't win. It's like the Yankees and their billion dollar pompous baseball team swooping in and winning the World Series again, when other teams are harder working and far more likeable.

But we must be good sportsmen - or women. So, hard as it may be... Congratulations Ray Wattson on your winning recipe and for earning the title as champion of Highlowaha's Second Annual Snack Throw Down.

And now, painful as it is.. May I present to you your limited edition Super Bowl.

Speech. Speech.

FritoRay here. So, what can I say? I'd like thank all the little people who helped make this possible. Thanks to the patrons of Struble Sud's who recognized that children, because of their size, should only get half a vote. Thanks to the gallons of beer for spurring on the festivities. Thanks to Kate, who overestimated the sophistication of the beer addled midwest pallet that will unthinkingly select any snack with sausage in it over any snack without. Thanks to the Commissioner of the league. Thanks to my hairy armed sous chef. And a special thanks to Matt and Christine Struble for................

Now about this bowl. I've been thinking about this bowl. My friends have told me that I should keep this bowl and enjoy it as a symbol of my greatness. I think this is too shortsighted a viewpoint. It's a really cool bowl and blessed with my image; but, I'm fortunate enough to have several mirrors in the house. I'm thinking what Kate and her blog needs is a little, well... me. A little Ray Wattson. So, Kate, I'm going to have Claudia send you the bowl. I know, I know, I don't have to do this. And, yes, I am the coolest. Stop stop stop. Just take the bowl. You can owe me one.

FritoRay Out.

Yellow Envelope Project: Superbowl Edition

You want to send a Yellow Envelope to someone who shines?

Send it to me:

Ray Wattson

House of Shine

Apt. #218

Anytown, USA
I'm freaking Raydiculous! This isn't going to be a Throw-down. It's going to be a Beat-down. Introducing.....FritoRay's Superbowl Two Bean Lettuce Wraps - homage to lettuce wraps with a little Texas flair.

The best part about this dish? No cooking. Well, that's not true. It wouldn't be the Superbowl without sausage. So I threw some in at the last minute. All you vegetarians out there take note. Sausage is optional.

Here's the recipe. Read it and weep.

1 package cole slaw mix

1 can kidney beans + 1 can black beans

1 package of breakfast sausage cooked.

1 can of Ro*Tel

Mix

Add 6 fistfuls of crushed Fritos

Couch filling in Iceburg lettuce wraps

Munch a bunch

So what'll it be, Kate's sweet Fantasy Frito Candy or my savory Two Bean Lettuce Wraps?

Kate Wins in Overtime

I used to think I worked hard bringing you a blog post each day.

Then I began recapping highlights from Highlowaha's Second Annual Super Bowl Snack Throw Down. Now I know... I am a slacker. It is Lauren and Kate, our favorite foodies who competed this entire football season, that are true All Stars.

These two women cooked seventeen recipes over an eighteen week period AND competed in a week of half-time activities. They exemplified creativity and skill as, each week, Kate and Lauren worked to incorporate the secret ingredient voted on by our Highlowaha readers. We challenged them by selecting things such as asparagus, wine, pineapple, and everything in between.

Little did we know when we put these two women head to head, exactly how well matched they were. Both fierce competitors, both fighting week after week, and both taking their turn as leaders of the pack.

The only thing harder than creating their weekly recipes might have been judging the weekly recipes. Recipes were judged on (1) creative use of the ingredient, (2) most likely to be eaten first, (3) best photograph, and (4) reproducibility. Struble Suds, Beantown Baker and you the readers were our esteemed judges for the first fourteen weeks. The foodie who earned the majority of the votes won the overall vote for the week.

At the end of the regular season the score was: Kate, 11 votes vs. Lauren 7 votes.

9/11/09, Sausage

Tie: Lauren: NE vs Buffalo Sausage Balls Kate: Pizza Pie Poppers

9/18/09, Mushroom

Winner Lauren: Marsala Potato Skins

9/24/09, Cheese

Winner Kate: 4th Down Poppers with Sweet Apple Mustard Dip

10/2/09, Potato

Winner Lauren: Sweet Potato Hummus

10/09/09, Sour Cream

Winner Kate: Punting Pumpkin Pies

10/16/09, Asparagus

Tie: Lauren, Frittata Bites. Kate, Asparagus Wrap Up

10/23/09, Black Beans

Winner Kate: Blitz this Black Bean Kielbasa Soup

10/30/09, Hamburger

Tie Lauren: Cheeseburger Kabobs Kate: Tackling Tex Mex Bruschetta

HALF TIME WEEK LONG CHALLENGE: Winner Kate (2 points)

11/13/09, Cayenne

Winner Kate: Triple "S" Snack Sacks

11/20/09, Tortillas

Tie: Lauren, Cheeseburger Quesadillas. Kate, "Lime Backer" Tortilla Chicken Strips

11/27/09, Wine

Winner Kate: "Wine" Receiver Fondue

12/4/09, Onion

Winner Lauren: Brie Stuffed Mushrooms

12/11/09, Pineapple

Winner Kate: Upshot Brownies

12/18/09, Turkey

Winner Kate: Turnover Turkey Ring

Post Season Play: During post season play, Struble Suds and Bean Town Baker each still cast one vote. But, it was the third vote where we switched things up a little bit. Heather, Cheryl, and I agreed to make each recipe and to appoint a panel of celebrity judges who collectively cast the third vote. During play offs, each competitor earned a point for each vote they received - meaning each competitor could earn upwards of three votes per week.

1/8/10, Worcestershire

Lauren: Sloppy Joeys, 2 votes.

Kate: Drop Kick Chip Dip, 1 vote

1/15/10, BBQ Sauce

Lauren: Mesquite Chicken Pizza Sticks, 2 votes.

Kate: Bowl Game BBQ Nachos, 1 vote

The score going into this week's competition was Kate 13 vs. Lauren 11.

In true Lauren and Kate form, it was a contest to the bitter end. The first two votes rolled in earlier this week. Bean Town Baker voted for Lauren. That makes it Kate, 13 vs. Lauren 12. Struble Suds voted next. Their vote went to Lauren, making the score heading into last night, Kate 13 vs. Lauren 13. A TIE!

Recipes were made, dishes tasted, and votes were cast.

The final score is...

1/22/10, Kielbasa

Lauren: Mom's Super Easy Kielbasa Bites, 2 votes

Kate: Inside Pocket Sausage, 1 vote

Kate, 14 vs. Lauren, 13

And the crowd goes wild! What a season it was down to the bitter end.

A true and heartfelt thank you to all the people who helped make the Second Annual Super Bowl Snack Throw Down work. First and foremost, thank you to Kate and Lauren who have been troopers and good sports throughout the entire competition.

Thank you to Bean Town Baker and Struble Suds who graciously accepted our invitations to be guest judges and who provided thorough critiques each week.

Thank you to Heather who really did most of the organizing and to Katie K. who generated many of our weekly polls.

Cheryl, your picture collage is, of course, first rate.

And to Michelle and all the other fans who turned out every week interested in the outcome, thank you.

But wait...

Don't go yet. Tune in next week to find out what secret ingredient Kate must cook with and who she will be up against in Super Bowl XXXXIV.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Half Time Fun: Heisman Voting

Yesterday teams Holiday Armadillo and Danko Defender made waves. Person by person, each team crafted compelling arguments for why their defender reigns supreme in Highlowaha's Super Bowl Throw Down.

Danko Defenders: "Silver medal isn't champion because Kate holds that special talent which shines in every thing she does is fabulous! Kate is an amazing gold champion who always brings care and joy to everyone she and her family meet and greet. We see skated by winning but strongly!

Holiday Armadillos: "Silver lightening is red when everyone smiles at Lauren and she is always cooking up fast fabulous and creatively mixes random delicious ingredients into yummy, yummy surprises!

In the end... judges split the vote yet again (I promise, this is not planned. Judges vote not knowing whose entry is whose). Kate earned 2 points for having 46 people participate in crafting her statement, while judges awarded 1 point to Lauren for having the better of the two.

One of things that makes Highlowaha's community shine is that, amidst all of this fun, we actually have an important mission.

Help Ray Wattson spread his word... Shine and the world radiates!

A simple way to help advance Ray's rayvolution is to sport one of Ray's t-shirts while roaming around your town. Or, reinforce the "shine" in others by presenting them with a Shine shirt or stuffing one in someone's holiday stocking. Neither of those gestures is too hard. Just send an email to info@highlowaha.com and for $10.00 we'll send you a shirt.

But the other thing you can do requires more effort on your part. It requires you to spend time reflecting on all the people you know - relatives, service providers, former teachers, friends, friends of friends, or even just familiar faces you run into each morning at Starbucks. It requires that you stop what you are doing and take a minute to nominate someone for the Yellow Envelope Project.

The Yellow Envelope Project is an initiative Highlowaha readers participate in each Saturday. I post the first name and address of someone in the country who, for reasons big or small, shines and then our readers send an anonymous note to that week's nominee. Notes are short and simply recognize recipients for going above and beyond. The only other rule is that notes must, must, must be mailed in a yellow envelope and must read, "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address.

Today we turn to you for new recruits. If you hang around with the likes of Lauren and Kate, we know you know people that shine. Your task... send an email to info@highlowaha.com telling us of someone you know who shines. Share the first name and a mailing address (work addresses are ok too), along with a few lines about why you think his/her mailbox deserves to be flooded with yellow envelopes.

And, while you're at it... use the same email to let us know if you'd like to order a shine shirt.

The team that submits the most nominees for the Yellow Envelope Project will receive 2 points. The team submitting the name judges agree is the most deserving receives 1 point. All nominees must be emailed to info@highlowaha.com by Thursday at 9:00 p.m. CST

Consider today's activity the calm before tomorrow's storm...

Signing off until tomorrow...

Half Time Fun: That's The Way The Cookie Fumbles

A great first day of competition!

Lauren got 17 fans to tune in yesterday on behalf of Holiday Armadillos, while Kate's Danko Defenders came close with 16 fans. Danko Defenders had the winning slogan, with five judges agreeing "Hail MaRay" was the most clever name (Anonymous, you've got to come forward and send your mailing address to info@highlowaha.com if you want your Starbucks gift card!). That means the score after one round is Holiday Armadillos 2 and Danko Defenders 1.

It's a new day.

Lest you think all we do at Highlowaha is gorge ourselves on Lauren and Kate's savory Super Bowl Snack recipes, let me assure you... there is more to us than that.

Once a month we get our fill of sweet treats by participating in our Fancy Flours Cookie Cutter Challenge. The Cookie Cutter Challenge hasn't been around as long as Ray Wattson, who you met yesterday, but this monthly activity is quickly becoming a Highlowaha favorite.

Holiday Armadillos and Danko Defenders, pay attention since this month you get to participate!

Rules of play are easy. I announce this month's occasion worth celebrating and you choose the cookie cutter you think is least related. Stump me. Select the cookie cutter you think I will have the most difficult time incorporating into my celebration. So far I have had to use a porcupine to celebrate Earth Day; a big mouth bass fish to celebrate National Backyard Games Day; a mermaid to celebrate my husband's birthday; a 3-D airplane to celebrate National Ice Cream Month; an ear of corn to celebrate Bucknell University's Freshmen Orientation; and an owl to celebrate Halloween.

My challenge is to find the connection between your winning cookie cutter and my holiday of choice. I will bake, decorate, and package the cookies accordingly.

This month's cause for celebration is personal to me... and to my good friend Susan. This month we will be celebrating the conclusion of National Novel Writing Month. Fifty thousand words written in 30 days - that's what Susan and I have committed to doing. Every day a minimum of 1,667 words. No breaks. No excuses.

I don't know about Susan, but I'm pretty sure I'll be ready for cookie by then.

So what'll it be? Click here and hit me with your best shot. Choose from the 600+ cookie cutters that Fancy Flours offers. Place your vote in the comment section. Once a cookie cutter has been nominated it cannot be nominated again (veteran readers: a change in rules for this one month). I will put all entries in a hat and randomly select one.

Holiday Armadillos and Danko Defenders, here's what's in it for you. Earn 2 points just by having more people vote than the other team. Earn 1 point if the winning cookie cutter was suggested by someone on your team.

As an added bonus... make Lauren or Kate's day. The team responsible for selecting the winning cookie cutter earns their captain the right to select the cookie cutter of her choice!

Signing off until tomorrow...

Psst... It's That Time

Here to vote for the Super Bowl Snack Throw Down? Hold tight. First we want to help you win a free t-shirt.

On the 18th of each month our blog community participates in a short and simple ritual. Whether you stumbled on our site or you are here to vote in today's Super Bowl Snack activities, jump right in. You're in Rome and you know what they say...

Do as the Roman's do.

It's easy. Thinking back over the past month, tell us your "high" (best thing that happened to you), "low" (worst thing that happened to you), and your "aha" (something you learned - fun fact, something about self, etc...). Post yours in today's comment section and your name is automatically entered in a drawing for the Ray Wattson shirt of your choice.

Visit our GalleRay to view your many choices of a one-of-a-kind Ray t-shirt.

I'll get us warmed up...

High: Meeting Peggy and Robin at Taste of USA, while catching up with old friends; a successful Struble Suds Dine By Design, raising $300+); an adult-only trip to Montreal with my husband; finally launching our Shine t-shirt campaign (1,000,000 shirts by 2013); and sunny days.

Low: Rainy days; not selling more Shine shirts at Taste of USA; a two-year who resists going to bed; red tape; and missing my parents.

Aha: Lively chatter, using fancy language is one way to increase your child's verbal skills, according to an article in the New York Times; there is SO much to know about cyberspace (I don't even know what I don't know); Leonardo Davinci had notebooks of filled with his ideas and he wrote backwards to avoid smearing his print.

A couple of clicks before heading into the comment section and you will be on your way.

Last week kicked off Highlowaha's Second Annual Super Bowl Throw Down. Sausage was the secret ingredient Lauren and Kate were challenged to use. You, the readers (50%); our celebrity judge (25%); and bar flies from Struble Suds, in Naperville, IL (25%), all voted. And, the winner from last week is...

Lauren AND Kate

A perfect tie

1:1

This week, the secret ingredient with which these women worked was mushroom. Check out their recipes at Goodies by Kate and Lauren's Kitchen, then place your vote in the first poll in the right hand side bar.

Finally, help us determine week four's secret ingredient by casting your vote in the second poll in the right hand side bar... Avocado or potato?

No shortage of something to say today, that's for sure:

1. High, low, aha
2. This week's winning recipe,
3. and week four's secret ingredient

Signing off until tomorrow (when you get a fun, fun recap of last week's Taste of USA)...

The Draft

Lauren, Sarah, Kate, Jen and Katie already know how to live Highlowaha's Spirit of 218. Each of them carved out time from their already busy schedules yesterday to submit a 6-word essay on why their food blog should be selected to participate in the Second Annual Super Bowl Snack Throw Down.

But, they also took a leap of faith. Heather sent a random email inviting approximately 50 food bloggers to participate. Of the 50, only four foodies were courageous enough to delve into the unknown, to try something new, and to entertain the possibilities that could come from engaging with a new community of people.

Lauren, Sarah, Kate, Jen and Katie ... you are one of us. You are adventurous, open to creative possibilities, and are hopeful about the serendipitous fun that can occur when you take a chance. Welcome. We hope you'll stick around, no matter the outcome of today's voting. You'll grow to love us and I suspect we will feel the same about you.

Now to the business of today's voting.

Below is a recap of each woman's name, the state from which she hails, the web address for her food blog, and her 6-word paragraph. Review each submission then...

• Go to highlowaha218@gmail.com and send an email stating which TWO food blogs you would like to see compete in the Super Bowl Snack Throw Down.
  
• Solicit a friend, or two, who will vote by tonight, Wednesday, August 5, at midnight CST. Lauren, Sarah, Kate, Jen and Katie ... it's "legal" for you to muster up your own support.
  
• Tune in this Friday, August 7, when we announce the lucky winners and when we "Free For All" your suggestions for this season's secret ingredients.
  
• Tune in every day, but be especially ready on Friday, August 28. We will officially kick-off the season by voting for the first round of secret ingredients.
  

Here we go:

Jen

Massachussetts

http://www.beantownbaker.com/

"My favorite season: Fall = Football + Food"

Lauren

State Unknown

http://lacucinadilauren.blogspot.com/

"Food plus football equals fabulous time."

Sarah

Oregon

http://sarah-cooking.blogspot.com/

"Pick me to make yummy snacks."

Kate

North Carolina

http://www.goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/

"Military wife who makes HOO-AH snacks."

Katie

Colorado

http://busymomcookbook.blogspot.com/

"Mom who plagiarizes budget friendly foods."

Impressive group, huh? Nice job recruiting, Heather.

I've been forgoing daily announcements in an effort to keep posts short and manageable...especially for first-time-viewers. But, today I feel the need to make a few.

Announcements:

• Make a comment in the comment section at any point during the week and your name gets entered in the Altoid table, for a drawing this Friday.
  
• If you think this is fun, you WILL want to tune in next week for our three-day Creativity Triathlon. Three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), three events. First place wins $100.00; Second place wins $50.00; and third place wins $25.00.
• Did anyone else catch Cristine's proclamation that Struble Suds is going to host a Dine By Design Gift of 218 Fundraiser in September? Dine by Design Struble Suds Style! I can't wait to see! Now we just need one of our foodies to show us how it's really done!
  

There is too much going on today to engage in our traditional Whack on the Side of the Head activity. Wanna make a comment? Revisit the past by celebrating Whacky Wednesday. Tell us something whacky about your Wednesday.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Pre-Season Line Up

We expect to have some visitors to our site today.  Welcome them the "Highlowaha Way." Show them how a blog, based solely on concepts of creativity and community will SHINE!

Our visitors are food lovers,  The occasion is start of football season.

Some background for those who were not with us last year at this time.  Facts, just the facts...

Highlowaha scoured the country looking for the craziest, zaniest, most over-the-top football fans we could find.  Turns out the Struble Family, in Naperville, Illinois fit the bill.  They've converted their basement into a full blown Packer Pub called Struble Suds.  Their set up is about as close to Cheers as you can get and still be zoned in a residential neighborhood.  Visit their pub and expect to be greeted with a steady stream of fans, printed t-shirts, mugs, a jumbo-tron of a screen, rows of reclining seats, a wall holding framed photographs of all the regulars, and a bottomless keg.  PACKER FANS! 

Once the right fans were found, we set the ground rules for the First Annual Highlowaha Super Bowl Snack Throw Down.  High:  We had great participation, voting for secret ingredients each week was fun, and the one-of-a-kind super bowl that AZLori won was great looking.  Lows: The cost of shipping weekly snacks to Struble Suds added up.  Aha: With a little bit of creativity and a lot of desire, you can find a better way.

Here it is.

The new and improved Super Bowl Snack Throw Down: Take Two.

• Today by 8:00 p.m. CST.  Host writers of food blogs from around the country will compete in a 6-word essay about why they should be selected as one of two competing teams in our newly revised Superbowl Throw Down.
  
• Tomorrow, Highlowaha readers (plus anyone that our foodies gather) will select two winners by voting on which 6-word essays they think are best.  The two food blogs receiving the most votes will win.
  
• The two winning sites will compete each week during football season, to see whose football snack recipes posts the most wins.
  
• No mailing involved.
• Each Friday before the next competition, Highlowaha readers will vote between two secret ingredients.  
• The next day (Saturday), the secret ingredient will be officially announced.  The winning ingredient must somehow be incorporated into a football snack prepared by our two competing food bloggers.  Food bloggers will have 12 days to prepare their dish and to post a photograph and recipe.
• On a designated day of the week, Highlowaha readers will visit the sites of our competing food bloggers to check out their entries.  Then, return to the Highlowaha comment section to cast your vote.
• Recipes will be judged on the following criterion.  Creative use of the ingredient (you had to know creativity would be #1), most likely to be eaten first, best photograph, and "replicability" (chances that a clumsy, non-foodie like me could actually make the recipe).
• Competing food bloggers earn a score, based on 100 percentage points.  
• Each Monday morning the winner will be announced. 
• The food blogger at the end of the season with the most wins earns the right to compete against Highlowaha readers in the ULTIMATE snack throw down on Super Bowl Sunday.
• Sunday, February 7, 2010, Highlowaha readers go head-to-head with the reigning Food Blogger Champion, by submitting a recipe that, for this one time only, will be mailed to Struble Suds.
• Monday, February 8, 2010, gifts and treats, including a hand-crafted super bowl, will be bestowed upon the ultimate Second Annual Super Bowl Snack Throw Down winner!  And the crowd roars.

That's it.  That's the plan and Heather, Katie, Cheryl, and I are pretty excited.  We hope you are too.

Do you know someone with a food blog you want to make sure gets a crack at competing?  Forward them today's post.  It's not too late for them to get in on the fun.  Remember, 6-word essays must be posted by 8:00 p.m. CST.

Don't know anyone you think should compete?  That's ok, tell us how you are getting ready for football season.  But, do it in six words.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Huddle Up

East Meets West

Super Bowl Snack Throw Down
Sunday, February 1, 2009
New York Maureen v. Arizona Lori

Congratulations Maureen and Lori, who after 20 weeks, 14 competitors, 11 secret ingredients, and a small fortune in postage have earned their way to the First Annual Highlowaha.com Superbowl Snack Throw Down! You are both fierce competitors and good sportsmen (or women), sure to make this throw down memorable yet... "tasteful."

Today's business at hand...

Casting votes for the Ultimate Secret Ingredient of the season.

Newcomer and returners alike are welcome to participate.  That goes for your lurkers too.  If ever you were going to get off the bench and cast a vote, today would be the day.  

Quick background.  Highlowaha readers have been competing since September to see who reigns supreme in our Football Snack Throw Down.  Each Friday readers vote on the secret ingredient our competitors must use in cooking up their recipe.  Snacks were then mailed to Struble Suds in Naperville, Illinois, where a group of die hard Packer fans gather to judge our entries.  Together we make the perfect team.  The eleven winning ingredients were as follows:

Bacon

Garlic

Vanilla

Nutmeg

Peanuts

Mustard

Brown Sugar

Parmesan Cheese

Honey

Quaker Oats 

Tabasco

It would be no fun, nor would it be creative, to simply vote on the secret ingredient for the Super Bowl in the same, predictable way we have voted for the first set of eleven.  It's Monday - the start of another big week - and the occasion requires something more.  Instead...

East Meets West

In keeping with our competitors, one of which is from New York and other from Arizona, I thought it would be fun to do an ingredient "draft" - of sorts.  Here's how it will work.  Simply vote for the ingredient you would most like to see in the finals.  At day's end, your votes will be tallied and assigned based on... whether you live East or West of the Mississippi.  The ingredient on the East coast receiving the most votes will advance.  The ingredient on the West coast receiving the most votes will also advance.

Finally, Matt and Cristine Struble - proud owners of Struble Suds will convene over the Official Coin Toss.  Heads = East Coast (it is where the "head" of our country lives); Tails = West Coast.  The coin toss will occur at 9:00 p.m. and the winning Super Bowl ingredient will be announced right here on Tuesday morning!

The list of ingredients from which we will be voting should be somewhat familiar.  They are the losing ingredients from each of the previous 11 weeks.

Dill

Cinnamon

Mustard

Candy Corn

Coconut

Cayenne Pepper

Cumin

Onion

Mint

Lemon

Pistachio

Ready to get going?  Again, the rules are simple.  Cast your vote for the ingredient you would most like to see at this year's Super Bowl Throw Down.  Tell us in which state you live and we'll do the rest.  Tune in tomorrow to find out which ingredient won.

I'll start...

West of the Mississippi...  Coconut!

Signing off until tomorrow...

Opening Drive

According to Myers-Brigg, I'm an ISTJ. Mostly that means my modus operandi is to be literal, concrete, rational, and logical. I'm also faithful, I like facts, and, I'm kind of predictable. It's January 2, 2009 and as much as I would love today's post to be about something unexpected, I can't. I can't let the new year come and go without delving into the obvious.

New Years Resolutions, it is.

Tell me if you agree. It seems, based on my observations, the world is divided into two kinds of people. Those who thrust themselves, excitedly, into the annual ritual of making new years resolutions and those who pride themselves on not getting caught up in the silly antics of the masses.

Me? I'm the former all the way! New Year's resolutions are a sport to me and I'm the Heisman winner... the gold medalist, the Master's master, Heavy Weight Champ of the World. I love New Years resolutions. To me... resolutions put the Score Board of Life at 0-0, in the first quarter, and all things are possible!

So yes, while yesterday's post was all about sharing nine things you are looking forward to in 2009, today's post is about sharing resolutions for the new year.  Sure they might be related.  It stands to reason, after all, that those things to which we most look forward are similar to those things about which we resolve to be better.  I'll share a personal example or two.

Yesterday I shared that some of what I'm looking forward to in 2009 include things such as (1) spending more time relaxing with my husband, (2) chipping away at making our house feel more settled, and (3) putting words to paper.

While my three examples might very well explain what I am looking forward to, New Years resolutions help explain how I see them manifesting.  For example...

I might look forward to  spending more time relaxing with my husband, but resolving to find at least one t.v. show a week that we can watch together - no kids - is how I hope to make that happen. I might look forward to making my house feel more settled, but working with an interior designer to help me select drapes for my windows is how I see that happening.  Finally, I might look forward to putting words to paper this year, but finding five hours each week to write is how I will assure my book has a beginning, a middle, and an end. 

If you didn't get a chance to post yesterday, jump right in today.  Tell us what you're  looking forward to in 2009 and then share how you resolve to make that happen.

This is Part I of a three-part series, Part II to be continued tomorrow.  Check back in on Saturday to find out where we're going with this.  Go ahead.  Resolve to do it! 

Don't want to get caught up in the silly antics?  Consider this.  The notion of resolutions dates back 4000 years to the Babylonians.  It seems, originally most resolutions revolved around committing to return something borrowed during the previous year (mostly farm equipment) to the person whose it was.  Tell us about something you borrowed this year and to whom you will return it.

Super Bowl Snack Throw Down

While we're loosely on the topic of Opening Drives and Heismans, we have our own Super Bowl Snack Throw Down with which to be concerned.  Here' a quick update and then some voting...  Neither Tera nor Richard submitted an entry last week.  This week, Maureen gets most valuable player for jumping through hoops to get her Battle Parmesan entry to Struble Suds in time!  She advances.

We need someone for Lori to battle against, as we are only two games away from the Super Bowl.  My proposal... draw a name of someone who submitted but lost in round one (Brian, Stacie, Julie, Katie, Treye, Heather, Nicole, or Cheryl).  Send a post letting me know if you want to participate in the January 11 Snack Throw Down (to be mailed by Wednesday,  1/7, a.m.).  I will draw from those names and announce the winner.

Today we must vote on TWO secret ingredients, since the next two battles are very close together (Melanie v. Susan on January 10 and Lori v. Wild Card Winner on January 11)

Quaker Oats or Lemon

Honey or Mint

Final note...

Beginning tomorrow, I will be posting from Leadershape, the week-long leadership institute in which I participate.  I tell you this, so you will understand if posts are more sporadic than normal.  Days are long and action-packed.  The only commodity hotter, this week, than the free time necessary to write posts are the brain cells necessary to be creative.

Signing off until tomorrow...