I'm blaming it on the vodka sauce

I'm still fighting through a post-Cabernet haze, but there are so many wonderful announcements, that I am going to persevere.

First off, our friends at Hallmark are giving Sarah H. and Jeanellen V. some awesome greeting card gift packs for Mother's Day, Father's Day and everyday. Thanks to them, and to all who entered.

Secondly, the reason I had so much Cabernet was because last night's Suburban Diva Pizza Party at Vincenzo's was so delicious, I just couldn't help but linger over the food and company. The winning selections (which will be featured on next week's menu as the pizza specials) were a chicken Picatta pizza (yum) and a vodka sauce, prosciutto, arugula. But seriously, we tried so many delicious entries--it was a tough call. Here's a picture before the 4th bottle of wine.



We had so. Much. Fun. We had door prizes and Twitter fun, too. It was so enjoyable in fact, that perhaps I should start planning a Suburban Diva cocktail or entree contest next. (Hint: it won't be Cabernet...)

A So Unlike Me Weekend

On Laundry Monday, I did...laundry. I was trying to come up with an alternative punchline, but I couldn't.

But before Laundry Monday, there was Go to the Mall Sunday and Make Your Own Crayon Saturday. The latter two activities are so unlike me, that they deserved a whole day name dedicated to the novelty of the occurrence in my house. And pictures because I know you don't believe me.

First, we took all of our broken crayons and mixed the colors in a mini muffin tin after spraying with cooking spray.



Then, we baked them at 275 degrees until they molten mini cupcakes of hot wax.

We placed in the freezer for just a second to harden and to spill on the frozen pancakes, and voila! Weird little discs o' crayon.



They were fun for about 4 seconds before they realized it was awfully difficult to color inside the lines of any other drawing than a large open sky or ocean. An orange-razzmatazz-Burnt Sienna sky.

The mall outing was significantly more fruitful since I spent $700 at Build-A-Bear. And $19 on the greatest T-Shirt ever.



But I did have to brave the haunted house-esque of Hot Topix--the most macabre retail outlet ever created this side of Hell, so the Sonic T-shirt's actual value is similar to the Build-A-Bear bill.

But I got a free birthday gift of lip gloss at Sephora, so it's all good.

P.S. Keep those comments coming on the gifts from Hallmark, and t-2days until Vincenzos. What's on your pizza?

It was my birthday, but I'm giving you a gift

You know all of those wonderful cards you all sent me for my birthday revolving around drinking and sparkles? Well, right back atcha!

Hallmark is providing two of you lucky readers with some beautiful greeting card gift packs. These include those wonderful recordable cards for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, and some of their redesigned 99 cent everyday cards.

I have to tell you, I sent my Grandpa a recordable card of the kids for Valentine’s Day, and when we came up to visit he pulled it out from the drawer he keeps by his chair. He loved it and listened to his great-grandchildrens' voices over and over.

So leave a comment here or Divamail me by Wednesday, May 6th, and we’ll have a drawing for the winners just in time to get you hooked up for Mother’s Day.

Ready, set...Comment! (I even included a picture of my birthday cake to inspire you. Jerks.)

Winners

Okay you crazy readers, I've got the envelope right here to announce our Valentine's Day winners...

First, our generous friends at Hallmark are giving the five recordable cards to Jodi, Kathy T., Kirsten, Chris and Natalie. If you don't live within a 10 mile radius from my house, please email me your address and I'll send you some recordable love!

Next, chocolate...The See's Valentine's chocolate heart will go to Marcy S, from Michigan. Marcy, the entire divaverse is soooo jealous right now.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

A Valentine's Giveawy from Hallmark

I blog. I Twitter. I am Linkdin and my Face is Booked. I shop, bank, connect, learn, and am entertained online. I can even write my own basic HTML code. Even though I don’t know what that stands for nor can I figure out the remote control, I am pretty technologically savvy comparatively speaking.

However, there are just some things that cannot be replaced by technology, and one of them is getting a good, old-fashioned card in the mail.

But maybe they are not so old-fashioned. Hallmark has introduced its new line of recordable greeting cards that allows the sender to record a 10 second message in their own voice that plays when the recipient opens their card. No plug-ins, no websites, no codes to enter to retrieve. It’s absolutely awesome.

For Valentine’s Day this year, my kids recorded a special holiday greeting to their great-grandparents. A simple message, but the fact that it was in their own sweet voices made it extra special. It’s something that can be played over and over again.

I can see this making any occasion that much more special--a thank you more thankful and Happy Birthday more sincere. At $6.99, it’s an affordable way to give a smile to your special someone.

I’ve got 5 of these cards to give away to YOU. Leave a comment that could be recorded into a 10 second Valentine’s wish, and you can win one of these fun cards.

Wish someone a Happy Valentine’s Day the new old-fashioned way.