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Eating fresh cut watermelon, the smell of charcoal burning, drinking out of a big glass bottle of Coca Cola, sliding on a  Slip-n-Slide and bringing out the brightly colored box of Otter Pops to all my friends. That was summertime in the 70’s.

It was great fun deciding which Otter Pop to choose. There was Alexander the Grape, Little Orphan Orange, Sir Isaac Lime, Louie-Bloo Raspberry, Strawberry Short Kook, and Poncho Punch. Those fun frozen treats are still sold today and they have a fun cool website for the kiddos. Click here to check it out.

Looks like Otter Pops aren’t just refreshing and fun to eat, they’re also a source of creative inspiration.

Bryan Cranston from Breaking Bad shares Otter Pops and a head freeze with Jimmy Kimmel:

Ode to an Otter Pop

Otter Pops LIVE

Otter Pop Song

What was/is your favorite Otter Pop flavor?

Visit joedator.com  to find out more about the cartoonist/writer that brought us BORIS.

He’s also a regular contributor to The New Yorker magazine. Click here  to see his work.

I clicked on a few news links this week that explained a dangerous new trend in eyewear. We’re not talking glasses here but custom contacts that give eyes an Anime/Manga style.

These contacts are supposed to be unsafe, unsanitary and from what I’ve read you can only get them via the internet. Women of all ages are purchasing these things but its teens that are said to be hooked, changing them daily like earrings or handbags.

The fact that people are trying to alter their irises and pupils to look like cartoon characters is new to me. If it’s also new to you, the question you might be asking is… who came up with this idea?

Much of the media is pointing the finger at singer/entertainer Lady Gaga and the following video for “Bad Romance”. According to reports Lady Gaga’s Anime inspired look was digitally enhanced. We know better than to point fingers at any one person. So it goes in pop culture, life imitates art.

I’m a 40 year old housewife so its probably no surprise that I’m not wearing Anime Eyes while I type this up. I’ve never been one for eye enhancement beyond makeup. Even the trend towards longer, thicker, caterpillar-like lashes seems a bit wacky to me.

Remember the late 80’s, early 90’s when colored contacts were the big rage? I had friends that turned their deep brown eyes teal blue, and some went from light blue to saturated purple. The idea gave new meaning to the Crystal Gale song, “Don’t It Make my Brown Eyes Blue”.

Then there were the 8-ball, smiley face, planet earth contacts that thankfully went out of style quickly. Who knows what eye accessory will be in fashion in the next decade? Any ideas?

Instead of having Anime/Manga eyes, I’d rather draw them. Check out this video by Mark Crilley, creator of Miki Falls, teaching us How to Draw a Manga Eye via YouTube:

So what’s your take on Anime Eyes? Would you give them a look-see?

I’m sad that the season of Breaking Bad  is over but True Blood is alive again with the highly anticipated Season 3. There’s more Bill, more Eric and more naked men per episode. YOWZA!

Werewolves, vamp royalty, Tara crazies and of course the ongoing stress of poor Sookie. Can’t that girl ever sit down and enjoy some sweet tea in peace?

Something even wackier than Tara’s mama is the Snoop Dogg’s ode to Sookie Stackhouse. If you haven’t yet, check out Snoop Dogg gone Tru Pimp in this video for “Oh Sookie”.

Remember to grab your 4 pack of Tru Blood beverage and watch on Sunday nights 9:00 PM. I’ve been watching any day of the week on my laptop via http://hbogo.com

It’s officially Summertime!

I’ve been singing along with the classic Mungo Jerry tune. I think you might know it. Check out this video compilation by Mark Viscel. It’s a fun mix of old and new footage:

Learn more about Mungo Jerry, visit http://mungojerry.com

Not only do I have to ponder what to get my dad on Father’s Day but I have to think about what to get for my husband. These are two separate tasks. My dad is fairly simple when it comes to gifts. I could get him a salami-cheese box, a 6 pack of MGD, cigars, a new shirt for summer, a trip to a steakhouse. I could probably even get away with a big hug and a homemade card.
Getting something for Mr. HIH is tricky.

He already has most of the things he loves like video games, movies on Blu-Ray, and upgrades to computer devices. So instead of finding favorite things to gift wrap it’s time to get creative. I’m not talking homemade gift cards I’m talking creative thinking.

The gift I’ll give Mr. HIH is the Silent Treatment. Here’s how to give your husband the Silent Treatment so he’ll really appreciate it.

The night before you should find out what he wants to do on Father’s Day. Maybe he wants to have a nice lunch out with the family or take the kids to the park. If that is the answer then the Silent Treatment option isn’t for you. If he’s like my hubby he probably said something like, “I don’t know. Maybe play video games. Watch a movie, relax.”

Perfect!

First off bring him some coffee, tea or whatever hot beverage he likes in the morning with a subtle yet seductive kiss. Then just leave the room and don’t come back. That’s right don’t come back for the morning conversation. Do not come back to ask about the bills, the trash cans, the sprinklers, the next family event that your mother-in-law emailed you about. Do not come back just wait for him to come out for breakfast.

Keeping yourself busy is key to the Silent Treatment gift. This way he won’t think you’re pissed at him and you won’t break down and start nagging about that closet door that falls off the hinges.

Next, make yourself scarce for most of the day. Take the kiddos and let dad have the house for awhile because peace and quiet in a house is a very special gift indeed.

Alright, so you’re back from the outing and Dad’s still in his underwear dancing around the sofa… oh wait that was the retro movie Risky Business. He might be busy watching a movie, playing a video game, tinkering around the garage, sleeping or eating leftover pizza.

Now’s the time to just let him be, go about your day as if he isn’t even there. This might sound harsh but it’s a great gift.

Don’t ask questions while he’s playing the video game. Don’t add to the Honey-Do list. Don’t complain about your hair, your toe nails, the living room, your recent weight gain. Don’t send the kiddos in for information like what he wants for dinner. Just let the guy relax.

So that’s the Silent Treatment. It’s not for every husband on Father’s Day but if you have one like mine he’ll have one of the happiest days of the year.

I was an Outsiders fan ever since I turned the first page of  The Outsiders, a novel by S.E. Hinton.

“When I stepped out into the bright sunlight  from the darkness of the movie house, I had just two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home.”—Ponyboy

When the movie came out I was in junior high and like most teen girls I was thrilled with the movie and with the characters. 

My favorite character, okay the character I was crushing on, was Johnny. He wasn’t the coolest, smartest, strongest or most handsome but he was sweet, caring and shy. When Matt Dillon’s character says his famous line, “…let’s do it for Johnny man, we’ll do it for Johnny!” I was right there sobbing and cheering along inside.

“Yeah that’s right! We’ll do it for Johnny!”

Ralph Macchio is the only actor I ever sent a letter to in the mail. I sent it one day in hopes that Johnny, I mean Ralph Macchio, would send one back. He never did even though I checked the fan mail address over and over. Thank goodness the crush faded and I quit watching the movie on HBO reruns but I was thrilled when Karate Kid came out because Ralph Macchio would be on the big screen again. My teen heart raced with anticipation while my friends and I watched the movie at the drive-in. I knew I was sure to love the film because I was taking karate classes at the time. I was a blue belt already so of course I’d be able to understand the concept much better with such expertise.

I liked the movie Karate Kid. I mean Arnold from Happy Days was in it, better known as actor Pat Morita who played Mr. Miyagi. Anyone that could catch a fly with chopsticks was cool. I really liked Elisabeth Shue. I always wished my hair was that wavy. Anyway, overall I liked the movie but I was very sad to find out that my Johnny from The Outsiders was nothing like Ralph Macchio. Now this should be a testament for a great actor. I should have admired him more because of his ability to change so dramatically from one character to the next. Instead I went straight home after watching the movie and tore my Ralph Macchio poster down.

I still cheered along when I watched The Outsiders, “do it for Johnny man…let’s do it for Johnny”  but I learned something about movie magic, storytelling and Hollywood after watching Karate Kid and it was much more than wax on, wax off.

If you’re still with me after that retro rant then check out this hilarious video:

Thanks to filmmaker Connor Clements for sharing this video find via Facebook. Visit his site http://www.connorclements.tv/James/Homepage.html for information about his award winning film James.

Thanks to Jillian Michaels and her Facebook page for this fun find. I might try adding this sort of thing to my morning routine, minus standing on the bathroom counter.

Speaking of Jillian Michaels, you might know her best from The Biggest Loser series, I just fnished her book Master Your Metabolism. Great information in there. She gives her audience 3 secrets to help balance hormone levels for a “hot and healthy body”. Now all I have to do is practice what she preaches and see how I feel. Easier said than done but like the little girl in the video says, “I can do anything good!”

Click here for information about Master Your Metabolism.

Do you know Stephen Kramer Glickman? I bet you do. If you watch Nickelodeon you know him from the series Big Time Rush. You know the show with all the Teen Bop looking guys? Okay, well Stephen isn’t one of them but he plays Gustavo in the series. Gustavo… GUUUSTAVO…GuSTAVo. Such a fun name to say isn’t it?

Gustavo Rocque is the record producer hoping for a Big Time hit with hockey players turned boy band. He reminds me of Donald Duck meets Mr. Kincaid (Partridge Family). Parenthesis for peeps not acquainted with retro reruns.

I did an interview with Stephen Kramer Glickman before Big Time Rush aired. Check out this link to go back in time and hear what Stephen had to say:
http://www.housewifeinhollywood.com/stephen-kramer-glickman/

Stephen told me about a web series he was working on called Super True Story. Now we can watch the series via YouTube. Here’s part one:

If you haven’t seen Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush you can click here to find show times and more info. Yeah I know a lot of clicking today, but I think you can handle it.