What can’t you say no to? (via The Daily Post at WordPress.com)

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Topic #60 Brought to you by Plinky.com: What can’t you say no to? What things are impossible for you to turn down, at work, at home, at play? … Read More

via The Daily Post at WordPress.com

The cake is…

This being the Saturday after my birthday, I’d invited a bunch of friends to lunch. And I wanted cake for later. So on my actual birthday (Thursday), I went to the grocery store and ordered a cake.

This morning, I picked it up:

Isn’t it cute? Yes, that is a Finding Nemo cake. Yes, I am a Disneyphile.

Stopping at home only long enough to leave the cake on the kitchen counter and pick up HousemateF, I went off for a very fun and very long (due to the kitchen losing our ticket, so without realizing it, we sat and gabbed for at least an hour before our chef came out) lunch with a wonderful group of geeky, fantastic friends. Including one who drove over from Wisconsin just to attend!

Back at home and debriefing HousemateM about the fun and gifts, I heard HF in the kitchen say, “Um… this isn’t the same cake?” On the counter, in the same spot, in a box from the same store, was sitting:

HM lived up to his reputation as an Evil Genius. As soon as I’d ordered my cake, he called the store and ordered this one (I wish I could’ve heard that conversation!). As soon as he was sure we’d left for lunch, he went to pick it up. He hid my cake and left this one in its place.

In short, he gets major Housemate Points, Geek Points, and “Boy, does he know me” Points.

A crocheted Eleventh Doctor, a TARDIS tea mug, a Toon Town Online virtual party with Sister and Nephew, a gift certificate for “crack” (e.g. my favorite yarn store), a great lunch with great friends, etc. etc. etc. And this.

This has been a good birthday.

ETA: Just in case you don’t “get” the second cake, see here.

Caribou Doubles Donation for Breast Cancer!

I posted earlier about Caribou Coffee and Amy’s Blend coffee and tea.

This week only, Caribou are doubling their contribution to Susan G. Komen! Now 20% of your purchase price of Amy’s Blend coffee, tea, and other merchandise goes to Komen for the Cure.

I can’t speak for the coffee, but the tea (a spiced rooibos blend) really is delicious, so if there’s a Caribou anywhere near you, get in this week and shop for the cure!

MSG Report: Wanna getta pizza?

This came up at Valentine’s Day weekend, during my mini-break at a hotel near the Mall of America (my “here, have some couple time” V-Day gift to HF and HM). I was lazy and decided to have pizza delivered. Both the huge chains had stores nearby, so decisions, decisions. Their allergen charts eventually broke the stalemate.

Win/Win: Support celiac research/Get gluten-free diet help

(July 5 Update: As noted here, Uncommon Knowledge ended up donating $200 to the Maryland Center for Celiac Research. Way to go!)

This post is coming a bit late, but I’ve only recently learned that May, in addition to being Mental Health Awareness Month, is also Gluten-Free Awareness Month.

On Tuesday, Uncommon Knowledge officially released their new Stick to Your Gluten-Free Diet hypnosis download, an MP3 session designed to help celiacs and anyone else who needs or wants to follow a gluten-free/reduced gluten diet. The program is structured to boost your instinctive drive to avoid foods with gluten and to help you feel naturally driven to eat healthier, while also improving your feelings around having to stick to this special diet.

In addition, Unk are doing something incredible with this program.

MSG Report: Chili’s & Tony Roma’s

M… S… G. Ugh. Those three letters (together and in that order) strike fear in my stomach.

In fact, all the women in my family are allergic to MSG, AKA monosodium glutamate. No, wait. Sorry. According to the FDA, there’s no such thing as an allergy to this insidious ingredient, so I’m supposed to say I’m “intolerant”. Whatever. All I know is, my night is going to be very unpleasant if I consume it.

We MSG-intolerants don’t get the same amount of press as those who must avoid, say, peanuts or gluten^¹; and to be fair, I don’t recall ever reading that our intolerance is potentially life-threatening (though I’ve had glutamated nights where I wished I’d just die already).