John Lennon's toliet sells for 10 times it's estimated bid.

Prior to John Lennon's death in 1980, he replaced the toilet in his home. Builders hauled the old lavatory away, and it eventually ended up in the storage shed of John Hancock.


Recently, Mr. Hancock passed away, and the rejected toliet was put up for auction. Sales organizers estimated the pot to earn 750-1,000 pounds, but it ended up selling for a whopping 9,500 pounds ($14,740) on August 28, 2010.

Strange.

This teacher is headed back to work.

I wish my school had this.

Your Song.

It's my birthday, and I am watching one of my favorite movies, Moulin Rouge!, while folding laundry in my bedroom. I thought I would share my favorite scene with you all.

Break a plate or two.

I first heard about the Women's-Only "Frustrating Venting" shop in my August 2010 edition of Marie Claire. The article was so intriguing-- women in northern China can pay to smash used furniture and electronics in an effort to unleash pent up anger over work, relationships, or any other frustrations.


This unique shop is modeled as a home, with everything from a bedroom setup to a living room zone, and more. The gadgets inside have been collected by the shop and are replaced as customers come through. The shop plans to create a kitchen zone eventually. Motorcycle helmets and gloves are provided to avoid injury to the consumer.


This shop is located on the upper floor of a mall in Shenyang, China. A one-minute smashing spree will cost you, but for those who spend a minimum of 36 yaun ($6) in the mall, you can bash for no cost. Pretty rad.

Silver & Spoon Rings: modern jewelery from the 1800s

Not too long ago, I shared a post about the Regretsy site and it's failed homemade gifts. Today I would like to introduce you to Eric Bowley's Etsy site that is featuring one of the most unique items I have seen in a long time.

Check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/silverandspoon# where you can find an assortment of rings handcrafted from antique spoons. Check out what they have to say on their site:

Welcome to Silver & Spoon! We specialize in handcrafted vintage antique spoon rings. We take great pride in hunting for spoons that have beautiful patterns, most of which date from the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. By hand we transform old pieces of silver flatware into modern pieces of jewelry. These affordable and beautiful rings make great gifts or additions to anyone’s daily accessory routine.

We only use genuine vintage antique spoons in creating each of our rings. No reproductions.

THE BEST PART-- buy purchasing a spoon ring, you will be helping sick children. For each ring sold, Siver & Spoon makes a $2 donation to the Riley Hospital for Children.

Here are a few of my favorites:

birthdays.

As you know, my birthday is coming up. I've always known that I shared "my special day" with Michael Jackson, and I'm prepared for the second year of letting him steal my spotlight on August 29th since his passing.

The anticipation of my 24-hour "Me Spree" got me curious about other upcoming celebrity birthdays. Check out who else is blowing out candles this month:

Today, 8/25:
Billy Ray Cyrus
Tim Burton
Gene Simmons

Tomorrow, 8/26:
Mother Theresa

Friday, 8/27:
Pee-Wee Herman

Saturday, 8/28:
Jack Black
Shania Twain

Monday, 8/30:
Cameron Diaz

Tuesday, 8/31:
Nobody interesting at all.

"Regretsy-- where DIY meets WTF"

I stumbled across this website today, after a friend sent me a link to a bizairre post on Etsy. If you're not familiar with Etsy, it is a site where people can sell homemade items.

Regretsy.com takes this concept a step further by highlighting outrageous Etsy posts. Take a look:


One artist offers to draw a picture of you with Justin Bieber riding on a unicorn. There's even a post from someone who wants a sweater knitted for their pet snail's shell. I think this must be exactly what Mom meant when she said homemade gifts are the most special.

After a long week, my kids returned on Sunday evening from a summer vacation with their father. It is so wonderful having them back. My house is just too still without them here.

Yesterday we took advantage of an opportunity to stay cool (it's been in the 90's-- kill me!) and headed to a public "spray" park. My kids really enjoyed splashing around. It was totally worth the trip out there.

Today we headed to a free movie sponsored by the Regal Family Film Festival. We LOVE that Regal provides free movies in the summer and try to go as often as possible. After the show, we did some school shopping (Target has 30-75% off clearance, and Payless is having BOGO!) and then went to one of our local parks. My daughter's best friend joined us, and they had such a great time that they didn't seem to care (well, that much) that the wading pool was drained.

Speaking of drained, I am about ready for a nap. Keeping kids entertained and spending time in the sun is exhausting.

A sad example of inhumanity and misunderstanding.

Two shoppers at a Forever 21 store in southern California were tackled and restrained with brutal force after failing to return to the store after the alarm buzzed as they were exciting. The reason they did not stop: The two men were deaf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fRv--C_vao

As you can see in the video clip above, the security officers used excessive force in restraining the two men, and forbid them to access their bags to obtain shopping receipts, or get close to eachother so they could communicate using sign language.

This is sick and disheartening to watch, especially since ASL and the deaf community are near and dear to my heart. Even if the men WERE guilty of petty shoplifting, they did not deserve to be treated this way. I am quite surprised that no one in the crowd stepped forward to help, though hopefully this video clip will help the men fight this legally. It is my understanding that the security guards were fired.

Feed faces Shards-o-Glass pops!

Have you seen the new Shards-o-Glass TV commercials sponsored by Truth? These quirky and sarcastic ads compare the use and temptation of smoking cigarettes to eating adult-only popsicles that are filled with broken glass. I headed over to the website to see what else they could offer me, and found a game called Kiss My Glass in which you feed the glass pops to smiley faces as they travel down a conveyer belt. Pretty addicting. Play here:
http://www.thetruth.com/games/kissmyglass/

Happy 47th Birthday to rapper Sir-Mix-a-Lot.

Seattle native, and close friend of my mother-in-law, Tandy, celebrates the big four-seven today. Anthony Ray (born August 12, 1963), better known by his stage name Sir Mix-A-Lot, is an emcee and producer based in Seattle, Washington. The founder of the Nastymix record label, he debuted in 1988 with Swass. In 1992, he debuted on a major label with his album Mack Daddy, whose single "Baby Got Back" reached the top of the American singles chart and won a Grammy Award.
--From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A totally appropriate reason to upload your rear-end onto the internet.

www.bootyreader.com

You've GOT to be kidding me.

Old Navy has now created an online shopping site that interacts with you so every women gets the perfect fit when jeans shopping.

At bootyreader.com, you "tell" Madame Eva which styles you prefer, then you upload a photo of your fanny via webcam or a photo, and she will recommend the three best jeans for your shape. Ta-da! How cool is that?!


Don't worry, your booty isn't going to be shared with anyone else. And if you just don't feel comfortable using a real photo, there are virtual tushes you can select to help you find the fit that's right for you.

Now, I should mention that while I did "read" my booty on the site, I haven't gone to Old Navy to see if the results were accurate. I'm sure they are, but even if not, it's still pretty cool.

Interesting article about Coca Cola's Vitamin Water.

I came across an interesting article about a lawsuit against Coca Cola regarding the nutritional value of Vitamin Water. Check it out:

The Dark Side of Vitaminwater

"Now here's something you wouldn't expect. Coca-Cola is being sued by a non-profit public interest group, on the grounds that the company's vitaminwater products make unwarranted health claims. No surprise there. But how do you think the company is defending itself?

In a staggering feat of twisted logic, lawyers for Coca-Cola are defending the lawsuit by asserting that "no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitaminwater was a healthy beverage.""

Read the rest of the article HERE.

My newest obsession: Box Tops. (God, I'm such a mom)

I can't stop clipping. Since my oldest child entered elementary school two years ago, I've made it a personal goal to donate as many box top to his school as possible. I prefer to buy several store brand products when I am grocery shopping, but those those Box Tops are becoming increasingly hard to pass up.

I wanted to know more about the Box Tops for Education program, and what exactly I was doing to help my kid's school, so I headed over to http://www.boxtops4education.com to see what they had to say:

"With your help, over $300 million has been raised for our schools through the Box Tops for Education program since 1996. All that clipping has resulted in much-needed supplies for over 90,000 schools across the country. Learn how you can raise money for school, and get those earnings even higher. 1 can truly make a difference."

The website lists schools in your area where you can donate... and I am happy to accept any donations you may have. Here are a few products/brands that offer box tops on their packaging:

*Betty Crocker
*Avery
*Ziploc
*Cheerios
*Kleenex
*Hefty
*Juicy Juice
*Hamburger Helper

Find a complete list of products on the official site. Until then, happy box-topping!

'Tis better to give then to receieve.

My birthday is coming up,and that's got my Greed Wheels turning. While thinking up the perfect wish list, I thought I'd share with you some of the strange gifts you can find for your own friends:


1.) GUN EGG FRYER
"Now you can bring the grit of the Old West to your breakfast meal with this unbelievably unique and questionably useful frying pan mold of an old-time six-shooter. Made from stainless steel (just like real guns), this egg fryer is a must for anyone who likes guns and/or eggs – which includes just about everybody!"


2.) MAXI PADS BEDROOM SLIPPERS
According to the ad, these slippers are "soft" and "environmentally safe". And, thankfully, "new".


3.) FETUS COOKIE CUTTER
"At last, EVERYBODY can have "one in the oven" with the deliciously disturbing Fetus Cookie Cutter!" Anyone else completely wigged out?


4.) NECK-TIE NAPKINS
Why sacrifice your look just because you love to eat? "They're high-quality paper napkins with neckties printed on them. So when you tuck it into you shirt collar, it looks like you're wearing a stylish tie. Your get 20 3-ply napkins in each package, and there are four different necktie designs."


5.) CRAZY CAT LADY BOARDGAME
"The Crazy Cat Lady Game is an exciting board game you attempt to collect more cats than your fellow competitors as you make your way around the board." Seriously, I'm one time-out warning away from purchasing this game.

Interesting facts about ORANGES.

--Oranges are actually a type of berry.

--Large navels indicate a sweeter orange.

--Orange peels can be used as slug repellent.

--You will have to eat 7 cups of cornflakes to get the same amount to fiber you would get from one medium orange.

TODAY is Miracle Treat Day!

Thursday, August 5, 2010 is Miracle Treat Day at Dairy Queen. Buy a Blizzard treat on this day and you will be helping sick and injured children in your area. For every Blizzard treat sold at participating DQ locations, on Miracle Treat Day, $1 or more will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Join Dairy Queen on August 5, 2010 and help make miracles happen for kids in need.

http://www.miracletreatday.com/

Dreams.

I've always liked Shark Week. Maybe that's because I've always liked sharks. Though I haven't watched the Shark Week marathons in years, I suspect that the recent commercials may have inspired the dream I had last night.

I'm definitely used to having strange dreams, and this one was no exception. I'm not entirely sure how it started, but before I knew it I was swimming with an orca whale. Not just me, but a whole field trip of people in wet suits, rubbing our bodies all over Free Willy. As if I know how to swim well enough to just be cruising the ocean with nothing more than some Miss Frizzle tour guide between me and a gigantic sea beast.

Next I found myself pregnant, insistent on showing everyone and their mother a camera phone picture I took of the positive pregnancy test. Because apparently friends and family require some sort of proof when you share with them your good news.

The final chapter revolved around being lost in a big city. My gut tells me it was Vegas, but my dream-brain is really pushing that it was supposed to be New York or Paris. Since I have never been to New York OR Paris, I can't really argue, now can I? Anyway, I was wondering aimlessly until I found both an Old Navy and Children's Place and decided to do some shopping. The only way to the stores was some kind of shuttle-elevator so I hopped on. Next thing I knew it was flipping us 360 degrees every time it went up a floor. Upside down with no windows for protection. When you got off, it scooted you down a chute that was very reminiscent of a roller coaster, and suddenly my brother-in-law Carl, and other familiar faces, were with me. Carl was rambling about some girl he messed around with back in the day, which I am pretty certain is not a true story. Anyway, I don't think I ever got to that damn mall, because I somehow ended up helping a group of people inside a museum move enough food to feed an army from the bottom to the top level of the world's largest bunk bed. Don't ask.

Yes folks, this was one dream, and yes I have recited it back as accurately as I can recall. Unfortunately I was awakened before it concluded, but really-- can a dream like that HAVE a conclusion?


************************************************
Dream Interpretations from dreammoods.com
************************************************

Killer Whale
To see a killer whale in your dream, indicates that you need to be more social or more vocal about something. Step up and speak up. Alternatively, the dream symbolizes spiritual guidance. You are ready to explore your emotions, but you need to make the connection between the conscious and unconscious aspects of yourself.

Pregnancy Test
To dream that you are taking a pregnancy test, indicates that you are entering a new phase in your life (a new job, relationship, etc.) You feel that you are being put to the test as to whether you are prepared or ready for these changes. Alternatively, this dream may be literal in meaning and address your anxieties/fears of getting pregnant.

Shopping
To dream that you cannot find what you are shopping for, suggests that you are trying to find a solution to some life problem.

Roller Coaster
To dream that you are riding a roller coaster, represents life's frequent ups and downs in your waking life. You are experiencing erratic behavior brought on by yourself or a situation.

Bunk Beds
To see bunk beds in your dream, represent childhood and innocence. Alternatively, it may refer to diverging and conflicting views of sexuality. You may have difficulties expressing your needs and desires.

Didn't see that one coming...

Source: Wyclef Jean intends to run for president of Haiti

CNN has confirmed that a source close to Wyclef Jean says Jean will announce exclusively on "Larry King Live" Thursday night that he intends to run for president of Haiti.

Thumbs Up For Justice.

The other day I watched Stand and Deliver, and I thought about writing a blog about feel-good movies. I started creating a list in my head, and even did a bit of online research, but the idea never really took off.

This evening, my other-half stumbled across a video on YouTube that had us rolling. I felt this was far more entertaining than the crap I was planning to write about, so I am sharing this instead. Enjoy.

Our 80's Wedding Reception was SO RAD!