Wordless(ish) Wednesday - I Got Skillz

After opening gifts and stuffing our faces during the 3rd Annual No Boys Allowed Holiday Gift Exchange (NBAHGE), Vladeraptor and I had a surprise for our other 6 friends in attendance.

GINGERBREAD HOUSES!
(Yes, we're 5)

Here's Mine:

It's a cartel house that's been broken into by the FBI (notice the door barely hanging on its hinges)
They chose not to use the door handles or knocker and just barged right in.
The thorn bushes (aka PB Cup wrappers) clearly didn't do their job.

Also, I watch too many CSI, Bones and NCIS type TV shows or maybe just too much TV? Nah.

And that would be a spa on the 2nd floor deck.
It's all in the details...

P.S. Mine was by no means the best, my friends have way better skillz than me!
Poor WCB, hers looked so good it was attacked by Capt Logic termites

P.P.S. We picked names out of a hat for the exchange, in some weird twist of randomness,
we were all matched up with the person we picked (I had TI, she had me, etc)

P.P.P.S. Since this will be my last post before the holidays....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Lots of Oooohhs

I have to say I'm super impressed with the amount of people who played along with my 6 degrees game. Ultimately, it came down to someone who clearly put in the effort, explaining each degree, and knows her 90210!  Below are the responses. I know it's long and most of you will skim to the bottom, but they're hilarious and worth the read! You all are also super fames, btw.

Liz: I went to school with a ridiculous number of reality stars. Most recently, Matt Hoffman from Big Brother. Also, our friend, Jamie's, youngest sister is Natalie from the Bachelor and Bachelor Pad fame. 

Gigi: Is there an app for this? :) (Doesn't really count but I can appreciate the question AND there should be!)

Meagan: Chris Rock walked past Hubby and I on our honeymoon in our hotel. That's how famous I am. 

AuntBT: Ok, I went to HS with a girl who is now a stunt person in LA. She was in Hot Tub Time Machine with John Cusack, who was in Talking to Dog with Lance Henriksen who was in the Last Cowboy with Jennie Garth, who as in 90210. = 5 

Katie: I have two. I date the Boyfriend, who is friends with Matt, and Matt is friends with Lance Briggs (Chicago Bears linebacker). 3 degrees (It should be noted Katie and I went to HS together, and also graduated with Lance, so technically we're both 1 degree). I dated my Ex-Boyfriend, who's Mom worked at CPS with the mother of Jackie Greene (blues/rock musician). 4 degrees. 

Cathy: Randy Breuer is my claim to fame. He's an old NBA player from my small home town. I see his dad from time to time and he's a freaking giant. 

Mimi: I went bowling once and met Tom Wopat. If you don't know who he is than you are too young . Or. Too cool (Yup, No clue, we'll say I'm too young). Cuz he's sorta...not. OR, okay, his brother is my brother's doctor and was my grandparents' doctor before they died and stuff!  So...ME-Grandparents and brother-Their Dr.-Dr. is TW brother. Does that make any sense? I don't think it does.I met a DJ once who is into motocross and knows Pink's hubs and Cameron Diaz...? How's that. OR! I know. SurferWife! She's my connection to hollywood. Girl, I got nothing for 90210. Unless you count this poster of Luke Perry that adorned my bedroom wall for 6 years.  

OH!!!! And one time I went to NOLA and I met the gay guy who dressed like the Chiquita banana lady and stood on a bucket on Bourbon street pretending to be a mime...(but he had the shakes). AND, he was on Cops a lot. (I'm still waiting for my picture proof woman!)

Sharlene T: Me; Evan Rachel Wood; Kevin Bacon. So, me and her connection with co-stars. And, Me; George Clooney (Not cool to not fill in the deets!)

SurferWife: This post made me spit my delicious Have 'A Corn Chips out from laughter. My romper room days were huge. Who knows who I was on there with. But really. Should I enter? I think everyone would slap me. I am a REAL one degree from Jerry Trainor. I, too, am 4 for the Bacon.

3rd place

Natalie: I grew up with 2 people who went to college with Matt Long. He's been in several tv shows, the most recent is as Joey Baird on Mad Men. Two degrees here... (Unknowingly playing on my love for Matt Long, Jack & Bobby anyone, put her very close to the grand prize)   

2nd place

KLZ: I can't compete with any precision on this 90210 challenge. But. My sister had a professor in college who was in a band with Gary Sinise.  Me to Gary Sinise = 4. Which means me to Tom Hanks = 5. And since Tom Hanks has worked with everyone, I'm pretty sure I can get to just about anyone in Hollywood in 6. (Tom Hanks and I were practically neighbors in that he lived in Sacramento, as did his son, Colin. Big, no HUGE, fan of the Hanks and the movie Big actually. Also, go vote for her to go to Blissdom HERE. Today's the last day, so go!)

1st and a half place

Foxy: Oooooh, let's see. Okay, the only person I have any connection with doesn't even look the same as he did when I was growing up. Plastic surgery has not been kind to him. Me-Kenny Rogers' nieces- Kenny Rogers.  My parents were super good friends with their parents and their dad was Kenny's brother. Sadly, I never met him, but I do accept the claim to fame. As inconsequential as that fame might be. 

Ooo, ooo, ooooo.... I have one more!! But still not a 90210 connection. :( Anyway, I went to high school with Andy Pettitte. I never really talked to him though... but I did talk to his girlfriend, who is now his wife. So, that's like, what? 2 degrees?  (woman, you're  3 degrees of Friday Night Lights, that almost trumps 90210!  You - Andy Pettite - Derek Jeter - Minka Kelly.  Now introduce me to Taylor Kitsch, aka Riggins...now, please?!)

The Winner 

JMJE with...

1. Ooooh I like this. I'm going to have to think about this. All I can come up with now is. My good friend and college roomie Morgan is married to Pro poker player Justin who played poker one night with Michael Phelps who guest starred on Entourage with Jeremy Piven who was in smoking aces with Ben Affleck who was in Mall Rats with Shannen Doherty aka Brenda Walsh. Uh yeah that was kind of long and I had to use IMDB. I will have to come up with something better. 

2. OOOH ok i have a better one. I'm getting no work done today by the way. My former roommate Amanda went to Wake Forrest University at the same time as Mouth (Lee Norris) from One Tree Hill (AND in OTH he went to Cuse). Mouth worked with Paul Johansson on One Tree Hill who starred as John Sears (frat bro to Steve Sanders) on 90210. Yay!

3.OK, I have one last one. My friends Jenni was an extra on Dawson's Creek, which stars Joshua Jackson. Joshua Jackson and Tori "Donna Martin Graduates" Spelling both had cameo roles in Scream 2. Basically, Pacey and I are pretty much best friends. (This pretty much sealed it, since JMJE and I are TV biffs that totally makes me biffs with Pacey by association too!)

Please send me your address lady, you've got some freshly baked treats coming your way!

3 degrees of 90210 and 1.5 degrees of the Jersey Mob

I'm sure many of you have heard of 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon, my friends and I like to play 6 degrees of 90210.  As I watched Life Unexpected awhile back I realized, Holy Balls! (yes, capitalized this is a big deal and balls because it's the holidays. I'm thinking big shiny ones of the red variety, not blue) I'm only 3 degrees from 90210.  Not the next generation version, I'm talking the original, BEVERLY HILLS 90210 (I'm Team Kelly, btw).  For reals, friends.  See below.

Me

-

Santa Barbara co-worker Chris

-

Kerr Smith (Chris' Frat Brother at U of Vermont)

- 

Emma Caulfield (Kerr's co-star on Life Unexpected aka Susan from 90210)

Of course, you are now all a minimum of 4 degrees.  You're welcome.  I have a feeling there's others out there who might be closer by a degree or two.  So I'm putting this challenge out to you all.  I want to find bloggers with equal to or less degrees than me.  I'm guessing Surferwife is at least two degrees from her waitressing or Romper Room days, but I'm thinking there's more. Heck, even if it's within the 6 degrees, or from another show, I'll take it!  Leave a comment, send me an email (bawesomeinstead at gmail dot com), tweet, whatevs.  Once received, I'll post a follow-up with all our fames.  I may or may not have a special prize for the person with the most awesome degree (not necessarily the lowest #).  Deadline = 9pm PST, Thursday, December 16th.  It's a quickie, but I have faith you all will come through.

Also, my Bacon number is 4.

As for the Jersey Mob, I can't actually tell you the connection.  The person's family is/was for sure a part of it, the only question...was he?

Hamburger Alert - GF of Former Dawson's Creek Not-Quite-A-Star

If you missed the initial post, or need a refresher on the Hamburger Scale, please go HERE

Lately, the celebrity skinnies have left me very uninspired.  There's only so many times I can listen to a skinny bitch say she's average and doesn't believe in the Hollywood body image.  Oh wait, that was just Carrie Mulligan and I like the idea of her playing Daisy, so I'll let her be until her jaw goes from normal to bulimic.  Plus, she dropped the Douche and may or may not be hooking up with Tom Sturridge who is like the younger, upper-middle-class man's version of my fake-life husband, Jim Sturgess.  

Did you get all that?

No matter, today's hamburger alert actually goes out to a woman whose name I don't even know and don't care to look up.  Anyone remember Henry from Dawson's Creek?  (If you answer yes, we're immediate TV biffs)  Today, he's some tortured actor on the HBO show I never get to see because I refuse to pay $300 more a year for shows I can get through Netflix later, Boardwalk Empire.  His name is Michael Pitt.  Her name can be found under Bulimia in the dictionary and the 4 Hamburger's point on the Hamburger scale.

via google

Alien head? Check

Skeletor/Angelina heroin arms? Check

Concave stomach? Check

Ewwwww? Check AND Check

While she's eating hamburgers (with the hopes that she can actually keep them down), he should take a shower.  I'm just sayin.  And can someone out there please tell me what guy finds this attractive?  I know I'll end up with a boobs guy, not an ass guy (unless he's paying for implants), but what is this guy? A regurging guy? An E.T. phone home guy?  Good God.  

Jim Sturgess is a boob's guy.  At least in my fake life.

Who Am I?

Clearly I'm awesome, but it's come to my attention (mainly through all those blog must-have lists) that I don't have an About Me section.  I decided instead of writing a long, drawn out novel about my history of awesomeness, I would ask those who know me best to describe me.  Anylazy, here's what a few of my friends had to say (it's kind of a long one, just preparing you):

WCB: When you think of the stereotypical California girl, what do you think of? Cute, blond, bubbly and full of personality?  Well I think that describes Hutch to a T (I think she meant to throw smart in there too, I'm not just a typical blond...oh wait).  She's one of those people who can't live without sarcasm...and if you want to be friends with her, you better start practicing.  She's witty and spunky and crazy all rolled into one.  On the other end of things, she truly is a tremendous friend.  She will be by your side cheering you on, crying with you, getting excited for you - sometimes more than you!  She has a big heart and will always make enough room in there, even if it seems like there's no more love to give.  She loves being outdoors doing fun activities, traveling with friends, and laying on the couch with a good book or favorite TV show.  She enjoys a good glass of wine.  Throw in some ice cream and cookies and that is a perfect night. ;-)  She loves her family and friends more than anything and is loyal to all.  Basically, she's exactly what you would expect ... AWESOME!

Vladeraptor (if you're a newbie she's semi-fames locally so no pics): 10 Things You Can Only Find Out About Hutch by Living With Her

1. She gets ready to leave the house faster than anyone on the planet.  Especially compared to me, the slowest person on earth. 
2. She might think that football commentators on tv are actually in our house.  She yells at them like they can hear her.
3. If you need something blue, look in her closet.  (but I'm not allowed to look right now, due to Christmas, see #4)
4. Buying and planning presents for other people is a big deal.
5. She wants a dog.  You can blame me and her massive amounts of traveling for her not having one.
6. She eats more healthy food than any of you.  She also eats some junk, but it balances out.  I lost five pounds just by living in the same house as her.  True story.
7. She can slide across a wood floor in socks better than Tom Cruise.
8. We combined our DVD collections on one rack.  Here are the movies we both have, which is pretty telling of the things we have in common: The American President, The Bourne Identity, Flashdance, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Honey, Little Women, The Sandlot, Step Up, Swing Kids, and Dave Matthews Band Live in Central Park.  And yes, our feature films are alphabetized.  Another thing we have in common - slight OCD (she forgot Love Actually, but that's because the 2nd copy is permanently on top of, or in, our DVD player during the Holidays)
   
9. She has many leather-bound books.  And paperback.  And hardcover.  Really, just a lot of books in general for someone who has moved so much. 
10. Spiders make her nauseous.  Watching her get the long hose attachment on the vacuum ready, stand as far back from the spider as possible, scream, turn on the vacuum, continue to scream as she sucks up the spider and then shiver as she stands there holding the vacuum hose, is one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life (we'll have to take out the flip cam next time and post here for everyone's entertainment).  But I'm the girl who is afraid of dinosaur movies and spiders, so I can't criticize.

The Favorite:  Chicken fingers and scrapbooking...Two simple, common, likes that brought together two people who were more alike than they ever realized. Hutch knows how to make you feel better from 2,348.32 miles away (but who's counting?). She is loyal, trustworthy, funnier than anyone, understands what it means when I swear in Italian (If she's doing this to you, back away. Slowly.), and is the only other person who watches the same exact blend of movies I do... think "Chicago" with a blend of "Sandlot" and some "Love Actually" thrown in for good measure. Shake it with a little "It's a Wonderful Life" and some "Anchorman", and you've got yourselves a girls night in. She actually bought me baseball tickets for my birthday... and wanted to go as much as I did. And I love her. 

I'm seriously all faclemped just re-reading these. Don't I have The BEST Friends ever?  You can find out more about these awesome ladies HERE. AND. If you ever forget who I am, you can always check out the About Me section above.