B-Side Blog

ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Charity Chocolate Tartlets Edition

Back in December, my friends Cathy from the site gasâ€¢tronâ€¢oâ€¢my and Diana from Diana Takes A Bite organized a charity bake sale called “Eat My Blog,” in which local Los Angeles bloggers and businesses offered up tasty morsels to support the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. The event raised several thousand dollars and was such a success that Cathy and Diana decided to do it again. The only question remaining for me was what to make. Last time, I made an inordinate amount of blondies, which was fun, but I wanted to switch it up. And then I realized what I’d do: I’d revisit the original Adventure In Domesticity. I would make chocolate tartlets! Not only would they be tasty, but it would be a perfect opportunity to review my new muffin tin from CSN Stores.

Information about the bake sale and pics of the tartlets after the jump…

Continue reading “ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Charity Chocolate Tartlets Edition”

REAL HOUSEWIVES PHOTOCAP: Once Again, The Reunion As Told By Shot Glasses

Bravo aired part three of its explosive Real Housewives of New York City reunion, and it continued to be an unparalleled display of Kelly’s craziness. The woman literally doesn’t make sense. Sadly, I don’t have the time to go into it right now as I’m about to disappear off the grid for several hours. In the meantime though, please enjoy this photocap of the show, once again reenacted by my shot glasses since Bravo didn’t post any new screencaps themselves.

Pics after the jump…

Continue reading “REAL HOUSEWIVES PHOTOCAP: Once Again, The Reunion As Told By Shot Glasses”

Scenes From E3 2010 (Or, Embarrassing Pictures of Me Dancing)

Generally every year, I let my not-so-inner geek out by visiting E3, the video game industry’s biggest convention of the year. It’s a chance to play games that won’t be on the market for months or years, try out new gadgets, and more or less remind yourself that you’re not in fact the most socially awkward person on Earth. Seriously, I love any event where I’m surrounded by people who may or may not have spent the past 362 days in a basement, possibly belonging to their mothers. Oh, but I keed. I can’t turn my nose up at my fellow gamers. That’s just mean. I can, however, hold my nose (there were some funky odors at the Los Angeles Convention Center).

Nevertheless, pics of the experience after the jump. Even if you don’t enjoy video games, you might like these…

Continue reading “Scenes From E3 2010 (Or, Embarrassing Pictures of Me Dancing)”

LITERALLY, ‘The Rachel Zoe Project’ Is Literally Coming Back In August

The most vapid reality show on TV (and that’s saying a lot) is coming back. The Rachel Zoe Project third season premiere airs on August 3rd. Literally.

Above, check out a clip of Rachel and Brad speaking in their trademark overdramatic staccato. Hopefully we’ll be in for another ridiculous season of trivial concerns amplified to National Security crisis level. Otherwise, this could be a BRAVOSASTER.

REAL HOUSEWIVES REUNION PHOTOCAP: Yup, They’re Still Crazy!

Bravo aired the second part of the explosive Real Housewives of New York City reunion, and it was just as bonkers as the first installment. Jill seemed significantly more contrite this time around, perhaps too contrite, and amusingly, LuAnn brought up the whole “snake” bit again. Alex, meanwhile, seemed totally derailed as she appeared to attack anything that moved. Luckily, we had Sonja around this time, and she gave us a lovely respite from the zaniness, which was brought in heaps thanks to Kelly Bensimon, who continued to make absolutely no sense whatsoever in describing her trip with the ladies down to the Caribbean.

Sadly, Bravo did not post any screencaps from last night’s show; so I took matters into my own hands. After the jump, my reunion recreation, featuring various items from my bar.

Continue reading “REAL HOUSEWIVES REUNION PHOTOCAP: Yup, They’re Still Crazy!”

REAL HOUSEWIVES PHOTOCAP: Read Danielle’s Lips — She’s Not Crazy

The loathsome women of The Real Housewives of New Jersey were back last night, and honestly, I’m starting to wish they’d all follow Dina’s lead and exit the show. They’re either boring (Jacqueline), crazy (Danielle), or idiotic (Teresa), and lately, I’m starting to think that none of them (with the exception of Dina) are really any better than the crazy Ms. Staub herself.

The episode started up in the midst of Dina and Danielle’s argument at Shakra (or “SHACKKK-RAAA,” as Danielle pronounces it). I didn’t even remember that these two ladies hadn’t finished this dumb interaction last week, but apparently it was still AWN. Dina had shown up to tell Danielle she was over her, and Danielle had shown up with the secret hope of getting an apology, but failing that, she was ready to make some drama. And drama she did make. She rambled on and on about who knows what, contradicting herself every two seconds with rhetoric that sounded like it made sense but really didn’t. My personal favorite moment was when Danielle declared that she was NOT a victim and then proceeded to complain that all the Manzos had attacked her. It’s like claiming you’re an animal lover while gutting a rare snow leopard with a knife made of panda bone. Eventually, Dina accused her of being crazy, and in her loudest, I’m-a-crazy-person voice, Danielle replied “I am NOT crazy!” (I may be paraphrasing). Needless to say, her response was somewhat unconvincing.

Continue reading “REAL HOUSEWIVES PHOTOCAP: Read Danielle’s Lips — She’s Not Crazy”

ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Whole Wheat Bread Edition

About a week and a half ago, I posted about housewares I intended to buy with a gift certificate for CSN Stores (the last of the order arrived today; reviews shall be forthcoming). I implored the readers to weigh in with their opinions on the matter, and at one point, the idea of an ice cream maker entered the dialogue. This got me to thinking: what would be a better purchase? An ice cream maker or a bread maker? I took the question to Twitter where I received a shockingly high number of responses (lesson learned: follow me on Twitter to participate in equally exciting discussions!). The bread maker camp had compelling arguments: it makes the apartment smell amazing, it will pay itself off in no time, and honestly, the taste of fresh bread trumps almost all things to come out of a kitchen. Compelling indeed.

Team Ice Cream also had some strong points: ice cream is ice cream, and that in and of itself should be enough reason to get the machine. Furthermore though, ice cream machines are cheaper, and bread can be made by hand whereas ice cream is more or less an utter pain in the ass on its own. This latter point got me to thinking: if I could make a loaf of whole wheat bread reasonably easily, could I put this raging debate to sleep?

And so the foundation was laid for my latest Adventure in Domesticity. I was gonna attempt homemade sandwich-style whole wheat bread. Results after the jump…

Continue reading “ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Whole Wheat Bread Edition”

The Ten Worst Husbands, Boyfriends, and Significant Others from ‘The Real Housewives’

Not too long ago, I published my lists of the ten best and worst women from the Real Housewives franchise. The rankings seemed to be well-received; so here I am with another go at it, this time aimed at the guys. I’ve compiled a list of the worst husbands and boyfriends from the Housewives franchise, and I gotta say, it was pretty easy. Amusingly, the majority of the spots went to men from Orange County, and I have to admit that not a single guy from Atlanta made the cut (as if the lovable Ed Hartwell or Eric Snow would be close to the words “worst” — although, Big Daddy and Bob Whitfield came close).

After the jump, check out my list of the worst males (children excluded) from the Real Housewives…

Continue reading “The Ten Worst Husbands, Boyfriends, and Significant Others from ‘The Real Housewives’”

Shochu? I Hardly Even Know You!

About a month ago, the people behind Haamonii shochu emailed me about reviewing their product, and given that I’m sort of a sucker for free booze, I told them I was more than happy to give it a whirl. A few days later, a box arrived at my doorstep, and ta-da! Free booze! Can’t go wrong with that. I immediately recruited my dear friend Sly to help me sample these spirits (a job she has assisted me with in the past), and soon the two of us were in the throes of shochu madness.

Pics after the jump…

Continue reading “Shochu? I Hardly Even Know You!”

Sounds From The Gym

I believe Adam Sandler used to have an old routine about the similarities between gym grunting and sex, and never was that more true than on a recent trip I took to the gym. The man next to me on the pull-down bar seemed to be having a positively orgasmic experience with his hefty ten pound weight. Every time he tugged down the bar, he let out a disturbing moan, and it got so out of hand that I was forced to take necessary measures: secretly record his voice.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get too close to this older gentleman without arousing suspicion (nothing like shoving an iPhone into someone’s face to tip them off), and as a result, the audio is not the clearest possible. However, the moans are definitely there, and they most certainly reach a climax of sorts. Listen for yourself after the jump… Continue reading “Sounds From The Gym”