(360,1,'2009-11-24 05:30:00','2009-11-24 05:30:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe width=\"480\" height=\"440\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" src=\"http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;source=embed&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=105378962711484041717.0004791cb42ccd6dbdac1&amp;ll=36.180008,-95.836487&amp;spn=1.219311,1.647949&amp;z=9&amp;output=embed\"></iframe></div><small>View <a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;source=embed&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=105378962711484041717.0004791cb42ccd6dbdac1&amp;ll=36.180008,-95.836487&amp;spn=1.219311,1.647949&amp;z=9\" style=\"color:#0000FF;text-align:left\">Get Your Lights On</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br />This week isn\'t just about stuffing yourself with pound after pound of nap-inducing poultry or shopping the Black Friday doorbusters in your chain mail. As any former kid knows, Thanksgiving Day and the days that follow are for decking the halls and trimming the Christmas tree.<br /><br />After everyone understands each other about the \"strange words\" you were shouting as you attempted to detangle yourself from a mammoth ball of Christmas lights not even Clark Griswold could muster, it\'ll be time to brighten these wintry, early-occurring evenings with the lighting of hundreds of thousands of little twinkling lights.<br /><br />Good thing there are plenty of ways to see the first of this year\'s Christmas lights in the Tulsa area, and more than one of them includes cookies and hot chocolate. Check \'em out: <div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/dscott28604/317609206/\"><img src=\"http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/317609206_e0b00758e9.jpg?v=0\" /></a></div><br /><b>Rhema Lights On</b><br />When: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 6pm<br />Where: Rhema Bible College, 1025 W. Kenosha Street<br />Take a break from cooking and join Rhema\'s Hagin family as they flip the switch on one of the most anticipated Christmas lights display of the year in this neck of the woods. Making Tulsa visible from space for the 27th year in a row, Rhema expects to draw more than 200,000 from all over Oklahoma and our surrounding states to show off their 1.8 million lights. The kicker? Once you fight the traffic and find parking, there isn\'t one. It\'s all free and open to the public. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://uticasquare.com/now_showing/gallery_lo.asp\"><img src=\"http://uticasquare.com/now_showing/gallery/lightson/lg_IMG_9758.jpg\" /></a></div><br /><b>Utica Square Lights On</b><br />When: Thursday, Nov. 26, 6:30pm<br />Where: Utica Square, 21st Street and Utica Avenue<br />Put away the turkey, bundle up the kiddos and head to Utica Square this Thanksgiving Day to bear witness to one of the most well-attended, longest-running (40 years!) lights on events in the state. Santa Claus will make an appearance, and he\'ll stick around long enough to count down the lighting of over 700,000 bright-and-twinklies in nearly 200 trees all over Tulsa\'s most upscale, historic shopping center.<br /><br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://www.cityofmuskogee.com/images/uploads/dept_012/GardenOfLights.jpg\" /></div><br /></div><div><b>Garden of Lights</b></div><div>When: Thursday, Nov. 26<br />Where: Honor Heights Park in Muskogee<br />Count \'em - one million lights, baby. It takes 120 acres to contain all that Christmas cheer at Muskogee\'s Honor Heights Park. The fun continues through Dec. 31.<br /><br /><b><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: normal; \"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4130150970/\" title=\"Arvest Winterfest 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/4130150970_b5c5f14fe2_o.png\" width=\"385\" height=\"395\" alt=\"Arvest Winterfest 2009\" /></a></span></div></b><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold; \"><br /></span></div><div><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold; \">Arvest Winterfest</span></div><div><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold; \"></span>When: Friday, Nov. 27, 4pm<br />Where: On Third Street, between Denver and Frisco Avenues in downtown Tulsa<br />Wanna see the largest Christmas tree in the entire state of Oklahoma? Then you\'ve gotta check out the new and improved, second annual Arvest Winterfest celebration. Relish the chance to ice skate outdoors (not always a sure thing when it comes to winter in Oklahoma) on a 60-by-150-foot rink, yummy food, live entertainment, photo ops with the Segway Santa and a carriage ride through the streets of downtown Tulsa. If you miss it this weekend, don\'t worry - it continues through Jan. 4. <a href=\"http://bokcenter.com/upload/file/Arvest%20Winterfest%20Calendar%202009(1).pdf\">Get a listing of a full months\' worth of Winterfest goodness here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://www.travelok.com/graphics/siebel_photos/Events/1-3LADR_A.JPG\" /></div><b><div><br /></div>Wonderland of Lights</b><br />When: Fridays-Sundays, starting Friday-Dec. 20, 5-9pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://www.woolaroc.org/category.php?cat=1016\">Woolaroc Museum &amp; Wildlife Preserve, southwest of Barlesville</a><br />Ever seen a buffalo with a red, glowing nose? You just might if you head to <a href=\"http://www.woolaroc.org/\">Woolaroc for its Wonderland of Lights</a>. See 650,000 lights, sing carols, sit back for a wagon ride and a cup of cider, see Santa and sneak a peek at the Holiday Horseman, all on Oklahoma\'s own 3,700-acre wildlife preserve. Just, whatever you do, don\'t tip Rudolph. Admission is $8 for guests aged 12-64 and $6 for seniors. Children 11 and under get in free. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: normal; \"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4130282204/\" title=\"Christmas Kingdom at The Castle of Muskogee by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2770/4130282204_944a8963a2_o.png\" width=\"565\" height=\"347\" alt=\"Christmas Kingdom at The Castle of Muskogee\" /></a></span></div></b><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold; \"><br /></span></div><div><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold; \">Christmas Kingdom</span></div><div>When: Friday, Nov. 27<br />Where: The Castle of Muskogee, 3400 Fern Mountain Road<br />There\'s nothing like a 20-foot inflatable to get a person into the holiday spirit. Get that and 999 other Christmas Inflatables, along with thousands of lights, in this fourth annual, free event. Check out the horse carriage rides starting at 6pm, and don\'t miss Christmas in the Garden Room, cookies and hot chocolate (nightly from 6-10pm), tractor-drawn hay rides and a visit with Father Christmas (Fridays and Saturdays, 6-9pm). <a href=\"http://www.okcastle.com/christmas-kingdom.html\">Check out the full calendar of events at OKCastle.com</a>.<br /><br /><b>Lights on the Hill at Chandler Park</b><br />When: Fridays-Sundays, starting Nov. 27 thru Dec. 27, 6-9pm<br />Where: Chandler Park, 6500 W. 21st Street<br />When it comes to aerial views of neighborhood Christmas lights (not to mention the view of the skyline), it\'s tough to beat the top of the hill at Chandler Park. Throughout the rest of this month and into the next, take a drive through three miles of bright lights and whimsical displays, catch live performances by local high schools, churches and more. Plus, snag a scenic horse-and-carriage ride. Be sure to stay tuned until Dec. 5 from 4-6pm, when you and the kiddos can have your photo snapped with Santa. Don\'t forget to bring enough cookies and milk to share.</div><div><br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs115.snc3/16264_185304623633_25282913633_3112871_7808549_n.jpg\" /></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Garden Glow</b></div><div>When: Saturday, Nov. 28, 4-8pm</div><div>Where: <a href=\"http://philbrook.org/\">Philbrook Museum of Art</a>, 2424 S. Rockford Ave. </div><div>Don\'t use all your Christmas light-gawking energy before Saturday, folks, because this second-annual, free event at one of Tulsa\'s cherished landmarks is not to be missed. Spend some time perusing the exhibits at Philbrook and then head outside at 6pm to see thousands of lights come to life in the garden. The entire museum will be open to all, and music, food, hot chocolate and kids\' activities will be in good supply. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Hey. Where do you go to find Christmas lights in Tulsa? Enlighten us (sorry, I couldn\'t help myself) in the comments. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class=\"Apple-style-span\"  style=\"font-size:small;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/dscott28604/317609206/\">Rhema photo by dsjeffries on Flickr</a></span><br /></div><div><a href=\"http://www.travelok.com/toDo/eventsDetail.asp?id=1-3LADR\">Wonderland of Lights photo from TravelOK.com</a></div>    <div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"margin-top:10px;height:15px\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" href=\"http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/fd45dd5c-9864-49cc-8ac0-af4920c9dea3/\" title=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\"><img class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" src=\"http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=fd45dd5c-9864-49cc-8ac0-af4920c9dea3\" alt=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\" style=\"border:none;float:right\" /></a><span class=\"zem-script more-related pretty-attribution\"><script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js\" defer=\"defer\"></script></span></div>','Get Your Lights On 2009: Christmas Lights in Tulsa','','publish','open','open','','get-your-lights-on','','','2010-11-22 11:17:44','2010-11-22 16:17:44','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=360',0,'post','',5),(361,1,'2009-11-25 05:10:00','2009-11-25 05:10:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Lights On @ Utica Square by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133109372/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/4133109372_f5847e4749.jpg\" alt=\"Lights On @ Utica Square\" width=\"500\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThe latest whispers from Washington say that we\'re starting to pull out of this whopper of an economic crisis. As the holiday season and the demand on the pocketbook it brings with it looms before us, I think we can all agree that this is good news.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nWe\'ve all made sacrifices since our economy lurched to a standstill a few years ago. Some of us have turned to couponing to feed our families, others have given up their cable TV and still more were forced to downsize, or were downsized themselves.\r\n\r\nThat we\'re seeing a light at the end of the tunnel is like stumbling upon an oasis in a sprawling desert. It seems we can\'t wait to get back to life as usual.\r\n\r\nHere\'s an idea. Rather than shop as we once did by heading to the malls or the monolithic, big-box mega-stores, check out what local shops, restaurants and other service providers have to offer instead.\r\n\r\nAfter all, your dad doesn\'t need another bottle of Old Spice (unless you\'re my dad - in that case, you probably do), the kids don\'t need yet more plastic toys and Mom doesn\'t want yet another gift basket from the store that rhymes with Bath & Body Schworks.\r\n\r\nShe\'ll only re-gift it as a Secret Santa gift at church next Christmas. Trust me. I know.\r\n\r\nHere\'s some more food for thought: For every $100 spent at a chain store, just $14 stays in the local community, according to <a href=\"http://www.buylocaltulsa.com/\">the Tulsa Area Independent Business Alliance</a>. Spend that same Benjamin at a locally owned store and $45 - more than 320 percent more - stays here in town.\r\n\r\nI\'m sure that folks employed by local businesses that have been forced to scale back on pay and benefits could appreciate the value of a three-fold impact on the community in which they operate.\r\n\r\nThinking along these lines, I\'ve decided to put together the first-ever Tasha Does Tulsa holiday gift guide. Each day from now until Christmas Eve I\'ll post about a product or service sold or produced here in the Tulsa area that\'d look totally rad under (or, on) the Christmas tree.\r\n\r\nOr, in a Christmas stocking. Or, on the Christmas dinner table. Or, out in the driveway (or, in the bike rack). You get the idea.\r\n\r\nAll entries in the TDT Gift Guide can be accessed by clicking the bright, shiny banner in the right sidebar. Check back often, folks, as there\'s bound to be something new and wish list-worthy waiting for you there.\r\n\r\nYou might even find a chance to win free stuff - stuff to use as holiday gifts for loved ones, for yourself, or ways to live life to the fullest in Tulsa this holiday season. Just about anything goes, so man your mouses and get ready to enter some contests and giveways.\r\n\r\nWhile the line-up in this parade of local gifts is pretty much set, I\'m still open to learning about gifts that might have escaped my attention. If you come across a find that\'s too good not to share, <a href=\"mailto:tasha@tashadoestulsa.com\">e-mail me</a>. We\'ll spread Christmas cheer together, perhaps over a cup of eggnog.\r\n\r\nBecause I\'m always available for a cup of eggnog.\r\n\r\nLook for the first featured gift to show up at the top of this page at some point tomorrow. Until then, happy pre-Thanksgiving cooking (or, in my case, bite-sneakin\' and beater-lickin\' and putting out fires with the help of this <a href=\"http://www.ttownmoms.com/?page=blogs/view&amp;BLID=6594\">Thanksgiving dinner survival guide at Ttownmoms.com</a>).','Tasha Does Tulsa Gift Guide 2009','I\'m sure that folks employed by local businesses that have been forced to scale back on pay and benefits could appreciate the value of a three-fold impact on the community in which they operate.','publish','open','open','','tasha-does-tulsa-gift-guide-2009','','','2010-12-03 17:05:47','2010-12-03 22:05:47','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=361',0,'post','',1),(362,1,'2009-11-25 16:10:00','2009-11-25 16:10:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/37872938.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&amp;Expires=1259165316&amp;Signature=Yxsd0PLbUGbFv67bWoPX8uvIT54%3D\" /></div><br />I just don\'t get it, y\'all. Fashion, that is. If I expect to go out into public and not cause traffic accidents with my self-inflicted ensembles, I need help when it comes to putting together an outfit. If its not <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/97\">an I Heart Tulsa shirt</a>, jeans and tennis shoes, you can assume that I\'m going to need some assistance.<br /><br />Please. I beg of you, Tulsa. Come to my house, bring a full-length mirror (what, did you think I actually owned one already? Ha!) and, for the love of all that is good and holy, help me. I need you. I need you badly.<br /><br />Especially troublesome for me and my puny sense of fashion is the holiday party outfit. To get a feel for what\'s acceptable this year I\'ve been scouring the Web sites of my favorite stores. Thing is, I have a few questions, along with a concern or three.<div><br /></div><div><a href=\"http://ttownmoms.com/?page=blogs/view&amp;BLID=6735\">Help me out over at my blog on Ttownmoms.com</a>.</div>  <div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"margin-top:10px;height:15px\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" href=\"http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/0c4f5bad-2412-4215-a5ad-f6878bdf6e13/\" title=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\"><img class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" src=\"http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=0c4f5bad-2412-4215-a5ad-f6878bdf6e13\" alt=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\" style=\"border:none;float:right\" /></a><span class=\"zem-script more-related pretty-attribution\"><script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js\" defer=\"defer\"></script></span></div>','Fashion: Help Me Out Here.','','publish','open','open','','fashion-help-me-out-here','','','2009-11-25 16:10:00','2009-11-25 16:10:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=362',0,'post','',1),(363,1,'2009-11-25 18:30:00','2009-11-25 18:30:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290565/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/4133290565_4a7b0a6d10_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nSince the little gift shop at 119 S. Detroit Ave. is first in the minds of Tulsa\'s most savvy local shoppers, it might as well be first in the inaugural Tasha Does Tulsa Holiday Gift Guide, too. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nIn case there\'s anyone out there who hasn\'t yet managed to stop by, <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/\">Dwelling Spaces is a one-stop shop for anyone looking to stock up on T-Town and Oklahoma gear</a>, along with hundreds of gifts available no where else in town. Stocked there is everything from the famous <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/97\">Louis & Cluck</a> and <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/157?link_id=156&amp;link_section_id=23\">Okie Grown t-shirt and clothing lines</a> to the latest releases by Tulsa\'s best bands to books by local (or locally grown) authors like <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/491\">Jeff Martin</a>, <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/273\">artist Joe Andoe</a> and <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/283\">Libby Bender</a>. \r\n\r\nJust like Green Country music fans and local art lovers, champions of the handmade movement aren\'t left out in the cold at Dwelling Spaces, either. Thanks to the shop\'s collection of wares by local crafters like <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/381?link_id=161&amp;link_section_id=22\">Felix & Jayne</a> and <a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/shop/cuddlemonstre\">Cuddle Monsters</a>, everyone has the opportunity to own something that\'s one-of-a-kind. It\'s nearly impossible to find something in the crafty sections that aren\'t cute as all get out. \r\n\r\nWhile any of these goodies would make fantabulous gifts, these types of things are available at Dwelling Spaces all year round. This shop is just that cool. Just imagine what owner Mary Beth Babcock is able to come up with for the most wonderful time of the year. \r\n\r\nActually, you don\'t have to imagine. I got the goods for you right here.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290691/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2648/4133290691_4166cf482f_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nCheck out these snazzy little gift boxes. Each one is chock full of Tulsa-centric gifty goodness, no gift wrap required. The only work you have to do is pick one up and carry it to the cash register a mere six feet away. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134051946/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4134051946_ab17973dd9_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nHere\'s an example of the <b>Deck the Walls With Mugs and Coffee</b> variety of gift package, each containing a 12-ounce bag of beans from <b>Topeca Coffee</b> and a pair of mugs emblazoned with the <b>Okie Grown</b> logo. The price? A mere $33. \r\n\r\nThese smiles-waiting-to-happen in box form are no-nonsense, grab-and-go deals, people. Simply purchase, place under the tree and, voila. You\'re done. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290947/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2649/4133290947_09031ed82a_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nContaining an Okie Grown vanity plate, an Okie Grown key chain and a copy of <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Route-66-Mother-Road-Anniversary/dp/0312281617/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1259170651&amp;sr=8-1\">the Michael Wallis book, <b>Route 66: The Mother Road</b></a> is the <b>Sled Down Route 66</b> package. Each is filled to the brim with the best in road-worthy stuff for $36 each.\r\n\r\nOr, grab a pre-wrapped copy of a book that is so beautiful that a certain someone couldn\'t help but keep it from the library even though it was two months overdue.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133394941/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2606/4133394941_30e93962f1_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nFor $49.95, this 351-page photo book, <b>Oklahoma: A Portrait of America</b>, by Libby Bender, Carl Brune and Scott Raffe, will be in your family for generations to come. Plus, buying it is better than stealing it from the library. Because that\'s what you\'ll want to do when you try to check out this book \"just to see if you\'d want to go ahead and buy it.\" Hey, it\'s the holidays. Save yourself a few steps and snag it sooner rather than later. \r\n\r\nCertainly my family isn\'t the only one in Tulsa with an ornament tradition. Each year we strike out in search of the perfect ornament to add to the Christmas tree that year. The year my hubs returned home from Afghanistan, we hung an ornament in the shape of the state seal, gifted to the soldiers by Gov. Henry practically as the boys deplaned. The year we were expecting our son, we found an ornament in the shape of a snowman family, complete with a baby Frosty. \r\n\r\nSay it with me now: Awww!\r\n\r\nThis year, we have to have this:\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290465/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2603/4133290465_be7c151e21_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nYou might recognize this little fella as <a href=\"http://images.google.com/images?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=blue%20whale%20catoosa%2C%20OK&amp;oe=UTF-8&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;sa=N&amp;hl=en&amp;tab=wi\">the Blue Whale of Catoosa</a>. Great idea for a Christmas ornament, no? I thought so, too. \r\n\r\nI may or may not have squealed when I first saw it.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290359/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/4133290359_07ab2c9332_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWhat better for that person on your list who has everything but Route 66 Christmas tree ornaments? Check \'em out: There\'s one to make you thirsty for a beverage from <a href=\"http://www.pops66.com/\">Pops, the Arcadia, Okla., restaurant and soda stand and tourist attraction in its own right</a>, plus an ornament made to look like a Route 66 road sign. What\'s not to love? These hand-blown glass ornaments are $26 each. \r\n\r\nThen there\'s the uber-festive Cain\'s Ballroom ornament. It\'s $7. A steal, I tell you.\r\n\r\nTo get a load of these gifts and (a lot, lot) more, shop at Dwelling Spaces this holiday season. I dare you to try to come out of that place with less than an armload of goodies. Go ahead, try. I\'d like to know if it\'s even possible. \r\n\r\nBecause no on eI know has managed to do it yet. \r\n\r\n<b>Dwelling Spaces</b>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=dwelling+spaces&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=60.288153,107.226563&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=36.160607,-95.988321&amp;spn=0.06105,0.104713&amp;z=14&amp;iwloc=A\">119 S. Detroit</a>\r\n(918) 582-1033\r\n<a href=\"mailto:info@dwellingspaces.net\">info@dwellingspaces.net</a>\r\nMonday-Saturday, 10:30am-7:30pm\r\nSunday-Monday, 11am-4pm','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: All That Is Dwelling Spaces','Since the little gift shop at 119 S. Detroit Ave. is first in the minds of Tulsa\'s most savvy local shoppers, it might as well be first in the inaugural Tasha Does Tulsa Holiday Gift Guide, too. ','publish','open','open','','dwelling-spaces-tdt-holiday-gift-guide-2009','','','2010-12-03 17:00:23','2010-12-03 22:00:23','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=363',0,'post','',4),(4218,1,'2010-12-03 16:58:11','2010-12-03 21:58:11','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290565/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/4133290565_4a7b0a6d10_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nSince the little gift shop at 119 S. Detroit Ave. is first in the minds of Tulsa\'s most savvy local shoppers, it might as well be first in the inaugural Tasha Does Tulsa Holiday Gift Guide, too. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nIn case there\'s anyone out there who hasn\'t yet managed to stop by, <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/\">Dwelling Spaces is a one-stop shop for anyone looking to stock up on T-Town and Oklahoma gear</a>, along with hundreds of gifts available no where else in town. Stocked there is everything from the famous <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/97\">Louis & Cluck</a> and <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/157?link_id=156&amp;link_section_id=23\">Okie Grown t-shirt and clothing lines</a> to the latest releases by Tulsa\'s best bands to books by local (or locally grown) authors like <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/491\">Jeff Martin</a>, <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/273\">artist Joe Andoe</a> and <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/283\">Libby Bender</a>. \r\n\r\nJust like Green Country music fans and local art lovers, champions of the handmade movement aren\'t left out in the cold at Dwelling Spaces, either. Thanks to the shop\'s collection of wares by local crafters like <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/381?link_id=161&amp;link_section_id=22\">Felix & Jayne</a> and <a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/shop/cuddlemonstre\">Cuddle Monsters</a>, everyone has the opportunity to own something that\'s one-of-a-kind. It\'s nearly impossible to find something in the crafty sections that aren\'t cute as all get out. \r\n\r\nWhile any of these goodies would make fantabulous gifts, these types of things are available at Dwelling Spaces all year round. This shop is just that cool. Just imagine what owner Mary Beth Babcock is able to come up with for the most wonderful time of the year. \r\n\r\nActually, you don\'t have to imagine. I got the goods for you right here.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290691/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2648/4133290691_4166cf482f_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nCheck out these snazzy little gift boxes. Each one is chock full of Tulsa-centric gifty goodness, no gift wrap required. The only work you have to do is pick one up and carry it to the cash register a mere six feet away. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134051946/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4134051946_ab17973dd9_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nHere\'s an example of the <b>Deck the Walls With Mugs and Coffee</b> variety of gift package, each containing a 12-ounce bag of beans from <b>Topeca Coffee</b> and a pair of mugs emblazoned with the <b>Okie Grown</b> logo. The price? A mere $33. \r\n\r\nThese smiles-waiting-to-happen in box form are no-nonsense, grab-and-go deals, people. Simply purchase, place under the tree and, voila. You\'re done. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290947/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2649/4133290947_09031ed82a_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nContaining an Okie Grown vanity plate, an Okie Grown key chain and a copy of <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Route-66-Mother-Road-Anniversary/dp/0312281617/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1259170651&amp;sr=8-1\">the Michael Wallis book, <b>Route 66: The Mother Road</b></a> is the <b>Sled Down Route 66</b> package. Each is filled to the brim with the best in road-worthy stuff for $36 each.\r\n\r\nOr, grab a pre-wrapped copy of a book that is so beautiful that a certain someone couldn\'t help but keep it from the library even though it was two months overdue.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133394941/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2606/4133394941_30e93962f1_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nFor $49.95, this 351-page photo book, <b>Oklahoma: A Portrait of America</b>, by Libby Bender, Carl Brune and Scott Raffe, will be in your family for generations to come. Plus, buying it is better than stealing it from the library. Because that\'s what you\'ll want to do when you try to check out this book \"just to see if you\'d want to go ahead and buy it.\" Hey, it\'s the holidays. Save yourself a few steps and snag it sooner rather than later. \r\n\r\nCertainly my family isn\'t the only one in Tulsa with an ornament tradition. Each year we strike out in search of the perfect ornament to add to the Christmas tree that year. The year my hubs returned home from Afghanistan, we hung an ornament in the shape of the state seal, gifted to the soldiers by Gov. Henry practically as the boys deplaned. The year we were expecting our son, we found an ornament in the shape of a snowman family, complete with a baby Frosty. \r\n\r\nSay it with me now: Awww!\r\n\r\nThis year, we have to have this:\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290465/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2603/4133290465_be7c151e21_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nYou might recognize this little fella as <a href=\"http://images.google.com/images?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=blue%20whale%20catoosa%2C%20OK&amp;oe=UTF-8&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;sa=N&amp;hl=en&amp;tab=wi\">the Blue Whale of Catoosa</a>. Great idea for a Christmas ornament, no? I thought so, too. \r\n\r\nI may or may not have squealed when I first saw it.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290359/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/4133290359_07ab2c9332_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWhat better for that person on your list who has everything but Route 66 Christmas tree ornaments? Check \'em out: There\'s one to make you thirsty for a beverage from <a href=\"http://www.pops66.com/\">Pops, the Arcadia, Okla., restaurant and soda stand and tourist attraction in its own right</a>, plus an ornament made to look like a Route 66 road sign. What\'s not to love? These hand-blown glass ornaments are $26 each. \r\n\r\nThen there\'s the uber-festive Cain\'s Ballroom ornament. It\'s $7. A steal, I tell you.\r\n\r\nTo get a load of these gifts and (a lot, lot) more, shop at Dwelling Spaces this holiday season. I dare you to try to come out of that place with less than an armload of goodies. Go ahead, try. I\'d like to know if it\'s even possible. \r\n\r\nBecause no on eI know has managed to do it yet. \r\n\r\n<b>Dwelling Spaces</b>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=dwelling+spaces&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=60.288153,107.226563&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=36.160607,-95.988321&amp;spn=0.06105,0.104713&amp;z=14&amp;iwloc=A\">119 S. Detroit</a>\r\n(918) 582-1033\r\n<a href=\"mailto:info@dwellingspaces.net\">info@dwellingspaces.net</a>\r\nMonday-Saturday, 10:30am-7:30pm\r\nSunday-Monday, 11am-4pm','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: All That Is Dwelling Spaces','Since the little gift shop at 119 S. Detroit Ave. is first in the minds of Tulsa\'s most savvy local shoppers, it might as well be first in the inaugural Tasha Does Tulsa Holiday Gift Guide, too. ','inherit','open','open','','363-revision-2','','','2010-12-03 16:58:11','2010-12-03 21:58:11','',363,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/363-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(364,1,'2009-11-26 03:15:00','2009-11-26 03:15:00','<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135048776/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/4135048776_7ee5029c75.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe first time I heard about Dragonmoon Tea Company was in <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/mayortaylor\">a tweet from the mayor of Tulsa herself, Kathy Taylor</a>. She mentioned she\'d eaten there for lunch that day, and I was surprised. Lunch at a tea company? Dragonmoon sounded more like a fancy name <a href=\"http://tulsatvmemories.com/starship.html\">for another Oz competitor</a> to me.\r\n\r\nLast week, I learned just how wrong-headed I\'d been.\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134285787/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/4134285787_224f03766f.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nTwo girlfriends, my toddling son and I stopped in to Dragonmoon, at 1927 S. Harvard Ave., for lunch and we, not to be cliche, got a lot more. By the end of the meal we\'d shared a pot of warm, spicy, almost buttery White Christmas tea and three plates\' full of desserts and pastries. That was in addition to the two helpings of rich, cheesy quiche wrapped in the flakiest of crusts, as well as a pita sandwich to end all pita sandwiches.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135048860/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4135048860_f339575f50.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nLook at the pretty china we got to use. I felt like a dainty English gentlewoman. A dainty English gentlewoman with a wriggling, quiche-covered toddler on my lap.\r\n\r\nDid I mention that we ordered potato salad, too? And cold, citrus-spiced rice? Well, we did. Oh, boy, did we ever.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135049050/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4135049050_dfeb738382.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134286837/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2578/4134286837_a02c2dd01a.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134287015/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2494/4134287015_4e740d93e3.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nJust as charming as the china and the food is the cafe itself. Housed in what appears to have once been a family home (anyone know the history of this building just north of 21st and Harvard?), the two first-floor dining rooms host just a few tables - ours had four. On the walls were two large pet portraits by <a href=\"http://www.m2studioportraits.com/\">local artist Matt Moffett</a>.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134285903/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2777/4134285903_d70527b8cf.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nLovely, no?\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135047604/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/4135047604_2d352b3e0a.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe painting, I mean. Not that the girls aren\'t lovely, because they most certainly, definitely are. Thing is, these girls also happen to be the salt of the earth. They spend their days making Tulsa a better place from their offices at a few of <a href=\"http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=ejIRK6OWG&amp;b=67551\">Tulsa\'s YWCA locations</a>. \r\n\r\nWhat they and the people they work with manage to do for the people of this community in need of YWCA services (all 25,000 of them, the number who participated in YWCA programs last year) within the span of an average work day blows my mind. Hey, YWCA? Thank you.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to friends, I\'m something the kids these days like to call lucky.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134285745/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2612/4134285745_22e03703e3.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSee that girl on the left? Her name is Wendy. I\'ve known Wendy for almost four years now. She helped me to stay sane during my first job as a reporter. She also helped me test I don\'t know many of the renditions of bread pudding available in this town. To say that we\'re versed in the genre, at least when it comes to what Tulsa has to offer, is the understatement of the entirety of custard history.\r\n\r\nOf course, when we saw that bread pudding was on the menu at Dragonmoon, we couldn\'t pass it up.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135049416/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4135049416_f6c68799a0.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMmm - bread pudding that looks like it wants to fight me. Just the way I like it. Give me bread pudding with texture and interest over the smooth, creamy kind any day.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134286369/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4134286369_d757b0f5e3.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOh, man. That tea just wouldn\'t stop. A pot of it sounds really good right about now. Too bad I didn\'t snag any on my way out from the small tea and gift shop at the front of the cafe. Doh.\r\n\r\nHalf a pot of tea, a hearty slice of quiche, a large scoop of potato salad and a plate of bread pudding with whiskey sauce totaled $15. It\'s not the most inexpensive lunch I\'ve ever had, and I certainly wouldn\'t pay $15 for lunch every day (not that I don\'t want to when it comes to some yummy nosh), but it\'s certainly a fair price for an occasional treat.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135049290/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2600/4135049290_fb5e891c07.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen you give this place a try, be sure to tell me what kind of tea you had. I\'m dying to go back and try more, both from the hot and cold tea menus, and I\'d love some good advice.\r\n\r\nAfter all, what would a tea company be without lots and lots and lots of selection when it comes to, well, tea?\r\n\r\nIf you\'ve tried Dragonmoon, tell us about it in the comments. In the meantime we\'ll be doing what tea drinkers do - putting the kettle on and making cranberry-orange scones and idly building pyramids of lumps of sugar, anticipating that next cup.\r\n\r\n<strong>Dragonmoon Tea Company</strong>\r\n1927 S. Harvard Avenue\r\n(918) 742-8322\r\nTuesday-Firday, 9am-6pm; Saturday, 10am-5pm\r\n<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dragonmoon-Tea-Co/297707189732?sk=info\">Dragonmoon on Facebook</a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/58/1450698/restaurant/Expo-Square/Dragonmoon-Tea-Co-Tulsa\"><img style=\"border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;\" src=\"http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1450698/minilink.gif\" alt=\"Dragonmoon Tea Co. on Urbanspoon\" /></a>','Dragonmoon Tea Company: My Cup of Tulsa Tea','By the end of our meal at Dragonmoon Tea Company we\'d shared a pot of warm, spicy, almost buttery White Christmas tea and three plates\' full of desserts and pastries.','publish','open','open','','dragonmoon-tea-company-tulsa','','','2011-03-30 15:30:04','2011-03-30 21:30:04','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=364',0,'post','',12),(7373,1,'2011-03-30 15:25:46','2011-03-30 21:25:46','<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135048776/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/4135048776_7ee5029c75.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe first time I heard about Dragonmoon Tea Company was in <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/mayortaylor\">a tweet from the mayor of Tulsa herself, Kathy Taylor</a>. She mentioned she\'d eaten there for lunch that day, and I was surprised. Lunch at a tea company? Dragonmoon sounded more like a fancy name <a href=\"http://tulsatvmemories.com/starship.html\">for another Oz competitor</a> to me.\r\n\r\nLast week, I learned just how wrong-headed I\'d been.\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134285787/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/4134285787_224f03766f.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nTwo girlfriends, my toddling son and I stopped in to Dragonmoon, at 1927 S. Harvard Ave., for lunch and we, not to be cliche, got a lot more. By the end of the meal we\'d shared a pot of warm, spicy, almost buttery White Christmas tea and three plates\' full of desserts and pastries. That was in addition to the two helpings of rich, cheesy quiche wrapped in the flakiest of crusts, as well as a pita sandwich to end all pita sandwiches.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135048860/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4135048860_f339575f50.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nLook at the pretty china we got to use. I felt like a dainty English gentlewoman. With a wriggling, quiche-covered toddler on my lap. Wait - what?\r\n\r\nDid I mention that we ordered potato salad, too? And cold, citrus-spiced rice? Well, we did. Oh, boy, did we ever.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135049050/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4135049050_dfeb738382.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134286837/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2578/4134286837_a02c2dd01a.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134287015/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2494/4134287015_4e740d93e3.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nJust as charming as the china and the food is the cafe itself. Housed in what appears to have once been a family home (anyone know the history of this building just north of 21st and Harvard?), the two first-floor dining rooms host just a few tables - ours had four. On the walls were two large pet portraits by <a href=\"http://www.m2studioportraits.com/\">local artist Matt Moffett</a>.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134285903/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2777/4134285903_d70527b8cf.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nLovely, no?\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135047604/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/4135047604_2d352b3e0a.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe painting, I mean. Not that the girls aren\'t lovely, because they most certainly, definitely are. Thing is, these girls also happen to be the salt of the earth. They spend their days making Tulsa a better place from their offices at a few of <a href=\"http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=ejIRK6OWG&amp;b=67551\">Tulsa\'s YWCA locations</a>. \r\n\r\nWhat they and the people they work with manage to do for the people of this community in need of YWCA services (all 25,000 of them, the number who participated in YWCA programs last year) within the span of an average work day blows my mind. Hey, YWCA? Thank you.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to friends, I\'m something the kids these days like to call lucky.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134285745/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2612/4134285745_22e03703e3.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSee that girl on the left? Her name is Wendy. I\'ve known Wendy for almost four years now. She helped me to stay sane during my first job as a reporter. She also helped me test I don\'t know many of the renditions of bread pudding available in this town. To say that we\'re versed in the genre, at least when it comes to what Tulsa has to offer, is the understatement of the entirety of custard history.\r\n\r\nOf course, when we saw that bread pudding was on the menu at Dragonmoon, we couldn\'t pass it up.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135049416/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4135049416_f6c68799a0.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMmm - bread pudding that looks like it wants to fight me. Just the way I like it. Give me bread pudding with texture and interest over the smooth, creamy kind any day.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134286369/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4134286369_d757b0f5e3.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOh, man. That tea just wouldn\'t stop. A pot of it sounds really good right about now. Too bad I didn\'t snag any on my way out from the small tea and gift shop at the front of the cafe. Doh.\r\n\r\nHalf a pot of tea, a hearty slice of quiche, a large scoop of potato salad and a plate of bread pudding with whiskey sauce totaled $15. It\'s not the most inexpensive lunch I\'ve ever had, and I certainly wouldn\'t pay $15 for lunch every day (not that I don\'t want to when it comes to some yummy nosh), but it\'s certainly a fair price for an occasional treat.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135049290/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2600/4135049290_fb5e891c07.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon Moon Tea Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen you give this place a try, be sure to tell me what kind of tea you had. I\'m dying to go back and try more, both from the hot and cold tea menus, and I\'d love some good advice.\r\n\r\nAfter all, what would a tea company be without lots and lots and lots of selection when it comes to, well, tea?\r\n\r\nIf you\'ve tried Dragonmoon, tell us about it in the comments. In the meantime we\'ll be doing what tea drinkers do - putting the kettle on and making cranberry-orange scones and idly building pyramids of lumps of sugar, anticipating that next cup.\r\n\r\n<strong>Dragonmoon Tea Company</strong>\r\n1927 S. Harvard Avenue\r\n(918) 742-8322\r\nTuesday-Firday, 9am-6pm; Saturday, 10am-5pm\r\n<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dragonmoon-Tea-Co/297707189732?sk=info\">Dragonmoon on Facebook</a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/58/1450698/restaurant/Expo-Square/Dragonmoon-Tea-Co-Tulsa\"><img style=\"border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;\" src=\"http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1450698/minilink.gif\" alt=\"Dragonmoon Tea Co. on Urbanspoon\" /></a>','Dragonmoon Tea Company: My Cup of Tulsa Tea','By the end of our meal at Dragonmoon Tea Company we\'d shared a pot of warm, spicy, almost buttery White Christmas tea and three plates\' full of desserts and pastries.','inherit','open','open','','364-revision-2','','','2011-03-30 15:25:46','2011-03-30 21:25:46','',364,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/03/364-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(365,1,'2009-11-26 16:06:00','2009-11-26 16:06:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4136345068/\" title=\"The Art of Manliness by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"The Art of Manliness\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/4136345068_8912445a08.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nFor several months now I\'ve been walking in on my husband at the computer, poring over a certain Web site. Many a chore has gone undone. Many a meal has gone cold. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nBut, you know what? I don\'t mind. In fact, I\'m hooked on the site myself. \r\n\r\nI\'m talking about <a href=\"http://www.theartofmanliness.com/\">the blog, <b>The Art of Manliness</b></a>. Chock full of how-tos, from how to shave with a straight razor to how to make a bed so tight it could bounce a quarter, as well as tips for the proper dressing and grooming of men and general random, manly advice, it\'s easy to get caught up at the site for hours at a time. Lord knows we\'ve done it. \r\n\r\nThat\'s why, when <b>Brett McKay</b>, one of the authors of the blog, contacted me and shared that not only is the blog based in Tulsa but that he and his wife/blogging partner, <b>Kate</b>, just published a book based on the blog, my husband and I did a happy dance so obnoxious, so loud, so vile that we scared our toddler into crying for half an hour.\r\n\r\nWe\'re sorry, son. But, we couldn\'t contain ourselves. One day, thanks, we\'re sure, to advice from The Art of Manliness book and blog, you\'ll be able to get through this life without needing too much therapy.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135585105/\" title=\"The Art of Manliness by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"The Art of Manliness\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/4135585105_389b018a7a.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWhile it would behoove men (and the women who love them) everywhere to purchase copies of this book for themselves, I\'m proud to present this little volume as the gift du jour in <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/search/label/Gift%20Guide\">the Tasha Does Tulsa Holiday Gift Guide</a>. With <b>The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man</b>, a full-bodied outgrowth of The Art of Manliness blog, is a wealth of information that ranges from survival skills to advice on how to improve your character, whether you\'re braving the wilds with your buds, courting your girlfriend or raising a family. \r\n\r\nThe book features such guides as:  \r\n<ul><li>Shave like your grandpa</li><li>Be a perfect houseguest</li><li>Fight like a gentleman using the art of bartitsu</li><li>How to fold a paper airplane</li><li>Give a man a hug</li><li>Perform a fireman\'s carry</li><li>Ask for a woman\'s hand in marriage</li><li>Raise resilient kids</li><li>Predict the weather like a frontiersman</li><li>Start a fire without matches</li><li>Give a dynamic speech</li><li>How to identify and choose from among the types of men\'s hats</li><li>Modern technology and the new rules of etiquette</li></ul>\r\n\r\nWhat man who aspires to all things virile, I ask, is not in sore need of this book? That it\'s homegrown is a bonus, sure, but everything on each of the 274 pages of this book is pure gold, from the glossary of manly nineteenth-century vernacular to the ready-to-use Theodore Roosevelt\'s list of insults. At $16.99 at local bookstores (or, as of today, <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1600614620?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=stucosuccess-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1600614620\">$11.55 on Amazon.com</a>), it\'s a gift that\'s sure to please on the cheap. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4136345218/\" title=\"The Art of Manliness by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"The Art of Manliness\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4136345218_e1213cbe9e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nKnow what\'d be extra cool? Winning the Expert Gifter of the Year award from you favorite dude, whether that\'s your best friend, your boss, your partner in crime or your significant other. In pursuit of this possibility, I\'m going to try my own hand at writing a how-to, in the style of manliness experts and bloggers/authors Brett and Kate McKay:\r\n\r\n<b>How To Win an Autographed Copy of The Art of Manliness, for the Gifter</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Find the comments section of this post</b>. Proceed to the field at the bottom of this page. Key in your name, your e-mail address and other pertinent Web information. \r\n<b>Add a comment</b>. Share one of your personal tips for cultivating manliness, whether you\'re a man or someone who chooses to grace them with your presence.\r\n<b>Press \"comment.\" </b>Then, sit back and wait - at least, for a few minutes. If you feel compelled to share more than one of your personal tips for maximum manliness, leave another comment. In fact, you\'re free to leave as many comments as you like. Each one will count as an entry when I use Random.org to select a winner of a signed copy of The Art of Manliness this Friday night (Nov. 27) at 8pm. \r\n<b>Ta-Da! </b>You\'ve just entered the contest for a free copy of this manual to end all manuals on manliness. You\'re well on your way to winning that Expert Gifter of the Year award. \r\n\r\nGood luck, everyone. In the words of Brett and Kate McKay, stay manly this holiday season.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4136345550/\" title=\"The Art of Manliness by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"The Art of Manliness\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2616/4136345550_e557bb75c4.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<b>The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man</b> by Brett and Kate McKay\r\nPaperback, 274 pages\r\n$16.99','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: The Art of Manliness','For several months now I\'ve been walking in on my husband at the computer, poring over a certain Web site. Many a chore has gone undone. Many a meal has gone cold. ','publish','open','open','','art-of-manliness-tdt-holiday-gift-guide-2009','','','2010-12-03 16:50:57','2010-12-03 21:50:57','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=365',0,'post','',31),(4216,1,'2010-12-03 16:57:46','2010-12-03 21:57:46','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290565/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/4133290565_4a7b0a6d10_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\n\nSince the little gift shop at 119 S. Detroit Ave. is first in the minds of Tulsa\'s most savvy local shoppers, it might as well be first in the inaugural Tasha Does Tulsa Holiday Gift Guide, too. \n\n<!--more-->\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nIn case there\'s anyone out there who hasn\'t yet managed to stop by, <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/\">Dwelling Spaces is a one-stop shop for anyone looking to stock up on T-Town and Oklahoma gear</a>, along with hundreds of gifts available no where else in town. Stocked there is everything from the famous <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/97\">Louis & Cluck</a> and <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/157?link_id=156&amp;link_section_id=23\">Okie Grown t-shirt and clothing lines</a> to the latest releases by Tulsa\'s best bands to books by local (or locally grown) authors like <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/491\">Jeff Martin</a>, <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/273\">artist Joe Andoe</a> and <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/283\">Libby Bender</a>. \n\nJust like Green Country music fans and local art lovers, champions of the handmade movement aren\'t left out in the cold at Dwelling Spaces, either. Thanks to the shop\'s collection of wares by local crafters like <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/381?link_id=161&amp;link_section_id=22\">Felix & Jayne</a> and <a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/shop/cuddlemonstre\">Cuddle Monsters</a>, everyone has the opportunity to own something that\'s one-of-a-kind. It\'s nearly impossible to find something in the crafty sections that aren\'t cute as all get out. \n\nWhile any of these goodies would make fantabulous gifts, these types of things are available at Dwelling Spaces all year round. This shop is just that cool. Just imagine what owner Mary Beth Babcock is able to come up with for the most wonderful time of the year. \n\nActually, you don\'t have to imagine. I got the goods for you right here.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290691/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2648/4133290691_4166cf482f_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></div>\n\nCheck out these snazzy little gift boxes. Each one is chock full of Tulsa-centric gifty goodness, no gift wrap required. The only work you have to do is pick one up and carry it to the cash register a mere six feet away. \n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4134051946/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4134051946_ab17973dd9_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\n\nHere\'s an example of the <b>Deck the Walls With Mugs and Coffee</b> variety of gift package, each containing a 12-ounce bag of beans from <b>Topeca Coffee</b> and a pair of mugs emblazoned with the <b>Okie Grown</b> logo. The price? A mere $33. \n\nThese smiles-waiting-to-happen in box form are no-nonsense, grab-and-go deals, people. Simply purchase, place under the tree and, voila. You\'re done. \n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290947/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2649/4133290947_09031ed82a_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\n\nContaining an Okie Grown vanity plate, an Okie Grown key chain and a copy of <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Route-66-Mother-Road-Anniversary/dp/0312281617/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1259170651&amp;sr=8-1\">the Michael Wallis book, <b>Route 66: The Mother Road</b></a> is the <b>Sled Down Route 66</b> package. Each is filled to the brim with the best in road-worthy stuff for $36 each.\n\nOr, grab a pre-wrapped copy of a book that is so beautiful that a certain someone couldn\'t help but keep it from the library even though it was two months overdue.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133394941/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2606/4133394941_30e93962f1_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></div>\n\nFor $49.95, this 351-page photo book, <b>Oklahoma: A Portrait of America</b>, by Libby Bender, Carl Brune and Scott Raffe, will be in your family for generations to come. Plus, buying it is better than stealing it from the library. Because that\'s what you\'ll want to do when you try to check out this book \"just to see if you\'d want to go ahead and buy it.\" Hey, it\'s the holidays. Save yourself a few steps and snag it sooner rather than later. \n\nCertainly my family isn\'t the only one in Tulsa with an ornament tradition. Each year we strike out in search of the perfect ornament to add to the Christmas tree that year. The year my hubs returned home from Afghanistan, we hung an ornament in the shape of the state seal, gifted to the soldiers by Gov. Henry practically as the boys deplaned. The year we were expecting our son, we found an ornament in the shape of a snowman family, complete with a baby Frosty. \n\nSay it with me now: Awww!\n\nThis year, we have to have this:\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290465/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2603/4133290465_be7c151e21_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\n\nYou might recognize this little fella as <a href=\"http://images.google.com/images?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=blue%20whale%20catoosa%2C%20OK&amp;oe=UTF-8&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;sa=N&amp;hl=en&amp;tab=wi\">the Blue Whale of Catoosa</a>. Great idea for a Christmas ornament, no? I thought so, too. \n\nI may or may not have squealed when I first saw it.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4133290359/\" title=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Dwelling Spaces\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/4133290359_07ab2c9332_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></div>\n\nWhat better for that person on your list who has everything but Route 66 Christmas tree ornaments? Check \'em out: There\'s one to make you thirsty for a beverage from <a href=\"http://www.pops66.com/\">Pops, the Arcadia, Okla., restaurant and soda stand and tourist attraction in its own right</a>, plus an ornament made to look like a Route 66 road sign. What\'s not to love? These hand-blown glass ornaments are $26 each. \n\nThen there\'s the uber-festive Cain\'s Ballroom ornament. It\'s $7. A steal, I tell you.\n\nTo get a load of these gifts and (a lot, lot) more, shop at Dwelling Spaces this holiday season. I dare you to try to come out of that place with less than an armload of goodies. Go ahead, try. I\'d like to know if it\'s even possible. \n\nBecause no on eI know has managed to do it yet. \n\n<b>Dwelling Spaces</b>\n\n<a href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=dwelling+spaces&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=60.288153,107.226563&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=36.160607,-95.988321&amp;spn=0.06105,0.104713&amp;z=14&amp;iwloc=A\">119 S. Detroit</a>\n(918) 582-1033\n<a href=\"mailto:info@dwellingspaces.net\">info@dwellingspaces.net</a>\nMonday-Saturday, 10:30am-7:30pm\nSunday-Monday, 11am-4pm','TDT Holiday Gift Guide: All That Is Dwelling Spaces','','inherit','open','open','','363-autosave','','','2010-12-03 16:57:46','2010-12-03 21:57:46','',363,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/363-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(367,1,'2009-11-28 05:20:00','2009-11-28 05:20:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4140107346/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4140107346_7e35a3bfe0.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThere was a time in the not-to-distant past when women wouldn\'t be caught dead in an apron.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nSomeone who was busting her butt to break through the glass ceiling in the corporate world wasn\'t about to remind anyone with an article of clothing that her traditional role in society had been in the home, perhaps wearing an apron for the better part of a day. There were worlds to conquer, salaries to earn and, perhaps most of all, lots to prove.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4139347945/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/4139347945_bb6fe4c73f.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThese days, those of us who believe women have the right to the vote and an equal paycheck (dare I say the F-word?) are more likely to embrace our pasts in the domestic realm. We\'re not in denial about how our grandmothers and all the women before them were expected to and wanted to lead their lives. In fact, we think the sewing and crafting and scrimping and saving and cooking arts are actually pretty cool.\r\n\r\nI guess that\'s why when I <a class=\"zem_slink\" href=\"http://google.com/\" rel=\"homepage\" title=\"Google\">Google</a> terms like \"apron,\" I get about 2.3 million results. A search for the same term on <a class=\"zem_slink\" href=\"http://www.etsy.com/\" rel=\"homepage\" title=\"Etsy\">Etsy</a>.com, the Web site that serves as a collective storefront for crafters and artists the world over, yields 23,000 results, 83 percent of which fall into the \"handmade\" category.\r\n\r\nHm. Me thinks the handmade apron might just be one of the must-have fashion accessories this season. Plus, they keep food splashes and splatters off your clothes. Beauty <i>and</i> functionality - who woulda thunk it?\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4139347003/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2519/4139347003_3db46046ca.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThere\'s more than one place to snag a handmade apron in Tulsa, but I\'m particularly fond of the selection available right now at <b><a href=\"http://sageculinarystudio.com/\">Sage Culinary Studio</a></b>. Sage, a cooking school as well as a gift shop stocked with kid-sized kitchen goodies, stocks a line of aprons by the Guthrie-based designer <b>Stella &amp; Grace</b>.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4139347225/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2520/4139347225_84dda46773.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWhat\'s cool about these aprons is that each is an original, with no two alike - that is, unless, a certain design comes in a mother-daughter matching set. Plus, the craftsmanship is remarkable.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4140108056/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/4140108056_a178271e38.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4140108224/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/4140108224_53fe3f2f2b.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThe designer doesn\'t turn these babies out in bulk. When a fabric catches her eye, she buys just enough for an apron or two. When it\'s gone, it\'s gone. \r\n\r\nJust try to find that kind of attention to detail at a store in the mall. Go ahead - I dare you.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4140109504/\" title=\"Untitled by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2605/4140109504_8f4f1794c8_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWhen I heard the asking price of these aprons, I suffered a serious case of reverse sticker shock. Aprons like these are selling on Etsy and elsewhere online for at least twice the price as that posted at Sage, a flat $25 each. Wow, just wow.\r\n\r\nAnother apron maker showcased at Sage is <a href=\"http://antoinettebakingco.blogspot.com/\"><b>Antoinette Baking Co.</b>, headed by local crafty girls <b>Molly Martin</b> and <b>Andrea Mohn</b></a>.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4139349239/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Antoinette Baking Co. Aprons by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Antoinette Baking Co. Aprons\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2609/4139349239_49e86cfcbd.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nBefore today, I thought Molly and Andrea were plenty busy making beautiful cupcakes and cookies and custom cakes (<a href=\"http://tulsakids.com/?q=sugar-and-spice-or-snips-and-snails\">read a particularly special and, granted, emotional story about one here</a> - grab a Kleenex first). I had no idea these women had apron designs dancing in their heads.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4139349149/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Antoinette Baking Co. Aprons by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Antoinette Baking Co. Aprons\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/4139349149_23ce400d54.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nSage owner <b>Catherine deCamp</b> said her students were going ga-ga over these little numbers. It\'s not hard to see why. Look at the colors! And the designs are to die for - very hip.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4140109564/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2700/4140109564_9b3631c16d.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nSage celebrated the anniversary of its first year in business earlier this month, and business has been good. For one, Sage is expanding to south Tulsa, location to be announced. For two, Catherine is expanding her class offerings. She\'s now enrolling for adult cooking classes in addition to the kiddo sessions she\'s featured since she opened. To learn more and see what\'s available for December, <a href=\"http://www.sageculinarystudio.com/\">visit the Sage site on the Web</a>.\r\n\r\nYet more reasons to love Sage are <a href=\"http://www.sageculinarystudio.com/uploads/Holiday_2009_Break_Sessions.pdf\">Catherine\'s holiday cookie decorating sessions</a>. For $15, kids can stop in at Sage, decorate seven cookies, eat one at the studio and take the other six home, perhaps to give to a deserving parental unit as an early Christmas present. Or, Tulsa munchkins can make cupcakes, $25 for the session and four cupcakes, or gingerbread houses, $40 for the session and one house. Sessions on Dec. 21, Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 are still open, but historically, they\'ve filled quickly. <a href=\"http://sageculinarystudio.com/\">Register online soon</a>.\r\n\r\nHappy holiday cooking, Tulsa - Shout Wipes-free.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Sage Culinary Studio</span>\r\n3746 S. Peoria Ave.\r\n(918) 933-5005\r\n<a href=\"mailto:info@sageculinarystudio.com\">info@sageculinarystudio.com</a>\r\nHoliday retail store hours are Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm and Sunday, noon-5pm','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Sage Culinary Studio','Me thinks the handmade apron might just be one of the must-have fashion accessories this season. Plus, they keep food splashes and splatters off your clothes. Beauty and functionality - who woulda thunk it?','publish','open','open','','sage-culinary-studio-tdt-holiday-gift-guide-2009','','','2010-12-03 16:42:35','2010-12-03 21:42:35','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=367',0,'post','',10),(4214,1,'2010-12-03 16:50:45','2010-12-03 21:50:45','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4136345068/\" title=\"The Art of Manliness by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"The Art of Manliness\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/4136345068_8912445a08.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nFor several months now I\'ve been walking in on my husband at the computer, poring over a certain Web site. Many a chore has gone undone. Many a meal has gone cold. \n\n<!--more-->\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nBut, you know what? I don\'t mind. In fact, I\'m hooked on the site myself. \n\nI\'m talking about <a href=\"http://www.theartofmanliness.com/\">the blog, <b>The Art of Manliness</b></a>. Chock full of how-tos, from how to shave with a straight razor to how to make a bed so tight it could bounce a quarter, as well as tips for the proper dressing and grooming of men and general random, manly advice, it\'s easy to get caught up at the site for hours at a time. Lord knows we\'ve done it. \n\nThat\'s why, when <b>Brett McKay</b>, one of the authors of the blog, contacted me and shared that not only is the blog based in Tulsa but that he and his wife/blogging partner, <b>Kate</b>, just published a book based on the blog, my husband and I did a happy dance so obnoxious, so loud, so vile that we scared our toddler into crying for half an hour.\n\nWe\'re sorry, son. But, we couldn\'t contain ourselves. One day, thanks, we\'re sure, to advice from The Art of Manliness book and blog, you\'ll be able to get through this life without needing too much therapy.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4135585105/\" title=\"The Art of Manliness by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"The Art of Manliness\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/4135585105_389b018a7a.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nWhile it would behoove men (and the women who love them) everywhere to purchase copies of this book for themselves, I\'m proud to present this little volume as the gift du jour in <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/search/label/Gift%20Guide\">the Tasha Does Tulsa Holiday Gift Guide</a>. With <b>The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man</b>, a full-bodied outgrowth of The Art of Manliness blog, is a wealth of information that ranges from survival skills to advice on how to improve your character, whether you\'re braving the wilds with your buds, courting your girlfriend or raising a family. \n\nThe book features such guides as:  \n<ul><li>Shave like your grandpa</li><li>Be a perfect houseguest</li><li>Fight like a gentleman using the art of bartitsu</li><li>How to fold a paper airplane</li><li>Give a man a hug</li><li>Perform a fireman\'s carry</li><li>Ask for a woman\'s hand in marriage</li><li>Raise resilient kids</li><li>Predict the weather like a frontiersman</li><li>Start a fire without matches</li><li>Give a dynamic speech</li><li>How to identify and choose from among the types of men\'s hats</li><li>Modern technology and the new rules of etiquette</li></ul>\n\nWhat man who aspires to all things virile, I ask, is not in sore need of this book? That it\'s homegrown is a bonus, sure, but everything on each of the 274 pages of this book is pure gold, from the glossary of manly nineteenth-century vernacular to the ready-to-use Theodore Roosevelt\'s list of insults. At $16.99 at local bookstores (or, as of today, <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1600614620?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=stucosuccess-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1600614620\">$11.55 on Amazon.com</a>), it\'s a gift that\'s sure to please on the cheap. \n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4136345218/\" title=\"The Art of Manliness by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"The Art of Manliness\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4136345218_e1213cbe9e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nKnow what\'d be extra cool? Winning the Expert Gifter of the Year award from you favorite dude, whether that\'s your best friend, your boss, your partner in crime or your significant other. In pursuit of this possibility, I\'m going to try my own hand at writing a how-to, in the style of manliness experts and bloggers/authors Brett and Kate McKay:\n\n<b>How To Win an Autographed Copy of The Art of Manliness, for the Gifter</b>\n\n<b>Find the comments section of this post</b>. Proceed to the field at the bottom of this page. Key in your name, your e-mail address and other pertinent Web information. \n<b>Add a comment</b>. Share one of your personal tips for cultivating manliness, whether you\'re a man or someone who chooses to grace them with your presence.\n<b>Press \"comment.\" </b>Then, sit back and wait - at least, for a few minutes. If you feel compelled to share more than one of your personal tips for maximum manliness, leave another comment. In fact, you\'re free to leave as many comments as you like. Each one will count as an entry when I use Random.org to select a winner of a signed copy of The Art of Manliness this Friday night (Nov. 27) at 8pm. \n<b>Ta-Da! </b>You\'ve just entered the contest for a free copy of this manual to end all manuals on manliness. You\'re well on your way to winning that Expert Gifter of the Year award. \n\nGood luck, everyone. In the words of Brett and Kate McKay, stay manly this holiday season.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4136345550/\" title=\"The Art of Manliness by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"The Art of Manliness\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2616/4136345550_e557bb75c4.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\n<b>The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man</b> by Brett and Kate McKay\nPaperback, 274 pages\n$16.99','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: The Art of Manliness','For several months now I\'ve been walking in on my husband at the computer, poring over a certain Web site. Many a chore has gone undone. Many a meal has gone cold. ','inherit','open','open','','365-autosave','','','2010-12-03 16:50:45','2010-12-03 21:50:45','',365,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/365-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(368,1,'2009-11-29 04:27:00','2009-11-29 04:27:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4142040131/\" title=\"Rhema Christmas Light Display by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4142040131_3652c18e8f.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Rhema Christmas Light Display\" /></a></div><br />Ever hear of a little place in Broken Arrow, on the south side of 71st Street just east of 145th, called <a href=\"http://rhema.org/\">Rhema Bible College</a>? <div><br /></div><div>If no, odds are that you\'re a newcomer to Tulsa, and that\'s okay. Besides the many ministries of Pastor Kenneth Hagin, the college and perhaps more than its fair share of urban legend, I\'m about to share with you one of the things for which Rhema is best known: <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/11/get-your-lights-on.html\">Christmas lights</a>. Nearly two million of them, actually.<br /><br /><a href=\"http://www.ttownmoms.com/?page=blogs/view&amp;BLID=6762\">To find out more about Rhema\'s Christmas lights show, check out my blog on Ttownmoms.com</a>.</div>  <div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"margin-top:10px;height:15px\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" href=\"http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/1bab2040-157a-47d1-aaa7-f0174f1401df/\" title=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\"><img class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" src=\"http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=1bab2040-157a-47d1-aaa7-f0174f1401df\" alt=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\" style=\"border:none;float:right\" /></a><span class=\"zem-script more-related pretty-attribution\"><script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js\" defer=\"defer\"></script></span></div>','A Little Place Called Rhema','','publish','open','open','','little-place-called-rhema','','','2009-11-29 04:27:00','2009-11-29 04:27:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=368',0,'post','',0),(369,1,'2009-11-29 04:41:00','2009-11-29 04:41:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4136345068/\" title=\"The Art of Manliness by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/4136345068_8912445a08.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"The Art of Manliness\" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Pick No. 2 in <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/search/label/Gift%20Guide\">the first annual Tasha Does Tulsa Gift Guide</a> was a signed copy of <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/11/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-art-of-manliness.html\">The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man</a>. The book is an outgrowth of the hit blog, <a href=\"http://theartofmanliness.com\">The Art of Manliness, penned by Tulsans Brett and Kate McKay</a>. <div><br /></div><div>As it turns out, I\'m not the only lucky duck to have Brett and Kate as readers here at TDT. The McKays were nice enough to sign and send along a copy of this book for me to give away here at the blog. They didn\'t even know their pithy, highly useful guide to all that is man was going to be part of the gift guide anyway. Funny how things turn out, especially when the small, small world that is Tulsa, Oklahoma, is part of the picture. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway. The point is, there\'s a winner among us today. </div><div><br /></div><div>Folks, your personal tips for maximum manliness had me in stitches. I\'m going to have to jot them down on a piece of notebook paper and tuck them into my own copy of TAoM, as a sort of community-produced appendix. Thanks for making me laugh (yet again). In my mind, a good sense of humor is a true mark of manliness. In that respect, each of you has, I\'m sure, 92,000+ black, curly hairs on your chest. </div><div><br /><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxH_SCVYRxI/AAAAAAAABh0/ir_YqW4_d18/s1600/Picture+4.png\"><img style=\"display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 161px; height: 167px;\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxH_SCVYRxI/AAAAAAAABh0/ir_YqW4_d18/s400/Picture+4.png\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409385312777946898\" /></a><br />While there were many more than 16 comments/entries, only that many - just a little more than half - made it in before the deadline of 8pm on Friday. Better luck next time to those of you who missed the cut-off time. I was glad to read your tips for manliness anyway, though.</div><div><br /><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxH_dI-n3QI/AAAAAAAABh8/EMHMOLhPNsc/s1600/Picture+5.png\"><img style=\"display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 162px; height: 185px;\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxH_dI-n3QI/AAAAAAAABh8/EMHMOLhPNsc/s400/Picture+5.png\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409385503540108546\" /></a><br />Congrats, Holly! </div><br /><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxH_waMvd_I/AAAAAAAABiE/tR8nxKe_npM/s1600/Picture+6.png\"><img style=\"display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 180px;\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxH_waMvd_I/AAAAAAAABiE/tR8nxKe_npM/s400/Picture+6.png\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409385834580244466\" /></a><br /><div>Amen to that, sister. Any time there\'s grilling to be done, especially, my man won\'t let me near animal consumables, either. A pity since grilling is way fun, but less work is less work, right? Right. <a href=\"mailto:tashadoestulsa@gmail.com\">E-mail me</a> to claim your prize, little missy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to everyone who entered. Keep your eyes on this blog for news about when the McKays will make an appearance to talk manliness and sign copies of TAoM. Hint: It\'s soon. Very soon. </div>  <div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"margin-top:10px;height:15px\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" href=\"http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/3ada6354-c627-44ec-9c1b-0a59cd370965/\" title=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\"><img class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" src=\"http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=3ada6354-c627-44ec-9c1b-0a59cd370965\" alt=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\" style=\"border:none;float:right\" /></a><span class=\"zem-script more-related pretty-attribution\"><script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js\" defer=\"defer\"></script></span></div>','And the Winner is...','','publish','open','open','','and-winner-is','','','2009-11-29 04:41:00','2009-11-29 04:41:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=369',0,'post','',1),(370,1,'2009-11-29 05:10:00','2009-11-29 05:10:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4142245053/\" title=\"Tulsa Craft Mafia by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Craft Mafia\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2533/4142245053_c13b03f7a1.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nTulsans have more than one option when it comes to holiday shopping. There\'s Wal-Mart. There\'s Tar-jay. And, of course, there\'s the mall. \r\n\r\nOr, you could opt out of the whole made-for-the-masses scene. As the plucky girls at <b><a href=\"http://tulsacraftmafia.wordpress.com/\">Tulsa Craft Mafia</a></b> said, don\'t battle it out - shop with a mug of something tasty in one hand.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxIS6_683xI/AAAAAAAABiM/atanzicAoso/s1600/Picture+8.png\" onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\"><img alt=\"\" border=\"0\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409406907225792274\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxIS6_683xI/AAAAAAAABiM/atanzicAoso/s400/Picture+8.png\" style=\"cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 289px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;\" /></a>\r\n\r\nGrab your reusable shopping bags, folks, and head to <a href=\"http://freshroastch.com/\"><b>Fresh Roast Coffee House</b></a>, at 8122 S. Harvard Ave., and check out the first shop of its kind in Tulsa, <a href=\"http://tulsacraftmafia.wordpress.com/\"><b>Fresh Blend Handmade Boutique</b></a>, feature No. 4 in <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/search/label/Gift%20Guide\">the 2009 TDT Holiday Gift Guide</a>. Available at this most indie of indie Tulsa stores is a variety of handmade items by members and friends of the TCM.\r\n\r\nThe Tulsa Craft Mafia, part of a national family of Craft Mafias, is a group of independent artists and crafters who aim to push the boundaries of creativity and self-promotion. Their goal? To learn and to empower each other as creative individuals and indie-entrepreneurs - and to provide us, the consumers, with lots of cute, uber-fashionable stuff, of course.\r\n\r\nNormally, someone set on buying handmade would have to purchase from each seller individually, even on a site like <a href=\"http://Etsy.com/\">Etsy.com</a>, a sort of collective storefront for businesses that sell handmade goods. \r\n\r\nThanks to the boutique-style set-up of this show, though, Tulsans can load up on scads of drool-worthy crafty goodness, all in one fell swoop.\r\n\r\n\"Every craft show we attend, people always ask if there is a Tulsa Craft Mafia store, and it\'s always disappointing to say no,\" said <b>Brigid Vance</b>, group member and owner of <b><a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/shop/greyeyedesigns\">Grey Eye Designs</a></b>. \"We are happy to partner with Fresh Roast this winter to create a mini boutique for everyone\'s shopping needs.\"\r\n\r\n\"Buying handmade is something you can feel good about,\" said <b>Holly Casey</b>, Tulsa Craft Mafia member and owner of <b><a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/shop/hollyrocks\">HollyRocks</a></b>. \"You end up with an item that someone put their heart and soul into, rather than something that may have reached you by questionable means.\" \r\n\r\nHere are a few samplings of what these TCM girls are capable. Make sure you\'re sitting down, and feel free to click on the photos to learn more about the product and who made it: \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&amp;site=tulsacraftmafia.wordpress.com&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fmylittlegnomies.etsy.com%2F\"><img src=\"http://ny-image2.etsy.com//il_430xN.56828386.jpg\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35358774\"><img src=\"http://ny-image2.etsy.com//il_430xN.105368854.jpg\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22657908\"><img src=\"http://ny-image0.etsy.com//il_430xN.62716856.jpg\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29669245\"><img src=\"http://ny-image2.etsy.com//il_430xN.86214086.jpg\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34772424\"><img src=\"http://ny-image2.etsy.com//il_430xN.103378590.jpg\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nGet it? Seasonings Greetings? With salt and pepper? Ha! Food humor - gets me every time.\r\n\r\nAny of these gifts are sure to please your loved, and even your just-sorta-liked, ones. However, for those of you who prefer to make your own one-of-a-kind gifts, over the course of the next six weeks, TCM will offer a variety of classes for DIYers. Here are the offerings: \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://tulsacraftmafia.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/freshblendboutiqueclassesflyer.jpg?w=506&amp;h=655\" /></div>\r\n\r\nNeat, right?\r\n\r\nThe Fresh Blend boutique is open any time the espresso machine at Fresh Roast is cranking out tasty beverages for java-jonesing T-Towners (see below for hours). However, for those of you whose mental state borders on insanity and who thus prefer to leave the worries of holiday shopping until the week of Christmas, TCM will host a last-minute shopping party at Fresh Roast. \r\n\r\nGet to the boutique between 6-8pm on Dec. 22 to not only bag some sweet handmade loot, but to also save 10 percent on your purchase. Plus, Fresh Roast will offer a coffee special to shoppers that night. I guess they figure that with all the fast-paced gift wrapping that lies ahead, you\'ll need it. \r\n\r\nSave your friends and family the embarrassment of wearing what you got them for Christmas, only to find everyone else wearing the same thing. The solution is simple: Shop local. Buy handmade. <a href=\"http://tulsacraftmafia.wordpress.com/\">The Tulsa Craft Mafia and its Fresh Blend Handmade Boutique makes it easy</a>. \r\n\r\n<b>Fresh Blend Handmade Boutique</b>\r\n<a href=\"http://freshroastch.com/homepage.html\">Fresh Roast Coffee House</a>\r\n8122 S. Harvard Ave.\r\n(918) 488-9358\r\nMonday-Friday, 7am-8pm; Saturday, 8am-8pm','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Fresh Blend Handmade Boutique','Tulsans have more than one option when it comes to holiday shopping. There\'s Wal-Mart. There\'s Tar-jay. And, of course, there\'s the mall. Or, you could opt out of the whole made-for-the-masses scene.','publish','open','open','','fresh-blend-handmade-boutique-tdt-holiday-gift-guide-2009','','','2010-12-03 16:17:53','2010-12-03 21:17:53','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=370',0,'post','',2),(4212,1,'2010-12-03 16:39:01','2010-12-03 21:39:01','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4140107346/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4140107346_7e35a3bfe0.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nThere was a time in the not-to-distant past when women wouldn\'t be caught dead in an apron.\n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nSomeone who was busting her butt to break through the glass ceiling in the corporate world wasn\'t about to remind anyone with an article of clothing that her traditional role in society had been in the home, perhaps wearing an apron for the better part of a day. There were worlds to conquer, salaries to earn and, perhaps most of all, lots to prove.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4139347945/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/4139347945_bb6fe4c73f.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\nThese days, those of us who believe women have the right to the vote and an equal paycheck (dare I say the F-word?) are more likely to embrace our pasts in the domestic realm. We\'re not in denial about how our grandmothers and all the women before them were expected to and wanted to lead their lives. In fact, we think the sewing and crafting and scrimping and saving and cooking arts are actually pretty cool.\n\nI guess that\'s why when I <a class=\"zem_slink\" href=\"http://google.com/\" rel=\"homepage\" title=\"Google\">Google</a> terms like \"apron,\" I get about 2.3 million results. A search for the same term on <a class=\"zem_slink\" href=\"http://www.etsy.com/\" rel=\"homepage\" title=\"Etsy\">Etsy</a>.com, the Web site that serves as a collective storefront for crafters and artists the world over, yields 23,000 results, 83 percent of which fall into the \"handmade\" category.\n\nHm. Me thinks the handmade apron might just be one of the must-have fashion accessories this season. Plus, they keep food splashes and splatters off your clothes. Beauty <i>and</i> functionality - who woulda thunk it?\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4139347003/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2519/4139347003_3db46046ca.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\nThere\'s more than one place to snag a handmade apron in Tulsa, but I\'m particularly fond of the selection available right now at <b><a href=\"http://sageculinarystudio.com/\">Sage Culinary Studio</a></b>. Sage, a cooking school as well as a gift shop stocked with kid-sized kitchen goodies, stocks a line of aprons by the Guthrie-based designer <b>Stella &amp; Grace</b>.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4139347225/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2520/4139347225_84dda46773.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\nWhat\'s cool about these aprons is that each is an original, with no two alike - that is, unless, a certain design comes in a mother-daughter matching set. Plus, the craftsmanship is remarkable.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4140108056/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/4140108056_a178271e38.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4140108224/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Aprons by Stella &amp; Grace\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/4140108224_53fe3f2f2b.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\nThe designer doesn\'t turn these babies out in bulk. When a fabric catches her eye, she buys just enough for an apron or two. When it\'s gone, it\'s gone. \n\nJust try to find that kind of attention to detail at a store in the mall. Go ahead - I dare you.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4140109504/\" title=\"Untitled by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2605/4140109504_8f4f1794c8_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\n\nWhen I heard the asking price of these aprons, I suffered a serious case of reverse sticker shock. Aprons like these are selling on Etsy and elsewhere online for at least twice the price as that posted at Sage, a flat $25 each. Wow, just wow.\n\nAnother apron maker showcased at Sage is <a href=\"http://antoinettebakingco.blogspot.com/\"><b>Antoinette Baking Co.</b>, headed by local crafty girls <b>Molly Martin</b> and <b>Andrea Mohn</b></a>.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4139349239/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Antoinette Baking Co. Aprons by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Antoinette Baking Co. Aprons\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2609/4139349239_49e86cfcbd.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nBefore today, I thought Molly and Andrea were plenty busy making beautiful cupcakes and cookies and custom cakes (<a href=\"http://tulsakids.com/?q=sugar-and-spice-or-snips-and-snails\">read a particularly special and, granted, emotional story about one here</a> - grab a Kleenex first). I had no idea these women had apron designs dancing in their heads.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4139349149/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Antoinette Baking Co. Aprons by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio: Antoinette Baking Co. Aprons\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/4139349149_23ce400d54.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nSage owner <b>Catherine deCamp</b> said her students were going ga-ga over these little numbers. It\'s not hard to see why. Look at the colors! And the designs are to die for - very hip.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4140109564/\" title=\"Sage Culinary Studio by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sage Culinary Studio\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2700/4140109564_9b3631c16d.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nSage celebrated the anniversary of its first year in business earlier this month, and business has been good. For one, Sage is expanding to south Tulsa, location to be announced. For two, Catherine is expanding her class offerings. She\'s now enrolling for adult cooking classes in addition to the kiddo sessions she\'s featured since she opened. To learn more and see what\'s available for December, <a href=\"http://www.sageculinarystudio.com/\">visit the Sage site on the Web</a>.\n\nYet more reasons to love Sage are <a href=\"http://www.sageculinarystudio.com/uploads/Holiday_2009_Break_Sessions.pdf\">Catherine\'s holiday cookie decorating sessions</a>. For $15, kids can stop in at Sage, decorate seven cookies, eat one at the studio and take the other six home, perhaps to give to a deserving parental unit as an early Christmas present. Or, Tulsa munchkins can make cupcakes, $25 for the session and four cupcakes, or gingerbread houses, $40 for the session and one house. Sessions on Dec. 21, Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 are still open, but historically, they\'ve filled quickly. <a href=\"http://sageculinarystudio.com/\">Register online soon</a>.\n\nHappy holiday cooking, Tulsa - Shout Wipes-free.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Sage Culinary Studio</span>\n3746 S. Peoria Ave.\n(918) 933-5005\n<a href=\"mailto:info@sageculinarystudio.com\">info@sageculinarystudio.com</a>\nHoliday retail store hours are Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm and Sunday, noon-5pm','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Sage Culinary Studio','','inherit','open','open','','367-autosave','','','2010-12-03 16:39:01','2010-12-03 21:39:01','',367,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/367-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(371,1,'2009-11-29 18:43:00','2009-11-29 18:43:00','<a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxLGTP_ECvI/AAAAAAAABiU/WXv1X_2y-t4/s1600/2638_546726778124_13301981_33309634_5809686_n.jpg\" onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\"><img alt=\"\" border=\"0\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409604136436239090\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxLGTP_ECvI/AAAAAAAABiU/WXv1X_2y-t4/s200/2638_546726778124_13301981_33309634_5809686_n.jpg\" style=\"cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;\" /></a><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">The post that follows appeared first at <a href=\"http://greyeyedesigns.blogspot.com/\">Grey Eye Designs Studio Blog</a>. After being subjected to much gushing and pleading, the author, local craftista Brigid Vance, agreed to re-post it here at <a href=\"http://tashadoestulsa.com/\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a>. Enjoy!</span>\r\n\r\nIn light of this weekend\'s Black Friday shopping craziness, I\'ve been reading lots of opinions that people have a duty to get out there and shop for the holidays. One even went so far as to say that not consuming means you are injuring the local economy. This opinion really ruffled my feathers. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nThough my feathers are fairly easily ruffled, I just found this statement to be biased and unfounded by research. So I decided to combat it by writing this post.\r\n\r\nBlind consumerism is not good for anyone. Sure, every purchase made at a store sends some money back into the local economy, but there are limits. The <a href=\"http://www.the350project.net/home.html\">3/50 Project</a> has some good information that I will poach for my purposes: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\"For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.\"</blockquote>\r\n\r\n Of course, it depends on what you buy in a local store. <b>If you pick up a Tulsa-made item in a Tulsa-operated store, more of your dough will stay in Tulsa.</b> If you buy a trinket from a local store that is manufactured in a Salvadoran sweatshop, then more of your money will go elsewhere. (I would also argue that there is one exception to the online bit: If you shop locally on <a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/\">Etsy</a>, some money does come back to the community. You can find Oklahoma sellers by searching <a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=handmade&amp;search_query=oketsy+team\">OKEtsy Team</a>.)\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/11/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-fresh-blend.html\"><img src=\"http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs120.snc3/16759_214825856162_212900181162_4653112_5804482_n.jpg\" width=\"500\"/></a></div>\r\n\r\nIf you buy all your holiday presents from local stores, then yes, you are doing a great deal for the community. You are supporting mom-and-pop businesses and putting a good chunk of change back into the local economy. I would commend you for that. But how many of us will actually do this? How many will hit up <a href=\"http://www.target.com/\">Target</a> or (gasp!) <a href=\"http://walmart.com/\">Walmart</a> for 50 percent or more of our purchases? \r\n\r\nYes, it\'s convenient and cheap, but at what human cost? There are countless articles online detailing the unfair labor practices of the big box stores - just hit up Google. (That doesn\'t even include the horrible treatment of the sweatshop employees in third world countries who produce most of the goods we consume. Do some research. It\'ll break your heart.) \r\n\r\nThere is also a ton of information about the adverse environmental impact of major corporations. Those are not gifts I want to give on Christmas Day.\r\n\r\nTo insinuate that it is my American duty to consume like there\'s no tomorrow is just insulting. I pay sales taxes pretty much every day. I eat out more than I should, I buy ridiculous amounts of craft supplies, and I get 99 percent of my groceries from the overpriced Whole Foods. The State of Oklahoma receives plenty of money from me and my meager income. \r\n\r\n<b>None of us should feel guilted into overspending at the holidays</b>. It will only lead to feelings of guilt and debt. Seriously. How many times have we spent far more money than we could afford because we believed that\'s what we\'re supposed to do? That\'s not what the holidays are supposed to be about. \r\n\r\nThe consumerist spirit, I believe, is dangerous. It encourages us to buy more than we should. All those products must come from somewhere, bringing with them jobs, yes, but also hideous working conditions and a growing hole in the ozone layer. Consumerism also teaches our children that they should want <em>things</em> when there is so much more to life than having the biggest pile of Barbies.\r\n\r\nTo insinuate, too, that I should shop for gifts instead of making them really makes my blood boil. I buy the vast majority of my craft supplies locally, many from independent shops (The Bead Merchant and <a href=\"http://www.loopsknitting.com/default.htm\">Loops</a>, just to name two). So in essence, the items I make are purchased locally. \r\n\r\nI don\'t need to spend a bunch of money on questionably manufactured items to get great gifts. Plus, I get the satisfaction of a job well done, and <b>the recipients know that each thing they receive from me was lovingly made just for them</b>. You can\'t put a price on that.\r\n\r\nOf course, most people <strike>aren\'t as crazy as me</strike> aren\'t apt to handmake most of their gifts. That\'s totally fine. It\'s fun for me, but I\'m not like most people. <b>What you can do is support independently produced and ethically traded goods</b>. \r\n\r\nIt\'s not as hard as it sounds! Every time you buy handmade items from people in your community, you are paying sales tax as well as giving money directly to the artist, who in turn puts his or her earnings back into the community. You are also taking a stand against items mass produced, potentially under horrible conditions and questionable morals. You can also give items from any of the many locally owned businesses. <b>If you live in Tulsa and don\'t know where to start, let me know. They are everywhere, and they are the soul of this city</b>.\r\n\r\nIn sum, consumerism is not going to save the world. Any flow of local sales tax is a short-term asset, but don\'t let anyone else guilt you into overspending this holiday season to express your love. Buy from independent makers or independent stores if you aren\'t inclined to make something yourself. <b>Show loved ones your affection by quality, not quantity</b>. Save your pocketbook and your sanity. Remember: Just because you have plenty doesn\'t mean you have to give thanks by tossing it at every Black Friday sale. If you live in Oklahoma and would like to hit up some great, super-ethical Black Friday sales, <a href=\"http://disciplesofetsy.blogspot.com/2009/11/black-friday-handmade-style.html\">check out the list here</a>.\r\n\r\nThanks again for this post, Brigid. Tulsans, feel free to adopt this post as your manifesto on holiday shopping. I know I did.\r\n\r\nFor more local, handmade gift resources, visit: \r\n<a href=\"http://greyeyedesigns.blogspot.com/\">Grey Eye Designs Studio Blog</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=handmade&amp;search_query=oketsy+team\">The OKEtsy Team</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.loopsknitting.com/default.htm\">Loopalicious at LoopsKnitting.com</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://disciplesofetsy.blogspot.com/2009/11/black-friday-handmade-style.html\">Disciples of Etsy: Oklahoma Artists and Crafters</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://tulsacraftmafia.wordpress.com/\">Tulsa Craft Mafia</a>','Shopping Ethically','Every time you buy handmade items from people in your community, you are paying sales tax as well as giving money directly to the artist, who in turn puts his or her earnings back into the community. You are also taking a stand against items mass produced, potentially under horrible conditions and questionable morals. You can also give items from any of the many locally owned businesses.','publish','open','open','','shop-tulsa-shopping-ethically','','','2010-12-03 15:56:49','2010-12-03 20:56:49','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=371',0,'post','',3),(4209,1,'2010-12-03 15:55:55','2010-12-03 20:55:55','<a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxLGTP_ECvI/AAAAAAAABiU/WXv1X_2y-t4/s1600/2638_546726778124_13301981_33309634_5809686_n.jpg\" onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\"><img alt=\"\" border=\"0\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409604136436239090\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxLGTP_ECvI/AAAAAAAABiU/WXv1X_2y-t4/s200/2638_546726778124_13301981_33309634_5809686_n.jpg\" style=\"cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;\" /></a><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">The post that follows appeared first at <a href=\"http://greyeyedesigns.blogspot.com/\">Grey Eye Designs Studio Blog</a>. After being subjected to much gushing and pleading, the author, local craftista Brigid Vance, agreed to re-post it here at <a href=\"http://tashadoestulsa.com/\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a>. Enjoy!</span>\r\n\r\nIn light of this weekend\'s Black Friday shopping craziness, I\'ve been reading lots of opinions that people have a duty to get out there and shop for the holidays. One even went so far as to say that not consuming means you are injuring the local economy. This opinion really ruffled my feathers. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nThough my feathers are fairly easily ruffled, I just found this statement to be biased and unfounded by research. So I decided to combat it by writing this post.\r\n\r\nBlind consumerism is not good for anyone. Sure, every purchase made at a store sends some money back into the local economy, but there are limits. The <a href=\"http://www.the350project.net/home.html\">3/50 Project</a> has some good information that I will poach for my purposes: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\"For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.\"</blockquote>\r\n\r\n Of course, it depends on what you buy in a local store. <b>If you pick up a Tulsa-made item in a Tulsa-operated store, more of your dough will stay in Tulsa.</b> If you buy a trinket from a local store that is manufactured in a Salvadoran sweatshop, then more of your money will go elsewhere. (I would also argue that there is one exception to the online bit: If you shop locally on <a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/\">Etsy</a>, some money does come back to the community. You can find Oklahoma sellers by searching <a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=handmade&amp;search_query=oketsy+team\">OKEtsy Team</a>.)\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/11/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-fresh-blend.html\"><img src=\"http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs120.snc3/16759_214825856162_212900181162_4653112_5804482_n.jpg\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nIf you buy all your holiday presents from local stores, then yes, you are doing a great deal for the community. You are supporting mom-and-pop businesses and putting a good chunk of change back into the local economy. I would commend you for that. But how many of us will actually do this? How many will hit up <a href=\"http://www.target.com/\">Target</a> or (gasp!) <a href=\"http://walmart.com/\">Walmart</a> for 50 percent or more of our purchases? \r\n\r\nYes, it\'s convenient and cheap, but at what human cost? There are countless articles online detailing the unfair labor practices of the big box stores - just hit up Google. (That doesn\'t even include the horrible treatment of the sweatshop employees in third world countries who produce most of the goods we consume. Do some research. It\'ll break your heart.) \r\n\r\nThere is also a ton of information about the adverse environmental impact of major corporations. Those are not gifts I want to give on Christmas Day.\r\n\r\nTo insinuate that it is my American duty to consume like there\'s no tomorrow is just insulting. I pay sales taxes pretty much every day. I eat out more than I should, I buy ridiculous amounts of craft supplies, and I get 99 percent of my groceries from the overpriced Whole Foods. The State of Oklahoma receives plenty of money from me and my meager income. \r\n\r\n<b>None of us should feel guilted into overspending at the holidays</b>. It will only lead to feelings of guilt and debt. Seriously. How many times have we spent far more money than we could afford because we believed that\'s what we\'re supposed to do? That\'s not what the holidays are supposed to be about. \r\n\r\nThe consumerist spirit, I believe, is dangerous. It encourages us to buy more than we should. All those products must come from somewhere, bringing with them jobs, yes, but also hideous working conditions and a growing hole in the ozone layer. Consumerism also teaches our children that they should want <em>things</em> when there is so much more to life than having the biggest pile of Barbies.\r\n\r\nTo insinuate, too, that I should shop for gifts instead of making them really makes my blood boil. I buy the vast majority of my craft supplies locally, many from independent shops (The Bead Merchant and <a href=\"http://www.loopsknitting.com/default.htm\">Loops</a>, just to name two). So in essence, the items I make are purchased locally. \r\n\r\nI don\'t need to spend a bunch of money on questionably manufactured items to get great gifts. Plus, I get the satisfaction of a job well done, and <b>the recipients know that each thing they receive from me was lovingly made just for them</b>. You can\'t put a price on that.\r\n\r\nOf course, most people <strike>aren\'t as crazy as me</strike> aren\'t apt to handmake most of their gifts. That\'s totally fine. It\'s fun for me, but I\'m not like most people. <b>What you can do is support independently produced and ethically traded goods</b>. \r\n\r\nIt\'s not as hard as it sounds! Every time you buy handmade items from people in your community, you are paying sales tax as well as giving money directly to the artist, who in turn puts his or her earnings back into the community. You are also taking a stand against items mass produced, potentially under horrible conditions and questionable morals. You can also give items from any of the many locally owned businesses. <b>If you live in Tulsa and don\'t know where to start, let me know. They are everywhere, and they are the soul of this city</b>.\r\n\r\nIn sum, consumerism is not going to save the world. Any flow of local sales tax is a short-term asset, but don\'t let anyone else guilt you into overspending this holiday season to express your love. Buy from independent makers or independent stores if you aren\'t inclined to make something yourself. <b>Show loved ones your affection by quality, not quantity</b>. Save your pocketbook and your sanity. Remember: Just because you have plenty doesn\'t mean you have to give thanks by tossing it at every Black Friday sale. If you live in Oklahoma and would like to hit up some great, super-ethical Black Friday sales, <a href=\"http://disciplesofetsy.blogspot.com/2009/11/black-friday-handmade-style.html\">check out the list here</a>.\r\n\r\nThanks again for this post, Brigid. Tulsans, feel free to adopt this post as your manifesto on holiday shopping. I know I did.\r\n\r\nFor more local, handmade gift resources, visit: \r\n<a href=\"http://greyeyedesigns.blogspot.com/\">Grey Eye Designs Studio Blog</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=handmade&amp;search_query=oketsy+team\">The OKEtsy Team</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.loopsknitting.com/default.htm\">Loopalicious at LoopsKnitting.com</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://disciplesofetsy.blogspot.com/2009/11/black-friday-handmade-style.html\">Disciples of Etsy: Oklahoma Artists and Crafters</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://tulsacraftmafia.wordpress.com/\">Tulsa Craft Mafia</a>','Shopping Ethically','Every time you buy handmade items from people in your community, you are paying sales tax as well as giving money directly to the artist, who in turn puts his or her earnings back into the community. You are also taking a stand against items mass produced, potentially under horrible conditions and questionable morals. You can also give items from any of the many locally owned businesses.','inherit','open','open','','371-revision-2','','','2010-12-03 15:55:55','2010-12-03 20:55:55','',371,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/371-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(372,1,'2009-11-30 01:32:00','2009-11-30 01:32:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145938970/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/4145938970_ba07532a96.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nAt the risk of earning a resounding, \"DUH!\" from all you thoughtful, dead-sexy readers out there, I\'d like to say that both research and experience will prove that kids learn stuff from books. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nKids also learn a lot from the environment around them. Imagine what would happen if some clever person came up with a holiday gift that managed to combine the two. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145178911/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2653/4145178911_f7113f4868.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWell, looky there - <b>ABC in Tulsa</b>, a book that teaches the alphabet in the context of a Tulsa kid\'s environment. Our tired imaginations can take a breather. \r\n\r\nABC in Tulsa is written and photographed by <b>Robin Segal</b>, but it also features the input of several hundred Tulsa elementary school students. They thought of words for the book and colors for the cover. Cool, huh?\r\n\r\nThe book is one in <a href=\"http://www.murrayhillbooks.com/allboutcities/\">the <b>Murray Hill Books </b>series, <b>All \'Bout Cities</b></a>. The books aim to celebrate and teach children about the wonders of, well, cities.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145939818/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4145939818_86e2b6e6e4.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nIf B isn\'t for barbeque beef brisket, then I\'m going to have to start taking better care of my teeth. We Tulsans know that the twilight of life doesn\'t have to be about saltless mashed potatoes and prune juice. That\'s what barbeque beef brisket is for - teeth need retirement plans, too. \r\n\r\nHere\'s a little snippet from the back cover of ABC in Tulsa: \"Finally, an alphabet book for Tulsans, for the kids who grow up here and point to flags and fire engines from their strollers, and for the out-of-town kids and their parents who visit.\" \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145181413/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/4145181413_76e66fe486.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nMore gold from the back cover: \"This book is also for all those slightly older kids, parked and rushing and jostling in the street, who see the objects and people in this book, day after day, and who recognize and value the small objects and ordinary people that, taken together, are the ABC of Tulsa.\"\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145179775/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2661/4145179775_5565238c00.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nLook! X is for Xanthus Place. Good thinkin\', Segal. Just off the top of my head, I can\'t think of another Tulsa X word. Can you think of any, my thoughtful, dead-sexy readers?\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145941538/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/4145941538_333260219e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nGive the child in your life the gift of books this Christmas. ABC in Tulsa would be a great place to start. Not only does this book hold the promise of nap times spent snuggled and pointing out the photos together, but it could also serve as a tool to teach a child about the city in which he or she lives. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145180971/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2757/4145180971_daa78f4b81_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nIf our youth don\'t bother to learn about our city, after all, who will? An knowledgeable and passionate youth will always be the beginning of a better Tulsa.\r\n\r\n<b>ABC in Tulsa</b>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.stevessundrybooksmags.com/photo_gallery.htm\">Available at Steve\'s Sundry, Books and Magazines</a>\r\n2612 S. Harvard Ave.\r\n(918) 743-3544\r\n$12.95','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: ABC in Tulsa','ABC in Tulsa is written and photographed by <b>Robin Segal</b>, but it also features the input of several hundred Tulsa elementary school students. They thought of words for the book and colors for the cover. Cool, huh?','publish','open','open','','abc-in-tulsa-tdt-holiday-gift-guide-2009','','','2010-12-03 15:43:54','2010-12-03 20:43:54','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=372',0,'post','',3),(4207,1,'2011-11-14 16:03:54','2011-11-14 22:03:54','<a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxLGTP_ECvI/AAAAAAAABiU/WXv1X_2y-t4/s1600/2638_546726778124_13301981_33309634_5809686_n.jpg\"><img id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409604136436239090\" style=\"cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxLGTP_ECvI/AAAAAAAABiU/WXv1X_2y-t4/s200/2638_546726778124_13301981_33309634_5809686_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\" /></a><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">The post that follows appeared first at <a href=\"http://greyeyedesigns.blogspot.com/\">Grey Eye Designs Studio Blog</a>. After being subjected to much gushing and pleading, the author, local craftista Brigid Vance, agreed to re-post it here at <a href=\"http://tashadoestulsa.com/\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a>. Enjoy!</span>\n\nIn light of this weekend\'s Black Friday shopping craziness, I\'ve been reading lots of opinions that people have a duty to get out there and shop for the holidays. One even went so far as to say that not consuming means you are injuring the local economy. This opinion really ruffled my feathers.\n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\nThough my feathers are fairly easily ruffled, I just found this statement to be biased and unfounded by research. So I decided to combat it by writing this post.\n\nBlind consumerism is not good for anyone. Sure, every purchase made at a store sends some money back into the local economy, but there are limits. The <a href=\"http://www.the350project.net/home.html\">3/50 Project</a> has some good information that I will poach for my purposes:\n<blockquote>\"For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.\"</blockquote>\nOf course, it depends on what you buy in a local store. <strong>If you pick up a Tulsa-made item in a Tulsa-operated store, more of your dough will stay in Tulsa.</strong> If you buy a trinket from a local store that is manufactured in a Salvadoran sweatshop, then more of your money will go elsewhere. (I would also argue that there is one exception to the online bit: If you shop locally on <a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/\">Etsy</a>, some money does come back to the community. You can find Oklahoma sellers by searching <a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=handmade&amp;search_query=oketsy+team\">OKEtsy Team</a>.)\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/11/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-fresh-blend.html\"><img src=\"http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs120.snc3/16759_214825856162_212900181162_4653112_5804482_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\nIf you buy all your holiday presents from local stores, then yes, you are doing a great deal for the community. You are supporting mom-and-pop businesses and putting a good chunk of change back into the local economy. I would commend you for that. But how many of us will actually do this? How many will hit up <a href=\"http://www.target.com/\">Target</a> or (gasp!) <a href=\"http://walmart.com/\">Walmart</a> for 50 percent or more of our purchases?\n\nYes, it\'s convenient and cheap, but at what human cost? There are countless articles online detailing the unfair labor practices of the big box stores - just hit up Google. (That doesn\'t even include the horrible treatment of the sweatshop employees in third world countries who produce most of the goods we consume. Do some research. It\'ll break your heart.)\n\nThere is also a ton of information about the adverse environmental impact of major corporations. Those are not gifts I want to give on Christmas Day.\n\nTo insinuate that it is my American duty to consume like there\'s no tomorrow is just insulting. I pay sales taxes pretty much every day. I eat out more than I should, I buy ridiculous amounts of craft supplies, and I get 99 percent of my groceries from the overpriced Whole Foods. The State of Oklahoma receives plenty of money from me and my meager income.\n\n<strong>None of us should feel guilted into overspending at the holidays</strong>. It will only lead to feelings of guilt and debt. Seriously. How many times have we spent far more money than we could afford because we believed that\'s what we\'re supposed to do? That\'s not what the holidays are supposed to be about.\n\nThe consumerist spirit, I believe, is dangerous. It encourages us to buy more than we should. All those products must come from somewhere, bringing with them jobs, yes, but also hideous working conditions and a growing hole in the ozone layer. Consumerism also teaches our children that they should want <em>things</em> when there is so much more to life than having the biggest pile of Barbies.\n\nTo insinuate, too, that I should shop for gifts instead of making them really makes my blood boil. I buy the vast majority of my craft supplies locally, many from independent shops (The Bead Merchant and <a href=\"http://www.loopsknitting.com/default.htm\">Loops</a>, just to name two). So in essence, the items I make are purchased locally.\n\nI don\'t need to spend a bunch of money on questionably manufactured items to get great gifts. Plus, I get the satisfaction of a job well done, and <strong>the recipients know that each thing they receive from me was lovingly made just for them</strong>. You can\'t put a price on that.\n\nOf course, most people <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">aren\'t as crazy as me</span> aren\'t apt to handmake most of their gifts. That\'s totally fine. It\'s fun for me, but I\'m not like most people. <strong>What you can do is support independently produced and ethically traded goods</strong>.\n\nIt\'s not as hard as it sounds! Every time you buy handmade items from people in your community, you are paying sales tax as well as giving money directly to the artist, who in turn puts his or her earnings back into the community. You are also taking a stand against items mass produced, potentially under horrible conditions and questionable morals. You can also give items from any of the many locally owned businesses. <strong>If you live in Tulsa and don\'t know where to start, let me know. They are everywhere, and they are the soul of this city</strong>.\n\nIn sum, consumerism is not going to save the world. Any flow of local sales tax is a short-term asset, but don\'t let anyone else guilt you into overspending this holiday season to express your love. Buy from independent makers or independent stores if you aren\'t inclined to make something yourself. <strong>Show loved ones your affection by quality, not quantity</strong>. Save your pocketbook and your sanity. Remember: Just because you have plenty doesn\'t mean you have to give thanks by tossing it at every Black Friday sale. If you live in Oklahoma and would like to hit up some great, super-ethical Black Friday sales, <a href=\"http://disciplesofetsy.blogspot.com/2009/11/black-friday-handmade-style.html\">check out the list here</a>.\n\nThanks again for this post, Brigid. Tulsans, feel free to adopt this post as your manifesto on holiday shopping. I know I did.\n\nFor more local, handmade gift resources, visit:\n<a href=\"http://greyeyedesigns.blogspot.com/\">Grey Eye Designs Studio Blog</a>\n<a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=handmade&amp;search_query=oketsy+team\">The OKEtsy Team</a>\n<a href=\"http://www.loopsknitting.com/default.htm\">Loopalicious at LoopsKnitting.com</a>\n<a href=\"http://disciplesofetsy.blogspot.com/2009/11/black-friday-handmade-style.html\">Disciples of Etsy: Oklahoma Artists and Crafters</a>\n<a href=\"http://tulsacraftmafia.wordpress.com/\">Tulsa Craft Mafia</a>','Shopping Ethically','Every time you buy handmade items from people in your community, you are paying sales tax as well as giving money directly to the artist, who in turn puts his or her earnings back into the community. You are also taking a stand against items mass produced, potentially under horrible conditions and questionable morals. You can also give items from any of the many locally owned businesses.','inherit','open','open','','371-autosave','','','2011-11-14 16:03:54','2011-11-14 22:03:54','',371,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/371-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(9557,1,'2011-11-14 16:23:40','2011-11-14 22:23:40','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Tasha Does Tulsa Run Training 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3857176604/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/3857176604_041daf019e.jpg\" alt=\"Tasha Does Tulsa Run Training 2009\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\nSometimes I get a wild hair and decide it\'d be a good idea to post a random question on Twitter and Facebook for everyone to ponder, poke fun at, print and flush down the toilet or maybe, if I\'m lucky, consider answering.\n<a name=\"more\"></a><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/10/fill-in-blank.html\">Back in October I asked, \"Fill in the blank: Tulsa is home to ________.\"</a> An innocent enough question, I thought. I bet I\'d get five responses, give or take a response. Or five.\n\nI certainly didn\'t think that question would open the floodgates of public opinion. Within an hour or so I had 30 responses on Facebook and 23 more on Twitter. Those are solid numbers \'round here, especially considering I wasn\'t giving away any fabulous prizes.\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"James E. McNellie\'s Public House by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3319932973/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3319932973_a6e2454d80.jpg\" alt=\"James E. McNellie\'s Public House\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\nI loved the range of attitudes about life in Tulsa reflected in what people had to say about this city as a home, whether to family or great food or the worst roads to ever criss-cross the American prairie.\n\nSo, last week, I decided to pose this fill-in-the-blank prompt: \"If I had three hours to spend in Tulsa doing anything I wanted, I would _______.\"\n\nThis one got some really interesting responses:\n<ul>\n	<li>Go to the Man Spa (the modern day cave) and get the hot towel treatment - old time shave, pedicure, (man)icure...</li>\n	<li>Plunder and pillage the city.</li>\n	<li>I know what Tiger would do... Sorry. I can\'t stop! The jokes are too easy!!</li>\n	<li>Take my top secret route to the top of the Williams Tower and just sit and view.</li>\n	<li>Get on a plane to someplace WARM!!!</li>\n	<li>Be riding a rollercoaster at a new theme park whether Bells or another.</li>\n	<li>Make it snow at least 8\" like it did last March and go out and play in it!</li>\n	<li>Rappel off of the roof of the Mayo Hotel, legally.</li>\n</ul>\nI love having a pirate (pillage and plunder!), a rollercoaster fan, a snow angel and a legal rappeller amongst my social networking buddies.\n\nSeveral responses to the prompt in some way involved <a href=\"http://www.philbrook.org/\">Philbrook Museum</a> - more, in fact, than any other one location in Tulsa.\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Philbrook Museum Gardens by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4109883888/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/4109883888_26ae4d2cf8.jpg\" alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gardens\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\nOut of about 45 responses to the prompt, 11 had something to do with food and Tulsa restaurants. One even involved food AND <a href=\"http://www.philbrook.org/\">Philbrook Museum</a>.\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Fuji Sushi by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3873465124/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2676/3873465124_0b9a32795e.jpg\" alt=\"Fuji Sushi\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\nSomeone said something about <a href=\"http://www.fujitulsa.com/\">Fuji Sushi</a>. Darn it, now I want a <a href=\"http://www.fujitulsa.com/faxmenu/faxmenu3.pdf\">Tulsa Roll</a> and it\'s 9pm on a Monday night. Actually, I guess <a href=\"http://www.fujitulsa.com/\">that leaves me plenty of time to get to Fuji</a> and obtain what\'s calling to me, doesn\'t it?\n\nSee? Not everything in Tulsa closes at sundown.\n\nThree responses centered on time at the spa.\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Spa Lux by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3873502062/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3455/3873502062_7902978c3e.jpg\" alt=\"Spa Lux\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\nMmm - <a href=\"http://www.spalux.org/intro\">Spa Lux</a>. Have you all tried this place yet? They had me out last summer for a pedicure and a pizza from <a href=\"http://olivetobistro.com/\">Oliveto Italian Bistro</a>, the <a href=\"http://mazzios.com/\">Mazzio\'s Corp.</a>-owned restaurant next door. I had a delightful time.\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Spa Lux by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3872718109/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3507/3872718109_213e3997f5.jpg\" alt=\"Spa Lux\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\nI can definitely get on board with time at the spa. Who\'d turn it down?\n\nTwo responses involved napping.\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Sleeping by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4186746556/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/4186746556_1d42121993.jpg\" alt=\"Sleeping\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\nAh, napping. We love it at our house, too. Whether or not I\'d be doing it when I had only three hours in my hometown, I don\'t know - <a href=\"http://www.hotelambassador-tulsa.com/\">the nap would have to take place somewhere pretty darned special</a>.\n\nGet the full list of responses on <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/tashadoestulsa\">Twitter</a> and <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/tashadoestulsa\">Facebook</a>.\n\nNow it\'s your turn. How would you fill in the blank?','You Have Three Hours','','inherit','open','open','','392-autosave','','','2011-11-14 16:23:40','2011-11-14 22:23:40','',392,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/11/392-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(373,1,'2009-11-30 23:00:00','2009-11-30 23:00:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4147921611/\" title=\"All Day Inside by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4147921611_3841c0eb32.jpg\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" alt=\"All Day Inside\" /></a></div><div><br /></div>From time to time I find that I\'ve spent an entire morning reading blogs. With all the banter and pontificating and re-telling and general memoir yumminess, it\'s hard to keep from it from time to time (read: more often that it makes me comfortable to admit. There\'s dishes and laundry and baby-raisin\' to do around here, after all).<div><br /></div><div>Everyone - that is, unless you\'re still one of those people who ask, \"What\'s a blog?\" and if you are, odds would have it that you\'re not reading this, anyway - has their vices when it comes to blog reading. Mine is The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Did you all see <a href=\"http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/11/beef-stew-with-mushrooms/\">the Beef Stew with Mushrooms</a> she posted today? Lord. Have. Mercy. On my thighs. Because that\'s right where a recipe by Ree Drummond typically heads - at least, that\'s true in my case. That <a href=\"http://h30406.www3.hp.com/campaigns/2009/hho/photosmart/sites/en_us/index.html?jumpid=ex_r11400_us/en/hho/IPG/phototpg_olas/dm:_N5823.FedMedia_42293854_219136622_0\">all of the recipes on her site now print with ease thanks to HP</a>, my hodgepodge, finders-keepers cookbook stuffed in a three-ring binder left over from college is expanding. Also, my second chin, it is screaming. These days, it\'s really been throwing its weight around. </div><div><br /></div><div>Good thing second chins don\'t get a vote in my house. Stand down, chins!</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of second chins, <a href=\"http://lifeyogatulsa.blogspot.com/\">Hillary over at Life Yoga, a one-woman Tulsa yoga studio that specializes in private and small classes</a>, has <a href=\"http://lifeyogatulsa.blogspot.com/2009/11/thank-you-thanksgiving.html\">a set of resolutions we should all heed now if we don\'t want to be making lofty vows to ourselves to lose weight and get in shape come the morning of Jan. 1</a>. While I personally have a hard time giving up all of the comfort food that\'s available around holiday time, I like Hillary\'s idea of starting family traditions to stay trim. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><blockquote><div>Start new family traditions.  This year my mom and I came up with an idea to start taking a walk every holiday after our meal.  We took an hour long walk a few hours after Thanksgiving lunch.  All the boys were taking a nap anyways- so we didn\'t miss a thing and got to spend some great time together.  And lets face it- we live in Oklahoma, it\'s probably going to be 70 on Christmas anyways...<br /></div><div></div><span><span><br />However you choose to spend your holiday just know that it is an excuse to get together with your family and friends- not to eat whatever you want with no consequences.  You will feel much better if you follow these simple steps- and will be able to make a much better New Years resolution than losing weight.</span></span><div><span class=\"Apple-style-span\"   style=\"  color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;\"></span></div><div></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>Okay, okay, Hillary, I give up - no five slices of pie in one day this Christmas for Tasha. Thanks for working to keep us healthy, woman.</div><div><br /></div><div>For all my knitting friends, <a href=\"http://lostcityknits.blogspot.com/2009/11/its-knitaversary-giveaway.html\">be sure to put on your creative thinking caps and enter to win a 500-yard skein of organic, fingering-weight merino</a> from the folks at Clear Creek Lavender. The prompt: Name the new colorway. You have until noon or so on Wednesday.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href=\"http://77counties.blogspot.com/2009/11/payne-county-county-seat-stillwater.html?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+77Counties+%2877+counties+-+77+distinct+images%29\">77 Counties has a striking image of my beloved Theta Pond</a>. I spent many an afternoon sketching and dodging bird poop at that pond instead of studying in the library, where I should have been. If you haven\'t yet checked out the 77 Counties project, do it now. The photos are choice.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href=\"http://andsosheblogs.com/?p=1308\">My pal Carrisa over at And So She Blogs has a valuable lesson for all of you who forget to lock up</a> (I live with one, too, Carrisa - we should start a support group). Plus, she\'s got delicious, buttery, sweet-smelling baby photos. </div><div><br /></div><div>Michael Bates - or, as I like to call him, Bates (actually, I call him, \"He Who Knows,\" but usually only in the confines of my feeble little mind) - <a href=\"http://www.batesline.com/archives/2009/11/tulsa-a-to-z-premieres-tonight.html\">has a reminder about tonight\'s showing of the newest Jack Frank show, Tulsa A-Z</a>. Head to Batesline for details, and be sure to tune in. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href=\"http://boundrationality.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-downtown-tulsa-eatery.html\">Jeff Shaw over at Bounded Rationality has a review of a new restaurant downtown</a>. I tried it a few weeks ago and I, too, give Zorba\'s Greek Grill two thumbs up. </div><div><br /></div><div>For all you history buffs out there, boy, do I have a blog for you: Historic Tulsa. Check out three recent posts on midtown mansions: <a href=\"http://historictulsa.blogspot.com/2009/11/parriott-mansion-1929-1939.html\">Parriot Mansion</a>, <a href=\"http://historictulsa.blogspot.com/2009/11/carl-k-dresser-house-1919.html\">Carl K. Dresser House</a> (read: Tulsa wedding central) and <a href=\"http://historictulsa.blogspot.com/2009/11/moore-manor-1918.html\">Moore Manor</a>, on the same tract as <a href=\"http://historictulsa.blogspot.com/2009/06/creek-council-oak-tree.html\">the Creek Nation Council Oak</a>, the fabled birthplace of Tulsa. I love those old photos, don\'t you all?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href=\"http://irritatedtulsan.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/25-uses-for-leftover-turkey/\">The always snarky Irritated Tulsan has 25 Uses for Leftover Turkey</a>. Here\'s a preview: Use No. 24 is pothole filler. Use No. 12? Monopoly game pieces. Use No. 1? Unmentionable here on this mostly family-friendly blog. Check it out - you won\'t be sorry. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ever get the hankerin\' for horseback riding? <a href=\"http://rwarn17588.wordpress.com/\">Ron over at Route 66 News</a> has a little somethin\' for ya - <a href=\"http://rwarn17588.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/riding-at-route-66/\">Route 66 Riding Stables. Check out his photos and review</a>. While you\'re there, have a look around the site. Ron writes about everything from restaurants on Route 66 to Route 66 property for sale. It\'s a great resource and an even better read. </div><div><br /></div><div>All these holidays got you thinking it\'s finally time to learn to boil water? Learn that and more in the cooking classes at The Stock Pot. <a href=\"http://www.tulsafoodblog.com/tulsa-food-info/tulsa-food-classes/cooking-classes-christmas-lights-tulsa?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tulsafoodblog+%28Tulsa+Food+Blog%29\">Check Tulsa Food Blog for offerings and times</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Did you miss Garden Glow at Philbrook last Saturday? No worries - <a href=\"http://philbrookmuseum.blogspot.com/2009/11/glow-and-behold.html\">you can catch some pics over at What\'s Up @ Philbrook, a blog about Tulsa\'s world-class museum</a> at 2424 S. Rockford, updated daily. </div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of Tulsa\'s world-class museums, <a href=\"http://crustygasguy.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-world-tulsas-gilcrease-museum.html\">take a virtual tour of the one on Gilcrease Museum Road, thanks to Yogi at Yogi\'s Den</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>To what Tulsa and Oklahoma blogs are you addicted? Share and feast upon links in the comments.</div>  <div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"margin-top:10px;height:15px\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" href=\"http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/c98a6bfc-05c5-4695-a560-951d510f0020/\" title=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\"><img class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" src=\"http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=c98a6bfc-05c5-4695-a560-951d510f0020\" alt=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\" style=\"border:none;float:right\" /></a><span class=\"zem-script more-related pretty-attribution\"><script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js\" defer=\"defer\"></script></span></div>','Today in Tulsa Blogs','','publish','open','open','','today-in-tulsa-blogs','','','2009-11-30 23:00:00','2009-11-30 23:00:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=373',0,'post','',3),(374,1,'2009-12-01 03:15:00','2009-12-01 03:15:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4149076188/\" title=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/4149076188_decda6a7b1.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWhile I was doing research for this gift guide, I came across some rather original suggestions, ranging from the cute and unique to the downright strange.\r\n\r\nOne suggestion in particular was, I think, smart thinking. <a href=\"http://ttownmoms.com/\">Leave it to the head mom over at Ttownmoms.com, Trisha Swindle</a>, to come up with a clever, cost-effective way to shop with local vendors this holiday season without breaking the bank. Her idea? <a href=\"http://philbrook.org/\">Shop for stocking stuffers at the gift shop in Philbrook Museum</a>.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4148316621/\" title=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2698/4148316621_98eaa6fd7f.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWow. Look at all of these doo-dads. Each seems guaranteed to cause the kiddos to flip out on Christmas morning. After all, these aren\'t your run-of-the-mill, good-for-Christmas-morning-only type of gifts. They\'re engaging, they\'re educational and they\'re great for skill building - all really, really good things if you\'re one of those who\'d prefer not support your children when they\'re 32 1/2.\r\n\r\nPlus, when you buy from the gift shop at Philbrook, you\'re benefitting the museum, not some large corporation offering rock-bottom prices, endless up-selling, free shipping and a gold-plated toilet seat, just to get you to buy some worthless piece of junk.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4148316783/\" title=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2567/4148316783_9d8b39b933.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nAt the Philbrook gift shop, you can spend little, or you can spend big. Either way, there\'s something for just about everybody on your shopping list - even your friendly neighborhood robot geek.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4148317005/\" title=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/4148317005_a568b18c86.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nMy husband nearly broke his jaw asking me so many times if we could buy this little sucker. Of course, I refused - not because I didn\'t want it, too (takes a robot geek to know a robot geek), but because I have to play hard to get from time to time. \r\n\r\nLife isn\'t always fair.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4149077036/\" title=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4149077036_73fb15b0d5.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThe Philbrook gift shop could also serve as your one-stop Tulsa book shop this season. \r\n\r\nEasy, peasy, I say.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4148317333/\" title=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2787/4148317333_8903cfff1c.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nSee? Yet another reason to kick Ama-who.com to the curb.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4148317521/\" title=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gift Shop\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2519/4148317521_548ac32bcd.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nSpeaking of <a href=\"http://philbrook.org/\">Philbrook Museum</a> and <a href=\"http://ttownmoms.com/\">Ttownmoms</a>, <a href=\"http://ttownmoms.com/data/assets/boards/ttownmoms/showthread.php?p=3073#post3073\">all Ttownmoms members get in free at Philbrook this Thursday from 6-8pm</a>. If you\'re a member of the site and you mention that fact at the front door, they\'ll let you on through, no questions asked. \r\n\r\nGuess what you\'ll see. Dozens of beautiful, expertly decorated trees and gingerbread houses, that\'s what. Plus, the iconic Philbrook garden will be lit true to the season. It\'s all part of <a href=\"http://www.philbrook.org/support/events/2009_festival_of_trees.cfm\">the 25th annual Festival of Trees, a Tulsa tradition that benefits our very own world-class museum</a>.\r\n\r\nBy the way, <a href=\"http://ttownmoms.com/register\">if you\'re not registered at Ttownmoms.com, then you\'re missing out, friends</a>. I like to call it the Facebook for Tulsa-area parents. When you sign up, you get your very own profile (complete with status updates), a blog, a place to show off all those photos of your kids - all of this, plus the resources and camaraderie that go along with being part of a community of parents. And, access to members-only, free events that kick royal butt, like this one.\r\n\r\nCheck out the gift shop at Philbrook Museum this year for all of your stocking stuffing needs and more. And, if you buy the robot, please consider having me over for Christmas morning. I can make a mean stack of pancakes.\r\n\r\n<b>Philbrook Museum</b>\r\n2727 S. Rockford Road\r\n<a href=\"mailto:philbrookshop@philbrook.org\">philbrookshop@philbrook.org</a>\r\nTuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10am-5pm; Thursday until 8pm; Sunday until 8pm November 29 through December 31\r\n(918) 748-5304','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Philbrook Gift Shop','Wow. Look at all of these doo-dads. Each seems guaranteed to cause the kiddos to flip out on Christmas morning. ','publish','open','open','','philbrook-gift-shop-tdt-holiday-gift-guide-2009','','','2010-12-03 15:36:46','2010-12-03 20:36:46','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=374',0,'post','',3),(4205,1,'2010-12-03 15:43:31','2010-12-03 20:43:31','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145938970/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/4145938970_ba07532a96.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nAt the risk of earning a resounding, \"DUH!\" from all you thoughtful, dead-sexy readers out there, I\'d like to say that both research and experience will prove that kids learn stuff from books. \n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nKids also learn a lot from the environment around them. Imagine what would happen if some clever person came up with a holiday gift that managed to combine the two. \n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145178911/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2653/4145178911_f7113f4868.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nWell, looky there - <b>ABC in Tulsa</b>, a book that teaches the alphabet in the context of a Tulsa kid\'s environment. Our tired imaginations can take a breather. \n\nABC in Tulsa is written and photographed by <b>Robin Segal</b>, but it also features the input of several hundred Tulsa elementary school students. They thought of words for the book and colors for the cover. Cool, huh?\n\nThe book is one in <a href=\"http://www.murrayhillbooks.com/allboutcities/\">the <b>Murray Hill Books </b>series, <b>All \'Bout Cities</b></a>. The books aim to celebrate and teach children about the wonders of, well, cities.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145939818/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4145939818_86e2b6e6e4.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\nIf B isn\'t for barbeque beef brisket, then I\'m going to have to start taking better care of my teeth. We Tulsans know that the twilight of life doesn\'t have to be about saltless mashed potatoes and prune juice. That\'s what barbeque beef brisket is for - teeth need retirement plans, too. \n\nHere\'s a little snippet from the back cover of ABC in Tulsa: \"Finally, an alphabet book for Tulsans, for the kids who grow up here and point to flags and fire engines from their strollers, and for the out-of-town kids and their parents who visit.\" \n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145181413/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/4145181413_76e66fe486.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nMore gold from the back cover: \"This book is also for all those slightly older kids, parked and rushing and jostling in the street, who see the objects and people in this book, day after day, and who recognize and value the small objects and ordinary people that, taken together, are the ABC of Tulsa.\"\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145179775/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2661/4145179775_5565238c00.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nLook! X is for Xanthus Place. Good thinkin\', Segal. Just off the top of my head, I can\'t think of another Tulsa X word. Can you think of any, my thoughtful, dead-sexy readers?\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145941538/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/4145941538_333260219e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nGive the child in your life the gift of books this Christmas. ABC in Tulsa would be a great place to start. Not only does this book hold the promise of nap times spent snuggled and pointing out the photos together, but it could also serve as a tool to teach a child about the city in which he or she lives. \n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4145180971/\" title=\"ABC in Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"ABC in Tulsa\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2757/4145180971_daa78f4b81_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></div>\n\nIf our youth don\'t bother to learn about our city, after all, who will? An knowledgeable and passionate youth will always be the beginning of a better Tulsa.\n\n<b>ABC in Tulsa</b>\n<a href=\"http://www.stevessundrybooksmags.com/photo_gallery.htm\">Available at Steve\'s Sundry, Books and Magazines</a>\n2612 S. Harvard Ave.\n(918) 743-3544\n$12.95','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: ABC in Tulsa','','inherit','open','open','','372-autosave','','','2010-12-03 15:43:31','2010-12-03 20:43:31','',372,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/372-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(375,1,'2009-12-02 02:48:00','2009-12-02 02:48:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3354758252/\" title=\"Boston Avenue, Looking South by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Boston Avenue, Looking South\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3354758252_332e55c250.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nOften, when I worked downtown and especially on snowy days, I felt like I was living in a snow globe.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI parked a few blocks from my office, which meant a short wait at one or more of the stoplights along Boston Avenue, right in the heart of downtown Tulsa, was the norm.\r\n\r\nIt\'s easy to look around from Fourth or Fifth Streets and feel like one has been plunked into a bygone era, or at least onto the set of a high-budget movie, complete with the larger-than-life backdrop that is Tulsa\'s art deco architecture. If there\'s snow on the ground, the feeling can be almost overwhelming. You want to window shop, don a fancy hat, wear a fur-lined, tailored coat and every scarf you\'ve ever owned.\r\n\r\nThere\'s a gift for any person who has felt this way while walking the streets of downtown.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4151193705/\" title=\"Tulsa Snow Globe by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Snow Globe\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/4151193705_5ebfd59350.jpg\" width=\"333\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nFor someone who loves snow globes (including me, the girl who once had more snow globes than Barbies or Cabbage Patch Kids dolls), this one runs a close second to the real thing, the comfortably cosmopolitan streets of our central business district. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4151193705/\" title=\"Tulsa Snow Globe by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Snow Globe\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/4151193705_5ebfd59350.jpg\" width=\"333\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nI didn\'t come up with that whole \"comfortably cosmopolitan\" line, by the way. <a href=\"http://ww3.tulsachamber.com/\">The Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce did</a>, and that\'s where these snow globes are available. They\'re $45 each and can be shipped for $10 more, though, for obvious reasons, shipping isn\'t recommended. It\'s best to pop in at the Visitor Information Office at Williams Tower II building, Two West Second Street, and snag one. Or, call (918) 585-1201 to order. \r\n\r\n<b>Tulsa Snow Globe</b>\r\nVisitor Information Office @ Tulsa Metro Chamber\r\nTwo West Second Street\r\n<a href=\"http://ww3.tulsachamber.com/\">http://ww3.tulsachamber.com/</a>\r\n(918) 585-1201\r\n$45','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Tulsa Snow Globe','Often, when I worked downtown and especially on snowy days, I felt like I was living in a snow globe.','publish','open','open','','tulsa-snow-globe-tdt-holiday-gift-guide-2009','','','2010-12-03 12:29:55','2010-12-03 17:29:55','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=375',0,'post','',7),(4202,1,'2010-12-03 12:28:40','2010-12-03 17:28:40','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3354758252/\" title=\"Boston Avenue, Looking South by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Boston Avenue, Looking South\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3354758252_332e55c250.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nOften, when I worked downtown and especially on snowy days, I felt like I was living in a snow globe.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI parked a few blocks from my office, which meant a short wait at one or more of the stoplights along Boston Avenue, right in the heart of downtown Tulsa, was the norm.\r\n\r\nIt\'s easy to look around from Fourth or Fifth Streets and feel like one has been plunked into a bygone era, or at least onto the set of a high-budget movie, complete with the larger-than-life backdrop that is Tulsa\'s art deco architecture. If there\'s snow on the ground, the feeling can be almost overwhelming. You want to window shop, don a fancy hat, wear a fur-lined, tailored coat and every scarf you\'ve ever owned.\r\n\r\nThere\'s a gift for any person who has felt this way while walking the streets of downtown.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4151193705/\" title=\"Tulsa Snow Globe by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Snow Globe\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/4151193705_5ebfd59350.jpg\" width=\"333\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nFor someone who loves snow globes (including me, the girl who once had more snow globes than Barbies or Cabbage Patch Kids dolls), this one runs a close second to the real thing, the comfortably cosmopolitan streets of our central business district. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4151193705/\" title=\"Tulsa Snow Globe by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Snow Globe\" height=\"900\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/4151193705_d542cbc5ba_o.jpg\" width=\"600\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nI didn\'t come up with that whole \"comfortably cosmopolitan\" line, by the way. <a href=\"http://ww3.tulsachamber.com/\">The Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce did</a>, and that\'s where these snow globes are available. They\'re $45 each and can be shipped for $10 more, though, for obvious reasons, shipping isn\'t recommended. It\'s best to pop in at the Visitor Information Office at Williams Tower II building, Two West Second Street, and snag one. Or, call (918) 585-1201 to order. \r\n\r\n<b>Tulsa Snow Globe</b>\r\nVisitor Information Office @ Tulsa Metro Chamber\r\nTwo West Second Street\r\n<a href=\"http://ww3.tulsachamber.com/\">http://ww3.tulsachamber.com/</a>\r\n(918) 585-1201\r\n$45','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Tulsa Snow Globe','Often, when I worked downtown and especially on snowy days, I felt like I was living in a snow globe.','inherit','open','open','','375-revision-2','','','2010-12-03 12:28:40','2010-12-03 17:28:40','',375,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/375-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(376,1,'2009-12-02 20:00:00','2009-12-02 20:00:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4152942591/\" title=\"Breast Impressions Calendar by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Breast Impressions Calendar\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2777/4152942591_6a1a69eb63.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n\"Oh, yeah? Well, at least my mom doesn\'t have only one boob.\"\r\n\r\nOuch. Children can be cruel. It\'s tough to be the kid on the playground whose mother, just a few days after her 37th birthday, found a lump in her breast.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI know because I was that kid. Less than a month after my dad, my then-seven-year-old sister and I got the news, my mom was on the operating table. For three months after that, she practically lived on our bathroom floor, weakened by chemotherapy. Then it was daily radiation treatments for a full six weeks.\r\n\r\nI was on the brink of my teen years then, and to say that I had started early on the era of self-absorption kids that age have been making infamous for, well, ever, would be the understatement of the century. I remember being more concerned that my dad was in charge of cooking dinner for those three months than I was about my mom\'s illness, her hair loss or the chances that her cancer might have spread before she saw the doctor.\r\n\r\nActually, I don\'t remember much at all about the time when my mom was sick. I was young. So was my mom. \r\n\r\nAnd I guess that in writing all of this, that\'s my point.\r\n\r\nLadies, you\'re never too young to defend yourself against breast cancer. Just because your kids are in elementary school like my sister and I were when our mom was diagnosed, or are even younger doesn\'t exempt you. A monthly reminder to do your self-exam is your first and most powerful weapon against this sickness.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4153703062/\" title=\"Breast Impressions Calendar by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Breast Impressions Calendar\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/4153703062_a078e41577.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nIn case you managed to not hear of <a href=\"http://www.breastimpressions.com/\">Breast Impressions</a> over the course of the last several months, the time when the organization was touting its fundraising auction with a set of local celebrity breast castings as the main prize, here\'s their deal: The group, headed by the delightful and witty Judi Grove, offers keepsake breast casting kits of women recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Since Breast Impressions got off the ground in 2007, more than 180 casting kits have been sent free of charge to women around the world.\r\n\r\nPart of how Breast Impressions gets money to distribute these casting kits it through the sales of its annual calendar, showcasing breast cancer survivors who tell their stories.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4152942519/\" title=\"Breast Impressions Calendar by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Breast Impressions Calendar\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/4152942519_55ae030064.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4153703108/\" title=\"Breast Impressions Calendar by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Breast Impressions Calendar\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4153703108_46902e9a58.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThis pretty lady on <a href=\"http://www.saintfrancis.com/news/default.aspx?articleId=2731\">the pink Tulsa Townie</a> is Carrie. Carrie is two years older than me. When she was 24, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. At first, doctors told her the mass she felt inside her breast was nothing to worry about, given her age.\r\n\r\nBreast cancer doesn\'t give a rip how old you are, girls. Whether you\'re 28 or 68, you should feel your boobies, and often. Then, trust in your instincts.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4152942571/\" title=\"Breast Impressions Calendar by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Breast Impressions Calendar\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2707/4152942571_965ecc65ea.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nEach month of the calendar features a different survivor and her story, along with a monthly reminder to do a breast self-exam. The photos, by <a href=\"http://www.studio-curry.com/\">photographer Carol Curry</a>, are stunning. The calendar design, by Shawn Brett of Blue Bottle Designs, ain\'t half bad, either. \r\n\r\nLadies, in less than a month, you\'ll need a new calendar anyway. Why not choose one that might save your life? I don\'t know about you all, but I\'d trade calendars full of puppies and kittens and babies in vegetable costumes for a few extra days here on earth terrorizing you fine people. \r\n\r\nPlus, at $10 a pop, they\'re a bargain.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4152942591/\" title=\"Breast Impressions Calendar by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Breast Impressions Calendar\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2777/4152942591_6a1a69eb63.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nTo get yours and to stock up for Christmas, visit <a href=\"http://www.breastimpressionscalendar.com/\">breastimpressionscalendar.com</a>.\r\n\r\nMom, I guess I just spilled the beans about one of your Christmas gifts, huh? At least now you won\'t have to shake as many boxes when you\'re here babysitting.\r\n\r\nMy mom. She\'s always been a box shaker. \r\n\r\n<strong>Breast Impressions, Inc.</strong>\r\n4645 S. Vandalia Ave.\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breastimpressionscalendar.com/\">breastimpressionscalendar.com</a>\r\n(918) 691-3874\r\n<a href=\"mailto:breastimpressions@cox.net\">breastimpressions@cox.net</a>\r\n$10, plus $1.75 for shipping (contact Judi for shipping on quantities greater than one)','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Breast Impressions Calendar','Ladies, in less than a month, you\'ll need a new calendar anyway. Why not choose one that might save your life? I don\'t know about you all, but I\'d trade calendars full of puppies and kittens and babies in vegetable costumes for a few extra days here on earth terrorizing you fine people. ','publish','open','open','','breast-impressions-calendar-tdt-holiday-gift-guide-2009','','','2010-12-01 15:09:03','2010-12-01 20:09:03','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=376',0,'post','',6),(377,1,'2009-12-03 15:12:00','2009-12-03 15:12:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4155512216/\" title=\"Binkie Tree by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Binkie Tree\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2719/4155512216_eea555e90e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Ever wondered what would happen if a toddler was allowed to decorate a Christmas tree?<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">To find out, <a href=\"http://www.ttownmoms.com/?page=blogs/view&amp;UID=27196&amp;BLID=6803\">visit my blog at Ttownmoms.com</a>.<br /></div><div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" href=\"http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/49a9d1c6-01c4-43d4-a23d-d9e5b15807ed/\" title=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\"><img alt=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\" class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" src=\"http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=49a9d1c6-01c4-43d4-a23d-d9e5b15807ed\" style=\"border: none; float: right;\" /></a><script defer=\"defer\" src=\"http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br /></div>','Excuse me, ma\'am. What\'s that in your tree?','','publish','open','open','','excuse-me-maam-whats-that-in-your-tree','','','2009-12-03 15:12:00','2009-12-03 15:12:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=377',0,'post','',1),(6102,1,'2011-02-22 08:53:53','2011-02-22 13:53:53','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita Restaurant in Tulsa, Oklahoma\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596293446/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3417/4596293446_3ace17be93_o.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita Restaurant in Tulsa, Oklahoma\" width=\"425\" height=\"640\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<strong>UPDATE, Feb. 16, 2011//</strong>Bad news, readers. <a href=\"http://tulsabusiness.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=47&ArticleID=52321\">Casa Bonita has closed its doors again</a> (click the link for the Tulsa Business Journal story). Even so, the restaurant continues to be a part of Tulsa\'s culture and history. Read on to relive some of the memories.<strong>//</strong> \r\n\r\nIf you still think Tulsa\'s Casa Bonita closed forever in 2005, you\'re not the only one.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nNative Tulsans remember Casa Bonita as the go-to family-friendly dining spot of the \'70s, \'80s and \'90s. Maybe you took your kids and spent an entire afternoon eating sopapillas and playing games in the arcade. Maybe you went there on a school bus for a field trip in the fifth grade.\r\n\r\nEither way, most of us T-Town originals have fond memories of Casa Bonita, the half-theme park, half-Tex-Mex restaurant at 21st and Sheridan.\r\n\r\nBut several years ago, much to the chagrin of us locals, Casa Bonita closed seemingly forever. The space reopened shortly after as Casa Viva, another family-oriented Mexican place, but things just weren\'t the same.\r\n\r\nBut then, in 2008, Casa Bonita re-opened. The dining room had been restored to its former kitschy glory, the Disney World-like play place we had all loved knowing was right in our back yard.\r\n\r\nWhen I mentioned <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/tashadoestulsa\">on Twitter</a> that I\'d be celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Casa Bonita with my family and friends, I saw a variety of reactions. First and foremost was the response from the know-it-alls \"informing\" me that Casa Bonita has been closed for years.\r\n\r\nDuh, Tasha. What kind of Tulsa blogger are you, anyway?\r\n\r\nBesides that came warnings about the Casa Bonita urban legend that has seemed to stand the test of time - that dinner there guarantees a night of praying to the porcelain god.\r\n\r\nWhich, of course, only made me want to go to Casa Bonita more. I ain\'t skeered.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596290536/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/4596290536_a9c305d717.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nAnd as my husband will tell you, what Tasha wants, Tasha gets. Except when it comes to gold-plated toilet seats and a lifetime supply of my favorite Aveda shampoo. Those things are simply not in the cards, it seems.\r\n\r\nAt least, not until I win the lottery.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596290390/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1173/4596290390_00b4322a8e.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nSpeaking of my husband, he\'d never been to Casa Bonita before - at least, not recently enough to remember how things are done around there.\r\n\r\nFor his sake and for anyone out there who has yet to venture to this Tulsa tradition in the form of an Alamo-esque amusement park that just happens to also serve food, here\'s a guide on how to do Casa Bonita, TDT-style.\r\n\r\n<strong>Step 1: Enter the mouth of the beast</strong>.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595674295/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4595674295_b4369821e1.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"338\" /></a></div>\r\nWhich seems easy enough to do, right? Except, no one can seem to do it without pointing out to the rest of his/her party that \"casa bonita\" means \"beautiful house\" in Spanish, followed by a conversation about how funny it is that Spanish switches the places of nouns and adjectives.\r\n\r\nYou\'d think kids in Spanish 101 would be the only ones with a proclivity toward this type of behavior, but no.\r\n\r\nJust no.\r\n\r\n<strong>Step 2: File in line. </strong>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595674389/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4595674389_760cf10fac.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nI remember Sunday afternoons when the line to order at Casa Bonita would wrap around that corner and extend all the way to the front door.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596290876/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1142/4596290876_b5af410210.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nWhich wasn\'t the case when we visited. We thought the place would be packed given the spirit of the holiday.\r\n\r\nSadly for C-to-the-B, we were wrong. Maybe it\'s busier at lunchtime.\r\n\r\n<strong>Step 3: Order.</strong>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596290986/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/4596290986_9885a57be5.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"333\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nThe menu is one of the simplest in town - it\'s quick-and-dirty style, with no surprises or opportunities for confusion. Simply order a combo meal and a drink (or, in the case of kids\' meals, just the combo - drinks are part of the package) and, boom, you\'re done. You don\'t even have to pay yet.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595674881/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4595674881_b715cd6350.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nFor two adults and a toddler, we spent about $25 including tip. Which isn\'t bad at all, considering our family of three usually averages $10 per plate here in Tulsa.\r\n\r\nBy the way, the service we got at the order counter was superb. There we found patience (don\'t let it ever be said that food writers are the indecisive ones when it comes time to order - my husband almost always takes that prize when we go out to eat), speed and a friendly smile.\r\n\r\nAnd that\'s the best way to start a meal, right there.\r\n\r\n<strong>4. Proceed to the trays and silverware. </strong>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596291760/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/4596291760_e46601ba65.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595675265/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1382/4595675265_82c2c5f56d.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nGet a load of that face.\r\n\r\n\"Mom, to where in heck have you brought me? My little mind, it reels!\"\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595675023/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4595675023_4d97c9f66f.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595675153/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1089/4595675153_976015a3e4.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595674745/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1131/4595674745_92fa01106e.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596291980/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/4596291980_9b5caccd8f.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596292136/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/4596292136_dc7971840c.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nEvery native Tulsan remembers these multi-colored napkins, right? I mean, right? They\'re a virtual mainstay of my childhood, I swear.\r\n\r\n<strong>5: Pick up your order. </strong>\r\n\r\nThar she blows!\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596292254/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/4596292254_86cb3874f9.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nWell, almost. Our stuff was still on the way.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596291876/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1259/4596291876_ff4e99b47f.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nHere\'s where the staff helps diners get to their tables.\r\n\r\nIt\'s also when diners get their first feel for the full scope of the quirkiness and kitschiness and downright weirdness of all that is Casa Bonita decor.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596292462/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3578/4596292462_66723581b1.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nThe color.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596292568/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/4596292568_41a964ac88.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nThe fantastic.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596293004/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4596293004_3f091a1599.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nThe imitation.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596292898/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3575/4596292898_c3297332b7.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nThe incongruity!\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596294596/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4596294596_687463c438.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nYes, that\'s a cave.\r\n\r\nActually, it\'s a \"cave.\" Or, as I like to call it, The Cave, The Cave, The Cave! With an exclamation point or five.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595678303/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1064/4595678303_226133bc87.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nAnd yes, you can eat in The Cave, The Cave, The Cave.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596294794/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/4596294794_0928ca57ae.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nIt\'s romantic, actually. Not that anyone has ever taken me on a date to Casa Bonita or anything. But if someone ever does, they\'d better make sure we sit in the cave. If not, that person can bet that they\'ll be doing dishes after supper the next night. And they\'ll have vacuuming duty, too.\r\n\r\nMaybe even decorative bed pillow arranging duty. That\'s the <em>worst</em>.\r\n\r\nFor those of you who assume that a meal at Casa Bonita spells a call in to work the next morning with vague references to descriptors like \"burning\" and \"explosive,\" I\'m happy to report that all who dined with me at CB on Cinco de Mayo are not only still living, but experienced no discomfort after suppertime whatsoever.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595676651/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/4595676651_09acf107eb.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nIn fact, the food was decent. Meaning, really decent. Meaning, I\'ve kinda been craving it ever since. Except for the salsa - it\'s just sad. But everything else was tasty. And Tex-Mexy.\r\n\r\nAnd cheesy.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596293212/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4596293212_c290333788.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\n<strong>6: Raise the flag when you need an extra fork, a refill or whatever would require the attention of the waitstaff. </strong>\r\n\r\nThis is my very favorite part about dining at Casa Bonita.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596293376/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1007/4596293376_0f4e33276f.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nThe flag!\r\n\r\nHere\'s how it works: a flag in the down position means all is well. It\'s the all-clear in the Casa Bonita world. It means every one at the table is happy, and it\'s a signal to the waitstaff they can tend to other duties.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596293446/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3417/4596293446_3bb06073a5.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nA flag in the raised position is a cry for help. We need napkins! We need more chips! We need some time, love and tenderness!\r\n\r\nBy the way, don\'t be that guy who raises the flag to \"make sure it works.\" Or the guy who has never been to Casa Bonita and raises and lowers it a few times to, you know, test the waters, and then forgets to lower the flag again.\r\n\r\nIf a waitress stops by to ask if everything is okay four times in the span of 45 seconds, you know it\'s because you forgot to lower the dang flag.\r\n\r\n<strong>7: After supper\'s gone, order sopapillas. </strong>\r\n\r\nThis is my second-favorite part about dining at Casa Bonita.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596293746/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3319/4596293746_3104d30a8a.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nIn case you\'ve never heard of a sopapilla, here\'s the story: They\'re fried pockets of dough. And...that\'s about it. Oh, and they\'re extra delicious with cinnamon, sugar and honey.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596293638/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4596293638_bbdc61ef4b.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nThe folks at Casa Bonita like to keep things simple. The sopapillas there are brought to the table after diners request them after dinner with honey only.\r\n\r\nWhich, honestly, is perfectly fine by me. No muss, no fuss.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595677385/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/4595677385_15c67f02dd.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nDude.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595677479/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/4595677479_e33d43ba6a.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nThe only thing that could make that photo any more delicious-looking is if the honey were coming out of a bottle shaped like a bear.\r\n\r\nI\'m Tasha Ball, and I\'m just sayin\'.\r\n\r\nThe next step in a proper Casa Bonita dining experience would be to visit the arcade, where there\'s claw machines, skee ball and prizes galore. But a certain someone had been trying for the better part of a week to get over a cold and could no longer manage the sensory overload of our dinner outing.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595677913/\"><img src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1406/4595677913_971ef23d8b.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nYeah, blondie. I\'m talking about you.\r\n\r\nSo, we headed instead to <strong>Step No. 9: Visit the treasure room. </strong>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4595678029/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/4595678029_6d3a59d3f5.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"332\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nEvery kid is given a gold, plastic coin at the table after the tickets are paid. Those coins are redeemable for a toy from the chest in the Treasure Room.\r\n\r\nThe toys are nothing to write home about, of course. We came away with an inch-long plastic airplane. But I think we all know what happens when you throw together a couple of toddlers and a chest full of super-cheap plastic toys.\r\n\r\nThat\'s right. A veritable feeding frenzy.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Casa Bonita by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4596294512/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/4596294512_93dc85eb4e.jpg\" alt=\"Casa Bonita\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /></a></div>\r\nAnd it was good.\r\n\r\nAnd that\'s how it\'s done, folks - that\'s how you do Casa Bonita.\r\n\r\nWhat are your favorite memories of CB? Do you wish you could have <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=372159&amp;id=445726255306\">a Casa Bonita t-shirt</a>?\r\n\r\nIf you\'ve never been to Casa Bonita, will you be loading up the kids to give it a try? Tell it like it is in the comments.\r\n\r\n<em>Originally published May 10, 2010</em>','Do Casa Bonita, TDT-Style (CLOSED!)','Most of us T-Town originals have fond memories of Casa Bonita, the half-theme park, half-Tex-Mex restaurant at 21st and Sheridan.','inherit','open','open','','594-revision-4','','','2011-02-22 08:53:53','2011-02-22 13:53:53','',594,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/594-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(380,1,'2009-12-05 18:45:00','2009-12-05 18:45:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160792172/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2686/4160792172_fcb1fd77c8.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\">The holiday season is one of the only times my husband and I have the courage to take our toddler to a restaurant for dinner.<br /></div><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\"><br /></div><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\">We often talk about our childless years when date nights were ruined by screaming babies brought out by parents with what seemed at the time like nerves of steel (not to mention the stubbornness of a herd of water buffalo).<br /></div><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\"><br /></div><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\">We vowed to never be \"one of those people.\"<br /><br /></div><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\"><a name=\'more\'></a><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160036185/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4160036185_2d66a4ca19.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div></div><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\"><br />One\'s aspirations for parenthood before parenthood actually sets in are always lofty.<br /><br />They\'re also totally impractical and unworkable and, often, unabashedly sanctimonious. We know that now. We laugh at our former selves as, at one of those restaurants that dims the lights at 7:30 and offers more than one size of fork,&nbsp;our child throws his sippy cup across the dining room, winning the stink eye from single twenty-somethings and the waitstaff and looks of sympathy from the mother of five at the other crappy table the restaurant reserves for families with young children.<br /><br />Oh, yes, we are \"those people\" every now and again. Normally, we try to avoid upsetting the apple cart. The holidays, however, are a time of moratorium for this policy.<br /></div><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\"><br /></div><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\">Why? Because everyone else has the same idea. We\'ve noticed that more parents have the courage to load up their spawn in the van and head out for a bite at this time of year. The sound of these parents\' kids\' bawling and squawking masks our kid\'s outbursts. It works great for us.<br /></div><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\"><br /></div><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\">Even during this time when we have the opportunity to step into a restaurant without causing the atmosphere of the place to freeze over, when we go out, here are our rules for survival:<br /><br />1. Though my dad will try to ground me for a month when he reads this, we think that since adults get to have toys at the table, kids should, too. These toys can be a chance for children to learn by imitation.<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160790430/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/4160790430_4d8f34feb4.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160790210/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2719/4160790210_e5aa903718.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160034667/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/4160034667_555fa010b7.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />See?<br /><br />2. Help your child eat his/her dinner. There\'s no faster way to end up with a lap full of pudding than to leave a child to his own devices at the dinner table.<br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160791564/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2655/4160791564_f9ff9a2a16.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160790768/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4160790768_28a82b37e5.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">When it comes to drinks, be especially helpful.<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160036743/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/4160036743_fac49df238.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160036909/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/4160036909_e4c66e799b.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160791106/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2675/4160791106_7f2d7b1b39.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">And that\'s why.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">3. To prevent a meltdown, cater to a child\'s preferences. In our case, that means removing the crust from anything involving bread or a sandwich.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Here\'s what happens when we don\'t submit to the will of our toddler:<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160792360/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/4160792360_a7ceebbaf4.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160036571/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2644/4160036571_6d3a9a0457.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160035937/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/4160035937_e098f05a9c.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />The wailing is even uglier than the photos.<br /><br />4. Last but not least, when finishing a meal away from home, always overwhelm an independent child with close contact - namely, with hugs and kisses. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160793010/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2680/4160793010_5aa21606fd.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4160037257/\" title=\"How to dine out with a two year old. by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"How to dine out with a two year old.\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4160037257_510fa0062f.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />After all, what\'s the use of taking a toddler to a restaurant if you can\'t at least enjoy a little troublemaking?<br /><div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" href=\"http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/de0b979c-fa5b-411d-974e-30d916cbc960/\" title=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\"><img alt=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\" class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" src=\"http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=de0b979c-fa5b-411d-974e-30d916cbc960\" style=\"border: none; float: right;\" /></a><script defer=\"defer\" src=\"http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br /></div>','How To Dine Out With a Two-Year-Old','','publish','open','open','','how-to-dine-out-with-two-year-old','','','2009-12-05 18:45:00','2009-12-05 18:45:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=380',0,'post','',3),(381,1,'2009-12-05 20:15:00','2009-12-05 20:15:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3465009785/\" title=\"DSC04355-1 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"DSC04355-1\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3465009785_c661069fde.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nOnce when I was gushing about my family\'s <a href=\"http://www.tulsazoo.org/\">Tulsa Zoo</a> membership to a fellow stay-at-home mom, she said something that caught my attention: \"The only reason we get to go to the zoo and the museums as often as we do is because our family gives us a membership every year for Christmas.\" \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nWhat a brilliant idea for a gift, right? What present can top the gift of education? And history with a sense of place? And the chance for a family to have a time and place to get together and spend some quality time, make some memories that will be cherished for years to come?\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3464958311/\" title=\"Here, Kitty Kitty by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Here, Kitty Kitty\" height=\"370\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3464958311_4e010725a3.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nFor the price of 10 or fewer <a href=\"http://zhuzhupets.com/\">Zhu Zhu Pets</a> (that is, the $8 version of the little buggers) and, in some cases, much, much less, a family of four can be gifted a year\'s worth of fun at museums like <a href=\"http://www.tulsaairandspacemuseum.com/membership.php?nav=involved\">Tulsa Air and Space Museum</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gilcrease.org/membership_levels.aspx\">Gilcrease Museum</a>, the <a href=\"http://www.tulsazoo.org/OnlineStore/GiftMembershipSignup/\">Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum</a>, <a href=\"http://www.oxleynaturecenter.org/member_app.htm\">Oxley Nature Center</a>, <a href=\"http://www.jewishmuseum.net/join/membership.html\">The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art</a>, <a href=\"http://www.okaquarium.org/membership.php?subPageName=membership\">Oklahoma Aquarium</a>, and <a href=\"http://www.philbrook.org/support/joining/\">Philbrook Museum</a>.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4109884404/\" title=\"Philbrook Museum Gardens by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gardens\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4109884404_291e7acc9c.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nGot some folks on your shopping list who\'d rather see a movie than go to a museum? Check this out: <a href=\"http://www.circlecinema.com/\">Circle Cinema Movie Money gift cards</a>! They\'re available in any denomination. Pick one up at 12 S. Lewis Ave. or call (918) 592-FILM to snag one over the phone. \r\n\r\nVoila, problem solved, shopping list crossed off. Mama\'s off to the spa. \r\n\r\nLike the Jelly of the Month Club, these memberships and gift cards are the gifts that keep on giving. Only, exploring collections of art that formed the framework of this city, gazing at pieces that have helped to define modern art and exploring a rainforest in one\'s own backyard are way better than twelve jars of sugary mush that couldn\'t beat Smucker\'s in a taste test if they tried.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3465769422/\" title=\"Tropical American Rainforest by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tropical American Rainforest\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/3465769422_9284bb3715.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWay better indeed.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tulsaairandspacemuseum.com/membership.php?nav=involved\">Tulsa Air and Space Museum</a>\r\n3624 N. 74th E. Ave.\r\n(918) 834-9900\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.gilcrease.org/membership_levels.aspx\">Gilcrease Museum</a>\r\n1400 Gilcrease Museum Road\r\n(918) 596-2700\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tulsazoo.org/OnlineStore/GiftMembershipSignup/\">Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum</a>\r\n6421 E. 36th Street North\r\n(918) 669-6600\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.oxleynaturecenter.org/member_app.htm\">Oxley Nature Center</a>\r\n6700 Mohawk Boulevard\r\n(918) 669-6644\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.jewishmuseum.net/join/membership.html\">The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art</a>\r\n2021 E. 71st Street\r\n(918) 492-1818\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.okaquarium.org/membership.php?subPageName=membership\">Oklahoma Aquarium</a>\r\n300 Aquarium Drive in Jenks\r\n(918) 296-FISH\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.philbrook.org/support/joining/\">Philbrook Museum</a>\r\n2727 S. Rockford Road\r\n(918) 749-7941\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.circlecinema.com/\">Circle Cinema</a>\r\n12 S. Lewis Ave.\r\n(918) 592-FILM','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Best Tulsa Memberships','Once when I was gushing about my family\'s Tulsa Zoo membership to a fellow stay-at-home mom, she said something that caught my attention: \"The only reason we get to go to the zoo and the museums as often as we do is because our family gives us a membership every year for Christmas.\" ','publish','open','open','','best-tulsa-memberships-tdt-holiday-gift-guide-2009','','','2010-12-01 14:57:20','2010-12-01 19:57:20','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=381',0,'post','',7),(4111,1,'2010-12-01 15:08:33','2010-12-01 20:08:33','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4152942591/\" title=\"Breast Impressions Calendar by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Breast Impressions Calendar\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2777/4152942591_6a1a69eb63.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\n\"Oh, yeah? Well, at least my mom doesn\'t have only one boob.\"\n\nOuch. Children can be cruel. It\'s tough to be the kid on the playground whose mother, just a few days after her 37th birthday, found a lump in her breast.\n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nI know because I was that kid. Less than a month after my dad, my then-seven-year-old sister and I got the news, my mom was on the operating table. For three months after that, she practically lived on our bathroom floor, weakened by chemotherapy. Then it was daily radiation treatments for a full six weeks.\n\nI was on the brink of my teen years then, and to say that I had started early on the era of self-absorption kids that age have been making infamous for, well, ever, would be the understatement of the century. I remember being more concerned that my dad was in charge of cooking dinner for those three months than I was about my mom\'s illness, her hair loss or the chances that her cancer might have spread before she saw the doctor.\n\nActually, I don\'t remember much at all about the time when my mom was sick. I was young. So was my mom. \n\nAnd I guess that in writing all of this, that\'s my point.\n\nLadies, you\'re never too young to defend yourself against breast cancer. Just because your kids are in elementary school like my sister and I were when our mom was diagnosed, or are even younger doesn\'t exempt you. A monthly reminder to do your self-exam is your first and most powerful weapon against this sickness.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4153703062/\" title=\"Breast Impressions Calendar by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Breast Impressions Calendar\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/4153703062_a078e41577.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\nIn case you managed to not hear of <a href=\"http://www.breastimpressions.com/\">Breast Impressions</a> over the course of the last several months, the time when the organization was touting its fundraising auction with a set of local celebrity breast castings as the main prize, here\'s their deal: The group, headed by the delightful and witty Judi Grove, offers keepsake breast casting kits of women recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Since Breast Impressions got off the ground in 2007, more than 180 casting kits have been sent free of charge to women around the world.\n\nPart of how Breast Impressions gets money to distribute these casting kits it through the sales of its annual calendar, showcasing breast cancer survivors who tell their stories.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4152942519/\" title=\"Breast Impressions Calendar by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Breast Impressions Calendar\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/4152942519_55ae030064.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4153703108/\" title=\"Breast Impressions Calendar by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Breast Impressions Calendar\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4153703108_46902e9a58.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nThis pretty lady on <a href=\"http://www.saintfrancis.com/news/default.aspx?articleId=2731\">the pink Tulsa Townie</a> is Carrie. Carrie is two years older than me. When she was 24, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. At first, doctors told her the mass she felt inside her breast was nothing to worry about, given her age.\n\nBreast cancer doesn\'t give a rip how old you are, girls. Whether you\'re 28 or 68, you should feel your boobies, and often. Then, trust in your instincts.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4152942571/\" title=\"Breast Impressions Calendar by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Breast Impressions Calendar\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2707/4152942571_965ecc65ea.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nEach month of the calendar features a different survivor and her story, along with a monthly reminder to do a breast self-exam. The photos, by <a href=\"http://www.studio-curry.com/\">photographer Carol Curry</a>, are stunning. The calendar design, by Shawn Brett of Blue Bottle Designs, ain\'t half bad, either. \n\nLadies, in less than a month, you\'ll need a new calendar anyway. Why not choose one that might save your life? I don\'t know about you all, but I\'d trade calendars full of puppies and kittens and babies in vegetable costumes for a few extra days here on earth terrorizing you fine people. \n\nPlus, at $10 a pop, they\'re a bargain.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4152942591/\" title=\"Breast Impressions Calendar by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Breast Impressions Calendar\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2777/4152942591_6a1a69eb63.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nTo get yours and to stock up for Christmas, visit <a href=\"http://www.breastimpressionscalendar.com/\">breastimpressionscalendar.com</a>.\n\nMom, I guess I just spilled the beans about one of your Christmas gifts, huh? At least now you won\'t have to shake as many boxes when you\'re here babysitting.\n\nMy mom. She\'s always been a box shaker. \n\n<strong>Breast Impressions, Inc.</strong>\n4645 S. Vandalia Ave.\n<a href=\"http://www.breastimpressionscalendar.com/\">breastimpressionscalendar.com</a>\n(918) 691-3874\n<a href=\"mailto:breastimpressions@cox.net\">breastimpressions@cox.net</a>\n$10, plus $1.75 for shipping (contact Judi for shipping on quantities greater than one)','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Breast Impressions Calendar','Ladies, in less than a month, you\'ll need a new calendar anyway. Why not choose one that might save your life? I don\'t know about you all, but I\'d trade calendars full of puppies and kittens and babies in vegetable costumes for a few extra days here on earth terrorizing you fine people. ','inherit','open','open','','376-autosave','','','2010-12-01 15:08:33','2010-12-01 20:08:33','',376,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/376-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4110,1,'2010-12-01 14:56:28','2010-12-01 19:56:28','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3465009785/\" title=\"DSC04355-1 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"DSC04355-1\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3465009785_c661069fde.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nOnce when I was gushing about my family\'s <a href=\"http://www.tulsazoo.org/\">Tulsa Zoo</a> membership to a fellow stay-at-home mom, she said something that caught my attention: \"The only reason we get to go to the zoo and the museums as often as we do is because our family gives us a membership every year for Christmas.\" \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nWhat a brilliant idea for a gift, right? What present can top the gift of education? And history with a sense of place? And the chance for a family to have a time and place to get together and spend some quality time, make some memories that will be cherished for years to come?\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3464958311/\" title=\"Here, Kitty Kitty by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Here, Kitty Kitty\" height=\"370\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3464958311_4e010725a3.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nFor the price of 10 or fewer <a href=\"http://zhuzhupets.com/\">Zhu Zhu Pets</a> (that is, the $8 version of the little buggers) and, in some cases, much, much less, a family of four can be gifted a year\'s worth of fun at museums like <a href=\"http://www.tulsaairandspacemuseum.com/membership.php?nav=involved\">Tulsa Air and Space Museum</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gilcrease.org/membership_levels.aspx\">Gilcrease Museum</a>, the <a href=\"http://www.tulsazoo.org/OnlineStore/GiftMembershipSignup/\">Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum</a>, <a href=\"http://www.oxleynaturecenter.org/member_app.htm\">Oxley Nature Center</a>, <a href=\"http://www.jewishmuseum.net/join/membership.html\">The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art</a>, <a href=\"http://www.okaquarium.org/membership.php?subPageName=membership\">Oklahoma Aquarium</a>, and <a href=\"http://www.philbrook.org/support/joining/\">Philbrook Museum</a>.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4109884404/\" title=\"Philbrook Museum Gardens by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gardens\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4109884404_291e7acc9c.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nGot some folks on your shopping list who\'d rather see a movie than go to a museum? Check this out: \r\n\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.circlecinema.com/gift%20card.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"205\" src=\"http://www.circlecinema.com/gift%20card.PNG\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.circlecinema.com/\">Circle Cinema Movie Money gift cards</a>! They\'re available in any denomination. Pick one up at 12 S. Lewis Ave. or call (918) 592-FILM to snag one over the phone. \r\n\r\nVoila, problem solved, shopping list crossed off. Mama\'s off to the spa. \r\n\r\nLike the Jelly of the Month Club, these memberships and gift cards are the gifts that keep on giving. Only, exploring collections of art that formed the framework of this city, gazing at pieces that have helped to define modern art and exploring a rainforest in one\'s own backyard are way better than twelve jars of sugary mush that couldn\'t beat Smucker\'s in a taste test if they tried.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3465769422/\" title=\"Tropical American Rainforest by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tropical American Rainforest\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/3465769422_9284bb3715.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWay better indeed.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tulsaairandspacemuseum.com/membership.php?nav=involved\">Tulsa Air and Space Museum</a>\r\n3624 N. 74th E. Ave.\r\n(918) 834-9900\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.gilcrease.org/membership_levels.aspx\">Gilcrease Museum</a>\r\n1400 Gilcrease Museum Road\r\n(918) 596-2700\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tulsazoo.org/OnlineStore/GiftMembershipSignup/\">Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum</a>\r\n6421 E. 36th Street North\r\n(918) 669-6600\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.oxleynaturecenter.org/member_app.htm\">Oxley Nature Center</a>\r\n6700 Mohawk Boulevard\r\n(918) 669-6644\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.jewishmuseum.net/join/membership.html\">The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art</a>\r\n2021 E. 71st Street\r\n(918) 492-1818\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.okaquarium.org/membership.php?subPageName=membership\">Oklahoma Aquarium</a>\r\n300 Aquarium Drive in Jenks\r\n(918) 296-FISH\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.philbrook.org/support/joining/\">Philbrook Museum</a>\r\n2727 S. Rockford Road\r\n(918) 749-7941\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.circlecinema.com/\">Circle Cinema</a>\r\n12 S. Lewis Ave.\r\n(918) 592-FILM','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Best Tulsa Memberships','Once when I was gushing about my family\'s Tulsa Zoo membership to a fellow stay-at-home mom, she said something that caught my attention: \"The only reason we get to go to the zoo and the museums as often as we do is because our family gives us a membership every year for Christmas.\" ','inherit','open','open','','381-revision-2','','','2010-12-01 14:56:28','2010-12-01 19:56:28','',381,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/381-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0);
INSERT INTO `wptdt_posts` VALUES (382,1,'2009-12-06 20:00:00','2009-12-06 20:00:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://www.booksmarttulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/43949637.jpg\" /><br /></div><br /><a href=\"http://www.booksmarttulsa.com/\">Booksmart Tulsa</a> has done it again, folks. As if bringing <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4057450032/\">one of the most popular bloggers in the U.S. to Tulsa</a> wasn\'t enough, co-creators Jeff Martin (<a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/491\">an author of a books himself</a> - <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/product/275?link_id=174&amp;link_section_id=15\">two, actually</a>) and <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/\">Dwelling Spaces owner Mary Beth Babcock</a> have partnered with <a href=\"http://www.cfbeo.org/\">the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma</a> to bring <a href=\"http://juliepowellbooks.com/books.html\">Julie Powell to T-Town to show off her brand-spanking-new book, Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat and Obsession</a>. <br /><br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br />You might know Julie from <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Julia-Year-Cooking-Dangerously/dp/031604427X\">a little book called Julia and Julia</a> - you know, the book that was <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135503/\">adapted into a motion picture starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep (Meryl!) that grossed $20 million during its opening weekend</a>.<br /><br />The story goes a little something like this: Powell embarked on an ambitious year-long cooking and blogging expedition through all 524 recipes in Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” The blog and the buzz culminated into Powells\' 2005 literary debut.<br /><br />Her newest book, released just six days ago, explores the trials and tribulations of her marriage, as well as what drove her to decide to work in a butcher\'s shop, slicing and dicing and all of the pleasant things that we can all imagine going on in such a place.<br /><br /><b>Powell will dine, sign books and chat with Tulsans at </b><a href=\"http://www.cfbeo.org/\"><b>1304 N. Kenosha, the home of the Culinary Center at CFBEO</b></a><b>, tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 7</b>. While the pre-event, VIP dinner party, which will feature <a href=\"http://www.palacetulsa.com/\">Chef James Shrader of Tulsa\'s own Palace Cafe</a> and <a href=\"http://www.oprah.com/recipe/food/recipesmeat/20090806-orig-julia-child-boeuf-bourguignon\">Julia Child\'s famous Beef Bourguignon recipe</a>, is sold out.<br /><br />But, not to worry. There will be plenty of Julie to go around afterward when, at 7pm, she will regale what promises to be a beefy audience (sorry, I couldn\'t help myself) with a few readings from her newest book. The lecture and the following book signing are free and open to the public. <br /><br />While there\'s no charge to meet Julie, it would be nice to bring a non-perishable food donation for the Food Bank, wouldn\'t it? I knew you\'d agree. You\'re such generous blog readers. After all, requests for food assistance is up by 40 percent, and the latest numbers show Oklahoma as the fourth-hungriest state in the nation. We all want to help the Food Bank cover the needs of our friends, family and neighbors. <br /><br />If you\'ve so far managed to refrain from skipping out to snap up Powell\'s new book, bring $25 to get your hardback or paperback copy of Cleaving at this event. Copies of Julie and Julia will be available, too. <br /><br />Know what I think? I think that if Jeff and Mary Beth continue to bring A-list authors to Tulsa, they might just turn Tulsa into a national literary mecca.<br /><br />\"Since our inception earlier this year, our goal has been to make literary events relevant and accessible,” Jeff Martin said. “Over the past year, we had some amazing events. But none of that could happen without the support of the community.  <br /><br />\"We wanted to do a great holiday event to say thanks,\" he said. \"This event, and our partnership with the Food Bank, is a wonderful way to say goodbye to 2009 and get people excited for what\'s to come.\"<br /><br />Wouldn\'t that be killer? Just thinking about it has me fanning myself. <br /><br />Powell has come a long way since that year in her tiny New York City apartment kitchen. She\'s made appearances on ABC’s “Good Morning America,\" CBS’s “The Early Show,” “The Martha Stewart Show” and the Food Network’s “Iron Chef America.” <br /><br />Her writing has appeared in Bon Appétit, Food and Wine, Harper’s Bazaar - this list has me gasping for breath right about now - the New York Times and the Washington Post. She is a two-time James Beard Award winner, has been awarded an honorary degree from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and was the first winner of the Overall Lulu Blooker Prize for Books.<br /><br />Woah. <br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxwOlcPjhSI/AAAAAAAABis/7-WMKTmxBCc/s1600-h/Julie+Powell++Kelly+Campbell.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SxwOlcPjhSI/AAAAAAAABis/7-WMKTmxBCc/s640/Julie+Powell++Kelly+Campbell.jpg\" /></a><br /></div><br />See you all at the Food Bank tomorrow night.<br /><div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" href=\"http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/6aced3b8-434a-4d64-81e6-8f991fc23977/\" title=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\"><img alt=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\" class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" src=\"http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=6aced3b8-434a-4d64-81e6-8f991fc23977\" style=\"border: none; float: right;\" /></a><script defer=\"defer\" src=\"http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br /></div>','Julie Powell Comes to Tulsa','','publish','open','open','','julie-powell-comes-to-tulsa','','','2009-12-06 20:00:00','2009-12-06 20:00:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=382',0,'post','',64),(383,1,'2009-12-06 23:46:00','2009-12-06 23:46:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4163371825/\" title=\"Tulsa Shirts by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Shirts\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/4163371825_31264620c6.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nI know I won\'t get any points for originality here, but I think any and all Tulsa t-shirts - you know, the ones that have been in every local gift guide since 2006 - have more than earned some real estate in <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/search/label/Gift%20Guide\">this year\'s TDT Holiday Gift Guide</a>.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4163373499/\" title=\"Tulsa Shirts by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Shirts\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2547/4163373499_2f98c2823c.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWhat this suggestion lacks in novelty it packs in practicality and all that has become classic. What I mean is, the Tulsa t-shirt is my go-to gift these days, Christmastime or not. Any time I find myself racking my brain to come up with the perfect gift, I head to <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/\">Dwelling Spaces downtown</a> or <a href=\"http://www.idaredboutique.com/\">Ida Red on Brookside</a> and bag <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/section/45\">an I Heart Tulsa t-shirt</a>, something from <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/section/49\">the Okie Grown line</a> or a shirt emblazoned with the <a href=\"http://www.cainsballroom.com/\">Cain\'s Ballroom</a> logo.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4164132826/\" title=\"Tulsa Shirts by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Shirts\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2469/4164132826_801b943850.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nAt $20, it\'s hard to go wrong with these babies.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4163373147/\" title=\"Tulsa Shirts by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Shirts\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/4163373147_4e4dbfe4e2.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThese t-shirts make great gifts even for out-of-town relatives and friends. I\'ve worn mine in several distant not-Tulsa cities, and each time the shirts served as conversation starters. One of those \"Tulsa, huh?\" responses was better than nothing - at least that person read and spoke the word \"Tulsa\" that day - but I really loved when someone said something like, \"Tell me about Tulsa.\" That\'s when I would proceed to proselytize for T-Town converts, rattling off the names of our attractions and cost-of-living ratios and all the reasons I love this city in an effort to get the person to sell all he owns and get on a plane that lands at TIA.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4163373689/\" title=\"Tulsa Shirts by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Shirts\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4163373689_46b4469949.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nI\'m so glad I have this blog now. These inappropriately enthusiastic outbursts of Tulsa love abroad happen much less frequently now. It\'s better for the city (and its reputation for <i>not</i> being the home of crazy-eyed, red-headed civic cheerleaders) this way.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4163371825/\" title=\"Tulsa Shirts by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Shirts\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/4163371825_31264620c6.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nAh, the hip and edgy Tulsa t-shirt. Before you know it, the giftee will be asking you how to collect them all.\r\n\r\n<b>Tulsa T-Shirts: Louis and Cluck, Okie Grown, Cain\'s Ballroom</b>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/\">Dwelling Spaces</a>\r\n119 S. Detroit\r\n(918) 582-1033\r\ninfo@dwellingspaces.net\r\nMonday-Saturday, 10:30am-7:30pm, Sunday-Monday, 11am-4pm\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.idaredboutique.com/\">Ida Red Boutique</a>\r\n3346 S. Peoria Ave.\r\n(918) 949-6950\r\nMonday–Wednesday, 10:30am–6:30pm, Thursday–Saturday 10:30am–open til they\'re closed, Sunday, 12-4pm','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: The Tulsa T-Shirt','I know I won\'t get any points for originality here, but I think any and all Tulsa t-shirts - you know, the ones that have been in every local gift guide since 2006 - have more than earned some real estate in this year\'s TDT Holiday Gift Guide.','publish','open','open','','tulsa-tshirt-tdt-holiday-gift-guide','','','2010-12-01 14:44:56','2010-12-01 19:44:56','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=383',0,'post','',5),(4108,1,'2010-12-01 14:56:20','2010-12-01 19:56:20','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3465009785/\" title=\"DSC04355-1 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"DSC04355-1\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3465009785_c661069fde.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\nOnce when I was gushing about my family\'s <a href=\"http://www.tulsazoo.org/\">Tulsa Zoo</a> membership to a fellow stay-at-home mom, she said something that caught my attention: \"The only reason we get to go to the zoo and the museums as often as we do is because our family gives us a membership every year for Christmas.\" \n\n<!--more-->\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nWhat a brilliant idea for a gift, right? What present can top the gift of education? And history with a sense of place? And the chance for a family to have a time and place to get together and spend some quality time, make some memories that will be cherished for years to come?\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3464958311/\" title=\"Here, Kitty Kitty by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Here, Kitty Kitty\" height=\"370\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3464958311_4e010725a3.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nFor the price of 10 or fewer <a href=\"http://zhuzhupets.com/\">Zhu Zhu Pets</a> (that is, the $8 version of the little buggers) and, in some cases, much, much less, a family of four can be gifted a year\'s worth of fun at museums like <a href=\"http://www.tulsaairandspacemuseum.com/membership.php?nav=involved\">Tulsa Air and Space Museum</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gilcrease.org/membership_levels.aspx\">Gilcrease Museum</a>, the <a href=\"http://www.tulsazoo.org/OnlineStore/GiftMembershipSignup/\">Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum</a>, <a href=\"http://www.oxleynaturecenter.org/member_app.htm\">Oxley Nature Center</a>, <a href=\"http://www.jewishmuseum.net/join/membership.html\">The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art</a>, <a href=\"http://www.okaquarium.org/membership.php?subPageName=membership\">Oklahoma Aquarium</a>, and <a href=\"http://www.philbrook.org/support/joining/\">Philbrook Museum</a>.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4109884404/\" title=\"Philbrook Museum Gardens by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gardens\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4109884404_291e7acc9c.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\nGot some folks on your shopping list who\'d rather see a movie than go to a museum? Check this out: \n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.circlecinema.com/gift%20card.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"205\" src=\"http://www.circlecinema.com/gift%20card.PNG\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.circlecinema.com/\">Circle Cinema Movie Money gift cards</a>! They\'re available in any denomination. Pick one up at 12 S. Lewis Ave. or call (918) 592-FILM to snag one over the phone. \n\nVoila, problem solved, shopping list crossed off. Mama\'s off to the spa. \n\nLike the Jelly of the Month Club, these memberships and gift cards are the gifts that keep on giving. Only, exploring collections of art that formed the framework of this city, gazing at pieces that have helped to define modern art and exploring a rainforest in one\'s own backyard are way better than twelve jars of sugary mush that couldn\'t beat Smucker\'s in a taste test if they tried.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3465769422/\" title=\"Tropical American Rainforest by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tropical American Rainforest\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/3465769422_9284bb3715.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\nWay better indeed.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.tulsaairandspacemuseum.com/membership.php?nav=involved\">Tulsa Air and Space Museum</a>\n3624 N. 74th E. Ave.\n(918) 834-9900\n\n<a href=\"http://www.gilcrease.org/membership_levels.aspx\">Gilcrease Museum</a>\n1400 Gilcrease Museum Road\n(918) 596-2700\n\n<a href=\"http://www.tulsazoo.org/OnlineStore/GiftMembershipSignup/\">Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum</a>\n6421 E. 36th Street North\n(918) 669-6600\n\n<a href=\"http://www.oxleynaturecenter.org/member_app.htm\">Oxley Nature Center</a>\n6700 Mohawk Boulevard\n(918) 669-6644\n\n<a href=\"http://www.jewishmuseum.net/join/membership.html\">The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art</a>\n2021 E. 71st Street\n(918) 492-1818\n\n<a href=\"http://www.okaquarium.org/membership.php?subPageName=membership\">Oklahoma Aquarium</a>\n300 Aquarium Drive in Jenks\n(918) 296-FISH\n\n<a href=\"http://www.philbrook.org/support/joining/\">Philbrook Museum</a>\n2727 S. Rockford Road\n(918) 749-7941\n\n<a href=\"http://www.circlecinema.com/\">Circle Cinema</a>\n12 S. Lewis Ave.\n(918) 592-FILM','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Best Tulsa Memberships','Once when I was gushing about my family\'s Tulsa Zoo membership to a fellow stay-at-home mom, she said something that caught my attention: \"The only reason we get to go to the zoo and the museums as often as we do is because our family gives us a membership every year for Christmas.\" ','inherit','open','open','','381-autosave','','','2010-12-01 14:56:20','2010-12-01 19:56:20','',381,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/381-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(384,1,'2009-12-07 19:55:00','2009-12-07 19:55:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4167178728/\" title=\"TDT on 2HD Midday by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"TDT on 2HD Midday\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4167178728_a9794e1499.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">In case you missed me <a href=\"http://www.kjrh.com/default.aspx\">this morning on the 2NEWS Midday&nbsp;Show</a>&nbsp;giving the rundown of <b>things to do with your kids in Tulsa this week</b>, here are a few things to tuck into your calendar.<br /><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Tonight (Dec. 9)</b>:<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Tulsa Youth Symphony</b>. <a href=\"http://tyso.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=1:concerts&amp;catid=1&amp;Itemid=18\">The TYS and guests ORU Orchestra and Chorus will play a holiday concert tonight</a> at Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, 701 S. Main in BA. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for kids. 7:30pm.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Julie Powell at Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma</b>. Moms, if you have the night off, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/julie-powell-comes-to-tulsa.html\">get to the CFBEO to meet the author of Julie and Julia and of the new book, Cleaving</a>. 7pm.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Tuesday (Dec. 8)</b>:<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Bikes, Balls and You</b>. Funny name, great times. <a href=\"http://www.ttownmoms.com/\">Load up the kids and head to Whiteside Community Center just west of Promenade Mall off of 41st Street</a> for some games, activities and free snacks with the parents and kids of <a href=\"http://Ttownmoms.com/\">Ttownmoms.com</a>. 9:30am.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Wednesday (Dec. 9)</b>:<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Arvest Winterfest</b>. Lace up those skates, Mom and Dad, because <a href=\"http://bokcenter.com/general.asp?id=168\">to keep up with the kids on the outdoor skating rink at this downtown festival, you\'re gonna have to</a>. Get your fill of concessions, carriage rides and a 44-foot, 35,000-light Christmas tree, too. 4-10pm.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Thursday (Dec. 10)</b>:<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>A Christmas Carol</b>. It\'s opening night for <a href=\"http://www.tulsapac.com/calendar.asp?id=1119&amp;task=display\">this Tulsa Performing Arts Center production of the Charles Dickens Classic</a>. Tickets are $24. The curtain goes up at 7:30pm.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Friday (Dec. 11)</b>:<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge</b>. After watching classic version of this Christmas classic the night before, <a href=\"http://www.sapulpacommunitytheatre.com/shows/TTOES09/TES09.html\">challenge your expectations at Sapulpa Community Theater</a>. Why? Because Scrooge is back to his old ways and has hauled the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future into court. Oh, my. The performance starts at 8pm.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Saturday (Dec. 12)</b>:<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Jungle Bell Run</b>. <a href=\"http://jbrtulsa.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=316810\">Get up (and dress up) bright and early for this musical, fundraising 5K on Brookside for arthritis</a>. 8am.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>PSO Parade of Lights</b>. If you\'re not downtown somewhere along Cincinnati Avenue, Fourth Street or Boulder Avenue come 6pm this Saturday night, you\'ll be square. <a href=\"http://www.tulsadowntown.org/documents/2009PSOChristmasParadeofLightsSponsorshipOpportunities.pdf\">Dozens of parade entries from giant, helium-filled balloons to marching bands and, of course, floats decked to the holiday nines glide through the streets of downtown Tulsa</a>. The parade is expected to attract 30,000 onlookers, but don\'t worry about parking - 35,000 people drive and park downtown for work every day with plenty of parking to spare.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">What are you doing with the kids this week?<br /></div><div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" href=\"http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/357038f6-e41f-4ee7-a4a9-7c7de0f90ecf/\" title=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\"><img alt=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\" class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" src=\"http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=357038f6-e41f-4ee7-a4a9-7c7de0f90ecf\" style=\"border: none; float: right;\" /></a><script defer=\"defer\" src=\"http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br /></div>','This Week in Tulsa Parenthood','','publish','open','open','','this-week-in-tulsa-parenthood','','','2009-12-07 19:55:00','2009-12-07 19:55:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=384',0,'post','',0),(385,1,'2009-12-08 05:52:00','2009-12-08 05:52:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4167819265/\" title=\"Tulsa Performing Arts Center by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Performing Arts Center\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2598/4167819265_ffd79b107d.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nFor $15, for Christmas one could buy:\r\n<ul><li>A nicer-than-Hanes pair of socks;</li><li>A nicer-than-Fruit-of-the-Loom pair of underwear (men\'s only);</li><li>A gift card, the near thoughtlessness of which is not redeemed by <a href=\"http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/shopping/shopping-tips/gift-card-pitfalls-12-07/overview/gift-card-pitfalls-ov.htm\">its 27-percent chance of taking up permanent residence in the back of a junk drawer</a>;</li><li>The hot toy of the year for 2009, a Zhu-Zhu Pet - that is, if you can find one in a store where the fabled $8 price is charged.</li></ul>\r\n\r\nOr, one could offer an experience, the chance to take part in a Tulsa tradition.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nWhen I found out tickets to <a href=\"http://www.tulsapac.com/calendar.asp?id=1109&amp;task=display\">The Nutcracker, presented in Tulsa for more than 50 years by Tulsa Ballet</a>, start at $15, I was appalled. At that price, how could I have managed to miss this production last year? Or the year before that? Or the year before...okay, so I saw The Nutcracker the year before that, and at least twice before even that, but still. What I felt was the total opposite of buyer\'s remorse.\r\n\r\nA $15 price tag is easy to swallow, particularly right now. With a recession on, everyone seems to be cutting back in one way or another this holiday season. It\'s nice to know that there\'s an affordable alternative to the \"it\" gifts in stores this year, as well as to opting out of gift giving altogether.\r\n\r\nBesides, a trip to see The Nutcracker offers memories and experiences, both of which pack more of a punch as a gift than a similarly priced item in the bargain bin of some super-sized department store. \r\n\r\nThe Nutcracker is a classic, you know. Tulsa Ballet’s version, which hit the stage of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center in 2003 thanks to <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=8&amp;task=staffdisplay&amp;staffid=80\">producer and Tulsa Ballet artistic director Marcello Angelini</a>, begins with a Christmas Party at the Paris Opera House where its artistic director, Mr. Drosselmeier, announces the French premiere of The Nutcracker. Marie, a young dance student at the Paris Opera School, is captivated by the plot and, once asleep, dreams of being a part of it.\r\n\r\nThe audience is treated to the classic Nutcracker vignettes: The Dance of the Snowflakes, the Mouse King and the Nutcracker’s battle (including their armies composed of young dance students from the Tulsa area - cool, huh?) and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.\r\n\r\nDuring the second act are dances that pay tribute to Russia, Arabia, Spain and China, each performed in turn. The sets, created by internationally renowned designer Luisa Spinatelli, are inspired by art deco architecture (always close to Tulsans\' heart) and fashion. \r\n\r\nAs Angelini said, “The Nutcracker is not just a story about dolls, candy canes and imaginary kingdoms. The essence of this holiday classic is that of renewed generosity and kindness during the holiday season. It is a celebration of the goodness of the human soul.”\r\n\r\nAmen. \r\n\r\n<object height=\"344\" width=\"425\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/LeeIkOzmWgk&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00\"></param><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\"></param><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\"></param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/LeeIkOzmWgk&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" width=\"425\" height=\"344\"></embed></object>\r\n\r\nThis weekend brings the opening night of this year\'s production of The Nutcracker. The first performance is Saturday at 2pm, with other 2pm showings this Sunday, as well as on Dec. 19 and 20. Evening showings at 7pm are this Saturday, as well as on Dec. 17, 18 and 19. Tickets start at $15 and go up to $55.\r\n\r\nAll performances are accompanied by <a href=\"http://www.tulsasymphony.org/\">the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra</a> at <a href=\"http://www.tulsapac.ocm/\">Chapman Music Hall in the Tulsa Performing Arts Center</a>, in downtown Tulsa on the corner of Third and Cincinnati.\r\n\r\nThat\'s all. The end. Goodnight! \r\n\r\nHa!. Just kidding. \r\n\r\nThe Tulsa Ballet has been generous enough to donate <b>a family four pack of tickets to any showing of The Nutcracker of one lucky TDT reader\'s choice</b>. \r\n\r\nTo enter to win, <b>post something in the comments section on how you feel about men in tights</b>. We might as well make this fun, right? We get enough Hallmark moments this time of year. Let\'s have some laughs and variety and spice. \r\n\r\nSince one can emote (one way or another) for only so long in a blog\'s comment section about men who are strong and brave and buns-of-steel enough to wear next to nothing from the waist down while dancing vigorously to Tchaikovsky on a stage in front of more than 2,000 people, feel free to hop on Facebook and/or Twitter and gab about this giveaway there, too. If you elect to do this, please be sure I know about it (type @tashadoestulsa in either Facebook or Twitter) so I can award you the proper number of entries. \r\n\r\nDo all this <b>before 8pm on Wednesday night (Dec. 9)</b> and make the Random.org gods happy and you might just find yourself the proud, new owner of a family four pack of tickets to see the performance of your choice of The Nutcracker. And everyone will love you and never question your wisdom ever again. And they\'ll probably wear tights for you, too, just for kicks.\r\n\r\nGood luck, everyone!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tulsapac.com/calendar.asp?id=1109&amp;task=display\"><b>Tulsa Ballet: The Nutcracker</b></a>\r\nPerformed at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center in Chapman Hall, 110 E. Second Street\r\n(918) 596-7122\r\nTickets starting at $15','Tulsa Ballet\'s The Nutcracker: TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009','When I found out tickets to The Nutcracker, presented in Tulsa for more than 50 years by Tulsa Ballet, start at $15, I was appalled. At that price, how could I have managed to miss this production last year? What I felt was the total opposite of buyer\'s remorse.','publish','open','open','','tulsa-ballet-the-nutcracker-tdt-holiday-gift-guide-2009','','','2010-12-14 15:15:35','2010-12-14 20:15:35','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=385',0,'post','',16),(4106,1,'2010-12-01 14:44:51','2010-12-01 19:44:51','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4163371825/\" title=\"Tulsa Shirts by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Shirts\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/4163371825_31264620c6.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nI know I won\'t get any points for originality here, but I think any and all Tulsa t-shirts - you know, the ones that have been in every local gift guide since 2006 - have more than earned some real estate in <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/search/label/Gift%20Guide\">this year\'s TDT Holiday Gift Guide</a>.\n\n<!--more-->\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4163373499/\" title=\"Tulsa Shirts by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Shirts\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2547/4163373499_2f98c2823c.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\nWhat this suggestion lacks in novelty it packs in practicality and all that has become classic. What I mean is, the Tulsa t-shirt is my go-to gift these days, Christmastime or not. Any time I find myself racking my brain to come up with the perfect gift, I head to <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/\">Dwelling Spaces downtown</a> or <a href=\"http://www.idaredboutique.com/\">Ida Red on Brookside</a> and bag <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/section/45\">an I Heart Tulsa t-shirt</a>, something from <a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/site/dwelling_spaces/section/49\">the Okie Grown line</a> or a shirt emblazoned with the <a href=\"http://www.cainsballroom.com/\">Cain\'s Ballroom</a> logo.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4164132826/\" title=\"Tulsa Shirts by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Shirts\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2469/4164132826_801b943850.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\nAt $20, it\'s hard to go wrong with these babies.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4163373147/\" title=\"Tulsa Shirts by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Shirts\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/4163373147_4e4dbfe4e2.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\n\nThese t-shirts make great gifts even for out-of-town relatives and friends. I\'ve worn mine in several distant not-Tulsa cities, and each time the shirts served as conversation starters. One of those \"Tulsa, huh?\" responses was better than nothing - at least that person read and spoke the word \"Tulsa\" that day - but I really loved when someone said something like, \"Tell me about Tulsa.\" That\'s when I would proceed to proselytize for T-Town converts, rattling off the names of our attractions and cost-of-living ratios and all the reasons I love this city in an effort to get the person to sell all he owns and get on a plane that lands at TIA.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4163373689/\" title=\"Tulsa Shirts by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Shirts\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4163373689_46b4469949.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nI\'m so glad I have this blog now. These inappropriately enthusiastic outbursts of Tulsa love abroad happen much less frequently now. It\'s better for the city (and its reputation for <i>not</i> being the home of crazy-eyed, red-headed civic cheerleaders) this way.\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4163371825/\" title=\"Tulsa Shirts by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Shirts\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/4163371825_31264620c6.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\n\nAh, the hip and edgy Tulsa t-shirt. Before you know it, the giftee will be asking you how to collect them all.\n\n<b>Tulsa T-Shirts: Louis and Cluck, Okie Grown, Cain\'s Ballroom</b>\n<a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/\">Dwelling Spaces</a>\n119 S. Detroit\n(918) 582-1033\ninfo@dwellingspaces.net\nMonday-Saturday, 10:30am-7:30pm, Sunday-Monday, 11am-4pm\n\n<a href=\"http://www.idaredboutique.com/\">Ida Red Boutique</a>\n3346 S. Peoria Ave.\n(918) 949-6950\nMonday–Wednesday, 10:30am–6:30pm, Thursday–Saturday 10:30am–open til they\'re closed, Sunday, 12-4pm','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: The Tulsa T-Shirt','I know I won\'t get any points for originality here, but I think any and all Tulsa t-shirts - you know, the ones that have been in every local gift guide since 2006 - have more than earned some real estate in this year\'s TDT Holiday Gift Guide.','inherit','open','open','','383-autosave','','','2010-12-01 14:44:51','2010-12-01 19:44:51','',383,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/383-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(386,1,'2009-12-09 03:50:00','2009-12-09 03:50:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4170843724/\" title=\"Caramel on Brookside by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Caramel on Brookside\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2580/4170843724_0a4c0360c7.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div><br />Last Friday my former boyfriend and I were invited to test a new bakery and dessert bar in Center 1 on Brookside.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4170843240/\" title=\"Caramel on Brookside by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Caramel on Brookside\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2695/4170843240_e4a38265b0.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div><br />My former boyfriend is my husband now, by the way. I mean, he was my boyfriend at one point in time. Actually, a very, very miniscule point in time. Then, suddenly, I found myself married to the guy.<br /><br />Don\'t worry your little heads about that, my darlings. It\'s another story for another day. <br /><br />Back to business.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4170104785/\" title=\"Caramel on Brookside by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Caramel on Brookside\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4170104785_841a7b2f2b.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div><br />As I was saying, <i>my husband</i> and I were invited to try a swanky new Brookside eatery last weekend. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4170843724/\" title=\"Caramel on Brookside by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Caramel on Brookside\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2580/4170843724_0a4c0360c7.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div><br />The restaurant is Caramel, a bakery and dessert bar that stands as an outgrowth of <a href=\"http://www.kupcakz.com/\">Kupcakz, the gourmet cupcake bakery at 71st and Mingo</a>. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3372440865/\" title=\"Cupcakes from Kupcakz, 71st and Memorial by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Cupcakes from Kupcakz, 71st and Memorial\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3442/3372440865_5ea6609a63.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/3004507310_c177f377ab.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/3004507310_c177f377ab.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/3004507860_07110564fa.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/3004507860_07110564fa.jpg\" width=\"397\" /></a></div><br />It\'s okay. You can drool. You should be free to express yourself in all things.<br /><br /><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/05/not-exactly-what-pavlov-had-in-mind.html\">If you haven\'t heard me wax poetic about all that is Kupcakz</a>, then you\'re probably new here at TDT. If you have heard me, I\'m sorry. I\'ll try to keep it down next time.<br /><br /><a href=\"http://www.kupcakz.com/about.php\">The pastry chef at Kupcakz and at the new Caramel are one in the same: Doreen Durano</a>. See, Doreen has cooked and baked in all sorts of exciting places, including Las Vegas and her alma mater, California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Did you know she is the proud mother of two tween girls? It\'s true. She sells light-as-air, beautifully decorated cupcakes inspired by and named after them, in fact.<br /><br />So, needless to say, I was excited when I heard about Doreen\'s new venture on Brookside. I was so excited, in fact, that I begged her to invite me to her preview dinner last Friday night. Thankfully, she humored me.<br /><br />I was all ready to go - stretchy pants on, cinnamon pills packed to help my system with the abnormal amount of sweets I was sure I\'d ingest, and a pillow in the car for the nap I bet I\'d need on the way home. I was locked and loaded, baby.<br /><br />The one thing I forgot, of course, was to charge the battery in my camera.<br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.crowdstorm.co.uk/upload/images/product/339/PID333941YEueylO1L.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"272\" src=\"http://www.crowdstorm.co.uk/upload/images/product/339/PID333941YEueylO1L.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div>My poor, unfortunate camera (<a href=\"http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/H3/H3A.HTM\">a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3, by the way</a> - I get asked a lot, actually). It\'s been through so much since we bought it two and a half years ago. I\'ve put this thing through absolute hell, from covering it with animal cracker crumbs from the bottom of the diaper bag to dropping it on the floor to covering it in bacon grease while trying to photograph myself cooking supper. No matter what, though, this little camera has been willing to rise to the occasion. It\'s like a Timex, if you know what I mean.<br /><br />That I\'d forgotten to charge it before a dinner I\'d been waiting all week to photograph was no surprise to my husband, nor to me, really. I tried to make the best of the situation.<br /><br />But, as Yoda would say, \"Do or not do. There is no try.\"<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4170886148/\" title=\"Caramel on Brookside by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Caramel on Brookside\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2548/4170886148_379969e85b.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div><br />Yoda was right, y\'all.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4170907920/\" title=\"Caramel on Brookside by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Caramel on Brookside\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2626/4170907920_9e493d0154.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div><br />Now, I\'m no photographer. I use a point-and-shoot camera, and the level of my skills and experience ranks me well into the amateur category. But, I look at a lot of food photos and I feel like I have a general sense of what makes a good composition and what does not. I think. Maybe.<br /><br />To me, the basic rules of food photography are: <br /><br /><b>1. Don\'t use a flash</b>. Really, this is because I have no idea how to use one properly, not because I actually have anything against flash photography.<br /><b>2. Use tons of natural light</b>. Shooting by an open door or window works well.<br /><b>3. Fill the frame with the subject</b> - that is, unless you\'re trying to create some type of effect using tons of negative space. Which I think is kinda gimmicky and contrived, but to each their own, because what the heck do I know.<br /><b>4. Shoot a dynamic photo</b>. In other words, don\'t shoot the most beautiful muffin you\'ve ever seen head-on. Find a way to move the observer\'s eye from one part of the photo to another. Perspective and focus and subtle angles are fun to play with. The goal is to make people who don\'t care about muffins to, at least in the space of a moment or two, <i>really</i> care about muffins.<br /><b>5. Don\'t style the interest away</b>. What\'s a crumb here or there? I think food photos that look natural, like something that\'d show up on the table at my house, hold my eye for longer than photos Gourmet or Bon Appetit would slap on one of their covers. <br /><b>6. More of interest than any other aspect of food photos, to me at least, is texture</b>. This isn\'t a rule, per se, but rather something I try to keep in mind any time a camera, a plate of food and I show up in the same place at the same time. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4170907920/\" title=\"Caramel on Brookside by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Caramel on Brookside\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2626/4170907920_9e493d0154.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div><br />I have a hard time following my own rules a lot of the time - especially when my camera\'s battery light is flashing, gasping for life, begging me to come closer to hear its dying words. I screw up the focus, I jostle expert plating, I point and shoot without considering the consequences.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4170133277/\" title=\"Caramel on Brookside by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Caramel on Brookside\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/4170133277_357e0b730f.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div><br />I hope everyone can get a sense for how beautiful the food was at this first-ever dinner at Caramel, despite the many issues with my photography skills. What\'s more, the food tasted great, too. Guess what else - even the service was good. <br /><br />Normally, things get a little crazy at these preview dinners. Orders get confused, waitstaff might as well be graphing the next Family Circus cartoon with all of their beelines and zig-zagging and the food, generally, leaves much to be desired. These evenings are, after all, test runs. They\'re meant to establish a baseline, a place to begin improvement. <br /><br />If what we experienced last Friday night was a true preview of what\'s to come then, wow, Caramel is going to take Brookside by storm. Even with all of the coming and going happening on The Strip right now, it\'ll be tough for local foodies not to take serious notice of this place.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4170843724/\" title=\"Caramel on Brookside by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Caramel on Brookside\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2580/4170843724_0a4c0360c7.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div><br />Good luck to all at Caramel. I promise to bring a fully functioning camera the next time I visit. Which will probably very, very soon, since you opened for your first official day of business today. <br /><br />P.S. - Hey, Doreen? Your ham, brie, poached pear and spicy mustard sandwich on brioche, which you served last Friday with a side of sweet potato and bacon gratin, is pretty good - pretty good as in, I bought all the stuff to make it at home over the weekend because I knew you wouldn\'t be open until today. I couldn\'t do it, Doreen. I need help. I need your guidance. <i>I need that sandwich</i>. Also, I\'ll need to pick up an order of dark chocolate mousse in one of your chocolate cups, which I will share with no one, ever. Ever, ever.<br /><br />Ever.<br /><br />Read more about the local food scene on <a href=\"http://www.tulsabusiness.com/\">the Food Page of Tulsa Business Journal</a> and at <a href=\"http://www.tulsafoodblog.com/\">Tulsa Food Blog</a>.<br /><br /><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: small;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/kupcakz\">Bottom two Kupcakz photos from Kupcakz on Flickr</a></span>.<br /><br /><a href=\"http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/58/1500722/restaurant/Brookside/Caramel-Bakery-Dessert-Bar-Tulsa\"><img alt=\"Caramel Bakery &amp; Dessert Bar on Urbanspoon\" src=\"http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1500722/minilink.gif\" style=\"border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;\" /></a>','Food Photography: A Miseducation','','publish','open','open','','food-photography-miseducation','','','2009-12-09 03:50:00','2009-12-09 03:50:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=386',0,'post','',4),(387,1,'2009-12-10 02:45:00','2009-12-10 02:45:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4173324670/\" title=\"Under the Mooch by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Under the Mooch\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4173324670_d6e26a0ce9.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Sure, I\'d heard of <a href=\"http://www.underthemooch.com/\"><b>Under the Mooch</b>, an independent records and music store open here in Tulsa at 15th and Harvard</a>&nbsp;since June 2006.<br /><br />It\'s just that, <a href=\"http://www.myspace.com/starshiprecordsok\">having been raised a <b>Starship</b> girl</a> (my dad, a <a href=\"http://www.utulsa.edu/\">University of Tulsa</a> grad, spent a lot of time there with my mom when he should have been studying, thus ensuring that I started my music-collecting life at the former, technicolor, dual-building location with a Juice Newton&nbsp;cassette and a Selena&nbsp;CD - rock!), I never really considered trying any other local music outlet.<br /><br />That was, until last week.<br /><br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4172567865/\" title=\"Under the Mooch by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Under the Mooch\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2653/4172567865_534f090933.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4173324196/\" title=\"Under the Mooch by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Under the Mooch\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4173324196_e416345629.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">\"Cool!\" I thought when I spotted the above sign, planted on the sidewalk just outside of the indie record shop. \"Ten to fifty percent off of everything? The TDT readers are gonna freak!\"<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">While I\'m totally ignorant about vinyl and the culture surrounding it, I was impressed by the range of artists available on vinyl at UtM - we\'re talking everything from Beyonce to Thelonious Monk here.<br /><br />The store has that feel that only a record store in that part of town could have, like it\'s a blown-up version of the corner of some college kid\'s dorm room (and by blown-up I mean just slightly enlarged - UtM isn\'t much more spacious than what I know to be typical college quarters), where he keeps his record collection. The place is well-worn, comfortable and the merchandise was well-organized. The staff was quiet but ready to help when asked.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4172568015/\" title=\"Under the Mooch by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Under the Mooch\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/4172568015_228babb765.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Here\'s where I got stuck for a good half-hour - the local artists section.&nbsp;Here\'s what I scored:<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4172568241/\" title=\"Under the Mooch by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Under the Mooch\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2646/4172568241_0577ab3683.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />My very first vinyl, ever. Even though I have nothing on which to play it.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4173324816/\" title=\"Under the Mooch by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Under the Mooch\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2776/4173324816_fa8886511f.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4173325006/\" title=\"Under the Mooch by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Under the Mooch\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2604/4173325006_c3aeb3407e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Hey, it came with a CD, too. I\'m not a total airhead. At least, not usually. <br /><br /><a href=\"http://www.callupsie.com/info\"><b>Callupsie</b>, an indie rock band that got its start in Tulsa about four years ago</a>, is my favorite local band these days. I like <a href=\"http://mysolsticeband.com/about.php\"><b>My Solstice</b></a>, too. And <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Sea-Choir/119623840279?v=wall#/pages/Dead-Sea-Choir/119623840279?v=info\"><b>Dead Sea Choir</b></a>. And I may or may not have purchased a little somethin\'-somethin\' at Under the Mooch by each of these artists. I mean, hey, why not? There\'s a rather solid sale happening. Why not take advantage? <br /><br />So, I purchased. And purchased and purchased. Then, I hopped on Twitter.<br /><br />\"Under the Mooch is closing for business,\" read one tweet. The Facebook page for Under the Mooch confirmed the news:<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs011.snc3/11839_1299897819738_1299197343_30845717_7521242_n.jpg\" /><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Great. I find a cool, new-to-me Tulsa place to frequent and it\'s on its way out. Just my luck.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">The upside of this craptastic situation is that we have the opportunity to see UtM through to its very last piece of merchandise - or, the end of January, whichever comes first. With 10-50 percent off of everything, how hard could it be to help out and stock up? It might not be easier than slipping into a robotic trance and hopping onto Amazon.com or driving to Barnes for gifts for your favorite music junkie this Christmas, but at least you\'ll feel better about it in the morning.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Not only will you get a good deal, but you\'ll also get cool atmosphere, great service and the chance to send off a beloved Tulsa business right.<br /><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs031.snc3/11839_1299899339776_1299197343_30845718_6248353_n.jpg\" /><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Whether or not you help to clean out UtM, you can still shop local for your music and for the music lovers on your shopping list this year. <a href=\"http://www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/blogs/weblog.aspx?column_id=29\"><b>Jennifer Chancellor</b>, music guru at Tulsa World and author of the music blog, <b>Barrelhouse Beat</b></a>, gives us the master list of what every Tulsa music junkie wants to find under the tree this year. Take it away, Jennifer.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div>\"In no particular order: <br /><br />- The Tractors, \"Trade Union.\" It\'s the last album he recorded at the legendary Church recording studio by Tractors frontman Steve Ripley in Tulsa, released this year. It features a host of Tulsa Sound legends, including Leon Russell. (If you\'re wanting a fantastic kids album, try the 2005 Uncle Steve &amp; The Tractors, \"The Kids Record (aka Chicken Covers).\")<br /><br />- Electric Rag Band, \"If You Got Some.\" Look for newbie (and Tulsa graphic designer/painter and guitarist) Sara Bowersock on rhythm guitar, and frontman Pat Cook\'s son Daniel on drums. <br /><br />- Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, \"One Day in Brooklyn.\" It\'s \"Miles Davis meets the Tulsa Sound,\" they\'ve added a pedal steel and even a banjo this time around.<br /><br />- Brandon Jenkins, \"Brothers of the Dirt.\" He may have transplanted to Texas, but his music is all Green Country red dirt. His album proves it with appearances from Randy Rogers, Bob Wiles, John Cooper, Stoney LaRue, Brad Absher, Dave Precefull, Phil Marshall, Cody Canada, Jared Tyler and more. <br /><br />- Eric &amp; The Adams, they have a new EP coming out, and a new album due by year\'s-end. Not sure of the title, but the EP is self-titled. They tour like crazy and are a super-tight band. <br /><br />Bonus: <br />- Samantha Crain &amp; the Midnight Shivers, \"Songs in the Night.\" Okay, she\'s from Shawnee, but her music wins accolades all over the place.\"<br /><br />Bask in the knowledge, people. If you all aren\'t reading Jennifer\'s blog, you\'re missing out on all kinds of good stuff, including but certainly not limited to the recurring Workweek Mixtape, one of my very favorite points of departure into music with which I\'m not familiar. Everyone has something to learn from Jennifer\'s encyclopedic knowledge on the local music scene. Especially me.<br /><br />Sayonara, Under the Mooch. You will be missed.<br /><br /><b>Under the Mooch</b><br />1425 S. Harvard Ave.<br />(918) 742-6465<br /><a href=\"http://www.underthemooch.com/\">http://www.underthemooch.com/</a><br /><a href=\"mailto:bart@underthemooch.com\"></a><a href=\"mailto:bart@underthemooch.com\">bart@underthemooch.com</a><br />Tuesday-Friday, 12-7pm<br />Saturday, 11am-8pm<br /><div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" href=\"http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/1b0c17dc-04df-4e44-871e-04b18e78b772/\" title=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\"><img alt=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\" class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" src=\"http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=1b0c17dc-04df-4e44-871e-04b18e78b772\" style=\"border: none; float: right;\" /></a><script defer=\"defer\" src=\"http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br /></div>','TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Tulsa Music','','publish','open','open','','tdt-holiday-gift-guide-tulsa-music','','','2009-12-10 02:45:00','2009-12-10 02:45:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=387',0,'post','',4),(388,1,'2009-12-10 04:25:00','2009-12-10 04:25:00','Thanks to all who entered <a href=\"http://tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-tulsa-ballets.html\">the contest for the family four-pack of tickets to Tulsa Ballet\'s The Nutcracker</a>. It\'s all over now, and I\'m about to pick a winner. I hope you\'re sitting down. We\'re gonna make it through this. Bear with me. My condolences.<br /><br />None of that made any sense. See how quickly things can go downhill when I\'m left to my own devices?<br /><br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br />Luckily, in this case, things only went as far as a discussion on men in tights. I loved reading what you had to say. Here were a few of my favorite comments:<br /><br />April &amp; Ashley: \"I think this pretty much says everything I want to say. And it still (embarrassingly) cracks me up.\"<br /><br />Here\'s what April &amp; Ashley meant by \"this:\"<br /><br /><object height=\"344\" width=\"425\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/pc1am3KyYgA&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00\"></param><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\"></param><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\"></param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/pc1am3KyYgA&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" width=\"425\" height=\"344\"></embed></object><br /><br />Ah. A classic. A splendid, soaring classic. Thanks for that.<br /><br />From Boot ~C: \"What\'s not to love about bulging, rock hard...thighs?\" Woah - I thought I was going to faint there for a second.<br /><br />From Ed: \"What\'s the big deal? I\'m wearing tights right now...\"<br /><br />Really, Ed, when you think about it, aren\'t we all wearing tights? What <i>are</i> tights, really, anyway? What day is it? What\'s for lunch? Where am I?<br /><br />Sorry. I\'ll stop now and announce the winner. <br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SyB3X4tbaAI/AAAAAAAABi0/EijKUmPz57Q/s1600-h/Picture+1.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SyB3X4tbaAI/AAAAAAAABi0/EijKUmPz57Q/s400/Picture+1.png\" /></a><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Please note that only 14 entered in the comments, but two earned an extra entry each by posting on Twitter. Okay? Okay.<br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SyB3tt2wb7I/AAAAAAAABi8/ZnrbPEyGQqM/s1600-h/Picture+2.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SyB3tt2wb7I/AAAAAAAABi8/ZnrbPEyGQqM/s320/Picture+2.png\" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Lucky No. 7 was...<br /><br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SyB33jNssfI/AAAAAAAABjE/0K1G7YznuEk/s1600-h/Picture+3.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SyB33jNssfI/AAAAAAAABjE/0K1G7YznuEk/s640/Picture+3.png\" /></a><br /></div><br /><a href=\"http://themommayhem.blogspot.com/\">Mom Mayhem</a>! Congrats. <a href=\"mailto:tashadoestulsa@gmail.com\">E-mail me to claim your prize</a>. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to enter.<br /><br />And now I\'d like to leave you all with a little something I hope you <i>don\'t</i> see this year at The Nutcracker:<br /><br /><object height=\"344\" width=\"425\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/NCt1R1Rn0ok&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00\"></param><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\"></param><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\"></param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/NCt1R1Rn0ok&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" width=\"425\" height=\"344\"></embed></object><br /><br />Ha! *shiver* If you\'re like me, you\'ll still be trying to wash this out of your brain come next Christmas.','Your Thoughts on Men in Tights','','publish','open','open','','your-thoughts-on-men-in-tights','','','2009-12-10 04:25:00','2009-12-10 04:25:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=388',0,'post','',3),(390,1,'2009-12-13 02:30:00','2009-12-13 02:30:00','So, there\'s this new cafe I found. It\'s called Gatsby\'s Grill, and it\'s on the north end of <a href=\"http://www.gardnersbooks.com/\">Gardner\'s Used Books &amp; Music</a>&nbsp;on Mingo between 41st and 51st Streets.<br /><br />Not only does this place have killer fish and chips, macaroni salad, French fries, twice-baked potatoes, and pecan pies (okay, I might go a little overboard when I try a place for the first time), I found out tonight Gatsby\'s turns out a pretty darned good burger, too.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4180345748/\" title=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2493/4180345748_9b94baf28e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">The beef was fresh, and the patty was cooked to medium without my even having to ask. Plus, this burger has nice buns. Meaning, one could flick the crust and get a nice, hollow sound. The crumb was substantial and chewy, which I liked.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">I love a bun that can stand up for itself when it counts. For $4.50, this burger made my pocketbook just as happy as were my taste buds.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">See that photo of the burger up there? I know we\'re all taught not to play with our food, but let\'s do it anyway.<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4179634559/\" title=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4179634559_7b448d23c1.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Mmm. Radioactive burger.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">What\'s a photo of a yummy burger if one can\'t alter it and change it and use it to go a little crazy?<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4179644697/\" title=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2801/4179644697_1945b5ddee.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Snow! It\'s snowing!<br /><br />There\'s nothing quite like a burger during the deafening silence of a snowstorm.<br /><br />We had to miss the PSO Parade of Lights tonight thanks to a certain someone\'s recurring ear infection. That\'s okay, though.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4180411150/\" title=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2774/4180411150_c4d93fffa9.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div>We have plenty of Christmas lights right here.<br /><br />\"I have an order for one burger with cheddar cheese. Sir, would you like nuts with that?\"<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4179655335/\" title=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4179655335_c95a140593.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">That a <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/\">Flickr/Picnik</a> user can add clusters of nuts to any photo they wish is...well, actually, I don\'t know what to think about that.<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4180423094/\" title=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4180423094_2836a7d579.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Holy burger! (Doesn\'t that sound like something Robin would say? \"Holy burger, Batman!\")<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4180430198/\" title=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2735/4180430198_bbb8cd5ef2.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Psychedelic burger!<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4180434788/\" title=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Burger from Gatsby\'s Grill\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4180434788_1031bab4cb.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Pixelated burger!<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Ah. Variety - and beef - is the spice of life.<br /></div><div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" href=\"http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/6b66367c-439b-440d-8067-95e22b08c03e/\" title=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\"><img alt=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\" class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" src=\"http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=6b66367c-439b-440d-8067-95e22b08c03e\" style=\"border: none; float: right;\" /></a><script defer=\"defer\" src=\"http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br /></div>','A Study in Burgers','','publish','open','open','','study-in-burgers','','','2009-12-13 02:30:00','2009-12-13 02:30:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=390',0,'post','',7),(391,1,'2009-12-14 21:15:00','2009-12-14 21:15:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4185162789/\" title=\"Tulsa A to Z by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa A to Z\" height=\"567\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2616/4185162789_c98891becd_o.png\" width=\"376\" /></a><br /></div><br />Have you ever longed for a fun, easy-to-remember list of Tulsa\'s most unusual sights, restaurants, people and stories? Imagine the fun you could have in this town with a list like that, chock full of things to see, things to do and things to be proud of in T-Town. <br /><br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a>Last week I received in the mail a package from <b><a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/goog_1260820752823\">Jack Frank</a></b><a href=\"http://www.tulsafilms.com/jack-frank/\">, one of Tulsa\'s favorite independent film makers</a>, containing a copy of <a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/goog_1260820752828\">his newest production, </a><b><i><a href=\"http://www.tulsafilms.com/our-films/tulsa-a-to-z/\">Tulsa A to Z</a></i></b>. <br /><br />This show is that fun, easy-to-remember list that, just 30 seconds ago, you realized you wanted - no, <i>needed</i>. You must have T-Town\'s beauty and fun and weirdness at your fingertips. Right? Right. <br /><br /><object height=\"230\" width=\"400\"><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" /><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" /><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5985435&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=0&amp;show_byline=0&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1\" /><embed src=\"http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5985435&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=0&amp;show_byline=0&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" width=\"400\" height=\"230\"></embed></object><br /><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/5985435\">Tulsa A to Z preview</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/user1675373\">Jack Frank</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/\">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br />In the 60-minute show, Frank runs through 26 unique-to-Tulsa landmarks, people and eat spots, ranging from the Admiral Twin to the Meadow Gold Sign to Zink - John Zink, that is. <br /><br /><a href=\"http://www.tulsafilms.com/our-films/tulsa-deco/\">Like Frank\'s last film, Tulsa Deco</a>, I enjoyed watching <i>Tulsa A to Z</i> as much as I appreciated the content.<br /><br />What I mean by that is, Jack Frank creates shows that are just plain fun to watch. They\'re not the kind of films that have the eyes of everyone in a room glazed over, with no one saying a word from start to finish. Instead, these shows bring something that is, at least in my mind, better: The opportunity (or, in the case of the chatty people in my household, the urge) for conversation. This film offers viewers the chance to exchange other little-known facts about Tulsa and the people and things that helped to put us on the map.<br /><br />Between the 18 landmarks, four people and four restaurants featured in the film, I learned a lot about this city that, sometimes, I think I know at least a smidgen of something about pretty much everything. <br /><br />I was most surprised by the attractions stood for by the letters D, I, X an Y.<br /><br /><b>D is for <a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/goog_1260820752832\">The Drunkard</a></b><a href=\"http://www.spotlighttheater.org/\">, the longest-running play in the U.S., right here in our own backyard</a>&nbsp;in the Bruce Goff classic at 13th and Riverside. As one of the actors in the play likes to say, this production is some of the most fun you\'ll have with your clothes on. Even having seen it just once, I\'d have to agree. It\'s&nbsp;a pleasure to boo and hiss the bad guy and cheer the good guys. If ever on a Saturday night you\'re feeling like a healthy dose of vaudeville, the Spotlight Theater is the place to be for a showing of The Drunkard. Be there at 7:30pm to catch the show.<br /><br /><b>I is for Interesting Incinerator</b>, an abandoned  city incinerator that a Tulsa artist and his wife bought and repurposed as their residence. I love what the homeowner said about how even though trash and waste used to be the byproduct of this structure, now it\'s a place where art is created. If that vision of sustainability isn\'t one to strive for, then I don\'t know what is. <br /><br /><b>X is for Xanthus Avenue</b>. Yeah, so <i>Tulsa A to Z</i> taught me that I\'ve been mispronouncing the name of this street for my entire life. How about you? Come on, you know you\'ve mispronounced it, too. Help me to reinstate my pride here.<br /><br /><b>Y is for yield sign</b>, <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yield_sign\">invented right here in T-Town by a Tulsa Police officer</a>. When my husband learned that the yield sign was invented in Tulsa, he had to go and find out all about it, the map geek that he is. In his resulting wanderings through history he figured out that Urbana Avenue is the widest residential street in Tulsa. Why? It used to be a runway. Who knew? <a href=\"http://www.batesline.com/archives/2009/12/nominate-your-tulsa-a-to-z-for-a.html\">Well, someone did</a>.<br /><br />Any history buff, Tulsa enthusiast or film fanatic would love to find Tulsa A-Z stuffed into his or her stocking on Christmas morning. Lucky for me, Santa visited my house early this year and left me with three - yes, three - copies of this film to give away to three lucky TDT readers. <br /><br />And guess what. Dozens of you are already signed up to win. If you subscribe to the TDT daily e-mail, you have a chance to win one of these copies of Tulsa A-Z. If you\'re not signed up, don\'t worry. <a href=\"http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=TashaDoesTulsa&amp;loc=en_US\">You can do so until tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 15) evening at 8pm to be eligible to win a copy of Jack Frank\'s newest show</a>, whether it\'s to gift or to keep. Simply click the link or enter your e-mail address here:<br /><br /><form action=\"http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify\" method=\"post\" onsubmit=\"window.open(\'http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=TashaDoesTulsa\', \'popupwindow\', \'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520\');return true\" style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;\" target=\"popupwindow\">Enter your email address:<br /><input name=\"email\" style=\"width: 140px;\" type=\"text\" /><br /><input name=\"uri\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"TashaDoesTulsa\" /><input name=\"loc\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"en_US\" /><input type=\"submit\" value=\"Subscribe\" /><br />Delivered by <a href=\"http://feedburner.google.com/\" target=\"_blank\">FeedBurner</a><br /></form><br />Plus, you\'ll get the latest posts on TashaDoesTulsa.com delivered right to your inbox bright and early every morning, including the weekend rundown of local events, What to Do in Tulsa This Weekend. Convenient, no? And don\'t worry, your e-mail address is safe with me. I promise not to sell it, trade it for cool stuff or write it on the wall at a shady truck stop.<br /><br />Good luck, everybody. I\'ll draw a winner soon after the entry deadline with the help of the random integer generator at <a href=\"http://Random.org/\">Random.org</a>.<br /><br />If you could have been the mastermind behind Tulsa A-Z, what would you have done differently? What would you have kept the same? If you missed the film when it aired Nov. 30 on KOTV and Dec. 2 on OETA, what would your idea of Tulsa A-Z look like? <br /><br /><b><i>Tulsa A to Z</i></b><br /><a href=\"http://www.stevessundrybooksmags.com/\">Steve\'s Sundry Books &amp; Magazines</a>, 2612 S. Harvard Ave. <br /><a href=\"http://www.quiktrip.com/\">QuikTrip stores</a><br /><a href=\"http://spiritbank.com/Our-Products/\">SpiritBank branches</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=borders+21st+street+tulsa,+OK&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8\">Borders Midtown</a>, 2740 E. 21st Street<br /><a href=\"http://www.dwellingspaces.net/\">Dwelling Spaces</a>, 119 S. Detroit Ave. <br />$24.95<br /><a href=\"http://www.tulsafilms.com/\">http://www.tulsafilms.com/</a><br /><a href=\"mailto:info@tulsafilms.com\">info@tulsafilms.com</a><br /><div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" href=\"http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/309bd69d-5021-4643-9f2d-606c6e44a140/\" title=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\"><img alt=\"Reblog this post [with Zemanta]\" class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" src=\"http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=309bd69d-5021-4643-9f2d-606c6e44a140\" style=\"border: none; float: right;\" /></a><script defer=\"defer\" src=\"http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br /></div>','This Post Brought To You By The Letter X','','publish','open','open','','this-post-brought-to-you-by-letter-x','','','2009-12-14 21:15:00','2009-12-14 21:15:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=391',0,'post','',3),(392,1,'2009-12-15 03:10:00','2009-12-15 03:10:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3857176604/\" title=\"Tasha Does Tulsa Run Training 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tasha Does Tulsa Run Training 2009\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/3857176604_041daf019e.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Sometimes I get a wild hair and decide it\'d be a good idea to post a random question on Twitter and Facebook for everyone to ponder, poke fun at, print and flush down the toilet or maybe, if I\'m lucky, consider answering.<br /><br /><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/10/fill-in-blank.html\"></a><br /><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/10/fill-in-blank.html\"><a name=\'more\'></a>Back in October I asked, \"Fill in the blank: Tulsa is home to ________.\"</a> An innocent enough question, I thought. I bet I\'d get five responses, give or take a response. Or five.<br /><br />I certainly didn\'t think that question would open the floodgates of public opinion. Within an hour or so I had 30 responses on Facebook and 23 more on Twitter. Those are solid numbers \'round here, especially considering I wasn\'t giving away any fabulous prizes.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3319932973/\" title=\"James E. McNellie\'s Public House by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"James E. McNellie\'s Public House\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3319932973_a6e2454d80.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />I loved the range of attitudes about life in Tulsa reflected in what people had to say about this city as a home, whether to family or great food or the worst roads to ever criss-cross the American prairie.<br /><br />So, last week, I decided to pose this fill-in-the-blank prompt: \"If I had three hours to spend in Tulsa doing anything I wanted, I would _______.\"<br /><br />This one got some really interesting responses:<br /><ul><li>Go to the Man Spa (the modern day cave) and get the hot towel treatment - old time shave, pedicure, (man)icure...</li><li>Plunder and pillage the city.</li><li>I know what Tiger would do... Sorry. I can\'t stop! The jokes are too easy!!</li><li>Take my top secret route to the top of the Williams Tower and just sit and view.</li><li>Get on a plane to someplace WARM!!!</li><li>Be riding a rollercoaster at a new theme park whether Bells or another.</li><li>Make it snow at least 8\" like it did last March and go out and play in it!</li><li>Rappel off of the roof of the Mayo Hotel, legally.</li></ul>I love having a pirate (pillage and plunder!), a rollercoaster fan, a snow angel and a legal rappeller amongst my social networking buddies.<br /><br />Several responses to the prompt in some way involved <a href=\"http://www.philbrook.org/\">Philbrook Museum</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;more, in fact, than any other one location in Tulsa.<br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4109883888/\" title=\"Philbrook Museum Gardens by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gardens\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/4109883888_26ae4d2cf8.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Out of about 45 responses to the prompt, 11 had something to do with food and Tulsa restaurants. One even involved food AND <a href=\"http://www.philbrook.org/\">Philbrook Museum</a>.  <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3873465124/\" title=\"Fuji Sushi by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Fuji Sushi\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2676/3873465124_0b9a32795e.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Someone said something about <a href=\"http://www.fujitulsa.com/\">Fuji Sushi</a>. Darn it, now I want a <a href=\"http://www.fujitulsa.com/faxmenu/faxmenu3.pdf\">Tulsa Roll</a> and it\'s 9pm on a Monday night. Actually, I guess <a href=\"http://www.fujitulsa.com/\">that leaves me plenty of time to get to Fuji</a> and obtain what\'s calling to me, doesn\'t it?<br /><br />See? Not everything in Tulsa closes at sundown.<br /><br />Three responses centered on time at the spa. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3873502062/\" title=\"Spa Lux by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Spa Lux\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3455/3873502062_7902978c3e.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Mmm - <a href=\"http://www.spalux.org/intro\">Spa Lux</a>. Have you all tried this place yet? They had me out last summer for a pedicure and a pizza from <a href=\"http://olivetobistro.com/\">Oliveto Italian Bistro</a>, the <a href=\"http://mazzios.com/\">Mazzio\'s Corp.</a>-owned restaurant next door. I had a delightful time. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3872718109/\" title=\"Spa Lux by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Spa Lux\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3507/3872718109_213e3997f5.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />I can definitely get on board with time at the spa. Who\'d turn it down?<br /><br />Two responses involved napping. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4186746556/\" title=\"Sleeping by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Sleeping\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/4186746556_1d42121993.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Ah, napping. We love it at our house, too. Whether or not I\'d be doing it when I had only three hours in my hometown, I don\'t know - <a href=\"http://www.hotelambassador-tulsa.com/\">the&nbsp;nap would have to take place somewhere pretty darned special</a>.<br /><br />Get the full list of responses on <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/tashadoestulsa\">Twitter</a> and <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/tashadoestulsa\">Facebook</a>.<br /><br />Now it\'s your turn. How would you fill in the blank?','You Have Three Hours','','publish','open','open','','you-have-three-hours','','','2009-12-15 03:10:00','2009-12-15 03:10:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=392',0,'post','',2),(393,1,'2009-12-15 23:10:00','2009-12-15 23:10:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188738672/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2527/4188738672_c68a52d8d2.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nI hope you\'re not tired of hearing me talk about <a href=\"http://www.gardnersbooks.com/\">Gardner\'s Used Books</a>, because I\'m certainly not finished talking about it. \r\n\r\nMy favorite used bookstore just started its 12 Days of Christmas Sale. Yesterday craft, holiday and cook books were buy one, get one free. Today, all horror and true crime are buy one, get one free. Later in the week all hardback books, no matter the genre, will be buy one, get one free. This madness will persist until Christmas - actually, well beyond Christmas. \r\n\r\n<!--more--><a name=\'more\'></a>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nWhen Gardner\'s announced the cookbook sale, you can bet they knew they\'d see me lurking in the north wing of the store, poring over the scads of books on microwave cookery that were published in the 1970s and the shelves of back copies of Southern Living Magazine yearly cookbooks. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188175675/\" title=\"DSC03342-1 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"DSC03342-1\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2651/4188175675_92d83d5088.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWoah.\r\n\r\nThose are fun to laugh about, of course - they make especially good gag/white elephant gifts. But, I found a stack of books worthy enough to adopt, to allow to take up residence on the bookshelves alongside volumes that make us feel not so afraid of the judgment of our family and friends that we hide them in the junk room. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187973769/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2652/4187973769_b6c8f2aa3c.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188736076/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/4188736076_6150255d4c.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187974127/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/4187974127_6bb6369eb3.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nKitsch-o-Rama, baby. Kitsch-o-Rama.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187975017/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2804/4187975017_9158ae1636.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n\"Presenting more than 225 superlative recipes planned specifically for the basic meal occasions today\'s busy housewife faces.\"\r\n\r\nCan you imagine this kind of copy on the cover of a book published in 2009?\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187974637/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4187974637_b5f6405fdc.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187974541/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2781/4187974541_272cd7a3d1.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWhere were you in 1961?\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188737608/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/4188737608_5f6893ea80.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nAh, the days when the suburban housewife enjoyed a positive image in the mind of the American public. How things have changed. Thanks, <a class=\"zem_slink\" href=\"http://www.hulu.com/desperate-housewives\" rel=\"hulu\" title=\"Desperate Housewives\">Desperate Housewives</a>. And <a class=\"zem_slink\" href=\"http://www.hulu.com/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta\" rel=\"hulu\" title=\"The Real Housewives of Atlanta\">Real Housewives of Atlanta</a>, Orange County, New Jersey, etc. And <a href=\"http://forums.radioreference.com/oklahoma-radio-discussion-forum/56157-tulsa-barbie-joke.html\">Jenks, Broken Arrow and Bixby Barbies</a>.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188736994/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/4188736994_ed7a5faeaf.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<i>That\'s</i> what I\'m talkin\' about, married ladies. Salaried or otherwise, we are all working wives. Can we stop fighting about who has the harder job now? \r\n\r\nPlease?\r\n\r\nCan\'t we all just get along? You know, <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961\">like we did in 1961</a>?\r\n\r\nHeh.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188737346/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4188737346_4fb018809b.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188737834/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2456/4188737834_6b5651e322.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nOh, <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Beard\">James</a>. Oh, <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Aaron\">Sam</a>. Your thoughts on food remain relevant to this day.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188737750/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2573/4188737750_544e36212f.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nI was confused by the title, but hey, I\'m an easy-going gal - meaning, I saw the words \"young cooks\" and tossed this little pamphlet into the to-buy pile.\r\n\r\nYou see, I secretly hope my son becomes a chef and opens a restaurant and asks me to be his pie baker. My grandest aspiration in life is to do nothing all day but make pies. And maybe the occasional cookie. \r\n\r\nNow you know what I mean to do with all this blogging experience.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187975785/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2592/4187975785_cae9f2da9a.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nAren\'t these illustrations the cutest?\r\n\r\n\"Let\'s face it, birthday parties are <i>flattering</i> - and fun!\" \r\n\r\nIt\'s nice to have a dose of the cold, hard facts every once in awhile, isn\'t it?\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188738248/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4188738248_c01730beee.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188738508/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/4188738508_8c9f327e87.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nIf the world could look like this, I would be truly happy. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187975921/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/4187975921_51453fcbd0_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nNow, I know it\'s not customary to give used items as Christmas gifts. We all feel the pressure to buy new. Here\'s what I think, though: Old books might just be the exception to this rule. \r\n\r\nA half-used bottle of lotion? No. A half-empty bottle of scotch? No, and no. A three-year-old scarf-and-sweater set? No - actually, that\'s never an acceptable gift. For anyone. Ever. \r\n\r\nA bundle of period books on the subject of the giftee\'s interest, tied together with a vintage-looking ribbon and maybe a sprig of evergreen or a cool bookmark? I\'m going out on a limb here, but I\'m pretty sure that\'s a yes. \r\n\r\nPlus, it\'s inexpensive. I paid $16 for eight books at Gardner\'s on the buy one, get one special. Plus, it\'s environmentally friendly. Plus, it\'s good for the local economy. \r\n\r\nPlus, it\'s fun. Plus, plus, plus.\r\n\r\nAnd, every once in awhile, you\'ll come across a jewel like this: \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187974225/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2785/4187974225_ac1b5bc65e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188736588/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2519/4188736588_1cf3aa3435.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188736484/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4188736484_380777e308.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nWhere were you 90 years ago, in 1919?\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188736882/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2587/4188736882_23cedaa01c.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nCool, huh?\r\n\r\nHere\'s the rundown of what remains of the Twelve Days of Christmas Sale:\r\n\r\nTues. 15th: BOGO horror and true crime books\r\nWed. 16th: BOGO all trading cards and Hot Wheels/Matchbox toys\r\nThurs. 17th: BOGO all hardback books\r\nFri. 18th: BOGO all hardback books\r\nSat. 19th: BOGO all back issue comics\r\nSun. 20th: BOGO all general fiction, literature and classic books\r\nMon. 21st: BOGO mass market paperbacks\r\nTues. 22nd: BOGO mystery books\r\nWed. 23rd: BOGO all sci-fi and fantasy books\r\nThurs. 24th: BOGO romance books\r\nFri. 25th: CLOSED\r\nSat. 26th: 50 percent off all dolls\r\nSun. 27th: 30 percent off all jewelry\r\nMon. 28th: BOGO religion books\r\nTues. 29th: 40 percent off all toys\r\nWed. 30th: 40 percent off all stuffed animals\r\nThurs. 31st: BOGO religion books\r\n\r\nPlus, if you try breakfast at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/study-in-burgers.html\">the new Gatsby\'s Grill (on the north side of the store)</a> and bring your receipt to the bookstore at check-out, you get 30 percent off all books.\r\n\r\nA word of advice: Bring a reusable shopping bag when shopping at Gardner\'s. If you\'ve been before, you know why. \r\n\r\nIf you\'re new to Gardner\'s, you\'ll find out.\r\n\r\n<b>Gardner\'s Used Books & Music</b>\r\n4421 S. Mingo Road\r\n(918) 627-7323\r\nMonday-Friday, 7am-8pm; Saturday, 8am-8pm; Sunday, noon-6pm\r\n<a href=\"mailto:info@gardnersbooks.com\">info@gardnersbooks.com</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.gardnersbooks.com/\">http://www.gardnersbooks.com/</a>','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Gardner\'s Used Books','A bundle of period books on the subject of the giftee\'s interest, tied together with a vintage-looking ribbon and maybe a sprig of evergreen or a cool bookmark? I\'m going out on a limb here, but I\'m pretty sure that\'s a yes. ','publish','open','open','','gardners-used-books-tdt-holiday-gift-guide-2009','','\nhttp://forums.radioreference.com/oklahoma-radio-discussion-forum/56157-tulsa-barbie-joke.html','2010-12-01 14:18:18','2010-12-01 19:18:18','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=393',0,'post','',8),(4103,1,'2010-12-01 14:15:59','2010-12-01 19:15:59','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188738672/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2527/4188738672_c68a52d8d2.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI hope you\'re not tired of hearing me talk about <a href=\"http://www.gardnersbooks.com/\">Gardner\'s Used Books</a>, because I\'m certainly not finished talking about it. \r\n\r\nMy favorite used bookstore just started its 12 Days of Christmas Sale. Yesterday craft, holiday and cook books were buy one, get one free. Today, all horror and true crime are buy one, get one free. Later in the week all hardback books, no matter the genre, will be buy one, get one free. This madness will persist until Christmas - actually, well beyond Christmas. \r\n\r\n<!--more--><a name=\'more\'></a>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nWhen Gardner\'s announced the cookbook sale, you can bet they knew they\'d see me lurking in the north wing of the store, poring over the scads of books on microwave cookery that were published in the 1970s and the shelves of back copies of Southern Living Magazine yearly cookbooks. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188175675/\" title=\"DSC03342-1 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"DSC03342-1\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2651/4188175675_92d83d5088.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWoah.\r\n\r\nThose are fun to laugh about, of course - they make especially good gag/white elephant gifts. But, I found a stack of books worthy enough to adopt, to allow to take up residence on the bookshelves alongside volumes that make us feel not so afraid of the judgment of our family and friends that we hide them in the junk room. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187973769/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2652/4187973769_b6c8f2aa3c.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188736076/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/4188736076_6150255d4c.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187974127/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/4187974127_6bb6369eb3.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nKitsch-o-Rama, baby. Kitsch-o-Rama.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187975017/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2804/4187975017_9158ae1636.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\n\"Presenting more than 225 superlative recipes planned specifically for the basic meal occasions today\'s busy housewife faces.\"\r\n\r\nCan you imagine this kind of copy on the cover of a book published in 2009?\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187974637/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4187974637_b5f6405fdc.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187974541/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2781/4187974541_272cd7a3d1.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhere were you in 1961?\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188737608/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/4188737608_5f6893ea80.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAh, the days when the suburban housewife enjoyed a positive image in the mind of the American public. How things have changed. Thanks, <a class=\"zem_slink\" href=\"http://www.hulu.com/desperate-housewives\" rel=\"hulu\" title=\"Desperate Housewives\">Desperate Housewives</a>. And <a class=\"zem_slink\" href=\"http://www.hulu.com/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta\" rel=\"hulu\" title=\"The Real Housewives of Atlanta\">Real Housewives of Atlanta</a>, Orange County, New Jersey, etc. And <a href=\"http://forums.radioreference.com/oklahoma-radio-discussion-forum/56157-tulsa-barbie-joke.html\">Jenks, Broken Arrow and Bixby Barbies</a>.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188736994/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/4188736994_ed7a5faeaf.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<i>That\'s</i> what I\'m talkin\' about, married ladies. Salaried or otherwise, we are all working wives. Can we stop fighting about who has the harder job now? \r\n\r\nPlease?\r\n\r\nCan\'t we all just get along? You know, <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961\">like we did in 1961</a>?\r\n\r\nHeh.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188737346/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4188737346_4fb018809b.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188737834/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2456/4188737834_6b5651e322.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOh, <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Beard\">James</a>. Oh, <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Aaron\">Sam</a>. Your thoughts on food remain relevant to this day.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188737750/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2573/4188737750_544e36212f.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI was confused by the title, but hey, I\'m an easy-going gal - meaning, I saw the words \"young cooks\" and tossed this little pamphlet into the to-buy pile.\r\n\r\nYou see, I secretly hope my son becomes a chef and opens a restaurant and asks me to be his pie baker. My grandest aspiration in life is to do nothing all day but make pies. And maybe the occasional cookie. \r\n\r\nNow you know what I mean to do with all this blogging experience.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187975785/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2592/4187975785_cae9f2da9a.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAren\'t these illustrations the cutest?\r\n\r\n\"Let\'s face it, birthday parties are <i>flattering</i> - and fun!\" \r\n\r\nIt\'s nice to have a dose of the cold, hard facts every once in awhile, isn\'t it?\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188738248/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4188738248_c01730beee.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188738508/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/4188738508_8c9f327e87.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIf the world could look like this, I would be truly happy. \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187975921/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"640\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/4187975921_51453fcbd0_o.jpg\" width=\"480\" /></a>\r\n\r\nNow, I know it\'s not customary to give used items as Christmas gifts. We all feel the pressure to buy new. Here\'s what I think, though: Old books might just be the exception to this rule. \r\n\r\nA half-used bottle of lotion? No. A half-empty bottle of scotch? No, and no. A three-year-old scarf-and-sweater set? No - actually, that\'s never an acceptable gift. For anyone. Ever. \r\n\r\nA bundle of period books on the subject of the giftee\'s interest, tied together with a vintage-looking ribbon and maybe a sprig of evergreen or a cool bookmark? I\'m going out on a limb here, but I\'m pretty sure that\'s a yes. \r\n\r\nPlus, it\'s inexpensive. I paid $16 for eight books at Gardner\'s on the buy one, get one special. Plus, it\'s environmentally friendly. Plus, it\'s good for the local economy. \r\n\r\nPlus, it\'s fun. Plus, plus, plus.\r\n\r\nAnd, every once in awhile, you\'ll come across a jewel like this: \r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4187974225/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2785/4187974225_ac1b5bc65e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188736588/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2519/4188736588_1cf3aa3435.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188736484/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4188736484_380777e308.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhere were you 90 years ago, in 1919?\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188736882/\" title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2587/4188736882_23cedaa01c.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a>\r\n\r\nCool, huh?\r\n\r\nHere\'s the rundown of what remains of the Twelve Days of Christmas Sale:\r\n\r\nTues. 15th: BOGO horror and true crime books\r\nWed. 16th: BOGO all trading cards and Hot Wheels/Matchbox toys\r\nThurs. 17th: BOGO all hardback books\r\nFri. 18th: BOGO all hardback books\r\nSat. 19th: BOGO all back issue comics\r\nSun. 20th: BOGO all general fiction, literature and classic books\r\nMon. 21st: BOGO mass market paperbacks\r\nTues. 22nd: BOGO mystery books\r\nWed. 23rd: BOGO all sci-fi and fantasy books\r\nThurs. 24th: BOGO romance books\r\nFri. 25th: CLOSED\r\nSat. 26th: 50 percent off all dolls\r\nSun. 27th: 30 percent off all jewelry\r\nMon. 28th: BOGO religion books\r\nTues. 29th: 40 percent off all toys\r\nWed. 30th: 40 percent off all stuffed animals\r\nThurs. 31st: BOGO religion books\r\n\r\nPlus, if you try breakfast at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/study-in-burgers.html\">the new Gatsby\'s Grill (on the north side of the store)</a> and bring your receipt to the bookstore at check-out, you get 30 percent off all books.\r\n\r\nA word of advice: Bring a reusable shopping bag when shopping at Gardner\'s. If you\'ve been before, you know why. \r\n\r\nIf you\'re new to Gardner\'s, you\'ll find out.\r\n\r\n<b>Gardner\'s Used Books & Music</b>\r\n4421 S. Mingo Road\r\n(918) 627-7323\r\nMonday-Friday, 7am-8pm; Saturday, 8am-8pm; Sunday, noon-6pm\r\n<a href=\"mailto:info@gardnersbooks.com\">info@gardnersbooks.com</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.gardnersbooks.com/\">http://www.gardnersbooks.com/</a>','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Gardner\'s Used Books','A bundle of period books on the subject of the giftee\'s interest, tied together with a vintage-looking ribbon and maybe a sprig of evergreen or a cool bookmark? I\'m going out on a limb here, but I\'m pretty sure that\'s a yes. ','inherit','open','open','','393-revision-2','','','2010-12-01 14:15:59','2010-12-01 19:15:59','',393,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/12/393-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(394,1,'2009-12-16 04:00:00','2009-12-16 04:00:00','<a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4189340838/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/4189340838_0ff993fce8.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIn the world of thoughtless Christmas gifts, second only to a smelly bottle of lotion from a certain store in the mall that rhymes with rath rand rody rooks is the ho-hum smelly candle.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI love candles as much as the next girl. But, to me, they\'re like shoes - one buys candles and footwear for oneself, not for others, unless a very specific and detailed request has been made. I don\'t want anyone else deciding how my home or my office or my armpits will smell but me, just like I wouldn\'t want anyone else deciding what\'s going to pinch and blister my feet. I prefer to inflict my foot pain and artificial smellyness all on my own, thank you very much.\r\n\r\nEvery now and then, though, comes an exception to this cardinal rule of gift giving.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188579345/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/4188579345_4b99577674.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThese, my friends, are candles by <a href=\"http://www.originalmancandle.com/\"><strong>Original Man Candle</strong>, a Broken Arrow-based candle company that specializes in the quintessential manly scents of our time</a>. \r\n\r\nI found them at <a href=\"http://www.thegadgetcompany.com/\">The Gadget Company</a>, a Tulsa retailer specializing in all things manly, from custom knives to optics to outdoor cooking supplies, for more than 20 years.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188579233/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4188579233_2fd99fd6ae.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThe Original Man Candle comes in 12 scents: Pot Roast, Cup O\' Joe, French Fry, Draft Beer, Golf Course, Garage, Fishing Dock, Football, Freedom (Apple Pie), Sawdust, Bacon and Fart.\r\n\r\nYes, Fart. A fart-scented candle. It exists. It\'s out there. You can stop wondering about it now.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188579561/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2672/4188579561_6b61a57ae9.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n\"Ever had three egg burritos and then hit the treadmill?\" I couldn\'t have described the smell of the Fart candle any more perfectly than that, a blurb I found on <a href=\"http://originalmancandle.com/\">the Original Man Candle Web site</a>.\r\n\r\nThis candle, it has The Power, folks. The odor of that expertly blended fart hung in my nose for a good half-hour after I shoved it back onto the shelf. Even my two-year-old was revolted: \"Shoo-wee!\"\r\n\r\nExcellent work, OMC. I can\'t imagine what your dedication to the perfection of this candle must have cost you, both in terms of olfactory functionality and emotional well-being. \r\n\r\nTulsans, if you\'re looking for a gift that packs some serious punch (as in, a serious punch right to the schnoz), this most definitely is it.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188579233/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4188579233_2fd99fd6ae.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThe Pot Roast scent is what put OMC on the map according to its Web site. After all, \"what other candle can you think of that melts its own gravy?\"\r\n\r\nWhile several of these candles are clearly meant as novelty items, some of them smelled good enough to please both males and us females. The Freedom (Apple Pie) candle smells like my grandma\'s kitchen when she\'s got a Granny Smith pie in the oven. The Draft Beer candle smells rich and sweet, almost like vanilla. The Sawdust candle caused me to consider breaking out the pencil sharpener at home and getting my husband\'s pencils ready for next semester to, you know, help him out, do him a favor. \r\n\r\nThe Fishing Dock OMC smells like the fall morning my husband drove me and my six-month-pregnant belly to Keystone Lake for my first shot at fishing. The Garage candle smells like the garage in the house where I grew up, when my dad was working to restore a 1948 GMC pickup. I don\'t know if the Golf Course candle actually smells like a golf course - please don\'t hurt me, I\'m not a golfer - but it does smell rich and sweet like mowed grass.\r\n\r\nAt $10.95 these smelly suckers not only support two local businesses with one purchase, but they\'re also sure to be the talk of the party come this Christmas. Everyone will oooh and aaaah about what a thoughtful and clever shopper you are, how funny you are, how pretty and/or handsome you are, how everyone should strive to be more like you.\r\n\r\nThat\'s a far cry from what everyone will think when they open yet another jelly-of-the-month membership card from you this year. Or, worse, another smelly lotion gift set. \r\n\r\nHere\'s some other cool stuff available for your gifting pleasure at The Gadget Company:\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4189341938/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2565/4189341938_d134a7468a_o.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4189341738/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2644/4189341738_e8dc02e28c.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4189341400/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2593/4189341400_e5d6aeefa9.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThose babies can keep ice from melting FOR FIVE DAYS. For reals.\r\n\r\nHere\'s yet another affordable gift idea:\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4189341150/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2630/4189341150_35607f7be6.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188579697/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/4188579697_371fbbf9d7.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThese even come with an extra strip of Duct tape in case you get too Xtreme and open a gnarly gash in your billfold. Dude.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188578891/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2609/4188578891_8f2b8e9585.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4189340394/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4189340394_caae17d113.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nShield the eyes of the young for this one:\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4189341596/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4189341596_2d47d4ea02.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThe Gadget Company is, needless to say, my husband\'s favorite place to go to buy rugged, manly, guy stuff, including extracurricular reading material. It\'s a fun place to stop in and chat, too - the sales staff is always friendly.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Gadget Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4188578775/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/4188578775_55693a4b75.jpg\" alt=\"The Gadget Company\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nLadies, it\'s okay if you sneak off to The Gadget Company without a dude to accompany you, or even without one in mind. I won\'t tell anyone. \r\n\r\nBecause If I did, I\'d be outing myself, too.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Gadget Company</strong>\r\n104 E. 15th Street\r\n(918) 749-9963\r\nMonday-Friday, 10am-5:30pm; Saturday, 10am-3pm\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thegadgetcompany.com/\">http://www.thegadgetcompany.com/</a>','TDT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: The Original Man Candle','The Original Man Candle comes in 12 scents: Pot Roast, Cup O\' Joe, French Fry, Draft Beer, Golf Course, Garage, Fishing Dock, Football, Freedom (Apple Pie), Sawdust, Bacon and Fart. Yes, Fart. A fart-scented candle. It exists. It\'s out there. You can stop wondering about it now.','publish','open','open','','original-man-candle-gadget-company-tdt-holiday-gift-guide-2009','','','2010-12-03 17:16:35','2010-12-03 22:16:35','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=394',0,'post','',10),(395,1,'2009-12-17 02:52:00','2009-12-17 02:52:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191015369/\" title=\"Toasty Topper @ Utica Square by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Toasty Topper @ Utica Square\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/4191015369_905fd7c0eb.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Sometimes, when my son and I have been cooped up in the house longer than we can take, we bundle up and head to <a href=\"http://uticasqure.com/\">Utica Square, here in Tulsa at 21st and Utica</a>. The central courtyard is like the park, only with added window shopping for a certain retail-deprived mommy. <br /><br /><a href=\"http://ttownmoms.com/?page=blogs/view&amp;BLID=6938\">Find out all about my double life on my blog at Ttownmoms.com</a>.','My Other Life','','publish','open','open','','my-other-life','','','2009-12-17 02:52:00','2009-12-17 02:52:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=395',0,'post','',1),(396,1,'2009-12-17 03:50:00','2009-12-17 03:50:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191734804/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2673/4191734804_3a79019a8a.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nAh - there\'s nothing quite like a cigar on a crisp winter evening.\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><!--more-->\r\n[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4190974141/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2722/4190974141_edd444bccf.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nGood thing there\'s now three locations of my favorite Tulsa-area cigar shop and bar, <a href=\"http://www.cigarboxtulsa.com/\">The Cigar Box</a>, for all your smoking and scotch-drinking needs.\r\n\r\nThe original location at <a href=\"http://www.riverwalkcrossing.com/\">RiverWalk Crossing in Jenks</a> grew to the point that last year, the two local families that own the store branched out to Stonewood in Broken Arrow - you know, the shopping complex where <a href=\"http://basspro.com/\">Bass Pro</a> is located. Then this year, the families moved in on Cherry Street in midtown.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191734664/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/4191734664_eaaaf276b1.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nSo basically, it\'s cigars for everyone, everywhere. \r\n\r\nWhile smoking a cigar by oneself on the back porch with a glass of something stiff is about the most peaceful thing one could do in this life, stogies are best enjoyed with others.\r\n\r\nIf you don\'t know anyone who smokes cigars, where\'s what you do: Buy \'em a gift set. Invite \'em outside and offer a light. Before long, you\'ll have your very own a cigar smoking buddy for those special occasions - a holiday party, New Years Eve or in the event of good news.\r\n\r\nNot sure for what gift set to spring? Here are a few ideas:\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191734988/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/4191734988_ce4db5a265.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nMmm...Macanudo.\r\n\r\nSay it out loud. MACANUDO! Feels nice, doesn\'t it? This cigars are nice, too - mild and smooth, great for the occasional smoker.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4190974481/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2651/4190974481_25e3312a1e.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4190974367/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2572/4190974367_f93bf62018.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nMONTECRISTO! I just love how the cigar world is full of fun names.\r\n\r\nSee how mature blogging has made me?\r\n\r\nFor you higher-rollers are these little numbers from Padron.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191735184/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2721/4191735184_081f2b6d80.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nLovely. PADRON!\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191735526/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/4191735526_b02da33bdd.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThere\'s no harm in giving the ultimate gift of manliness (or, in the case of us girls who enjoy a cigar from time to time, smokin\' hot ladyness) this Christmas. That is, as long as the person for whom the cigars are intended doesn\'t take to them like <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigar\">Ulysses S. Grant or Sigmund Freud</a>. \"For special occasions\" doesn\'t exactly mean 12-20 of these babies per day.\r\n\r\nThat is, after all, what Christmas cookies are for - consumption in mass quantities, all inhibitions barred.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Cigar Box</strong>\r\nRiverWalk Crossing in Jenks\r\n(918) 299-7110\r\nThe Village at Stonewood Hills in Broken Arrow\r\n(918) 355-0008\r\nLincoln Plaza on Cherry Street\r\n(918) 585-1424\r\n<a href=\"mailto:info@cigarboxtulsa.com\">info@cigarboxtulsa.com</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cigarboxtulsa.com/\">http://www.cigarboxtulsa.com/</a>','TDT Holiday Gift Guide: The Cigar Box','Ah - there\'s nothing quite like a cigar on a crisp winter evening.','publish','open','open','','holiday-gift-guide-cigar-box','','','2010-11-17 14:51:20','2010-11-17 19:51:20','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=396',0,'post','',4),(3770,1,'2010-11-17 14:46:37','2010-11-17 19:46:37','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191734804/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2673/4191734804_3a79019a8a.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\nAh - there\'s nothing quite like a cigar on a crisp winter evening.\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><!--more-->\r\n[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4190974141/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2722/4190974141_edd444bccf.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nGood thing there\'s now three locations of my favorite Tulsa-area cigar shop and bar, <a href=\"http://www.cigarboxtulsa.com/\">The Cigar Box</a>, for all your smoking and scotch-drinking needs.\r\n\r\nThe original location at <a href=\"http://www.riverwalkcrossing.com/\">RiverWalk Crossing in Jenks</a> grew to the point that last year, the two local families that own the store branched out to Stonewood in Broken Arrow - you know, the shopping complex where <a href=\"http://basspro.com/\">Bass Pro</a> is located. Then this year, the families moved in on Cherry Street in midtown.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191734664/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/4191734664_eaaaf276b1.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nSo basically, it\'s cigars for everyone, everywhere. \r\n\r\nWhile smoking a cigar by oneself on the back porch with a glass of something stiff is about the most peaceful thing one could do in this life, stogies are best enjoyed with others.\r\n\r\nIf you don\'t know anyone who smokes cigars, where\'s what you do: Buy \'em a gift set. Invite \'em outside and offer a light. Before long, you\'ll have your very own a cigar smoking buddy for those special occasions - a holiday party, New Years Eve or in the event of good news.\r\n\r\nNot sure for what gift set to spring? Here are a few ideas:\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191734988/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/4191734988_ce4db5a265.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nMmm...Macanudo.\r\n\r\nSay it out loud. MACANUDO! Feels nice, doesn\'t it? This cigars are nice, too - mild and smooth, great for the occasional smoker.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4190974481/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2651/4190974481_25e3312a1e.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4190974367/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2572/4190974367_f93bf62018.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nMONTECRISTO! I just love how the cigar world is full of fun names.\r\n\r\nSee how mature blogging has made me?\r\n\r\nFor you higher-rollers are these little numbers from Padron.\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191735184/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2721/4191735184_081f2b6d80.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nLovely. PADRON!\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"The Cigar Box by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191735526/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/4191735526_b02da33bdd.jpg\" alt=\"The Cigar Box\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\nThere\'s no harm in giving the ultimate gift of manliness (or, in the case of us girls who enjoy a cigar from time to time, smokin\' hot ladyness) this Christmas. That is, as long as the person for whom the cigars are intended doesn\'t take to them like <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigar\">Ulysses S. Grant or Sigmund Freud</a>. \"For special occasions\" doesn\'t exactly mean 12-20 of these babies per day.\r\n\r\nThat is, after all, what Christmas cookies are for - consumption in mass quantities, all inhibitions barred.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Cigar Box</strong>\r\nRiverWalk Crossing in Jenks\r\n(918) 299-7110\r\nThe Village at Stonewood Hills in Broken Arrow\r\n(918) 355-0008\r\nLincoln Plaza on Cherry Street\r\n(918) 585-1424\r\n<a href=\"mailto:info@cigarboxtulsa.com\">info@cigarboxtulsa.com</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cigarboxtulsa.com/\">http://www.cigarboxtulsa.com/</a>','TDT Holiday Gift Guide: The Cigar Box','Ah - there\'s nothing quite like a cigar on a crisp winter evening.','inherit','open','open','','396-revision-2','','','2010-11-17 14:46:37','2010-11-17 19:46:37','',396,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/396-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(397,1,'2009-12-17 15:15:00','2009-12-17 15:15:00','<div style=\"text-align: left;\">Guys? I need your help.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4192189079/\" title=\"Ugly Sweater Party @ Joe Momma\'s by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Ugly Sweater Party @ Joe Momma\'s\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/4192189079_882f7e4e31.jpg\" width=\"387\" /></a><br /></div><br />So, <a href=\"http://www.joemommas.com/\">Blake Ewing over at Joe Momma\'s</a> was nice enough to put the name of this blog on this poster. I\'m supposed to help judge this ugly sweater contest, too.<br /><br />It\'s only fitting that I have a&nbsp;bodaciously ugly sweater to wear to help judge the ugly sweater contest. Thing is, and as any regular reader of this blog knows, I\'m not a fan of The Shopping. The Shopping and I, we\'ve never really gotten along. I\'m like a dude when it comes to The Shopping - I usually have a good idea of what I\'m looking for and I make a beeline between that item, the cash register and the exit.<br /><br />So, I need your help. Where should I go to find the ugliest sweater in Tulsa? How does one go about this kind of shopping quest? How do I protect my delicate sensibilities during this course of this horrific ordeal?<br /><br />Please advise. Pretty please. S\'il vous plait.&nbsp;Porus favorus.&nbsp;Or something.<br /><br />By the way, I hope to see all of your lovely, sunshiny faces at this Ugly Sweater Party at Joe Momma\'s Saturday night, starting at 9pm. Prizes, deals on beer, yummy pizza and pretty good company will abound.','Ugly Sweater Party, Y\'all','','publish','open','open','','ugly-sweater-party-yall','','','2009-12-17 15:15:00','2009-12-17 15:15:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=397',0,'post','',5),(399,1,'2009-12-18 14:51:00','2009-12-18 14:51:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4185162789/\" title=\"Tulsa A to Z by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa A to Z\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2616/4185162789_e81a6f13b4.jpg\" width=\"332\" /></a><br /></div><br />Feel like a scavenger hunt on this sunny Friday?<br /><br />I thought you would. That\'s why <a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/goog_1261147378151\">local filmmaker Jack Frank and I partnered to strategically place three DVDs from his Tulsa History series - that\'s </a><i><a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/goog_1261147378151\">Tulsa Deco</a></i><a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/goog_1261147378151\"> and </a><i><a href=\"http://www.tulsafilms.com/shop/\">Fantastic Tulsa Films Volumes 1 and 2</a></i> - somewhere in T-Town for you, my clever readers to find.<br /><br />Are you ready for the clue? Here goes:<br /><br /><b>Where the city\'s \"first family\" rests, look for a break in the fence. George will have the DVDs for the first to arrive.&nbsp;</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />Off to the races with yas! Good luck to all. Let me know who snags these babies - I\'d love to know who to have on my team in any future scavenger hunts in this here town.','Scavenger Hunt...GO!','','publish','open','open','','scavenger-huntgo','','','2009-12-18 14:51:00','2009-12-18 14:51:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=399',0,'post','',4),(400,1,'2009-12-19 20:00:00','2009-12-19 20:00:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197665365/\" title=\"Trimming the Tree, Part II by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Trimming the Tree, Part II\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2738/4197665365_2d9d165548.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Remember how my son trimmed our Christmas tree with pacifiers last week? <br /><br />This week\'s trimmings are, well...<a href=\"http://www.ttownmoms.com/?page=blogs/view&amp;BLID=6962\">you\'ll see what I mean on my blog at Ttownmoms.com</a>.','Trimming the Tree, Part II','','publish','open','open','','trimming-tree-part-ii','','','2009-12-19 20:00:00','2009-12-19 20:00:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=400',0,'post','',0),(401,1,'2009-12-19 20:40:00','2009-12-19 20:40:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4198226644/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4198226644_cabaa519fc.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nPerhaps you\'ve heard that I\'m going to <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/ugly-sweater-party-yall.html\">the Ugly Sweater Party at Joe Momma\'s tonight, downtown at 112 S. Elgin Ave.</a> Of course, I waited until today to realize that no sweater ugly enough to win any sort of contest is within the meager sphere of stuff I own.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\nYesterday I asked my <a href=\"http://facebook.com/tashadoestulsa\">Facebook</a> and <a href=\"http://twitter.com/tashadoestulsa\">Twitter</a> buddies to help me narrow down which thrift stores I should hit to score the most hideous, the most appalling, the most gag-inducing sweater in the universe.\r\n\r\nThey, as per their usual, came through for me. Head to <a href=\"http://www.valuethrifttulsa.com/\">Value Thrift Store at 11th and Memorial</a>, the local Internets said. And I obeyed, as per my usual when disembodied voices tell me to do things.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197473111/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2661/4197473111_543da13afe.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\nConfession: For all of my penny-pinching ways, I\'ve never really been a thrift store shopper. As in, I\'d maybe been to one thrift store before today and that was, like, ten years ago. Consignment stores, yes. Thrift stores, no.\r\n\r\nI\'m not sure why, though. It\'s not that I\'m freaked out by the prospect of purchasing used goods. Half the stuff that\'s in my house right now had previous lives somewhere else. Plus, check out the cool stuff you could have if you\'re into buying pre-owned:\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197473225/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4197473225_ee632710d4.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197473527/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2724/4197473527_00ffa178fa.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197474319/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/4197474319_8d3dde5e22.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\nThat last one could just as well be a photo of my room in 1985 as it could be a photo of the toy department at Value Thrift Store.\r\n\r\nI still miss my Cabbage Patch dolls, naked or not.\r\n\r\nVTS is actually a pretty nice place. It offers a ton of selection in women\'s, kids\' and men\'s clothing of all kinds, toys, housewares and furniture. Everything is well-merchandised, easy to find and fun to shop.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4198229048/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2517/4198229048_5474937dc5.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197476199/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2790/4197476199_06f6a36475.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4198229130/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2558/4198229130_5dca19de73.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nI like this. But I can\'t tell you why. I just do.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4198229250/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/4198229250_79f524b71c.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nI like these, too, and I <em>can</em> tell you why. They remind me of my grandmother and some plates she might have used back in the \'80s. My grandma has always had pretty dishes.\r\n\r\nSo, back to ugly sweater shopping. I wasn\'t sure where to start. My fashion sense isn\'t exactly the sharpest on the block, so I wondered if I should go with whatever sweater I liked best to, you know, hedge my bets. With that strategy in mind, I hit the racks.\r\n\r\nI soon found I needed to come up with some other plan of attack.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197473635/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2698/4197473635_f2813f9dfd.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nOh, boy.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4198225952/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4198225952_c074236594.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nI know this isn\'t a sweater but, hey, it\'s cute and snappy and has a slice of pie printed on it. And you know how I feel about pie. I just had to show you.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197473775/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4197473775_8a8819d951.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197473889/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2737/4197473889_c7679c4ced.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nI really wanted my husband to buy this one. He said no.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197474183/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4197474183_e173b6e41d.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nFleece! How I itch thee.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4198227104/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2630/4198227104_9c0c636c71.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nAgain, this photo could just as well be of my bedroom in 1985 as it could be in the sweater section of a local thrift shop.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4198227290/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4198227290_edd9489c43.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nWhat\'s this even supposed to be? Animal print? Landscape? A cross-section of that leftover pot roast that\'s been in my fridge for six weeks?\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4198227406/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2751/4198227406_6242152ab8.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nAnd the designer of this sweater was going for...that coughed-up hairball look?\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4198227552/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4198227552_0bf518a98a.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\nFound in the men\'s section. No, really.\r\n\r\nA few more picks for my hubby:\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4198227714/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2719/4198227714_419d5ea7aa.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197475237/\"><img src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4197475237_60af1831f9.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\nThis sweater belonged to either Bill Cosby or my dad at some point. I just know it.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197475709/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2653/4197475709_8565063ff1.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197476089/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/4197476089_862d77bc1b.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nI think we have a winner.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197475421/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4197475421_414015b237.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197475603/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2651/4197475603_f91e6a275d.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nTell me I look good.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197475513/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2710/4197475513_6c894785c8.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nWhich is going to give me a better chance of winning the contest tonight, y\'all: This one or that one?\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4197475795/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2792/4197475795_673f4ca945.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4198228556/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2614/4198228556_f1f2daa40f.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\nDon\'t bother looking, Tash - there\'s nothing to see back there.\r\n\r\nMy little sister got all the good booty genes.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Value Thrift Store by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4198228662/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2513/4198228662_5e2970b750.jpg\" alt=\"Value Thrift Store\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nOkay, friends, I need your help.\r\n\r\n<form id=\"poll_id_1072164\" action=\"http://www.acepolls.com/votes\" method=\"post\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #fa876c; background-image: url(\'http://www.acepolls.com/images/designs/red_vertical_stripe.png\'); border: 1px solid #FA3527; padding: 10px 0; width: 250px;\">\r\n\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"vote[poll_id]\" value=\"1072164\" />\r\n<div style=\"color: #c9d8ff; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;\">Which sweater should I wear to the Ugly Sweater Party at Joe Momma\'s tonight?</div>\r\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none; margin: 0; padding-left: 10px;\">\r\n	<li><input id=\"vote_choice_id_6103860\" type=\"radio\" name=\"vote[choice_id]\" value=\"6103860\" /><label style=\"color: #92e38f;\" for=\"vote_choice_id_6103860\">Faded mustard Aran sweater</label></li>\r\n	<li><input id=\"vote_choice_id_6103861\" type=\"radio\" name=\"vote[choice_id]\" value=\"6103861\" /><label style=\"color: #92e38f;\" for=\"vote_choice_id_6103861\">Blue applique vest</label></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><input id=\"submit_1072164\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Vote!\" /></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a id=\"results\" style=\"color: #92e38f;\" href=\"http://www.acepolls.com/polls/1072164-which-sweater-should-i-wear-to-the-ugly-sweater-party-at-joe-mommas-tonight/results\">View Results</a>\r\n<a style=\"color: #92e38f;\" href=\"http://www.acepolls.com/create\">Create a Blog Poll</a></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</form>Using the poll above, vote which sweater I should wear tonight to <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/ugly-sweater-party-yall.html\">the Ugly Sweater Party at Joe Momma\'s</a>.\r\n\r\nI\'ll wear whichever one you choose. I\'m at your mercy. Do with me as you please.\r\n\r\nThen come see me rock the woolen winner of the Reader\'s Choice Awards: Ugly Sweater Edition at the party tonight. It starts at 9. On hand will be live entertainment, beer specials, prizes and darned good company.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/4192189079_882f7e4e31.jpg\" alt=\"\" /></div>\r\nBe there or be somewhere else wishing you were there.','Ugly Christmas Sweater Shopping in Tulsa','Yesterday I asked my Facebook and Twitter buddies to help me narrow down which thrift stores I should hit to score the most hideous, the most appalling, the most gag-inducing sweater in the universe.','publish','open','open','','ugly-christmas-sweater-shopping-tulsa','','','2011-11-23 17:40:15','2011-11-23 23:40:15','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=401',0,'post','',10),(4540,1,'2010-12-16 13:29:31','2010-12-16 18:29:31','','Ugly Christmas Sweater Shopping','','inherit','open','open','','picture-1-option','','','2010-12-16 13:29:31','2010-12-16 18:29:31','',4527,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Picture-1-Option.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4541,1,'2010-12-16 13:30:05','2010-12-16 18:30:05','','Ugly Christmas Sweater Shopping','','inherit','open','open','','picture-2-6','','','2010-12-16 13:30:05','2010-12-16 18:30:05','',4527,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Picture-2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(402,1,'2009-12-21 19:16:00','2009-12-21 19:16:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"TDT on 2HD Midday by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4167178728/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4167178728_a9794e1499.jpg\" alt=\"TDT on 2HD Midday\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\nI was on <a href=\"http://kjrh.com/\">the Midday Show with Channel 2</a> and <a href=\"http://Ttownmoms.com/\">Ttownmoms.com</a> this morning talking about last-minute holiday gifts that, rather than fling your hard-earned dollars into the economic ether or into the pockets of some corporate hot shot 1,000 miles away, are friendly to the local economy.\r\n\r\nIn case you missed the segment, here\'s what we covered.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><!--more-->\r\n[adrotate group=\"2\" banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n<strong>For the Kiddos:</strong>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/4145938970_ba07532a96.jpg\" alt=\"\" /></div>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/11/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-philbrook-gift.html\">Anything from the Philbrook Museum Store</a> (any price range)</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-best-tulsa.html\">Yearly memberships to local museums</a> (roughly the price of a nice dinner out)</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/11/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-abc-in-tulsa.html\">ABC in Tulsa, by Robin Segal</a> ($12.95, Steve\'s Sundry)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>For Moms:</strong>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Tulsa Snow Globe by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4151193705/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/4151193705_5ebfd59350.jpg\" alt=\"Tulsa Snow Globe\" width=\"333\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-tulsa-snow-globe.html\">Tulsa Snow Globe</a> ($45, Tulsa Metro Chamber)</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-tulsa-t-shirt.html\">I Heart Tulsa Shirt</a> ($20, Dwelling Spaces)</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tulsawine.com/\">Tulsa Deco Wine</a> ($18-20, various area liquor stores)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>For Dads:</strong>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/4189340838_0ff993fce8.jpg\" alt=\"\" /></div>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-original-man.html\">The Original Man Candle</a> ($10.95, The Gadget Company)</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-cigar-box_16.html\">Cigar gift sets</a> ($35-89, The Cigar Box)</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://marshallbrewing.com/\">Marshall Beer</a> (now available in 12-oz. bottles; various area liquor stores)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nRemember, folks: For every $100 spent in locally owned, indie stores, $68 returns to the community via taxes, payroll and other expenditures.  If that same $100 is spend with a national chain, just $43 returns. If the money is spent online, we\'ll never see any of it again (<a href=\"http://www.the350project.net/home.html\">per the Civic Economics 2008 study, via The 3/50 Project</a>).\r\n\r\nPlease keep this in mind as you make your final selections for Christmas this year. Tulsa will thank you by being an even better place to shop for gifts next holiday season.','Last-Minute Local Holiday Gift Ideas','I was on the Midday Show with Channel 2 and Ttownmoms.com this morning talking about last-minute holiday gifts that, rather than fling your hard-earned dollars into the economic ether or into the pockets of some corporate hot shot 1,000 miles away, are friendly to the local economy. In case you missed the segment, here\'s what we covered.','publish','open','open','','last-minute-local-holiday-gift-ideas','','','2010-11-17 14:33:09','2010-11-17 19:33:09','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=402',0,'post','',2),(403,1,'2009-12-21 21:00:00','2009-12-21 21:00:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4204483692/\" title=\"Bald Tuesday @ Arizona Mexican Restaurant by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Bald Tuesday @ Arizona Mexican Restaurant\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/4204483692_1aef85936d.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Everyone’s heard of Thirsty Thursdays, Two-for-Tuesdays and Margarita Mondays. We’ve been there, done that.<br /><br />Bald Tuesday, however, is liable to catch one’s attention.<br /><br /><a href=\"http://tulsabusiness.com/industry_article.asp?cID=i&amp;aID=96905518.817486.652509.8226086.8369649.142&amp;aID2=50184\">Check out the funky food deals and quirky discounts in T-Town on the food page in this week\'s edition of Tulsa Business Journal</a>.','Funky Food Deals and Quirky Discounts','','publish','open','open','','funky-food-deals-and-quirky-discounts','','','2009-12-21 21:00:00','2009-12-21 21:00:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=403',0,'post','',1),(404,1,'2009-12-21 22:30:00','2009-12-21 22:30:00','New Years Eve 2009: It\'s kind of a big deal. A New Years Eve this special <a href=\"http://gizmodo.com/5435190/this-new-years-eve-brings-the-rarest-blue-moon-of-all\">comes around just once in a blue moon - literally</a>.<br /><br />In Tulsa, it\'ll be more than a reason to get smashed and wear glasses shaped like the numbers 2010. We\'re known as one of the most philanthropic communities in the country, and we really show our stuff on this holiday - several of the events I have listed below benefit a nonprofit. Consider the opportunity to give back yet another reason not to stay home with the crock-pot of nacho cheese and Totino\'s this year. <br /><br />Besides gawking at the blue moon, here\'s what to do in Tulsa on New Years Eve 2009.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><object height=\"340\" width=\"560\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/FJI6n-j2f2A&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00\"></param><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\"></param><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\"></param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/FJI6n-j2f2A&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" width=\"560\" height=\"340\"></embed></object><br /><br /><b>THE Party on Brookside</b><br />When: 9:30pm<br />Where: Brookside (Peoria Avenue), between 37th and 39th Streets<br /><a href=\"https://www.newyearsevetulsa.com/pages.aspx?pageid=2\">There\'s a reason everyone\'s calling this THE Party</a>: It\'s the first street party on Brookside to celebrate the new year. Show up between 37th and 39th Streets at 9:30pm to catch tunes by Eric and the Adams and Oklahoma Down Band. Then, settle in to watch the ball drop from the Channel 2 tower (it was built especially for this occasion, by the way - the ball, not the tower) and kiss your sweetie in the midst of a confetti downpour. Oh, and did I mention there will be food from Ron\'s Hamburgers? Yum. Admission to THE Party is free, with tickets to the heated VIP party tent with its own food, beverages and entertainment priced at $75. All proceeds benefit the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://cdn.evite.com/gtimages/J/C/Q/JCQTKDTKQMFFRUPBPMGE.jpg\" /><br /></div><br /><b>New Years Eve @ Mayo Hotel</b><br />When: 9pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://themayohotel.com/\">The Mayo Hotel</a>, 115 W. Fifth Street<br />Dress up and dance the night away in the historic Crystal Ballroom at The Mayo Hotel. Bounce to the tunes of DJ Moody, nibble on hors d\'oeuvres and join in during the champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $50 and benefit the American Cancer Society. Call (918) 477.5400 to get set up. <br /><br /><object height=\"344\" width=\"425\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/1QohLx5Ma5A&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00\"></param><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\"></param><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\"></param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/1QohLx5Ma5A&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" width=\"425\" height=\"344\"></embed></object><br /><br /><b>BB King at Mabee Center</b><br />When: 8pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/mabeecenter.com\">Mabee Center</a>, 7777 S. Lewis Ave. <br />If you\'re looking to make memories this New Years Eve, head toward south Tulsa to see the reigning and undisputed King of the Blues perform live in concert with special guest John Fannell. Tickets start at $49.50, with select VIP seats that include floor seating and a fancy-schmancy parking pass available at $113. <br /><br /><b>New Years Eve with Grady Nichols</b><br />When: doors at 7pm, event at 8pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://okjazz.org/\">Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame</a>, 111 E. First Street<br />Spend the last few hours of 2009 at the historic Jazz Depot and catch a performances by national recording star saxophonist Grady Nichols, American Idol\'s Krista Branch and Earl Clark &amp; Spectrum Band. Tickets are $70, parking is complimentary in the Grand Central Parking Lot. <br /><br /><b>New Years Eve with Gallagher</b><br />When: 9pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://milliondollarelm.com/\">Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino</a>, 951 W. 36th Street North<br />Admission is free - I guess that\'s a reasonable price to be splattered with every melon between here at wherever Gallagher last came. If you\'re looking for a wacky way to spend New Years Eve, this just might be your event.<br /><br /><b>New Years at the Rose Bowl</b><br />When: doors at 7pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://www.tulsarosebowl.com/\">Rose Bowl Event Center</a>, 7419 E. 11th Street (on old Route 66)<br />If you\'re a honky-tonk man, the New Years Eve party at Rose Bowl is the party of you. Do some two-steppin\' to the musical stylings of the Round Up Boys and enjoy a cold beer, concessions and complimentary midnight champagne for toasting the new year. Tickets are $15. If you\'re bringing a mess of folks with you, be sure to reserve a banquet table for you and your guests - hey, they\'re free, so why not? Proceeds go to the American Cancer Society and Musicians for a Smoke Free Oklahoma. <br /><br /><img src=\"http://pricetower.org/media/images/Olive2010%2DWebheader.jpg\" /><br /><br /><b>Olive Drop New Years Eve Party</b><br />When: 9pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/pricetower.org\">Price Tower Art Center</a>, 510 S. Dewey in Bartlesville<br />The event that is quickly becoming a Bartlesville tradition will bring music by Ayngel and the Entourage and a countdown in the heart of downtown as a huge olive is lowered into a giant martini glass from the upper floors of Price Tower. Check out the parties going on in Price Tower while you\'re at it - one on the first floor ($5) and one on the 15th, in the Copper Bar ($295, which includes a night at the Inn at Price Tower). <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img height=\"338\" src=\"http://tatur.org/RINY09LogoBig.gif\" width=\"400\" /><br /></div><br /><b>Race Into the New Year</b><br />When: 11:45pm<br />Where: RiverParks West Amphitheater<br />For those of you who have dreamed of racing into the new year, here\'s your chance. Join hundreds of Tulsans in checking out the live entertainment, the champagne and sparkling cider, blackeyed peas and cornbread and a huge fireworks show at midnight at this event. Don\'t forget about the Polar Bear Plunge on New Years Day. It\'s just $5 to dress up (or down - in some cases, in hardly nothing at all) and run the one-mile race and take a dunk in the frigid Arkansas River. Hey, you\'ll freeze your butt off, but you\'ll never forget this particular New Years Day. It starts at noon. <a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/tatur.org\">Visit TATUR.org to sign up for these races</a>.<br /><br /><b>The Zuits New Years Eve Party</b><br />When: 10pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/joemommas.com\">Joe Momma\'s downtown</a>, 112 S. Elgin Ave. <br />Swing in the new year with some great music and some tasty pizza at Joe Momma\'s downtown. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4210704045/\" title=\"Cosmo Cafe by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Cosmo Cafe\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4210704045_1d9342b682.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><b>New Year\'s Eve Speakeasy</b><br />When: 8:30pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://cosmo-cafe.com/\">Cosmo Cafe&nbsp;&amp; Bar</a>, now at 3334 S. Peoria Ave.<br />Be prepared to be transported back to the era of classy attire, sexy jazz and stiff drinks. There\'s no cover at this little shindig, but in the spirit of the days of the speakeasy, you will need to know the password: \"It\'s freezing out here! Let us in!\" Also, a true speakeasy patron should have an alias. While you\'re partying like it\'s 1929, check out free champagne toast at midnight, accompanied by what Cosmo called \"fancy stuff on crackers.\" Heck, yes. Plus, if you show up in a 1920s get-up, you\'ll get a bonus party favor. Woot!<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://www.theoklahomaswingsyndicate.org/images/sny_banner.jpg\" /><br /></div><br /><b>Swingin\' in the New Year</b><br />When: doors at 8:30pm, swing dancing lesson at 9pm, band starts at 9:30pm<br />Where: Believer\'s Church, 4705 S. Memorial Drive<br />Looking to dodge the drunks and smoke this New Years Eve and get your groove on at the same time? Thanks to the <a href=\"http://theoklahomaswingsyndicate.org/\">Oklahoma Swing Syndicate</a>, you\'re in luck. For $20 per person, dance the night (and the year) away with an eight-piece, live swing band. The night will start with a beginning east-coast swing lesson, after which dancers are free to swing into 2010. Finger foods and beverages (no alcohol, though, folks) will be available, and the adjacent Cafe Fusion coffee shop will be open, too.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs141.snc3/16842_1269256966140_1071327511_840220_688128_n.jpg\" /><br /></div><br /><b>NYE with Sam and the Stylees, HipHopotomus</b><br />When: doors at 7pm, show at 7:30pm<br />Where: Flytrap Music Hall, Second and Greenwood<br />Catch the smokin\' local act Sam and the Stylees plus HipHopotomus, Classy San Diego and The Last Slice - it\'s a hefty dose of Oklahoma-grown music, all for $10 at the door.<br /><br /><b>NYE at Enso</b><br />When: 8pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://ensobar.com/\">Enso Bar, 104 S. Detroit Ave.</a><br />As the folks at Enso say, \"no cheap props, hats, balls or sillyass noise makers - just cool music in a cool vibe.\" Plus, no where else in town has the Guinness Milk Shake. As if you need more convincing, this party is free - as in, it\'s $0 to get through the door of <a href=\"http://ensobar.com/\">this swanky little bar, new to downtown\'s Blue Dome District</a>.<br /><br />So. What are YOU doing New Years Eve?','What to Do in Tulsa This New Years Eve, 2009 Edition','','publish','open','open','','what-to-do-in-tulsa-this-new-years-eve','','','2009-12-21 22:30:00','2009-12-21 22:30:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=404',0,'post','',1),(405,1,'2009-12-22 20:03:00','2009-12-22 20:03:00','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzElm4oy8iI/AAAAAAAABjQ/2wL7Lpi-HvQ/s1600-h/310671394_2579f8c1ce_b.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzElm4oy8iI/AAAAAAAABjQ/2wL7Lpi-HvQ/s640/310671394_2579f8c1ce_b.jpg\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmtulsa/\">From jmtulsa on Flickr</a>&nbsp;- pretty, no?</i></span><br /></div><br /><a href=\"http://www.kjrh.com/content/weather/local/forecast/story/2NEWS-HD-Certified-Forecast-tulsa-weather/PbV9uyGLmESA0hLpr15-kA.cspx\">According to local meteorologist Julie Chin\'s latest forecast</a>, Santa might just have more to land on than sand, clay and lakes when he visits Green Country Thursday night.<br /><br />That\'s right, kids - snow is in the forecast.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4206304427/\" title=\"Snow Day 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Snow Day 2009\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4206304427_4cf4b07c2d.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Right now Julie\'s not seeing much snow coming our way - <a href=\"http://www.kjrh.com/content/weather/local/forecast/story/2NEWS-HD-Certified-Forecast-tulsa-weather/PbV9uyGLmESA0hLpr15-kA.cspx\">an inch at best, with possibly more along the Oklahoma-Kansas state line</a>.<br /><br />Having spent the last 26 years in T-Town, though, something tells me that this forecast for light snow isn\'t going to stop my fellow Okies from positively freaking out in one way or another.<br /><br />For one, it\'s well-known and oft-observed by out-of-towners that we\'re not such good drivers in the weather. This applies to rain, sure, since we Oklahomans tend to go long periods without having to drive in any. But when the snow comes, this city practically shuts down.<br /><br />No one goes anywhere unless it\'s to Wal-Mart for ice scrapers and groceries (and beer, of course - what other beverage would an Okie choose to help while away a snow day?), to the local hardware store for a generator (as anyone with a t-shirt that says, \"I lived through Ice Storm 2007 and all I got was this lousy t-shirt\" could understand) or to leave work early to avoid traffic.<br /><br />By \"traffic\" what I really mean is Tulsans who sit high and confident in trucks and SUVs with four-wheel drive. By \"confident\" I mean driving like bats out of hell. I agree, four-wheel drive works wonders in the snow. Still, snow driving requires just as much experience as it does equipment, and opportunities to gain that type of experience here in the Tulsa area don\'t happen that often.<br /><br />So, snow frightens us a little. Ice scares the living daylights out of us.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4206304301/\" title=\"Snow Day 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Snow Day 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4206304301_339afc03f2.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />See? If you\'re an Oklahoman, you just had a heart attack. <br /><br />We can handle cold temperatures with the best of \'em in the northeast, but winter precipitation? Count us in the house huddled around our DVRs or count us out.<br /><br />Native Okies/Tulsans: What do you do when there\'s snow in the forecast? Those of you not from \'round these parts: What do you do when there\'s snow in the forecast? That is, when you\'re not staring mouth agape at us stocking up double on canned cranberry sauce and eggnog for Christmas this year.<br /><br />Hey, you never know. Eating another can of cranberry sauce is much better than having to eat the dog that froze a week ago in an ice storm no one thought would be that bad. I\'m just sayin\'.','A White Christmas in 2009?','','publish','open','open','','white-christmas-in-2009','','','2009-12-22 20:03:00','2009-12-22 20:03:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=405',0,'post','',8),(406,1,'2009-12-23 16:25:00','2009-12-23 16:25:00','Well, folks, Christmas is upon us.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4208258277/\" title=\"Tulsa Business Journal Christmas Party 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Business Journal Christmas Party 2009\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2518/4208258277_e80367791e.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Some of us who like to be prepared and organized and responsible are ready. Some of us who like to be prepared and organized and responsible but fail miserably in spite of ourselves are not. Ready or not, though, here Christmas comes. <br /><br /><br />If on this 23rd day of December you still have a few names to cross of your list, here are a few ideas for gifts of the Xtreme last-minute variety. <br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4209022568/\" title=\"Tulsa Deco, by Girouard Vines by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Deco, by Girouard Vines\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/4209022568_3bbe4c7e1a.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />As I mentioned on Monday\'s Midday Show, <a href=\"http://tulsawine.com/tulsa-deco-label.php\">this is my favorite wine right now, and not just because the word \"Tulsa\" is on the label</a>. <br /><br />Fire Alarm Red is part of the Tulsa Deco line of wines available from <a href=\"http://tulsawine.com/\">downtown Tulsa\'s own winery, Girouard Vines</a>. The other wine in the series, a Cab called Westhope, ain\'t half bad, either (meaning, it\'s practically steak in a bottle - yum). <br /><br />I\'m no oenophile (just a wannabe, really), but in my opinion, Fire Alarm Red goes just as well with pizza as it does a juicy filet. That\'s why I love it. Quality, balanced wine like this one is versatile. At about $20, not only will this wine impress at the table, but it looks great in the wine rack, too. <br /><br />Plus, each bottle comes with this keepsake glass stopper: <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4209022866/\" title=\"Tulsa Deco, by Girouard Vines by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Deco, by Girouard Vines\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4209022866_e1867cb88d.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4209022676/\" title=\"Tulsa Deco, by Girouard Vines by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Tulsa Deco, by Girouard Vines\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4209022676_784f167199.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Fancy, no? And it goes especially well with formica counters, as you can see. <br /><br />Maybe one day this blog will buy me granite countertops. Snicker. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3834219306/\" title=\"T-Rex Pie at Joe Momma\'s Pizza Downtown by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"T-Rex Pie at Joe Momma\'s Pizza Downtown\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3834219306_d73a84491d.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />See that delicious-looking beer back there? That\'s a glass of <a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/marshallbrewing.com\">Atlas IPA, brewed right here in Tulsa at Marshall Brewing Company</a>. It\'s my favorite beer right now, and not just because it has the name of one of my favorite Tulsa buildings on the label. <br /><br />Are we noticing a trend here? No? Good. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4208345255/\" title=\"McNellie\'s Pale Ale by Marshall Brewing Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"McNellie\'s Pale Ale by Marshall Brewing Company\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4208345255_b3ebcee1f6.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Formerly, Marshall beer was available exclusively in these 22-ounce bottles. I didn\'t complain - after all, opening one of these bottles was pretty much a guarantee that I\'d get to enjoy two glasses\' worth of tasty beverage. Even so, I\'m still grateful that Marshall now comes in 12-ounce bottles.<br /><br /><br /><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\">Never mind that squash next to the Marshall.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4190986519/\" title=\"Marshall Brewing Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Marshall Brewing Company\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4190986519_3fa8bc07a7.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191747686/\" title=\"Marshall Brewing Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Marshall Brewing Company\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4191747686_36e9b59be0.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Mmm - local beer that can match or even beat the price of your other favorite craft beers, plus make you look cool by association. Yes, please. <br /><br />Both Marshall and Tulsa Deco wines are more widely available every day. Check with your local liquor store to see if they carry them. If they don\'t, request that they do. Then, call back next week and repeat until these bottles show up on shelves near you. <br /><br />For last-minute shopping purposes, though, I know that <a href=\"http://www.parkhillsliquor.com/\">both of these local beverages can be snagged at Parkhills at 51st and Lewis</a>. Just try not to make too many friends when you stop in there. It\'s hard to do - everyone at Parkhills is just so friendly and nice and happy. <br /><br />No wonder. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4190986691/\" title=\"Marshall Brewing Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Marshall Brewing Company\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2571/4190986691_502ab513b6.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Looking for something a little sweeter to give for Christmas? <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3374859806/\" title=\"Steven Howard\'s Famous Orchids by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Steven Howard\'s Famous Orchids\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3624/3374859806_38435c7f55.jpg\" width=\"338\" /></a><br /></div><br />Okay. We can do that. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3374044219/\" title=\"Yummies from KoKoa Chocolatier in Utica Square, 21st and Utica by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Yummies from KoKoa Chocolatier in Utica Square, 21st and Utica\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3374044219_5c11b0484f.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />These little yummies, along with just about any other gourmet sweet that you can think of (and more) are available at <a href=\"http://kokoachocolatier.com/index.php\">Kokoa Chocolatier, now at Utica Square</a>. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3374863596/\" title=\"Candied Orange Slices from KoKoa in Utica Square, 21st and Utica by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Candied Orange Slices from KoKoa in Utica Square, 21st and Utica\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3374863596_5f9083c0c1.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Who needs a wimpy little orangette when you could have one of those? <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3374858434/\" title=\"Forget Chocolate Cereal by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Forget Chocolate Cereal\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3563/3374858434_080517f314.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Yes, that\'s a bowl made of chocolate. Chocolatier Steven Howard makes globes out of chocolate, too - yes, whole, entire globes. Then, he fills them with his beautiful truffles. Oh, the imagination. <br /><br />I can\'t imagine anyone who wouldn\'t want to receive a chocolate globe filled with gourmet truffles for Christmas. If you can, you\'re thinking too hard. Thinking too hard is not what the holidays are about.<br /><br />I hope these suggestions for last-last-last-minute gifts help. Anyone else have any ideas? Leave \'em in the comments - I\'m sure we\'d all appreciate the heads-up.','STILL Shopping??','','publish','open','open','','still-shopping','','','2009-12-23 16:25:00','2009-12-23 16:25:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=406',0,'post','',2),(407,1,'2009-12-23 22:05:00','2009-12-23 22:05:00','There\'s something very unlikely going on downtown these days.<br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJNNeoge9I/AAAAAAAABkI/Ud7t4H3jels/s1600-h/4186181051_8879148da6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJNNeoge9I/AAAAAAAABkI/Ud7t4H3jels/s640/4186181051_8879148da6.jpg\" /></a><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdscott/\">Photo from chrisdscott on Flickr</a></i></span><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i></i></span><br /></div><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><a name=\'more\'></a></i></span><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Actually, it\'s more than just one unlikely thing. There\'s ice skating, for one - yes, ice skating. In the middle of downtown Tulsa. It\'s ice skating not known in these parts since the ice rink was torn out of the Williams tower.<br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">For two, there\'s a beautiful, giant Christmas tree. In fact, it\'s the largest in the state of Oklahoma.<br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://gallery.rjbphoto.com/Holidays/Winterfest-2009/winterfestpano/747005450_YyaTs-M.jpg\" /><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/people/robertdx/\">Photo from robertdx on Flickr</a></i></span><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMswX9P5I/AAAAAAAABj4/7Y8Cq_jnUFk/s1600-h/4186182159_cc870c2855.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMswX9P5I/AAAAAAAABj4/7Y8Cq_jnUFk/s640/4186182159_cc870c2855.jpg\" /></a><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdscott/\">From chrisdscott on Flickr</a></i></span><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">See?<br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Then there\'s the hot chocolate, the hot food, the live entertainment, a Segway Santa and the horse-drawn carriage rides.<br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">There\'s even a Zamboni.<br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://gallery.rjbphoto.com/Holidays/Winterfest-2009/IMG0168/747006628_ppGH3-L.jpg\" /><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJHjPRuKrI/AAAAAAAABjY/roqMmfmmydA/s1600-h/4205456486_c80bc7b4f6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJHjPRuKrI/AAAAAAAABjY/roqMmfmmydA/s640/4205456486_c80bc7b4f6.jpg\" /></a><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/people/robertdx/\">Both photos from robertdx on Flickr</a></span></i><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">These curious goings on are all part of <a href=\"http://www.bokcenter.com/general.asp?id=168\">the second annual Arvest Winterfest, a celebration of all that is holiday time in downtown Tulsa at Third Street between Denver and Frisco Avenues</a>, right next door to the <a href=\"http://bokcenter.com/\">BOK Center</a>.<br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://gallery.rjbphoto.com/Holidays/Winterfest-2009/IMG0277/747013450_6wJBS-L.jpg\" /><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small; font-style: italic;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/people/robertdx/\">From robertdx on Flickr</a></span><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Better than skating indoors to My Endless Love (well, maybe), patrons of Winterfest have the opportunity to skate beneath one of the most beautiful skylines in the country and next door to <a href=\"http://tulsabusiness.com/article.asp?aID=83500366.1515314.652808.8829724.4683736.810&amp;aID2=50207\">Tulsa\'s very own world-class arena</a>. Skaters can bring their own skates, sure, but there\'s plenty of skates available for rent at the rink, which was expanded to 60\' by 150\' this year.<br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJImnBf_iI/AAAAAAAABjg/VvkH2y6qVmM/s1600-h/4204698345_42d461ce7b.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJImnBf_iI/AAAAAAAABjg/VvkH2y6qVmM/s640/4204698345_42d461ce7b.jpg\" /></a><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small; font-style: italic;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/people/robertdx/\">From robertdx on Flickr</a></span><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><span style=\"font-size: medium; font-style: normal;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMeQhXAtI/AAAAAAAABjw/95-MnArOIYA/s1600-h/4186943654_104b829385.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMeQhXAtI/AAAAAAAABjw/95-MnArOIYA/s640/4186943654_104b829385.jpg\" /></a></span></i></span><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small; font-style: italic;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdscott/\">From chrisdscott on Flickr</a></span><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><i><br /></i><br /></div><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJVNrx92HI/AAAAAAAABkY/T_qaq7gYO_I/s1600-h/mc_blog_winterfest03.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJVNrx92HI/AAAAAAAABkY/T_qaq7gYO_I/s640/mc_blog_winterfest03.jpg\" /></a><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><a href=\"http://cooperphotog.com/\"><i>By Michael Cooper</i></a></span><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Kids are welcome at Winterfest, of course.<br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><span style=\"font-size: medium; font-style: normal;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJM_f5SAsI/AAAAAAAABkA/q-imX1HQ7tw/s1600-h/4186181229_275a2f8e41.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJM_f5SAsI/AAAAAAAABkA/q-imX1HQ7tw/s640/4186181229_275a2f8e41.jpg\" /></a></span></i></span><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdscott/\">From chrisdscott on Flickr</a></i></span><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div>Especially cute ones in adorable, pink winter weather gear.<br /><br />And precious, leggy little boys and their protective older sisters.<br /><br />I want more babies. Someone hold me back. <br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJVhWxp5PI/AAAAAAAABkg/a5lxt6NvDKQ/s1600-h/mc_blog_winterfest06.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJVhWxp5PI/AAAAAAAABkg/a5lxt6NvDKQ/s640/mc_blog_winterfest06.jpg\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://cooperphotog.com/\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>By Michael Cooper</i></span></a><br /></div><br />Winterfest seems to have been a huge draw for couples. After all, ice skating has always made for a great date night.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMIoToMQI/AAAAAAAABjo/x7UTcfgOwWg/s1600-h/4186943822_a2567271ca.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMIoToMQI/AAAAAAAABjo/x7UTcfgOwWg/s640/4186943822_a2567271ca.jpg\" /></a><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small; font-style: italic;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdscott/\">From chrisdscott on Flickr</a></span><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMeQhXAtI/AAAAAAAABjw/95-MnArOIYA/s1600-h/4186943654_104b829385.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"></a><br />Oh, the passion. The love. The fire. The - wait. What was I talking about?<br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Oh, yes. Winterfest. That\'s right.<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://gallery.rjbphoto.com/Holidays/Winterfest-2009/IMG0152/747006120_yJZHu-M.jpg\" /><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small; font-style: italic;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/people/robertdx/\">From robertdx on Flickr</a></span><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Ooo - bokeh. Pretty.<br /><br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;\">Winterfest is a great place to get one\'s fill of Christmas lights, too. The trees lining the sidewalk outside the BOK Center are it in blue, and the mammoth Christmas tree is, of course, bedecked to the nines.<br /></div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJHjPRuKrI/AAAAAAAABjY/roqMmfmmydA/s1600-h/4205456486_c80bc7b4f6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"></a><br /></div><br /><br />Think you might want to give this Winterfest thing a try while all your friends and relatives are in town visiting? Well, you can - you could even go after Christmas dinner, if you wanted.<br /><br />The ice rink will be open from 5-10pm, and skates are $8 per person. If you have your own skates, it\'s just $5. Kids under the age of three get in for $5, too.<br /><br />Or, if you\'re lucky, you could go for free.<br /><br />I have here in my grubby little hands (hey, cut me some slack - I\'ve been baking)&nbsp;<b>four passes for ice skating at Arvest Winterfest</b>, good through Jan. 4. I also have <b>four vouchers for hot chocolate</b>. Plus, I have <b>a certificate for a complimentary horse-drawn carriage ride for four</b>, valid any Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening until the close of Winterfest the first week of January. <br /><br />If you wanna win this handsome little prize package, here\'s what you have to do:<br /><br /><b>Head to the comments and describe your fanciest ice skating move</b>. I\'m not talking about what you can do in real life. I want to know about your fantasy skating skills, the ones you pull out on the skating rink in your mind when the mean girls from high school come to watch. Whether it\'s a triple lutz with a half-twist in reverse or a break dance on ice, I want to know about it. Lay it on me.<br /><br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJUrY3k9uI/AAAAAAAABkQ/A06z2aA5A-o/s1600-h/mc_blog_winterfest12.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJUrY3k9uI/AAAAAAAABkQ/A06z2aA5A-o/s640/mc_blog_winterfest12.jpg\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-size: small; font-style: italic;\"><a href=\"http://www.cooperphotog.com/\">By Michael Cooper</a></span><br /></div></div><br /><br />I\'m going to give the Random.org gods a rest this time and choose what I find to be the most creative answer.<br /><br /><b>BONUS: Anyone who takes photos or video of themselves attempting to perform their fantasy ice skating moves gets preferential consideration. </b>Simply leave a link to your mad ice skating media in the comments as your entry and you will soon enjoy fame and...well, fame. Fame will have to be good enough.<br /><br />One entry per person, please. Enter before Dec. 24 at midnight to be eligible win. I\'ll announce the winner here on this blog at some point on Christmas Day.<br /><br />Good luck, everyone. And think <i>jazzy</i>.<br /></div>','Our Very Own Winter Wonderland (Plus, a Giveaway)','','publish','open','open','','our-very-own-winter-wonderland-plus','','','2009-12-23 22:05:00','2009-12-23 22:05:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=407',0,'post','',6),(408,1,'2009-12-24 19:50:00','2009-12-24 19:50:00','Actually, I was raised by the head elf himself: Santa Claus.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img height=\"426\" src=\"http://www.mckenneyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/img_8739w-medium.jpg\" width=\"640\" /><br /></div><br />Actually, I was raised by a guy who looks strikingly like Santa Claus when he wears red clothing and wire-rimmed glasses and appears in photos with children rattling off their wish lists.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br />Here\'s what he looks like in real life. There\'s really no family resemblance between us. None at all, actually.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4211005487/\" title=\"Dad\'s Wedding by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Dad\'s Wedding\" height=\"358\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/4211005487_1786603847.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Nope. None whatsoever. And never mind about the matching Hawaiian clothing and my giant helmet hair. We did it for a wedding.<br /><br />My dad has served in many capacities as Santa around T-Town. Most recently he was the official Santa of the now-defunct holiday event at Tulsa Zoo, Zoolightful (remember that, anyone?). A few weekends ago, <a href=\"http://www.mckenneyphotography.com/?p=1883\">local photographer Maggie McKenney</a> snagged him as her Santa for a set of Christmas shoots.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img height=\"426\" src=\"http://www.mckenneyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/img_8749w-medium.jpg\" width=\"640\" /><br /></div><br />Heh. With four kids in their twenties and one just on the other side of the faith-in-Santa veil (three of which he acquired the day that Elvis-in-Hawaii wedding photo I showed you earlier in this post was taken - and, yes, I\'m pretty sure the theme was his idea), I bet he thought he\'d never have to go through this again.<br /><br />Then, he went and bought a Santa suit. Now it seems folks want to put their kids on my dad\'s lap and take photos of him.<br /><br />Funny how that works. Right, Dad?<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img height=\"511\" src=\"http://www.mckenneyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/santa-at-twin-creeks-dec2w-large.jpg\" width=\"640\" /><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img height=\"456\" src=\"http://www.mckenneyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/santa-at-twin-creeks-dec-large.jpg\" width=\"640\" /><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Here\'s to having my very own Santa Claus, on-call any time I need him. When you have a need for Santa, you can call him, too. Just mention how good he looks in his new Santa suit and how much you love Elvis and you\'ll be on his good side.<br /><br />Merry Christsmas Eve, everybody. May Santa brave the sleet and snow and the lines at Walgreens for those last-minute batteries he meant to buy last week to bring you call kinds of rad things to open by the Christmas tree tomorrow morning. Amen.<br /></div>','I Was Raised By Elves.','','publish','open','open','','i-was-raised-by-elves','','','2009-12-24 19:50:00','2009-12-24 19:50:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=408',0,'post','',5),(409,1,'2009-12-25 16:48:00','2009-12-25 16:48:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4212787107/\" title=\"Merry Christmas from THE BALLS by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Merry Christmas from THE BALLS\" height=\"357\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4212787107_dea9cc2501.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Merry Christmas, Tulsa! Try not to go snow blind today as you enjoy this white, wintry Christmas of 2009.<br /><br />Love, the Tasha Does Tulsa team (a.k.a. the Ball family)','Happy Holiday Wishes','','publish','open','open','','happy-holiday-wishes','','','2009-12-25 16:48:00','2009-12-25 16:48:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=409',0,'post','',4),(411,1,'2009-12-26 17:57:00','2009-12-26 17:57:00','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzZOvaTSpnI/AAAAAAAABko/d5P2-hbAJrM/s1600-h/DSC09015.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzZOvaTSpnI/AAAAAAAABko/d5P2-hbAJrM/s640/DSC09015.jpg\" /></a><br /></div><br />The good thing about marrying a vet who once loaned his house to his brother and sister-in-law while he was on an all-expense-paid, year-long excursion to the exotic lands of Afghanistan is that, when said brother- and sister-in-law move away while he\'s still overseas, it\'s easier for them to leave some pretty cool stuff behind.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br />I\'m talking about things like cabinets full of canned peas (I love canned peas - LURVE). And things like a vintage couch covered in that fabric with hunting dogs and ducks on it - you all know what I\'m talking about. And things like a hydraulic car jack and giant buckets useful for storage of dog food and other bits and sundries. <br /><br />Also, they leave plastic sleds. Score! <br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzZO4qdIgwI/AAAAAAAABkw/5gHqtuA8ORU/s1600-h/DSC09024.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzZO4qdIgwI/AAAAAAAABkw/5gHqtuA8ORU/s400/DSC09024.jpg\" /></a><br /></div><br />Thanks to the first white Christmas we\'ve had in Oklahoma in a looong time, we got some use out of  that plastic sled this week. Check it out:<br /><br /><object height=\"340\" width=\"560\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/xXYBMYuTOkg&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00\"></param><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\"></param><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\"></param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/xXYBMYuTOkg&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" width=\"560\" height=\"340\"></embed></object><br /><br />What do you like to do when a foot of fresh, white snow is dumped at your place? Something tells me your responses aren\'t likely to involve in-laws.','Thankful for In-Laws','','publish','open','open','','thankful-for-in-laws','','','2009-12-26 17:57:00','2009-12-26 17:57:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=411',0,'post','',2),(412,1,'2009-12-28 19:59:00','2009-12-28 19:59:00','I\'m in a good mood today. Know why? The snow is melting. I can hear it dripping from my roof and into giant puddles forming around my house. I can also hear my walls creaking and my doors shifting and my driveway cracking, but I\'m still in a good mood. <br /><br />Reason is, <a href=\"http://bokcenter.com/events.asp?id=11&amp;pid=196&amp;task=display\">I have four passes to Arvest Winterfest to give away today</a>. These passes include four free skate rental vouchers, four free hot cocoa vouchers and a certificate for a complimentary horse-drawn carriage ride for four. And they\'re good until Jan. 4. <br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br />Four, four, four. Four.<br /><br />The bird is not the word.<br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzkKy9waiaI/AAAAAAAABlA/TRMn6IU4G7w/s1600-h/mc_blog_winterfest05.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzkKy9waiaI/AAAAAAAABlA/TRMn6IU4G7w/s640/mc_blog_winterfest05.jpg\" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />I asked you, my insanely attractive readers who have to fight off your admirers with a club and good, old-fashioned face slaps, to give me your best fantasy ice skating move. Here\'s the one I liked best. <br /><br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzkJQoNaj6I/AAAAAAAABk4/RU8YrYVgFqk/s1600-h/Picture+1.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzkJQoNaj6I/AAAAAAAABk4/RU8YrYVgFqk/s640/Picture+1.png\" /></a><br /></div><br />Ashley, I get you. Any time I go ice skating or rollerskating, I cling to the sides for dear life. If I let go, I\'m bound to be sporting a purple butt the next day. For me, it\'s hard to imagine being able to venture more than an arm\'s length beyond the railing, let alone conjure a mental image of my hair flying in the wind as I land a super double secret back flip triple leg spin with a half-twist.<br /><br />Ashley, congrats. <a href=\"mailto:tashadoestulsa@gmail.com\">E-mail me ASAP - within 24 hours, to be exact - to claim your prize</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to everyone for entering. Happy Monday after Christmas, and long live ice rink hand railing. And unbruised butt cheeks.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><a href=\"http://www.cooperphotog.com/\">Photo by Michael Cooper</a></i></span>','Winterfest Winner','','publish','open','open','','winterfest-winner','','','2009-12-28 19:59:00','2009-12-28 19:59:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=412',0,'post','',0),(413,1,'2009-12-28 22:35:00','2009-12-28 22:35:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4223629836/\" title=\"White Christmas 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"White Christmas 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2634/4223629836_fe5d2ac9ce.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />I love asking questions on <a href=\"http://facebook.com/tashadoestulsa\">Facebook</a> and <a href=\"http://twitter.com/tashadoestulsa\">Twitter</a>. It\'s a good way to spend a sunny day, but it\'s a downright great way to spend a snowy day.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br />Speaking of snowy days, that\'s what my question was about. <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/tashadoestulsa?ref=mf\">I posed, \"Fill in the blank: On snowy days in Oklahoma, I ___________.\"</a><br /><br />As could be expected, this question pulled in a variety of answers:<br /><br /><blockquote>-Regret not having 4-wheel drive.<br /></blockquote><blockquote>-Stay inside and make snow ice cream.<br /></blockquote><blockquote>-Get out and sled.<br /></blockquote><blockquote>-Cook and clean, and watch one of my dogs go sproinging through the drifts when she goes out to pee.<br /></blockquote><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4223630072/\" title=\"White Christmas 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"White Christmas 2009\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4223630072_3674a6e485.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Sproinging! When someone says, \"leaping through the snow,\" I get something of a mental image. \"Bounding through the snow,\" even better. \"Sproinging through the snow,\" however, is a major motion picture in 3D and thrown 80 feet tall on an IMAX screen. I love it.<br /><br />Here are some of my favorite answers to the prompt:<br /><br /><blockquote><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\">-Wouldn\'t know because all we ever get is ice. This is new territory. I\'m at a total loss.<br /></div></blockquote><blockquote>-Get dragged in to work.<br /></blockquote><br />Speaking of getting dragged in to work on a holiday, how about our members of the media over the holiday? (<a href=\"http://krmg.com/\">Especially the folks at KRMG</a> - I\'m always impressed with their storm coverage, and not just because they let me hang out with them on Friday mornings.) Reporting on the ice storm of \'07 is one thing, but having to miss out spending time with family and friends on Christmas Eve and, in a lot of cases, large chunks of Christmas Day, to serve listeners, viewers and readers who depend on you is huge. Thanks to everyone who worked through the holiday to inform, connect and protect us.)<br /><br /><blockquote>-Stay inside and comment on Tasha\'s status updates.<br /></blockquote><blockquote>-Fart a lot to generate heat.<br /></blockquote><br />Just remember to leave a window cracked. Wouldn\'t want to get carbon monoxide poisoning.<br /><br />And, a reader took her cat to the park. Just like posing random questions on Facebook and Twitter, this would be one thing on a sunny day. It\'s quite another, exponentially more extraordinary thing to do on a snowy day. I really, really can\'t wait until there\'s a video posted on this. I can\'t wrap my little head around walking a cat to the park. I just can\'t. The cat\'s name is Mischief, by the way. How great is that?<br /><br />Here\'s a question one reader sent in about the prompt:<br /><br /><blockquote>-How many people filled in the blank with go to the mall?<br /></blockquote><br />Not a single one, actually, out of about 35 responses. Which tells me that maybe, just maybe, folks out there are reading this blog and are getting out there and doing Tulsa, even if that just means avoiding the yellow snow when harvesting for ice cream in their front yards. Or, it means that everyone is too afraid to utter the M-word within 30 feet of earshot of me for fear of being bombarded with more diatribes about why shopping anything but local is the devil.<br /><br />Or, maybe it\'s both. Either way, I\'m smiling.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4222866719/\" title=\"White Christmas 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"White Christmas 2009\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4222866719_93414353c1.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Oklahomans: What do you like to do on a snowy day?','Things to Do on Snowy Days in Oklahoma','','publish','open','open','','things-to-do-on-snowy-days-in-oklahoma','','','2009-12-28 22:35:00','2009-12-28 22:35:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=413',0,'post','',3),(414,1,'2009-12-30 23:00:00','2009-12-30 23:00:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4228613739/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4228613739_685d1d00cd.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />\'Tis the season for long waits at return counters, cringe-worthy weigh-ins and the crafting of resolutions.<br /><br />It\'s also that time of year when we look to support our most beloved organizations while also reducing our taxable income by making our last charitable donations for the year.<br /><br />At the Ball house, this means a few frigid hours of me bending over boxes in the garage in attempts to figure out which of our belongings can go and which can stay.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a>Most of what we give each year is clothing. Somehow, though I don\'t remember having clothes in quantity during high school and college, each year I discover yet another cardboard box full of size-six short shorts and size-medium shirts from American Eagle and Abercrombie &amp; Fitch and Lord knows where else.<br /><br />Regrettably, Momma ain\'t a size six anymore. Since I feel I have a better chance of finding a size-six person shoved and gasping for air between the cushions of my couch than ever being one again, I figure it\'s time to get these clothes to folks who can use them.<br /><br />On my way back to said couch after last night\'s rummaging session, I found this box:<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4228613739/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4228613739_685d1d00cd.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />And two others just like it, all full of the books of my youth. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4228611679/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/4228611679_d8b6e248bf.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />See? Full House: Indisputably my favorite show when I was in elementary school. I loved DJ. I wanted to know her. I wanted to <i>be</i> her. I strived to be like her in any way possible.<br /><br />Maybe I still do. But you won\'t hear me say it.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4228611841/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2690/4228611841_a27e499957.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4228611555/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2656/4228611555_64e50cd935.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Ah, Little Golden Books, how I loved thee. <br /><br />Ah, pre-Elmo Sesame Street, how I really, really loved thee.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4229379162/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2636/4229379162_049ac9a5f9.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />It\'s She-Ra!<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4228612497/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4228612497_827f26027f.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Castaspella - what a name for a heroine. By the way, I didn\'t color this page. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4229379322/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4229379322_bc04932023.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />I did, however, color this page. I was always a color-inside-the-lines kind of girl - at least, when it came to coloring books, that was true. <br /><br />Speaking of coloring inside the lines...BSC, coming through! <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4228613103/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4228613103_c6e3f8351b.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />That Claudia - always the malcontent. \"No one understands!\" <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4229380790/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4229380790_e96d51de3b.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />My husband asked me this same question once, way back in our early days. I called the folks in Arkansas to see if they still had our marriage license on file. They did. Then it was true: I\'d married a man who\'d never seen Fraggle Rock.<br /><br />I forgive him - and myself - a little more each day. <br /><br />Needless to say, he had no idea what a Wuzzle was.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4228613503/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4228613503_14ba769bac.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />My husband\'s parents wouldn\'t allow him to read Goosebumps. Too scary, they said.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4229379938/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4229379938_006c503e68.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Of course, I read them as fast as my parents could drive me to Wal-Mart and hand me the $4.95 to buy the latest copy. Those Goosebumps books were must-haves, even if they did give me nightmares. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4228612967/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4228612967_7c416e0c0a.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Even the title of the series had goosebumps. What person who grew up in the \'90s doesn\'t remember standing&nbsp;in the young adult fiction isle and&nbsp;running a finger over these letters? So classic.<br /><br />And who could forget these: <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4228612847/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/4228612847_0ca2f909aa.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />The Boxcar Children! Go ahead. Squee.<br /><br />Our son, who is in desperate need of a haircut, couldn\'t bear to see these books boxed up and hauled away forever.<br /><br />Yeah, that\'s the ticket - our <i>son</i> couldn\'t bear it. I could, totally. I\'d be fine. My son, though - he\'s just too young for this kind of heartbreak. I have to protect him, you see.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4228612601/\" title=\"Looking to Give Back by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Looking to Give Back\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2643/4228612601_99cfb904fb.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Now my old books are strung all over our living room, awaiting imminent destruction. I will try in vain to protect the relics of my childhood while attempting to share them with my offspring. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4190995795/\" title=\"DSC08812 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"DSC08812\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2587/4190995795_ba2580a6cc.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />This is why we can\'t have nice things.<br /><br />If you\'re looking to make a donation to a worthy cause while unloading what\'s become superfluous in your life,&nbsp;<a href=\"http://ttownmoms.com/?page=blogs/view&amp;BLID=6844\">Trisha Swindle over at Ttownmoms.com has a nice list of places that could use your donations</a>, and <a href=\"http://tulsabusiness.com/article.asp?aID=19749112.7500522.650351.1679765.871662.325&amp;aID2=50018\">Holly Wall at Tulsa Business Journal put together a great story last month on local charities looking for your gifts this season</a>. <br /><br />What causes are close to your heart today, the day before the last day of 2009?','Giving Back','','publish','open','open','','giving-back','','','2009-12-30 23:00:00','2009-12-30 23:00:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=414',0,'post','',5),(5098,1,'2011-01-07 15:24:46','2011-01-07 20:24:46','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-5093\" href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/01/tulsa-music-weekend-tj-rocks-tulsa/tj/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5093  aligncenter\" title=\"T.J. Clark\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tj.jpg\" alt=\"T.J. Clark\" width=\"369\" height=\"552\" /></a></p>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/tj-rocks-tulsa/\">TDT music columnist T.J. Clark</a> serves up the inside scoop on where to find the sweetest music for your earholes this weekend in Tulsa. Get it hot and fresh here.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n<strong>Friday at <a href=\"http://thesoundpony.com/\">Soundpony</a></strong>. Benefit for Brandy Iliff. Brandy is a local bartender and local concert organizer who is battling kidney failure and in desperate need of a kidney transplant. There\'s a suggested donation of $5 and in exchange you get to see seven of Tulsa\'s greatest and most rowdy bands (I\'m pushing for Rowdy Rock to be a new sub-genre): Northside Hot Dogs, The Dulldrums, Lizard Police, Midtown &amp; Down, Lunar City, Barf Makeout and Rude Amps.\r\n\r\n<strong>Sunday at The Colony</strong>. As one of the bands you\'ll find regularly at <a href=\"http://www.thecolonytulsa.com/\">The Colony</a>, Pilgrim is a prime example of \"The New Tulsa Sound\" as featured on the great compilation of the same name that was released last year. Blues-y, rock-y, red dirt-y, the band\'s sound has a little bit of it all. And seriously, if you haven\'t yet seen a show at The Colony, it needs to become part of your New Year\'s resolution package. There\'s great music coming out of that place almost nightly.\r\n\r\n<strong>Coming up on Tuesday at <a href=\"http://www.cainsballroom.com/\">Cain\'s Ballroom</a></strong>. Taddy Porter could very easily be the next band from Oklahoma to make a major national impact. For that matter, it could easily be Vandevander too, whose song “1000” was recently used on a promo for HBO’s “Weeds.” Basically, you need to be at this show. <em>Especially</em> if you’re a fan of, say, The Black Keys, or other blues-influenced rockers.\r\n\r\nFor even more options for your live music listening pleasure, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/01/things-to-do-in-tulsa-this-weekend-7/\">this weekend\'s rundown of events, music and movies in Tulsa</a>. While you\'re at it, be sure to <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/tjclark\">follow T.J. on Twitter</a> - all the cool kids are doing it.','TJ Rocks Tulsa: Picks for live music this weekend','TDT music columnist T.J. Clark\'s serves up the inside scoop on where to find the sweetest music for your earholes this weekend in Tulsa. \r\n','inherit','open','open','','5092-revision-4','','','2011-01-07 15:24:46','2011-01-07 20:24:46','',5092,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/01/5092-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(417,1,'2010-01-02 22:29:00','2010-01-02 22:29:00','I\'m about to break out what my dear, sweet Guatemalan friend would call my white girl cooking skills and attempt to whip up some yummy Mexican food - specifically, tacos. They may not be authentic, but they will be cheesy. And spicy. And yummy in the hearts and minds of those who will consume them, so don\'t judge, b. <br /><br />Anyway. I can\'t wait until I have a minute to tell you all, my dead-sexy readers, every single last detail about what my husband and I got up to on New Years Eve.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br />Well, maybe not every single last detail. You don\'t need that kind of imagery in your life. But, I will tell you about how we were the unwitting grand prize winners of the Ultimate New Years Eve contest, hosted by the <a href=\"http://mabeecenter.com/\">Mabee Center</a>, <a href=\"http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/TULSHHF-Hilton-Tulsa-Southern-Hills-Oklahoma/index.do\">Hilton Southern Hills</a>, <a href=\"http://www.robertcromeans.com/\">Arcs Salon</a> and <a href=\"http://www.thefrenchbouquettulsa.com/\">The French Bouquet</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to these folks, we got to sit 15 feet - go ahead, step it off; it\'s hardly any distance at all - from this man: <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237871743/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2736/4237871743_48c702e0fd.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />You might know him as B.B. King. You know, the King of the Blues. It\'s not just in the name. It\'s in the tunes, baby.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237869229/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4237869229_4fd7205901.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Like I said, I\'m not going to go into what I thought about this concert right now. Instead, I\'ll leave you with three words: Best. Concert. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238642984/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4238642984_d32ebd89ce.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Ever.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237863169/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/4237863169_170a8ccaaa.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />More on all of that later. For now, feel free to drool over these photos and be jealous and curse me and my lucky stars while I attempt to eat a half-dozen tacos. My logic is, <a href=\"http://kjrh.com/weather\">I\'ll need the calories to keep warm this week</a>. That makes sense, right? <br /><br />Right?<br /><br />Best concert ever. Sorry. I just had to say that again.','More on This Later','','publish','open','open','','more-on-this-later','','','2010-01-02 22:29:00','2010-01-02 22:29:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=417',0,'post','',4),(418,1,'2010-01-03 20:50:00','2010-01-03 20:50:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"LaFortune Park by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4100931155/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2539/4100931155_4b80874191.jpg\" alt=\"LaFortune Park\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nAs we all cinch ourselves in to take on the resolutions we made three days ago, I wonder what our city, if it was a person, would determine to do in twenty-ten.\r\n\r\n<a name=\"more\"></a><a href=\"http://edition.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/dailydose/12/02/new.year.resolutions/index.html\">Like 100 million of my fellow Americans</a>, I made a few New Years resolutions myself. For one, I pledged to eat less white bread-wrapped white bread stuffed with, what else, more white bread. Me and the simple carbs, we go way back. I\'ve decided we need to take a break, see other people - for me, that means dinner dates with more veggies, more lean meats. I\'ll be pretty wild-eyed by the end of this month, I know. But, odds are, I\'ll live through this. I might even emerge from 2010 as less of a person, in the physical sense.\r\n\r\nI\'ve been thinking for awhile about what I would resolve for Tulsa to accomplish this year. I\'m not a fan of long lists - to me, they\'re just bulleted paths to disappointment and failure (that is, unless <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/01/what-to-do-in-tulsa-this-weekend.html\">the list is about things to do this weekend</a>) - so I decided to choose just one thing we could do to make this city a better, more comfortable, more exciting place to live in this first year of what promises to be a totally rad decade.\r\n\r\nThe resolution: I think we need at least one bright, shiny, new, kid-friendly park downtown. As <a href=\"http://www.jeffmartinauthor.com/\">Jeff Martin</a>, local author and <a href=\"http://www.tulsapeople.com/\">Tulsa People</a> columnist said of kid- and family-friendly venues and events sprouting downtown, <a href=\"http://tulsapeople.com/index.php?option=com_k2&amp;id=935&amp;view=item&amp;_CONFIG=Array&amp;css_author_box=box_author&amp;css_author_title=heading&amp;css_author_text=text&amp;rel_articles=on&amp;rel_articles_num=5&amp;author_articles=on&amp;author_articles_num=4&amp;sectionid_default=1&amp;css_sb_box=box_sidebar&amp;css_sb_title=heading&amp;css_article_quote1=quotes&amp;limit=10&amp;Itemid=2\">\"If you build it, they will play.\"</a>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"LaFortune Park by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4101685950/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/4101685950_47f6d8ddbc.jpg\" alt=\"LaFortune Park\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\nI don\'t think a park with a smattering of new toys and swings would be incentive enough to bring families downtown who weren\'t already coming for some other reason. I do think such a park could eventually give rise to small, daytime, enclave-sized festivals, which do have the capability of bringing families from all over T-Town toward the city lights.\r\n\r\nOr, at the very least, a park would give parents who trek to the downtown area for work, lunch or dinner a place to let the kids run wild before a nap or bedtime. Maybe while they\'re there they\'ll notice that downtown\'s not full of pick pockets, prostitutes and violent homeless people after all. Maybe a trip or two to such a park would help young couples with small children become more interested in spending a few years living in a downtown loft.\r\n\r\nMaybe the young mom would open her law practice two floors up from the family loft, and Dad would head downstairs every morning to open his breakfast counter. Maybe if the walls of geographical segregation, which are quite tall in this city, started to break down as such, Mom and Dad would decide not to load up the kids every morning and bank them at daycare centers and private schools across town. Maybe we\'d even start to see school buses on routes through downtown.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"LaFortune Park by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4101686166/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/4101686166_c847e1bc5f.jpg\" alt=\"LaFortune Park\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nI know some of what I wrote will make a lot of you uncomfortable. I know because I\'m right there with you. When earlier this summer we thought about buying this handsome, newly renovated, not-so-little bungalow near downtown, we just couldn\'t get our pros-and-cons list to work out. It still makes the most sense for us to stay where we are, in a home we own just south of I-44. We\'re still a one-income family, making finances the main reason we decided not to sell our house and buy downtown. There were, of course, other reasons, too.\r\n\r\nI don\'t like it, the disparity between what I want to see happen in Tulsa and what I\'m able to do to help it happen, with respect to our financial goals and what we want for our son and any other children we manage to manufacture in the coming years.\r\n\r\nI\'m sure I\'m not the only family gal who feels this way. I know and have read about plenty of single people and childless married couples who live in downtown Tulsa. I personally know just two families with small children who opted to live downtown.\r\n\r\nI dream of downtown residential space being occupied by a variety of folks. It shouldn\'t be just a \"filing cabinet for widows and young professionals.\"\r\n\r\nName that movie. If you do, I\'ll give you a high-five that\'ll bruise your left eye. But, true to the rules set forth in said movie, you won\'t be able to talk about it.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"LaFortune Park by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4100930925/\"><img style=\"cursor: move;\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2580/4100930925_29d47b04ca.jpg\" alt=\"LaFortune Park\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\nSo, there\'s my resolution - to take steps toward curing this disparity between my talk and my walk. It\'s a resolution for me, yeah, but I think it\'s a resolution for Tulsa, too.\r\n\r\nIf you could come up with Tulsa\'s New Years resolution, what would it be?','Resolving','As we all cinch ourselves in to take on the resolutions we made three days ago, I wonder what our city, if it was a person, would determine to do in twenty-ten.','publish','open','open','','resolving','','','2011-11-14 16:31:04','2011-11-14 22:31:04','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=418',0,'post','',23),(9560,1,'2011-11-14 16:26:37','2011-11-14 22:26:37','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"LaFortune Park by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4100931155/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2539/4100931155_4b80874191.jpg\" alt=\"LaFortune Park\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nAs we all cinch ourselves in to take on the resolutions we made three days ago, I wonder what our city, if it was a person, would determine to do in twenty-ten.\r\n\r\n<a name=\"more\"></a><a href=\"http://edition.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/dailydose/12/02/new.year.resolutions/index.html\">Like 100 million of my fellow Americans</a>, I made a few New Years resolutions myself. For one, I pledged to eat less white bread-wrapped white bread stuffed with, what else, more white bread. Me and the simple carbs, we go way back. I\'ve decided we need to take a break, see other people - for me, that means dinner dates with more veggies, more lean meats. I\'ll be pretty wild-eyed by the end of this month, I know. But, odds are, I\'ll live through this. I might even emerge from 2010 as less of a person, in the physical sense.\r\n\r\nI\'ve been thinking for awhile about what I would resolve for Tulsa to accomplish this year. I\'m not a fan of long lists - to me, they\'re just bulleted paths to disappointment and failure (that is, unless <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/01/what-to-do-in-tulsa-this-weekend.html\">the list is about things to do this weekend</a>) - so I decided to choose just one thing we could do to make this city a better, more comfortable, more exciting place to live in this first year of what promises to be a totally rad decade.\r\n\r\nThe resolution: I think we need at least one bright, shiny, new, kid-friendly park downtown. As <a href=\"http://www.jeffmartinauthor.com/\">Jeff Martin</a>, local author and <a href=\"http://www.tulsapeople.com/\">Tulsa People</a> columnist said of kid- and family-friendly venues and events sprouting downtown, <a href=\"http://tulsapeople.com/index.php?option=com_k2&amp;id=935&amp;view=item&amp;_CONFIG=Array&amp;css_author_box=box_author&amp;css_author_title=heading&amp;css_author_text=text&amp;rel_articles=on&amp;rel_articles_num=5&amp;author_articles=on&amp;author_articles_num=4&amp;sectionid_default=1&amp;css_sb_box=box_sidebar&amp;css_sb_title=heading&amp;css_article_quote1=quotes&amp;limit=10&amp;Itemid=2\">\"If you build it, they will play.\"</a>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"LaFortune Park by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4101685950/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/4101685950_47f6d8ddbc.jpg\" alt=\"LaFortune Park\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\nI don\'t think a park with a smattering of new toys and swings would be incentive enough to bring families downtown who weren\'t already coming for some other reason. I do think such a park could eventually give rise to small, daytime, enclave-sized festivals, which do have the capability of bringing families from all over T-Town toward the city lights.\r\n\r\nOr, at the very least, a park would give parents who trek to the downtown area for work, lunch or dinner a place to let the kids run wild before a nap or bedtime. Maybe while they\'re there they\'ll notice that downtown\'s not full of pick pockets, prostitutes and violent homeless people after all. Maybe a trip or two to such a park would help young couples with small children become more interested in spending a few years living in a downtown loft.\r\n\r\nHeck, maybe they\'d find they like downtown so much they don\'t want to leave for the \'burbs after all. Maybe the young mom would open her law practice two floors up from the family loft, and Dad would head downstairs every morning to open his breakfast counter. Maybe if the walls of geographical segregation, which are quite tall in this city, started to break down as such, Mom and Dad would decide not to load up the kids every morning and bank them at daycare centers and private schools across town. Maybe we\'d even start to see school buses on routes through downtown.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"LaFortune Park by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4101686166/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/4101686166_c847e1bc5f.jpg\" alt=\"LaFortune Park\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nI know some of what I wrote will make a lot of you uncomfortable. I know because I\'m right there with you. When earlier this summer we thought about buying this handsome, newly renovated, not-so-little bungalow near downtown, we just couldn\'t get our pros-and-cons list to work out. It still makes the most sense for us to stay where we are, in a home we own just south of I-44. We\'re still a one-income family, making finances the main reason we decided not to sell our house and buy downtown. There were, of course, other reasons, too.\r\n\r\nI don\'t like it, the disparity between what I want to see happen in Tulsa and what I\'m able to do to help it happen, with respect to our financial goals and what we want for our son and any other children we manage to manufacture in the coming years.\r\n\r\nI\'m sure I\'m not the only family gal who feels this way. I know and have read about plenty of single people and childless married couples who live in downtown Tulsa. I personally know just two families with small children who opted to live downtown.\r\n\r\nI dream of downtown residential space being occupied by a variety of folks. It shouldn\'t be just a \"filing cabinet for widows and young professionals.\"\r\n\r\nName that movie. If you do, I\'ll give you a high-five that\'ll bruise your left eye. But, true to the rules set forth in said movie, you won\'t be able to talk about it.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"LaFortune Park by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4100930925/\"><img style=\"cursor: move;\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2580/4100930925_29d47b04ca.jpg\" alt=\"LaFortune Park\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a></div>\r\nSo, there\'s my resolution - to take steps toward curing this disparity between my talk and my walk. It\'s a resolution for me, yeah, but I think it\'s a resolution for Tulsa, too.\r\n\r\nIf you could come up with Tulsa\'s New Years resolution, what would it be?','Resolving','As we all cinch ourselves in to take on the resolutions we made three days ago, I wonder what our city, if it was a person, would determine to do in twenty-ten.','inherit','open','open','','418-revision-3','','','2011-11-14 16:26:37','2011-11-14 22:26:37','',418,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/11/418-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(419,1,'2010-01-05 19:50:00','2010-01-05 19:50:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237863169/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/4237863169_170a8ccaaa.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />I really should be doing dishes or laundry or taking yet more quizzes on Facebook to find out what kind of animal I\'ll be in my next life, but I\'d much rather reminisce with you all about what I got to do on New Years Eve. <br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a>Everyone knows that I make a list, sometimes rather long, of the most exciting Tulsa places to see and be seen on the weekends, right? Well, to do that, I spend a number of hours (let\'s not talk about how many - when I put a number to it, I\'ll have to have three brownies and an extra teaspoon-full of sugar in my afternoon coffee) scouring the Web and making phone calls to ensure that I can bring you a quality, completely and totally non-lame list of things to do each week.<br /><br />When I can, I like to lighten my workload by signing up for e-mail blasts, especially when an event center offers them. That way all the weekend\'s events are loaded into my inbox and are ready to go on Tuesday, the day I usually start to put the rundown together. It\'s not too much extra effort to navigate to a site and do a little scrolling and switching between screens, but still. I\'m lazy, and so are you. Let\'s be still in that truth. <br /><br />So, when I saw that <a href=\"http://www.mabeecenter.com/\">Mabee Center</a>, on the <a href=\"http://www.oru.edu/\">Oral Roberts University</a> campus at 81st and Lewis, offers e-mail blasts, of course I signed up. Unwittingly, I also signed up to win what Mabee Center called The Ultimate New Years Eve.<br /><br />In the package was two tickets to see B.B. King in concert on New Years Eve at Mabee Center; one night\'s stay at <a href=\"http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/TULSHHF-Hilton-Tulsa-Southern-Hills-Oklahoma/index.do\">the newly renovated Hilton Southern Hills</a>, right across the street from Mabee Center; dinner and two midnight glasses of champagne at <a href=\"http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/TULSHHF-Hilton-Tulsa-Southern-Hills-Oklahoma/dining.do\">Legends Grill, the restaurant at Hilton Southern Hills</a>; breakfast at the same; a humongoid flower arrangement from <a href=\"http://www.thefrenchbouquettulsa.com/\">The French Bouquet</a>; some primping in the form of a shampoo and blow-dry at <a href=\"http://www.robertcromeans.com/\">Arcs Salon</a>; and our faces thrown as tall as our house on a screen next to the stage at Mabee Center before the B.B. King concert. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237867581/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/4237867581_89d0b91455.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />So, I won the giveaway. As you can see.<br /><br />The moral of this story is, even though <a href=\"http://TashaDoesTulsa.com/\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is your source for your weekend itinerary, it\'s worth your time to visit the sites where the events are originally posted every once in awhile. Lots of them host contests and giveaways, just as Mabee Center does from time to time, and it\'s easy to enter. Most of the time, all you need to submit is your name and your e-mail address. Plus, as you\'re doing your Web-trotting, you\'re bound to learn about something new to do around town.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237875529/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/4237875529_e6d622764b.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />So. The concert? Fabulous. Dinner? Mouth-watering. Breakfast was just the way I like it: Huge and chock full of calories from fat. <br /><br />But, more about all of that later. Right now, I want to talk about the hotel.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237863451/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4237863451_7a06d23289.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />As is my tradition anytime we stay in a hotel, I jumped like a maniac on the bed in our room at the Hilton Southern Hills. I could jump as high and as long as I did only after noticing that we\'d been given a VIP suite, complete with a king-sized bed, two rooms, two TVs and two bathrooms. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237861277/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2628/4237861277_99cd73b110.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238636826/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2763/4238636826_09ae72d12a.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237862167/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2686/4237862167_1113aa4c2f.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237861105/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2523/4237861105_b614b60242.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238637022/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2653/4238637022_2a680cb5bf.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238638074/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/4238638074_7d729a506e.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />See? Told you.<br /><br />Here was our view out of our giant windows:<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237861625/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4237861625_f25ce916db.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Perfect for getting riled up about the concert across the street, let me tell you. <br /><br />Before we caught the hotel shuttle bound for B.B., I poured myself a little drink at the bar: <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237861425/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4237861425_4270625915.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />And admired our flowers from <a href=\"http://www.thefrenchbouquettulsa.com/\">The French Bouquet</a>: <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237862003/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4237862003_9ef6be713e.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />And spent a good 15 minutes honing my bathroom mirror photography skills. Except, I wasn\'t in the bathroom (did I mention we had two? A bathroom for each person - swank! And, I might add, effective in the stench detection prevention department). Still, it works.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238639252/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/4238639252_449051f0b9.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />That\'s my I-know-what-you\'re-hiding-under-there face.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238639356/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/4238639356_a40cacbef8.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />That\'s my you-mean-there\'s-chocolate-nearby??!!! face.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238639866/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4238639866_e3f719cea2.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />That\'s my I-really-must-rethink-my-underwear-choice face.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238639984/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4238639984_673ae2821e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />If I ever interview you for a story, you\'ll know I\'m listening and making notes when you see this face.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238639468/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4238639468_ff50e8747b.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />My that\'s-the-worst-idea-I\'ve-ever-heard face.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238640098/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4238640098_3ff7b0aa60.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />My that\'s-the-BEST-idea-I\'ve-ever-heard face.<br /><br />Thus gussied, it was time to head downstairs to catch the shuttle.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238638968/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4238638968_ba89a0fe52.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Well, almost. I had to stop at the bar downstairs for one of these.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237865863/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4237865863_3310affbb9.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />Check out the bar:<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237875375/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4237875375_281d7cc09f.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />I would have been happy all evening long sitting with my husband on a couple of those barstools over there, but we had a totally rad, insanely awesome concert to get to.<br /><br />We went straight to dinner after the concert, toasted midnight and promptly crashed. I blame <a href=\"http://www.krmg.com/krmgmorningnews\">the Morning Show kids at KRMG</a> - they were nice enough to let me stop by at 6 o\'clock that morning to talk about what to do in Tulsa on the last night of the decade. Anyway, we didn\'t wake up Friday morning until 10:30, which was just enough time to get downstairs for breakfast and check out, so we didn\'t get to enjoy our room as much as we\'d wished. We didn\'t even have time to play with the cable television or jump on the couches or turn all the lights on and off to the tune of She\'ll Be Coming \'Round the Mountain. <br /><br />Next time, Hilton Southern Hills. Next time. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238645874/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4238645874_29a036e8d3.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Next I\'ll tell you all about the B.B. King concert. Not next as in right now, though. You\'ll just have to wait until tomorrow to hear about all of the awesomeness to which we were subjected. I\'ll tell you this, though: We had B.B. riffs stuck in our heads for days. We can\'t help but to put on some B.B. King tracks at night when it\'s time to fix dinner. Heck, we\'re practically radioactive after such an atomic explosion of bluesy goodness. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238647822/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2782/4238647822_b8c745b4e7.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />But, more about that later.','Jumping on the Bed at Hilton Southern Hills','','publish','open','open','','jumping-on-bed-at-hilton-southern-hills','','','2010-01-05 19:50:00','2010-01-05 19:50:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=419',0,'post','',6),(420,1,'2010-01-06 14:00:00','2010-01-06 14:00:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237863793/\" title=\"Hilton Southern Hills by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Hilton Southern Hills\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2665/4237863793_93f4f27e7f.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/01/more-on-this-later.html\">About that concert I\'ve been teasing you all about</a>: Have I mentioned that it was incredible, exciting, intimate and spine-tingling?<br /><br />Yes? Over and over again, you say? Well, I only repeat myself because the concert was, in fact, incredible, exciting, intimate and spine-tingling.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br />The quality of the music was unbelievable, yes. But, I have a special place in my heart for the music of B.B. King. My dad played the blues for me on our stereo at home from as early as I can remember, and B.B. King tunes were never far away. Plus, my first-ever real, live boyfriend used to serenade me with the blues, picking out all make and manner of desperate, sad and passionate songs on a brand-new Stratocaster. One of his favorites was The Thrill is Gone. He could always make me laugh with his falsetto rendition of that song.<br /><br />A few of the tunes B.B. belted out for us were:<br /><br />-In Need You Baby<br />-Let the Good Times Roll<br />-Key to the Highway<br />-A few Blind Lemon Jefferson tunes, including Everyday Blues and Please See That My Grave Is Kept Clean<br />-When Love Comes to Town<br />-The Thrill is Gone. Yes, really.<br /><br />My goodness, the power of music.<br /><br />I liked what my husband said after the show was over: \"I was blown away by the music. Then, B.B. King came out.\"<br /><br />I couldn\'t agree more. The band that preceded and accompanied B.B. was outstanding. As in, bone-rattling, hackles-raising good. Or, go-limp-in-your-chair outstanding, as I did during a few saxophone solos and when the bass player took charge. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238647440/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/4238647440_010ed89162.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Mercy.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237868115/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4237868115_e0f82d14e8.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />B.B. King was one of the most expressive artists I\'ve ever seen in concert. He didn\'t just sit up on stage and go through the motions. He told stories, he made jokes, he asked how the audience felt about this and that. He made <a href=\"http://mabeecenter.com/\">the Mabee Center</a>, sectioned off but still as large as it is, feel like a front porch in his hometown in Mississippi, crowded with neighbors and passers-by.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237867101/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2672/4237867101_32b8bfff2e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238644300/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/4238644300_b4dfe1217f.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">I loved how expressive he was. The man, of all of 84 years, just couldn\'t be stopped.<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237869229/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4237869229_4fd7205901.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237869423/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/4237869423_7572e19e7e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Check out the faces this guy makes when he\'s playing. The photos are fun, but in real life, it\'s the most beautiful thing, to see someone that immersed in sound.<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238647822/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2782/4238647822_b8c745b4e7.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">After the concert was over, the audience came up from behind those of us on the front row and swarmed the stage, waving ticket stubs and concert posters in hopes of snagging a B.B. autograph.<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4237873643/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2670/4237873643_6781685d2e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">We didn\'t stay. We split so we could catch our 10:30pm dinner reservations at <a href=\"http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/TULSHHF-Hilton-Tulsa-Southern-Hills-Oklahoma/dining.do\">Legends, the restaurant in the Hilton Southern Hills</a>, the hotel where we stayed New Years Eve. Besides, we\'d just spent an hour and a half mere feet from the man. It was time for us to move over and make room for everyone who\'d watched from a distance.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">We feel so, so lucky to have stumbled our way into being able to go to this concert. Sitting on the front row with my husband of five years will be a memory that will stick with me until I\'m old enough to knock over displays at the grocery store and then pretend that I didn\'t mean to, blaming it on senility.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">It\'ll be fun. And my man and I will still be talking about this concert. We might share glasses of prune juice instead of champagne on New Years Eve, but the thrill of this concert will definitely not be gone.<br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"text-align: left;\">Yeah, yeah, that\'s cheesy. I know. But that\'s how I get when I win cool stuff. I\'ve said it before and I\'ll say it again: Sign up for local e-mail blasts, everybody. You might just win something, even if you\'re like me and you never win anything, ever. The chance to win something this cool is worth spending a few minutes of your life feeding a robot your name and e-mail address.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4238641896/\" title=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"B.B. King @ Mabee Center, New Years Eve 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4238641896_f6e524965d.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Trust me.<br /></div>','The Concert.','','publish','open','open','','concert','','','2010-01-06 14:00:00','2010-01-06 14:00:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=420',0,'post','',4),(421,1,'2010-01-07 04:54:00','2010-01-07 04:54:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"White Christmas 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4222866719/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4222866719_93414353c1.jpg\" alt=\"White Christmas 2009\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\nWhen your mom has to leave for work at 7:30 and the bus doesn\'t come until 8, and she doesn\'t trust you in the house for fear you\'ll burn the house down or tie the cat to the ceiling fan or worse, you have no choice but to wait outside for the school bus.\r\n\r\nThanks to just about every school in the Tulsa area, no child will have to wait outside in <a href=\"http://www.kjrh.com/content/weather/local/forecast/story/2NEWS-HD-Certified-Forecast-tulsa-weather/PbV9uyGLmESA0hLpr15-kA.cspx\">temperatures cold enough to, literally, freeze his fingers and toes</a>.\r\n\r\nIf your kids are home tomorrow, or even for the rest of the week, that doesn\'t mean you have to stare at each other from across the room for the next two days. Instead, bundle up - meaning, thermal underwear, layered outer clothing, heavy coats, hats, gloves, scarves and, if you\'re cool like my kid, <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191774896/\">a hatscarfmuff</a> - and spend some quality time together.\r\n\r\nI know what you\'re thinking. What exactly is there to do in Tulsa on a weekday, anyway?\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><small>View <a style=\"color: blue; text-align: left;\" href=\"http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?client=firefox-a&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=117565210651590258383.00047c8b1ab2dcecd958d&amp;ll=36.093499,-95.988922&amp;spn=0.305167,0.411987&amp;z=11&amp;source=embed\">The Kids Are Home. Now What?</a> in a larger map</small></div>\r\nI\'m glad you asked. I have a few ideas.\r\n\r\n<a name=\"more\"></a>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Purple Glaze Studio by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3320756674/\">\r\n<img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3557/3320756674_097c11b8e1.jpg\" alt=\"Purple Glaze Studio\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n<strong>Purple Glaze</strong>, 3303 S. Peoria Ave. and 6528 E. 91st Street. What\'s more fun than making a mess with your kids? <a href=\"http://www.purpleglazestudio.com/\">Making a mess with your kids that you don\'t have to clean up, duh</a>. Head to Purple Glaze to pick out your favorite ceramic. Spend the afternoon painting or tiling it, just the way you like. Leave it behind until after the weekend and, voila, a one-of-a-kind commemoration of the day it was too cool for school. Hours are 11am-9pm Thursday and Friday, with the Brookside location staying open until 10pm Friday night. Studio fee is $6; pottery prices include the ceramic, paints, glaze and firing.\r\n\r\n<strong>Bounce U</strong>, 8922 S. Memorial Drive. I\'m a former kid these days, but even I can\'t get enough of a good, old-fashioned Jupiter Jump. <a href=\"http://www.bounceu.com/party-places-for-kids/oklahoma/tulsa/\">Help the kids work out their snow day wiggles by setting them loose on a variety of inflatable structures</a>. Just don\'t forget to bring extra socks. Admission is $6.95 per child. There\'s not much in terms of hours tomorrow - open bounce is 1:30-3pm - but with more schools canceling Friday classes, there\'s likely to be another bounce then, too.\r\n\r\n<strong>Oklahoma Aquarium</strong>, 300 Aquarium Drive in Jenks. <a href=\"http://www.okaquarium.org/index.php\">Come on in, kids, the water\'s fine</a>. With nearly 200 exhibits and thousands of fresh and salt water species (don\'t forget about the mammals), all completely and totally indoors, there\'s an entire day\'s worth of fun at the aquarium down by the river. Hours are 10am-6pm. Admission is $13.95 for adults, $9.95 for kids 3-12, free for kids 2 and under.\r\n<div style=\"margin: 0px;\"><strong>Tulsa Children\'s Museum</strong>, Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria Ave. If the kids are still home on Friday, load \'em up and head to Midtown to check out <a href=\"http://www.tulsachildrensmuseum.org/\">TCM\'s first semi-permanent exhibit, Your House, My House</a>. Tulsa children will have an opportunity to fish from a house in Malaysia, prepare dinner from a house in Fiji and become mini architects as they design their own house with a drafting table, computer programs and examples of houses throughout Tulsa’s history. Hours are 10am-4pm on Friday. And guess what - it\'s free.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Hardesty Regional Library by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3827285653/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3452/3827285653_2ff003a0c1.jpg\" alt=\"Hardesty Regional Library\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin: 0px;\"><strong>Any Tulsa Library</strong>. There\'s no bad time for a trip to the library (except for maybe on the way to the delivery room), but there\'s just something especially magical about the library on cold, blustery days. <a href=\"http://www.tulsalibrary.org/\">Tulsa\'s library locations are chock full of books, of course</a>, but there are also shelves full of music, movies, magazines, newspapers from across the country, maps and, yes, more to peruse, and plenty of cozy nooks good for sorting your plunder. Know what could be extra fun? Hit the movie section on your way out, have the kids pick a few (our latest library movie rentals have been Bolt and Cars - there\'s not much at Redbox that you can\'t get at our libraries) and go home for a movie and popcorn party. Or, if you\'re teaching your kids how to find books in the library, start a scavenger hunt while you plop down next to a window with the latest copy of People. It all works.</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin: 0px;\"><strong>Kaleidoscope Children\'s Museum</strong>, 6202 S. Sheridan Road. <a href=\"http://www.kaleidoscopecm.com/\">If you couldn\'t get your kids not to touch delicate pieces of art to save your life, Kaleidoscope just might be the place for you</a>. It\'s a hands-on kind of museum, with plenty of encouragement for your kids to do some learning about art and science. Who said a day off from school has to mean a day off from learning? Hours are 10am-3pm. Admission is $5, and kids under 2 get in free.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4088726372/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2501/4088726372_f92e64370d.jpg\" alt=\"Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin: 0px;\"><strong>Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum</strong>, 9 E. Broadway Street in Sand Springs. Peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, cheese and fries, kids and toys - they all go together. Rather than take the kids to the mall while they\'re out of school for yet more action figures, <a href=\"http://sandspringsok.org/category.php?cat=1004\">why not head to Sand Springs Museum for its latest exhibit, Classic Toys</a>? It features a variety of original and reproduction toys popular with children born between 1945 and 1980. It\'s high time your kids knew about the fixtures of your childhood. Hours are 10am-5pm. Admission is free.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Philbrook Museum Gardens by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4109884404/\"><img src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4109884404_291e7acc9c.jpg\" alt=\"Philbrook Museum Gardens\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n<strong>Philbrook Museum</strong>, 2727 S. Rockford Ave. The museum is open, but you might want to stay out of the famous Philbrook gardens. Even so, there\'s tons to see at this Italiante villa-cum-art museum. And guess what? Kids under 18 get in free. <a href=\"http://www.philbrook.org/exhibitions/current/\">Here\'s what to see while you\'re there</a>. Hours Thursday are 10am-8pm and on Friday 10am-5pm. Admission is $7.50 for adults.\r\n\r\n<strong>Gilcrease Museum</strong>, 1400 North Gilcrease Museum Road. One free-of-charge, world-class museum experience not enough for the kids this week? <a href=\"http://www.gilcrease.org/\">Head for the (Osage) hills and hit up Gilcrease Museum, a treasure trove of American art and history</a> - in fact, it\'s the largest, most comprehensive collection of art and artifacts of the American West anywhere. Hours are 10am-5pm. Admission is $8 for adults.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Gardner\'s Used Books and Comics by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3319910577/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3606/3319910577_e97c07b4af.jpg\" alt=\"Gardner\'s Used Books and Comics\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n<strong>Gardner\'s Used Books</strong>, 4221 S. Mingo Road. <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/tdt-holiday-gift-guide-gardners-used.html\">Have I mentioned that I love this place? Yes?</a> Well, I\'m going to say it again. This is one of our favorite spots when the weather doesn\'t permit our craziness outdoors. There\'s plenty of space for young kids to toddle, tons of books, music, comics and toys to keep older kids busy, and no one really cares if your brood gets a little rambunctious. Plus, there are two great restaurants right next door, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/12/study-in-burgers.html\">including Gatsby\'s Grill</a>. Yum.\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Dilly Deli, 2nd and Elgin by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3374032945/\"><img src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3644/3374032945_ff38d9f5e7.jpg\" alt=\"Dilly Deli, 2nd and Elgin\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" /></a></div>\r\n<strong>Lunch</strong>. If while you\'re out and about when those little tummies start to growl, feel free to use my short list of indie lunch spots that are welcoming to young kids and their families (several of these even offer toys to keep the kids happy while the food\'s a cookin\'): <a href=\"http://www.joemommas.com/\">Joe Mommas downtown</a> (complete with old-school video games); <a href=\"http://cosmo-cafe.com/\">Cosmo Cafe on Brookside</a>; <a href=\"http://www.elotetulsa.com/\">Elote Cafe &amp; Catering</a>; <a href=\"http://brewburgertulsa.com/\">Brewburger</a>; <a href=\"http://www.crustycroissant.com/\">Crusty Croissant</a>; <a href=\"http://www.dillydelitulsa.com/\">Dilly Deli</a>; <a href=\"http://www.kupcakz.com/\">Kupcakz</a> (maybe for dessert - or, if you\'re like me, maybe for lunch); <a href=\"http://www.brookrestaurant.com/\">The Brook</a> (both Midtown and South); and <a href=\"http://www.hideawaypizza.com/\">Hideaway Pizza</a>.\r\n\r\nWhat are you and the kids planning to do together tomorrow?\r\n\r\n</div>','It Snowed. The Kids Are Home. Now What?','If your kids are home tomorrow, or even for the rest of the week, that doesn\'t mean you have to stare at each other from across the room for the next two days. Instead, bundle up - meaning, thermal underwear, layered outer clothing, heavy coats, hats, gloves, scarves and, if you\'re cool like my kid, a hatscarfmuff - and head out on the town and spend some quality time together.','publish','open','open','','snow-day-help-for-tulsa-parents','','','2010-11-17 14:24:15','2010-11-17 19:24:15','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=421',0,'post','',0),(423,1,'2010-01-12 01:00:00','2010-01-12 07:00:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3353942901/\" title=\"Theater at OSU-Tulsa by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Theater at OSU-Tulsa\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/3353942901_bddacd434c.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />What follows are the events that have Tulsa buzzing this week. From midget motorsports smackdowns to a talk from one of Tulsa\'s best-known coffee aficionados on the green side of the drink, it\'s all happening in Tulsa this week.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Tuesday</span><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SWwFejGEHCI/AAAAAAAAAgE/MLbUgbHgPxk/s400/800px-Tony_Stewar_%40_The_Chili_Bowl_in_Tulsa,Ok.jpg\" /><br /></div><b><br /></b><br /><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Chili Bowl Nationals</span><br /><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\">When: Monday-Saturday<br /></div><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\">Where:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.exposquare.com/ns/Calendar/ViewEvent.asp?EventId=929\">Expo Square, QuikTrip Center, 4145 E. 21st Street</a><br /></div><div style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2009/01/i-am-methanol-starved.html\">The nation\'s motorsports spectacle that is to the sport what the Super Bowl is to football is upon us, Tulsa</a>. The 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals is closing in on a quarter-century of unforgettable racing action atop the QuikTrip Center\'s quarter-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway clay oval at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds. It all kicks off Tuesday night, Jan. 12. The event culminates with Saturday night\'s (Jan. 16) 50-lap championship main event. The entry list for the event is at 266, representing a worldwide field. Racers began practice today and will go on strong until 8pm. Tomorrow, the qualifying events get started. Don\'t miss it.<br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img src=\"http://www.booksmarttulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/39889189.jpg\" /><br /></div><br /><b>Booksmart Tulsa: The Secret Lives of Great Artists</b><br />When: Tuesday, 7pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://philbrook.org/\">Philbrook Museum</a>, 2727 S. Rockford Ave. <br />This ain\'t your grandma\'s book club, y\'all. <a href=\"http://booksmarttulsa.com/\">Booksmart Tulsa, the book club for cool kids who happen to like to read</a>, is hosting <a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/goog_1263247785542\">Elizabeth Lunday, author of the book, </a><i><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Lives-Great-Artists-Sculptors/dp/159474257X\">Secret Lives of Great Artists</a></i>, at the museum where there seems to always be something rockin\' going on, the Philbrook. If you\'ve ever wondered what kind of mischief Picasso and van Gogh got up to when they weren\'t painting, don\'t miss this talk/presentation, shaken not stirred with a dose of trivia, prizes and a cash bar. <a href=\"mailto:booksmarttulsa@gmail.com\">E-mail Booksmart Tulsa to RSVP</a>.<br /><br /><b>Wednesday</b><br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4191747686/\" title=\"Marshall Brewing Company by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Marshall Brewing Company\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4191747686_36e9b59be0.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br /><b>Meet the Brewer: Marshall Brewing at Campus Grill</b><br />When: Wednesday, 5pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tulsa-OK/Campus-Grill/144362691802\">Campus Grill, 3148 E. 11th Street</a><br />Thanks to the newest outgrowth of the famous - no, legendary - Brookside By Day, there will be food. Thanks to Tulsa\'s very own brewery, there will also be beer. If you\'re not hungry or thirty enough to show up for those things, come for the giveaways.<br /><br /><b>Thursday</b><br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/S0vJV3d4fbI/AAAAAAAABl4/o7dgQgnjhAU/s1600-h/Picture+5.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/S0vJV3d4fbI/AAAAAAAABl4/o7dgQgnjhAU/s400/Picture+5.png\" /></a><br /></div><br /><b>Where the Art Is: An Arts Celebration with Billie Letts</b><br />When: Thursday, 7pm<br />Where: <a href=\"http://tulsalibrary.com/\">Central Library</a>, Aaronson Auditorium, Fourth and Denver<br />If you\'re an Oklahoman and you\'re not familiar with writer Billie Letts, it\'s time to educate yourself. Bonus: Have fun this Thursday evening while doing it. Actors from <a href=\"http://www.playhousetheatretulsa.com/\">Playhouse Theatre Tulsa</a> will perform dramatic readings from Lett\'s novels, Billie herself will talk for a bit, and <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Letts\">she\'ll sign your copies of Where the Heart Is, The Honk and Holler Opening Soon, Made in the U.S.A. and Shoot the Moon</a>. Don\'t forget to check out \"13 Ways of Looking at Billie,\" an arts exhibit featuring a variety of artistic interpretations of Letts by the Whiteside Portrait Painters. Don\'t miss your chance to win two tickets to  <a href=\"http://tulsapac.com/\">\"August: Osage County,\" the play by Letts\' Pulitzer-winning son, Tracy Letts</a>, that will be at Tulsa Performing Arts Center starting Jan. 26.  <br /><br /><br /><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_95qbdQTwiic/Sx5m9TLZUlI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/ig7uMVlhJ8k/s1600/Postcard+-+back.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_95qbdQTwiic/Sx5m9TLZUlI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/ig7uMVlhJ8k/s400/Postcard+-+back.JPG\" /></a><br /></div><b><br /></b><br /><b>Green Drinks: Brian Franklin of DoubleShot Coffee Company</b><br />When: Thursday, 5:30pm<br />Where: Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Ave.<br /><a href=\"http://tulsagreendrinks.blogspot.com/\">Brian Franklin, owner of Double Shot Coffee Company</a>, will be the guest speaker at the first <a href=\"http://tulsagreendrinks.blogspot.com/\">Green Drinks</a> meeting of twenty-ten. Coffee at DSCC is roasted onsite in a restored 1953 Vittoria, and <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=227924086292\">Brian\'s beans and their procurement will be the subject of his talk</a>. How many of us have really considered what goes into that daily indulgence that fuels our lives, careers, and social gatherings? Where did it come from? Who produced it? If you\'ve ever asked yourself these questions, you owe it to yourself to learn one man\'s hard-won answers to those questions.','Things to Do in Tulsa This Week','','private','open','open','','things-to-do-in-tulsa-this-week','','','2011-11-14 16:24:29','2011-11-14 22:24:29','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=423',0,'post','',0),(424,1,'2010-01-12 03:45:00','2010-01-12 03:45:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4268070282/\" title=\"Our Wedding Day by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Our Wedding Day\" height=\"332\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4268070282_5d4184bb7f.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Calling all brides! Now that you\'re done with your weekend of visiting with vendors, trying samples, learning how to walk a catwalk in a billowing white dress (or, in my case, what my best friend likes to call my hooker wedding dress) at the wedding shows that were in town since Saturday, be sure to pick up the latest edition of <a href=\"http://okmag.com/\">Oklahoma Magazine, the annual wedding edition</a>, free at a variety of locations throughout the Tulsa area.<br /><br />Then, turn to page 134. Then to page 142. And finally to page 155. Here are snippets of the stories you\'ll find there.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\">All In The Family: Don\'t let your wedding day become a family feud</span><br /><br />In the wedding episode of the hit prime-time sitcom&nbsp;<i>The Office</i>, a nationwide audience watch as the bride, Pam Beasely, attempted to pull on her wedding dress as she consoled her mother about the hot young girlfriend that showed up on the arm of Pam\'s father, her mother\'s ex-husband.<br /><br />The stress drove the bride and the groom to elope to Niagara Falls before they showed up an hour late at their church ceremony for the \"real\" wedding.<br /><br />Family stress, as it turns out, can cause couples to do crazy things.<br /><br /><br /><b>When Disaster Strikes: Make sure your wedding doesn\'t end up on the blooper reel</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />Bloopers, outtakes and candid camera - they make us laugh, and they make TV and film executives millions. These behind-the-scenes gut busters are practically a television genre in their own rite. It seems there\'s nothing funnier than a wedding day disaster, but no bride wants to be the butt of this joke.<br /><br />To avoid the worst on the big day, take heed of these bits of advice from local wedding gurus.<br /><br /><br /><b>China and Chainsaws: Modern day bridal registries evolve with the times</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />Not all brides swoon over full sets of china and crispy bed linens these days.<br /><br />Many to-be-wed couples are looking for registries that will deliver gifts that are more practical - even, more fun.<br /><br /><br />To read the rest of these stories, pick up a copy of the January 2010 edition about town or <a href=\"http://okmag.com/currentissue/index.cfm?\">hop on the Oklahoma Magazine Web site, register and read them online</a>.<br /><br />How many of you are preparing to go down the isle? Or, have you already been down that road once, hoping that you\'ll never have to plan a wedding again? I wanna hear some down-and-dirty wedding stories, people, and&nbsp;some tales of impending nuptial angst. Let it fly.','Need Wedding Advice?','','publish','open','open','','need-wedding-advice','','','2010-01-12 03:45:00','2010-01-12 03:45:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=424',0,'post','',1),(425,1,'2010-01-12 22:44:00','2010-01-12 22:44:00','<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3958219703/\" title=\"BOK Center by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"BOK Center\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/3958219703_bfbbcf3b11.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Tulsa might be the 45-largest city in the U.S. but, <a href=\"http://tulsabusiness.com/article.asp?aID=2864758.5336367.654342.4578477.01733102.465&amp;aID2=50325\"> according to the latest reports from Tulsa Business Journal, our newest, largest event spot, the BOK Center, ranked eighth among top U.S. venues for ticket sales in 2009</a>, and twentieth worldwide. In the world of event centers and arenas (yet another one of those places where size really does matter), that puts us in league with cities like New York, Dallas, Atlanta and Philadelphia. Ahead of Phillie, actually.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a>Precisely 729,814 fans showed up at <a href=\"http://bokcenter.com/\">BOK Center</a> during its inaugural year, starting with the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 30, 2008.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3321723914/\" title=\"BOK Center by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"BOK Center\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3321723914_c70b5aa61e.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />No parking downtown, huh, guys? Heh. Just kidding. Please don\'t send hate mail. I\'ll tell my grandmother on you and she\'ll come paddle your bottom.<br /><br />In its first year, 184 shows rolled through Tulsa\'s new arena. Here are just a few of them:<br /><br /><br /><ul><li><b>Super Flush</b>. Remember when 150 of Tulsa\'s kids flushed all the toilets in the BOK Center simultaneously? A commemorative \"I flushed it first\" t-shirt was given to each child who did the honors.</li><li><b>The Eagles</b>. Nearly 14,000 tickets (read: all of them) were sold to this show, which heralded opening night at the BOK Center, in less than 35 minutes. One word: Woah. Good thing the band came back in November for a kick-ass encore.</li><li><b>Tulsa Oilers Opening Night</b>. Between the figure skating show, games, practices and other times the ice rink was used, a grand total of 68,000 gallons of water were used during this first Tulsa Oilers season in the BOK Center. Again with the toilets: I wonder, how many BOK Center commodes could one flush using that amount of water?</li><li><b>New Kids on the Block</b>. They make the list because I was a child of the \'80s. Don\'t ask too many questions or I\'ll lace up my high tops and come at you with a dozen slap bracelets.</li><li><b>Billy Joel and Elton John</b>. Because, OMG, Billy Joel and Elton John.</li><li><b>Bruce Springsteen &amp; the E Street Band</b>. Thanks, BOK Center, for bringing The Bruce back to Oklahoma for the first time in 30 years.</li><li><b>Jonas Brothers</b>. I swear I could hear the screams of thousands of Tulsa tweens from my house. Ten miles away.</li><li><b>Journey</b>. I\'m sure everyone brushed up on their karaoke repertoire while this band was in town.</li><li><b>Paul McCartney</b>. This former Beatle helped Tulsa celebrate the one-year anniversary of the BOK Center last August, grossing $2.6 million for the facility. Thank you, Sir Paul.</li></ul><br /><br />Wait! I have more BOK Center facts to boggle your mind. Each sold-out performance at the arena goes through:<br /><br /><ul><li>2,000 hotdogs; a total of 21,478 were sold during BOK Center\'s first year.</li><li>16,000 napkins</li><li>150 kegs of beer; more than 209,000 draft beers were sold during the BOK\'s first year (beating soda by nearly 32,000 cups - take that, soda)</li><li>2,000 margaritas (in true Oklahoma style, of course)</li><li>1,000 gallons of soda - or, as we here in Tulsa like to say, pop. Or, Coke. Call it soda and you sell 32,000 fewer cups of it than draft beer.</li></ul><br />The folks at BOK Center don\'t take being named to the top 10 event venues in the country as a permission slip to kick back and relax. Instead, they\'re bringing the likes of <a href=\"http://bokcenter.com/events.asp?id=11&amp;pid=266&amp;task=display&amp;pcatid=&amp;seldate=1/1/2010\">Eric Clapton</a>, <a href=\"http://bokcenter.com/events.asp?id=11&amp;pid=261&amp;task=display&amp;pcatid=&amp;seldate=1/1/2010\">Bon Jovi</a> and, who else, <a href=\"http://bokcenter.com/events.asp?id=11&amp;pid=267&amp;task=display&amp;pcatid=&amp;seldate=1/1/2010\">Elmo</a> (The Jonas Brothers times 10 for my son and his posse of bad-ass toddlers) to the arena over the next couple of months. Plus, there\'s <a href=\"http://bokcenter.com/events.asp?id=11&amp;pid=279&amp;task=display&amp;pcatid=&amp;seldate=1/1/2010\">Skate Date, one of my very favorite BOK Center events from last year and on the calendar for Valentine\'s Day 2010</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4270094306/\" title=\"Skate Date 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Skate Date 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/4270094306_7255e28c84.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Word of advice: Don\'t dawdle en route to Skate Date. The key word here is punctuality. Why? It gets crowded. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4269351611/\" title=\"Skate Date 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Skate Date 2009\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2782/4269351611_066d8f338b.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4270095624/\" title=\"Skate Date 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Skate Date 2009\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4270095624_ce32de0772.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4270095920/\" title=\"Skate Date 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Skate Date 2009\" height=\"375\" src=\"http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4270095920_fa7d2064c7.jpg\" width=\"500\" /></a><br /></div><br />Just a little.<br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4270095100/\" title=\"Skate Date 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"Skate Date 2009\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2756/4270095100_de274c29ff.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />While concerts are expensive these days (and that goes for everywhere, folks, not just for Tulsa with its big, new, fancy, tax payer-funded arena), I think the folks at BOK have done a good job of bringing a variety of acts through its doors (and to its front porch - remember the free concerts at ONEOK Plaza before spring, summer and fall events?) so that everyone, not just those who can afford a $100 ticket, can participate in the party at Second and Denver. <br /><br /><div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/3431957726/\" title=\"In Its Shadow by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr\"><img alt=\"In Its Shadow\" height=\"500\" src=\"http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3582/3431957726_c71c362a35.jpg\" width=\"375\" /></a><br /></div><br />You\'ve been to an event at the BOK Center, right? I bet you\'ve been to even more than one. Which was your favorite? Which did you think were totally lame? If you were in the shoes of John Bolton, the main man at BOK Center, who would you be calling with an invitation to Tulsa?<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>BOK Center facts and stats from 365 book(ed), a publication/collaboration of <a href=\"http://bokcenter.com/\">BOK Center</a>, <a href=\"http://www.cubiccreative.com/index.asp\">Cubic Creative</a> and scads of other imaginative, creative T-Towners.</i></span>','Eighth','','publish','open','open','','eighth','','','2010-01-12 22:44:00','2010-01-12 22:44:00','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=425',0,'post','',25),