Seven Cartoons That Rock

Hey party people!

How are you all doing?

I'm trippin', yo.

Down memory lane, reminiscing of cartoons.  They played a big role in my childhood and later on as well.  I know that is nothing special, but maybe my faves are different than your faves? 

Maybe your faves are better than mine?  Let's find out, tell me your faves.  First let's see mine!

Seven Best Cartoons EVER  

• Rugrats. I know I've mentioned my love of this cartoon before.  I've made no secret of how these toddlers are my favorites ever.  You can reference that here.  Herc taught me that the music was done by that dude from Devo.  Phil & Lil, Tommy, Chuckie, and all the rest, you ain't nothing but the best!
• Rocko's Modern Life.  Do you remember the theme song?  "Rocko's modern lifeee *low voice* Rocko's modern life"  All about a Austrailian wallaby.  What?  How did that ever happen?  Honestly someone had to have been on drugs to conceptualize this fantastic cartoon.  So good.  Where can I get a shirt like his?  I want one.  See how cool:

• Biker Mice From Mars.  I have such great memories of this show because this was a cartoon me and my brothers watched together.  We had toys and called eachother by the names of the characters.  Now, about the cartoon.  It was rodents from outer space that rode motorcycles.  Yeeeaaahhhhh more drugs?
• The Simpsons.  This long running(20 years!) cartoon has its moments for me, both good and bad.  I certainly have to be in the right mood to watch this show but since it has been around almost as long as me I can't hate too hard on it...
• Lilo & Stitch.  Hawaii.  Adorable alien.  Elvis.  Yes, yes, and hell YEAH!  I have mad love for this movie.  It came out when I was in my teens which is what makes it so weird but its just so good.  I think its one of those movies that has a universal appeal.  All children of mine will know this movie, and they may even have it as a custom designed bedroom design.  Maybe I will even re-do my bedroom in this way...
• Futurama.  My biggest reason for enjoying this show is Nibbler.  He is cute.  And evil.  But really cute.  Fry drives me bonkers but I like the red dude....
• The Lion King.  As evidenced here, I am a big fan of this movie.  Easily my favorite Disney movie from my childhood.  Do I need to say more?

Seven Excellent Concerts

Do you like music?

Do you like concerts?

I do.  I've been to a few concerts in my day. 

Not as many as I wish, thanks to the ridiculous prices of tickets these days.  I do splurge every once in a while and am always scouring the web for bargains or deals.  What's up with 50$ tickets?

Also at the most recent concerts I have been to, 75% of people had their phone out.  25% were texting, and the rest were taking videos and photos.  You can't just enjoy a concert in the moment? You have to watch it through your camera screen or maybe miss a special look because you were texting.  Its distracting for me to see so many people with their glowing phones out. 

Despite that, I have seen some really great concerts and look forward to seeing more.  Here is a quick look at 7 of them.

Seven Excellent Concerts I've Attended

• Kiss.  Fire, Rock, Fire, and more Rock.  This is what this concert meant to me.  My family and I all went to this together in Tucson.  An excellent concert all around and the pyrotechnics were amazing!  I remember when one of them flew above the audience on some sort of rig and thought that was the coolest thing ever, until I saw Gene Simmons blow fire.  Then they did "Beth" and I saw hundreds of people holding their lighters up.  Real life.  It was fantastic!
• Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, and those other guys.  This was my first concert I ever attended solo.  Oct 2005, Mesa Amphitheater.  It was an awesome show.  I went for Fall Out Boy and learned of panic and was an instant fan.  To attend alone, it was quite a step for me as the lone wolf I like to be.  Also Fall Out Boy was a really great live act!  I also met the Panic! guys behind the venue at their bus cause I was wandering around lost looking for where I parked my car.
• Dwight Yokham.  A favorite of my dad's, my family and I came to see this show a long while back at one of the amphitheaters here in Phoenix.  I am familiar with his music and acting but this concert experience was definitely an eye opener to me.  People were drinking beer *gasp* and smoking *YIKES* and making out all over the place.  The music and performance was really great, but not what I took away from this concert. 
• Motion City Soundtrack, Ok Go, and those other guys.  This was during my college year.  I treated myself and my three friends to this show and we had a really good time.  It was at the Marquee Theater in Tempe and remains my only general admission standing room only style concert.  It was four bands, but I only remember two of them.  We went to see Motion City and discovered OK Go at this time.  I love concerts where I discover new favorites. 
• John Mayer and Maroon 5.  Saw this when I was in high school with Agent Z herself.  Was really unfamiliar with Maroon 5 at the time and really enjoyed this unknown band and have been a fan ever since.  Then Mr. Mayer came on, and this was around the time Heavier Things came out when he was that cool sexy singer songwriter with that song about my body being a wonderland.  It was a wonderful show, and remains one of my favorite concert shirts ever. 
• The Band Perry.  Just this week I saw this cute country family band at the AZ State Fair.  Two brothers and their sister sure know how to put on a show.  The brothers should really consider wearing pants that are less tight though, in this girl's opinion.  The sister is also really pretty and can play guitar and sing live!  A win.  Get into this band, it will be worth your time. 
• MC Hammer.  Now, I do not remember this concert at all.  I am told I went with my parents and that I was a big MC Hammer fan when I was young.  I do remember my favorite pajama shirt of many years, and that was my concert shirt from this show.  I wonder if my parents still have that in a box someplace...

What are your favorite concert memories?  I bet Herc could write a post of his own on all of his favorite concerts....Tell me your faves and least faves in the comments!

Seven Of The Greatest Albums Of All Time

Hey Howdy! 


Another installation of Music Mondays is coming your way.  I can tell you that Herc is the single most music driven person I have ever known.  He has an incredible knowledge of it, an amazing history built around it, and great stories all about it.  This is a wonderful post by Herc, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!


7 Of The Greatest Albums Of All Time
(that just happened to be released in 1982!)
[part of ongoing series 7 Greatest Albums]

In 1982, Herc was in his teens, a crucial time for any music lover: bonds are formed, memories are made and allegiances are pledged that will affect the rest of our lives. Herc was one of those kids who walked around with headphones on, listening to cassette tapes he recorded, in his trusty Sony Walkman. Walking down the street, sitting in class or riding the bus, the headphones and Walkman were ever-present. Music was his drug of choice, the one thing that got him through the day, all day, every day. It fueled the fires of his passions, bandaged his bruised ego and helped heal his heart. Over the past 30 years, these albums (like Herc) have withstood musical trends and fashion fads, not too mention the epic and expensive transition from physical media (records, tapes) to digital media (CDs, files). Music is still his drug of choice, though, and these are some of his biggest highs.

all 7 albums in one Spotify playlist
or click on each album title to listen, one at a time

Blackout - Scorpions
unleashed 3/29/1982

The lead single from Blackout was entitled “No One Like You” and in interviews with the band they say it was originally written in their native German and lost its meaning in the English translation. It must have been inconceivably brilliant because the song as it was released is absolutely fantastic from that first drum beat. The album itself begins with a rocking guitar siren on the title track and gets better and better from there. The second track, “Can’t Live Without You”, is a throwback to 70s British Glam Rock with its counted off intro, self-referential lyrics and helium-voiced sing-along chorus. Then comes “No One Like You”, a blast of harmonic high guitars and longing lyrics. There are other songs, most notably the tour memoir valentine “Arizona”, that round out the album but after those first three tracks the rest of the album sounds familiar.

Rio - Duran Duran
unleashed 5/10/1982

From it’s stylish cover illustration to the equally stylish grooves within, Rio hastened the arrival of the New Romantic portion of the New Wave: pretty boys in pretty clothes playing gussied-up disco music for the next generation. A major factor in their popularity was the ability to see the band in music videos filmed in exotic locales, yet another layer of stylishness. Simon, Nick and the three unrelated Taylor boys played dance/pop music and released a series of 12”s and EPs featuring enhanced dance remixes of the songs from Rio making them a feature in clubs as well as the radio and the (M)TV on both sides of the Atlantic. In hindsight after nearly 30 years, some of the music does sound stuck in the Eighties but most of it holds up.

Combat Rock - The Clash
unleashed 5/14/1982

“This is a public service announcement/With GUITARS!” are the first words your hear when you drop the needle/press Play on The Clash’s fifth full-length release. The guys had toured the world, read the newspaper and, after six years together, they were reaching a breaking point both as a group and in their popularity. The songs they recorded for the album that eventually became Combat Rock were musically as diverse as ever, a sonic trademark of the musical alchemists known as The Clash. Two of the band’s biggest hits emerged from the album, “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” and “Rock The Casbah.” But the one Herc keeps going back to is “Straight To Hell” which was later sampled in M.I.A.’s global smash “Paper Planes”. By 1983, the band that had recorded Combat Rock was all but extinct, limping along after firing two members. Fortunately for us, we’ll always have this memento.

The Lexicon Of Love - ABC
unleashed 6/25/1982

As rhythmically funky as it orchestrally lush and packed with more heartbreak scenarios than any romance novel, The Lexicon Of Love still manages to sound contemporary almost 30 years after its release. Love, after all, is timeless. and this is love in its purest romantic form. Martin Fry is hardly original in his delivery, drawing on everyone from Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra and Bryan Ferry before him, but somehow it doesn’t matter because the words he sings and the way he sings them ring true. All of this hopeless romanticism is set against a wall of sound constructed by Trevor Horn (featuring many of the players who would later go on to form Art Of Noise) that melds the burgeoning new wave sound of the time with classic soul and rhythm & blues sounds of the late Sixties and early Seventies. The album flows lyrically and musically towards an all too soon end but that’s okay because you can play it again. And again.

Friend Or Foe - Adam Ant
unleashed 10/14/1982

On the morning of May 16, 1981, Herc watched Adam & the Ants perform (lipsync) “Antmusic” and “Dog Eat Dog” on American Bandstand. After lunch, he rode his bike up to the Base Exchange (BX) and bought their album Kings Of The Wild Frontier. Six months later, Adam & his Ants issued Prince Charming, which was more of the same music but the make-up and costumes had changed, from a Pirate/American Indian mash-up to a Pirate/Dandy Highwayman mash-up. Within 12 months, Adam had jettisoned all but one Ant and released this, his debut solo album. This time out, he wore minimal make-up and dressed like a Pirate/Cowboy hybrid. The music was just as dense and as rhythmic as the previous two outings, proving he had chosen to retain the right Ant and, on the first day of 1983, Adam returned to American Bandstand performing what would become his biggest hit, the hyperkinetic “Goody Two Shoes”.

1999 - Prince
unleashed 10/27/1982

One night in November 1982, while ironing a couple of shirts to wear to school the following week (snicker, snicker), Herc was listening to “The New Music Test Department” on a local radio station as he usually did on Sunday evenings. It was a chance for the deejay to break from the “rock” format and play new releases in all genres from punk to funk. On that particular night, he first heard “Little Red Corvette” and a lifelong obsession began with the music of the artist who will always be known as Prince. A sprawling and ambitious double album, 1999 featured tight funk jams and longer, looser workouts with drum machines and layered synths paving the way for what would become known in the Eighties and early Nineties as the “Minneapolis sound”. The music was the soundtrack to parties, the background for make-out sessions and inspiration for at least one American Government term paper. Within two years, Prince would be the biggest recording artist in the world, rivaled only by Madonna and Michael Jackson. But his ascent is easily traced back to this, his launching pad and proving grounds.

Thriller - Michael Jackson
unleashed 11/30/1982

Herc ain’t gonna lie, he probably slept on this record until Christmas 1982, when he finally picked up a copy for himself after listening to his father’s copy far too often. “Billie Jean” was an awesome song and his live performance of it on the Motown 25 show, where he revealed his new Moonwalk, lit the fuse on this firecracker which went on to become the biggest selling album of all time even before MJ’s untimely death. All but two songs were released individually and became Top Ten singles and when the mini-movie for the title track was released, millions would stop whatever they were doing and just watch. The performances are breathtaking but it is the polished production by Quincy Jones that does it for Herc. Even after all the tabloid tales, this is still a great listen.

>>>Bonus 1982 Spotify Playlist<<<
For the record (get it?), Herc also played the groove out of these vinyl albums from 1982 and has since owned compact disc versions. Tracks from these albums (as well as the albums above) are the bedrock of Herc’s Digital Music Archive.


Asia - Asia***Picture This - Huey Lewis & the News***8th Wonder - The Sugarhill Gang***Just Another Day In Paradise - Bertie Higgins***Mountain Music - Alabama***The Golden Age Of Wireless - Thomas Dolby***Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet - Rick Springfield***All Four One - The Motels***Toto IV - Toto***American Fool - John Cougar***Diver Down - Van Halen***A Flock Of Seagulls - A Flock Of Seagulls***Hot Space - Queen***Built For Speed - The Stray Cats***Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor***Eye In The Sky - Alan Parsons Project***Night And Day - Joe Jackson***Emotions in Motion - Billy Squier***Billy Idol - Billy Idol***The Party’s Over - Talk Talk***Screaming For Vengeance - Judas Priest***Upstairs At Eric’s - Yaz***What Time Is It? - The Time***Fast Times At Ridgemont High soundtrack***New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) - Simple Minds***H2O - Hall & Oates***Kissing To Be Clever - Culture Club***The Nightfly - Donald Fagen***Shabooh Shoobah - INXS***Spring Session M - Missing Persons***Hello, I Must Be Going - Phil Collins***Long After Dark - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers***Computer Games - George Clinton***Oh No, It’s Devo! - Devo***Gap Band IV - GAP Band***The Distance - Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band***Business As Usual - Men At Work***Dare - Human League***Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing - Soft Cell***The Message - Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five***

Seven Shopping Havens

Who doesn't enjoy shopping? 

I do.  I probably enjoy it more than most and I surely enjoy more than my wallet does. 

Oh well, life is short, cliche cliche cliche.

I don't do the 5th Avenue luxury shopping thing though.  I don't like designer things, I don't care to dress any nicer than my uniform of t-shirts and jeans.  I don't carry nice purses.  I can't wear jewelery at work and don't much care for it.  I'm low maintenance. 

I do like sales.  I actually love a bargain.  I love when that box on my reciept says:

Total Spent:  $50.00

Total Saved: $150.00

...or something amazing like that.  My dad always tells my mom not to even bother coming home unless she saves more than she spends.  She takes it very seriously and its awesome. 

I love the rush.  Who doesn't like a bit of adrenaline? 

Here are some of my favorite places to shop.

Seven Shopping Havens

• 99¢ Only Stores - I fell in love with this store when I lived in Las Vegas.  I was making lucrative amounts of money, but I loved to spend it at the dollar store.  I have never enjoyed ANY dollar store as much as this one.  Everything is only 99¢ or like 2/99¢ or 3/99¢.  Its easy to know how much you're spending and is really fun to just see how far $10 will take ya.  (hint: ITS REALLY FAR)
• Home Depot - Do I really need to explain this orange heaven?  Have I not explained my massive love enough to you?  Guess not.  Look forward to that post tomorrow then, I guess. 
• Target - My first love.  My first job.  A dream come true, really.  Allow me to explain the ways I used to and still love this place:
  
  • I look amazing in red.  That said, I hate khaki.  
  • I am an excellent ambassador for Target.  Both when they employed me and since then.
  • I still shop there, years after employment.  I know a lot of people who avoid places they used to work as something was ruined for them
  • Normal folks(non target employees) don't know how to read the clearance tags and tell if they are really getting a deal.  Most have caught on as to where to find the clearance shelves though, which is awesome. 
  • Smells the same no matter where you are.  I've been to a target almost everywhere I've traveled and its always a great way to feel like I was back home.  Is that weird?
  • They have the best Black Friday sales, I have been every year for 4 or more.  It is always my first stop and the one I look forward to the most.  
  • You can get everything you need there.  EVERYTHING.  Food, rugs, clothes, drugs, furniture, candy, cat litter, paint rollers, lightbulbs, alcohol, toothbrushes and so on.
• Home Goods - A cousin store to Marshall's.  I've never been to a stand alone Marshall's...I don't think.  I don't even know how I met this store.  I do know that I love it.  I go sporadically to catch the new waves of their stock.  I have so many incredible finds from there.  Stuff I never knew I was looking for but totally needed!  I don't know how to explain my love of this store with mere words.
• Goodwill/Thrift Stores - I like Goodwill.  It has always been my favorite.  I venture into the others but the snob in me really appreciates a certain level of cleanliness and standards.  I find incredible things here and enjoy looking for them even more. 
• IKEA - Haven't I explained this before?  I love this Swedish Yellow & Blue Kingdom.  I think their furniture is great and affordable and allows you to change your style with your lifestyle.  They have bomb-a$$ cinnamon rolls that are ¢heap!!!  Hot dogs too, and mac and cheese and of course those Swedish meatballs.  I'd guess that 80# of my furniture hails from this Mecca.
• Bookmans - A Tucson original with outposts here in Phoenix, this is the best place to go book hunting.  You will never pay full price, mostly about 50% and books are in good condition and there is absolutely something for EVERYONE there.  They have expanded past books into media and other vintage and antique items.  Please, refrain from telling me if you have never been.  I don't even want to know.  You may find more, here.  They also support a lot of great causes and are anti-censorship.  I'm down.

I gotta know where you love to shop!  Tell me all of your secrets!!!  Hit the comments right away!

Seven Favorite Rugrats Characters

When I was younger, loved to watch the Rugrats. 

Do you remember them?  You gotta at least remember the theme song, right?  Herc talked about it in his wildly popular Devo post.  Check it out, we'll wait. 

Anyways this show about the shennanigans these toddlers would get into was just so entertaining to me.  It actually still is.  Sometimes you can find re-runs on late at night on Nickelodeon.  I like to DVR them and watch them over and over again.  Then KM deletes is.

Seven Favorite Characters From Rugrats (not just the kids)

• Chuckie Finster - He was always my favorite.  His awesome voice and his sweet outfit were always in style.  I love how cautious he always is, such a cutie.  He was always the perfect sidekick to Tommy. 
• Tommy Pickles - Easily the leader of the pack of rats(see what I did there?).  He is fearless and awesome.  He also rocked that light blue shirt like a boss.  Also his last name is Pickles.
• Phil DeVille - The total dude of the show.  He keeps bugs in his diaper and other gross things.  He is Lil's twin brother and they are both always down for whatever adventure Tommy had in mind.  He also has a totally cool voice for a kid. 
• Lil DeVille - Lil is Phil's sister.  She is kinda cooky and totally silly.  She is incredible and was my number two favorite.  The only Rugrats merchandise I own is a magnet of Lil and she lives on my fridge.
• Dil Pickles - Tommy's little brother has the best name on the entire show.  Dil Pickles.  He doesn't do much but he still manages to be an awesome character.  Tommy looks out for him like a champ and is such a good big brother.  I guess Dil is a lucky guy!
• Angelica Pickles - She is Tommy and Dil's cousin.  She is the rival and bad girl on the show.  She is a scheming devil and I kinda loved it.  She loved the kids at the end of the day, but also terrorized them like there was no tomorrow. 
• Stu Pickles - This is Tommy and Dil's dad.  Angelica's uncle.  He's an inventor and completely bonkers.  But, he loves his wife and family and everything he does is for them.  He's a wonderful dad and really anchors the show. 

Did anyone enjoy the Rugrats as much as I did?  Is my obsession unhealthy?  Oh well.

Seven Pastry Pairs

I work in pastry.  Now you know.

I've been doing it for six years professionally and several more as a hobby.

In the 'biz I've followed the trends closely and have my own opinions on these things.  Ask me about cupcakes, whoopie pies and macaroons another time, when we both have plenty of free time!

Any pastry professional I have ever met has a style.  I never thought I had my own style until recently.  As in the last year.  Without spilling all of my secrets all over the web, I want to share with you some of my favorite things.  Today I want to tell you my seven favorite pastry pairs, NOT pears.  Shall we?


Seven Favorite Pastry Pairs

• Apples & Cinnamon These two are the ultimate Batman and Robin in the entire world, sweet and savory.  The earthy cinnamon is the perfect Robin.  Always there when you need it, always doing his job well, never thanked but always missed in his absence.  The Batman apples just have to show up to the party because once again, Robin is doing all the work.  Perfect Example: Apple Pie.
• Salt & Caramel This combination is relatively new but not surprising at all.  I love salt.  No secret there, I am a red blooded American, we all love salt and our health issues can prove that!  Caramel and I go way back and our bond will never be broken.  I would prefer to bathe in caramel sauce because I feel like its the perfect replacement for water/soap/lotion.  Also if it got into your mouth by accident it wouldn't need to be spit out like soap.  Perfect Example: Soft caramel candies with a hearty sprinkle of sea salt.
• Dark Chocolate & Mint This combination has never ever let me down.  Good chocolate, bad chocolate, real mint and fake mint it always works.  Something about it just takes me to my happy place.  I don't need the bright green color, but it helps.  Ice cream is a prime example and I devour it by the gallon, thanks Blue Bell and Sweet Republic!  Perfect Example: Thin Mints.
• Lemon & Blueberry I have a confession: I am not a big fan of raw blueberries.  I know, I know.  BUT! As soon as you cook them down or bake them into something else they are my jam!  Combined with the tart freshness of a lemon its the perfect 1,2 punch.  Also happens to naturally make the most beautiful colors.  Perfect Example: Lemon cheesecake with blueberry compote.
• Vanilla & Raspberry Vanilla is my drug.  I know it sounds boring and just plain vanilla, but its so complex.  Vanilla beans have distinct notes and qualities much like wine varietals and chocolate origins.  I am very partial to ANYTHING with vanilla beans in it but when you put a tart raspberry element anywhere near that vanilla bean laden creation, I proceed to a comatose state of awesome overload.  Perfect Example:  Vanilla bean creme brulee with fresh raspberries. 
• Pumpkin & Brown Sugar  Seeing as how fall is approaching you may think this is a seasonal selection.  Guess again.  I appreciate pumpkin year round and many thanks to Libby for making that happen!  Pumpkin can be made into anything and is pretty tasty with all the spices that come with it, you really can't mess it up.  However, if you add brown sugar it kicks it up and makes a special treat even more special.  Perfect example: Pumpkin pie with brown sugar whipped cream. 
• Strawberries & Peppercorn  This is another not so normal combo.  Combining the best berry ever with a savory peppercorn sounds silly.  I know.  When done correctly with good pepper and perfect summer berries this combo is a version of my own personal nirvana.  Perfect Example: strawberry shortcake infused with peppercorns. 

My runner up is peanut butter and chocolate.  Trust me, I won't sleep well having left them off this list today but I can't help how I feel in this minute!  Please forgive me peanut butter gods!

I bet there's more than just a few banana peanut butter lovers out there, too.  Sorry.  

Seven All Time Favorite Sandwiches

I am so very sorry.

In advance, for what may happen to the interwebs as soon as this post is released...

THREE different lists(with a lot of similarities) in one post!

No, its not a listmania, since these are all the same topic. 


THREE PEOPLE have written about their favorite sandwiches for you today.  Me, KM, and our beloved Herc. 

We have all banded together in honor of August being National Sandwich Month.  They both submitted these posts, but I am the genius one that has sewn them all together into one massive, internet-breaking post.  I'd like to encourage you all to celebrate the month's end by enjoying one of your own favorite sandwiches.

You like sandwiches, right?  Don't even tell me if you don't.  I don't want to hear it.  Sandwiches are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.  Believe me.

image from here

HERC EATS: My 7 All-Time Favorite Sandwiches

Many many people claim the classic PBJ as their first and best sandwich.  Others like a spicy chicken or a Dagwood, which as far as I can tell is one of those cartoony sandwiches piled high with EVERYTHING, the kind that Scooby and Shaggy used to make whenever they came across a kitchen in whatever haunted building they were exploring.  Sandwiches rank right next to pizza as the prefect combination of different food groups coming together to form a new food group.  (Sorry, stir fryers.)  And like pizza, there is ample room for creativity in constructing a sandwich - your rules rule.  Anything goes.  Here goes my list:

Home Division:

Jif Creamy Peanut Butter And Karo Light Corn Syrup Sandwich - I’m sure I was raised on traditional PBJs (ask My Moms) but somewhere along the way things done changed.  I used to be a Crunchy peanut butter man as well.  I experimented with Apricot Jam for a while and still enjoy honey as a spread with my peanut butter but my ultimate end-all, be-all make-it-myself sandwich consists of Jif brand peanut butter mixed in a small bowl with a small amount of Karo Light (clear) Corn Syrup spread over two slices of honey wheat bread.  Haven’t had one in years and years and, yes, years but I fondly remember them.

Oscar Mayer Ham and Cheese Loaf with Kraft Sandwich Spread and an extra slice of Kraft American Singles - The loaf is basically a processed ham with dots of cheese all over it.  Very organic, very natural.  The Sandwich Spread is basically a weak Thousand Island dressing, a mayo with relish concoction.  The American Singles - don’t call them “cheese” - merely amplify the tiny cheese nodules in the loaf.  

Tuna Salad Sandwich - This one’s been mentioned before, in the Essential Summer Foods post.  I like to dice up sweet onions, bread & butter pickles, red delicious apples and toss them with a few cans of tuna and a dollop or two of Miracle Whip.  I’ll make a huge batch and eat it all week.  My colon thanks me.  While I do enjoy a whole wheat pita pocket packed until its bursting at the seams, honey wheat bread is often the go-to choice.  And yes, I do often apply a slice of Kraft American Singles to each slice of bread or each side of the pita.

Away Division:

pretty much any BBQ brisket sandwich ever - As long as it is served either on a soft hamburger bun or white bread.  Pickle on the side and slaw on sandwich is optional, I can take them or leave them as the meat, the sauce and the bread are the star attraction.  A root beer or Dr. Pepper washes it all down so nice.

Sweet Onion Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich [Subway] - Foot long Honey Oat, double meat warmed but not toasted with American cheese, lettuce, bell peppers, onions and that tangy Sweet Onion sauce.  It all comes together nicely, very nicely.

Double Meat Double Cheese [Whataburger] - Aficionados may question the inclusion of a burger within a sandwich list but I would counter with the classic “write your own damn list” argument.  I like mine with no mustard but with ketchup and mayo instead.  A distant second is the Double Western from Carl’s Jr.

Albuquerque Turkey Sandwich [Baggins] - My dying wish is to unplug the machines/IVs keeping me alive and be force-fed these sandwiches by the gorgeous Mrs. Herc as if I were a toddler (“Open the hangar. Here comes the airplane”) until my heart cannot get any happier and simply stops trying.  It is a grilled slice of nirvana with turkey breast, sweet and hot peppers and onions and BBQ sauce and cheese coming together on a sub roll to make the ultimate sandwich.  Everything about it: the aromas, the texture, the consistency and the tastes are wonderful and delightful.  For the Ultimate Old Pueblo Meal, grab an Albuquerque Turkey, a Sonoran Hot Dog and a Cherry Cider eegee’s and find a shady spot with someone you love and a view of the mountains and enjoy it all.

KM EATS TOO! Seven All Time Favorite Sandwiches:

1. Roasted turkey sandwich from Panera. It's a simple sandwich that I get on sourdough with tomato, mayo, salt and pepper only. Simple but so delicious. I love it. The sourdough bread really makes it. If you've never had Panera, you should, it knocks Paradise out of the water. It is one place I always manage to go to when I'm back home.

2. Turkey Philly from Zuppa. This has to be one of my all time favorite sandwiches. It is AMAZING. It goes on this big giant white bread. Throw some sliced turkey on the flat top and throw some cheese on it. Put it on the bread and throw some ranch type dressing on it. So so so amazing. This was a go to place for me in high school. Sadly, it has since closed.

3. Turkey sandwich from Eegee's. I see a turkey trend. I had never heard of this place until I became friends with Devyn and she took me to Tucson. It's more sub like than sandwich like but delicious none the less. I get mine with lettuce, tomato, no pickle and add provolone. This is one of the few sandwiches that I will eat lettuce on. The sandwich also has mayo on it and for some reason tastes so yummy to me. I love this sandwich.

4. Herby turkey from Bruegger's Bagels. Oh man do I love this. I am known to get two when I go here because it is so rare that I get it. Picture this...plain bagel, toasted with a garlic herb cream cheese, sun dried tomato spread, tons of turkey and a big piece of lettuce. It comes with red onion to, but I never get that. My mouth is watering just describing it. Mmmmm...

5. The Unforgettable Baggins and The Afternooner from Baggins. I know this is two sandwiches but they are both so good and from the same place. This was also introduced to me by Devyn since it's a Tucson place. I have never had anything bad there. The first is turkey, cream cheese, mayo, bacon, sprouts and avocado and sourdough bread. The second is ham, turkey, provolone, Parmesan and olives (which I forgo) and some sort of sauce all on a croissant. You put anything on a croissant and I am pretty sure I would eat it. Plus when you order anything from here you get a slightly under baked chocolate chip cookie in your bag. It is the perfect end to a perfect sandwich.

6. Chicken Carbonara from Quiznos. Oh yum. I love this one. I have been eating and enjoying this sandwich since high school. I used to eat it after school on Friday before a night of drinking. Their white bread with chunks of chicken, mushrooms, bacon, mozzarella and a creamy bacon Alfredo sauce. Then they put it through their magical oven and it comes out all hot and melty. The best is when they put a little too much sauce on and it just starts dripping down your hand....

7. BLT. From nowhere in particular. I love a good blt. Lightly toasted bread, mayo on both sides, crispy bacon, juicy thick cut tomatoes and crisp crunchy lettuce. Sonic has a pretty good one surprisingly. There is just something so simple and so perfect about this sandwich. As long as the ingredients are good, you really can't go wrong.


Devyn's All Time Favorite Sandwiches:




Those sandwiches are good and all, but I've clearly saved the best for last.  Here is my definitive list of the best sandwiches as I see them.  Guess what, I broke my own rule and made a list of eight.  Eight with Devyn today!

PB&H - Me AND PB&J - Grandma D.  This just has to be on the list to pay homage to the sandwich that made me the connoisseur that I am today.  I make a delicious peanut butter and honey sandwich(preferably with chunky pb).  Sometimes I have been known to make it a triple decker.  Then, my grandma d made me the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all through my childhood - sorry mom!  She would make us picnics for the backyard and give us lays potato chips and somehow me and my cousins or brothers decided to put the chips on our sandwich.  BEST.IDEA.EVER.
 
Anasazi Chicken - Baggins.  Baggins is a Tucson sandwich shop.  I love the vibe and pretty much anything from their menu.  I have sampled most of the menu through the years and the Anasazi chicken is my go-to.  Chicken breast cooked with whole mustard and lemon, green chilies, buttered and toasted sourdough bread and cheese.  I am honestly getting distracted just writing about this.  Its that good.  Come to Tucson and I will take you to Baggin's.
 
Herby Turkey - Bruegger’s Bagels.  Just like KM, I happen to love this sandwich.  I never loved turkey as a kid, but as a non-kid I have certainly embraced the non-ham.  This sandwich is not good for you though.  Too much goodness.
 
Chicken Carbonara - Quizno’s.  A sub, truth be told.  To me, a sub is a sandwich.  This one is melty and gooey and everything a toasted sub should be.  Its the perfect transformation of a meal that you eat with a fork into a sandwich.  I love the bacon bits and the sauce so so much.  And something about chicken chunks reheated in water is so incredible moist(must be the water - ha.ha.).  And the generous sprinkle of Italian seasonings. 


Fried Chicken - Lucille’s BBQ.  Lucille's is a BBQ chain and has a location in Tempe.  They make delicious barbecue but they are very good at southern food and southern hospitality.  Fried chicken is a southern staple but when you put a fried chicken breast on a soft potato roll with cheese and whatever else they slap on it, its pretty much heaven.  Served with a mason jar of sweet tea, I am in heaven. 

Chicken Caesar Sandwich - Panera.  I like the turkey sandwich that KM was telling you about, but I LOVE their chicken Caesar salad more than life itself so one day I ordered this sandwich.  I'm not gonna lie, it was divine.  Another example of fork food to sandwich food perfection. 

Pitts-burgher Cheesesteak(or anything really) - Primanti Brothers.  If you haven't heard of this place, scroll up to the top and take a look at that picture.  Those are french fries and coleslaw and tomatoes on top of the traditional sandwich innards.  You can get any sandwich you want there, really.  Its special because they put a handful of french fries and a handful of coleslaw on top of it and in between the soft Italian bread.  Its a Steel City tradition.  I had my first and HATED it.  I gave it a second try two days later and was in nirvana. 

Turkey with Provolone - Eegee’s.  Tucson's finest subs.  Their cold delicious Eegee's are the real draw here, but their sandwiches and french fries are also worthwhile.  Soft bread, ample amounts of mayo, turkey, too much lettuce, and pickles! Yes please!!!




And there you have it...the best sandwiches from the three top critics I could find!  Tell me your faves and let me know if you need further details on all of these. 

Seven Favorite Bite Sized Candies (not bars)

Another Sunday with no guest blogger.

Are you people telling me you haven't thought of a fun 7w/D list after reading this?  That my thought provoking words haven't helped your creative juices?  That you don't want in on this great blog?

.....

Fine.

Today I bring you the follow up to my post about candy bars.  Today we are about candies - not bars.  The kind you can pop in your mouth or come in bite size pieces or even are individually wrapped.


Seven Favorite Bite Sized Candies (not bars):

• Rolos.  Perfectly bite sized, indivdually wrapped and delicious to boot?  How much closer to perfect can you get?  Rich caramel, chocolate, and shiny gold wrappers are the winners!
• Skittles.  Taste the rainbow indeed.  Fruity chewy goodness.  With my recent teeth troubles I can't enjoy them like i used to: pour half the bag and chew(hard).  Make a giant ball of delicious skittles.  I also heard you can make flavored vodka from them.  KM, get on it!
• Raisinets.  Chocolate covered raisins.  Raisins are wonderful alone.  As a kid I used to plow through them in my school lunches.  I was a big fan of plain raisins.  I was also a fan of chocolate.  Then the two worlds collided and I have been hooked ever since.  I enjoy them from any provider, honestly and can polish off way more than the suggested serving size.  I'm talking 4x said size. Hello my name is Devyn and I'm an addict.
• Milk Duds.  Another caramel chocolate combo.  The difference lies in the texture.  Milk Duds are more of a crapshoot, in that sometimes they may be hard as a rock and other times they are the perfect texture to pop in and enjoy without breaking your crown loose.  
• Starburst.  Another chewy fruity confection. I prefer to eat them least favorite to favorite so obviously I eat the yellows, then the oranges.  Then I eat all of the pinks and save the reds for a sweet finish.  FORGET all of the other made up flavors, the original is the only ones that matter.  Same goes for the skittles, with sour skittles being the only exception.
• Crispy M&M's.  I like the original m&m's.  They are not my go-to candy though, at all.  I prefer almost anything else.  I fell in love with a special variety back in the day.  Crispy M&M's.  They may have been my perfect candy.  Then, as with anything I love, THEY ARE GONE!  It has been years since I have had them, years since they were available, and years since I smiled the smile of a person enjoying crispy m&m's.  May they rest in peace. 
• Riesen.  I may have saved the best for last.  A confection approaching its 100th birthday.  Dark chocolate enrobes a beautiful chocolate caramel.  Deliciously chewy, disgustingly rich, and oh so bad for your teeth.  I can't eat just one.  Or just a handful.  I eat the entire package.  Wrappers litter the floor and I start to wonder what just happened because I must have blacked out.  Easily my favorite indulgence that I have to actively avoid for my waistline, my dental bill and my own personal sanity.  Now you know what this girl runs on!

I am listening to my itunes library right now and guess what just appeared on shuffle? The musical theme to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  I love that movie and ALL of the music in it.  I always wanted to have an oompa loompa.  More on my fascination with little people some other time.

What are your favorite candies?  Have you enjoyed mine? 

Have you never had a riesen?  Don't even bother telling me, just un-bookmark this site, un-friend me on facebook, erase my number from your phone and rip me out of all of your photos. 
(Just kidding. sorta)

Seven Cars I've Wanted For My Entire Life

Cars.

Can't live with them, can't live without them.  Not here in Arizona at least.

Mine has been causing me nothing be trouble this week.  I have half a mind to sell it.  Too bad I happen to own my dream car and can't imagine buying anything else.  Too damn bad for you, Dev. (high brow problems)

Does anyone else call themselves by a nickname?  Like when you talk to yourself and stuff?

No?

Just me, huh?  OK.  Back to cars we go!  These are my dream cars, not to be confused with these cars that I hate.

Seven Cars I've Wanted For My Entire Life:

• Nissan Murano.  I'll take one in black please.  At an amazing deal, when I wasn't planning on buying a car too please.  Oh wait, that has already happened to me.  Yay me!  Now I just need a little extra cash to fix it up a little bit.  All cosmetic issues, but annoying ones!  Hatch doesn't open, CD doesn't eject, has never played iPod, visors don't stay, drivers seat rocks, door actuators are intermittent and most recently the fuel gauge is acting up.  Fix all this, and this girl is living the dream - literally.
• Dodge Ram 1500.  This one I'd like to be dark purple with a rugged bed liner and a chrome diamond plate toolbox.  Sparkly and rugged. For hauling and stuff but also for looking cute.  I wanted one of these since I was at least 12.  Who knows why?  I've always danced to the beat of my own drum.  
• Nissan 350Z.  Burnt orange, please! Sitting very low to the ground.  To fully enjoy this car, I need to learn to drive a stick shift I think.  Come on, brother! Teach me already. I like to tell myself the only reason I don't already have one is because I like to haul things around.  Truth be told, I will probably never own one, but a girl can dream!
• Toyota Prius. I really want a hybrid.  I really want one.  I normally don't follow trends especially with cars, but I would really like a Prius.  They aren't my favorite exterior look, but the inside and the capabilities are pretty awesome.  I want my Prius to be ironic slightly in that I want it to be black and completely blacked out.  Rims, lights, windows, everything.  This is a feasible dream, just need to find that sugar daddy!
• Ford Mustang(1965).  Red with white accents.  This is a very cliche dream but I still hang on tight.  I would love to learn how to restore and also restore it myself.  I have had dreams of finding one on craigslist at the absolute best bargain ever and buying it on impulse.  Could that dream come true?  Please and thankyou.
• Chevrolet Camaro(2011).  Green! Have you seen these on the road?  The green ones steal my breath away every.single.time.  Sure they are nothing like the sports cars from back in the day - too much plastic.  But boy does that plastic look sexy.  I want to drive one of these. How do you test drive a car?
• Audi R8.  I have always wanted an Audi, for two reasons.  First of all I have always admired the geometric and perfect logo that comes with Audi.  I have a major thing for lines and perfect shapes and the four ringed logo is perfection.  Also the name.  I love how it is pronounced.  I enjoy their sedans and even their crossover type cars but seeing Iron Man made me realize this was the car for me.  I just want it in a mirrored tinted silver chromed out package.  So much so that it is almost a danger to drive in sunny Arizona because of all the reflections.  

I need to be better at fixing my own car.  They need to be better at being DIY'd.   Let's meet in the middle, carmakers.

Everyone has dream cars, what are yours?  Do you think my list is ridiculous? Tell me about it. 

Seven Greatest Candy Bars

Can we talk?  I have a problem. 

Its Sunday again which normally means guest blogger time!  Alas, I have apparently tapped out my resources.  I only know 3 people willing to write me a guest post?  That makes me a little sad.  I give you free reign.  Any topic, commentary or not, and I rarely edit.  Come on!  I'm not begging, but I'm asking you with a sad look on my face....wanna guest blog for me?

You'll wish you took me up on this once I hit the big time.  I promise you that.  I also promise to forget all of the small people.  Big time Devyn = big time friends.  Remember this, small people.




Moving on, today let's discuss candy bars!  I am in food, so I consider it my responsibility to have hands on knowledge on all things in my realm.  Candy is definitely a pastry type treat.  I am also a red blooded American which means I was raised on candy.  I have the teeth to prove it!  Candy is highly personal to me.  Everyone has a favorite and more often than not it is a nostalgic memory. I don't eat just anything.  I won't settle.  I eat what I want or I eat nothing.  

To me, there are two types of candy: bars or bite size candies.  I don't mean bite sized versions of bars, but candies that are smaller or always individually wrapped.  Like m&m's or the mints that Sonic gives out.  I have compiled a list of my favorite candy bars today and am planning out a follow up piece on the bite size variety.  

Today is just a little bit different in that I am assigning homework.  If you have not had any of the bars on this list, go out and have them.  I want you to get the full hands on experience.  Then, comment and tell me all about it and tell me what your faves are and I will rush out to the store and have my own hands on experience.   


Seven Favorite Candy Bars:



Zagnut: I first discovered this bar when I was visited Hershey, PA a little over a year ago!  Its been around for a few decades and is definitely my favorite chocolate free candy bar of all time.  Crunchy peanut butter and toasted coconut come together to create a symphony in your mouth and on your tongue.  So crispy and just delicious.  When I first saw them, the name caught my interest and the word coconut made me say “ew”.  Feeling adventurous I bought one.  I ate it right away and was hooked.  I then bought 6 to take back to Pittsburgh where I was for 6 weeks and bought several more and then brought a few dozen back to Arizona for my family.  Turns out nobody liked them like I did.  Oh well, their loss.  I now almost always have some on hand at my house.  Emergencies, you know.

(like right now, as I write this I had to tap my stash just to make sure I described it right...)


 

Kit Kat: Gimme a break, gimme a break, break me off a piece of that kit kat bar!  Catchiest theme song for a candy bar? I think so.  I almost only enjoy this bar straight out of the refrigerator.  I love the layers and the texture and the supreme satisfaction that comes from this bar.  We almost always have them at work and that is a very bad thing...

Snickers: To me, this is the perfect chocolate candy bar available.  Salty, sweet, chewy, caramely, nougaty, smooth, crunchy and just awesome.  I met a fellow pastry professional who replicated this candy bar as a dessert and it is on my top 5 list of best composed desserts I’ve ever had.  I wish I could make it as well as she did.  My biggest problem is that the bar is so small...so many calories packed into that tiny little guy, though.  

100 Grand:  Caramel is an instant winner in my life.  Gooey delicious caramel.   Makes me drool every single time.  This bar is also coated with crisped rice, which as I’m sure you will concur, provides the perfect amount of crunch and texture.  I try to stay away from these since they lead to more visits with my dentist.  Lovely guy, but I know him too well due to my frequent trips.  Let’s just call it a job hazard.  The mini 100 grands are so so so very deadly.  Beware!

Pay Day: I rarely live my life with superstitions.  That being said, one that I adhere to is that I eat a pay day on pay day.  I invented this, and I find it to be very clever.  I think it helps.  Don’t argue with me.  Anyways this bar is the definition of salty sweet to me.  Salty peanuts cover the perfect caramel center.  It can help boost energy too because of the protein.  Maybe they should market it as an energy bar?

Butterfinger: “Crispety Crunchety Peanut Buttery” Their slogan makes them a favorite of mine already!  I blame this candy bar for 50% of my cavities.  The other 50% shall be determined in a future post.  

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups:  I am pretty sure that I would be kicked out of my family if I didn’t enjoy this delicacy.  Its almost its own food group in our house.  There are usually some in the refrigerator crisper drawer.  Its one food that all 5 of us enjoy.  Chilled is the best, but I’ve eaten it every single way.  Room temp, melty, melted, puddled, off the floor, frozen, even fried!  Obviously this is a classic candy bar combination of chocolate and peanut butter. 

Seven Best Pizzas I've Eaten

Silly question: Who doesn't like pizza? 

Everyone has their preferences.  Everyone has a favorite pizza.  Deep dish, thin, saucy, no sauce, cheeses, herbs, vegetables, fruits, meats, crusts, baking method, well done, underdone, etc etc. I have tried a lot of pizza and have compiled a list of my favorites as of this moment.  My list varies from gourmet to cheap frozen pizzas, but they are all delicious.

I love pizza.  I will probably never turn it down.  I don't like beer, but would take a six pack of Dr. Pepper and any one of these pizzas as my best easy meal.  If I ever go on a date ever again, I want to have a weekly pizza date.  So casual.  Some of my favorite moments happened over pizza or with pizza involved.  Birthdays, moving, family time.  Pizza might just be one of my faves. 

The Seven Best Pizzas I've Ever Eaten:

Barro's Mega Meat - Barro's is an Arizona phenomenon.  I was only introduced to their magical thick crusted pies about two years ago, but I have long since made up for the years I never knew it existed.  This pizza has every meat on it, along with plenty of cheese and sauce.  Their crust is thick and sturdy and can handle all of the meat and still taste great.  I love it.  Meaty goodness.


Peter Piper Pizza's Bacon Double Cheeseburger - This pie is a go to staple in my family's house in Tucson.  I have only had it once outside of Tucson and not in the company of my family and it didn't taste the same.  It must be Tucson magic at work again.  Beef, cheddar cheese AND mozzarella, tomatoes, onions, bacon bits all atop their thinner crust.  So.Darn.Good.  Peter Piper does carry out too.  We used to have our birthday parties at PPP for YEARS, but now its like a circus in there and I'd rather eat my pizza sitting on the curb and using my jeans as a napkin. 

Pizzeria Bianco's Wiseguy - This is one of the most popular restaurants in Phoenix.  Its tiny, they don't do carry out or take reservations and sometimes you can wait HOURS just to get a table.  Luckily there is a bar next door to help pass the time.  PB has been named best in the country many times.  Chris Bianco, owner/chef of this joint is so dedicated to quality that it puts others to shame.  Let me give an example: Ships his water from NYC, makes his own cheese, makes his own dough, makes his own sauce, makes his own sausage, grows all herbs right there on property and OH YEAH still can be seen at the restaurant every night.  The wiseguy pizza is one of only 6 pizza offerings.  It has caramelized onions, that homemade fennel sausage, smoked house made mozzarella cheese and no sauce all on their amazing chewy crust.  I am drooling all over my keyboard thinking about this pizza right now, I kid you not.  Please come visit me here and I will take you to this place.  My treat.

Kirkland Signature Frozen Cheese Pizza - Yes, this is the Costco house brand.   At that great big warehouse, $9.99 will buy you 4 ten-inch pizzas from the freezer section.  KM and I can polish off one pizza in a sitting together, so that's dinner for 2 @ $2.50.  SOLD.  Its a four cheese blend, on a better than average crust that has panko breadcrumbs on the bottom as opposed to cornmeal.  A pleasant surprise, and the very best part, I must say.  Costco has its flaws in our society, but this is definitely a step towards world peace, I just know it. 


 Red Baron Four Cheese Pizza - Another frozen delicacy.  This one hails from my childhood and I am pleased to say it still exists.  Its a boring thin crust pizza, with supposedly 4 cheeses on top of some tangy sauce.  The magic here comes from the green herb sprinkled all over the top.  Until I discovered that Costco pizza brand, this was my go-to.  Sadly it is not anymore, but I still have the memories from back in the day.


Mama's Pizza Supreme - This joint is hidden behind a shopping center, and adjacent to a high school in Tucson's east side.  My family has been going here for as long as I can remember.  They serve pizzas as big around as you can imagine.  Huge ones that a single slice of equals three regular slices.  They make this traditional supreme pizza that is just perfect every single time.  I really only go here for the doors that lead to the restrooms, they are swinging western saloon style doors.  I get such a kick out of barging through with my hands on my holsters, getting ready to go wrangle up some cattle just as soon as I finish my pizza. 

Pepperoni Pizza From That Bowling Alley - When I was in grade school, we had hot lunch every Thursday.  It alternated between pizza and either McDonald's or Eegees every other week.  The pizza you could order cheese or pepperoni and it cost $1.50.  You had to bring an envelope with your money, your name, your classroom and your order on it every Thursday.  Mom and Dad would write our envelopes out for us and help us decide our order and we would proudly carry them to school.  Then at lunch time, we got our treat.  The pepperoni pizza was always just a little too greasy but always DELICIOUS.  Guess where this pizza came from?  From the little cafe in the bowling alley across the street.  A bowling alley.  Go figure.

Runners up include: KM's vegetable pizza, Hungry Howie's anything, Papa John's garlic butter, and Pizza Hut's Pan pizza/lunch buffet/dessert pizzas

Seven Smells to Grace My Nose (July 1 edition)

Hi!  Let's get right to it with a quick ode to my nose.  My nose works pretty well.  I think I'll keep it.  It does its thaannggg!  Smellin' smells, holdin' glasses, you know how it goes.  I remember smells vividly.  Thanks Nose!

Smells that trigger long lost memories with wonderful comforting feelings make my day.  Smells that only come along once in a while, or that can never be duplicated no matter how hard you try are particularly awesome.  A terrible day can be completely turned around by just one whiff.  Laundry done at my parents house in Tucson can do that to me.  I have the exact same washing machine and dryer they have, a completely happy accident I might add.  I sought out the exact soap/softener/dryer sheets combo they use(Costco generic soap/real downy/generic Bounce).  I watched and took extensive notes of all their water temperature and soil level settings(cool/cool and medium).  All the research done, I try to duplicate it a few times a week at my house but to no avail.  Sad conclusion: It.Will.Never.Be.The.Same.

Lets be honest, there are also awful smells that can severely wrinkle your trousers.  But this post is not about them...and without further ado here are Devyn's Seven Very Best Smells to Grace My Nose(today):

• Cherry Jello stored uncovered in a walk-in at my work scented the entire cooler after lunch.  I imagine it was like inhaling paradise and boy did I inhale it well...every single time I needed dairy or produce.  Heavenly.  I even considered rubbing it all over the inside of my nose to never have to stop huffing that sweet, sweet poison.  How far is too far though, really?
• Freshly Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies baked by the dozens at work.  I don't need to say anything else, do I? 
• A (not so) Freshly Laundered T-shirt. The first shirt I wore this morning was last laundered in Tucson a few weeks ago, and I didn't like how I looked in it, but I'll be damned if I didn't debate internally for ten minutes before I took it off based on fragrance alone.  I have issues.
• Honey. I had to make a recipe with honey in it today and the smell lingered on my nose.  This is honestly one of my all time favorite smells.  I don't even know what else to say about it.  More honey please!
• Wet Dirt/Cut Grass in my backyard today as I watered my grass.  It was 110F out today and maybe the grass was cooking and that's why it had such an aroma, but it was real nice.  I may have cursed my puny lung capacity.  Oh Grass, am I right ladies?
• Lemon Fresh Clorox Wipes were sniffed as KM was cleaning her bathroom today.  So fresh and so clean!  Nothing smells better than a clean bathroom.  Refreshing.
• My Pillow is more of an anticipated smell, as it is calling my name.  It exudes a delectable mix of shampoo, laundry, and eau de Devyn(whatever that is).  Lulls me to a sweet smelling dream or two, nightly!

Basically you were just with me for my entire day.  A day in the life of Devyn's nose as it were.

Seven dreams to all and to all a good night!
D

PS I'm Sorry Mom & Dad, now the entire world knows 2 of the variables to your laundry secrets.