Whoops! Google accidentally reset thousands of accounts.

Apparently over 150,000 gmail accounts were accidentally wiped over the weekend. Although that's not very many in the big picture of Google accounts, it's enough to have drawn a lot of attention to the issue.

Google has released a statement that they are working to restore all of the messages, attachments, and chat logs lost in the incident.

I know that I keep a lot of information and documents in my Gmail account that aren't well backed-up elsewhere. This makes me want to go through everything and save copies to my computer
just in case. I've heard that Google stores data very well and very long-term, so hopefully they'll be able to restore all of the affected accounts.

This site has more info for you.

What a Weekend!

"I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends."
~Nancie J. Carmody






Remember that big chalkboard I made for under $10? This is what it looked like after the party. We hung it on the wall, put out chalk and let people draw/write on it. I think I'll hang it in my office/music room.

The party was a complete success. It was high-energy but nothing was damaged, it was rowdy but not too loud (no cops!), people were dancing all night long and we never ran out of food/drinks/ice.

Since I worked full days both the day of and the day after the party I didn't get a lot of before/during/after shots, but over the next week or so I'll be posting some of the things that turned out really well.

Happy Morning Music

"Be pleasant until ten o'clock in the morning and the rest of the day will take care of itself."
~Elbert Hubbard







I love listening to classical music in the morning! I heard this Mozart concerto on my local classical station the other day and thought it'd make perfect morning music - it's calm, peaceful and lovely.

It's my Birthday!

We're not doing a lot to celebrate tonight since we're having the big party on Saturday, but my sweetheart did surprise me with flowers, a small cake and a great gift (more about that in another post).

On another birthday note, I won a $15 Amazon.com code from myCardz.net (my 3rd win from them!) and it showed up in my email this morning. I splurged and bought this light for my party:







I'll definitely put up a review once we get it in and set up! It's sound sensitive (lights move to the beat of the music) so hopefully it will add some great atmosphere and put on a bit of a show. It might be a bit expensive for a light, but thus far I've spent very little on this party. There was room in my budget - and this will definitely be a big decor centerpiece!

Well, that's about it for today - time to go have another slice of cake!

Make your own chalkboard (mine cost under $10)

“I will not waste chalk.”
~ Bart Simpson







For my nightclub party on Saturday I wanted something interesting for a particular wall and decided to do a chalkboard. It's large, stark décor and people can draw/write on it as they please - which could get interesting as the night goes on!

Chalkboard wall decals in the size I want are a bit too expensive for this party, and because we're renting I can't actually paint the wall. Instead, I decided to make my own framed chalkboard to hang!

Many months ago I picked up this picture for $1 at a local thrift shop. It never got hung up, so it's been sitting around taking up space. Time to transform this baby!




It's hard to tell in the picture, but the whole thing measures aprox. 3'4" x 4'4"



I used FolkArt Chalkboard Paint:








On the first coat, I started out trying to be too perfect. I figured I should have a fairly good spread to act as a base layer, but I ended up just pushing paint around on the glass, causing formed ridges between strokes. I ended up just painting whatever would stick in a thin layer, which turned out to be the right idea:




See how the picture is still kind of visible through the first coat?




I thought I'd need three coats, but two turned out to be fine. I might still add another layer tomorrow if I'm feeling frisky, but it looks pretty good after just two:







So there you have it! A large framed chalkboard for under $10. In a few more days it'll go up on the wall and I'll get some more pictures for you all!

Party Recipe: Mozzarella, Cherry Tomato and Basil Skewers

One of the things I'll be serving at my upcoming nightclub-themed party:







I love these easy yet artsy hors d'oeuvres. Basil, tomato and mozzarella is a classic flavor combo (the insalata Caprese), and serving them this way makes for great finger food with great presentation.




Click here to see the recipe page where I found the mouth-watering picture.

My Birthday Party {Target.com e-code Giveaway}

"Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance."

~Dave Barry








My birthday is this week! This will probably be my last birthday in Oklahoma, at least for a while, so it's a good excuse to throw a party!

I'm transforming my house into a nightclub for an evening, and I'll be posting my progress/ideas here for you all to see as the week goes on.

To celebrate, I'm offering one winner a $15 Target.com e-code!



To enter:

Give me an idea for my party! It could be food, inexpensive decor, or anything else you think might help me set the club mood.



For bonus entries (leave a comment for each bonus activity completed):

Subscribe to my feedburner emails
Follow me via Google Friend Connect
Follow me on Twitter




The last day to enter the giveaway is Sunday, February 27 (02/27/11). I will use random.org to choose a winner and will contact him or her by email (please leave an email if it is not visible in your profile).

We have a winner! (Lancome Giveaway)

Wow! 150 entries for our first giveaway! Thank you to everyone who entered.



Congratulations to the winner of our first-ever giveaway, Andrea D.! She'll be recieving a tube of Lancôme's Hypnôse Mascara, complements of the Miss Mnemosyne blog.


Stay tuned for more giveaways in the future!

Over the Top: Playable Angry Birds Birthday Cake!

This guy made his son a crazy birthday cake - a working, playable Angry Birds cake! The video shows the cake's construction and, of course, its inevitable destruction in true Angry Birds fashion.

Lost Wallet Returned to Owner After 40 Years

"Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost."

~ Robert H. Schuller







40 years ago Rudolph Resta, now 77, was an employee of The New York Times. One day his wallet was stolen, the cash removed, and the rest of it stashed between a window and a masonry seal. It wasn't until recently that it was discovered and finally returned to him - along with a small treasure trove of family pictures, an old Social Security card and other mementos from the time.

You can read more about the wallet, its contents, and the people involved here.

Aww, longest kiss ever - new world record!

"Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves."

~Albert Einstein





This Associated Press clip covers a kissing contest in Thailand where couples competed to see who would last the longest. Couples had to remain in contact the whole time, even when going to the bathroom. The winners lasted almost two days! The time still needs to be certified by Guiness, but if it stands it will be a new world record.

Oh no! The National Christmas Tree was Toppled Today!

"Trees are your best antiques."

~Alexander Smith








Winds in the capital gusted up to 60 mph today and toppled the national Christmas tree. The Colorado blue spruce was 47 year old and has been decorated and lit by the President in an annual ceremony every year since 1978.

Fortunately no one was hurt when the tree fell, and there is a backup tree at an undisclosed location.

You can find the New York Times' article about it here.

Borders files for bankruptcy - OKC store closing, liquidating

"We determined that the best path for Borders to have the ability to achieve this reorganization is through the Chapter 11 process, which we commenced February 16th."

~ A Feb. 16th email from Mike Edwards, President/CEO, Borders, Inc.





I'd heard rumors for a while that Borders was going bankrupt. February 16th they sent out an email confirming this; that same email also said that they would remain open and would restructure their business.

This morning I received another email: apparently the Oklahoma City store will be closing. If you are local you might want to check it out and see if you can grab some bargains.

If you aren't local, you might call and see if any of your local Borders are closing/liquidating due to the restructuring.

PBS, NPR Threatened - Congress is debating whether to completely eliminate funding

"Brought to you in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting"
~ Thousands of shows and radio programs over the years








The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or CPB, helps fund public television and radio. Sesame Street, Nova, and PBS News Hour are just some of the shows that recieve funding, and radio stations such as National Public Radio(NPR) and many smaller television and radio stations (like my local classical station!) depend on these funds to operate.

Congress is currently considering not just reducing but COMPLETELY CUTTING all federal funds. Without this funding many stations and programs would have to end - especially those in smaller communities.

News, educational shows, documentaries and the arts - all of these will suffer, and all of these enrich us as individuals and as a nation!

Please, contact your Congressman and let him or her know that the CPB is an investment in our country!

To find out more about the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, check out their website at www.cpb.org

You can read an NPR article about the proposed elimination here.

Funny Animals - BBC's Walk On The Wild Side

"Nighttime....Daytime!"

~ The Nighttime/Daytime Bird









This is a clip from the BBC show Walk On The Wild Side. They show short videos of animals in quick succession with voices dubbed over them for comedic effect. Groovy badgers, caffeine-addled owls, feuding giraffes and a wide assortment of other characters from the Animal Kingdom await.








There are several more clips on YouTube if you want to see more. I know I couldn't stop at just one!

World Builder - Short, Sweet and a Little Sad (YouTube)

This 9 minute video has some really neat special effects and a touching premise - definitely worth a watch!

The YouTube description:

"A strange man uses holographic tools to build a world for the woman he loves. This is a short by filmmaker Bruce Branit known also as the co-creator of 405."

Pikachu Kitty

"Pikachu, I choose you!"

~ Ash Ketchum, Pokémon









Isn't this cute? It's just photoshop - no kitties were painted, rouged or otherwise harmed in the making of this image.

Original post is here.

Everyday Luxury - Lancome Hypnose Mascara {Giveaway}

I've always got an eye out for inexpensive everyday luxuries - those little indulgences that make me feel like I'm living high without breaking the bank. This is Everyday Luxury #2 - Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara
.

Having one or two really nice products in your makeup routine can help you feel (and look) glamorous every day. Often these makeup counter treats aren’t as expensive as you might think, especially if you consider how long they last.

Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara - $25 for a tube that usually gives at least six months of daily use for me




Close-up from a picture where I'm wearing the mascara - no eyeliner needed!



I’ve been a fan of Lancôme for over a decade now - their high-quality Dual Finish foundation has always been my one constant makeup splurge even if everything else was the cheap stuff. They often do a free gift or offer “purchase with purchase” specials where you can get a pre-set assortment of products for free or relatively cheap; this can include full-size lipsticks, eyeshadow pallets, mini perfume bottles or any number of other things. They almost always include a tube of mascara, usually their standard Definicils, and I used all of this to round out my makeup collection.

One time, however, the mascara was different - a new product called “Hypnôse”. After using it just a few times I was hooked. This mascara not only darkened, lengthened and volumized with only one coat, but it actually curled my lashes for me. It complements my eye shape extremely well, doesn’t smudge or flake, and looks perfect all day/all night. Since then it has been my mascara of choice, and though I’ve tried others, nothing tops my Hypnose.





Another close-up from another picture - again, no eyeliner!




Recently Lancome put out a new mascara called Hypnôse Drama. While similar to Hypnôse, Hypnôse Drama has a new formula that just doesn’t thrill me the way my regular Hypnôse does. Often when a line comes out with a “New and Improved” product, they discontinue the original; fortunately for me, Lancome decided to carry both!

Hypnôse Mascara - $25 at Lancome.com or check out your local Lancôme counter


Because I love this mascara and wish to share the joy, I am offering one lucky person the chance to try it. Enter below to win a full-sized Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara!

(Note: Lancôme is not sponsoring this in any way; I just love it that much and want to spread the word!)




To enter:

Tell me what shade you’d like if you won! The color choices are Brown, Black and Deep Black.

After you’ve done that, you can gain bonus entries by doing the following and letting me know in a comment(1 entry each):

Follow me on Google Friend Connect (on the right side of the page)
Follow me on Twitter
Subscribe to my feedburner emails



Be sure to comment once for each entry. I will use random.org to pick a winner. Make sure to leave me an email to contact you if you win if it's not visible in your profile! The last day to enter is this Sunday, February 20th (02/20/11).

Coke's Secret Formula Discovered!

"It's the real thing!"
~ Coca-Cola slogan








Producers from This American Life were researching Coca-Cola and found an article from 1979 that had - get ready! - a hand-written copy of the original recipe as one of its illustrations.

This recipe has been closely guarded for over a century, with precautions as extreme as taking all labels off ingredients (mixers use sight/smell only to identify them) and only having two people alive at the same time who know how to mix the mysterious "7X flavor".



Here's the recipe, as posted Time.com:

The recipe:

Fluid extract of Coca: 3 drams USP
Citric acid: 3 oz
Caffeine: 1 oz
Sugar: 30 (unclear quantity)
Water: 2.5 gal
Lime juice: 2 pints, 1 quart
Vanilla: 1 oz
Caramel: 1.5 oz or more for color

The secret 7X flavor (use 2 oz of flavor to 5 gals syrup):
Alcohol: 8 oz
Orange oil: 20 drops
Lemon oil: 30 drops
Nutmeg oil: 10 drops
Coriander: 5 drops
Neroli: 10 drops
Cinnamon: 10 drops




You can read more about this neat discovery here.

No more Guitar Hero

"Your mom doesn't count as a fan."
~ Guitar Hero 1









Activision Blizzard Inc. announced yesterday that they're through churning out Guitar Hero titles.

"Due to continued declines in the music genre, the company will disband Activision Publishing's 'Guitar Hero' business unit and discontinue development on its 'Guitar Hero' game for 2011"

Star Wars: "Iconoscope" style

"Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?"

~ Princess Leia, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope







This is only a sample of the 32-part "Iconoscope" version of Star Wars: A New Hope by digital designer Wayne Dorrington. Click here to go to his blog and see the rest!

Everyday Luxury - Handmade Caramels

I've always got an eye out for inexpensive everyday luxuries - those little indulgences that make me feel like I'm living high without breaking the bank. This is Everyday Luxury #1 - Handmade Caramels.




I love caramel. Unwrapping a buttery piece and savoring it slowly is one of my favorite small treats. Pair this with a relaxing bubble bath and I'm in heaven!

Of course, if you're going to indulge, you want to make sure you truly feel a little spoiled. While I enjoy supermarket caramels, for moments like this I go for my special stash of homemade sea-salt caramels.

Back in September I won some Fleur de Sel caramels made by TheCaramelJar from The Review Stew. These were amazing - they were sweet, salty, and melted in my mouth. The creator states that they work hard to be natural and eco-friendly - caramels are made from "all natural/organic ingredients" and were wrapped in natural parchment paper.





Fleur de Sel Soft and Chewy Caramels - 1lb in an Eco Friendly Wax Paper Bag ($17 + $5.65 shipping)



When I felt the urge to restock, I decided to try another seller to see how they'd compare. I went with DiedreWood. Also extremely good, these were firmer and slightly saltier. They were also less expensive. They were packaged for a little longer of a shelf life (hand-wrapped in plastic and shipped in a resealable bag), which works well for my "indulge a little at a time" attitude.





1lb Fleur de Sel Caramels ($14.50 + $5.65 shipping)




If you want just a little bit of caramel, you can also get smaller amounts for less from these and other sellers on Etsy.com. If they're anything like the caramels I've tried, however, you might regret not getting more!








P.S. - Be careful not to accidentally buy soap! Doesn't it look yummy?

$2 free Amazon.com music credit

"Without music, life would be a mistake."

~ Friedrich Nietzsche







You can now use the code VDAYMP3S to add $2.00 credit to your Amazon.com account good towards any mp3 or album download. You need to use it by the end of the day on the 14th.

Orange and the Oklahoma Sunset

"There is nothing is more musical than a sunset."
~ Claude Debussy






I’m not an orange person.

I don’t know why I dislike this particular color. I love the fruit. I like yellow and red. My high school and college rival schools both happened to have official colors of orange and black, but I don’t dislike black.

One of the few situations where I am completely okay with orange is the magnificent sunsets we get here. You may not know this, but when things are just right in central Oklahoma you can get sunsets that rival any others on Earth. These are the kind that make you wish you could paint, the kind that promotes poor driving from people turning to look at them instead of watching the road.

Free doughnuts? Yes please!

"Mmmm, donuts!"
~ Homer Simpson





Whether you spell them doughnuts or donuts, one thing is for sure - they're delicious.

For the next couple of weeks, Krispy Kreme is running a neat Valentine's Day promotion. When you buy a dozen doughnuts, you'll get twelve (12) Valentine's Day cards, each with a coupon for a free doughnut, coffee or small hot chocolate. That's a dozen little gifts to spread the love - or to give yourself some extra mid-winter treats.

Now might just be the perfect time to surprise the coworkers one morning.

Participating locations can be found here.

From my inbox

An actual headline from an email today:

"Performance Bedding for Valentine’s Day – Discount & #win"

When ordinary bedding just won't stand up to the challenge....

"You didn't have to be so nice..."

"...I would have liked you anyway."
~ "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice", The Lovin' Spoonful







You didn't have to be so nice
I would have liked you anyway
If you had just looked once or twice
And gone upon your quiet way

Today I said the time was right for me to follow you
I knew I'd find you in a day or two
And it's true

You came upon a quiet day
You simply seemed to take your place
I knew that it would be that way
The minute that I saw your face

And when we've had a few more days
I wonder if I'll get to say
You didn't have to be so nice
I would have liked you anyway

Today I said the time was right for me to follow you
I knew I'd find you in a day or two
And it's true

You didn't have to be so nice
I would have liked you anyway
If you had just looked once or twice
And gone upon your quiet way

"It's Never Too Early"

"You can't put a price tag on love, but you can on all its accessories."
~Melanie Clark







Between a month-long spree of entering contests this past Fall and doing most of my holiday shopping online this year, I get a lot of ads and newsletters in my inbox. This is one of today's gems: a daily deal from GraveyardMall.com with some seasonal flair.

Remember, when it comes to getting your sweetie toilet brushes for Valentine's Day: "It's Never Too Early!" and "hurry before it's too late!"

It's Snowing Sideways

"Since we've no place to go...."
~ "Let it Snow"












The second wave of the blizzard just hit, and I'm sipping coffee and watching it snow sideways out the window behind my computer monitor. This isn't such a terribly rare occurrence thanks to the power of Oklahoma winds, but man is it cool (no pun intended). We've got power, internet, and a stocked fridge, so life is good.