HOW MUCH OPRAH........ IS TOO MUCH OPRAH???

This is a question that has plagued me for over a week now ever since the last shopping trip with Ann.

Ann, by nature, is somewhat of a um..... follower type of person. She's several years older than me and so she has the whole wife/hubby/kids thing going on. She's pretty much perfect at it. Stay at home mom, immaculate house, dinner on the table by 5:30 every night, carpool, sunday school teacher... yup that's Ann.

So last Saturday when Ann and I went out shopping she and I were chatting in the car on the way to the mall about buying jeans when she said...

"I think I'll wait until I watch Oprah on Monday before I buy any jeans"......

Well I gave her this kind of confused look and she explained that Oprah was doing a special on the best jeans for different body types that coming up Monday. ::shrug:: Ok... if you want to wait and consult Oprah about your jeans that's fine.. to each their own.

Well... we got into the mall and the first thing we did was hit the Philosophy counter in Nordstroms...... Why? Because that's the skincare line that Oprah uses. Well, Ok, I can appreciate that. I mean after all, the woman does have great skin. Well Ann procedes to get what she needs and then purchases an entire skincare system for her son who developed a couple of pimples on his hormone raging pre-teen skin!!! She dropped just shy of $200 on a few bottles of facial cleanser. My mouth dropped.

Meandering our way further into the mall we stopped to get some of those 'cinnamon almonds' because "Oprah loves these"... uh huh. So Ann hops in line while I become distracted by the Santa Clause display (friends, you must understand.. I still sit on Santa Clause's lap every year and have a picture taken... I LOVE Santa Clause) but what really distracted me was the fact that they had brought in live reindeer for the weekend - SWEET!) After petting these adorable beasties I cruise back over to the 'nut booth' and as we're standing selecting these sugared, Oprah endorsed delacicies, Ann begins to give me this disgusted look. Well, I raise my eyebrow and give her a look like 'what's up?? Bad nut or something?' Well she pays for her nuts and I walk over next to her to get some on my own and it hits me.... OMG.... something smelled friggin RIPE! Cringing I looked at the reindeer display just in time to see the damn thing plop down a shit that would make an elephant proud! I looked over at Ann and notice she's taken a step back from me... WTF! So I pay for my nuts and we both turn to leave... out of earshot of the nut shoppe Ann says, "What the heck did you eat?". I just stared at her for a second or two and then started laughing hysterically. Like a child I took her hand and led her over to the reindeer exhibit.... the smell worsened with every step we took.... until finally we stood infront of the darling beast and it's amazing pile of excrement. I thought Ann was going to hurl... she's not exactly the 'country gal' type. LMAO... lets just say we were outta there faster than the fat kid in dodgeball.

Exiting the poopie scene on we went to Marshall Fields. Upon entering the store Ann said..."I need to stop at the Clinique counter and get some hand cream. Oprah has it on her list of favorites for combating dry skin. I have dry skin". Well ALRIGHTY then.... Finishing her purchase Ann wandered deeper into the cosmetic section (this is the part from the previous blog entry where we came out painted like french whores). Spying the Bobby Brown counter Ann said "OMG!!! Bobby Brown! I have to stop and look at their lipstick. It's the kind that Oprah uses" Well OF FREAKIN COUSE IT IS!!! $52 on a lipstick pallet people... ::sigh:: Now you see... I know Ann, she's a chapstick fanatic... she'll never use this lipstick and even if she does it will be gone in 20 minutes because she'll have wiped it off to put more chapstick on.

After leaving cosmetics was the frightening nightmare of dodging bullets through the perfume section (also outlined in the previous blog entry). Exiting the perfumes we were heading for the door when Ann says "WAIT!! I almost forgot something!" Dashing like a mad woman back through the store (remember folks we have to be home by 4:30 to start the 5:30 dinner) she finally stopped at the lingerie section and turning she said.....::dramatic pause:: "I just have to get some of these underwear.. they're kinda pricey ($32) a pair, but THESE ARE THE KIND THAT OPRAH WEARS!!"... well that just frikkin did it. OPRAH UNDERWEAR?? Do the words 'stalker, unhealthy obsession, fatal attraction mean anything to you!!! Holy Mother of God!

::still shaking my head:: Oprah underwear... WHERE DO I FIND THESE FRIENDS!!

::smooches::

Mara

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On another note... I'm going to share a fabulous recipe for Thanksgiving. This idea was given to me by femi-mommy who has a FABULOUS BLOG and posted a recipe for gooey butter cake on her page last week.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

2 envelopes DREAM WHIP Whipped Topping Mix

2-3/4 cups cold milk, divided

1 tsp. vanilla

2pkg. (4-serving size each) JELL-O Instant Pudding & Pie Filling, milk chocolate

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, divided

8 peanut butter cups

2 tablespoons Hersheys Chocolate Syrup

4 heaping tablespoons marshmallow creme

1 baked pastry shell (9 inch), cooled

CHOP peanut butter cups until finely crumbled (works well in food processor)

BEAT marshmallow cream, 1/4 cup peanut butter and chocolate syrup until smooth and creamy.

SPREAD marshmallow cream mixture evenly into the bottom of prepared crust.

SPRINKLE 3/4 of the crumbled peanut butter cups over the marshmallow cream making an even layer. -->

BEAT whipped topping mix, 1 cup of the milk and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on high speed 6 minutes or until topping thickens and forms soft peaks.

ADD remaining 1-3/4 cups milk and dry pudding mixes. Beat on low speed until well blended. Beat on high speed 1 minute, scraping bowl occasionally. Add 1/4 cup peanut butter and beat on high speed 1 additional minute. Pour evenly and spread into crust.

REFRIGERATE at least 4 hours. Garnish with remaining peanut butter cups. Store leftover pie in refrigerator.


I hope you get a chance to try it... it's pretty yummy!

Happy Thanksgiving!