Last Friday I had the pleasure of attending a book party for Margaret Hoover hosted by GOProud, the only group representing conservative gays and their allies.  I am proud to serve on the GOProud Advisory Council.  They always have fantastic parties because they bring together a diverse crowd of conservatives.  Young and old.  Gay and straight.  Conservatives and Frum staff members. 

From left: GOProud Board Chairman Chris Barron, GOProud Executive Director Jimmy LaSalvia, Margaret Hoover

Margaret Hoover is the great-granddaughter of President Herbert Hoover and a frequent contributor to Fox News. Margaret’s book, American Individualism: How a New Generation of Conservatives Can Save the Republican Party, is a must-read for all candidates and policymakers who want to reach out to millennials (those born between 1980 and 1999). 

Photo courtesy of Gabriel Malor

The event took place at Hotel Monaco and included two D.C. staples — open bar and mini crabcakes.  Woohoo!

From left: Danielle, Andrew and LOTUS

It was great to see former ACU interns and CPAC volunteers at the party.  Though I may not be working in the conservative movement now, I am so thankful for all of the wonderful people I’ve met.

Thanks again to Jimmy, Chris and the GOProud interns for putting on a fantastic event!

Have you ever read the Missed Connections on Craig’s List and wondered if people really do find one another?  Well, this list is my version of that — missed opportunities to indulge in tasty food.

- A few weeks ago I used a Groupon for Arrowine, a great cheese shop in Arlington, VA.  My $30.00 was quickly spent on a few cheeses, apricots and wafer crackers.  The minute I paid for everything I turned around and saw the freezer case for Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream.  Staring right at me was the Pistachio and Honey.  I love pistachio ice cream and gelato, but sometimes there’s not enough sweetness.  The addition of honey sounded like a great combination.  I didn’t want to do another transaction, so I left.  Now that I’ve checked them out online, I also see they have a flavor called Bourbon Buttered Pecan.  Sigh…

- I’m obsessed with food trucks.  I watch the Cooking Channel show about them.  I follow them on Twitter.  I check Washingtonian Magazine’s daily list of locations.  But, guess what?  I’ve never had food truck food.  One of my favorites to follow is the Red Hook Lobster Truck.  I’ve heard and read that they do fantastic lobster rolls.  One day I was meeting a friend for lunch in downtown D.C.  I don’t even remember where we ate, just that I had a very mediocre tuna salad.  As I was walking back to my car I saw the Red Hook Lobster Truck WITH NO LINE. (For those outside of D.C., this truck, apparently, always has a line.)  I didn’t have any cash on me.  I thought about finding an ATM, but then remembered, “Oh yeah, I just ate lunch.”  I relunctantly kept walking.  I later found out that many food trucks, including Red Hook, take credit cards.  Red Hook Lobster Truck has become my great, white whale.  Hopefully, we’ll meet again soon.

- A little over two years ago I cut pasta, rice and bread out of my diet, as well as cut down on portion size in general.  It’s paid off and I haven’t made any exceptions.  Naturally, the gourmet burger has taken D.C. by storm and I’m left wondering what the buzz is all about.  Ray’s Hellburger, Good Stuff Eatery, BGR Burger Joint all seem to have outstanding burgers that I’ll never eat.  Exotic condiments. Various cheeses.  Bacon.  Sure, I can (and have once or twice) gotten a burger without the bun, but it’s not the same.  I once organized an event for Dr. Laura, talk radio host who converted to Orthodox Judaism.  Someone asked her what she thought heaven would be like.  She said she thinks heaven is unlimited bacon cheeseburgers.  Praise Cheeses!

- At CPAC this year the Reagan Banquet celebrated President Reagan’s 100th birthday with a cake from Carlo’s Bakery of “Cake Boss” fame.  Everyone said the cake was fantastic.  Unfortunately, I was too busy to try a piece.  Road trip to New Jersey, anyone?

- The worst thing about Trader Joe’s is that once you find a great product it seems to disappear.  Frozen Mashed Potatoes (seasonal), Identity Crisis Tortilla Chips (discontinued), Salted Chocolate-covered Caramels (seasonal).  I’m sure there are more, but those are the ones that come to mind.

- A few weeks ago I wrote about my trip to Fire Island.  No disrespect to the great people I met (or to Betty), but the highlight of the weekend was the watermelon gazpacho. It was a blended soup (my favorite), topped with crumbled feta cheese and swirls of creme fraiche and avocado cream.  My regret?  I didn’t finish my bowl before the next course came out.  Thankfully, I got the recipe.  I can’t wait to make it.  I just hope it’s as good as the original!

Have you had an tmissed food connections?  Feel free to share in the comments!

Over the last three months I’ve become an expert in minimizing non-essential expenses. As a single woman that didn’t listen to Suze “8 months emergency fund” Orman as much as she should, I learned quickly that I had to cut back on spending. Below are a few tips I’ve compiled. Please read on… with an open mind!

1. Beware of a Good Deal
Every morning when I check my email the first thing I do is delete every “free shipping,” “one day sale” or “free gift with purchase” email. When money was coming in I loved to online shop, especially when there was an incentive. Now it’s best to just avoid these offers altogether so I’m not tempted. I also avoid coupons. Yes, avoid coupons. For me, coupons encourage me to buy things I really don’t need. Unless it’s a coupon for a staple like chicken breasts or vegetables or, um, Diet Coke, it’s really just adding to my expenses if I have to pay the remainder of an item I wouldn’t normally buy.

2. Go Out with Friends
When I was gainfully employed I was frequently the one to pick up the tab, particularly when dining with friends who were interns or just starting out in their careers. I didn’t dwell on the inequity and was happy to treat when I could. When friends who have benefitted from your generosity in the past offer to take you out to dinner or a movie, don’t protest, just say thank you and take them up on the offer. Don’t forget to send a thank you note the next day.

3. Go on Vacation
This is really only a good tip if you live alone and pay household expenses. I have a friend with a beach house who graciously let me stay there for a few weeks. During this time I saved on home expenses like water, gas and electric. I spent a little more on gas to get to the house, but once I was there I never had to fill up my car because everything was within walking distance of the house. Obviously, in order for this to work you have to make sure travel expenses are less than what you save in household expenses. In my case, it was worth it. Just don’t forget to turn off the A/C before you leave home!

4. Get New Clothes
Ok, not really “new” clothes. There are a lot of great clothing swap events (check Swap.com) that allow you to declutter your closet and get clothes, shoes and accessories for free or small entry fee. For the several swap events I’ve attended, my goal was to get rid of clothes rather than take some home. Also, all the clothes that are remaining usually go to a local women’s shelter or Goodwill. Going through my closet reminded me of what I have and sometimes felt like I was shopping in my own home when I found something new that I had forgotten about. While I didn’t take much home when I went to swaps, it still feeds the need to “shop” and see what’s out there. For high-quality items that are brand name or have tags, find a consignment shop in your area. Get over the fact that you won’t get anywhere near what you spent. Space in your closet is money in your wallet.

5. Indulge in Good Food
Not at a restaurant, at the grocery store. Don’t shy away from proteins. Similar to tip #1, you may have the tendency to go for the cheap food – snack or processed items that are on sale. Often these foods offer little nutritional value and end up costing more because they don’t serve as filling meals. You’ll end up eating twice as much. Any nutritionist will tell you to always eat something with protein when eating carbs or fruit because it makes you feel full longer. Indulge in nuts, peanut butter and other proteins when snacking or sitting down for a meal. When beef, chicken or your favorite fish is on sale, stock up and freeze them. The great advantage proteins have over other healthy foods is that you really can stock-up and save money in the long run. Sale on lettuce? Don’t be tempted to overbuy when you know there are only so many salads you can eat before it goes bad. Same goes for fruit unless you’re the type that really will freeze it and use for smoothies (don’t forget to add protein!). I don’t even want to calculate how much money good intentions have cost me. Be honest with yourself and spend wisely.

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.

This past weekend I was fortunate to be invited to a friend’s lovely beach house in Fire Island Pines, NY, a predominently gay community. It was a happy coincidence that the weekend was scheduled for just after I joined the GOProud Advisory Council. GOProud is a group for gay conservatives and their allies. It also became a historic weekend for gay New Yorkers when late Friday night, the Republican Senate in New York passed a bill to allow gay marriage. More about that later.

In addition to my dazzling personality, I think I was also brought in as a political prop. One of my hosts is a die-hard independent (he doesn’t want to call himself a Republican or conservative) who likes to stir things up among his friends on Facebook. I was the real-life version. There were 10 men and two women in the house. The other girl, Betty, is a gorgeous bulldog.

There was some political talk the first night. La Belle Pinot and La Belle Butch (the fake names they came up with when I mentioned I might write about the weekend) cooked a fantastic dinner. As they chopped and busied themselves around the kitchen, I learned that LBP admired Palin, but disagreed with everything she says. He likes her guts. LBB mentioned he liked her hair. I asked, “If gay marriage were off the table, would you vote Republican?” LBP said he would vote for a purely fiscal Republican. If that’s the case, I told him, don’t you think the Democrats have a vested interest in keeping gay marriage as a wedge issue? He agreed that they do, but didn’t think they would do that solely to keep the gay vote. Perhaps I’ve been in D.C. too long because I think that’s exactly what Democrats are doing.

LBP asked if my Republican friends knew I was spending the weekend with a bunch of gay men. I said, “What do you mean? I came here to meet a man!” The search for my soul mate, much like in the real world outside Fire Island, became a weekend punch line.

In all seriousness, I told them my Republican friends have no problem with me visiting Fire Island and the most pervasive emotion was jealousy, not outrage. Too often, both sides present the other side’s least appealing spokesperson. I don’t believe the average Democrat is as awful a human being as Nancy Pelosi . Likewise, the average Republican is not the caricature of the anti-gay bigot that the media likes to present. It’s unfortunate that the bigots and media become allies. The bigots want a microphone and the media is all too happy to give them one in order to damage the entire movement. (Please note that I am not referring to people who support traditional marriage, but those who want to keep gays out of the conservative movement.)

Dinner that evening was a wonderful watermelon gazpacho with crème fraiche and avocado cream, filet of beef with béarnaise and asparagus. Dessert was blueberry cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Thankfully the sun came out on Saturday, which meant I was making a bee-line for the beach. As I was walking on the boardwalk, I became unsure of whether I was in a section that was to a private or public beach. Fire Island Pines doesn’t allow cars and there are no sidewalks. You walk from house to beach to town by boardwalk. I stopped a couple and asked if I was headed in the right direction. They assured me that I was and welcomed me to the island. Now, I don’t want this to come off the wrong way, but the couples were a lot friendlier than the singles. The single guys in the house I stayed at were nice, but outside the house and in the small town area I felt like I was just in the way. To characterize it as resentment that I was on their island might be a little strong, but not far off. Barely a word was said to me when I purchased a $4.40 (!) 20 ounce Diet Coke. (Btw, I made a habit of announcing the price of things as dinner was being made. “Eight dollars for mayonnaise!” Everything is so expensive.)

Speaking of being in the way, one daily tradition on Fire Island is going to the Pavilion area for high and low tea. From what I can tell, it’s really an opportunity to drink and meet guys. I chose not to go with the group. They invited me several times, but I think it was my own insecurities that made me want to stay behind.

Saturday dinner was also fantastic. Chesty Rockwell (again, his self-appointed fake name), a Syrian, made the best Mexican food I’ve had in awhile. Soft and hard tacos with slow-cooked chicken and ground turkey with a buffet of accoutrements – bean and corn salsa, guacamole, heirloom tomato salad, to name a few. Dessert was simple – dried cherries, dark and milk chocolate and dessert wine that I mistakenly drank as a shot. It was rough going down, but the flavor that lingered wasn’t so bad. LBP remarked that it was like saying, “I prefer the memory of you.” (Hello, every relationship I’ve ever been in.)

Table talk turned to the previous night’s Senate vote to legalize gay marriage. One person wondered what would happen next. Someone guessed that “triples” would be next and pointed out there was a triple down the road. Most seem to agree that this wasn’t a realistic next step and didn’t seem to care either way. I said that if gay polygamy is legalized, then straight polygamy should also be legalized. Sure, I understand the complications this brings up, but I stand by what I said that night – The family on TLC’s “Sisterwives” is the most normal and well-adjusted family on reality TV. Actually, those in the house weren’t really concerned about the “next step” that some on the right use as scare tactics. They were happy for the victory and I took pleasure in reminding them it was thanks to a Republican-controlled Senate.

On Sunday most of the group spent the day at the beach. Prior to going to Fire Island, I had heard that bathing suits were optional. I didn’t see any naked men, but lots and lots of swim briefs (like Speedos). Men of all shapes and sizes enjoyed their skin-tight bathing suits. There a few men who looked pretty good in them, too. One minute a group was swimming around in the Atlantic, the next minute someone’s red Diesel suit was being tossed around from person to person. His modesty was amusing. He wouldn’t get out of the ocean unless someone threw back his suit. Eventually, someone brought him a towel and he made a run for the suit.

Dinner on our last night was sandwiches with leftover filet, tomatoes, basil mayonnaise, Roquefort cheese and horseradish.

Since I didn’t have to lift a finger for my meals that weekend, I jokingly said I would write a haiku for payment. To prove that some Republicans keep their promises, here it is:

Betty sleeps soundly
Diesel suit floats in the surf
My soul mate awaits

I’m not one of those annoying girls that boasts about her gay friends to prove that she is fabulous and open-minded. The only requisite I have for friendship is a beach house I can visit. Thanks to Chris and Anthony!

I’ve been playing catch-up over the last two weeks.  In the past, most of the Academy-nominated movies were a mystery to me.  This year I really wanted to see more of them since I’ve been feeling the need to spend more free time away from politics.  I’m pleased to say that I saw six out of the 10 best movie nominees!  Since my Golden Globe picks were based on stereotypes (and mostly correct), my Oscar picks are a little more educated.  There seem to be a lot of sure bets this year, so below are my personal picks and those likely to win.  Bonus: Twice the chance of being right!

Best Motion Picture
My Pick — Inception
Likely Winner — The King’s Speech

Best Performance by Actor in a Leading Role
My Pick — Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
Likely Winner — Colin Firth, The King’s Speech

Best Performance by Actress in a Leading Role
My Pick — Natalie Portman, The Black Swan
Likely Winner — Natalie Portman, The Black Swan

Best Performance by Actor in a Supporting Role
My Pick — Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech
Likely Winner — Christian Bale, The Fighter

Best Performance by Actress in a Supporting Role
My Pick — None
Likely Winner — Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech

Best Achievement in Directing
My Pick — David Fincher, The Social Network (Since Chris Nolan wasn’t nominated for Inception)
Likely Winner — Darren Aronofsky, The Black Swan

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
My Pick — The King’s Speech
Likely Winner — The King’s Speech

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
My Pick — The Social Network
Likely Winner — The  Social Network

Best Animated Feature
My Pick — Toy Story 3
Likely Winner — Toy Story 3

Best Foreign Language Film
My Pick — Biutiful
Likely Winner — Biutiful

Best Achievement in Cinematography
My Pick — Inception
Likely Winner — Inception

Lots of other categories, but the “experts” know more about them than I do.

Best Motion Picture (Drama) — The King’s Speech
Reason: Hollywood loves movies about royalty.  Also, I’ve always found Firth endearing.

Best Performance by an Actress (Drama) — Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Reason: Mental illness + lesbian = Lock pick

Best Performance by an Actor (Drama) — Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
Reason: See above.

Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) — Alice in Wonderland
Reason: Everyone wants to pick The Kids Are All Right, but no one actually saw it.

Best Performance by an Actress (Comedy or Musical) — Julianne Moore, The Kids Are All Right
Reason: Consolation prize

Best Performance by an Actor (Comedy or Musical) — Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland
Reason: Gyllenhaal, Spacey, Giamatti?  Seriously? (I still get points if Depp wins for the other role)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture — Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
Reason: I always pick someone else and she always wins. I’m giving in.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture – Christian Bale, The Fighter
Reason: If you don’t agree with me, you’re f’ing amateur.

Best Animated Film — Toy Story 3
Reason: Because if it were in “Best Picture” it would win that, too.

Best Foreign Language Film — I Am Love
Reason: No description on ballot, so I can’t tell which is the saddest. So, viva Italia!

Best Director (Motion Picture) – Inception
Reason: Sometimes you just know.

Best Screenplay (Motion Picture) — The Social Network
Reason: Lots of words, lots of jumping around.

Best Original Score (Motion Picture) — Inception
Reason: This is the only nominee where I’ve even heard the music discussed.

Best Original Song (Motion Picture) — “I See the Light” Tangled
Reason: I don’t think any of the voters can make themselves to pick Burlesque or Chronicles of Narnia.

Best Television Series (Drama) — Mad Men
Reason: The “Golden Globes” headlines with photos of Christina Hendricks are already laid out. Also, it’s the best show on TV.

Best Actress in a Television Series (Drama) — Elizabeth Moss, Mad Men
Reason: Out-of-wedlock baby + lesbian kiss = Lock

Best Actor in a Television Series (Drama) — John Hamm, Mad Men
Reason: Great season for Don Draper. Also, remember when he played Scott Brown on SNL?  That was good, too. (Note: This was the hardest pick for me because I also love Hugh Laurie in House)

Best Televions Series (Musical or Comedy) — 30 Rock
Reason: It’s the Helena Bonham Carter of TV comedies.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Musical or Comedy) — Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Reason: Tina Fey is overrated.  And why the hell is Jane Lynch not nominated?

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Musical or Comedy) — Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Reason: To teach Steve Carrell a lesson.

Best Mini-Series/Motion Picture Made for Television — The Pacific
Reason: Tom Hanks + WWII = Lock

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series/Motion Picture Made for Television — Claire Danes, Temple Grandin
Reason: I remember hearing about this role, which must be a good sign.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series/Motion Picture Made for Television — Al Pacino, You Don’t Know Jack
Reason: Hoooowahhhhh!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television — Jane Lynch, Glee
Reason: Oh good, here she is. If not Jane, the girl who plays Britney S. Pierce. (Seriously, why Lea Michelle? She’s like the real life Rachel)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television — Chris Colfer, Glee
Reason: Totally the PC choice, but he also deserves it.

You’ll notice I have very few political books on this list.  In my experience, people buy those books themselves.  The only exception would be if you are able to give a signed book. (Plug: CPAC book signings are a great opportunity for getting boat loads of personally signed books, so plan ahead for next year!)

For History Buffs:

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas — How can you beat a subtitle like that?  This is the only book on the list I haven’t had a chance to read.  I gave it to someone as a birthday gift and I’ve heard great things.  I’m also a fan of Eric’s other books. 

America: The Last Best Hope (Volumes I and II) by William J. Bennett — I am not a history buff, but I enjoyed these books.  Dr. Bennett is a great storyteller.  What gets lost in most scholastic history books is the interesting tidbits that make names, dates and places come alive.  Years later most of us only remember the interesting things like Washington’s “wood” teeth.  In America: The Last Best Hope, all the interesting parts are actually true.  Leave it to public schools to remove the humanity out of history!

For Fashionistas, Reality TV fans, Girls Like Me:

My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster — This book chronicles Jen’s transition from reality TV junky to cultured woman.  Jen is one of my favorite authors.  Read more about her here.

Good Enough to Eat by Stacey Ballis — I’m reading this book right now.  This could easily go in the next section, but I think the storyline is more important.  The gist of it: Starting over is hard.  Making perfect mashed potatoes is easy!

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell — Warning: this book is only loosely based on what you know about Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City, so don’t obssess.  It’s not soul-shattering prose, but the last page makes it worth it.  Don’t skip ahead though!

For Foodies:

Hungry Girl 1-2-3 by Lisa Lillien — Ok, this one is not really for foodies, but for women who want to cook low-calorie meals without having to think about it.  The Hungry Girl series is pretty popular, so she must be doing something right.

At Blanchard’s Table: A Trip to the Beach Cookbook — I love this book because it takes me away from D.C.  Pair with the Blanchards’ memoir, A Trip to the Beach, which chronicles a Vermont couple who left the “concrete jungle” to open a restaurant in Barbados and live life on “island time.”

Kitchen Confidential and Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain — If someone you know is a fan of the Travel Channel’s “No Reservations,” they’ll obviously love these books.  Just make sure they don’t already have them.  I’m a fan of the TV series, but only read Kitchen Confidential recently.  I recommend buying both just because I prefer the older Bourdain to the younger Bourdain.

Cooking for Mr. Latte by Amanda Hesser — This book is similiar to Good Enough to Eat in that it’s a memoir with recipes.  The author is a food writer for the New York Times but, surprisingly, it’s not pretentious at all.  That’s the problem most of negative reviewers have with the author, so ignore them.

Also be on the look out for church, Women’s League or any collaborative cookbooks.  They have great family recipes and purchasing them helps support local organizations.

For Sports Fans:

Andy Roddick Beat Me with a Frying Pan by Todd Gallagher — This book is perfect for people who sit around thinking about who was the greatest this or that or whether this team from yesteryear could beat the current team.  Some of the questions the author actually tested include: Could an average guy start in the WNBA?  Would an obese man be the best goalie ever?  Could an average swimmer beat a Olympic swimmer who could only dog-paddle?  (FYI, ladies, this book will probably end up in the bathroom.  Take it as a sign that he’s actually reading it!)

For People Who Have My Sense of Humor (i.e. Awesome People):

The Perry Bible Fellowship Almanack by Nicholas Gurewitch — I love this comic strip.  The book is a perfect way to introduce your favorite awesome person to this ridiculously funny comic strip.

The Bible of Unspeakable Truths by Greg Gutfeld  — This is the most political book on my list, but I’m including it in this section because Gutfeld’s sense of humor is more important than his politics (which are also pretty great). This is the political book I wish I could write.

For Parents:

The Dangerous Book for Boys and The Daring Book for Girls  — I’ve given this book several times and it always ends up in the hands of the parents.  I think it’s a good primer for teaching your kids how to do cool things like making the perfect paper airplane and how to tell a good ghost story.

(In case you missed it, also check out my online shopping guide here.)

I don’t go to malls unless it’s the only way to get to a Chick-fil-a.  Other than the grocery store and Target, I really don’t go to any brick-and-mortar stores.  As such, I’m a very experienced internet shopper.  About 90% of my gifts are purchased online.  Over the years I’ve found some pretty cool sites.  Here is my annual list of online stores for unique and fun gifts:

Amazon.com — Ok, you probably knew about this one.  I like it because they literally have EVERYTHING.  It’s really great for dog lovers.  Just put in the breed and you’ll get hundreds of fun items with their breed of choice — socks, stationary, PJs, etc.  Ditto for anyone else that’s really in to something or someone or some team.  It’s also a great way to support smaller retailers since most of the stuff that will come up isn’t directly sold by Amazon.

PerpetualKid.com – This is my favorite site for stocking stuffers and fun gifts.  My friends and family will definitely recognize some of the stuff on here.  Best category: Robots and Cupcakes.  My favorite item: the Stress Wiener.

UncommonGoods.com — Lots of great things for family and friends who entertain.  Also, great for finding unique gifts.  A few years ago I bought a friend who is a die-hard Yankees fan a pair of cufflinks made from the seats at the old stadium.  They also have a helpful gift section that can help you narrow down items by price, recipient, sale items and what’s new.  On my Christmas list: Arm Warmers

KuKuRuZa.com — Gourmet popcorn in really yummy flavors.  It ships a lot better than cookies.  I’ve spent lots of time and dough (hee hee) shipping cookies to people and then finding out they were a crumbly mess when they arrived.  Wouldn’t your loved ones rather have Maple Bacon popcorn than crumbly week-old cookies?  Or Egg Nog with Brandied Chocolate Popcorn?  Or Cashew Caramel Popcorn?  Or Rocky Road Popcorn?  Or Hawaiian Sea Salt Popcorn?  Um, yeah, I recommend the Sample Packs.

Forever21.com — Don’t laugh!  They have really cute costume jewelry and hair accessories. 

CafePress.com — There are several sites that offer a similar service, but this is the one I use.  Take a photo someone has taken or photo of their dog (I obviously know a lot of dog lovers) and make it into cards or a jewelry box or calendar or whatever.  Just be sure to think ahead since this isn’t your best bet for a last-minute gift.

Coming soon… My list of books that make good Christmas gifts. Good news: most of them aren’t political!

I did a fun interview with Glen Asbury (@glenasbury) as part of his weekly “Twitter Personality of the Week.”  The questions were great!  Excerpt:

6.      You must have, by this point, many fascinating stories to share about your interactions with various political celebrities. Can you share 2 or 3 of your top anecdotes?  

 

 Wow, this is a hard question!  I have a friend who calls me the Forrest Gump of the conservative movement, so there are a few to choose from.  The first thing that comes to mind is when I was traveling with Ann Coulter to Tallahassee, my hometown.  I was really excited about the trip.  She was coming from New York and I was coming from D.C.  I took the metro with my mom, who was on the way to her job at the Pentagon.  I made my flight, but Coulter and I never made it to Tallahassee that day.  My flight was grounded in Columbia, SC.  The flight attendant said there was a “national emergency.”  It was the morning of September 11, 2001.  Within a few minutes, I was able to get in touch with my mom, who was still at the Pentagon.  Coulter was on her way to the airport when it happened and was stuck in Queens.  I don’t want to be one of those people who make a national tragedy about them, but it was just one of those moments when the real world and my Forrest Gump life collided.

Finally meeting Rush in person was so unbelievable that I barely remember it.  I know we spent about 20 minutes in the green room, but I don’t remember much about it.  We took photos.  He asked what had been the biggest news to come out of the conference.  I have no idea what I said.  As it turned out, it hadn’t happened yet.  The most auspicious moment of CPAC 2009 was definitely Rush’s first “National Address to the Nation.”  It was probably the most significant moment leading up to the 2010 elections.  When Rush spoke, it was one month after Obama’s inauguration.  Conservatives were on the ropes, but Rush gave a message of hope.  The fight for freedom wasn’t lost; it was just beginning.

Read the entire interview here.

There are several good lists of conservatives you should be following on Twitter.  And I’m sure you’re already following everyone on the lists already.  I like talking to people on Twitter, not just reading famous (and not-so-famous) conservatives’ declrative statements.  Most of my favorite tweeps have less than 5,000 followers, so give them some love!

@LisaDeP — Me!

@pinkelephantpun — Ok, she has a lot more than 5,000 followers.  Still, last week we were talking about Twitter and she came up with the anti-declarative statements meme.

@Breza — Former intern who convinced me to get on Twitter a few years ago. Fellow Simpsons fan.

@KerryPicket — She’s a budding teevee star!

@jimmiebjr — I’ve never heard him sing, but I have read his tweets.

@LeslieSanchez — The very best emcee at CPAC10. She also tweets pics of her cute doggy.

@sarahbellumd — She’s the leader of the Andy Levy Power Hour campaign. Finally met her in person at The Blogger Briefing. (And, no, you don’t talk waaaaaay too much.)

@JasonMattera — My editor at Human Events, yo.

@SissyWillis — Great conservative that catches all the great posts I miss.

@Cubachi — Because her name reminds me of Pokemon, the only show I could get on my TV when I was in college. Also, she’s feisty!

@sunlionfilms — If you follow me, you know I’m a big fan of actor, director and conservative Robert Davi.  This is him.  If you’re not familiar, check out this interview I did with him.

@seanhackbarth – He hates everything I like, except cheese curds. Also, his tweets are so informative I have no reason to talk to him in person.

@AndyLevy — Ok, another one that has more than 5,000 followers.  Like @pinkelephantpun, he actually converses with people, so that gets him a pass.

@LibertyCzarina — Another awesome conservative woman who I’m including only if she promises NOT to stop talking about the Golden Girls.

@rsmccain – He’ll totally call me out if I don’t list him. Fortunately, he deserves your follow.

@MelissaTweets — Damn, another over 5,000.  She’s the RT queen.  Got an interesting post?  You don’t have to be famous to get her attention. 

@BethanyShondark — I’ll let her Twitter profile speak for itself: “Jew w/ tattoos, member of the vast right-wing conspiracy. Reformed Leftist.”

@hipDanielle — The only person that loves Chick-fil-a more than I do. Also, she has puggles.

@JennyErikson — She brought me See’s Chocolate during CPAC. Do I need another reason? Ok, she’s funny and friendly.

@MattKLewis — I enjoy Matt’s tweets, but I’m including him on this list for one purpose: to make him feel bad for not including me on his list.

@Rocheonair — He’s not a conservative, just a jerk who could use some more followers.  Also, he’s a DJ at DC101 and he usually puts up with my conservative talking points that are personally handed to me by Rush Limbaugh.

@DerekaHunter — He once dated an intern at my old job, so we’ve awkwardly said hello for many years.  Also, as he pointed out, he doesn’t tweet that often, but when he does it’s pretty entertaining.

@StarChamberMaid — She’s snarky and funny.  Unfortunately, she likes cats.

@CPACnews — Duh

Obviously this list doesn’t include every awesomely awesome conservative on Twitter.  Feel free to suggest yourself or your friends in the comments.