11 In 11 Baseball Heaven

The World Series Commissioner's Trophy
with the Cardinals
pitcher Jason Motte (on the left) and Lance Berkman (on right)
Photo credit: Charlie Riedel/Reuters



The Cardinals journey should become a movie.

Cardinals Hall of Famers

It was good seeing my guy David Eckstein, former Cardinals short-stop and 2006 World Series MVP. He's still a hottie! It was also nice seeing baseball living legends: Stan Musial, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith, Bob Gibson, and Red Schoendienst, during the pregame ceremonies.  Here's a list of the other Cardinals Hall of Famers:

Players	Years played with Cardinals
Pete Alexander	1926-1929
Walter Alston #	1936
Jake Beckley	1904-07
Jim Bottomley *	1922-32
Roger Bresnahan	1909-12
Lou Brock *	1964-1979
Mordecai Brown	1903
Jesse Burkett	1899-1901
Steve Carlton	1965-1971
Orlando Cepeda	1966-1968
Roger Connor	1894-1897
Dizzy Dean *	1930, 1932-1937
Leo Durocher *#	1933-1937
Dennis Eckersley	1996-1997
Frankie Frisch *	1927-1937
Pud Galvin	1892
Bob Gibson *	1959-1975
Burleigh Grimes	1930-1931, 1933-1934
Chick Hafey *	1924-1931
Jesse Haines *	1920-1937
Rogers Hornsby *	1915-1926, 1933
Miller Huggins #	1910-1916
Rabit Maranville	1927-1928
John McGraw #	1900
Joe Medwick *	1932-1940, 1947-1948
Johnny Mize *	1936-1941
Stan Musial *	1941-1944, 1946-1963
Kid Nichols	1904-1905
Wilbert Robinson #	1900
Red Schoendienst *	1945-1956, 1961-1963
Enos Slaughter *	1938-1942, 1946-1953
Ozzie Smith *	1982-1996
Bruce Sutter	1981-1984
Dazzy Vance	1933-1934
Bobby Wallace	1899-1901, 1917-1918
Hoyt Wilhelm	1957
Vic Willis	1910
Cy Young	1899-1900

* Played more games with Cardinals than any other team
# Elected as a Manager or Executive

"The reality is that, if we don't win tomorrow, this game becomes just a footnote to a nice season. But if we win tomorrow, this is the stuff of legends." ~Cardinals right fielder, Lance Berkman

Kiener plaza downtown, St. Louis, MO.

FANtastic Friday Morning

Of course I am having a FANtastic Friday morning! Last night game 6, greatest game in baseball history! Eleven innings, tied points, last chances, strike outs, hits, errors, fireworks. The ending score: Cardinals 10, Rangers 9! "And we will see you tomorrow night!", best words of the game. The hero of the game, Cardinal #23, Mr. Freese, making a home-run! It was such a neck and neck, nail biter game. I always did think it was going to come down to a game 7. I actually prefer these type of games over the ones where there is a big lead and a clear winner. Quite honestly, I was getting tired of the kind of games that take forever before someone gets a single point. Just one fabulously immaculate game is all I needed and I'm all set. Whatever happens after this point I'm truly cool, eventhough another win with a trophy and bragging rights would be even cooler. Take me out of the microwave 'cause I'm done folks! And yes, once again the Clydesdales made an appearance before game 6 and I was eating a Baby Ruth mini candy bar.

I also enjoyed some double fudge pan brownies.
 Yep, no calorie counting over here.

What's Up Zooey Deschanel?

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

I love Zooey Deschanel's fashion sense and she definitely did not disappoint fans with that. I also love her as an singer, but I think she could have sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" alot better. Eventhough, it was still kinda in her same singing style. It was a little too simple and sweet for me. Where's the dash of sparkle? This is the World Series. At least she got the words to the song correct. And what was up with her leaving game 4 so early? Guess she and the whole cast of her new show, "New Girl" had better things to do. Famous St. Louis native, sports announcer Joe Buck, had just got done commending the cast during the game for not leaving like most celebrities. Then after that they left in the 6th inning. Joe Buck jokingly said, "Maybe they're just out getting a snack... all of 'em at once." There's still love for her. Guys drool over her, and I want to be her friend so that I can share her glam squad!

Manifest Destiny of the Cardinals

Game 3 was not all luck against the Rangers, it was part of the manifest destiny for the Cardinals! They used professional skills and took advantage at opportune moments. BUT you know how us baseball fans are so superstitious any way. So here are some events that happened that could have attributed to another extremely successful outcome:

1. The Budweiser Clydesdales were able to make another appearance before game 3, this time at the Rangers baseball stadium!
2. There's plenty of born and raised Texans who are actually Cardinals fans!
3. Albert Pujols was more than a little upset from losing the previous game and didn't hold any interviews after the game. The media tried to get on his case about it, but he took his frustrations and turned it into positive energies for game 3. Totally smashing the Texas Rangers to smithereens, ending the game with a score of 16-7!
4. I was eating Baby Ruth's candy during the game! Now Pujols is part of the record breaking ring with the likes of Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson for hitting 3 home runs in a single World Series game! Babe Ruth did it in game 4, of 1926 and 1928. Reggie Jackson did it in game 6 of 1977.
5. Overall, we're gonna win the whole she-bang because we're overdue and on the quest for 11.

 I'm just saying...LOL

Baseball Movie Favorites

Whether it's over the summertime or during the World Series most people will enjoy a good baseball movie. Movies related to baseball that I enjoy while relaxing and munching on popcorn include:

1. The Sandlot
2. A League of Their Own
3. The Jackie Robinson Story
4. The Pride of St. Louis
5. The Rookie
6. Field of Dreams
7. The Bad News Bears
8. Kid From Left Field
9. Mr. 3000 
10. Rookie of The Year
11. 61*
12. Major League

These movies will surely continue to create new memories for generations to come. Especially, with some of these movies having the best timeless and memorable quotes. Now who can ever forget, "There's no crying in baseball!", from A League of Their Own or the emphasis on the word "forever" in the movie, The Sandlot?By the way, Kevin Costner is "the go to guy" when it comes to baseball films, isn't he? He has starred in films: Bill Durham, Field of Dreams, and For The Love of The Game.

P.S. I totally found this website if you're planning on doing some serious small business, tailgating, themed party throwing, carnival having, movie watching family fun!

Playlist: Chuck Berry and Baseball

Chuck Berry

Happy birthday to The Prime Minister of Rock 'n' Roll, Chuck Berry! Today he is 85 years old! He is a musical legend in St. Louis and is still performing. He performed in game 5 of the playoffs singing the National Anthem. In the U-City Loop there's a 8 foot tall statue of him. He struck stardom with hits like "Johnny B Goode and "Roll Over Beethoven." Here's a list of his other songs. His musical influence is Muddy Waters and Nat "King" Cole. So in the middle of fan excitement, in honor of Chuck Berry and all the Cardinals milestones here's a tiny playlist of the baseball songs I like:

1. Jack Norworth -Take Me Out To The Ball Game
2. Queen - We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions
3. Woodrow Buddy Johnson - Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball

More songs!

Prepping for the World Series

Okay, to get you all caught up on where I last left off while this thing called life was happening, here's a Cardinals week in review:

Friday night (the 14th), the Budweiser Clydesdales were busy making special deliveries. They delivered beer to bars and restaurants in downtown St. Louis. It's always majestic seeing them, everyone always automatically take pictures! They are such a big part of St. Louis and baseball. The Clydesdales always open the season circling Busch Stadium. It's something people can remember for the rest of their life. They even made an appearance before game 5 outside of Busch Stadium!

Cardinals won game 5 (beating Milwaukee 7-1). Game 6 was also won (12-6) taking us to the World Series on the 19th at 7:05pm (CDT)! Go hometown advantage!

Cardinals celebrating while Brewers fans are silenced.

Of course that meant that Cardinals World Series gear would sell like hot cakes! Everyone wants the official locker room shirts seen on the Cardinals players during the locker room celebration. Workers at Picturesque Graphics, on Choteau in South City, cranked out shirts at a pace of about 3,000 an hour. Work on the shirts had begun as soon as the Cards won. The official Cardinals team store at Busch Stadium opened early at six in the morning yesterday.

Also yesterday, the city got ready for our close up by stenciling streets with logos and painting the field at the stadium. Though the crew had to race to cover freshly painted banners in front of the dugouts because of rain, they got the job done underneath tents. At this point they're pros with the Cardinals going to the World Series so many times!

And in other news, Rally Squirrel had been captured and released. The Wildlife Resource Center in Ballwin, says he is happily living in a hickory tree. He still gets around and is still up to his antics:

Enjoying some of St. Louis famous
 frozen custard from Ted Drewes!

Rally Squirrel?! Fan pic

Not to be out done, Torty the tortoise is still a fan favorite. He is the pet of Cardinals #21, Left Fielder Allen Craig. He's also a hit on twitter @tortycraig. As a matter of fact, being a big mouth on twitter was his big start back in September with over 6000 followers! He has merchandise benefiting the Animal Rescue Foundation.

Order here!

And now you're all caught up to today.

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies

Photo by my3peas

Ingredients:

For the Cookies

1 cup pumpkin
2 eggs
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 package spice cake mix (2 layer size)
1/2 cup milk

For Filling

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 ounces marshmallow cream (7oz. jar)

Yields: 12-18 cookies
Prep time: 30minutes, Cooking time: 15minutes
Total time: 45 minutes

Directions:

1. Starting with the cookies: beat pumpkin and butter with mixer until smooth
2. Add cake mix, eggs, and milk. Beat on low speed until combined, then medium speed for one minute.
3. Cover cookie sheets with parchment or oiled foil.
4. Drop large mounds of dough 3 inches apart on cookie sheet.
5. Bake 15 minutes at 375 degrees F. (oven preheated)
6. Now the filling: Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
7. Add the sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and marshmallow cream. Only beat until combined well.
8. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
9. When cookies are cool, spoon filling onto bottom cookie and sandwich together.
10. Eat and you're done!

Halloween Safety

I really wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween. With all of the excitement for Halloween people tend to be less careful than they normally would be. The top two ways kids get harmed on Halloween is by costume injuries to the face from props and getting hit by a vehicle. Last Halloween my "special" friend witnessed in horror two little girls ages 11 and five get hit by a car while trick or treating. They both were sisters. Their mother was with them but the girls walked up ahead of her. Two drivers stopped and signaled to them that is was okay to cross the street. There was oncoming traffic on the opposite side of the street and that third driver couldn't see the two little girls from their own truck. My friend described to me that when they got hit they gruesomely skidded down the street like rag dolls. The five year old girl's body flew right towards his vehicle! The safety of children is not a game or laughing matter. The mother had minor injuries, the 11 year old girl had serious injuries and the five year old was in grave condition. The story was on the local news and we tried to check if they were getting any better or still living. Nothing else about them was released, til this day we still don't know their status. The driver who hit them was cooperating with police and alcohol was not a factor in the accident.

Here's a safety guide:

• Children's costumes and shoes should have reflectors on them. You can use light sticks, reflector strips, and a flash light. This will assure that they are seen by drivers and that you can keep an eye on them as well if they get ahead of you while trick or treating.
• Only follow the street signs, traffic officer and traffic lights.
• Hold hands with younger children while walking, instead of letting them get too far ahead of you. 
• Costumes should be flame retardant material. If they are home made, make sure and use either a fire retardant spray or fabric that has been treated with fire retardant.
• If your child is wearing a mask, make sure that the eye holes are big enough to see not only in front but peripherally as well. You may have to cut them open further yourself.
• If you have a toddler go trick or treating earlier on Halloween, instead of in the dark of night when it's going to be larger crowds of people.

To DRIVERS:

•  Pay extra attention, particularly to crosswalks, intersections and the side of the road. Kids tend to walk along the curbs, cutting across the street to get to other homes. Keep scanning all around you as you drive, whether as thru traffic or along with your kids as they trick-or-treat.

It's also a night that child predators are looking for victims. October is usually when I start my routine checks of the registered sex offenders list. There are 11 offenders all within a mile of my residence. There's even more outside of the one mile radius. One sex offender in particular lives blocks away from me! Which is like WHOA! There are six schools in close distance of each other from my home, so it's like, "How does that work out?" I'll tell you right now, I have no problems doing what the parents did to Freddy Krueger. You'll never see pictures of my daughter on the potty, in the bathtub, in a bikini, or anything else I find to be inappropriate on this blog.

• Every parent should know by now to let your child know that they should never get into the car of a stranger or go into a strangers home at any time.
• Get a whistle for your child in the case of an attacker and tell them to scream and run as fast as they can if a stranger approaches them, especially, asking for help.
• If you have a teen get them some pepper spray.
• If you're doing some adult partying get a taser or stun gun, in Missouri they aren't illegal to civilians
• Cell phones are also useful.

Everyone stay alert and be aware of potential dangers. Please have a happy Halloween!

Halloween Costumes

Believe it or not, I still don't have a costume for my daughter yet. I know, I know, time is running out! The problem is that I'm being so indecisive. Naturally, she would look so adorable in everything of course!

Baby first Halloween 2009 dalmatian costume.

Alert! LOL



2nd Halloween 2010 Bumblebee.



There's 118 more photos of cuteness!
Yes, I'm my own kid paparazzi!

Up to something.

 

Discovering

I do entertain the idea of a cozy teddy bear or a cute little pumpkin. Now I have to see what's still available and where.

Though there are plenty of options on Etsy:

Pumpkin Patch Kids

Kids Halloween Fun

Additional Magic With A Cause

On Saturday, Rally Squirrel announced that he would like his recent fame and notoriety to stand for something. Naturally his first choice is for kids. Anheuser Busch has covered all of the costs for manufacturing the Rally Squirrel Charity Apparel. Apparel include t-shirts for a $15 donation, hats for a $25 donation (complete with a Squirrel tail in the back), Rally Squirrel trading cards for any amount donation (green and silver recommended, copper not advised). It all goes to help kids at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center. My own child has been to this particular hospital before. They hold the reputation of being the best care for children in the St. Louis region.

A twelve year old girl, Lauren Lee, is the spokesperson of Rally's charity. Lauren is a survivor of  Hodgkin's lymphoma, her life was saved at SSM Cardinal Glennon. She and Rally held a conference yesterday to announce their intentions and sell merchandise. You know what happened after that? Cardinals won game two against the Brewers (just sayin' LOL)! Just to reiterate, all proceeds will go towards the Cardinal Glennon kids.

Merchandise available today! Call: 314.577.5605 for more information.

T-Shirt

Trading card

Merchandise available at these locations:

Anheuser-Busch Tour Center
One Busch Place
Sportsprint
6197 Bermuda Road
Ferguson, MO 63135
Sportsprint
211 S. Main
O'Fallon, MO 63366
Syberg's
2430 Old Dorsett Road
Maryland Heights, MO 63043
Syberg's
7802 Gravois Road
St. Louis, Mo 63123
Syberg's
2211 Market
St. Louis, MO 63103
Syberg's
17392 Chesterfield Airport Road
Chesterfield, MO 63005
Helen Fitzgerald's
3650 S. Lindbergh
St. Louis, MO 63127

.....

Buffalo Wild Wings
(the following locations)

Wentzville
1285 West Pearce Blvd
Wentzville, MO 63385
St. Charles
1465 Bass Pro Dr
St. Charles, MO 63301
Brentwood
1210 Strassner Dr
Brentwood, MO 63144
Edwardsville
249 Harvard Dr
Edwardsville, IL 62025
Ballwin
15240 Manchester Rd
Ballwin, MO 63021

For The Love of The Game

One Suburban 50's Housewife Experience

Having two cars in the 1950's was such a big deal. Today you still need a car just to get around in the suburbs. Most interesting, is all the mixed reactions on the comments below the video on YouTube though! What is your input on this video? Can you relate to feeling trapped?

On A Serious Note: Squish Your Boobs!



Downtown Saint Louis, Missouri


Tonight the annual lighting of the Arch in St. Louis, MO, continues. For one night only, it will be illuminated in pink for breast cancer awareness! This is a cause so important to me. My Grandmother passed from cancer and diabetes. Earlier this year I did my first Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure event. It was so amazing to be with my daughter, mother, and sister! We were walking in downtown St. Louis, amongst all these different people at the same place for the same cause! Each year our city has been the number one contributing fundraiser, $3.1 Million. I want to volunteer for 2012.

Show your boobs some love!

Vote YES For The Rally Squirrel!

Instead of us Cardinals fans being embarassed, we are actually embracing the Rally Squirrel(s). This squirrel ran right in front of home plate last night and the Cardinals won that game! He/She wasn't too much luck on Tuesday, but he/she redeemed itself. Yes, the last time a squirrel ran across the field during a Cardinals baseball game they won the World Series! The Rally Squirrel has been written about on Wikipedia. You can even contact Rally Squirrel via twitter @BuschSquirrel and facebook. He/She already has followers! He/She is also planning to pull a stunt for the next game too!

We should give him/her a real name. I'm thinking of a "Chuckles" or "Speedy". "Nutmeg" is nice since it's a combination of a boy and girl name. Or what about "Dart", seeing that he/she darted into the stands after dashing across the field? What would you name the Rally Squirrel, besides "Rally Squirrel"?

photo via stltoday.com

Beyonce "Countdown" Video Teaser

photo via MTV

Beyonce's new video for the single "Countdown" from the album "4" is expected to premiere tomorrow. The style in the video is very reminiscent of the 60's. In particular one very famous Audrey Hepburn is channeled through Beyonce! The actual song may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I personally like this look for sure. So, until the premiere here's a pictorial teaser to enjoy!

Bey' is wearing black Audrey Hepburn turtleneck,
cigarette pants,
orange nail polish, yellow shimmering eyeshadow
w/ the cat-eye, pink glossy lipstick,
and sporting a new short mod hairstyle!

Proudly rocking her baby bump!

What do you think of Beyonce's style in the new video "Countdown"?

Mr. President VS. Baseball

The President was in St. Louis yesterday during the Cardinals vs. Phillies game. He even jokingly acknowledged it too! The politicians actually had to contemplate seeing the President or being @ the game. Umm..you're a politician, you better see Mr. President!  How many times do you get to see the President in person? How many chances do St. Louisians get to catch a  local Cards game? Come on, you make the call. Luckily, they made the right choice.

Above photos courtesy of CBS St. Louis

Then And Now: The President



Pic of President Barack Obama in his college days.


What is up with the increasing gray hair on the President and all Former Presidents for that matter??? Once they get some time into the White House they should just already expect the hair to be completely different by the end of their term. Perhaps, it's a combination of stress and knowledge beyond our civilian brains. Hmm.. I wonder what does First Lady Michelle Obama think of her husband's hair? I know I wouldn't mind it, but guys are so filled with pride. If it really brothered a guy, then I would just buy him Rogaine and call it a day! Guys would probably just turn that gesture right around. They would take it as we don't find them attractive enough anymore or that they must really need it at that point. I know my "special" guy friend is way particular about his hair, especially, when it comes to getting haircuts. I can only imagine that he would drive himself straight into a mid-life crisis just over a few gray hairs years from now!

What do you think of President Obama's hair? Ladies would you care if the guy in your life started getting gray hairs?

A Great Union

Today is President and First Lady Obama's 19th wedding anniversary. Brings me back to January 19, 2009.

That was a very touching, romantic, elegant, and historical moment for me. I mean a complete blubbering mess! Beyonce was emotional during her own performance! I bet even the people who aren't hopeless romantics were moved to at least one tear trying to escape. Etta James beautiful song "At Last" really envelopes around the whole event. That song was very appropriate for the occassion on multiple levels. One level being the long struggle to get into the White House. The second level obviously being that the Obama's were having a first dance. I wonder what the statistics of that song being used at first dances in weddings were after that day? As it is already a popular choice and surely spiked off the charts that year! It doesn't hurt to see a healthy power-house of a couple in the media. I definitely think the key ingredients in a long term relationship are: forgiveness, communication, having an active lifestyle together. If you have that as part of your foundation everything else you want can fall in line with work on both ends.


First Lady Michelle Obama's dress was
designed by designer Jason Wu.

Similar airy appliqued dress for $3,000+ available at BHLDN:

Yeah, that $3000+ was a buzz kill, beautiful gown though! Happy anniversary to the then happy couple and hopefully still happy and strong couple now! Every great man needs a great woman to back him up, and every great woman doesn't deserve to be alone.

Do The Potty Dance!

Since I have a two year old it's definitely been time to introduce the potty! I actually have one of the free potty training DVD's from Huggies brand. One sure sign of readiness is when your tot starts taking their diaper off and attempting to run around the house commando! Thank goodness I stopped that in it's tracks. Another sign is when your tot can understand that the bathroom is where the potty is located.

At the RetroFlirt residence yesterday the Safety 1st Potty Seat was introduced:

It even has the "flushing" sound effect
and you can record a quick praise such as:
"good job" or "YAY!" with your own voice
 to your child

Naturally after introducing this to my child she oohed and aahed over the sheer excitement of a new item that's all hers. I even let her sit on it commando for the first time yesterday, but it ended up still being an empty pot. Of course, what happend ten seconds after I put the diaper back on...she soils the diaper! I couldn't be mad at her. That really was to be expected. I already know that I don't want to put pressure on her and give her a negative feel for the potty seat. Now today she keeps trying to drag it with her like it's a toy babydoll that she can take everywhere with her!

Are you going through the potty training stage with your minnie me too? Have you already been over and through with this stage? How long did it take your tot to get the hang of it?