***Update: Contest is closed! Winner announced here***

Lean Pockets!!!

*cue Jim Gaffigan* “hoooooooooot POCKETS”

Like a few of my favorite gals (and guy) across the blogosphere, I was recently given the opportunity to throw a “Wrapped in Goodness” party to showcase the Lean Pockets new Culinary Creations to some of my besties. They not only provided the grub (in delicious Pocket form), they also gave each of us our very own Snuggie, provided a gift card for “party supplies” (read: LOTS O BOXED WINE), and oodles of coupons for free Lean Pockets for my guests.

Seeing as this party was a triple win from the start, it really couldn’t have been a better night. I asked all the ladies to bring their favorite chick flick and themselves, preferably in PJs- and nothing more. B disappeared to a friend’s house for the evening and the girls’ night kicked off promptly.

(Now, trust when I say that, even though it’s been a while since I was a single gal, the stereotype of the convenient “for one” meal + Snuggie was not lost on me. To this I say, who cares? Free food/booze/blankets with sleeves, all of which are things I individually adore! But, just so you know I’m not completely oblivious. You guys know me better than that.)

Delicious Snuggies forrrrrr meeeeeeeeeeee (us), I *guess*

Bubbles and carbs FTW!!!

Just in case you weren't excited yet. And yes, my shirt *does* say "purrito".

This is what's called a "fancy table". Just FYI.

You can tell exactly how lazy I am by the fact that I bought cute “winter” cups to disguise the fact that they weren’t actually wine glasses, meaning I wouldn’t ACTUALLY have to do dishes. Whatevs. That snowman is way cute!

A Q&A game they sent us. Answer to whether my friends are veggie paninis or corndogs: Everyone in my life is a corndog. Duh.

Getting Snuggilicious with it.

Ain't no party like a Maxie party.

I love my friends.

Even our crazy can't scare away the ferocious Murray.

SNUGGIE PHOTO BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!

Once everyone had settled in and warmed themselves with Snuggies and boxed wine and kitty faces, it was time to stuff our faces, like any respectable ladies’ night in:

Finally time to dig in...

Going... going... NOM.

The Lean Pockets lasted approximately 2.6 seconds before I had to put a second (and third) batch in the oven. We were especially fans of the Garlic Chicken White Pizza (well, actually, ALL the pizza varieties), and I had bought a couple sausage, egg & cheese pockets for my trip to NYC in the morning with Maxie and Cara that were surprisingly breakfast-sandwich-y delicious.

Cliff Raven 2009 Malbec and 2010 Torrontes

We were also fortunate enough to have  some samplings from Cliff Raven Wine- the malbec was spicy and delicious, while the torrontes was crisp and refreshing. (Thanks so much, @CliffRavenWine!!!)

While my guests certainly lucked out in the Snuggie and free food/booze department, fret not, dear reader, for you too can experience the convenience and nom-ity that is the Lean Pocket… for a YEAR. For free.

What WHAT?!?!!?

Simply by liking this post on Facebook right under my disclaimer below (and leaving a comment to tell me you’ve done so), you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a full year’s supply of Lean Pockets. You can get extra entries by tweeting this post, by liking Lean Pockets on Facebook, and by following them on Twitter (all separate comments, please.)

Basically, with the click of a mouse, you can make it rain cheese and chicken and Lean Pocket pizza up in your face ALL. 2011. LONG.

And that? Is all Imma say about that.

Contest ends at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, December 21. Winner announced at 10 am ET on Wednesday, December 22.

Disclaimer: I was totally provided with Lean Pockets for the night (and coupons for my guests), Snuggies, and gift cards both for party supplies and as a host thank-you. Despite this, y’all know opinions are my own. Boo yah.

Mama said share.

I remember, a couple years ago now, how afraid I was to even start this blog. A good friend of mine (and my mother, although she doesn’t know that she succeeded…) insisted on it to the point where I didn’t really have a choice.

Of course, I read and admired the blogs of others… but the idea of meeting them? Well, that didn’t even cross my mind at first. Scary with a capital S! I (yes, I) was totally and completely intimidated by the idea. I saw posts about Happy Hours go up, but never dreamed of going.

And then, one day, I emailed one of my favorites, Lemmonex. We wrote back and forth a few times. Then (gasp!) we even gchatted a bit. Finally, we took the plunge… and met for lunch one day.

Over a year later, I honestly can’t imagine my life without her. And the countless other bloggy friends I’ve made that you read about here each and every day. It’s a list that keeps growing, too, and I just fucking love it.

All this blathering is basically my way of saying, come out next Friday. Come to Evolve, a little bar in Adams Morgan (but just off the kids’ main strip- map here), and have a beer or eight with us. The joint’s small enough that you won’t wonder where we are, (which also makes it easier for me to ambush greet you at the door with a big bear hug).

Bring a friend, bring your teddy bear, or just bring your fabulous self. I promise we won’t leave you hanging.

If you’re planning on coming, steal this pic so your people know to come too. The more the merrier, of course.

And please feel free to email me with any comments/questions/offers to buy me drinks: heylivitluvit at gmail dot com.

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Other things that made my Friday fabulous…

My love Briana sent me this video via Facebook yesterday. I was astonished when they came out with “designer” animal print Snuggies, but I think they may have finally gone too far…

At least now I know what the kittens are getting for Christmas! Especially if they keep dousing B in his own urine for my personal amusement.

Next up, I couldn’t help but Twitter this last night, so I’m sorry for the repeat… but oh my god, we saw this on Tosh.0 last night and B and I were literally laughing so hard tears were streaming down our cheeks. Which may or may not have something to do with the fact that he had a cooler o’ booze next to us on the couch, but whatevs. Click to enlarge…

25 to 70?? But NOT 24 or 71… he has standards, clearly. But he’s not gay! Just a little mutual touching among friends. I can’t decide what the bigger enticement is… kicking the trains like monsters, or all the imitation crabmeat I can eat. I told B he should sacrifice himself to go over there and get us some of that delicious surplus of faux crab, but he wasn’t having it. I can’t imagine why…

And finally, my sweet Carolina girl and BFFie Kristin is a much better person than I. She’s heading up here in October to run the Marines Marathon for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, provided she can raise enough money. I asked her to write a little blurb below so you can read her story for yourself, but let me throw me two cents in here and just say I know we’re all broke, I know this economy blows massive chunks, but if you can spare anything, any little bit helps. Plus, free karma! Oh wait… not free… but you know what I mean. Check it out below, or, if I’ve already convinced you, Donate Here!

(And a huge thanks to my friend Big Money Tony for his super generous donation last week. You have karma coming out your ears, my dear!)

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Hola chicas! (and fellas) It’s Kristin here, LiLu’s UNC pee partner in crime (btw, I am not as fugly in real life as I look in those pics). LiLu was kind enough to allow me to post a bit about something I’ve been working on for the past few months in hopes that a few of you may be able to help me out.

This past May I ran my first marathon (yep, it’s 26.2 miles) and once I crossed the finish line I knew I was hooked! (And really, really smelly. Ask M, she was unfortunate enough to have to hug me after that.) So I started looking into which one I should run next, and obvi, I picked the 2009 Marine Corps Marathon so I would have a free place to stay get to hang out with LiLu and B! But I also picked MCM because I could run with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training Program.

Team in Training is a group of dedicated volunteer runners who train together for a marathon or an Olympic Distance triathlon. But our bigger mission is to raise funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives.

I’m working to raise over $3,500 for LLS, and I’m almost there! As of Thursday, I only need $888 to reach my goal. Can you help me out? You can donate here quickly, safely and with a sweet shot of good karma for your Friday BONUS, it’s a tax write off! Suhweet.

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Happy weekend, darlins. I better see you out next Friday!!! xo

Mama said share.

First of all, everyone needs to head over to Marie’s site and demand to see pictures of her in her brand new Snuggie. They should be hilarious because I met her on Friday, and she is a delight, and also twee, and the Snuggie is twice as long as she is. (Also, THAT is last time I mention the Snuggie. For reals this time. No, really!)

Second of all, I am done drinking forever. Representing the Awesomest States of America to your Canadian friend in one short weekend is hard, boozalicious work. Last night I was so drunk that I openly proclaimed Step Up to be one of the most fabulous films I’ve ever seen. Actually, I must still be drunk, because it’s the morning and I’m kind of still thinking this to be true. Haven’t seen it? Think Save the Last Dance meets Center Stage, with a dash of something with drug dealers. At it’s best, it’s America’s Best Dance Crew with bad acting.

Wait a minute. B just informed me that there is a Step Up 2: The Streets! I know what I’m doing tonight…

Okay, okay. Simma down na. Moving on from bulimic ballerinas and leaving your gangster bros behind for some ho. (How could you, Tyler??)

Item Tres: I have officially had it with Blogger. When I guest posted over at Brookem‘s a couple weeks ago, I destroyed the last shred of blissful ignorance I had about the blatant superiority of WordPress over Blogger. Look, Google, you win EVERYWHERE else, but when it comes to blogging, you are sadly inadequate, and something must be done.

I already have the dot com, so the website wouldn’t change or anything. The ONLY thing that’s been holding me back is the fact that the username LiLu is already taken, which makes me sad in my pants. BUT, I believe if we put our heads together, we can come up with something acceptable, NAY, even better! Which is why I have A) put a poll to the right requesting your input on my own meager ideas, and B) humbly solicit your genius and wittiness here in the comments. What you got, Willis?? Help a girl out.

And finally, HOW MUCH AM I LOVING THIS WEATHER??? Honestly, walking to work today, my heart kept singing and I had to tell it to shut the hell up because the construction workers were looking at us oddly. Hooray for outdoor drinking and margaritas and skirts and flipflops and sand and sun and barbequing and such!

Dear Spring: I am totally stoked for you. That is all. Love, LiLu.

Mama said share.

***Don’t forget, lovers… tomorrow is TMI Thursday!***

(Also, if the last thing you EVER want to read about is a Snuggie, I was slightly more thought-provoking yesterday. Who loves you?)

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It’s Snuggie-Winner-Announcing Day! (It is so. Check your calendar.) If you remember, I announced last week that I would be picking a winner of a brand new SNUGGIE today…

AND, I managed to get a video together. Woot! And, um, please excuse the fact that it is obviously 10 minutes before I’m going to bed and my clothes (pajamas, let’s be honest here) don’t match and my hair’s messed up and and the apartment’s a mess and there’s beer bottles behind me and I’m wearing a Snuggie.

Oh wait. That last part was kind of the point.

God, I’m a loser. Drumroll please!

(Or, if that’s being all not-worky, go here. The end is kind of wonky, but you can hear the most important parts… 1. I’m a dork, and 2. No really, I am.)

So, if your work is lame and blocks youtube, or you just couldn’t stand the sound of my nasaly voice, the winner is…

Marie from Marie’s Blog Cafe! Congrats, my darling. Go forth and enjoy your newfound warmth! You’re part of the cult now, love.

And as a last Snuggie send-0ff, here are some hilarious Snuggie-related videos for your viewing pleasure. Or not. Either way, I promise to never talk about the Snuggie again. Unless you bring it up. Or something else funny happens. Or I forget that I said that.

College Humor’s “I’m In a Snuggie!” Rap. Wait for the tighty-whiteys.

Gawker’s “The WTF Blanket“. This is HILARIOUS and so, so true.

And, um, if after ALL of this you still want your own… here’s a link to CostCo where they’re selling them TWO FOR $15!!! WITH the free Snuggie booklight!

/Snuggie.

I promise.

(Maybe.)

Mama said share.

***If you skim today cause it’s Fri-dee and you’re lazy, make sure you skim down to the bottom! Mama said so!***

Hey, every-bod-eee! IT’S FRIIIIII DAAAAAYYYY!!!

No, I’m not excited about it at all. Okay, that’s a lie. And, um, don’t hate me, but part of the reason I’m so excited is because thanks to my new work schedule, my ass is going to be firmly planted on my couch all goddamn day, watching Real Housewives and Bad Girls Club and other such quality programming.

What’s that? You are trying to staple me through your computer screen? With the heavy duty stapler? Well, if it makes you feel better, I am also going to be scrubbing the living hell out of our bathroom at some point today. And it is truly so disgusting right now, I’m actually kind of excited about doing it. How’s that for a little TMI? (Banner turnout on that yesterday, by the way. Thanks, everyone, for playing!)

Anyway, a few days ago, the lovely Brandy from It’s Like, I’m… Mmmagic! made the conscious decision (I know!?!) to delve deeper into my very… ummm… interesting psyche, and ask me a few Q’s. So here we go…

1. You recently posted a picture of you rocking a Snuggie, and it pretty much looks like the greatest thing since the invention of the internet. What are the three last gifts or purchases that have brought you an inordinate amount of joy?

I have to say my iTouch, because, well, DUH. My dad gave it to me for Christmas and I pet him once an hour may have named it Jorge. Just cause he’s spicy like that.

I’m trying to think of something that I’ve bought myself recently, but honestly the only thing I can think of that I’ve purchased for FUN in months is booze. So I’ll go ahead and say Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, because B and I get one every couple of days weeks and it always rocks our world in the best down home and drunk Suh-thern kinda way. Can I get a Carla-esque hootie-hoo! (She SO should have won. And she BEST be opening a restaurant around here.)

Whenever B lets me watch the Real Housewives, the Bad Girls Club, or Gossip Girl without making me feel like a Nazi girlfriend. Don’t worry, boys, I watch PLENTY of gun-slinging, action-packed, hot bad girls with extremely sexually fondled weapons kinda movies. We’re even.

2. What is your view on the pickle? (And no, we aren’t talking euphemisms, I’m not that clever).

That’swhatshesaid! Oh, wait, NOT euphemisms? Are you sure? Okay… Ironically enough, whereas EVERY other food item in my life I prefer the salty to the sweet… I have to go sweet on this one. And I LOVE them. I’ll eat them out of the jar if no one’s looking. Or even if someone who has to love me anyway IS looking. (This is why we need a dog.)

I hate dill pickles. I’m trying to train myself to like them but it’s worse than just disliking them; I resent them. I resent their goddamn pickley juice all over my chicken salad sandwich, and making my delicious Paninis soggy. And the little cafeteria ladies ALWAYS throw them in there before I can protest, right in the middle of my previously dill juice-free sandwich. Assholes. Stop taking out your hairnet-wearing on me!

3. Would you rather post a picture of yourself naked on the internet, or go a decade without having sex?

Post a picture, no DOUBT. And I think B would most definitely be okay with this decision if those were the two options. Nuff said.

4. If you could remove the calories/cholesterol/trans fat/general unhealthiness of one particular food, so you could eat it (or possibly just inject it in your body) without ever worrying about health concerns, what would it be?

I’m cheating. Cheeseburgers AND French fries. Because as far as I’m concerned, one doesn’t exist without the other. That’s like separating the evil deliciosity that is Speidi. Rob and Big. Pete & Pete. It just can’t be done.

They are also very important tools for getting one of my most favoritest things into my mouth: ketchup. I love ketchup so very much, this happened yesterday:

[B and I both stop at store on the way home, arrive at apartment with bags]

B: I got you ketchup! That’s how much I love you.

LiLu: Oh no… I got ketchup too! It was running out!

B: Don’t worry. I figured you would and I knew you’d get the big boy, so I just got a normal sized one. Now you have a back up!

LiLu: It’s moments like these I know we really belong together.

5. If you could be trapped in the elevator with any three male singers, who would it be and would you get their autographs for me?

A) Billy Joel, always and forever my one true musical love. And if I can get any words out, sure, I’ll get you on autograph. On my boob.

B) Justin Timberlake (but only if he’ll perform Dick in a Box).

C) Stevie Wonder. Cause he couldn’t run away and he’d have to hang out with me. Too much?

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Okay… now drumroll, please!

I sort of alluded to this on Tuesday, but I am, in fact, GIVING AWAY A SNUGGIE! Yes, that’s right, you can share in THIS kind of joy with me:

All your life is missing is The Blanket That Has Sleeves! So if you’d like to join my cult in the Snuggalicious fun, leave a comment here telling me why and I’ll have B pick it out of a hat next week. (Remember, you have to be willing to give me a mailing address and stuff… ooo, scary!) If this is, in fact, the last thing you would ever want in your life, leave a comment making fun of me. You know, nicely. We’re all friends here.

Happy weekend, lovebugs!

Mama said share.