Beatlemania continues!

Beatlemania is alive and well!

John Lennon's toilet seat sold at an auction for 14,740 dollars, which is apparently 10 times as much as its estimate according to the article by Reuters.com. The auction was part of a Beatles festival in Liverpool and the toilet wasn't the only piece of Beatles memorabilia but certainly the most notable, I'd say!

Lennon had the porcelain potty removed from his home in Berkshire (where he lived from 1969 to 1971) and of course he replaced that toilet with a new one. According to the auction catalog, the builders who took the old toilet away were told to use it as a planter or something similar.

One of the builders, John Hancock, stored it in his shed for 40 years until he died and then the celebrity commode was sent to auction.

Can you imagine sitting on that for 40 years? No, no, not the toilet-gross! I mean knowing that you have John Lennon's toilet and knowing how famous The Beatles continued to be! Why did it just sit in a shed for 40 years? Was Mr. Hancock keeping quiet out of respect? Did he forget he had the famous porcelain throne? Or did he think that no one would want a used toilet, regardless of who owned it before? I'd have to believe that he thought no one would want it. I'm a big Beatles fan but I would in no way shape or form pay for that toilet or any other famously used toilet for that matter. Especially with a 14,740 price tag!

I wonder if you get all of the background information and all your questions answered, if you won the toilet? Just typing that makes me giggle. "Won" the toilet? Who would normally think of that as a prize? But I guess if you are a HUGE Beatles fan, you might think you've scored the mother load. Ohh, that was gross. But buying a used toilet is too! And how can you read a story about a toilet and not expect some toilet humor?

Stars-They're just like US!

I'm sure you have come across this cranana segment of US Weekly Magazine and hopefully you laugh your behind off like I do.

My husband doesn't like me buy those types of magazines because he says it's contributing to the paychecks of the Paparazzi and some of them tend to cross lines.

I agree with him and I don't buy the magazines but I do get my fix of STJLU at hair salons, nail salons and while waiting in line at the supermarket. That's not handing money over to the Paparazzi, so it's ok right? And some of the celebs use the Paparazzi to their advantage! Maybe it's all staged anyway!! Whatever...don't tell my husband in any case! :0)

The main reason I take a peek at US Weekly is because of "Stars-They're Just like US!" Not because I need to know what the stars are doing at every moment or because I believe they are beyond us- like some sort of super human robot alien being. Nope. I simply like to laugh at the silliness in that particular section (I also like to keep up on fashion and celebs have stylists who are on the pulse of what's fashionable and put the stars in it from head to toe!).

One of my friends recently gave me her copy of US Weekly and I got my giggle fix.

Stars-They're just like US.....

Their napkins fly away!

Seriously. That was the first one on the page. Their napkins fly away?! OMG. Could it be true? Celebrities aren't perfect? Napkins fly away...from them too? Napkins just don't want to stay in place because they are in the presence of a star? Get. Out.

Ok, ok. Maybe that was a bit mean. I get what the magazine is trying to do. I think. I believe they are trying to show us that celebrities are just like us and things happen to them because they are human too? And we shouldn't hero worship them? It really is ground breaking stuff here. Oops, still a little mean. :0)

While I stand united with my husband and I vow to never purchase one of these rag-mags, I won't ever stop peeking inside for that one little section full of giggles. It makes me hang my head in shame just a little. But maybe the magazine does it all in good fun too. Perhaps they don't take it seriously! That's what I am going to hold onto. Yup. Well, that and maybe the occasional People Magazine. What? I'm only human too! :0) Cut me some slack!

Bloggers-They're just like us......

They read only quality magazines like People, Real Simple, In Style and Entertainment Weekly!

PS I totally respect and admire what the people in "The Biz" do...my husband's in the industry too and that's why we are careful about what magazines we buy. These shenanigans don't really have anything to do with the stars themselves, they are just the accidental subjects.

Competition for Crananas: The Straw-mato!

Dear Crananas,

I've got some bad news for you. Your dream of becoming the first unique hybrid fruit has been dashed. Strawberry and Tomato got together and beat you to the punch.

Now, now, don't be too distraught. Let's spin this as a positive! Strawberry and Tomato have take the first step but they will have kinks. When it's your turn, the problems will be eradicated and you will be the superior hybrid fruit! I promise! Think about this: the whole thing was an accident! A mistake!! When you become a real hybrid fruit it will be done with purpose, care and preparation!

And besides, I heard that the Strawberry inside Tomato doesn't really taste like Strawberries. See what I mean? Kinks! Not to mention, their name needs work. Straw-mato? Please! Your name is so much better! Wear it proudly!

Hang in there, Crananas. We love you and are proud of you regardless! If you are feeling up to it, you can check out the whole article on the Straw-mato here. But don't look at it if it's going to hurt too much. You don't need that negative energy. Love and light, Crananas. Love and light.

Love you,
Mom :0)

PS Just keep telling yourself that you will be the best hybrid fruit that there ever was! Say it to yourself right now! Say it to yourself in the mirror! You will be the best!!

Top News in your Newsfeed: Facebook doesn't like competition!

Facebook is suing another company over using the suffix "book" in their name. The Chicago company in question is, Teachbook, a yet-to-launch site for teachers. Teachbook is designed to allow teachers to share lesson plans and other resources. They currently have only two employees and few than 20 users.

Facebook is none too pleased about the competition from this small start up. As well they should be. Who knows what could happen to the multi-billion dollar company if (dun, dun, DUN!) TEACHBOOK were to arrive on the scene (note my sarcasm please)! I can just see all of the teenagers and young adults who use Facebook rushing to close out their FB account and sign up with Teachbook!

Facebook is going to take care of business and see to it that Teachbook is buried in a fresh grave without internet access.

Uh oh. I better warn checkbook, playbook, scrapbook, pocketbook and guidebook about this! Stat! I don't want those words to be in trouble with the big FB too!! I guess bookmark, bookcase and bookworm better watch out too. Time to lawyer up guys! Better safe than sorry I say! :0)

I wonder if Facebook wants their question, "What's on your mind?", to be answered by Teachbook. I don't think they'd like that update!

To see the full story, check out UPI.com!

A 10 day traffic jam?!? This is why I take public transportation!

Get ready to send your sympathy to the commuters in China. They are stuck in the never-ending traffic jam caused by road construction. This problem has been going on since August 14th! And we thought we had it bad in Chicago? Puh-leeze!

Bumper to bumper traffic for 60 miles and the poor souls trapped in their cars only moving roughly a half a mile a day!! Can you imagine? I shudder at the thought!

Apparently, it is improving but not enough to erradicate the problem. Some folks have been stuck on the road for five days. The victims of this automobile apocalypse are passing the time by walking around, sleeping or playing cards.

The local townspeople heard about this predicament and wanted to help out. At a price of course. Who isn't an entrepreneur these days? They came bearing boxed lunches, instant noodles, water and other necessities that the stranded needed. The townspeople decided to hike up the prices because, well, nothing else was around and that's the decent human thing to do, right? Make these poor stranded folk bleed money while they bake in their cars? With no other option but to pay your insane prices? According to a story on ABC Chicago, a bottle of water which normally costs 15 cents was $1.50 and the price of a instant noodle cup tripled!

Here's a couple of things that ran through my head when my husband told me about this story.

1. What if you don't have any money on you? How do you get water and food? Both necessities to surviving out in the sun!

2. What about when they have to go to the bathroom? You can't hold it for 5 days! Did they bring in port-a-potties?

3. What about the people with kiddos? How do you keep a child happy who's stranded outside for a week?

4. What do you do if you have a baby and you've ran out of diapers, milk, etc etc! Hopefully the townspeople were selling those type of things too.

5. How is everyone handling it? Are people going crazy? (It was said that no cases of road rage have been reported. Good for you all! I'm proud of you!!)

6. What about those people who need certain medications?

7. I know I've already mentioned this, but I can't help it. What do you do if you have to pee?! Or you know what?!?

I think I learned an important lesson from this news story. It's the lesson that the Boy Scouts always tell us. Be prepared!

A man who wants to be a dog. What? I mean really...what?!

While watching this video, my jaw dropped open and a look of dismay fluttered across my face and then decided to stay. I even gasped. I gasped, people!

This is crananas in its truest form! I will discuss it more after you witness it for yourselves.



Uh, yeah.

A couple of things:

1. I love dogs too, happen to own one and I think of him as part of the family, but I've never felt the need to dress as a dog as an adult. Except maybe on Halloween. All bets are off on Halloween. However, Halloween comes but once a year!

2. Yes, I have favorite childhood tv shows too, but you don't see me strutting around my neighborhood as a blue Smurf just because! I'd also never change my name to Smurffette. But that's just because there isn't a good nickname for Smurffette. :0)

3. I do feel bad for this guy because I'm sure he's been made fun for this, but at the same time, he could have said no to the interview. Oh yeah, and no to dressing up like a dog 24/7 too!

4. As an entertainer for children, former instructor and actor, I totally love when grown ups can be silly and have a good time pretending while entertaining kiddos. But I don't get the vibe that's what this is all about. Do you?

5. I give props to whoever made that costume though...it's pretty cool!

To me it seems like this is something a kid would do to be different or get attention. Very Max from Where the Wild Things Are. Maybe he just doesn't want to grow up. I can understand and sympathize and who am I to get all judgy on him? To each their own, I suppose!

Double Rainbow Excitement

I came to view this cranana worthy video thanks to Courtney. And what a video it is!

A man on a camping trip, from what I can tell, is surprised and delighted by a double rainbow. I don't think I could ever do the video justice by describing it, so feel free to check it out yourself!

Some wonder if it's an act, some wonder if a, ahem, substance had a helping hand in his reaction and some just like to watch it because it makes them happy.

What say you?








I love rainbows and communing with nature, but I don't know if I'd be this enthusiastic! Well, I guess if I could see the pots of gold at the end of both rainbows, it might be a different story!

Here are two clips from the Jimmy Kimmel show. Jimmy had the Rainbow Man himself come on and chat a bit about his love affair with the double R.

Jimmy Fallon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo all sing for ice cream!

I just saw this last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and it's the perfect song for the perfect summer treat! Jimmy Fallon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo officially receive my Creative Cranana award!

If this song doesn't make you smile, then all I can figure is that you are allergic to ice cream or maybe fun. :0)

If you like what you heard, make sure to check out Ladysmith's website. They have an incredible story and equally incredible music! If you Google them, you will also find samples of their music.

Enjoy Ben and Jerry's by Jimmy Fallon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo!




Mmm, now don't you want some ice cream?!

Hipster Puppies!

Have you heard of this cute and simultaneously hilarious website? Hipster Puppies is a site where you can look at pictures of adorable puppies doing and "saying" very hipster things! There is also a book coming out soon according to the website.

My chihuahua, with mad style, heard about this website from his cousin and he is super pumped to find his best photo and send it in to Hipster Puppies.

Check out their website and prepare yourself for a whole lot of cute and a whole lot of hipster sass!

Disclaimer: There are some swear words on this website, so might not be kid appropriate, if you kid can read that is!