Saturday, August 18, 2012

Coconut Rum, a Giveaway/Book Review and The Crack of Dawn. All Kinds of Awesome. Edited to Add Winner!


(post copyright, 2012, Dawn Weber. Mommy Mixology: A Cocktail for Every Calamity  by Janet Frongillo and published by Ulysses Press, available here at Amazon and bookstores)

The way I see it, most beverages - and situations - could use a little coconut rum.

Diet Coke?
Add some coconut rum!

Orange juice?
Pour in some coconut rum!

Collapsing marriage?
Have some coconut rum!

Malibu, Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay . . . I recommend whatever is on sale over at the - you guessed it - Walmart. The brand of rum really doesn't matter - the stuff is like crack. And once you have crack, you never go back.

That goes especially for the Crack of Dawn - I've been told it's the best. The drink, that is. What did you think I meant, you perv?

Everybody loves the Crack of Dawn, my very own concoction, consisting of on-sale coconut rum, and Walmart of course! brand "Great Value - Orange Early Sunrise" drink (generic Crystal Light) and ice. It's cold, cheap and easy - just like the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

Yeah, I prided myself on my Crack - thought it was pretty badass. That is, until I read my bloggy buddy Janet Frongillo's new book Mommy Mixology: A Cocktail for Every Calamity.

Detailing the first five yeas of motherhood - from conception to kindergarten - this collection of drink recipes and cool, colorful photos blends marvelously with the author's hair-raising experiences in raising three young boys. Seriously, the ladies will love these cocktails, and any mother can relate to Janet's stories. For example, as a mom, have you ever:

Had trouble taking away a pacifier?
Pour a "Bloody Binky!"

Struggled with potty training?
Stir a "Shitzer Spritzer!"

Watched - in horror - as your kid swung from a chandelier, called random men "Daddy" and took a leak on the living-room carpet?
No? That's just Janet?
Well, make a "Mamakaze Bomb Drop" anyway!

This book is a great gift for birthdays, Christmas and Mother's Day. It even works as a baby shower gift - the "Conception" section contains quite a few non-alcoholic recipes for prego mommies-to-be.

And many of the cocktail recipes make one serving. This means one cocktail, for Mom only. Everyone else - step off, man! Make your own drink!

If it's been a tough day, and one or three is not enough, the paperback's book-flaps fold double and serve as handy book-markers - you can go right back to the recipe's page and make another cocktail or three. And everyone else - step off, man! Make your own drink!

Janet is a regular ParentWise: Austin humor writer and blogger at www.muffintopmommy.com. Her recipes make my Crack of Dawn look like, well, generic Kool Aid mixed with cheap rum. Which it is. So I have no idea why she asked me to read and give my useless two-cents on Mommy Mixology as she was writing it. Neither does my husband:


"Hey! She values your opinion. Why?" he said.

Aside from his comment,  I am one lucky bitch, because Janet was kind enough to thank me for my feedback on her acknowledgment page. You know, I was going to write a book myself someday. But since she pimped me in hers, I will just sit back, relax and sip my Crack of Dawn, because there's my name, right there on page 112.  Clearly, I am famous now.

So pick up Mommy Mixology for its hilarious stories, my name on page 112, and several cocktail recipes containing cream of coconut or coconut rum, for the toughest, craziest, most nerve-wracking, most wonderful job imaginable. Mix up, read, chill out, and always remember this:

Motherhood?
Have some coconut rum!


Sorry I'm a bit late, but below you'll see my boy very enthusiastically (haha) drawing the winner for Mommy Mixology, while the Suzie dog takes a break from being violently ill to supervise:


Robyn, from Life By Chocolate!


21 comments:

  1. I am so in!
    You had me at Schitzer Spritzer!

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  2. I have this book & I LOVE it! It's been a long time since my kiddos were little, but I find these recipes are still relevant. I just substitute "baby book" for "baby" or "kids." Authors (aka "book mamas") need help, too!

    Plus, I'm still invited to baby showers all the time. Presto! The perfect gift.

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  3. A gift would be nice, but your real gift is making me smile and laugh, that is more then enough!

    ray

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  4. Count me in! I am a rum lover from way back!

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  5. :snork:: Every time I hear 'the crack of dawn' I will think of you. No, not THAT way.

    I do not drink. Don't enter me in the drawing. But the next time you have one, have a 2nd one for me. :)

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  6. I'm a professional granny now. Drunk enough cheap this and that for all y'all. A sweet young friend is lying around this weekend, hoping her little egg will like its new home. I'd love to celebrate her success with a copy of Janet's book. Great blog again, Dawn :)

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  7. That book looks awesome. Thank you so much for reviewing it here!! (Also for your previous review of "50 Shades of Grey", you confirmed what I suspected, that it was lousy writing. Porn is fun, but bad writing? No. Just no. Thanks also for the recommendation of the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy. I wonder if there's a Kindle version.

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  8. I'm not as deserving as any of the good mothers out there, but I'll take some coconut rum -- on a regular basis. Congrats on having your writing published in another book, Dawn! Looks really fun.

    xoRobyn

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  9. Hmmmm.....I guess I don't drink so we can fire up a "J."

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  10. What do you mean you are "famous now"?! You were famous in the Valentine Day book.

    At least, that's what you told me. :-)

    Put my name in the bowl, baby!

    Pearl

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  11. Crack of Dawn. My, my, my.
    Guilty as charged.

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  12. Ok so you had me at Rum. Now back to read the rest of the post...

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  13. Okay, here's where I got stuck. You can buy booze at Walmart???

    The hell? The ONLY place to buy anything with more than 3.2% alcohol in it is the state run liquor store. Man. I gotta get outta Utah!
    Is there a drink concoction in the book for pretending it's time to move but not really because it's so much work and the only boxes you have to pack anything in are a shoe box and an empty box of wine?

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  14. Mmmm. Haven't had it in years now I want it!

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  15. I will raise a glass to the Crack of Dawn tonight. It will confirm my wife's opinion of my sanity.

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  16. Oh lord, now I know why Rob's parents use to drink gin and tonic from milkshake glasses. (Do not stop the book Dawn, I need the vicarious thrill when you publish.)

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  17. He drew my name? You raised him right, Dawn! This WILL go to a very deserving mommy who will thoroughly enjoy it. I'll just read p112 first, a Crack of Dawn in hand. Can't wait.

    Love ya,
    Thanks so much! Give your boy a big hug for me.

    xoRobyn

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  18. Great post here. I would enjoy the Crack of Dawn. cm

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  19. CURSES!!!!

    I mean..congrats Robin.

    *ahem*

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