Do You Believe?

Whether or not you believe in Jeebus, surely you believe in Santa Claus!  How could you not believe that a man who loves every child on Earth would take one night a year to fly on a magic sleigh to deliver presents to each and every one of them!

Religious diatribes aside,  the Holidays are a GREAT time to give back to your community, while spirits are high and needs are at their greatest!

Once again, Miss Ginger's other persona is proud to be a part of Macy's "Believe" campaign,  inviting people young and old to write letter to Santa expressing their wishes and hopes for the holiday season!  Every Macy's store across the country has a special Macy's mailbox and a "Believe Meter" that tracks the wishes as they are received!  Macy's will count up the wishes,  make a $1 donation to the "Make a Wish" foundation for each one, and then forward to Santa at the North Pole for him to check against his "naughty or nice" list!  Our goal is to donate $1,000,000 to Make a Wish.  So far, the Believe Meter says we are a little over halfway there, so we need everyone's help to make sure we receive enough letters!!

Won't you write a letter to share your wish with Santa, and help the Make a Wish Foundation grant the wishes of a child in need?  You can go to Santa's Post Office to download stationery, find a mailbox, or even see what some of your favorite celebrities have wished for this year!

Once you've written your letter, just take it to any Macy's store (you know you'll be going there several times this season, anyway!) and drop it into the mailbox. It's that easy to do something great for someone who really needs a smile this year!

If you drop your letter on on December 10th, 2010, Macy's will DOUBLE it's donation as they join Make a Wish in celebrating National Believe Day!!!

And, on December 17th, at 8pm EST, 7pm CST,  tune into CBS Television for "Yes, Virginia- The Animated Special, brought to you by Macy's!


(This trailer has last year's date. The 2010 screening is December 17th)

If you believe in Miss Ginger, surely you believe in Santa Claus!  And, while you're at it, why not leave Miss Ginger a comment and tell her why you believe!

A New Consumer Products Review!

Miss Ginger has never been a big fan of sandwiches.  When Miss G was just a wee little boy, and Momma G was busy trying to keep up with the feeding and care of 5 hungry boys, there was only one answer to the question "what's for dinner":  "Poke and grits! Poke your feet under the table, grit your teeth, and eat what I serve you!"  Momma G was a great cook, so it was usually something good, but like most children, Miss G had a couple of food aversions: fish sticks, liver, and okra, to name a few.  There actually was an option-  Momma G ALWAYS had a loaf of white bread, a package of pink baloney meat, and individually wrap squares of orange cheese-like product in the house.  If anyone didn't like what she made for dinner,  they were welcome to make a baloney sandwich!

Then, there was fishing on the weekends with Poppa G.  Poppa had the routine down to a science,  with gassing the boat, loading the beer, and getting the stuff for lunch always the same.  Lunch was a loaf of white bread, a pack of baloney, and a bottle of squeeze mustard.  That was it. No pickles. No chips. Nothing else. Baloney on white bread. With mustard if you wanted it. And there was no way to cut the crusts off, either.  "Tear 'em off and feed 'em to the sea gulls if you don't want to eat them!"

So when you say "sandwich" to Miss G, it conjures a vision of that loaf of Evangeline Maid Bread and that package of Oscar Mayer Baloney! Plus, living alone, she can never finish a loaf of bread by herself before it goes stale,  and the baloney meat always becomes "questionable" before it's used up, so she typically doesn't buy either.

Q: When is a sandwich not a sandwich?

A:  When it's grilled into a PANINI!!!

Now, Miss Ginger LOVES her a good panini, like the one shown here that she made herself for lunch today!  Crisply toasted rye wrapped around melted Brie and prosciutto slices!  Delish! 

"But Miss G", you ask, "how did you get that crispy exterior and those beautiful brown lines on it?"

Well,  dear 'Snaps, she used her newest kitchen toy, the Cusinart Griddler!!

She actually has the Griddler Jr, because it was on sale at her local Macy's and is plenty large enough for a single gal who eats like a bird! She couldn't find the small one online but they may have it in a store near you!

Now, I know many of you may have one of those stupid George Foreman Grills taking up space in your pantry, but throw that stupid thing out and get this- it's way better! 

The two things Miss G likes about it most are the all metal construction and the free-floating upper plate,  that lets you use even pressure to make a nice, flat panini instead of a wedge shaped one caused by a fixed hinge lid!  The cooking plates lift off to go into the dishwasher if needed,  but Miss G has found they can usually just be wiped off.  There are no grease trapping seams or crevices like so many of these things seem to have!!  As you can see by her panini above,  it browns evenly and makes a nice, deep impression to multiply the crispiness beyond what you get on a flat surface!

Miss G will probably still use her outdoor grill for meats,  but she is eager to try fish on this grill, where the heat will be easier to control and the flesh won't fall apart as she tries to flip it!

For quality and functionality,  Miss g gives the Griddler Jr. 4 lipsticks!  It's not something everyone "must have"- but if you love paninis as much as Miss G, this is the tool to use!

Boy G Makes Headlines Again!

More like tail- lines, really!  If you read this article, all the way to the end, he is quoted in the last line!

Macy's and other chains tailor products to individual markets | Business | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

"For Macy's, district merchant George Burch, who serves as a liaison between buyers and store managers in Houston and Louisiana, predicted sales could grow even more.

"The longer we do it," he said, "the more we can learn about the customer and the more we can refine the assortment."

It's a really well-written article, and it was the cover story of Sunday's business section! Hope my friends in GingerNation enjoy reading it!

Happy Burch Day to You!!

When Miss Ginger awoke this morning, she knew that Boy G would be receiving an award from Legacy Community Health Services at their 8th Annual Luncheon.

What she did NOT know is that he would also receive an award from Mayor Annise Parker declaring today, September 21st, 2010 as George Burch Day in the City of Houston, Texas!!!

That's right!! Boy G has his own day!! September 21st!! Learn it, biotches!

Actually, he was truly touched and honored by the turnout today, and by the love and support shown him by his friends, family, and the entire community!! We ended the day with (several bottles of) prosecco at the Boom Boom Room! A delightful end to a delightful day!!

Today was so special, and ya wanna know the best part? Boy G marched right up to that microphone, swallowed his butterflies, and gave the acceptance speech of his life to almost 400 people!! He only had to fight back one tear, and I don't think anyone even noticed!! It was so easy because it was so heartfelt, and even though he had made notes for himself, he barely needed them!! Here's what he had to say:

"On behalf of Macy’s and all my coworkers, I humbly thank Legacy Community Health Services for this recognition, but more importantly, for the great work they do to keep Houston healthy! The commitment and dedication of my friends at Legacy is inspiring, and the work they do is truly what deserves accolades and awards.

5 years ago, when Macy’s expanded to the nationwide presence we enjoy today, the company made a commitment to give back to the communities we serve, at both a national and local level. Among the focus categories are HIV/AIDS awareness, women’s issue, and education: all hallmarks of the programs Legacy Community Health Services provides to Houston’s neighborhoods. It’s extremely gratifying to represent an employer that is so committed to causes that mean so much to the city, and I’m thrilled that through Macy’s Matching Gifts program, the District Grants program, and the Partners in Time Employee Volunteer program, we are able to directly support Legacy’s goal of “Extraordinary healthcare for Extraordinary people” throughout the community. Macy’s nationwide sponsorship of the United Way and the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” campaign also provide support for Legacy’s local healthcare initiatives. We look forward to October, when our Galleria Hidalgo store will host our first ever in-store event benefitting Legacy Community Health Services.

When I moved to Houston in the mid-80’s, AIDS and HIV infection were in still in crisis mode, and the Montrose Clinic treated many of my friends with dignity, compassion, and respect. Today, advance in medicine allow most people to survive HIV infection, and Legacy Community Health Services follows the legacy of the Montrose Clinic by keeping my friends alive with dignity, compassion, and respect. Truly a legacy worth celebrating!

As HIV infection has been managed and controlled with some success in the Gay community, it has continued to infect Hispanic and African American youth at an alarming rate. I’m proud to be able to help Legacy Community Health Services expand it’s care into the Lyon’s Avenue and Gulfton areas of Houston, not only to treat infection in those areas, but to educate the public and stop the spread, as well.

In closing, I’d like to thank Katy Caldwell and Chree Boydstun, and their staff and coworkers, for the friendship and encouragement that they have shown me these past few years. It’s been an honor to work with individuals who care about people as much as the folks at Legacy, and that’s really a reward of its own!"

Thanks to all of you who have left such sweet messages!!

Project Runway P.A. Right Here in H-town....

...at one of Miss G's stores!!!!

Nick Verreos, from season 2 of Project Runway, apparently is still looking for a "real job". So meanwhile, he is hosting the Macy's Fashion Challenge right here in H-town to earn a few extra bucks!

Members of the instore audience will be selected to pull a "look" for a professional model, and the winners get a $100 Macy's gift card to spend on their own spring wardrobe!

Sounds cute, and even though on weekends Miss G generally avoids the Galleria like the plague, she may just have to saddle up Veronique and head over there to see little Nikky-nik!

Anyone have a message for me to give him?

Channel Your Inner Meana Garzilla!

Who says Marie Claire is the only place worthy of a fashion director? Miss Ginger's pretty sure we have at least 70 of them right here on TFBOFGG, and now, America's Favorite Department Store gives us a chance to prove just that!

Check out Macy's Fashion Director Sitelet to see what all the cool chics and dudes will be wearing this season, and enter the Daily Fashion Challenge to show the world all the great looks you can put together!

Now, as a highly skilled fashion professional, it would be unfair for Miss G to enter the contest against all the amateur fashonistas out there, but she has put together a couple of "looks" just to show you how cool the site is!

Today's Challenge was to "create a look to meet your ex for coffee." Miss G started by creating a look for Boy G. She wanted him to look youthful, spirited, and confident. She chose a pink Polo from Ralph Lauren, Seven for All Mankind Jeans, and Puma sneaks for a look that says "too busy and fun for you!" Boy G has an ex, and he could total rock this look at Starbucks with him!

Next, Miss Ginger created a look for herself! She has no exes, as she never ends a relationship! Even the biggest asshat on Earth may prove useful to her at some point in life! But, there's always room for one more, so Miss G started with a knock out Jones New York dress in electric blue, her signature color! Then, she added the sexiest ankle-strap stilletos she could find, and perfectly coordinated accessories to complete the ensemble!

Check out the site, and make a look or 2 for Miss Ginger! Please! And post a screen shot so we can all see your handiwork!

Miss Ginger Believes.... Do You?

The holidays have always been a special time for Miss Ginger.... as a kid, it brought her family together as Baby G and Momma G crafted and cooked together, and she and Poppa G shopped and spoiled together. She and her brothers dreamed of the toys and treasures they would receive, and as they got older, it was more about music: LP's, 8-tracks, cassettes, and eventually CD's!! Momma G and Poppa didn't live long enough to see the advent of MP3's, but if they had, I know Poppa G would have made sure there was an iPod under the tree for all his boys!!

Now it's special for a different reason. The holidays are the busy season for Miss G and her employer, and we work long, hard hours to make it happen. It's what we're all about, and it comes with the territory. Miss G has done this for a long time, with many different companies, but she feels compelled to say that the one she works for now does it better than anyone!

Miss Ginger believes in Santa Claus, and the magic and spirit of the holidays! Do you?

A Tearful Goodbye to DD and NYC!

After another FABULOUS day in the Big Apple Miss Ginger left dear DD on the corner of 44th and 8th with a mist in her eye as she bid goodbye to her dear sister and the city that never sleeps!

It was a great day overall! Miss G started the day with brekkie at the hotel, then a walk to the mothership to check things out.

After everything passed inspection, she headed up 6th avenue to Bryant Park to make sure progress on the tent erection was progressing as planned. (She loves her a good tent erection!) Since those plans seemed to be firming up nicely, she decided to check out the sistership, Bloomingdale's, so she headed up 5th Avenue. On the way, she realized her brown plaid shorts were riding way too low since she has gotten too damn skinny, so she stopped into the Banana Republic near Rockefeller Center to buy a belt, and enjoyed her second celebrity (?) sighting of the trip!

Who should be browsing for a new pair of chinos but Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President of Programming for the Food Network. Apparently, it's a pretty good gig, since he clearly doesn'twork on Monday afternoons, since he was out shopping in chino shorts and a t-shirt. He's such a cute little thing! Here's his high school yearbook picture!

After a quick spin through Bloomingdale's, Miss G navigated 3 subway changes to get herself to the Village, where she stopped by the Garage for still more delicious and well priced beverages! She decided to make a shopping tour of the village and found a great sale at Jack Spade where she picked up a beautiful leather bag for Boy G to carry his "stuff" to work!

After all that shopping, she twisted Mamie's arm to allow her to buy a birthday dinner for her dear, dear sister! We decided upon Centro Vinoteca, which happens to be the current "haunt" of Top Chef skank Leah Cohen, famous for schtupping Hose A Ya, the winner, all season long! We wanted SO BADLY to hate it, being the evil bitches that we are, but both had to admit the the food was delicious, the atmosphere delightful, and the service really top-notch! We also wanted to link to their website, but apparently Leah hasn't paid the bill, so instead I'll link to this review site, which makes it sound way more lesbonic than we found it to be!

After our delightful dinner, we ambled up 8th Avenue to the High Line, a park that has been created out of an abandonded elevated train track! What a beautiful and ingenious space!! It was a gorgeous night for such a jaunt, and many of the cities most lovely people were enoying the space as well!

We continued our wanderings through Chelsea, and before we knew it, we were approaching Midtown! The weather was so cool and comfortable, we decided to forego taxis and subways and walked the rest of the way to Time's Square, where we said our goodbye for this trip!

Miss G is SOOOOO happy to have a connection to New York, because she truly loves this city and really appreciates the chance to come and visit! She has every intention of returning in October for DDBW II !!!!

Sometimes Life is Pretty Cool!

Boy Ginger has a pretty good gig right now- he has a Monday-Friday schedule, comfortable business travel, and a role where he feels like he makes a difference almost every day! (And he gets a discount on Miss G's FABULOUS wardrobe!) And he works for a reputable, progressive company that does some really cool things for the communities it serves. In our largest markets we sponsor parades, fashion shows, and family events that help us earn our customer's loyalty and respect.

This season, Macy's is kicking off a national campaign of which Miss Ginger is really proud to be a part! They are inviting the people of America to "Come + Together" and donate money to feed our nations' underpriviledged. The concept is quite clever, actually. Just throw a dinner party, but instead of a hostess gift, ask your guests to bring a donation for Feeding America, our nation's leading hunger relief charity. Macy's special "Come + Together" website offers party planning tools, menu suggestions, and even an online invitation builder to help you get started! After your party is complete, you can take the donations to your local Macy's store, and Macy's will process and MATCH your guests donations, dollar for dollar! How cool is that?! Together with their customers, Macy's will provide 10,000,000 meals for America's food banks!

We all eat every night, and pretty much take it for granted! How about participating in "Come + Together" and helping so many people who can't take a daily meal for granted?!!! You won't forget to do it, because Macy's most famous stars will be featured on our nationwide television commercials during your favorite shows, just to remind you! Miss Ginger is all about helping others, so she's going to be watching her mailbox for those invites! You'll all get yours after she's been through the party planner and decided on her theme!