Katnip Awards

Who needs Twitter’s #FollowFridays when you can have something much more intoxicating?

We’ve got your Katnip here.

Tweet of the Week
Here we were, looking and looking. And this pops up right under our noses. This little joke got more RT’s last night than we can count. Hats off to @umarnasir .


Life of the Party Award
“Who is this chick we keep seeing retweeted?” we wondered. She’s everywhere. Passionista about art, music, film, design, comedy – fun! Also A++ for giving shout-outs, connecting people, spreading the credit & love. If this is a #worldwiderave, she is hands-down the leader. Watch how one RT from her goes round the globe. @KimSherrell


Fort Knox Award
If you’re looking for gold, he’s got plenty of it. Interesting links. Helpful tips. (Everything that has helped me manage Twitter better, we got from him.) Plus a heart of pure Au. One of the absolute nicest guys we’ve met here. @glennhilton


Cheerful Giver Award
Totally interested in others. In being the light -- not grabbing the spotlight. Her tweets always spread good vibes. Plus we think she’s onto something with her techniques for boosting natural energy, weight loss, body sculpting and more. @ZnaTrainer


SmArt Director Award
In real life, he’s actually a hotshot Creative Director with an Art Director background. On Twitter, he’s the guy who leads you to some really wonderful finds on creativity, art, music… oh, yeah, and advertising. No ego. A generous sharer. All around sweetheart who will cringe when he sees this. @mancevic


Hug It Out Award
When we needed a hug, she was there. Not IRL, but close enough. She is everything her name implies. Upbeat. Caring. Fun. Nurturing. I love the way she rallied when another mom needed some self-esteem pick-me-up. One to know, even if all your kids have four legs (like ours do). @positivemommies


Pinch Hitter Award
Late in the game, this guy appears with all the energy and enthusiasm befitting a first inning. He picks up the bat, knocks the ball out of the park. There when you need him – with encouragement, an RT and that big bright grin. This is one you want on your team. @cargillcreative


Front Porch Award
The day we met her, we threw out a line about sitting on our front porch. She was quick to play along, sending pics of the lemonade she’d bring over. Since then we’ve had to add more rockers (partly because we’re off ours). But she’s still got dibs on the best spot, especially as one who welcomes others and helps create real community in our virtual Mayberry. @vene2ia


If you don’t see your name here, don’t go claw the furniture or spray the front door. Your turn may be coming. Remember, you have to be seen to win. So say hi and engage.

Have a good weekend. And if you like this, please RT & leave a comment here.

The Katnip Awards

Welcome to the second installment of The Katnip Awards. Our answer to the chaos that has become #FollowFridays on Twitter.

Here are the people who delight and dazzle us – both tried and true tweeps and fabulous new finds. Last week we gave out 12 awards. This time, we’re going for 9. This will only make you covet them more, of course.

UPDATE. Inspired blog post by Danny Brown has led to late addition of 10th award. See below!

Ladies and Gentlemen, may we present:

Best Tweet That Wasn’t a Tweet
And that’s only because she’s been blogging 140 char. before there was a Twitter. Check this out and know why so many wouldn't dream of missing @amyflanagan

Best Lead in Branding Adventures Award
When he was a kid – excuse me, l’enfant, he was most likely called a prodigy. He toyed with ad campaigns while others toyed with toys. Held patents while others held their breath. Now he stirs up passionate discussions about branding and social media. (Look at his July 1 blog for proof.) Has a loyal following, for good reason. Dashing and smart, happy to include others in the limelight. @thebrandbuilder

Eureka Award
This guy is my favorite find of the week. Here is one reason why. And here's the other one. @adtothebone

Alpha Centauri Award
Definitely one of the brightest and fastest rising stars here, her enthusiasm for social media is unparalleled. So is her genuine willingness to share what she knows and help others – including businesses and newbies – find their way in the twitterverse. @lisahickey

"Thriller" Award
You can't miss the fact that these two give each other thrills and then some. But before you roll your eyes, know this: They not only adore each other, they create community with their warm and upbeat style. Truly sweet but not saccharin. Great energy. And they know how to bring the fun. @TamaraSchilling and @JosephRanseth

National Treasure Award
She finds and nurtures all the good stuff, from great links about art and creativity to easily digestible info about the quality of our food. A former National Rowing Champion, acclaimed designer and co-founder of a very cool agency who forgot to get a big ego: @parkhere

"Wanna Be Startin’ Something" Award
Whether she’s growing her gourmet cupcake business or ramping up the rivalry between @julito77 and @jeffmello on Blip Idol ’09 (this Mon. 7/6) don’t let her sweet smile fool you. This fun-trepreneur knows how to get things going. @foiledcupcakes

5-Carat Award
What can I say? This guy is a real gem. He has clarity, color and cuts through the clutter with his fun and interesting tweets. A copywriter who understands the meaning of the word “engaging”. @jphodgins

"I'll Be There" Award
It’s easy to meet a lot of people on twitter. This is one you want to know in real life. Totally genuine. Always warm. Not an ounce of pretension or ego. The ambassador of NOLA, and one who would show up for a friend in a heartbeat. Just call her name: @addieking

Smartass of the Week Award
We didn't even know he existed. We feel so deprived. We want the lost time back. But now you can count us in on his fan club. Funny! Gotta read his Social Media Drinking Game. @DannyBrown

That's it for this week, folks. If you don’t see your name here, don’t go claw the furniture or spray the front door. Your turn may be coming. Remember, you have to be seen to win. So say hi and engage.

Happy Fourth of July, all!

The Katnip Awards

Bored with #FollowFridays on Twitter? Blinded by tweet-streams filled with @names and no idea why you care? Looking to have a little fun at the end of the week? I’ve got your answer.

Each week, I’ll give out 12 awards. Why 12? 12 in a dozen. 12 months. 12 apostles. 12 toes (oh, that’s just me?). If you don’t see your name here, don’t go claw the furniture or spray the front door. Your turn may be coming.

MVP Award

We could write an entire blog about why we admire this person. Heads up her own dynamo PR firm. Adored by many. Turns followers into friends. A genuine, caring soul. Smart, shares great content, and infinitely engaging. Did we mention the best laugh we’ve ever heard on twitter? The true queen of the Twitterverse, and a very benevolent ruler.
@ginidietrich


The Real Deal Award
Forget that a gazillion people worship at his feet. He didn’t ask for that. What he knows, he giadly gives away. A regular guy with a heart of gold and a mind that never quits or takes naps. @chrisbrogan


Highly Infectious Award
Upbeat without being rah-rah. Human. Sincere. Helpful. And great at introducing and connecting wonderful people. If there was a cure for her, I would advise against it. @StaciJShelton


Smartypants Award
Always interesting. Shares good stuff. Mixes it up with all kinds of people. Asks questions that draw you in. And is not afraid to be real or show heart. @smashadv.


Most Rabid Sportsfan Award
It was a tough contest and lots of fun watching them duke it out. But then @jeffmello talked about music, leaving this guy to cover the bases. Hands down, the winner is: @julito77


Business Tweet of the Week
He just got on Twitter, and this is why he's one to watch. @SethBrewer

Stealth Tweeter Award
So quiet, and then out of nowhere… BAM! Glad she didn’t stay incognito for long. @danamoos


Sophie's Choice Award
What can I say? It's my first week, and already I can't choose between these two. If you knew them, you'd understand. Fun, kind, interested in others, totally engaging. @justinthesouth AND @scott_farrell


Little Miss Sunshine Award
It’s early. First cup of tea. Caffeine has not kicked in. But she is there, and suddenly, you feel all better and can’t help smiling when you see her avatar. And she’ll always say hello. The value of this should never be underestimated. @jmbuckingham


Good Neighbor Award
The person on twitter that I wish lived next door. Always cheerful, always makes you feel important, and a great personality: @Blairsden


America’s Most Wanted Award
The biggest troublemaker, wanted for flagrantly flaunting all caps and creating massive mayhem. Also has deep moments. And a delightful smile. @ponet


Okay, that’s all folks. Be sure to congratulate the winners.

Maybe next week, it won’t be 12 awards! We’ll see. Want to get in on the fun? Get on twitter and say hi.

Making kibbe with Dad.

Most people think of grilling when they think of Father’s Day. But when I think of Dad, I see him in the kitchen.

You see, meals at our house were always better when my father was in charge. My mother, who is Irish, meant well. She did okay with vegetables and pasta and rolls. But when it came to meat, her people believe it's not done until it's grey, dry and dense enough to break a window.

Dad, on the other hand, was Lebanese. These are a people who love food. These are people who eat with their hands, who tear their bread and eat raw meat. Yes, that’s right. Raw meat. Not sushi. We’re talking beef and lamb. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Give me a small mound of beautiful raw kibbe, shiny pink with white specks of wheat and onion mixed in and a little melted butter poured over it, add some soft pita bread to pick it up, and Hello, Heaven.

You have to eat it right away… there’s no Gladware for kibbe. Whatever doesn’t get eaten has to be cooked immediately… which is fine for the Irish. But at that point it’s all over for me. I guess I am my father’s daughter.

And when it came to kibbe, nobody could make it like my Dad. Got the meat fresh from the butcher – who he trained to do it the right way. Top round, ground, 3 times. Always 3 times. Why? I haven’t a clue. But you had to ask for it that way, and somehow it was magic. Add some bulgur wheat. Even the name is fun to say. Emphatic and to the point. Bulgur.

“You’ve got to soak it first” he’d say. Then came the fun part: mixing it WITH YOUR HANDS. You would grab a little fistful of wheat and squeeze the water out. Then add it to the meat.
“A little meat, a little wheat” he’d say.

He would show me. Big burly man with his big brown hands in the big metal bowl. We would knead the mixture together, taking turns. I would look at him for approval, and he would nod gruffly.

“Ya, like that. Good Einou.”

Nobody knew what Einou meant, but we assumed it was a term of endearment. (Unlike “Dizey,” which our grandmother used to sing to us when we were babies. “Dizey, Dizey, I love you”. Years later we heard that Dizey meant “rocker”.)

Now Dad would pretend to talk like Grandma. “Here Einou. Put some Ka-moooon in.”

We would laugh, remembering how she would send me to the store for that spice I was little. How I stood there saying “Kamooon. Kamooon” to the puzzled clerks until the owner appeared from the back and grabbed the Cumin off the shelf.

“Here Einou, knead it with your hands. Knead it Einou. Good. Work it in. Good.” He would nod like Grandma and smack his lips as she did when her teeth weren’t in.

“Add some narne’ ’” he’d say, and I’d look around trying not to show uncertainty. Then he’d glance in the direction of the mint to give me a hint, and smile when I picked it up.

Finally, it was time for the best part:

“Try it, Einou. Does it need more salt?” We would always agree that it needed more salt.

Standing in the kitchen with Dad, I could always feel his pride that someone in his house wanted to know the Lebanese ways. I could feel his delight in teaching me the way Grandma taught him. And I could feel my own pride in being Lebanese, something we didn’t talk about much during those days when it was not cool to be Arab, much like now. But when we were making kibbe, we knew how very cool it was.

We are a people with big hearts, who knead our food and eat with our hands. We love the juiceyness and spiciness of life. And in our own kitchens, we don’t have to hide it.

It was rare when we ate kibbe at our house. Rare when Dad and I were in the kitchen together. Rare when anyone took the time to teach me to cook. So isn’t it funny that this cooking lesson involved no heat at all. Just the warmth of a father and daughter sharing a tradition, delighting in the love and the laughter that went into it.

I wish we had made kibbe together more often. I wish I had known then to write the recipe down.