meeting johnny cupcakes: a cupcake dream come true

last night linsey and i went to nomad to meet one of my heros johnny cupcakes.
i have loved his stuff for years. see previous blogs.
he is touring the country in his cupcake van on the suitcase tour and stopped in omaha last night at nomad.

meeting johnny was like meeting ferris bueller.

They think he's a righteous dude. sound bite  Ferris Bueller's Day Off sound bites

both are too cool for school and super cute!
there were all ages and types of people there last night to buy some limited edition t-shirts and meet the 27 year old who was "America's #1 Young Entrepreneur of 2008 by BusinessWeek"
literally-the sportos and motor heads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads.. all adore him and think he's a righteous dude...myself included.
he has such a rad story about how he just started this gig from scratch and has created a million dollar business without advertising.
pretty amazing.
i cant wait to get to boston or la someday to see his rad store front that looks like a bakery.


he even autographed my johnny cupcakes tattoo and said he liked it!













i cant wait to see him again soon!

pure awesomeness...in lego form

legoes meets music videos= pure awesomeness









want more?
click here.

my mama told me dont loose you...

i can't wait for Jamaica next month!

BLOG 1,000- breaking news: i finally know my blood type

for my oh-so-important-1,000th blog i will write about something super exciting!
my blood type!
i finally know it!
after years of deferrals and almost 3 years at the red cross and i can accurately say i am a blood donor and my blood type is AB+!
yay!!

More about AB Positive

* 3% of the population can receive your red blood cells.
* 100% of the population can receive your platelets.
* 100% of the population can receive your plasma.

You share your blood type with 3% of the population.
Your parents have one of the following blood type combinations:

* A, B
* AB, A
* AB, B
* AB, AB

The Japanese believe that your blood type is an indicator of your personality,* similar to the belief in the Signs of the Zodiac here in America. According to the superstition, people with type AB blood are cool, controlled, rational, sociable, popular, critical and indecisive. Your Rh factor does not play a role in determining your personality.
(sounds pretty right on, right? at least i think im cool and indecisive!)

Some famous people with type AB blood are Jackie Chan, Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy and Mick Jagger.

*There is no scientific basis for this theory. Such claims should be considered a form of entertainment, much like reading one's horoscope.

wanna know about your blood type?
click here!

welcome dane jameson cramer

i cant wait to meet you little cousin!
i also cant wait to spoil you with more small paul (frank) clothing!
congrats jim and abby!
first baby of the family...i'm a little worried that after everyone falls in love with him that lots of other great grandbabies for grandpa petersen will follow!

how blood donations saved my friends life...

My friend Jennifer, pictured above, with her boyfriend Brian.


I just wanted to share a powerful note I received from a friend last week.

She is a 26 year old EMT that lives here in Omaha. Two weeks ago she checked into the Med Center to have her gallbladder taken out and had complication after complication that eventually lead to her almost dying of a pulmonary embolism last week.

She sent me the massage below two days later:

Danelle,
Please pass on to your staff the appreciation of myself and family-especially to your volunteers. Blood transfusions saved my life 2 days ago and wanted you to know that all you do is never forgotten and will always be held with respect and a profound appreciation.

It’s so weird being on the receiving end Danelle. I have donated however, had no idea that small duty I performed could have potentially saved a human beings life. Without the units I received I wouldn't be here to thank anyone. I'm proud to know what a difference precious gifts of blood do for someone in desperate need. You’re a miracle worker, please remember that every time you promote Red Cross do so with pride. I can't say thank you enough! Prayers are so meaningful and appreciated, THANKS!

-Jennifer Barry

It is these stories that I hear time after time that make me extremely proud to not only work for the Red Cross but be a volunteer blood donor.

I hope that if you don’t currently give blood that you will consider it for those who need it so badly, like my friend Jennifer. I have had two friends saved thanks to blood transfusions in the short time that I have worked for the Red Cross. I might not be the official spokesperson for blood services anymore but you better believe that I will be promoting blood donations until the day I die.

das boot: an annual schlegelmilch tradition

this weekend the algers came up for their annual das boot in omaha.

the original schlegs...






a great time was had by all.

especially after we challenged another group to a das boot duel and we won!
we even got to see tom rock the microphone again!

love it

Neil Young - Long May You Run from the last Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien from John Matthews on Vimeo.

no matter how many times i watch it on my dvr and tear up.

life is good today...

happy birthday randy

happy birthday randy!
glad we all got to enjoy dinner with you!

sunbathing

today i got to soak up some rays with miss penny lane.
it was glorious.

dear conan- help!

i must see your tour- but it is sold out everywhere.
i would have tickets but the day they went on sale i was teaching a red cross class and without my precious social media and missed the boat.
i then proceeded to lay on the sofa all night depressed and moaping.
i had a dream last week i met you again.
in this dream i told you about how i always have dreams we are friends (see previous blogs).
you had on a brown leather bomber jacket and your hair looked glorious.
i told you how i really wanted to see your tour and how i would travel any distance to get there.
you said you would help and gave me tiny little 'conan dollars' and told me to use them to buy my secret tickets.
you then gave me a rusty old class ring.
i remember thinking how small it was because it fit my finger perfectly.
weird.
anyways...
i still dont have tickets to your show-and would take any extras you have.
i noticed you have an open day in between your kc and mn shows...
come to omaha please!
you can come to the red cross (where i work) and volunteer and then do a gig at the orpheum!
have your people call my people and i will set everything up.
thanks-
danelle

we didnt start the fire...

(my intern maruf (from bangladesh) with me at one of friday's fires)

...but we did go to a lot of fires last week!
last weekend we had 8 fires.
that might be a new record.
that means 15 volunteers went out over their easter weekend to make sure omahans had what they needed.
thanks volunteers!

so here is my public service announcement:
people be careful with: matches, candles, cooking or anything else that would cause a fire.
thanks
-danelle


(one of my pr team volunteers and i at friday's fire too...like my new green fishing/disaster vest?)

easter hats...

growing up my sister and i always had matching easter dresses complete with matching easter hats.
this was one of my favorites.
polka dots, white wicker hats and white cable-knit tights.

those were the days....

pastel candy, white bunnies, pink plastic baskets and easter egg hunts.

hoppy easter!

happy birthday daddio

love you dad.
wish i was there to make you a jelly bean cake. (i would wear a care bare shirt too)
xoxo-
danelle

love is...

a dog and her boy.

finally a blood donor...

after years of deferrals for various reasons i am finally a blood donor!
woot woot!

and i donated on our new mobile to boot! pretty rad!

am i a dork if i cant wait to find out what my blood type is?

hair for haiti

this sunday a bunch of salons in town are hosting hair for haiti: a cut-a-thon.
i invite you all out this this great event to support red cross efforts in haiti.
i will be there helping with media and getting some pampering for a good cause- you should join me!

All donators who receive a service that day will also receive a gift from our amazing corporate sponsor, Peel’s Salon Services, with up to a $15 retail value and a free entry into our raffle (raffle prizes are listed on the RAFFLE page here)!


Suggested Donations for services offered at the event
Ladies Cuts $20
Gents Cuts $15
Kid’s Cuts (12 and under) $10
Add on Style $10
Eyebrow waxing $5
Massage (10 min) $5
Mini Mani $15
Mini Pedi $20

Participating Salons
Ambition Salon
Bangs
Bungalow/eight
Garbo's
Roxy's
Seven Salon
Sirens at the Loft

you can read more about the event here.

dear john,

it still hurts my heart to know that you wont be making anymore movies.
your tribute was lovely tonight.
xoxo
danelle

ringing ears...

ringing ears are always a good sign of a good show.
mine are ringing tonight after john mayer and michael franti with spearhead.
more pics to come tomorrow when im not exhausted.

dear conan,

thanks for tweeting.
i anxiously await your next tweet.
miss you.
-danelle

conan's first tweet for those of you who missed it:

Today I interviewed a squirrel in my backyard and then threw to commercial. Somebody help me.

*photo lifted of conan's twitter profile

happy red cross month

its going to be another busy month for us at the red cross.
if you have any talents you would like to volunteer to make our load lighter let me know. :)
i could use videographers, photographers, writers, designers, cupcake makers, etc.

relief

below is a blog i wrote about a fire i went out on this week, enjoy.


When asked what it feels like to have the Red Cross help you after a fire, Alicia Klute replied in one simple word.

"Relief."

"It was relieving to know that since I don't have insurance, that if I needed help the Red Cross would be able to help me," Alicia said.

For Alicia's three year old son, Conlee, relief came in the form of a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal and a rice krispy treat.

The Klute's were able to take refuge from the bitter cold in the Red Cross's Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) while firefighters fought the fire that broke out this morning in their neighbors apartment. It's here in the ERV where our Disaster Action Team Volunteers can talk to families and offer them Red Cross assistance.

Assistance comes in many forms- helping with immediate needs like food, clothing and shelter. It also comes in forms of the heart through comfort and care. From a warm cup of coffee to a hug our volunteers excel at offering our clients what matters most- compassion.

Thanks you to our awesome volunteers who responded to this morning's two apartment fires in subzero temperatures: Ed Schwartz, Bill Dreyfus, Joe Zaki and Kim and Amy Burns.

It's their compassion that is turned into action that allows the Red Cross to serve those in need in the Omaha metro every single day.

The Red Cross depends on the generous support of Omaha metro residents to respond to our neighbors who are affected by home fires. You can help the Red Cross continue to be ready to respond and help fire victims by making a financial contribution to Heartland Chapter today.

To make a financial donation, visit www.redcrossomaha.org, call 402.343.7700, or mail a check to 2912 S. 80th Ave, Omaha, NE 68124.

For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires.

volunteer...

we want you.
come and check out our next 60 minutes with the red cross on march 10th at 9am and you can get the behind the scenes tour too!
you can also check out my latest newsletter here to see our latest news.