Julie Ryan Evans

I have produced prose professionally for most of my adult life, adore alliteration, and prefer to write with an actual pen. Along the way, I have earned a black belt (and a few black eyes) in multi-tasking. In any spare time, I watch copious amounts of reality television and run recreationally to preserve my sanity and out of necessity to keep up with my 7-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter.

Sipping on:

Chardonnay and Diet Coke--always in tandem

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Julie's Latest Posts

Recipe A Day

Yum!
Red, White & Blue Flag Cake Recipe for a Patriotic Memorial Day

posted by Julie Ryan Evans 4 hours ago in Food & Party

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Break out the white pants and shoes, Memorial Day weekend is here. It's such a fun and festive weekend that signals the start of summertime and all the season brings, so we should ring it in right. This gorgeous and delicious flag cake is the perfect way to do so.

While you can decorate the outside with strawberries and blueberries or other festive toppings (lit sparklers are fun!), it's what's in the middle that really wows. There hidden inside is a flag. It provides a sweet little bit of patriotism in every bite. The following recipe is from The Secret Life of a Chef's Wife, and while the instructions look long, they're really quite simple, and definitely worth the work!
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That's Criminal
Rapper Allegedly Faked His Own Death for Despicable Reason

posted by Julie Ryan Evans Thursday at 10:54 PM in Entertainment

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It's not every day that a judge issues an arrest warrant for someone who died about three months ago. That's just what happened this week, however, in the case of 1990's rap star "Tim Dog", whose real name is Timothy Blair.

Best known for his song "F--- Compton", it was with great sadness in February that fans learned the rapper had died, reportedly after a seizure related to diabetes. Only now, it turns out he may not have died at all, and is merely faking his death to get out of paying court-ordered restitution to a woman whom he allegedly swindled out of $32,000.

Could he really stoop that low?
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This Just In
Mistrial in Jodi Arias Sentencing Case Means the 'Jodi Show' Continues (VIDEO)

posted by Julie Ryan Evans Thursday at 9:14 PM in In The News

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Today was the day we thought we might finally learn the fate of Jodi Arias, who earlier this month was convicted for the murder of her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander. Instead of learning whether she'd be sentenced to death or life in prison, however, the judge declared a mistrial.

According to USA Today, jurors deliberated for 14 hours over three days, but were unable to reach an agreement. When the judge announced the decision this evening, Arias could be seen breathing a sigh of relief; most of the rest of us are left reeling with the realization that this case will drag out even longer. This is means we have to start over again. This means more Jodi of whom we long, long ago had more than our fill.
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Awww!
Dad Turns 4-Year-Old Girl Into a Total Geek & Couldn't Be Prouder (VIDEO)

posted by Julie Ryan Evans Thursday at 1:24 PM in Toddler

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Having a 9-year-old son, I have some knowledge of superheroes, but I'll go ahead and admit that the 4-year-old in this video, Mia Grace, knows more about comic books than me, my son, and most you put together.

Her dad asks her a series of questions, and from the name of Thor's brother to what makes up Captain America's shield, she nails them one after another. At first, it's like, okay, she memorized a few, but as they go on, you realize how deep her knowledge goes. And how much this tickles her father. I have no clue what she's talking about for a good chunk of it, but she's so adorable, it really doesn't matter.
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Inspiring
Company Recruits Autistic Workers & Gives Parents Hope

posted by Julie Ryan Evans Thursday at 11:46 AM in Big Kid

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When I talk to parents with children who have autism, they often reveal their worries about the future. After the initial diagnosis and navigating the school years, they look to the future with trepidation not knowing what lies ahead in the "real" world for their children. Will they be able to find jobs? Will they be able to support themselves? So one big company's move to recruit autistic workers is incredibly welcome.

According to ABC, German software company SAP, which has more than 65,000 employees worldwide, plans to hire people with autism as software testers, programmers, and data quality assurance specialists. The company says it sees a "potential competitive advantage to leveraging the unique talents of people with autism, while also helping them to secure meaningful employment."
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