Just Because Day

Isn't it fun to be able to do something just because you want to do it.  There is some wisdom that must be followed here.  Not every whimsy is going to have a positive outcome or is a risk worth taking.  That said, I really wanted to embrace today.  I found it difficult to let my mind wander that direction with all of the regular life things that must be done, even though my whimsy was originally to blow it all off.  I did manage to get a few "in the moment" things to creep in to the mundane normal day.

I bought myself a dozen roses...just because I wanted some.
I bought a new game to play...just because it looked fun (and we played it today).
I bought movie theatre style candy...just because I like that little nicety (yum yum).

I wanted to get everyone a balloon bouquet, with the main balloon saying, "Woo! Hoo!"  That didn't work out because they were out of helium.  It was in the evening, and I didn't feel like driving around just to find a light-weight gas.  I was going to put one in J's car while he was at work, and the rest in the house in the bedrooms.  Oh, well!  At least I tried.  I told them about it, and that counts, too!

Sometimes you have to just make a decision to do something to enjoy a moment.  Some of those moments bring joy into a day for you or someone else.  And we know we can all use that from time to time.  The next time you feel like walking backwards, wearing mismatched socks, singing out loud, or eating breakfast for dinner...you just go right ahead.  If you have teenagers...their embarrassment will make it all the more fun.

National Toilet Paper Day

I didn't realize that today would honor such a monumental item in history.  Thanks to my mom's discovery, I added this to my calendar.  I am very grateful for the invention of toilet paper. I hope that it will always be around when and where I need it.

Some facts about toilet paper:

• 49% of people chose toilet paper over food as the item they'd want with them if stranded on a desert island. (source- online Toilet Paper Encylopedia)
• 72% hang their paper over the roll as opposed to under it.  (source- online Toilet Paper Encylopedia)
• The second most common use for TP is wiping your nose.  (source- online Toilet Paper Encylopedia)

In honor of today, Charmin (a popular TP brand) decided to have elections in order for the public to vote for their favorite Charmin.  They are holding a rally for this event in Flushing, Queens.  Thought that was clever of them.

For the fun, and in some cases, face scrunching facts below and a few other interesting bits, you can go to these links: TP facts 1 or TP facts 2

1391--The first toilet paper reported was used by the Chinese emperor. The paper was made in 2 ft x 3-ft sheets. The Bureau of Imperial Supplies began producing 720,000 sheets of toilet tissue per year.

Prior to toilet paper, these civilizations/classes commonly opted for the following:

• Wealthy Romans -Wool, rosewater
• Public Restrooms in Ancient Rome- A sponge soaked in salt water, on the end of a stick
• Wealthy French – lace, wool and hemp; bidet
• Middle Ages – hayballs, a scraper/gompf stick kept in a container in the privy
• Early Americans – rags, newsprint, paper from catalogs, corncobs, and leaves
• Viking Age/England- discarded sheep and lambs wool
• Hawaiians – coconut shells
• Eskimos – snow and Tundra moss
• India – your left hand and water
• Commoners – Defecating in the river is very common
• Sailors from Spain/Portugal – frayed end of an old anchor line
• Medieval Europe- Straw, hay, grass, gompf stick
• United States – Corn cobs, Sears Roebuck catalog, mussel shell, newspaper, l eaves, sand
• British Lords – pages from a book
• Elite citizens – Hemp & wool

Kiss-And-Make-Up Day

You may think this day is for couples having a "discussion," and not anyone else.  You would be very sadly mistaken.  Now, Kiss-And-Make-Up is a lot more fun if you are having an unhappy tête-à-tête with your spouse, but it is not to be ignored when it occurs with anyone else.  Don't even try to find a way to justify it.  You lose that argument.

Do you realize how many times in the scriptures it talks about forgiving someone who irks you to death, or even just a little.  TONS!  And a very substantially large number of them tie our willingness to forgive others to ourselves being forgiven by Heavenly Father when we goof up or are a big giant elephant's behind.  You also don't get to decide if something is forgivable or not...you forgive it all.  It isn't just for the other guy, but for EVERY person who has or will be born on this earth.  That means me; that means you.  I know there are some people who have really crossed the line, and no one would deny that.  Some are just simple misunderstandings that we just have to have the humility to clear it up. 

So swallow your pride, be the bigger and more evolved person, do what will free you from those yucky, pit of your stomach, make your chest hurt, make you look bad yourself, junk.  Don't be a hoarder of negative feelings toward someone- dejunkify (yes, I made that word up).  Forgive!  And remember two things, you forgiving them does NOT depend on them forgiving you and it does NOT mean you condone what happened...it is saying I'm not going to let it be a thorn in my side anymore.  One tip: make sure the level of the "Please, forgive me," fits the level of the wrong.

Here are 20 ideas to Kiss-And-Make-Up:
1.  Write them a letter (be nice, take responsibility- what would you want to read from them?).
2.  Call them up- almost a face-to-face (same note as #1)
3.  Talk to them face-to-face (this is sometimes not wise if it is too volatile...if it's a go, I again refer to the note in #1)
4.  Make them a plate of cookies or brownies or something (food is always nice- include a note).
5.  Go big and bake an oversized cake with the word's "I'm sorry" blazoned across the top.
6.  Send them flowers (with a note that says simply "I'm sorry."), and the bigger the oops, the more flowers you'd better send.
7.  Give them a hug.
8.  Write them a poem (sincere and corny is good)
9.  Send them a picture of a memory involving them with a nice note talking about it with the words, "I'm sorry."
10.  Write a note in sidewalk chalk at their front door, on their sidewalk, in their driveway.
11.  Leave a note on their car, under their wipers (don't use window paint for them to have to clean up- might not help).
12  Hang a bag of chocolates from their front door (include a note).
13.  Send them a bone and a "Message From the Doghouse."
14.  Send scrabble tiles with the word's I'm Sorry (you could do a picture of it, too).
15.  Make a list of all the things you enjoy/love about them (send it to them).
16.  Take them to lunch or dinner (pick a place they love).
17.  Do one of their chores for them.
18.  Plaster their stuff with "I'm sorry" notes.
19.  Grovel at their feet (don't get too silly if it's a serious mess up).
20.  Give them a balloon bouquet with "I'm sorry" written on every balloon or one letter per balloon.

Get out there, right your wrong, and Kiss-And-Make-Up.  Life's too short and too important to mess up a good relationship.  We need them!

National Waffle Day

Today is also National Knife Day.  I confess that I attempted to get a brand new set of cool knives for the kitchen.  It didn't go over...we have to wait.  Isn't that the phrase you just hate hearing sometimes.  Oh, well....I tried.

To preface today, G and I went to fabulous NYC a few weeks ago, just the two of us, for eight days.  So awesome!  We are foodies, so every trip we take is heavily researched beforehand on what delightsome morsels we can find and where we go to have our tatebuds blessed.  One of our favorites, we just happened upon one afternoon.  It was a food truck called Wafles and Dinges (yes that is how it is spelled).  They made the most divine bites of goodness...on a waffle.  We tried to find them again on the last night we were there, and we totally bombed out.  It was a very sad moment in our trip.

Yesterday (why I didn't think about this sooner), I decided I would try to recreate that heavenly food moment in my kitchen.  I had to figure out the waffle recipe first.  They use some very specific batter- from Belgium.  I knew that they had been part of Bobby Flay's Throwdown Challenge.  I found his recipe that he used to make a similar batter.  I figured he knew a thing or two about cooking and his recipe just might turn out okay.  That part was taken care of.

I emailed G at work about my plan.  It has been a long time since I had an avalanche of excited emails from him.  You'd think he was close to getting the okay from me to buy a Ferrari or something.  They were coming like rapid fire.  In a matter of minutes, we were both searching for the delicious spread used on the food truck.  I had the forethought to ask, while at the truck, if they sold their spread.  Yes they do.  Stupid me walked away without any.  You have to use this spread.  I'm sure they use this spread in heaven.  I emailed their company and they responded almost immediately as to how to get it here.  I ordered 10 jars!  spread link That should last for a few weeks.  They weren't going to get here in time (overnight was as much as the product- sad face), so I started finding out if I could get some here.  There are a few brands, and I found one is sold at a local grocery store...so that will have to do for today.  I must say, we are salivating for the arrival of the correct brand (it is the best...all kinds of awards and contests "best").  Done here.

This recipe isn't a fast one by any clock.  I knew they'd taste good because I sampled the batter and found it a sweet delight.  I did have some problems.  Problem #1: My stand mixer really struggled with the dough.  It is my first time using the dough hook, but I still don't think it should buck like a rodeo bull.  Problem #2: When it came time to put in the butter, I didn't think I would ever finish adding each little cube.  Problem #3:  I can never get anything that uses yeast to raise...no matter what I do.  My cooking skills are allergic to yeast, I have decided.  Mine weren't any bigger that when I put them on the pan.  Back to Problem #2:  I had liquid butter lakes surrounding each ball of dough after sitting to raise.  Silver lining #1:  I didn't have to grease my waffle iron the entire time because of those lakes of butter.  Problem #4:  When you try a new recipe for a waffle iron...you burn a few trying to find the right setting and timing.  Silver lining #2:  Not all of the "trial" waffles were very burnt, and I got to nibble on them...definitely yummy.  All-in-all, I'm glad we made them.  Here are some pictures of our gourmet dessert time tonight.

J- I think this is #3.

G- His is all gone!

P- The "spread" being spread on #2.

National Sponge Cake Day

I made my very first sponge cake.  I believe I'm going to have a lot of firsts in this blogging adventure.  I'm amazed at how many days involve food, and food that creates big butts at that.  You don't see National Asparagus Day or National Eat Something Good For You Day.  We'd all make a scowl and find something else to occupy our efforts.  Can you imagine trying to convince your kids to be excited about National Clean Your Room Day (okay, that's not food).  My husband, my very healthy eater, suggested I skip this one, but no...I halved the recipe so we wouldn't have so much laying around.  I still have about a dozen cupcakes from the other day tempting me each time I walk in or out of the kitchen.  I digress... back to my sponge cake.
 
I love the website allrecipes.com.  You can find great recipes there.  It's like choosing a hotel...5 star recipes are better than 3 stars, but 3 stars aren't necessarily bad.  This is the fabulous place I found my delicious recipe for this sweet and airy dessert.  Recipe Link
 
It was quite an interesting process for me.  I have a stand mixer with only one mixing bowl.  I required two for sponge cake.  I attempted to turn a regular mixing bowl into a substitute bowl #2.  I was trying to mix everything together while spinning and twisting this sorry attempt at a twin, all while measuring and dumping in ingredient after ingredient.  My fingers occasionally found themselves in the path of the quickly whirling beater which yielded a lightning movement away by my hand.  That is not a pleasant experience.  After a few minutes, I made sure my husband knew that a second bowl for my mixer would be a great birthday gift (that's coming up).  After this mixing achievement, I had the long arduous wait of an entire hour (or until done- how silly is that) for it to bake.  Don't you just hate the minute by minute wait when you want to devour what is baking, and you can smell it no matter where you go...well, you could leave the house.
 
My husband made some yummy, sinfully good homemade chocolate sauce.  It was the perfect "frosting."  It could be the perfect anything.

Here's my cake, cut into slices- since I halved the recipe I baked it in a loaf pan.

Delicious!  I got three thumbs up.  My husband and I downed a little more than half before we realized that we hadn't called the boys down to enjoy any.  Darn!  My scale will appreciate them eating the rest.  This recipe is a keeper.  It's a good 4 star delight.  And it is all gone.

National Be An Angel Day

There are a few definitions for angel.  I cannot at this point in time be the most commonly known being from Heaven (at least I sure hope that's not the one soon to be attributed to me, that's a whole different blog).  I have never seen these divine messengers of Heavenly Father, but I know they exist.  I can be two other definitions (as can every one else).  Provided by the wonderful dictionary.com, here are my two definitions:

1.  a person who performs a mission of God or acts as if sent by God.

2.  a person having qualities generally attributed to an angel, as beauty, purity, or kindliness.

 

Definition 1:  a person who performs a mission of God or acts as if sent by God.

I have always believed that one of the responsibilities we have on magnificent Earth is to lift the burdens of one another.  Christ lived the perfect example of this, and He would do it Himself if here on Earth.  Since He is not on the planet at this particular moment, WE are His hands.  I remember creating a video with the title of "We Are His Hands" for a training of Primary (church organization for children ages 18 months-11 years old) leaders and teachers, which also included Cub and Boy Scout leaders on this very subject.  In the video were pictures of Christ with children followed by a teacher or leader doing something similar with or for a child.  It was amazing, if I may say so.  The knowledge that we have within us the capacity to be His hands and to bless someone's life as He would is empowering.  We have been endowed with everything we need to serve each other completely and exactly as needed with His guidance.  We are presented with opportunities, usually daily, sometimes quietly and sometimes screaming in our face, to aid someone.  Our only error is when we choose to not act or do it grudgingly.  So, to be this definition today required some paying attention outside of my focus, not a characteristic of an ADD brain working on projects.  My opportunity presented itself very late last night, actually today by the time it jumped up and waved its arms.  I was helping a friend with some copying that she had forgotten about for a school event the next morning.  I realized there wasn't enough paper to finish, and it was the wee hours of the night (really morning).  She was prepared to run some over then, or come extra early in the morning to bring it to me, all while being up very late herself and having to be at the event for which the copies were intended quite early.  I thought that those options would be easier on me, and then I thought, "What would be the best for her?"  You see, that's what Christ would think (at least I eventually got there).  She had to pick up the copies anyway, but I had her come on her way to her event instead of early.  She dropped off the ream at the same time.  I made the copies, and then brought them to her.  She probably got an extra hour of sleep doing that, which was precious given her day today.  I know I'd have appreciated it tremendously.  It was a little thing for me, but big for her.  These types of things usually are that way.  They frequently come as little miracles for the receiver.  The moral here: pay attention and act!

 

Definition 2:  a person having qualities generally attributed to an angel, as beauty, purity, or kindliness.

I love this one tremendously.  I want so very much to embody this definition.  Wouldn't you just love to hear this definition used to describe you as your eulogy (again...not trying to make myself part of the legions of heavenly hosts)?  What do you want people to say about you?  This month is also What Will Be Your Legacy Month.  Can you imagine a better defining character?  Our world is filled with harshness, cutting edges, difficult realities, people living facade existences based on facade lives we get from various media sources, selfishness, and the list goes on.  The trick is to be in the world but not of it.  This can be, and I guess I should really say it is, quite challenging.  Seeing beauty and purity and kindliness in our world offers hope that it is attainable, real, and precious.  Seeing it in others inspires us to be the same.  Who would you inspire if you were beautifully radiant with these qualities?  What would this change in your little part of this world?  Whose life could you transform?  Even one person is a joyful happening!  The thing about it is this...it's never just one...it is always at least two, you and the other person.

Here is a great video that eloquently talks of angelic characteristics (BibleVideo-Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes)  Video Link

 

Think hard, or not so hard, just pay attention.  Find at least one person today that you can be an angel to.  Sometimes all you have to do is smile!

National Lemonade Day and National Cupcake Day--Combined!

First, no I am not missing two posts.  The last two days were a wash.  They were both "life happens" day, which isn't nationally recognized by Congress.  If it was, I'd have been very successful.  Oh well, "life happens," and I have to move forward.

Today was full of "Days."  I chose two of them and decided to mix them up....literally.  It was both National Lemonade Day (super yummy) and National Cupcake Day (super duper yummy).  This one has been on my radar for a while now, with my desire to have a lemonade cupcake increasing ever so much as the day creaped closer.  Now, my reflection in the mirror of my hips is screaming "stay away," but I am choosing to ignore it today.  I have eaten a lot of salmon and fresh veggies the last little while, so I'm snubbing my loud-mouthed hips and having a cupcake (or two).

There are a billion recipes out there, but they really boil down to a handful of different basic recipes.  Hmmm...which one inspires me?  First dilemma, what flavor.  There's the delicious stand-by of the good old fashioned lemonade;  then the combinations start to come into play...raspberry lemonade, strawberry lemonade, pink lemonade, other flavors other people have come up with lemonade.  I made it easy...I sent my husband to the store to get the ingredients and told him to pick whichever flavor of lemonade he wanted.  Whew, glad that task is taken care of! (The other part about sending him to get it all...he got two of everything "just in case" I "decided to make double or messed up or something."  How sweet of him, I think.)

Here is what I created:

They were good.  I tweaked the cupcake batter.  I made up my own version of the frosting, and it needed to be stiffer.  I also need to work on my swirl.  Guess a job at Dairy Queen may have come in handy.  All in all, for a first time, I didn't do too bad.  I think that I will play around with both the cupcake and frosting recipes and perfect them, maybe try a homemade cupcake rather than starting from a box mix.  That's for when I feel industrious.  I want more lemonade in my cupcake and less in my frosting.  It would be fun to put some lemon zest or yellow sugar on top, or a lemon wedge decoratively placed like they are in the fancy pictures.  I can pretend I'm a gourmet baker.  Actually, there is lemon zest in the frosting, so I'm a little fancy.

Next time, I might try strawberry lemonade with a strawberry filling of some kind and a whipped topping style frosting, AND I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR NATIONAL LEMONADE DAY OR CUPCAKE DAY!  I can work on my swirl, too.

National Thrift Shop Day

I have never really been one to shop a Thrift Store or for antiques or something.  I always wanted new stuff.  Maybe it was all of the hand-me-downs from when I was a kid, maybe I'm just vain.  Who knows?!  When my daughter was getting married she chose a modern vintage theme.  So, for the first time, I went into an antique shop.  I fell in love with TONS of stuff there.  Ideas were racing through my head on where to use them as is or how I could repurpose them.  The only obstacles in my path were not enough money to get them all, not enough time to do all of the projects, not enough room in my house or my walls for all of them, and my husband would so freak out.  Some are amazing ideas (all of mine are you know), but not all of them really fit my home.  Just minor issues, really.  (I keep telling myself that.)  I have been in a few others since then, and have learned there are good thrift/antique stores and bad ones.  Bad ones are not very inspiring.

Recently I have been interested in making a particular set of items that utilize items you would find in one of these gems.  Here is what I want to make (I found these on pinterest).

Bowl and a plate turned into a cake plate

OR

Stemware and plate turned into a cake plate

Here is a link to a pinterest challenge for it as well.  Challenge Link

Soon...very soon...I will make some of these.  I wonder if my dear sweet husband would build me a room off my kitchen to store all of the cake plates in all of the fun styles that I could make, and then sit through all of the parties I'd need to throw to use them all.  I can hear the laughter spewing from him now.

Here is another great link to some common things you can find in a thrift store and what you can do with them.  Other ideas link

Happy Thrift Store Shopping!

National Tell a Joke Day

I told my husband what today was, and his reply was, "That's funny."  He is funny, just not now.  I can be funny, but much of the time it is accidentally.  I inherited that from my mother.  I have asked a few people to come up with a joke for today's blog.  I had to give a few rules since the males in this household immediately began to tell every bathroom joke they could think of.  Goodness!  I'll go it on my own, I think.

Here are some good jokes for today...laugh away!

A doctor tells a guy: "I have bad news. You have Alzheimer's, and you have cancer." Guy says, "Thank goodness I don't have cancer."

''Dyslexic man walks into a bra''
A young blond woman is distraught because she fears her husband is having an affair, so she goes to a gun shop and buys a handgun. The next day she comes home to find her husband in bed with a beautiful redhead. She grabs the gun and holds it to her own head. The husband jumps out of bed, begging and pleading with her not to shoot herself. Hysterically the blond responds to the husband, ''Shut up...you're next!''
A guy shows up late for work. The boss yells, “You should’ve been here at 8:30!” The guy replies, “Why? What happened at 8:30?”

Squirrels had overrun three churches in town. After much prayer, the elders of the first church determined that the animals were predestined to be there. Who were they to interfere with God’s will? they reasoned. Soon, the squirrels multiplied. The elders of the second church, deciding that they could not harm any of God’s creatures, humanely trapped the squirrels and set them free outside of town. Three days later, the squirrels were back. It was only the third church that succeeded in keeping the pests away. The elders baptized the squirrels and registered them as members of the church. Now they only see them on Christmas and Easter.

Psychiatry students were in their Emotional Extremes class. “Let’s set some parameters,” the professor said. “What’s the opposite of joy?” he asked one student. “Sadness,” he replied. “The opposite of depression?” he asked another student. “Elation,” he replied. “The opposite of woe?” the prof asked a young woman from Texas. The Texan replied, “Sir, I believe that would be giddyup.”

Two campers are hiking in the woods when one is bitten on the rear end by a rattlesnake. “I’ll go into town for a doctor,” the other says. He runs ten miles to a small town and finds the only doctor delivering a baby. “I can’t leave,” the doctor says. “But here’s what to do. Take a knife, cut a little X where the bite is, suck out the poison and spit it on the ground.” The guy runs back to his friend, who is in agony. “What did the doctor say?” the victim cries. “He says you’re gonna die.”

Best Friends Day

Loved today!  I have so many great friends, BUT to be a best friend requires a bit more.  You really have to be there to make that list.  There is an Arabian Proverb that goes something like this:

" A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart,

chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it,

keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."

I have a few that could fit that list, but just a few, and two top the list.

My husband is numero uno on that list.  Love you, honey!  He knows how I tick (a little more than I prefer sometimes), what my downfalls are (still loves me and still tells me how great I am), and puts up with my grumpy side (well...sometimes he says something).  We love each other even when we stink (mostly him, not me very often...cough, cough) or we say something totally unintelligent (again rarely me).  We are free to be goofy around each other without embarrassment.  We even don't mind being around each other's morning breath, with a few exceptions.  He's been a part of my life for 21 years, longer now than I have been without him.  He got the evening portion of today.  As expected, our kids took some of that time, but NOT ALL OF IT.  We are having one of our favorite treats (hot rice with butter, sugar, and cinnamon...so yummy!) and chocolate chip cookies with three kinds of chocolate in them and then hopefully a movie at home.  I'm guessing the movie might end up being pushed aside with a few other things...kid and life things.

My number two is Heather.  We both had a list of items of our own today, but managed to fit in a mani/pedi this afternoon.  We've both been either out of town or busy with our own family stuff or sick, and we just haven't had a lot of time to do much together this summer.  Heather and I have known each other for a few years now.  Our kids are close to the same ages.  Heather is someone that I learn a lot from.  She has a lot of characteristics that I would like to develop, really great ones.  I really didn't have a best friend until I met her (husband excluded).  I am grateful she is in my life.  I have a ton of fun with her, and I am, just plain and simple, a better person because of her.  We can tell each other stuff that we just need a female for or because our husbands are just males and don't communicate like a female (doesn't that just stink).  So, anyway, today we decided to be a little bold with our toes.  I'm sure our daughters would laugh at the thought that what we did we even consider bold...compared to their toes... but for us, this is bold.

I'm on the left, Heather is on the right.

I paid for hers and she paid for mine, which worked out well since they cost the same.  I'd have loved more time with her, but our families beckoned our attention.  At least I can look at my toes and remember the fun afternoon I had.

Today, think of your best friends of the past and present.  Think of the great memories you've created together.  Life is full of joyful times, and a best friend certainly is part of those.  I am thankful for every single moment I have with mine.

National Creamsicle Day

Sweet, cold, creamy, fruity, smooth, refreshing, fun...all words to describe my creamsicle.  We got the skinny ones to give some appearance of making a healthy choice.  My youngest, upon finishing his, promptly asked if he could have a second.  So, in true mommy fashion, "Yes, if you do the dishes first."  He's in doing them right now.  Bribery is great!

Popsicles are such a part of summer, as is delicious ice cream.  Whoever thought to put them together was  inspired.  We could imagine that it was someone whose mom made him choose between a popsicle or ice cream all of the time.  "You can't have both."  He sat in his room stewing and thinking, "When I grow up and move out of here, I'm going to have them both at the same time."  He did one day, and wallah (if that is how you spell it), the idea was born.  That would be a really great story if it were true.

Actually, according to Wikipedia (the all-knowing internet information bible), the popsicle was invented on accident by an 11 year old, Frank Epperson.  In 1905 in San Francisco, Frank was mixing a white powdered flavoring for soda and water out on the porch. He left it there, with a stirring stick still in it. Isn't that just like a typical kid, they want to create and leave a big mess instead of cleaning it up.  That night, temperatures reached a record low, and the next morning, he discovered the drink had frozen to the stick.  Inspiration!  Eighteen years later in 1923, Epperson introduced his more developed treat to the public at Neptune Beach, an amusement park in Alameda, CA.  It was a big success, so in 1924 he applied for a patent where he called it "the Epsicle ice pop".  He renamed it to Popsicle.  Rumor has it that his children made him change it. In 1925, Epperson sold the rights to the Popsicle to the Joe Lowe Company of New York. In 1989, Good Humor, a subsidiary of Unilever, bought the rights. Unilever also owns Creamsicle.  Although Creamsicle is actually a brand name, the word is used as the general name for any type of desert that combines vanilla ice cream with a layer of frozen fruit flavored ice over it.  Orange is the most popular flavor.

So a kid did invent it, but not because he rebelled against his mother.  Aren't you glad he forgot to clean up his mess, though.

National Filet Mignon Day

Well, there is nary a man around (except a vegetarian or vegan) that doesn't want to celebrate today, and I'm sure several women would like to be included.  My husband and boys did not fight me the least little bit at having Filet Mignon.

It wasn't cheap in the least, but it was delicious....so they told me.  (Cue the tears and sobs)  I am still recovering from my unhappy tummy bug.  I had "lightly seasoned" rice and potatoes while watching them devour the juicy, and perfectly seasoned, morsels of goodness, bite by bite.  We happen to have had the missionaries over for dinner, who were excited to get something totally out of their ability to eat right now.  We offered to let them take home the last two slabs of scrumptiousness.  One said, "We won't turn you down."  Smart young man!  It was bittersweet to let them go.  Part of me was relieved to see what I was missing removed from my sight.  The other part was holding on to the sliver of hope that tomorrow, just maybe, I could slide a knife through the tender cut of meat and savour the juiciness and flavor in my own mouth.  Just a dream.  Off it went, to two individuals who will very much appreciate it as they eat them.

On a different odd note, it is also National Lefthanders Day.  Here's a list of some Lefthandeders (some call them southpaws):

Leonardo da Vinci
Babe Ruth
Barack Obama
Bill Clinton
George H.W. Bush
Ronald Reagan
Ringo Star
Paul McCartney
Whoopi Goldberg
Nicole Kidman
Oprah Winfrey
Jerry Seinfeld
Julia Roberts
and a WHOLE LOT MORE!

I was surprised at how many more Presidents of the United States were left handed.

So, I salute all the people who write crooked and have to have special scissors.

National Middle Child Day

My son is getting the benefit of today, Middle Child Day....our middle child is J.  However, to follow suit...this day is largely ignored (my husband's funny joke).  We teased our son, and asked him what he wanted for a special dessert for today so we knew what to forget to make.  Now, I have four kids, but my second is the only girl.  She was kind of separated by that fact, making my middle son, the stereotypical middle child.

Today, while playing a game of chess, he was beating my husband, and I quickly asked my husband out loud, "Are you letting him win?  It's Middle Child Day."  My son, while laughing, I think secretly didn't like that, because he very adamantly defended his chess playing ability.

Jordan is the white pieces.  He did win eventually.

Since I'm still under the weather, today won't be as exciting as I probably would have made it for him.  Sorry, honey!

My husband's sister and her family came over for dinner.  Jordan was given the honor of the "Star of the Day" plate.  Of course, he had to set the table, but didn't seem to mind when I suggested he put that plate out for himself.  We are having milkshakes later (well, everyone but me...stupid stomach bug).  His choice for dessert...maybe we'll pretend that we forgot.  Aren't we cruel.

To honor my son on this wondrous day:

He's one awesome young man.  He is very diligent to the things in his life that are important to him.  He is one of the top students in the nation (yes...I AM BRAGGING!).  He is faithful to his Heavenly Father (MOST important of all).  He is a gentleman (most of the time...he is a male...sorry, men).  He is a phenomenal artist (went to State last year...yes, BRAGGING AGAIN!).  He had the most adorable giggle when he was little.  He always got the hiccups if you got him laughing hard enough.  He used to say, "Stop making me laugh!  I'm gonna get the hiccups."  He got the hiccups ALL THE TIME when I was pregnant with him.  My stomach would get a rhythmic jolt for a good 5 minutes or more.  I can still make him smile almost whenever I want (bugs him to death).  He's a great scout, serves those around him, loves his country, loves his family (protective-like), and is loved by those in his life.  He is very quick-witted.  His intellect is so amazing to behold.  He can hold his own with most adults in a conversation because he doesn't just have the information in his head, he understands it.  He works hard (except when he really wants to be lazy).  He was a decent swimmer and wrestler, but decided to focus on school to get a scholarship.  He's not sure what he wants to do when he grows up.  He graduates this school year, so that will come.  He's just purely wonderful.  I love him...can you tell!

So, Happy Middle Child Day, J!  You deserve it.

Presidential Joke Day

August 11th

This should be fun.  The current President is Barack Obama.  I don't have any problem telling jokes about him- not a fan.  So here are some funny ones I found from a few comedians.

"President Obama has revealed his new re-election slogan — 'Forward.' That's a good message for Obama. He's telling voters, 'Whatever you do, don't look back at all those campaign promises I made.'" –Jay Leno

"Conservatives are now criticizing President Obama because as a child in Indonesia he sometimes ate dog meat. But on the plus side, Obama is now polling very well among cats." –Conan O'Brien

"President Obama admitted this week that a former girlfriend that he wrote about in his autobiography was made up and not a real person . . . So Obama had an imaginary girlfriend. Big deal! He had an imaginary economic plan. It’s all the same." –Jay Leno

"It's weird to me what Obama chose to fabricate in his memoir. It wasn't something cool he made up, like hitting six home runs in a little league game, or faking his own birth certificate. No, it was something lame. He just compressed the details of several girlfriends into one character. I'm thinking, oh, very smooth. Because if there's one thing I know that women love, it's being blurred together with other women." –Craig Ferguson

"Rush Limbaugh said yesterday that Obama never would have tracked down bin Laden if it weren't for George W. Bush's policies. Although in fairness, Obama never would have even been elected if it weren’t for George W. Bush's policies." –Jimmy Fallon

          OKAY- that got two Presidents

"President Obama said in an interview over the weekend that he really misses being anonymous. He said, 'I miss Saturday mornings rolling out of bed and not shaving, going to the market...' Be careful what you wish for, 2012 is just around the corner!" –Jay Leno

"President Obama announced that he will run for re-election in 2012. Unfortunately, his popularity is so low that he's running on the slogan, 'I'm Michelle Obama's husband.'" –Conan O'Brien

Okay, okay....

Obama can tell some good ones, too (or at least the speech writers can).  At a recent dinner:

How is the presidency aging Obama? The president showed a photo of how he’d look in several years, and Morgan Freeman’s face popped up.

Obama on Romney: “We both have degrees from Harvard. I have one, he has two. What a snob.”

Hopefully...they'll be telling jokes about a new president in a few months...if you get my drift.

Lazy Summer Day

August 10th

Today is National Lazy Day and National S'mores Day.  I was more than just super excited about today.  Permission to be lazy and eat a s'more...who wouldn't want that.  Today was also my anniversary, so being lazy equated to having F-U-N.  Combining the two events was a great coincidence.

First, I slept in.  I didn't even pack until just before we needed to leave for our first activity...racing top of the line sport cars.  I raced a Lamborghini LP550.  My husband raced a Ferrari F430.  Our boys (yes, we took them along for this part) did a ride along with professional race car drivers.  They rode in a Porsche 997/911 Turbo and an Audi R8.  They certainly had a blast.  Can't say that I didn't love my little jaunt at speed either.  That power is quite intoxicating.

G- Ferrari F430

Me- Lamborghini LP550

J- Audi R8

P- Porsche 997/911 Turbo

We separated from the boys at that point and went on to our hotel.  We booked a 5 star hotel (first ever-except for the one in Singapore that the company put G in).  We had booked a suite, but when we got there they were....unfortunately...all taken, so they upgraded us.  Darn!  They upgraded us to a penthouse suite.  Surprise!  We stayed in the Dorchester Suite, two stories of opulence from days past.  The shower alone was bigger than most people's closets.  Talk about luck for a lazy day!

We changed and went to our favorite French restaurant, Bistro Provence.  We made sure we had the Crème Brûlée....so divinely delicious there.  From there we went to see a play in the Theatre District....C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters.
Tomorrow we have shopping plans, but....halfway through the play... a different lazy day set in.  Whatever I ate (which was the same thing my husband had) sure didn't agree with me.  I then spent the rest of the evening curled into a little ball on the bed between runs to the bathroom.  Needless to say....we didn't have s'mores.  SO VERY SAD.

The beautiful bed I curled
up in at the hotel.

The day didn't end the way I had planned, but it did end with me knowing how much my husband loves me.  That was more priceless than anything else that we might have already spent our time enjoying or missed out doing.  My lazy day had a silver lining around its cloud.

Books, Glorious, Books

August 9th

Today is Book Lovers Day.  I absolutely love a great book.  You know the kind that you are up half the night (or all night) because you have to read just one more chapter.  Those are great.  There are love stories (real ones, not the ridiculous Harlequin style stuff), the comedies, the westerns, the biographies of amazing people, the fiction, the "based on a true story," the fantasies, and the list goes on and on.  There are so many wonderfully penned books to devour.

One of the first books that I really fell in love with was Plato's Allegory of the Cave.  I loved relating it to so much of life at the time, and it still applies today.  It was my first experience at a book that made me stop and think, ponder, and allow for me to apply something to myself and who I was and wanted to be.  I'd read books that came close, but that was my first totally life changing experience with a book outside of the two that always do it (The Bible and The Book of Mormon).  I think that was where the idea of being a therapist of some kind really began to solidify.  I'd thought about it, but this one made me see how we can influence others for the better (hopefully not worse).  The idea that I could do that was alluring.  It also was the beginning of the stirrings to be a motivational speaker of some kind.  I wanted people to see more than just the facade, the reality of all they were capable of becoming.  Dreaming....a good book plants those seeds.  Pondering brings the plan that leads to fruition.

I recently came across a new book that I am so excited to read.  It's called Life Rocks! How Firm Is Your Foundation? by John Bytheway (you can get it here:  click here for book ).  His video montage for the book caught my attention, and then I read an excerpt from this fabulous book.  In the first chapter, Bytheway talks about experiencing difficult times and our reactions to them.  Sometimes we complain.  A quote form this chapter reads, "Maybe the Lord loves you too much to let your life be easy. If your life were easy, you wouldn’t grow a bit, you wouldn’t learn a thing, you wouldn’t become strong and courageous and experienced. If everything happened exactly the way you wanted, you’d become a weakling, and you’d never know what you were made of."  The preceding text and what follows were simply amazing and food for thought.

I also love books with strong women.  Strong, to me, isn't the stereotypical feminist of the 80's and 90's who didn't need anyone and could do whatever she wanted, but a woman who knows who she is (or at least figures it out during the book), has convictions and stands by them, protects those most precious parts of her and the people in her life, and isn't afraid to be vulnerable.  Her courage and faith lead her to do the best things, not just what she is capable of doing.  My favorite female heroine is Esther from the Bible.  I also love Jane Eyre.  My modern day heroine is found in a biography as well as in books she authored herself.  That is Marjorie Hinckley.  (Everything Marjorie)  She was real, and spoke the truth (which usually came out with quite a bit of humor), and loved with all her heart.  She is a woman who is quoted on a regular basis for those words of wisdom.

Literature doesn't just simply entertain.  The best books teach.  The best books inspire.  The best books make us think.  The best books empower us with something new we didn't know or understand about "us" before we read them.  Grab a good book and start reading.

August 8th
Happy Happiness Happens Day!  What an awesome reminder day!  We all have those days you want to just go back to bed or scream at the top of your lungs (have you ever thought of what an odd phrase that is).  Sometimes those days last a little or a lot longer than a day.  That's when you really need a Happiness Happens Day to remind you that joy is there and real.  I thought for this day, I would make a list of 25 things that make me happy on a regular basis.  You know, the things that you can't dismiss as a random freak occurrence because they are there all the time or close to it.  Here you go:

1. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
2. The Bible and The Book of Mormon (yep, I'm Mormon).  I love these books.  I'm so grateful for the wisdom in their pages.
3. My gorgeous and amazing and intelligent and talented husband treats me like a queen.
4. My four kids (five if you count my son-in-law) are absolutely awesome and really great individuals trying their best to be their best.
5. My parents raised me well and taught me the important things.
6. I have the best friend (outside of my hubby) in the world.
7. I have a home.
8. I'm not afraid of hard work...maybe I'm not a huge fan of it, but I'm not afraid of it.
9. My mind works (now my kids might tell you something different).
10. Heavenly Father created an exceptionally beautiful world.  Have you noticed how many unbelievable views and vacation spots there are?  Have you seen all of the beautiful sunrises and sunsets.  The waterfalls, the cute animal pictures, the funky animal pictures.  The list is endless, and I doubt any of us haven't been inspired by nature more than once.
11. The laughter of a little child.  I still get all sentimental when I think of listening to my kids giggles when they were little.  I loved them all, but my son, J, had the most intoxicating giggle.  I NEVER tired of it...and I miss it.  Guess I need to pull out the home movies.
12. Learning is great.  I love to learn new things.  I love knowledge.  I love that my choices are better, that I can help my kids with their homework all the way through high school (well...most of it).  I love experiencing a new skill.  Learning opens doors.
13. I love the look my kids get when they've done a good job and they know it.  Not an arrogant look, but still an "I really did that well.  Good job, me.  Did you all see what I did?" look.  I love that!
14. I love looking at pictures.  The memories of fun and happy times, of people who aren't here any more and the time I was blessed to have with them, the goofy moments, the what was I thinking moments...all are never boring.
15. I love a really good joke.  My dad has a million of them.  My kids have a million of them.  My husband tries to have a million of them.
16. Laughing at myself.  I "occasionally" have a very rare moment where my brain takes a break.
17. A great book is fabulous.  I like a lot of different genres.  But my favorites are the one where you have to read just one more chapter.  I'm really tired when I read those books, but I love them.  I also love the ones that cause me to ponder and learn and become a little better person.
18. Good grades-  my kids do get them...along with a few of the others here and there.  Good grades make me VERY happy- cheaper car insurance is a plus!
19. Air conditioning!!!!!!  I don't think any one questions why this makes me happy.
20. An inspired dish is just taste bud changing (can't say life changing because that is just an exaggeration).  Those dishes where the textures and flavors and smells just make you melt in your chair, the ones you'd eat forever if your stomach would let you.  Just remembering some of them makes you melt.
21. Scouts- I love those rough and tumble boys.  They have a unique perspective.  They are also future husbands and fathers and the scouting program is one of the best ones out there to help them be the best!
22. Gentlemen make me happy.  I appreciate the gestures of a door held open for me, a seat given up, ladies first, all of that stuff.  I guess it's the respect, at the heart of it.  There are many gentlemen out there.  I appreciate dads who teach their sons to be gentlemen and women who are thoughtful enough to accept this graciousness from their husbands/boyfriends and sons and really any man. 
23. Music always stirs the soul.  The soul may be at peace or feeling a little rowdy, but there's nothing like a good piece of music that gets the inner you stirred up.  Hymns or rock and roll, Broadway music or lullabies...I love them all.
24. CHOCOLATE!  I can't imagine life without this delicacy.  Cake, brownies, ice cream, hot chocolate, in a candy, covering stuff, inside of stuff, for dipping, in solid form, in liquid form, just about anywhere.  I remember driving down the streets of Hershey, Pennsylvania one night with my head hanging out my car window and taking very long, deep breaths.  The scent of chocolate was everywhere!
25. Fresh baked anything.  Don't you love walking into a home and smelling bread or cinnamon rolls or homemade chili?

There's my list of 25.  I'm sure I could add to it, or change it if I really took time to think about what my top 25 would be, but these are 25 off the top of my head.  It would be amazing if everyone took time to think of all of the things in their lives that made them happy.  I think we'd have less grumps in this world and a whole lot more smiling.  Happiness does happen, all the time.  We just sometimes have to look for it or remember it on those days where Murphy's Law seems to be controlling everything.  I say smile and start thinking about it on more that just Happiness Happens Day.

National Root Beer Float Day

August 6th

Who wouldn't like a root beer float?!  It should be right up there with baseball and Mom's apple pie.  The first day of my year of celebrating something every day certainly has a super yummy start.  I'm not complaining...and neither was anyone in my family (which is one of the best parts).

On Mondays (or another day if Monday doesn't work) my family has what's called Family Home Evening.  It's a chance to spend time together learning or studying something (usually a churchy topic or a skill), and sometimes we include a really fun activity, or do just that.  We do it as a family, and it is an important part of our week.  And we ALWAYS have a treat at the end.  The fact that it was National Root Beer Float Day made that choice rather easy.

After our learning moment...a little longer than a moment...we all hopped in the car.  I'm pretty sure my boys were more excited about this part that the learning portion.  Off to Sonic!  Regular root beer floats or blended root beer floats?  What a tough decision!  BLENDED!  We got the big giant size, too!  I guess I'll work that off tomorrow in the gym.  It was super duper good (please excuse the drift back to the past there).  The creamy ice cream mixed with the vanilla-ee (is that a word) rootbeer was sweet heaven in my mouth.

Sorry, I don't have any pictures.  Since I'm just starting this project I haven't gotten all the processes worked out.  Just imagine a mom, a dad, and two teenage boys happily holding very large Sonic cups and smiling ear to ear for the camera.

Tomorrow is Happiness Happens Day.  Can't wait!

My Fun Project

So the other day I was on the internet (not a big surprise) and discovered that this particular week was full of some amazing little "National Day of..." gems.  I definitely wanted to participate in some of them since they would be deliciously enjoyed or would create a day full of happy rays of sunshine.  I was commenting on this to my husband.  When he heard the list he was in.  I then said that I would love to find all of the fun ones and do as many as I could.  That's when his brilliant mind suggested that I do it as a blog...kind of like in the movie Julie and Julia or the lady who did a crock pot meal every day.  I thought it sounded fun.  Of course, to do one every day will be challenging.  The planning ahead part will be important.  So...off on this fun challenge I go, dragging my family and maybe some friends right along with me.  If I don't get every day in...I AM NOT A FAILURE!  I do have a life outside of this.  But, I'll give it all I've got...and I hope you try it along the way here and there with me.