It's Friday!! Well... almost...

Hi all!  We've almost made it.  Has it seemed like a long week to you?  I don't know why some weeks are short and some are long - why we even bother counting them, lol.  What do the lines on a calendar mean anyway???  but - we're here.  It's the end of January and Friday is just around the corner...  My son lives in Minnesota and we were conversing yesterday about being careful in the cold.  It was 20 below where he is at.  Not the wind chill factor, but the actual temperature!!  I don't know how people live there.  Apparently this was warmer than it had been during the night...when it got to 50 below...

one of the weather men did a demonstration on how important it is to bundle up in sub zero tempuratures.  He did it with a banana.  He peeled one and put it out and put another one next to it still in the peel.  Left them for about 3 minutes or so, and then when to investigate.  The peeled one was frozen solid!! The one with peel still on it was soft.  That would be a good science experiment with kids!

anyway - onto the fun stuff....  Yesterday was one of my favorite things...


Croissant Day! I happen to love this flaky, buttery pastry.  Especially dipped in hot chocolate...which is handy today is a celebration of that too, lol.  The continental breakfast used to be fruit, croissant and hot cocoa/coffee.  Now it's sweet rolls, some fruit and whatever else is handy.  UGH.  Most of us here use croissants to have with chicken salad... but I love them plain.  My daughter works at Kneaders (lovely bakery restaurant that it is) and they sell this twice baked version that has cream cheese and almonds...oh my...  it's melt in your mouth yummy!!  You'll have to try them sometime.  But I couldn't let the day go by without encouraging you to have one - even though it was yesterday!!


Inane Answering Message Day - I always have to post the clip from Studio C where Jason is doing voices for his voice mail.  I mean....it's awesome!!  :)

Inspire Your Heart with Art Day - what a wonderful thing!  Being an artist, I feel that art is essential to our well being.  I mean, color is such an important part of our world!  A teacher I work with told me that she has 4 color blind students in her class this year.  4!!!  and one of them has no color...everything is shades of gray.  Can you imagine a world where everything was gray!??  She said that someone told her he was a problem child - and she said to me, wouldn't you be a problem child if your world was gray??  I had to agree - what would be good?  What would lighten your spirit??  Sunsets would all be shades of gray...  flowers would all look the same.  Different shapes, but same colors...  that seems sooooo sad.  I wonder if the special glasses they have made for those that are color blind would work for him?  I would help fund that!!  Anyway - enjoy art today.  Either find a way to see some, or create some.  Here is a clip from Ferris Buellers Day Off where they are in an art museum.  It's a start... 


National Hot Chocolate day!! the fitting way to end the celebrations list...  one of my favorite things.  What is your favorite kind?  Stephens?  homemade?  with whipped cream?  mint flavored?  I think my very favorite is dark chocolate with a hint of orange.  Mint is good too...  LOVE with whipped cream...but marshmallows work to.  My grandchildren love the mini marshmallows.  They think any chilly morning is good for hot chocolate.  I think they're probably right...  I know it doesn't take much for me to want some, that's for sure.  I've often been tempted to buy one of those silly little chocolate machines that only make one or two cups...but they seem so fruitless.  If it's just me, I have the microwave.  If it's my family, we have a large tea kettle that will give everyone hot water.  And if I'm really wanting good stuff, I have a crock pot that will keep it warm all day!!  :)

Well...  Hope you keep warm and have an excellent day.  It's good to be alive!  I'll leave you with  my very favorite scene from Ferris Bueller's Day Off...  Hope you enjoy.  :)

Welcome to Monday!

It's Monday...the start of another work week.  Last week of January, beginning of February, and a great day to be alive, right??


National Kazoo Day - Well, if you had been in my family's Christmas party this past year, you would have seen the kazoo at work!! We take turns each year on who does/shares a talent and it was my brother's family.  They always do crazy stuff, and this year was no different.  They handed out kazoos to everyone and we all sang ...uh, kazoo'd Christmas carols with them.  It was sooo hilarious and fun!!!  I never would have thought of it!!  So...  in honor of the day, here's a version of a song that my daughters and I love...lol.  Anyone remember Rick Astley?  He's baacckkk....



Rubber Duckie Day - rubber duckies unite!  Did you have a rubber duckie in your tub?  I don't know that I ever did, but my grandkids have!!!  In fact, we have probably four of them for tub toys.  I'll always remember Sesame Street...



 
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day - I finally found a clip of this that I can share!  Though, it's a video of it being shown on a tv, so not the best, but the best thing to do with bubble wrap besides just popping with your fingers!  :)



National Blueberry Pancake Day -  apparently there are a couple of other pancake days during the year, but this is blueberry pancake day.  We love blueberry pancakes at my house, in fact, I think we love blueberry pretty much anything.  We tried freeze drying blueberries over the weekend, and they were awesome!!  My daughter said it was like eating cereal...lol  My hubby didn't think that was a compliment.  We usually have them with whipped topping on them... like IHOP serves them. 
Anyway - enjoy blueberry pancakes!!!

So - I think it's going to be a great week.  Hope you find something to be grateful for!!  We have to replace our water heater today - it died yesterday.  It's new!!  We only replaced it in December!  so...  while we didn't have hot water this morning, we still had running water and I think this is definitely a first world problem, lol.  I'm thankful I have a hubby who knows how to do this kind of stuff!!!
 

Happy Friday!!

I just noticed that I do that for Friday's a lot...  Hm, I might need to start figuring out another way of celebrating Fridays, lol.
I wasn't going to post, but there were several things to comment on and my public needs me, lol.  Riigghhhhtt....
Anyway, I'm trying to be positive today, and it's a good thing it's Friday - that's all I can say.

there aren't a lot of celebration things...  but anything is good, right?


A Room of One's Own Day -  This is more for youth, I think.  We adults pretty much have a room of our own...or can make one if we need to.  Or should be able to...  Even it it's a closet, right?  lol.   I have a corner office of my own!  great views...no walls, so it's open to the rest of the house, but it's okay.  It's my desk and the mess is mine.  :)  although I have to say, it's all nice and clean right now.  Semi-organized...

Fun at Work Day - We all need to have fun at work sometimes.  I mean, work is what enables us to live as we do - but it doesn't mean we can't enjoy what we do, or who we work with, or have fun with everyone.  So - have fun at your job today!!  If nothing else, have a 'walk the hall competition' and play some music.  You'd be surprised what good music will do for morale.  :)  a good game of twister will loosen everyone up too...lol

National Irish Coffee Day - this is also observed on St Patties day...but I think that's all things Irish, lol.  I'm not a fan of coffee, but I do like mint flavored stuff...like mint flavored hot cocoa.  Isn't mint like ...Irish??  I've always associated it with them, but it's probably not.  Well...anyway, have some lovely mint cocoa and top it with whipped cream, and pretend.  I mean, who will know or care??

National Pre-school Fitness Day -  I think this is funny, personally.  I have grandkids, and two of them are preschool age right now, and there is NOOOO problem with them being fit.  They love running around, playing outside, etc. I do have one that's older that doesn't do much at home, apparently, and does more at our house or with her cousins, and you can hear the breathing stressed out trying to keep up.  But she's not preschool, so I guess that doesn't count.  Anyway - my preschoolers love to dance.  Even my 2 yr old grandson...  Put on some good dance music and he's moving his hips and trying to dance, it's awesome.
I think this video of the Piano Guys cover of Can't Fight the Feeling is a good way to look at it...dance like no one is watching!!


Have a great weekend!

Well... some times it's not worth getting out of bed.

I tell ya!  I think I'm determined to end up in a hospital bed in traction.  I'm not sure...but between last Friday and yesterday, I think I'm working on it.  Last Friday I tried sitting down on one of those rolling chairs...but it didn't like me and rolled away, landing me on the floor.  I was soooo embarrassed!  sigh.  And then yesterday, the carpet grabbed my shoe as I'm walking down the hall and I almost fell.  I didn't, but I guess I shifted something and my same side I landed on Friday was not happy!!  UGH.  I spent the rest of the day limping around and feeling it in my shoulder too.  Finally ended up going to Instacare - (sorry, really don't like workmed!!) and the doctor could only suggest that I ice/heat it and take ibuprofen.  Unless I wanted to do an xray, which I didn't really. 
So, went home and ice/heated it and took Ibuprofen and had the best night sleep I've had all week!!  wow. 
I'm still going to my chiropractor this afternoon though...sigh.  Anyway, see what I mean?? I think I'm really trying to break a leg or something.  Hope you have all had a non-injurious week so far.  :)  At least the cough is getting better!!

On that note... there are a couple of fun items for the day.


Belly Laugh Day -everyone can use a good belly laugh.  There's something about things that make you laugh that hard.  Usually it's friends talking and telling stories...children doing silly things, (my daughter when we get laughing together sometimes I can't breathe!!) - a raspberry on my stomach with make me laugh real hard!!  Sometimes a movie will make you laugh.  I know we all find this guy pretty funny...

though I don't think this is the funniest thing he's done.  It's good, but not belly laugh good.  I'm trying to think what has made me laugh that hard - this one though... ALWAYS makes me laugh...

But I have to say.... of all the people that could make me laugh, Robin Williams was king.  Here's one of my favorites from Patch Adams:


National Compliment Day -  everyone deserves a compliment.  It makes everyone feel better and usually brings a smile to their face.  Try it...you'll see.  :)  You look very nice today, by the way.

National Peanut Butter Day -  Peanut butter!!!  I grew up on peanut butter...I love that stuff.  I'd come home from the local swimming pool, cut a slice of french bread (we almost always seemed to have the stuff around) and slather it with peanut butter.  I fed it to my children from the time they were little and half of them don't like it, won't eat it, lol.  But it would still be my go to snack...it's good on celery, crackers, bread...  sigh.  Although...the Jif people sponsored a contest for the best unique ways to use peanut butter, and I would never have thought of putting peanut butter on any of these...  well, have done pancakes, but otherwise... thenibble.com has more recipes from previous years too.   Me - I'll probably just go home and have a piece of bread with peanut butter...I don't have any celery, lol. 

Talk Like A Grizzled Prospector Day -  well - I'm not sure I'd really want to talk like a grizzled prospector, but someone might...I know my cub scouts would think it was hilarious, lol.  I remember the guy from Blazing Saddles...  not that I'd recommend anyone watching the whole movie -sigh - but parts are good.  :)


Hope you have an awesome day!!

Welcome Tuesday...

And cold temps.  I got in my car and it said 19 degrees.  ugh.  I like winter! But I'm really glad I have a son that is willing to go start my car and get the defroster ready so that when I go out it's already warm!!  :)   It was a happy moment.
We've all been recovering from colds/coughs at my house this weekend.  My hubby was still out there shoveling snow and scraping off the solar panels.  He's not one to do the whole man-cold thing unless he's running a fever...then he'll wrap up and hybernate.  Me?  I like any excuse to not have to do stuff - I think I'm a sloth at heart...sigh. Especially when it's cold outside.  I'd rather curl up in front of a fire with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book.
It was still a productive weekend for all of us.  How about you?

So...there were lots of things that we missed due to it being the weekend  and I couldn't let them just go by...

Sunday -

National Cheese Lovers Day: I couldn't not mention this day!  Cheese is one of my favorite things...and I've come to discover that I have an expensive palate.  I would prefer Havarti all the time...and Brie??  YUM!  However, I do like cheddar and montery Jack...and mozzarella and stuff.  I just prefer the creamy cheeses....  Do you have a favorite?  We love fondue at my house too.  This is one of my favorite movies - food and a good story!  One of the fun parts...cheese!! 


World Snow Day - if you haven't heard of it before, no worries - most of us haven't.  It was created to bring children to the wonders and joy of snow.  Who knew?  I guess it's for those like me who grew up in California in the no -snow areas.  :)    The first time I saw snow, I thought it was amazing!!  When I moved to Utah and watched it snow for the first time, I couldn't get enough of it.  I still love to watch it snow.  Especially the BIG flakes...  What is your favorite snow activity?  If I'm dressed warm enough, I like a good snowball fight...otherwise I like to be inside watching everyone else outside...lol
Yesterday
National Hugging Day - this is also held in May...I guess they think we can handle having two days of the year of hugs.  I like me a good hug!  I have a dear friend that every time we see each other we have to hug.  It's just the best thing ever.  I don't think you can hug grandchildren too much either...though they may tell you that's not true.  :)


Rid The World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day - This was something I had to share just on principle...I mean - I think the word 'diet' was a word invented by the devil.  Seriously.  There is nothing for stressful for women (some men, but mostly women) in this world than the idea that they have to diet.  Weight is a constant struggle in todays society.  If we had lived a hundred years ago, we wouldn't even be worried about it.  We would be more worried about how we were going to eat, lol.  Hundred and fifty years ago we would have had to work too hard in our day to day world to even think of trying to loose weight.  I agree that we need to be healthy.  And fad diets do not help that.  I'm not saying that we should all be fat and out of shape...  but I find that if I'm worried about how much I eat, or how many calories are in something, that's all I think about and it consumes my day!  UGH.  Just saying...  Okay - enough of that rant...sorry. 

So - we come to today - and there's only one thing worth mentioning.
Answer Your Cat's Questions Day - I mean, your cat has many questions! I found a video clip on youtube once about a cat that was keeping a diary about being held prisoner by humans...  It's pretty funny, but I can't find it so you'll have to be investigative on your own.  I used to be a cat person...  I still like cats over dogs.  But I've found that I love them as kittens...and then they grow up and scratch your furniture and use your plants as litter boxes and walk all over your table and counters.  UGH.  So, sorry, not that big of a cat person anymore.  They are great outdoors...or someone elses cat.  sigh.
and if you like watching those funny videos of the crazy stuff cats do - here's one for you.


the only food option for today is National Blonde Brownie day.  I don't like anything but gooey chocolate brownies, so I'm not a big fan, but I know there are lots out there who are - so enjoy.  I mean...why else are they called brownies if they aren't...brown???  😋

Well - have a great day and a great week! 

Happy Friday and long weekend!!

Greetings to all!!  Hope you have a wonderful day planned.  We were supposed to get this huge winter storm that hasn't happened.  It never seems to do when they do the whole alert bit.  I figure we can relax when we get the warnings, lol.

Yesterday was Cable Car Day... and I wanted to post a scene from one of my favorite movies, but I can't find the clip.  If you've never seen Yours Mine and Ours, you really need to watch it, it's lovely.  :)   But there's a scene where Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda are on a cable car in San Francisco discussing how many children they have between the two of them.  Lucille exclaims - "Frank!  We're on a cable car!" he says "I know."  She says "I get sick on cable cars."  He says "Wait till you hear how many children I have."...  It's great.

Anyway - onto todays tidbits...

Bean Day - This is supposed to be promoting the eating of beans.  The link that Brownielocks had wasn't good anymore, so I'm not sure, but it did go to the Bean Institute.  There's lots of jokes about beans... 'Beans beans, the magical fruit - the more you eat, the more you toot!  Let's have beans for every meal!'  ugh. Especially if you grew up with boys...  One of the reasons I got one of those electric pressure cookers is so I didn't have to soak beans overnight to use them without using canned ones.  So far I've only done beans once in it, and it died half way through the soup... so, still working on that.  :)   What's your favorite dish with beans??

International Fetish Day -  Do you have a fetish that drives your family or friends crazy?  Or does someone else do stuff that drives you crazy??  This is the day to celebrate!!  We all have little quirks and habits that can grate on others...  some more than...  but anyway - it's what makes us all individual and special. 

Pooh (Winnie The) Day -  One of my favorite characters!!  If you have a chance, you should watch the new one with Ewan McGreggor - it's really well done!!  But I raised my kids on Winnie the Pooh, and my mother raised her kids on him, and it's been a family favorite since I can't remember when.  I felt everyone needed to hear the song.  :)



Thesaurus Day -  being a writer, the thesaurus is one of my favorite references.  I use it a lot when I'm searching for a word that isn't the same old thing.  It's convenient to look up on the internet as well, when my copy doesn't seem to be handy.  Everyone wish Mr Roget happy 240th bday!  wow...that's old...

National Peking Duck Day - I don't know anyone who really eats it, but I'm sure there are lots.  Its supposed to be really good.  I just remember seeing it in the Christmas Story where they go to have Chinese food for the first time. 


well - hope you have a great weekend.  Every day is a treat, right?  :)  In case you missed it (like we did because of the fire on the parade) Alex Boye was in the Rose Parade this year!!  singing his Lemonade song....so I'll leave you with that today.  Lemonade is my favorite treat!!

It's Wednesday! Hump Day...and snowing!

Which is my favorite thing!  :)   I was REALLY hoping it would be a snow day, but I should have known better - we don't get that kind of snow anymore.  sigh.   At least we got some!  and we're supposed to keep getting it, so I'm happy, lol.  Did anyone make bagels last night?  I was totally going to and then found some in my bread box.  so...split one with my hubby.  Didn't get to the ice cream bit though - we don't have any frozen bananas right now, dang it.

So - today is finally some fun stuff. 

Appreciate A Dragon Day - If anyone has read the Pern books by Anne McCaffrey, then they know dragons.  Those are the ones I always think about when I think of dragons. There are others...the ones in Harry Potter are a little more dangerous...and scary.  I like the Pern ones better. 
Which book have you read that you like the dragon the most?  How about How to Train Your Dragon??  that one is good too.  This day was started back in 2004 to promote literacy - I think it's an awesome idea.  :)


Civil Service Day - I always comment on this day because my father-in-law was a civil air patrol member.  How many can say that?? Then I found out our neighbor has a daughter who is doing it, and I was impressed.  My father-in-law went all over the globe in his civil air patrol stuff.  I think it's awesome.  What other civil service would you like to mention?  Possibly all those air traffic controllers who still have to work and don't get paid right now...  
 

Fig Newton Day -  Did you know these lovely little cookies have been around since 1891??  It's amazing.  Nabisco was formed really close to that time, and they bought the recipe and marketed it.  My hubby LOVES them.  They are usually reserved for road trips, but I've been convincing him that he can eat them at other times.  Which flavor it your favorite?  He likes the original flavor.  I like the raspberry ones.

National Quinoa Day - If you like grains, then this is probably tops on your list.  I think quinoa is okay, but I don't see the big fuss over it.  They keep saying how it has so much protein and added stuff.  Well...you don't get a whole lot per serving.  And you have to mix it with other stuff to get any real benefit from it.  It does have a little more protein than brown rice per serving, but more carbs and not much less calories.  I figure for 1 cup of grains, I want something that's going to stick to my ribs.  sigh.  I do like it in salads and mixed with rice.

Nothing Day - This is always good.  A day to do whatever you want, or nothing at all.  And you can say you're just following the crowd!  lol.  I love this one video of a man talking about the difference between men and women and how men have a 'nothing' box in their head.  Have you seen that?

It's a little blurry, but it's hilarious. 


Hot and Spicy Food Day - that means if you like hot salsa, you need to enjoy yourself with some spicy stuff and chips.  I'm NOT a hot and spicy food buff, so I won't be celebrating.  I'm a very mild sauce person...  I like having an esophagus.  :)

So - whatever your plans for the day, hope it's a great one.  :)

 

happy Tuesday! and a treat...

Hi everyone!!  So...since everyone is on the sugar free band wagon, and there are challenges around the neighborhood galore, I thought I'd share today's food day....  😈

it's National Bagel Day - which means you can have a yummy one slathered with cream cheese.... or some almond butter...  or some avocado.  yum...  I'm not sure if the no sugar people are talking ANYTHING with sugar, which means like ketchup, etc...  if so, that's no bread products as well.  Unless you do biscuits...they don't have sugar!  😊  But anyway - bagels are good.  My favorite is the wild blueberry at Einsteins bagels...  mmmm.  And for those of you who are avoiding carbs... here's a site that has an easy yogurt bagel recipe...

And then it's National Strawberry Ice Cream day.  So...in keeping with the no sugar idea, you can have ice cream, it's just made differently.  If you want some strawberry ice cream, freeze a banana  or two...freeze some strawberries. 

Then in your vita mix (or food processor of choice) you combine them with a little bit of milk - like half cup - (whatever milk you want - skim, coconut, almond...) and wah-lah!  You have strawberry ice cream!  No added sugars besides the natural stuff in the fruit.  You could even sprinkle some dark chocolate on it...add nuts...go crazy! 

side note - don't expect it to taste like the rich creamery ice cream that has tons of cream and sugar in it.  😎  It's going to be smooth, sweet and tasty, that's all we need, right?  😊

Have a great day!!

Happy Friday!

Hey everyone!  It's Friday.  I realized that it's been a while since I've sent out a silly email, so I figured it was the perfect day to do it.  Hopefully  you've had a great week - it's been crazy on my end.  My work has been running to my schools and carrying files and it's been a workout my arms weren't expecting.  They are finally starting to feel better...

Did you like waking up to fog this morning??  I love it.  I remember (way back when) we would only get the inversion during the winter, right after Christmas, and it would coat the trees and everything with frozen crystals.  It was sooo pretty.  I have always loved fog - my hubby says that's what comes of growing up in California, lol.  I could always tell when we were getting close to the beach though, the fog!!

Anyway - there isn't much by way of silly holidays today.  There wasn't even anything worth  mentioningg in food besides it's milk day...and hot toddy day...sigh. so I'm going to share my own fun stuff.

First - it's learn your name in morse code day.  Personally, I think you should make up your own code and see if people can figure it out.  😊  How inventive are you?

I wanted to share the scene from Hunt for Red October when the US Sub captain is signalling the other sub and he says - "That's okay, my morse is so rusty I could be sending him dimensions for playmate of the month."   but no one has a video clip of it.  

Anyway - here's a good winter scene for laughs.  It's one of our favorite parts of the movie While You Were Sleeping. 

😊

And of course, we all need a little of Mr. Brooks...  Here is his New Years resolution clip:

although I have to say - I still think he needs speech therapy!!  Deanna, am I right???

and since everyone is wanting to be ANYWHERE else but here right now because it's cold, snowy and foggy (which I love, lol) here's a little beach vibes for you:

Hope you have an awesome day and great weekend.  I'm gonna go find some hot chocolate.  😊

Happy New Year and all that stuff....

My daughter reminded me that I haven't posted in a while.  What can I say??  I've been busy with family and work and haven't had a chance to even think about a blog.  sigh.  Hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas - we actually had EVERYONE home for the big day...it was crazy.  They stayed ALL day too - which wasn't entirely expected, but it ended up being nice.
No one showed for our family party - so we had fun by ourselves.
No one showed for New Years - so we toasted the new year and had a balloon drop by ourselves.  It was fun.  Ended with staying up till 2 am playing Mormon Bridge...lol.  why do we play that game???
Anyway - very wintery and cold our way.  Kind of usual stuff.  Finally going to go see our family movie today (we usually go the day after Christmas, but all the tickets were sold out) and that will be fun.
Did you do lots of exciting stuff during the holidays?  Yesterday was our second to youngest son's bday.  He's 25 now... and we were teasing him he's a quarter.  :)   It's so strange when your kids get older...  I mean, that means I'm getting older...and it's just not right, lol.
Well...  Hope all is going great in this new year for you.
Have a good one!!