Random eve

Are we ready for the holidays here at our house? Well, I don't want to be showy, but two bathrooms are clean...granted that is out of three, but I didn't want to seem braggy. I mean look at all of the food that was in my refrigerator the other day...

Apples are totally carvable! Well, unless these are from the recently publicized listeria tainted batch. Despite having already eaten nine of them (don't judge, I did not consume a single one by myself at any one sitting) with no issue, the rest are waiting in the produce drawer until my neurosis passes  the brands involved are confirmed.

Maybe I should've hired a feline personal chef for the holidays.

Instead, I am here with the Foz, who can't even find his way into, let alone out of, a hat! To be fair, it was a little small...

...so he passed it on to his friend Fitz, who clearly LOVES it!

Speaking of hats, here is Paddington tipping his.

Holy crap! Who creeped up Paddington?!?!?! I will not look after THAT bear.

Well I am feeling pretty on top of things and organized. I found the dining room table as well as most of the kitchen counter. As usual, I imagine that can mean only one thing...I have forgotten something major!

Be good to yourself, eat many cookies, sneak in one more latke, and have yourself a merry little Christmas and Happy Hannukah (with your choice of spelling).

Week 28 - Twizzlers are Great!

Hmmmm...I don't see a letter posted up over at the competition's place yet today. I hope she has not been involved in an altercation with a group of elves gone bad. Then again, if they could just occupy her long enough for me to get some more letters out and win this thing. That is just the kind of thought process that puts coal in my stocking. Let's move on to my letter for this week. Try to act surprised that it involves candy!

February 10, 2014

Dear Twizzlers,

I remember getting ready for a car trip and having a friend ask me if I had Twizzlers, as they were the only necessary road trip food. I happily declared that I had a bag in the glove department. Twizzlers have been a part of my family for as long as I can remember. Back in the seventies, my grandfather showed me where he hid his licorice stash in the kitchen cupboard. Strawberry Twizzlers, and Twizzler Cherry Bites if I was lucky.

Everybody knew where the bags were tucked, as my grandfather was always one to share, but it still felt like a rite of passage to be able to grab one’s own licorice. You also had to know that if you were sent to get some for my grandfather, he needed two. He held them close together and took small nibbles all at once until he got to the ends. Nobody ever turned down an outstretched bag of Twizzlers. It brought us all together. Still does.

My grandfather passed away in 2006, but we all still have Twizzlers as one of the things we hold dear to remember him by. This was most apparent this past holiday season. I was looking to bring back a few old traditions, so I made sure to put a box of Twizzler bites in each of the stockings I made up for the great-grandchildren. It was nice to see the knowing smiles on all of my cousin’s faces as they watched their children pull those boxes out. Even the two year old among them knew exactly what those candies were. There were other bags of licorice being opened as well, that had been exchanged amongst other family members. It brought me back to when all of those bags were getting handed to my grandfather, as we all sort of had that as a go-to gift idea.

As luck would have it, I married a candy-holic with a particular penchant for Twizzlers. There is rarely a time when a quick perusal of the pantry doesn’t reveal an open package of some variety. Both of our kids have been trained to never pass when the bag comes by. When I flash forward to the college care packages I will be sending in a couple of years, I know that Twizzlers will always be in them.

Your candy has been there in times of laughter, sorrow, munchies and memories. Thank you!

Twizzling away,
Andrea 

Mother, Queen of Candyland, Blogger

Did Twizzlers send some love back to me? Well, they are actually owned by Hershey's, so that is where my response came from...

...Now while I was directed to a website to find some coupons and such, I was still a little sad as I looked at the single sheet of paper I had pulled out of the envelope. Then I noticed that word at the very bottom..."enclosures"! Here is where the contest aspect of this project may have just taken hold of me, as I picked up the phone and dialed the phone number that Brandon had given me. I explained that I had gotten a letter that said "enclosures" but had none. Yes, I did that. Was it worth it? Well, that depends how you look at it. I did get a decent laugh when I found out what they were intending to send me.

Yes, my love of Twizzlers licorice got me a brochure on how chocolate is made, from bean to bar, and three chocolate candy wrapper print bookmarks.

I am not exactly sure how to score this one,  so I am giving it two points (since I can print my own coupons out and did receive something).

CURRENT POINT TOTAL = 62

Random request...

The first wave of goodies to send in for the teachers is almost ready, provided I can magically get the magic bars out of the pan (the last attempt was a bit sticky)!

Can we random it up tomorrow? Thanks! I owe you a cookie!

Superhero Sunday - If you can't stand the heat...

…get your super self out of the oven!!!

Don't forget to treat yourself!

Week 27 - Stir up the Campbell's

In honor of the return of winter, and the first snow day of the school year we had this week, let's warm up with some soup!

March 12, 2014

Dear “Soup is Good Food” Folks,

Soup is good food, and after several trials with a variety of Italian Wedding soups, I was pleased when my teenage daughter announced that Campbell’s Homestyle Healthy Request is her favorite.

Let me set the stage for you. The predicted winter storm hit us here in Central New York, as the rain turned to snow, around 8:00 this morning. The kids had another snow day, but I had some errands to run. The slippery road conditions sent me home with a few items not crossed off of my to-do list, one of which was ingredients for dinner. I was surveying the cabinets to see what odds and ends I could come up with to satisfy everyone. My daughter announced that as long as we had a can of her favorite soup, she would be all set. Luckily, I found one last can.

The afternoon stormed by, and our driveway shoveling left us chilly and hungry. I was so relieved that I did not have to worry about dinner for at least one of the four of us. Plus, the added bonus was that I knew she could fix the soup herself when she was ready. The lid was peeled back, and as she poured the soup, she quickly realized there was no pasta…none. There were very few carrots either, which she said was unusual, but certainly not the deal breaker. She was not interested in this sad can of soup. It is still sitting on the counter, as there were no other takers.

She did not want the can of store brand Italian Wedding soup we had, nor the can of Chickarina. She is brand loyal and likes what she likes. (I believe I mentioned that she is a teenage girl.) I hope this has not caused her faith to waiver, as this variety is a little tricky to find where I typically like to grocery shop, so I have to seek it out elsewhere.

Pasta la vista,

Andrea 

Mother and blogger

Did they respond? Yes they did! Do I still feel compelled to poke a little fun at the letter? Yes I do!

Not completely satisfied? Her soup was completely missing a key ingredient! I also like how the first paragraph knows exactly which soup we purchased, but in the second paragraph it's a toss up. Thanks for the coupons that got us some free soup though (even if we did have to brave the cold to go get it.)

I am taking 5 points for my free soup!

CURRENT POINT TOTAL = 60 POINTS

Stop by and see how the competition is doing!

RandYUM!!

Are you feeling that warm tingling of the holidays? No, not the stress induced heartburn, or cookie related indigestion! That glow that makes you want to hop on a motorcycle with Santa...

…or curl up next to that sultry side-posing snowman. (I thought he had just fallen over, but the propped up on his elbow and come hither look made me realize otherwise.)

Are your chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Are you brave enough to eat ones like these from a NYC food cart?

I still regret passing on the pretzel! Oh to be young and non-germaphobic again!

They probably aren't much more sketchy than scalp potatoes…mmm, flaky?

Does all of the craziness have you in a pickle?

(Oh my gosh, these were soooo good!)

Have you made poor choices for on the go lunch eating? 

If so, I hope you loved every minute of it like I did!!

Please, treat yourself to five minutes of sanity and funny by reading this Hater's Guide (to a very special kitchen store)!

Superhero Sunday - Regret

Perhaps if I had chosen to wear my cape, instead of just the wrong shoes, for the past two days, my back wouldn't hurt so badly.

Feel free to add your own holiday season grievance/kryptonite that threatens to undermine your superheroness.

Week 26 - Did you miss your fix?

After a one week hiatus, explained by several poor excuses, the contest lives on! Are you busy trying to find your kitchen counter after the holiday? Are you trying desperately to bust some clutter before the next wave of decorations come out? Let's celebrate the glory of housework with Swiffer this week!

June 30, 2014

Dear Swifferific Folks,

I do not like to dust.

I do not like to sweep.

Mopping alone,

Makes me want to weep.

The dust it flies.

The crumbs can’t be tamed.

Company is coming!

I must not be shamed!

But where is the glamour?

Where is the flair?

“In a secret box” you say,

Oh please, do share.

Cloths? 360s?

Opinions are differing.

But one thing’s for sure…

I’m not dusting – I’m SWIFFERING!

Thank you for saving me from the doldrums of housework, wayward dust particles, uncooperative dustpans and drippy mop water. I no longer have to use such sad words like dust, sweep or mop when I can say “I’m Swiffering!” and leave a little mystery surrounding exactly what I am up to.

Swiffering,

Andrea a.k.a. Pedomemom

Mother, blogger, keeper of the house

p.s. Such a great alternative to getting the edges of my cape dirty! Thanks for the return tweet on that one, by the way. It made my day!

Did they respond? Why yes, they did, in standard form letter style. The catch is that I cannot find the letter! Come on, don't be like that. My very fancy documentation system (a.k.a. yellow legal pad - see "legal") has a distinct "x" marked under the letter received column. Plus, I may recall being a little sad that there was no coupon included. So I will just take my one point and Swiffer off!

Current point total = 55

Stop by to see what the competition is up to!

Random excuses...

Let's see, where to begin...seems I may have neglected to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, so now that there is barely a smear of cranberry sauce or crumb of stuffing left, I hope you had a wonderful holiday. 

That covers Thursday, now as for Friday and the contest? Marianne might've requested that we take the week off, but my intent was to ambush her while she was still doing the backfloat in the gravy boat. Well, I was so prepared to travel that I loaded my letter up ahead of time, but forgot to take a picture of the response. In case that wasn't reason enough to not post, I actually had no idea it was Friday in that tryptophan haze until I woke up on Saturday. I can't even blame the trip into Manhattan on Black Friday for my distraction as we kept it simple and sane, just wandering on the fringes of the madness. 

Moving on...I did lose my voice somewhere in the festivities though, and apparently that rendered me unable to post on Sunday. I do understand that I should have still been able to type, but this is the excuse I am offering so can we just go with it? There is a rumor going around that yesterday was Monday, so I have no choice but to believe that this is in fact Tuesday. Let's do a little random check in on the Flats...

We packed up to head into the eye of the latest snowstorm. The Flats were so worried about the forecast that they forgot to pack sensible clothing. One of them even left in what might have been her party outfit from the night before (ahem). The pilgrims would have been so taken aback.

Even Flats have dreams, and occasionally get to live them out in an actual dream house. Yeah, that's right, move over Barbie cuz someone else is riding that elevator now!

My little princess niece was very pleased to meet these new friends, but thought showers were needed.

After dinner, my stepmother found some festive fabric so the Flats could be more appropriately dressed for dessert.

Lillian's pantsuit is rockin' and what doesn't go with green boots, I tell ya - so versatile! Just for the record, Kari was provided some fancy fashion flair for the Christmas season that she wore home. (I was slightly relieved to see another adult fall victim to the fun of the Flats.) I only hope the "ladies" can resist the magnetism of the elf on the shelf...stay tuned!

That's all for now, as I guess this place isn't going to decorate itself...rats!

Random thought

Amidst the stress joy of having a high school senior and the college application the holiday season upon us, I do find myself thankful for so many things. One such thing is being a relatively able-bodied woman, capable of trying to do everything...who just might want to fling mashed potatoes at those with their feet up watching her try. (Not those of you who are cheering though, you get pie...with a fork and plate.)

Superhero Sunday - Idle

Here we are, on the cusp of the nonstop food frenzy. You would think I'd be able to motivate this woman to walk, but alas, here she is using the cape as a mere shawl for warmth or some such nonsense. 

If she would just succumb to my superpowers, we'd be crocheting more than dishcloths! AND WE'D BE DOING IT WHILE WALKING!!!! Sheesh!

I can only imagine the plans she has to placate me with pumpkin pie!

Week 25 - Still Alive…with Sharpie

Here we are, just one week shy of the mid year point for this contest. I am not sure if that is to say that it will last a year, but if it did, we'd be nearly halfway through. Here is a recent entry that needs no explanation*.

October 4, 2014

Dear Sharpies,

Let me get right to the chisel point…I underestimated you, and I am sorry. You see, a project fell into my lap at the last minute yesterday. My son needed eight t-shirts, each boldly displaying a letter, so he and seven of his friends could spell something out for the senior class photo of over six-hundred kids. I needed big letters. I wandered around the craft store with my armful of white t-shirts trying to focus on what the sales associate was showing me for lettering options. I finally just went with my gut and left her for the Sharpie aisle.

There they were! All of the awesome colors and styles that dazzle my teenage daughter as well, but that is a tale for a different time. There is just something about a Sharpie though – so unique and trustworthy in its staying power. I grabbed three of the largest black Sharpies, as I certainly couldn’t expect one Sharpie to handle the task I had at hand.

Not only did I get through all eight shirts with ONE marker (is it okay to call them markers?), but my son wanted last names and “2015” on the back of each. Mission accomplished, and there is still life left!

Thank you for helping this frazzled mom keep her sanity by making the t-shirt task so simple. I may have also underestimated the powerful aroma of a giant Sharpie, but that was nothing a little fresh air between letters couldn’t cure.

Permanently yours,

Andrea 

Mother, blogger, doodler, labeler

*OK, maybe you'd like some explanation as to how the group decided on what their shirts would spell. I cannot help you there, as I watched part of the process and am still uncertain.

Did Sharpie accept my apology for underestimating their felt-tipped color magic? Well it took me awhile to figure out exactly who had responded based on the company name and then having to scan the letterhead to figure out who I had written to. 

The good news, apparently, is that if I have any questions I can respond directly to their email…meaning this piece of paper that came in a stamped envelope with no email address included. THERESA, HOW CAN I FIND YOU?! Oops, sorry, got carried away.

A point is a point, so I will take it!

CURRENT TOTAL = 54 POINTS

Stop by to check out the competition!

Anything?

While I have apparently mastered the notion of seeking out some sort of career and going back to work, many facets of that process elude me. The resume was updated, and I even managed to choke out a cover letter. Today I had an interview scheduled for 11:00. In other words, plenty of time to realize I had no idea what to wear. I know, I know, we've danced this dance around here before. I began the process just before 10:00.

Black pants seemed acceptable, as I told myself it was far too frigid out for anyone to expect me to wear a skirt. (Never mind that I do not have a cold weather suitable option, nor nylons for that matter.) I pulled layers together to give myself some sort of style, while making sure that if the office was roasting, I would still have on a somewhat sensible ensemble at the core (as long as I kept my snazzy scarf on). I pondered my hairstyle in relation to the wind I had been listening to all morning. Note to self: remember to shiver slightly and fluff hair upon walking in commenting on the blustery weather. Hmmm...pretty sure the sunkissed glow of summer skin left months ago. It was certainly cold enough out to give me some pink cheeks, but would the interview last longer than my color? I just sort of started rummaging around in the bin I have assigned to makeup. I stared down that foundation, but feared the risks outweighed any possible rewards. Mascara and a scribble of eyeliner it was! There was a short-lived swipe of lipstick from the nineties that fell victim to a piece of tissue.

I gave some thought to the strengths and weaknesses question, as I figured it was inevitably going to make an appearance. Here is the one I was not expecting, and completely unprepared for...If you could do anything at all, what would it be? I admitted that I did not have a readily available answer. I rambled on a bit about how that question can be difficult for parents to answer because for so long we have so many other things to consider...blah, blah, blah. Was I supposed to say "this job right here"? Nobody was going to buy that. Here are a few possibilities I didn't think of until I got home...

• "I wanna be a millionaire, so freakin baaaad" (obviously sung while standing on my chair)
• "A pretty pretty princess"
• "Background dancer for J Lo"

Maybe I will make it to the second round of interviews and they will ask again...I think I will say be a writer, unless you have another suggestion.

RaNdOmly running out of names for it

Sometimes when I sit down to write a blog post, I let myself get held up just trying to think of a title. Always admire alliteration...rhyme time's sublime...themes are helpful too. What to do when I just have a few disconnected and truly random things to share though? How can I distinguish one pooh flinging week in the jungle from the last? How many trains of thought leave for other stations in the time it takes me to decide on a title? Maybe in 2015, if I haven't run out of random, I will just number the weeks. Yes, that idea makes me feel less anxious already. Since I have randomly filled in the blank at the top of this post, I guess we are good to go...for now.

Are large black trash bags just not cutting it for you? Do you need a way to throw away smaller sized items without anybody knowing what they are? No, that's not overly specific or shady at all. Hefty has you covered, even if your secret garbage, that you need to keep in the dark, smells.

And now a couple of items courtesy of the Monkey in the Field...

Speaking of "in the dark", you will have to sleep with the light on (I guess the mask makes that easier) in order for your spouse to read the message...

...make sure to keep your face readily visible so there is no confusion.

It is always encouraging when word emerges that a cure has been found. I did not realize that cold feet AND ankles had reached epidemic levels. Wait, let me check again to see what these things are called...

 ...Mocsocks. Sounds familiar, yet so different. $25 seemed pricey at first, but this is a CURE, people! I can only hope that the same team is currently hard at work developing something for when my hands are freezing.

Until next week...

Superhero Sunday - Supergeniuses

Perhaps you read that our computer was ill. The folks at the genius bar tried a dose of something or other that didn't work. Their next proposed treatment plan was to wipe out the entire hard drive to fix the software...thousands of photos, thousands of words. Yes, we are those people, the ones who did not have a backup hard drive. They told my husband there was no other way.

I collected myself and called the little nearby computer place. I explained all that I knew from what the geniuses had said and asked if there was any hope, and they told me to bring it in. My husband rescued our computer from being damaged produce and delivered it to The Computer Outlet.

I got a call a couple of days later letting me know that our computer had been worked on all day...with NO problems. "Um, you mean it started?" "Yes." "And everything is there?" "Yes."

So pretend this cape is on Jeff, the superhero, from The Computer Outlet on Route 11 in Cicero. Had he not been so patient and helpful on the phone, we'd have let some other alleged genius wipe out our computer's memory...along with many other very precious ones! (And yes, that would be our new external hard drive under the Lego taxi.)

(Also, please pretend that cape is not so wrinkled!)

Week 24 - Oh, I've still got more!

I decided to take a page out of Marianne's brevity handbook approach to letter writing for the CONTEST this week. One of her fine examples was the letter she penned to Hostess. When I take a page, I take a page...so here is MY brief letter to Hostess! (Sincerest form of flattery Mare!)

Dear Hostess with the Mostess:

To yodel is difficult. We prefer the simplicity and jolly feeling a ho ho provides.

Ring Dings are an easy call to ignore. Ding Dongs demand attention!

That is all, as I believe a tasty treat is beckoning to me.

Yours in snack cakes,

 Andrea 

Mother, blogger, packer of lunches

Did they share their cream-filled moist snacky love?

HO HO, you betcha! Five points for me!

Total points = 53

Don't forget to check out what the HOOP-dee-doo is all about over at Marianne's place this week!

Happy Veteran's Day!

*reposted from 2011*

Thank you to all who have served, or are currently serving.

This picture was taken when my cousin (human Marine on the left) returned from Iraq five years ago. The shorter hunky guy on the right is Peter, who was so glad to have his daddy home. Only one of them is brave!

Superhero Sunday - Revival?

I had plans, or so I thought. How was I to know that a mere mortal and her everyday mundane tasks were no match for my superpowers? She must have had tremendous willpower to resist my ambitious thoughts. I was becoming increasingly alarmed at her lack of productivity and stagnant pedometer readings, so I snuck up on her when I figured she'd least expect it. She didn't have to walk on a chilly darkening evening, but my gosh, I sure did!

Luckily she didn't hide my cape very well. 

Pedomemom is back! (I hope.)

Quick question...does Batman wear purple pants? I thought not, so the preteen boy on my loop who shouted "Hey, Batman" was just misguided and uninformed.

Week 23 - Woe is me!

Well look at this contest still rolling along. Wait, did you say limping? Are you suggesting that I am running out of steam and/or points? Slow and steady people! Although our main computer that houses important stuff like five years of photos, three years of NaNoWriMo documents, and of course my company letters, is currently under the weather. The diagnosis was not so grim, but the treatment plan was terrible, so we are relocating it to a different facility...fingers crossed. 

Luckily, in my Wilma Flintstone fashion, I do have most of my letter drafts scribbled out in pencil on lined paper. Apparently the scratch of lead on paper is more motivational to me than the clickety-clack of the keyboard, or that blinking cursor is just far too daunting. 

Let's bring some balance to the candy festival this week and go with Kashi!

Dear Kashi,

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways, beginning with Cinnamon Crumble cereal. A bowl of this cinnamony goodness is one of the only quick breakfasts I can grab that doesn't leave me ready to chew my arm off from hunger within two hours. I can function until lunch time. I did have a moment of panic the last time I was grocery hopping, as I did not see the familiar box, and hope it is back soon. In the meantime, I can sprinkle cinnamon on Go Lean.

When I start my day with your whole grains, I am more likely to think twice before putting garbage in my mouth for the rest of the day. I try to keep your chewy granola bars in my purse for any emergencies I may encounter. Recently though I was caught with only mints to keep me going, coupled with a cookie craving. I bought a box of your Chocolate Almond Butter cookies. There were so many reasons I grabbed these: the words "cookie" and "soft-baked", 10 g whole grains, the name Kashi and the photo...mmm. I was not disappointed! (Except for when I saw that one cookie equaled one serving.)

I just realized while typing this that I am getting hungry, and haven't had your fire roasted vegetable crackers in awhile. I have to fix both situations. Oh my gosh! I just noticed on my cookie box that you have Oatmeal Dark Chocolate.

Thank you,
Andrea

Did the crunchies at Kashi hear my crunching and respond? Why yes, I did get a letter back.

Can you tell that I don't know how to edit photos on my little laptop, or if I can?

I have a sneaking suspicion that if I had indicated a problem with their grains, there might have been a coupon in that envelope as well. Oh well! One point for me!

Current total = 47 points

Check out the competition! (She did not post last week, and while I mentioned a few weeks back, to her, that there would be a one point penalty for any week without a letter, we will let this one slide with a warning.)

randomly postponed...

...as there is too little to say, or, well, maybe too much? The logic board on our computer went kaplooey (I am pretty sure that is what the diagnostic sheet says), and it feels like my own processing unit may be doing the same!

Superhero Sunday - Obstacles

I get by with a little help from my (flat) friends...

hopefully, as that is one heavy block! 

(At least they talked me out of NaNoWriMo this year...phew!)

Week 22 - And Halloween too!

Happy Halloween! In honor of sugar rushes all over the country, my offering for the CONTEST this week involves candy! So grab yourself one of those slightly mysterious black or orange paper wrapped chews as I present another piece from my love letter collection.

Dear Necco,

When my friend and I were sitting in the holding pen at our most recent mammograms, I got fidgety, as usual, and started rummaging through my purse.  We couldn’t help but laugh at all of the chocolate Necco wafers that were frolicking around in the bottom of my bag. There was no sign of the original package, but we decided that the loose candy was just the perfect little taste we needed to calm our nerves. Seeing any of the candies with your company name on them really brings me back to being a kid, sharing treats with my family.

My grandparents’ house always had some standards in the cupboard, like Canada Mints and Strawberry Twizzlers. There were lucky days though when I could find a Clark bar or MaryJanes tucked right next to the soup bowls. My friends didn’t always know what a Clark bar was, so I would generally explain that it was sort of like Butterfinger, only better in my opinion. There is no way to convince someone how delicious a MaryJane candy is if they are unwilling to try them, at least that is what I was banking on during the summer when I was twelve years old.

My girlfriends and I used to walk to the grocery store at least once a week. We certainly were not looking to help our mothers out by getting anything actually needed around the house. We were after candy. The other girls bought chocolate and other easily recognizable treats. I bought a bag of MaryJanes. When the neighborhood boys inevitably stumbled into our paths, their eyes quickly focused in on the Twix box, licorice bag or packs of gum. The begging started, soon followed by just stealing the candy. Eventually someone was bound to ask what was in my bag. I usually answered and lifted one of those little rectangles. The name MaryJane did not give anything away, so the secret of how good they were stayed safe. There were no bright colors on the package, no indications of chocolate or artificial hues. I didn’t even know how to describe what they were back then. I just knew that they were yummy. I am sure the way I chomped away, with my mouth open, no doubt, made them no more appetizing.

My children and husband have not crossed over into the land of molasses taffy with peanut butter chews. I have tried, albeit halfheartedly, to convince them, but something about my breathing MaryJane breath on them does nothing for my case. I am fine with having no guilt about keeping them for myself. I do like seeing my mother’s eyes light up when she spots those familiar wrappers in the candy jar though. There must be one left in the bottom of the jar…all of this talk…I hope…maybe the bottom of my purse again?

Mmmmmmmm,
Andrea

Did they appreciate my corn syrup laden trip down memory lane? I am not sure as I never heard back from them. However, the candy jar is full of MaryJanes, and I am giddy with anticipation of a Clark bar falling out of someone's trick or treat bag tonight!

Current point total remains at 46

Stop by to check out the competition!

Howdy, Random!

Howdy, Partner! I do believe there is some sort of festivities coming up this weekend...

...or as Fozzie would say, "I hate Halloween AND my hat is backwards!"

Today is National Chocolate Day, and I am sure you cannot fathom how I chose to celebrate! In a related story, here is a very special personal tin of chocolates my mother brought me back from Amsterdam. Mmmmmm!

I know that the pumpkins aren't even completely rotten yet, but the creepy elves have been perched for weeks already. This display at the mall was not to be passed by though, as with both of my kids' names sitting right next to each other, I felt I had no option but to buy them...I am not proud.

We only have a few more hours to celebrate National Chocolate Day, so let's get back to it!