Happy Thoughts

peterpan“Think of a Wonderful Thought…”

Did you happen to notice?

To the right of this post–way up at the top–there is a box that says “A Million Things To Be Happy About.” That was the place where you could click and read our huge list of things that make us happy. But not just us…you guys as well. We’ve tried very hard to add the happy comments to our list each time someone has left them.

Well, now it’s changed a bit. We have moved the “List” to a tab above. Look up, you’ll see it.” But the best part is that we’ve added your happy thoughts to the scrolling list at the top right side of this page. Look to the right…see it? Each quote will appear for about 8 seconds before randomly displaying another. Oh, I’ve added four or five of my own–if they were particularly brilliant, but for the most part, they are all yours. Don’t worry–only the first names will be posted.

If you’d like to be part of our scrolling happy list–all you have to do is add what makes you happy to this post—now, and any other time we are collecting. We’ll add your thoughts to the display and to the main “List.” Our goal is to inspire others to see the joy and beauty that is there, around them, all the time–if they will just look.

After all…happiness is a choice.

What do you say? Right this minute—what is making you happy?

Please tell us…we’d love to share!

Get a Load of These…

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By load I mean…

busload.

So, there we were, April, the babies and I driving along, minding our own business.

I casually say, “Hey did you know there’s a new bakery in Provo, on University. It sounds cute–Fairy something.”

She says, “Ooooh. Let’s go. Right now.”

Pretty sure she meant, “Right now before we have time to think about it more clearly. Right now, before we have a decent, low fat breakfast of Cheerios and half a banana…for the 27th morning in a row. Right now before we add up the treadmill time this trip will surely cost us.”

As we drove around in the strip mall, trying to find the silly place, I’m looking on both sides of the street, saying, “Where? Where is it?”  Then, suddenly, as if someone turned on a huge floodlight–which would have been completely unnecessary, since it was 10:00 in the morning–but you know–like that, we could just FEEL that the place was near. Turning in slow motion, to the right…we found it.

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Sweet Tooth Fairy Bake Shop

Oh my…I think the theme song to Gone With the Wind might have been playing right about now.

We unbuckled the babies and walked cautiously towards the shop. I had goose bumps up and down my arms—no doubt because of the music–and had to suppress the urge to giggle like a 4 year old.

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Now, please believe me–I tried to be mature about this. You need to understand that this place was so perfect, all pink and sparkly and fairies and magic–and I haven’t even mentioned the cupcakes yet. That is because as I remember the experience my breathing screws up. I think I may be hyperventilating.

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The frosting alone was worth the trip. Heck, looking at the frosting alone, was worth the trip. Wisely,  April has a wrangle grip on Beckham and I had Lily on my hip to avoid any Tasmanian-type rampage. And how could we have blamed them if they had gone completely berserk? We were having a hard time not licking the glass ourselves. The only words that would come out of my mouth were, “Oooohh…man. We’re in so much trouble.”

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Sixteen month old, Lily takes one look at the display cases filled with enough sugar to send any regular Jane into a diabetic coma, points to the tray full of  cupcakes and says, “Do it!”

I couldn’t agree more.

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The pretty little gal behind the counter would have to admit that once we got the uncontrollable shaking stopped, we were pretty rational.  One each, we told ourselves. That didn’t work because I wanted the Key Lime but I needed the Strawberry Shortcake. So naturally that meant that April needed to choose two–just to be fair. She chose orange and peanut butter cup.

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Now most people know that you really can’t put four cupcakes in a box that is designed to hold six cupcakes. It totally messes up the balance of the box-not to mention life in a parallel universe, plus those empty spaces just look stupid.  There was nothing for it but to choose one more…each. She chose the vaNIEla (Named after Stephanie Nielson of NieNie dialogue fame) and I chose chocolate mint–because I had no choice. It was calling to me.

We came promptly home and cut the gooey little beauties in fourths so that we could all have a taste of each. They were all wonderful–of course, but Key Lime is worth crawling to Denver and back for…in my opinion. April’s favorite was the orange. Jillian loved the peanut butter cup. I’ll get back to you on Lyndi’s favorite.

What a heavenly, magnamonious, perfectly perfect afternoon.

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Oh, and no, we didn’t tell the men. What they don’t know, we don’t have to share.

hee hee…

 

 

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Week 10 Food Storage Prompt:

4 cans of tuna; 4 boxes of macaroni and cheese.

Someone Please…

tell me…

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What is it with boys and guns anyway?

Have you ever noticed that you don’t have to actually hand them a play gun, because everything–EVERYTHING magically has the ability to become one? Rakes…tripods…cd cases…balloons…bread.

Whatever.

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In their mind, every inanimate object within their reach, has the innate ability to maim. This is a skill that only boys have–or, I might add, want.

From birth.

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Of course, this skill puts everyone in their rifle scope every waking moment. We wouldn’t want to waste precious practice time, would we? Consequently, no one is safe.

In fact, I remember helping 3 year old Daney boy get dressed one day and his little thumb-and-finger-gun kept being loaded and fired too dang close to my head for me to like it.

Finally, after having my ears and chin and both eyes taken out by Hop-along’s imaginary bullets and a bit weary of his gun hand waving in my face, I held on to his arm and said, “Hey! You know, it isn’t very nice for boys to shoot at their mommas.”

His eyes immediately filled up with tears and he collapsed in a heap in front of me.

“I wasn’t shooting my momma.” Oh, he was wailing now.

“Reeeeally?” I said.

And I’m Mother Goose.

He pulled himself up and wiped at his nose with his sweatshirt sleeve. To the washer with that one.

“I was killing the bad guys….

so…

they don’t…

get….

…you.”

dun..dun..dun.

sigh.

The “Mother of the Year” title  just flew past me…

…again.

Rats.

Strawberry-Filled French Toast

If you wake up one morning and find yourself with fresh strawberries—ok, ok, frozen will work too—then you might want to think about adding this fabulous filling to regular old french toast. No one will sleep through a breakfast like this! I’m tellin’ you, it’s g0000d! You may even have to grab some and hide out–to avoid the mob that will surely come.

Strawberry-Filled French Toast

Filling

2  8oz. cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

16 oz. strawberries

1 Tbsp vanilla

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

French Toast

11 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp. salt

24 slices of bread

butter

For filling, mix cream cheese and sugar together until fluffy. Add remaining ingredients, including strawberries and mix until well blended.

For French toast, whisk eggs, milk and salt together until foamy. Melt 1 tsp  butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Dip each slice of bread in egg mixture and place in skillet. Cook until underside is light brown. Turn and cook other side. Butter each piece of toast and set on warm plate until all are cooked. Spoon 1/4 cup of filling over 1 slice of toast and top with another slice of toast–like a sandwich. Dust with powdered sugar. Makes 12 servings.


Strawberry-Filled French Toast
 
Ingredients
  • 11 eggs
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 24 slices of bread
  • butter
Instructions
  1. For filling, mix cream cheese and sugar together until fluffy.
  2. Add remaining ingredients, including strawberries and mix until well blended.
  3. For French toast, whisk eggs, milk and salt together until foamy.
  4. Melt 1 tsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
  5. Dip each slice of bread in egg mixture and place in skillet.
  6. Cook until underside is light brown.
  7. Turn and cook other side.
  8. Butter each piece of toast and set on warm plate until all are cooked.
  9. Spoon ¼ cup of filling over 1 slice of toast and top with another slice of toast--like a sandwich. Dust with powdered sugar.
Notes
Filling 2 8oz. cream cheese ½ cup sugar 16 oz. strawberries 1 Tbsp vanilla ½ tsp. cinnamon

Cotton Love

One of my very favorite things…a mystery package, on the porch!

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I have one child that gets goose bumps when she walks up the office supply aisle in Staples. Pens, notebooks, paper clips just really work for her.

Then I have this other daughter that gets lightheaded over…dancing shoes. Ballet, ballroom, character or Latin. Doesn’t matter what kind–she’s got them.

I have another child that would walk to the mall, barefoot, in a blizzard for a sale at Archiver’s. Scrapbook supplies, stickers and grommets make her very, very happy.

Well let me show you what does it for me…

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Look at those perfect colors! Just imagining all the places this thread will go and what it will become in it’s second life. What beloved little soul will wear it or play with it and in what way?

Ahhhh…the potential for 100% cotton joy is staggering indeed. Better get a move on…

So—what thrills you to your toes? Share,  share…