Popcorn Machine

I'm a HUGE popcorn fan.  You could say that I'm addicted to popcorn.  I can eat popcorn any time.  Any day.  Any place.  Any where.

Before you start judging me, I make my popcorn with either olive oil or coconut oil and add a tiny amount of salt.  Lately, I'm really into the coconut oil.  It gives the popcorn a really good (and unusual) taste.  Well, at least I think so.

For the last several months, our popcorn machine has been acting up.  When we put the oil and popcorn in the machine, a small amount of kernels pop and we are left with millions  thousands hundreds of old maids.  It's very upsetting when there are three people who have their heart set on having some popcorn.  The machine is then too hot and we can't try popping the rest of the kernels.  

The final straw was when we put some popcorn in the machine and only a few kernels popped.  We realized that this was the end of our popcorn machine (RIP Mr. Popper).  That was a very sad day.  Nothing like wanting some popcorn and not being able to have any because your popcorn machine died.

We had to go old school and make popcorn in a pot on the stove.   We even did the paper bag in the microwave.  It just wasn't the same, tho.

I tried purchasing a popcorn machine at the store.  I went to several big box stores only to find that they did not carry popcorn machines!  Can you believe it?  I thought popcorn was one of the healthy snacks?  Why don't stores carry popcorn machines?

I had to break down and order a popcorn machine online.  The great thing about my order was that I received it the very next day and we made popcorn that night.  It was wonderful because we were popcorn free for almost a week!

Do you like popcorn?

What are your favorite popcorn toppings?

Ask a Stupid Question Day

Apparently it's Ask a Stupid Question Day, and boy do I have A LOT of stupid questions to ask.

The best way to celebrate Ask a Stupid Question Day is to dig into your brain and ask one of those questions that seems to get you obsessing over thinking about at all times of day.  You know, like the meaning of life.  Or, how did some tradition start or how did something get it's name.  The questions that you ponder, say, while taking a shower.  Or at three a.m.  You know, important stuff.

This "holiday" was created by teachers to get students to ask more questions.  I guess students were afraid to ask questions because they were afraid everyone would think that the question was stupid.  "What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?"  So, teachers came up with this idea, Ask a Stupid Question Day, so their students would feel more comfortable asking these types of questions.  

Unfortunately (for me), I'm probably only allowed to ask one stupid question today.  I will have to write down the rest of my questions and save them for next year.  Unless I can get someone else to ask about one of them for me????  

Alright, here is goes.  My stupid question for the day.

What is Moon Cheese?  

Where does it come from? 

How is it made?

And, why are we eating it?

I know that looked like four questions, but, it's really all one question for me.  

Obviously, I've never tried Moon Cheese.  If you have, let me know what it tastes like.  

If you have a question for Ask a Stupid Question day, reply below.  If you happen to have an answer for my question(s) or any of the questions asked here, feel free to reply!  

Thanks! 

Dead Guy Shoes

A few blog posts ago, I was talking about how my family gives names to inanimate objects at our house.  Sometimes, it's a personal name, like Steve or Wayne.  And, sometimes, it's a location or item name such as, "the shelf" or "the piece."  (you can read that post by clicking HERE).

When RT and I first got married, we went to an estate sale not too far from our house.  I remember walking through the house.  I also remember losing my husband in one of the rooms.  I went back through the house to look for him and found him in one of the bedrooms.  He just happened to be looking at dress shoes in the closet.  These weren't old, raggedy shoes.  The majority of these shoes were new and in boxes.  They all had shoe trees.  A few of the boxes even had the original receipt inside.  You could tell that the owner took very good care of his shoes.

Well, when all was said and done, we ended up walking out of that house with millions  hundreds  many pairs of dress shoes.  I believe we paid something like $10 or $20 dollars total for all of the shoes.

RT was pretty excited.  I mean, who gets good men's dress shoes for $20?  And, not just one pair, but, several pairs (by several I'm talking 10-20 pairs).

We ended up going out with some friends that night and RT started telling his "shoe story."  He started out the day telling me that he needed to go out and buy some new shoes and next thing you know, we are at this estate sale and he's buying twenty pairs of men's dress shoes for $20!  He started referring to them as "Dead Guy Shoes."

It's been about twenty five years since RT purchased "Dead Guy Shoes."  He has used them over the years and has even passed a few pairs on to the boys.

Love Note Day

Today is Love Note Day.  A day for you to tell that special someone that you love them.  Well, not just tell them in person, tell them using your words.... on paper.  Hey!  Everyone likes getting little handwritten notes, especially when they are positive and loving!

So, it's time to get out that paper and grab a pen or pencil and start writing!

This "holiday" was created to encourage people to share their feelings for the ones that they love.  A love note is a great way to make someone feel special!  Receiving a love note can be very uplifting.  An unexpected note can make someone feel special and, better yet, appreciated!

This love note that you write does not have to be a novel.  Maybe you are a man or a woman of a few words.  Then, keep your love note short and sweet.  Just write a quick little note expressing your love for this person.  Your goal is to make them happy and to bring a little sunshine to their day.

Maybe you want to change your simple communication style and be a little more romantic?  How about a quick little love poem?  Or maybe a nice love letter outlining why you love this person?  Maybe even a power point presentation!  <  Ha ha.  I'm just kidding on that last point.

This doesn't have to be just for your significant other/ spouse / boy friend / girl friend.  Why not show your children, parents and grandparents some love?  A little love note to your parents thanking them for something or telling them that you love them.  Or a little love note to your child, telling them you love them or something that you love about them.  

What a great way to put a little smile on your loved ones face!

Have I inspired you?  I sure hope so!

Who will you leave a love note for?

Nail Clippers

I know I have many  several  a few posts about nail clippers.  You can read the back story about my nail clippers, click here and here.  I'll wait.

As you recall, I am very, very protective of my nail clippers.  I even had them put into the witness protection program.  I always put my nail clippers in the same spot.  The bottom drawer in our bathroom vanity.  The clippers hang out with the nail polish and nail files (they all party together).

Both RT and Alex have learned not to mess with  go near my nail clippers.  RT even has a restraining order and can not come within ten feet of the nail clippers.

I went to give myself a little pedicure the other day and noticed that my toe nails needed to be cut.  I went to get out my trusty little nail clippers and, lo and behold, they're gone!

I searched the entire drawer.  I dumped out all of the nail polish.  I looked in the medicine cabinet.  Even checked RT's side and his drawers and found nothing.  I must have done this several times.  I then went to ask Bella about the nail clippers.  I know she helps herself to my nail polish and the nail clippers.  Sometimes she "forgets" to put them back.

According to Bella, she used the clippers a couple of days ago and she put them back in the nail polish bag.  I showed the empty bag to Bella.  She insists that she put them back.  She then tries to tell me that maybe RT took them.

I had to explain that RT is not allowed near the nail clippers.  He knows about the restraining order not to touch my nail clippers.

Just for kicks, I asked RT (in front of Bella) if he knew where my nail clippers were and if he touched them.  His reply:

"After what happened last time, I know not to go near your nail clippers!"

Once the nail clippers are found, they will be back in the witness protection program  put in a good hiding place.

That one HUGE Thing I've Been Putting Off

Is there a project that you know that you have to do but you keep putting it off?  You get some free time and think, "Hey, maybe I should start this project now."  But, then you think about it and you decide to hold off and save it for another day?

I know I have been mentioning here and there about how I have been getting rid of things.  It's been a slow process for me.  Finding the time and actually just jumping in and doing it.

I don't want you to think that we are hoarders.  Well, maybe we are, in a way?  We do have quite a lot of storage space.  And, over the years, when we didn't know what to do with something, we decided to just, "put it in the attic."

Since both boys are away at school, I felt like this was the time to start being serious about this whole declutter campaign that I started.

RT was on board with me and my crazy idea  decluttering.  We kicked things off in the garage.  Once that area was done, it was our place to put everything that we wanted gone and out of our lives (garbage and recycling went in their respectable bins).

We decided to go through each room.  Of course, we left the boys rooms alone.  They got rid of some things before they moved out.  We made it through the majority of the house and quite a few things landed in the garage.

We decided to have a huge garage sale and donate the leftovers.

I think I was a lot more ruthless in letting stuff go.  After seeing what my parents saved and how we, the children, had to go through it all, I don't want to do the same thing to my children.

There are a few pockets where I still need to get to, but, overall, I feel pretty good about the state of things around here.

And, I know my children will thank me when I'm gone.

International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace has been celebrated around the world since the 1980's.  It's a day dedicated to world peace.  A day without war or violence.  Peace Day provides a globally shared date for everyone to overcome all differences and commit to peace.

This year's theme is "Climate action for peace."

There are various ways to celebrate the day.  Some local towns celebrate with a parade or festival.

Other ideas?

A minute of silence at Noon
Meditation and prayer
Service to others
Yoga
Writing peace poetry
Host a feast for peace
Engage youth in peace building activities
Plant a tree

Engaging in Peace Day can take place privately, as part of a group or as a participant in an event or program.   Peace day gives you a moment to slow down and think about the (big) world around you.  This day is an inspiring reminder of what we can do together.  All of our small actions do add up.  So, go forth and build peace.  Encourage others to join in.  Oh, and if you post any pictures to social media of your participation in peace type activities, make sure to tag them #peacedaychallenge.

How will you celebrate today?