Tell Me Your Thing, Please

If there's one thing I excel at, it's finding the good in a situation. I'm wired to view the glass half full. I am always that obnoxious person who looks at a disaster and goes, "Well at least..." because IT'S MY THING. I'm annoyingly optimistic about everything.

Except that at this very moment, I'm finding it incredibly difficult to find the happy in my day.

I'm trying. Really, I am. But DAMN if the past few months haven't sucked harder than a brand new Dyson.

In an effort to start shaking this thing, I hereby present Five Things That Make Me Happy:

1. I'm in no way happy that Meg passed away, but it has been interesting to see how the cats have reacted in her absence. Powder in particular is all HEY, I HAVE A PERSONALITY. His old butt has been playing with toys, claiming the couch as his personal rest area, and even snuggling.

SNUGGLING.

He hasn't done that since we lived in Ohio a zillion years ago. Apparently he stopped because the dogs (first Jasmine and then Meg) wouldn't let him. Whodathunkit?

2. I had a chance to catch up with two fantastic people today. Employed people don't get to spontaneously run out to meet friends!

3. Ramen noodles. I don't know why, but I think they are the bestest treat ever. Guess who has been eating them nearly every day for lunch lately?

4. BROWNIES.

5. This photo:

It hurts my head and makes me laugh all at the same time.

OK, folks. It's your turn. Help me out here and tell me something that makes you happy. Link me to a photo, a video, a blog post, or leave a short comment or do whatever it is that makes you happy. Just tell me about it.

THAT'S AN ORDER.

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P.S. I still have a couple of space available in the Getting Started with Your DSLR workshop. The details:

When: January 31st, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

How much: $75

Course Objective: Upon successful completion of the course, participants will gain a basic understanding of photography fundamentals. Participants will learn when and how to change aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. They will also gain an understanding of how to critique an image in the interest of improving photography skills.

Main Topics: Understanding How Your Camera Works, Camera Settings--Automatic and Assisted, Manual Camera Settings, Composition, and Troubleshooting

Email me at burghbaby (at) gmail.com for more information or to register for the course.

Four Seconds

"And there are TWO beds, daddy!" Alexis sat curled up on one of those beds talking to her dad on the phone as I listened in from across the room.

We were staying at Castaway Bay for just one night, but it only took minutes for Alexis to be enchanted by the whole experience. She continued to describe the hotel room and her plans while she was staying in it. "I'm going to wake up in the middle of the night and get a snack and momma won't know because she'll be asleep in the other bed!" she declared.

She had already expressed to me that she was excited about the prospect of having a bed to herself. And so was I. I've been trying to get the kid to sleep in her own bed for nearly six years now. I didn't have the slightest idea why having a bed that was "hers" was such a treat. She has two of those at our house, but its never been a fact that she found even remotely interesting. No amount of bribery or coercion or even stern demands have ever come close to convincing her to try sleeping in her own bed.

But that night she was absolutely determined to do so.

Eventually the hour turned late and the excitement and chaos of the day started to catch up with her little body. She had spent two solid hours playing on water slides and jumping in the wave pool. Her yawns told a story that her mouth wouldn't--she was ready to rest. She denied being sleepy, but I knew better.

I turned off the TV, shut down my laptop, and flipped off the lights. "Goodnight, momma!" she whispered across the dark room.

"Goodnight, Alexis," I replied.

I closed my eyes and began to stretch my legs across the expanse of empty bed.  Before I could even take a single breath, I sensed something standing beside me.

I hadn't heard her. She moves like a ninja at night. I could feel her there, though.

"Come on, you can sleep with me," I whispered.

She crawled into the bed and wiggled her way into her favorite spot beside me.

Four seconds. I had a bed to myself for a whole four seconds.

Snowman Pops

The so-called "Baby" referenced in the title of this here bloggy blog will be turning six years old later this week. Rather than think about how the hell THAT happened so fast, I've focused my brain cells on preparing for her party.

25 kids. In my house. This Saturday.

The truly crazy part of that situation is that I've done this before. On purpose. And, yet, I'm doing it again.

But! But! I did learn one thing from my previous years of insanity. I have learned that I can't possibly start too early preparing for the festivities. I'm not about to put together the fruit tray just yet, but I did find a project I could start on this far out.

Snowman Pops

These little guys and gals are going into plastic bags and being sent home with the party attendees in place of a treat bag. I've decided treat bags are stupid and I'm not playing that game anymore, but I can't seem to quit them cold turkey, so Snowman Pops are my compromise. Or something.

Anyway, there isn't anything complicated about these, but Alexis is really happy with the results. Considering they were her idea, SHE BETTER BE HAPPY. Ahem.

I started with a few key supplies.

Double Stuff Oreos (And, yes, they MUST be Double Stuff. Regular ones are too thin.)
White Candy Melts (Wilton is the only brand I will use.)
Sprinkles
Lollipop sticks

I had the round multi-colored sprinkles on hand already from another project. I just dug through the jar and pulled out all of the dark purples, which are close enough to black to be used for the coal mouth and eyes. The other sprinkles I found at Michael's. The key is that the multi-pack included some orange triangle sprinkles which are perfect for a nose. If I hadn't found them, I would have wound up cutting up Starburst. That would have been a travesty.

I started by melting the White Candy Melts according to the instructions on the package. Then I dipped the end of a stick into the melted goo.

And I gently twisted it into an Oreo.

A few of the Oreos broke. Sadly, I had to eat the evidence of breakage.

By the time I finished putting a stick into every single one of the Oreos, the first ones were hardened enough to work with.

So then I covered the Oreos one at a time with the White Candy Melts.

I don't dip, by the way. I use a spoon to pour the melted candy over top because I swear I end up with far fewer breaks and disasters that way.

Once an Oreo was completely covered in white, I turned it slowly over my container of White Candy Melts and let the excess drip off.

Turning slowly also helped to even everything out.

And then I stuck the White Candy Melts-covered Oreos in the freezer for a few minutes so they would harden. I know they would have hardened without going into the freezer, but I'm impatient.

(By the way, floral foam works fantastic for holding any sort of pop while you're working. Just shove the stick in and the Oreo Pop or Cake Pop or Whatever Makes You Happy will stand up just fine.)

Once the soon-to-be Snowman Pops were nice and hard, I used the sprinkles to decorate them. I just dipped each little sprinkle into a tiny bit of White Candy Melts and "glued" them on to the Oreo.

Snowman are simple, fortunately. I like simple things.

I used some heart-shaped sprinkles to make bows for some of the Snowman Pops. Er, SnowWOMAN Pops, that is.

Others got earmuffs which were made using some oval-shaped sprinkles and a tiny bit of icing.

Alexis insisted that one needed a hat. I already had the blue icing made, so who was I to argue?

I think they turned out pretty cute. Not perfect, but certainly good enough for the Justin Bieber crowd who will be eating them.

And WAY better than a bunch of dollar store stuff crammed into a treat bag.