Oreo Puppy Pops

My daughter had her first sleepover party for her 7th birthday this past weekend and she wanted a puppy theme. I thought these Oreo puppy pops would be a really cute idea for favors. Before you go thinking I am some sort of creative genius, I got the general idea from here. I just changed the colors and design to match our party theme. Anyway, I received so many compliments on them, I figured I'd share the recipe.

What you will need:
Vanilla almond bark
oreo cookies ( I used double stuff)
lollipop sticks
colored sugar or sprinkles or confetti (your preference)
edible puppy faces ( I found mine at Cake and Wedding Cottage)
treat bags
ribbon

Melt a very small amount of the almond bark in a microwave according to package directions. Avoid heating too long as the almond bark will get lumpy and never go back to the smooth creamy consistency you are looking for. Twist open the Oreos and gently wiggle one end of the pop stick into the creme in the middle. Use a bit of melted almond bark to cement the stick in place.

Place the cookie top back on and allow cookies to sit for 15-20 minutes to let almond bark firm up. Melt 2 to 3 more squares of almond bark to dip the cookies. Once pop sticks are cemented in place, take cookie pop and dip the entire cookie in the melted almond bark. Gently shake or swirl off excess. Place puppy face in the middle of cookie and sprinkle colored sugar generously all around edges of decoration. Place cookie pops flat on wax paper to harden.

When completely firm, place cookie pops in treat bags and secure with a pretty themed ribbon.  We found a red ribbon with paw prints at Walmart. I also get many of the pop supplies at Walmart as well. Display your puppy pops upright in a decorative container filled with dried beans.

We had puppy faces leftover so we used them on some birthday brownie cupcakes.

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The Write Place

What is your favorite place to write? I don't have many choices in my house. My desk is right smack in between the living room and dining room in the only bit of free space that was available for it in our small two bedroom home. It is right out in the open. I am often writing to the background serenade of dogs chasing and barking; SpongeBob, iCarly or Victorious blaring on the tube;
and my daughter singing at the top of her lungs or plying me with questions. Guess I work best under pressure. I am always trying to get the last few words in my head written before someone or something tears me away.

So I got to thinking- if I could choose the most perfect place for solitude and writing inspiration, where would it be? Without a doubt, it would be a tree house. Not a couple of boards slapped together haphazardly with nails between two trees but an arboreal oasis. After all, the Spy Kids in Spy Kids 2 had a nifty tree house and Jack and Annie from the Magic Tree house series had one from which they launched their historic learning adventures. Good things happen in tree houses.

I would need one sturdy enough to withstand storms but still capable of rocking gently to soothe the spirit, with a desk, laptop, WiFi and a cot or comfy couch to take a nap, a microwave for tea and lunch, windows and a deck with a view. Rocking among the treetops would be very soothing and inspiring indeed. Let's look at some possibilities:

clockwise: Tree house #1- too house that Jack built
Tree house #2- I'd get lost
Tree house #3- Is this a big lantern?
Tree house #4- too Jetsons

Now we are talking. High in the branches, multi level decks, fireplace, kitchenette, comfy chair. I think this one might even have a bathroom. Why come down at all? Now this is a place I could write.

Where is your favorite place to write?

Tree houses courtesy of weburbanist.com.

Valentine's Day Inspiration and Ideas

Valentine's Inspiration and ideas on her social network today.

theidearoom.net

What is your favorite way to celebrate the Day of Love? What traditions define the holiday to you?
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Fighting with my Inner Cryptozoologist (Bigfoot in Suburbia)

This post is a bit of a departure, but the subject matter is a passion of mine. The idea of the existence of species as of yet undiscovered is exciting and intriguing. I like to consider myself open minded to the idea of it and at the same time, skeptical enough to be realistic about it. So when my husband recently caught me hurling verbal criticism at the BFRO crew while watching Finding Bigfoot, he asked me, "Why do you watch these shows?" Fair question. Well, because I am intrigued by the possibility of a large undiscovered primate in the North American wilderness, but, that doesn't mean I swallow everything hook, line and sinker. Yes, I would like to believe, but there are some things I want the crew to know about their research approach.

First, why I am open minded:

-Check out the International Institute for Species Exploration's
Top 10 New Species for 2011


-and Strange New Animals, one of which was a new species of nonhuman primate in Columbia.


-and Wired Science's top 10 new species of 2010, one of which was a mammal killed for bush meat but previously undescribed and a large monitor lizard from the Philippines from a previously explored area but missed by researchers until recently.


-As you may know, the mountain gorilla was not discovered until October 1902 by German explorer Captain Robert von Beringe on an expedition to climb Mt. Sabyinyo. His journal account and expedition are worth reading.


That being stated, these are things I want the BRFO crew to know:

-You cannot declare yourself a behavioral expert on a species that has yet to be observed and described, not even based on eyewitness accounts both historical and recent that cannot be substantiated. I have worked with nonhuman primates of various species for 21 years and though I am familiar with their behavior, I would still hesitate to call myself an expert. Why? Those who focus on the study of their behavior still have things to teach me.

-How can you say you know the calls of these animals, again, when they have not been described and observed making these calls? Aren't you just assigning an unknown or questionable call to an unknown species whose existence is still in question?

-Familiarize yourselves with the calls of the order canidae. In other words, be familiar with the vocal variations of wild dog species. Your crew has identified calls from wolves, coyotes and foxes but variations do exist among individuals. I have heard dogs at the dog park that display unusual guttural voices that are very different from the other dogs. A guttural howl among wolf howls does not a Sasquatch make.

-Did you know that certain species of monkey make barking sounds? Baboons are one. It can be very difficult to identify an unfamiliar nonhuman primate among other sounds when you consider this.

-Take a local guide with you when exploring a region whose fauna you are unfamiliar with. They will know what animal sounds are common and what animals make them. Then you can identify a vocalization that is unusual or unassigned to any known animal.

-How can you put forth facts about Sasquatch as if they are known and undisputed? Example: the skunk ape in Florida's everglades gets its name from methane which clings to the animal because it uses the underground lairs of alligators as its den. Really? Have you come across a skunk ape in an alligator den, ever? Makes me cringe every time you put these facts forward.

I will continue to watch. I am hooked and enjoy the heebie jeebies I get when I have to take my dogs out before bedtime on my wooded property, even though nothing could hide in those woods. I like that they have included Ranae, a field biologist, skeptic and child of the seventies, like me, who remembers the first Bigfoot craze. And I laugh at the fact that Bobo always has to play Sasquatch during eyewitness account reenactments. I hope you make that big discovery one day, but until then, its at least entertainment with never ending mystery. Kind of like Lost.

 photo credit: Wikipedia

In Opposition to SOPA and PIPA

Think about it.





Then act. Spread the word and tell congress how you feel. I did.

Adult Toys for the Troops? What's in your Care Package?

I was looking for a topic to write about today when I stumbled upon this post from Cafemom. To say I LOL'd is an understatement. To sum up the article, Realtouch, a company that makes teledildonics, or adult toys controlled by a computer, vows to send 1000 units to troops stationed in Afghanistan and their computer counterparts to the spouses back home, thereby allowing for a greater virtual intimacy experience for spouses experiencing long term deployment. First let me say, kudos to the adult toy industry for thinking of the troops. I'm sure it doesn't hurt your company either but I will assume your heart was in the right place. Next, let me just take some time to envision how this might revolutionize deployment on both ends.

First on the soldier's side:

I see a revised equipment list for every soldier: BDUs, check; hydration pack, check; teledildonics device, check.

I see mandatory safety training for soldiers in the proper use of their new device so that the thing, which apparently self lubricates, doesn't short out any important equipment.

Everyone knows the army is acronym hell so what training is complete without a manual filled with acronyms such as EASY (Enjoyment and Alleviation of Sexual Yearning) through SLUT-D (Safe Learning in the Use of your Teledildonics Device).

If you thought George Washington had an easy time taking the Hession troops by surprise when he crossed the Delaware, just imagine how much easier it would have been if they were using their army issue teledildonics to connect with their wives back in Germany.

If the union soldiers had been playing with teledildonics instead of canons at Gettysburg, the confederates would've taken Cemetery Ridge, thus changing the course of history for the US and impacting the freedom of many individuals.

Which brings me to this: we hand these babies out to terrorist cells and when they are discovering the pleasures of cybersex, we take them all in a surprise attack. Osama bin Laden could have been caught years ago, thus saving us money, heartache and the lives of many troops.


Drawback to this plan: Headlines read " Terrorist Arrested Trying to Ignite Teledildonics Device Aboard Airliner". Move over shoe bomber and underwear bomber. Make room for the adult toy bomber.


Imagine this: you are on watchtower patrol and it is a really boring night. You could play scrabble on the laptop but your teledildonics device you sneaked up with you in one of your many pants pockets (who wouldn't believe you were just happy to be on duty?) is calling your name. You think, " this won't take long". As luck would have it, in walks the SSG just as your wife on the other end is loudly declaring the attributes of this new morale enhancing device.

Now for the wives back home:

The Freedom calls foundation's free chat rooms are looking more like Austin Powers' London bachelor pad with light dimmers, red velvet drapes and a disco ball over a rotating bed.

Family Readiness Groups begin selling the devices as a fundraising activity.


Imagine this: You are having a virtual private moment with your soldier spouse who is overseas. The doorbell rings, sending your dogs into a barking frenzy and startling you. You jump up to get control of them and try to peek out the peephole to see who is there. You realize you have forgotten your friend was coming over so the two of you could go to lunch. You let her in, forgetting that the ridiculous device is protruding from your computer. You realize what you have done. You think quickly and suddenly grab a bundle of mail and slam it down on top of the device. You are silently thankful you are clutter prone.

Don't forget to take it to the library with you when your internet is out.

Hook it up to a mobile device. Grocery shopping is revolutionized. Don't worry. They will think you are exclaiming about their low prices.

Oh the possibilities for the New Army! Thank you, Realtouch!

photo credit: Pinterest

The Fair Weather Friend

Talking about friendship at her social network today.

 

I have no desire to use my blog as a way to get back at or insult anyone, but I have had a recent experience that I think deserves discussion. The fair weather friend. Everybody's got one or had one at one time or another. continue

Road Trip

oraclefox.blogspot.com

I have a love hate relationship with road trips. There is the adventure of seeing new or well remembered sights and the freedom of bare feet on the dash and the mostly jovial banter and singing in the car as the miles stretch before you. Then there are the miles stretching before you- endless, tedious, exhausting miles and the unknown. Centuries ago, travel was dangerous for many reasons, including the uncertainty of where you will lay your head at the end of the day.

Fast forward to the main boulevard (which actually changes name several times) in Pigeon Forge Tennessee, late December 2011. My husband, his sister and my daughter and I packed into a minivan earlier that day for an 11-12 hour road trip straight down 81. Of course it should've taken 8-9 hours but not with us. Potty breaks, smoke breaks and a spur of the moment excursion to the Natural Bridge in Virginia to satisfy a childhood memory of mine extended our journey. I didn't remember them charging so much admission to see the Natural Bridge when I was a kid. We figured if we were going to spend money, we'd better come back when we had more time to explore, so we kicked around the huge gift shop, playing with various toys and polished stones and took pictures with the oversized replica of a black bear, then piled back into the van.

We rolled into Pigeon Forge at about 10 PM. My husband had booked us two rooms at the Pigeon Forge Inn and Suites which was about a 30-40 minute drive from his family who we were there to visit. I remember when he booked online through Orbitz he seemed to be having trouble finding very many hotels close enough to the area we wanted to be. That's funny, because as we traveled the main boulevard, lit up with green Christmas pine branches and blue snow flakes, there was hotel after hotel after hotel. Yet we drove about 30 minutes past 150 of them to find the one he booked. After a classic argument about whether or not to stop and ask for directions, I parked the car to ask for directions only to discover that we were right next door to our destination.

It was about 11PM as we checked in and trudged up to our rooms with all our luggage, kid toys and snacks. We entered our room and the first thing I noticed was that there was only one bed when my husband had booked a double queen. I noticed that there was a small room adjacent beyond the bathroom so I walked back there to check if there was another bed. Instead I found a filthy stained maroon sofa. Thinking it was just a sitting room , I called out to my husband what I saw and he came back to the room. He removed the cushions and pulled out the bottom to reveal a bed. The mattress on the bed was thin and curled at the top and visibly stained with every bodily fluid imaginable plus what looked like mold spots. I could not believe what I was seeing. There was no way I was putting my 6 year old daughter on that to sleep. Furthermore, there were no linens, blankets or pillows for this bed either. At this point I knew I also did not want to crawl into our bed. God only knew what was on that mattress or what the sheets looked like.

So we took a trip to the office to ask if we could be placed in the rooms we had originally booked and paid for- double queens. We were told there were none available and the manager had made the decision to downgrade us. Then my husband asked for a sofa mattress replacement. We were told there were none. I wonder if they even had linens available for the biohazard mattress. We didn't ask. We were told that we would have to deal with Orbitz to cancel or change accommodations since we had booked through them.

My husband knew just what to do. He handed Momma Bear the phone since I was very hot under the collar at that point. To Orbitz' credit, they got us a refund with no cancellation fees when I made it clear that the conditions were extremely unsanitary and unacceptable. They also got us booked at a clean smelling, comfortable Days Inn closer to the main route that would take us to his family the next day. But our ordeal was not quite over yet...

It was now after midnight when we checked into the Days Inn. My poor daughter was so exhausted as were the rest of us after traveling all day. My husband put his card key into the door reader and opened the door to our room to see two naked people in bed together... thankfully only watching TV. We were all quite surprised to see each other. After one more trip to the office, we finally got a key to a clean, comfortable and most importantly, unoccupied room. A night we will never forget and will surely laugh about years from now.

I looked up the ten dirtiest hotels in the US for 2011 and on that list is a place called The Grand Resort in Pigeon Forge Tennessee. Move over, Grand Resort! It's 2012 and you may have to give up your spot to the Pigeon Forge Inn and Suites.

In case you were wondering what my husband was doing while I was on the phone with Orbitz, he took these pictures, uploaded them to Facebook and tagged the Pigeon Forge Inn and Suites, all the while doing this on the free WiFi provided by the hotel.

This mattress is disgusting! Replace it! The children of American soldiers deserve better! Do it now!

I am linking this post up to Mama Kat's writer's workshop today. The prompt was "What was the occasion? Write about the last time you stayed in a hotel."

When The Baby Vacates (the adorable pregnant belly)

Talking about the " after belly " at her social network today.

It just so happens that I was inspired by Mama Kat's post today at Mommalogues about the post baby body. I wanted to share my ever so deep revelation during pregnancy. Here it is: continue

The Fate of the 2 year old Handprint Cookie

marthastewart.com

My husband and I had just bought a new range and were having lunch at Olive Garden. I started to talk about the smooth ceramic cook top that would be such a breeze to clean. What a difference it will be from the electric coils and stained beyond help drip plates under them on the old range, and I do mean old. Then I realized that I wouldn't be able to sit things on the new cook top like my crock of tools and spoon rest. It might scratch the surface. I knew I'd have to do some decluttering and rearranging on our existing minimalist counter top. My husband, being agreeable, gave me an enthusiastic second on that idea and reminded me of the clutter that rests atop the microwave. "I know, I know", I told him. That reminded me of the cookie. I rediscovered it the other day.

About two years ago, my daughter's day care provider made sugar cookies with her day care kids. The cookies were in the shape of each child's hand print. How precious! I remember the day I carried it home from her day care after picking her up. We parents do some silly things in the name of trying to preserve memories but I was about to do one of the dumbest. I couldn't bring myself to eat that cookie that was in the shape of my only daughter's precious 5 year old hand print so I left it in the Ziploc bag and, not knowing exactly where or how to store it or even why I was doing it, I placed it on top of the microwave. Time passed and it was covered by artwork, receipts, computer print out recipes and even a bag of bottle caps my daughter started collecting.

With the purchase and impending delivery of the new range, I decided to paint the kitchen walls since the nook that nestled the old range was imprinted with its outline. The last homeowners painted around it but not behind it.  I had to clear the counter top on that side of the room and the microwave, with its top contents, was placed temporarily on the floor.

This morning, before I let the dogs out of their crate for walks, I put all the food up out of their reach. I can't tell you how many times food that has been left out on the counters has been stolen and devoured by my female black lab who has the scenting abilities of a bloodhound. She has eaten an entire loaf of bread in minutes and a bag of lollipops, each chewed right off of its stick, But the cookie had been safe in its bag on top of the microwave for so long that I did not even consider that it would be noticed. So I took my male lab out to do his business and when I returned, I could clearly see that my female was busy chewing with her head down in the corner of the dining room. I couldn't imagine what she got into as I placed my daughter's half eaten breakfast high up out of reach. I saw a ripped up plastic bag and some paper with grease stains. I looked at the top of the microwave. All the papers had been rifled and some had spilled to the floor. There was no hand print cookie.

I can honestly say I spent about a half second lamenting the sentimental value of that cookie. I was more concerned that my dog just ate a two year old sugar cookie. Two years old! It had to be beyond stale and though surprisingly, no mold was visible, there had to be mold spores present. It had just recently started to crumble on the edges. So what was I thinking I was going to do with that cookie anyway. We surely weren't going to eat it. Was I going to give it to my daughter on her wedding day as something old? Note to day care providers- when making cookies with your day care kids, skip the sentimental shapes and don't even consider putting a picture decoration of my kid on something edible either. It just going to lead to something bad and unhealthy. Hand shapes and pictures are meant to be preserved on items that will have some longevity, not on edible items. It mixes up my "mmmmm" response with my "aw" response and my body just doesn't know how to respond.

Well, for now, dare I say "problem solved"? Let's just hope it doesn't make a reappearance later this afternoon, if you know what I mean.

Vulvar Vestibulitis: Suffering in Silence

Talking about vulvar vestibulitis syndrome, a little understood condition of women. Join me at Her Social Network today.

Any woman who has suffered a vaginal yeast infection understands the extreme discomfort and annoyance of this problem. Thanks to research and pharmacology, we can cure this terribly uncomfortable condition. A much more frustrating and little understood condition is vulvar vestibulitis syndrome or VVS. continue