Holy Guacamole! New Years Eve in Times Square Costs How Much?

Would you like to ring in the New Year at New York's Times Square this New Years Eve?

Sounds like fun, but not without ringing up a $1799 dinner tab for two at Ruby Tuesday's!!

For real and that's A Lot of Guacamole!

These Days Remembering Not To Forget Is Challenging!

We've all done it! Walked into a room and experienced a sudden memory lapse and wondered why we walked in the room in the first place. How about walking into the store only to completely forget what we needed to pick up. 

As I enter the dawn of a new age, I'm suddenly reminded that...something is happening, something has changed, and something is not the same. 

If you're over the age of 45 you might relate. 

Image source: pixabay.com

Lists and calendar reminders have become absolutely necessary. 

If I don't make lists or reminders I could easily drive home from work only to have forgotten that I needed to get gas, drop off the mail and pick up my son. 

Healthy Chocolate Mint Smoothie with Raspberries and Avocado

Does Christmas time beg for something healthy? Or, maybe not!  After all, the holidays is the time to splurge a little...right?  However, maybe you're really yearning for a treat, but a healthy one!

If this is the case and you want to feel like your indulging, but really want to make better choices.  Then here's a smoothie that has all good healthy stuff in it, but you wouldn't know it.

Healthy Chocolate Mint Smoothie with Raspberries and Avocado

If you're a smoothie aficionado, then you know how great an avocado can make a difference in a smoothie. I'm sure by now, you've heard how avocados have a substantial amount of monounsaturated fat (the good fat) and have nearly 20 nutrients and contain a numerous amount of health benefits.  Don't believe me? Read Medical News Today to find out how super fantastic these little green gems hold up.

Toy Story is 20 and Other Surprising Celebrations From 1995!

The number 20 has special meaning this year. My daughter turns 20 on the 20th. It's her Golden Birthday.  What a fun number to be celebrating on a golden day. 

This special occasion got me thinking what turn of events happened 20 years ago in 1995. How could 20 years have come and gone so quickly? 

What sparked these thoughts was not only my daughter celebrating 20 years but also learning that the movie Toy Story is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Wow, hard to believe!

Image Source:  Pixabay.com

Undoubtedly, this movie was a major part of my daughter’s childhood. It was probably the first movie that she experienced as a young child. 

That movie must have been played 100+ times in our household. It holds a wonderful memory for me as I remember distinctly her out loud laughter at one very random scene of this movie. It wasn't even a outwardly funny scene, but the movement of one toy struck her funny bone and made her giggle with tears every time. When she laughed - I laughed. Such sweet memories. 

Christmas Shopping Isn't For Sissies!

Hi, I'm Laurie and I'm a Christmas Shopping Sissy. I admit it...I'm in the Sissy Club. In fact, not only am I a club member - I'm the Club President. 

Christmas shopping is for the strong and retail determined go-getters. That's not me!  I don't have the stamina of the Energizer Bunny. I don't have the patience of a Saint and I don't have the retail survival skills of an Eagle Scout. 

I went Christmas shopping this past weekend with some gal pals and if it wasn't for needing to check items off my Christmas list, enjoy some friendship camaraderie and a good stiff drink(s), I may not be encouraged to do a 2 day shopping binge. 

As I get older, I've noticed I'm less tolerant to the Christmas shopping dilemmas. As much as I try to avoid it, I'm easily becoming a shopping sissy. 

Miracle On 8th Avenue...My Classic Christmas Story

If it hadn’t been for the chicken pox that I had gotten at age 6 the day before Christmas Eve, I may not have experienced the most memorable Christmas I had as a kid.

I think most people can relate to Good and Bad Christmas moments in their lifetime.  For some, it isn’t all holly jolly, sugar plums and silver bells on Christmas.  Unfortunately, many people experience stress and loneliness this time of year. It can be a very depressing time for those that don’t have family members to share it with or who are simply discouraged by the season itself.

I think that’s why these classic Christmas movies have lasted the test of time year after year.  A Christmas Carol and It’s A Wonderful Life.  Then, of course, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, and my personal favorite Miracle on 34th Street.

There’s something about these classic stories that bring out our Christmas spirit.  They tug at our heart strings or attempt to conjure up emotions of our own special holiday moments.  We’d like to think it will bring happiness and strength to those less fortunate and are struggling.

Noticeably, all of the characters in these movies start out seeking the truth, attempting to find joy and love, or half wittingly trying to light up the house with an enormous amount of Christmas lights.  In the end, through all of their moments of sadness, despair and failures; they find hope, love and belief in the spirit of Christmas.

This is usually when the water works start and you begin to think of your own memories of Christmas past.  It’s like your hopes and dreams have been tucked away and packaged up like little gifts and are waiting to be unwrapped during this special time of year.

Holy Guacamole! Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse

I recently heard a discussion on the subject of perpetual adoration, which means round-the-clock prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.  The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) have had at least two people praying continuously, day and night, at a chapel in La Crosse, Wisconsin nonstop since August 1, 1878.  Yes, I said since 1878! They have been praying longer than anyone in the United States.

Celebrating One Blogging Year!

A year ago last Thanksgiving Day, I wrote my first blog post. It was pretty raw and I had no idea what I was about to venture into. I just knew that I wanted to dip my toes into creative writing and express it to anyone that wanted to read it. 

Celebrating One Blogging Year

To be honest, I wasn't sure how it was going to shake out. I started it knowing the bare minimum and chugged along as I went. I told myself I'd hang in there for 6 months. On several occasions, I thought about pulling the plug from the blogging world. 

Potato Corn Chowder

It's soup season!  This Potato Corn Chowder is a tasty, hearty and easy to prepare soup you can add as a side to your Thanksgiving dinner.  

Discover the comfort inside "The Best Potato Corn Chowder," in my opinion!

Sleepwalking Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree

If you’ve ever climbed a tree in your sleep and fell from it, then strangely, you’d be part of a group of people that have had unusual or terrifying experiences while sleepwalking.

Thankfully, I’ve never done anything quite this drastic, but in my younger years I had been known to walk into rooms in the middle of the night and just stand in the dark only to be discovered and guided back to bed.  There were times I would talk, laugh, grunt and even scream in my sleep.  When in my early 20’s, I had leaped from the bed kicking, screaming and thrashing about until I was tangled in my own bed sheets.  My then roommate, startled by the chaos, shook to wake me from a very horrible and realistic nightmare.  I instantly recalled that my dream was a wild animal attacking me and I was trying to fight it off.  Occasionally, I still have incidents of talking or laughing, but no longer have any of the fall off the bed nightmare episodes.

However, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” which is what the title implies.  Apparently, the condition of sleepwalking can be inherited, which brings me to my teenage son.  It seems that families that sleepwalk together stay creep together.  Find here "8 Facts About Sleepwalking."

It all started about 8 years ago when I was awakened in the middle of the night by a distinct sound of water hitting the surface of the wood floor.  While trying to focus my eyes in the dark and establish my surroundings from a deep slumber, the first thought was that it was raining and something was leaking in the hallway.

Wizards Revealed Behind The Minnesota Blog Con Curtain

To be honest, most of my readers probably don't care what I learned at the MN Blog Conference.  I could go on and on and make a list of all the things I learned, but I’d most likely bore you to death. My follow up findings are about the real Wizards of the conference...the PEOPLE. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RQxD4Ff7dY

So, follow me down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City called the Minnesota Blog Conference. No, I didn't sing happily with munchkins and meet Glinda the good witch. However, my adventure did take me down a road of many discoveries. 

Why Deer Hunting is Similar to Grocery Shopping

It's interesting the rituals my hubby and son go through just to prepare for bow hunting season. I'm not a deer hunter, but there are definitely some women that enjoy the sport. It's not just for men anymore. Many couples even hunt together. That’s cool if it’s an interest they both have.  For Mister O and my son, deer hunting season is all about prepping for the hunt, guy bonding time and, of course, the pursuit of the big Buck.

I, on the other hand, wouldn't be good at it. I hate to be cold. I hate to be wet. I’d hate to be sitting in a tree and I’d hate to kill a deer.

However, from my point of view, you might compare Deer Hunting to Grocery Shopping. It's truly a sport with amazing similarities.  The comparisons are uncanny. Check it out. 

A Night at the Movies Turned Mission Impossible In the Bathroom

If you’ve been to a movie lately you know things have gotten pretty loungy.  Now days, you can pick where you want to sit and if you’re the plan ahead type, you can even reserve your Dreamlounger (Recliner) online. Just make sure you understand the seating map…unexpectedly finding yourself in the front row can give a permanent kinked neck and seeing cross-eyed for a week!

Besides the usual popcorn and candy options, there’s a roundup of other choices.  Mini donuts, pizza, wings, corn dogs, nachos and ice cream. What’s next turkey drumsticks and corn on the cob?

Even more exciting, you can actually “legally” have alcohol (not the hidden in a paper bag kind) at the movies.  This is quite a change from the old-fashioned cinematic days.  They’re serving up cocktails, wine and beer along with a menu of selections in the cinema lounge before the movie even starts.

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal With Crunch Topping

I couldn't let October (Pumtober) end without another pumpkin recipe. This baked pumpkin oatmeal is great for one person or if you're in the sharing mood, there's enough for two. 

It's easy to whip this together, pop in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. It makes for a great fall morning breakfast. 

What Not To Do In a Haunted House...The Night My Nose Fell Off

You're walking down a dark hallway with a lantern flickering in the distance. The sound of screams and squeals deafen in the darkness. The musty smell and cool dampness in the air run shivers down your spine. As you try to find your way around a maze of corners, you grapple with the thought that something gruesome is about to appear or possibly won't appear. This anticipated fear can be a love/hate euphoria feeling when going through a Halloween Haunted House. 

Haunted Houses have always been popular with young and the old. People will actually wait in line just so they can SCREAM! They want the experience of creepy monsters, gory ghouls and evil creatures scaring them silly. 

Also in the lineup, are the protectors, the smug jokesters and the big "fear nothing" tough guys. The event is all for pure entertainment and a celebrated Halloween tradition for some. 

However, in my experience, what's even better than a good scream is, without a doubt, being the one on the reverse side. The one MAKING you scream.  Yep, I was the ugly spook lurking in corners and following behind you in the darkness. 

Women Are Like Fine Wine

Have you ever wondered why some people enter your life when they do? 

For years you’ve shared common places, common experiences and common friends. But, yet, really didn’t know much about each other. 

I took a road trip to Wisconsin as part of a “Women and Wine Weekend” and after 700 miles on the road, touring a vineyard, sampling some interesting wines and soaking in the beautiful scenery, I found that sharing some kooky stories and laughing until you snort, is a guaranteed way to know a whole lot more about women.

The vineyard was at Wollersheim Winery located in Prairie du Sac, WI.  If you think Wisconsin is just about making cheese, you'd be wrong. Things I learned about Wisconsin winemaking.

• You can make wine from harvesting frozen grapes in December, which is called Ice Wine.  It’s an incredibly sweet wine and a bit too rich for my taste buds.

• The first grape vineyard was actually planted on a hillside looking over the Wisconsin River by a Hungarian immigrant, Agoston Haraszthy. After failed attempts due to harsh weather, he went to California in 1840 to develop the state’s first winemaking industry.

• The different fields and the slopes (medium or steep) where grapes are grown determine the type of wine produced.

• Winemaking is a skill mixed with science, tradition and artistry.

Who's Calling?

Have you ever had a prank call?  How about a call that sent your mind into a tizzy?  

One VULGAR message I received inspired this true story.  As a guest writer for Sammiches and Psych Meds the article is featured here Why Caller ID and Voicemail Made Me Paranoid.

Excited that Sammiches and Psych Meds had me as a contributor to their website.  Check out the article and let me know if you've ever experienced paranoia from a phone call.

Put your smile on,

Laurie O

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Pumpkin Smoothie With Apple & Banana

Have you had enough pumpkin yet? Well, of course not, we're just getting started!

Happy October smoothie lovers! If you're not a smoothie lover, but a pumpkin lover - how about you give this smoothie a try just once. 

It's like having a healthier thick and creamy pumpkin pie in a glass. You can blend in a regular blender or NutriBullet. If you like less of this and more of that, then tweak it the way you want to get the flavor you want.

Is It Really A Man's Desire?

As men gather in the building's lower level of a darken room, with its low ceiling and limited space, it's clear it will be hard to handle the male testosterone excitement of full grown men. 

They gather shoulder to shoulder enticed by the upcoming show that features a mix of Loveliness and Raw Filth. 

These dozen, or so, men are savagely mesmerized and don't care about the grunge and darkness that this limited space provides. They have a front row spot and don't want to miss a single turn or grind. 

The pure pleasure of watching the sexy swaying movement of sheer garments as it dances gently around the curved pedestal is more than these hardcore action starved men can handle. 

One man sits with his face hard-pressed against the glass as his hot breath creates a steamy fog on its outer layer. Through the steam and sweat, he watches every circular bumping and rocking.  His gaze can't be distracted. 

Sharing The Admiration - Blogger Recognition Award

It was very nice and pretty cool to be nominated for this award from a fellow blogger, Leanne at CrestingThe Hill.  We have some common reasons for our blog beginnings.  We both started a new venture in our midlife years and have found inspiration and knowledge from others in this same blogosphere.

It’s my understanding, to graciously accept this Blogger Award; I need to follow a few simple guidelines.

When Shoe Shopping, Be Sure To Bring Clint Eastwood!

It's just about fall y'all and when glancing down at my toes while sitting on the toilet (TMI), I noticed that I've let my little piggies go. I've slacked in the polishing and toe grooming a bit. 

At the beginning of spring/summer season we're so excited to break out the sandals. We want to make sure the toes are glammin' and jammin' for the world to see. (Flashback – check out my spring post:  “Don’t Pull My Toes”).

So, here we are at the end of summer and my toe glammin' days have become somewhat lazy. 

My shoe shopping desires have switched from wanting slinky sandals to maybe a pair of boots. 

Last summer when I was on the search for a new pair of sandals, I realized a lot of time can be spent in the shoe section. It's a lot of work trying to find the perfect style, right color, and the best heel height. After you find them, then for God sake's they'd better be in your shoe size. 

Walking up and down the rows and rows of shoes displayed on their little shoe stage, you can easily do about 12 laps around just making sure you didn't overlook any winning style.  

After rummaging and seeking, I finally see it there - in all its glory!  It's perched on its little pedestal shouting "here I am, here I am." "I'm the perfect shoe!"

I noticed another shoe crazed lady on the other end of the aisle eyeballing the
same perched shoe. Suddenly, in a blink of an eye, it felt like and old western scene. 

Tomato Basil Dip

We've been harvesting cherry tomatoes until they've been coming out of our ears!  Nature's candy, I call them and I love them!  However, I have to find other ways to use these babies, besides sitting down with a bowl and popping in my mouth one after the other.

So, once again, I found this simple, simple easy recipe on Kraft's website.  Kraft never seems to fail me. Especially where cream cheese is involved!

It literally takes 10 minutes to put 5 ingredients together for your next September soiree with friends.  This is so simple and tastes incredibly fresh and fantastic spread on your favorite crackers.

Flying High and Summer Breezes

Labor Day weekend here in Minnesota is sort of the last hurrah to summer before everything is all pumpkins and apples.  The weekend was all about flying high and summer breezes.

My son turned 16 the end of August and, on many occasions, reminded us that he's only traveled to 3 other states in his WHOLE 16 years. Those being our surrounding neighbors Wisconsin, North Dakota and Iowa, all of which were traveled by car. 

This being the case and apparently not the most exciting travels for a teenager, he often would bring up the fact that he's never been up in a plane. Not only that, like so many of his friends that have flown to Mexico, Florida, Hawaii and even overseas, he's never been anywhere cool. 

What? You mean the World’s Largest Buffalo in North Dakota wasn't exciting enough! 

Flying High

In order to mark this off the bucket list of a 16 year old birthday boy, Mister O thought it a fun idea to get him up in a 4 seater Cessna 172 plane for a little 1 hour tour. Granted it wasn't Hawaii, but at least it got him 2000 feet off the ground and flying.  It's a start!

We joined for the ride and besides it being hotter than 4 people crammed snugly into a tin can, it was a fun experience. I've only flown by jet plane, so this was an experience even for me. I checked it off my bucket list too!

Back To School Shopping Gave Me Mom Rage!

I'm not a procrastinator and usually pretty organized, but this year I really failed on school supply shopping. The 2 hour shopping event turned me into a folder hunting crazed mother!

I think the Back-To-School displays were up in stores just a month after school let out for the summer. I'm not, and never have been that kind of super-efficient mom that does school shopping before the 4th of July. C'mon the kids just got out for the summer. 

I suppose by August, though, I should get a move on it. In the years past when the kids were younger they were always so charged up to get their school supplies and we were ahead of the rush. This year my daughter is in her second year of college and my son will be a junior in high school, so priorities have changed a bit. 

College classes started mid-August, so we concentrated on getting my daughter all set and off on her way. On the other hand, my son just started a new job and had been very busy working.  His birthday is in August and Mister O and I celebrate our anniversary on the same day as his birthday, so between all these goings on, school supply shopping kept getting lower on the to do list. 

Finally, a week before school, I told my son he needed to go over the school list and we absolutely had to get this done before they put the Christmas stuff out. You KNOW I'm right on this!  Christmas season seems to keep getting earlier.  I know people do their Christmas shopping in July, but seriously, soon we'll have school supplies displayed right next to the Christmas trees. 

It's Just Like Riding a Bike

You must remember your first time riding a bike?  Or, maybe you don’t!  It’s hard to believe that there's grown adults out there that have never learned to ride a bike in their whole life growing up. 

That is until now where one company, Bike New York, actually has beginner classes on how to do just that.

According to this NBC News episode, 8% of adults have never ridden a bike. Watch the episode link for more details.

I'll admit, I never considered the people who didn't have the means or opportunity to do so. 

My first tricycle was given to me by my grandpa. I was sportin' a 60's pixie cut and burning up concrete on three wheels!

  

After mastering the trike, I skipped right over training wheels and went straight to my first big girl bike.  This wasn't some in-betweener bike like many kids have today. It was a regular hand-me-down adult size bike. It was an older blue bike with big fenders and ZERO fancy speed settings. It was to be my first wheels of freedom to roam the neighborhood at will. 

I remember my aunt pushing me from behind the bike’s seat and running alongside to give me a good shove to set me off into a risky spin down the sidewalk. 

There I was riding my big girl bike like a goofy unbalanced circus clown, but enjoying every wobbly moment of it. 

My balancing act lasted about a minute and half before falling over. After a skinned knee or two, soon I was riding no handed and proving my circus act wasn't a complete flop. 

Book Coming Next Spring - Over The Moon Excited!

I got some pretty unexpected, but exciting news that I must share with my readers!  I submitted a short story from my blog to a publishing company and it has been accepted to be published in a book being released in the spring of 2016.  The book is called “Feisty After 45” and it is an anthology of inspirational and humorous stories from 25 other authors that will be featured along with myself. 

Mill Park Publishing will be publishing the book project and, of course, I’m looking forward to working with them and learning more about the process.  Please feel free to check out Mill Park Publishing website here for the official announcement and more details.

It's taken a few weeks for it to sink in and to gather my thoughts, but I am beyond grateful and honored to have this opportunity!  Writing and creating humor and life inspired essay’s/stories has been challenging, eye opening and self-satisfying all at the same time. 

I remember as a young girl writing in my diary, composing poems and keeping a journal in high school, only later in life, to discover that this side of me eventually spilled out gradually in other creative areas. I really never knew what to do with it.

I’m still in a learning curve and discovery mode, but absolutely over the moon about this next venture!  

Is That Name A Deal Breaker?

Ladies!  If you met the love of your life and his last name was Sackrider or Ballitch, would it be a marriage deal breaker?

Ever since I got married and took on my husband's last name, I can't tell you the hundreds of times the name has been mispronounced, misspelled, and questioned. 

Our last name is NOT Sackrider or Ballitch!  However, the name Oien could prompt you to ask…”how in the world do you pronounce THAT?”  Respectively, when you look at it and see all those vowels run together, the brain can't even comprehend how to form a possible pronunciation from this grouping of letters. 

It's got to be misspelled. You meant the O to be a D or maybe the i should be a w. This happens all the time. 

I admit when I first met my husband-to-be and he told me his last name was Oien, I said..."huh?" "What is that?" Meaning...what heritage, tribe, pedigree or species do you descend from?

Is it even LEGAL to have 3 vowels together? Don't we have spelling RULES? Like  I  before  E  except after C. 

Is there a rule for too many vowels?

Did this guy buy too many vowels spinning "The Wheel" and now he's stuck with them forever!!!

Yogurt & PB Dip With Toasted Oats Muesli

A good way to start the day is with an apple and some good essential protein to sustain the morning. 

Here's a great and tasty idea if you're a peanut butter lover!  

Just mix a tablespoon of peanut butter in with some plain low fat yogurt, sprinkle a scoop of toasted oats Muesli and you've just made a simple fruit dip for breakfast.

You just need 4 ingredients - BOOM your day just started out healthy and simple!

First 2 ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp of Natural Peanut Butter
• 1/4 cup Fage plain Greek Yogurt or your favorite brand (I like Fage because it's low in sugar)

Soul Searching With Grace and Frankie

You might think the best place to do some soul searching would be high on a mountain top doing some deep meditation. Maybe, even a secluded cabin in the woods far from any interruptions while getting in touch with nature. Or, possibly a private oceanfront beach house to sit lazily on the beach listening to the ocean waves and becoming more in tuned to one’s thoughts. 

In my case, I didn't have the luxury of doing any of those things. My soul searching was simply just taking some time off from my blog writing, minimizing time spent on social media (mainly Facebook) and unplugging from watching television. 

I was finding that there was too much noise going on around me and, most certainly, too much noise and conflict in my head. Not hearing voices kind of noise, but having too many unfocused thoughts. It was getting too busy in there. It was time to regroup and refocus. 

So, I took more time to read and to catch up on other people’s blogs. Did some bike riding and exercised more. 

Sat down by the lake, breathed deeper and took time to notice the beauty.  

I napped more and decided to take more alone time to unwind and not feel guilty about it. Physically I didn't need it, but my mind did.  

Then oddly enough, without completely unplugging from modern conveniences, I managed to inject some humor in my spare time to watch a series on Netflix (commercial free) called “Grace and Frankie.” 

tv.bt.com

Let me just say, if you have the option to watch this on Netflix, then this one is a must!! The show is starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston.  “Grace and Frankie have been rivals. Their one-upmanship comes crashing to a halt, however, when they learn that their husbands have fallen in love with each other and want to get married. As everything around the ladies is coming apart, the only thing they can really rely on is each other.’ - imdb.com

The Audition - It's Never Too Late

The anxiety builds the moment I arrived. I hesitate to jump out of the car. I stay seated gazing out the windshield and pondering that this just may be the stupidest idea I've had! I'm too old for this. I have no experience. I've never done this before.  Why did I drive over here? All these thoughts roll through my head. An article in my local newspaper prompted me to consider the idea. 

Local actors wanted for a community interactive play. If 

you live in the area and are interested in having a role in 

the play, come audition and do a reading for us. 

The article had me intrigued. This is something I’ve always wanted to do. In high school, I'd go to plays that classmates were in and sometimes wondered about participating myself. I never did! Fear, insecurities and shyness got the best of me. All those days and years after high school, I kept that silly little dream in the back of my head. I figured I'd always enjoy others acting talents from the viewers side of the stage. 

I was in my late forties when I decided to go to that audition. Being older, wiser, more confident and with a "what the hell" attitude, I found myself in a nearly vacant parking lot sitting in my car contemplating my next plan of action. 

It's Time For A Slow Spin At Betty Danger's

I’ve mentioned a time or two in my blog that my goal this year was to get out and visit more establishments and events that are local and, practically, in my own backyard.  I headed over to Northeast Minneapolis to check out a new place that opened this spring called Betty Danger’s Country Club.  The owner is also known for other themed restaurants called Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge and Donny Dirk’s Zombie Den.  To say an abundant amount of imagination is poured into these places is an understatement.

When entering Betty Danger’s Country Club restaurant, you might feel like it’s a place out of “Alice in Wonderland” and that you just fell down the rabbit hole to a little carnival corner of some fantasy land.

The building and décor is donned in pink and lime green, which right there, makes it stand out in a neighborhood dotted with traditional housing and buildings.  If the pink building isn’t enough, one can’t miss the Ferris Wheel (Mechanical Tree) soaring above the area painted and lit up in the same colors. 

Betty Danger's County Club - Minneapolis, MN

When approaching the restaurant, I felt like a little kid eager to see more and to find out what amusing fun was inside.  I wasn’t disappointed.  Sitting outside the front door was a gentleman who possibly was the door greeter or host.  He was wearing pink shorts, plaid shirt and a bow tie.  In fact, all the restaurant staff had been dressed in similar plaid attire and guys wearing bow ties.

Strolling through the doorway, I noticed that smack-dab in the middle of the general eating vicinity was a tiered garden water fountain circled by white patio garden-like tables and chairs giving it a flair of whimsy.  Just past the fountain was a brick fireplace, which indeed, was also painted in bright pink with a lime green horse head protruding above the mantel.

Grilled Pear and Havarti Sandwich

If you haven't noticed, I like to make grilled Panini's and sandwiches!  I have several ideas in my blog - just look under the Sandwich Category.

Not only are there many ideas you can put between two slices of bread, but there's so many types of bread to be used, as well.   For this sandwich, I used Cinnamon Raisin bread.  

This is a great idea for a breakfast sandwich.  However, no rule against having it for lunch.

For one sandwich, here's the simple ingredients. 

• 2 slices of cinnamon raisin bread
• Ripened pear cut into thin slices. You can substitute thin slices of apple if you'd rather
• 1 slice Havarti cheese or Swiss cheese
• Sprinkling of cinnamon
• Cooking Spray

Thanks Dad - I'm An Over Thinker!

"You're just like your father."  "You sound like your dad - that’d be something he’d say."  "Boy, do you take after your dad."

Some of you may be able to relate to some of these remarks with your own parents. “You're just like your father” or “you remind me of your mother.” 

In my younger years, I MAY have gotten...take that back, I KNOW I got irked by these sort of remarks. 

As a young girl in my teenage years and twenties, the last thing I wanted was to be like my dad. 

He's not a bad guy - I just didn't get the comparison and wanted my own identity. Not one like my dad!  

I think this is pretty typical. 

Now that I'm at the ripe old age of MIDLIFE, I'm getting closer to figuring out (accepting) that identity. And, guess what? I'm very much like my dad.

Except now - I'm pretty proud of that!

So, when did this realization and acceptance sink in? Hell if I know. I just know over the years, after much thought, my dad and I do have similar traits. 

He's a thinker and, at times, maybe even an over thinker. You see, I'm also a thinker and I know for a fact, in certain situations, I can be an over thinker. So, I'm assuming my dad has this tendency too. 

Cheers To Barstool Advice

It’s a bustling bar energized with people young and old, rear-ends parked on barstools, ice cold beverage in hand and all engaged in conversation.

Next to me was some rousing exchange between some guys over a woman.  

One guy in particular, mentioned when trying to make some relationship headway, there was an interruption to his efforts.  The relationship was failing to move to the next level.

Sometimes the best place to resolve any challenging dilemma is to seek some advice from the people sitting at the bar. 

It makes sense. A lot of life's problems can be easily resolved just by bellying up to the bar to have discussions with friends, any bartender willing to listen, or maybe complete strangers just a barstool away.

It's a common scenario. The T.V. show "Cheers" is well known for their humorous topics tackled while sitting at the bar. To this day, it's still one of my favorite shows.