IF I NEED ONE OF THESE...

I can blame it on making eating too many of these..................

I made several batches of my favorite candy to give away for Christmas. These are addictive and dangerous, but hey, once a year, how bad can they be? 

LICORICE CARAMELS:

1 can sweetened condensed milk, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup butter, 1/4 tsp. salt and 1 1/2 cups white corn syrup. Combine in heavy pan. Stir constantly over medium heat until it reaches 244 degrees. Remove from heat and add 1 tsp anise flavoring and 1 tsp. black paste food color. Pour into 9 X 13 pan covered in buttered parchment paper. Let cool to set. Cut and wrap. DELICIOUS!

If you don't want a seat belt extender, do more wrapping than eating of caramels! ENJOY!

A PERFECT SONG FOR WRAPPING/SHOPPING/GROOVING

I escaped to The fabulous City of San Fran after work on Friday.  Everywhere I went this song was playing. It is now in my head and won't go away (not a bad thing). 

WHO SAID $ CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS?

Seriously, If these pictures don't put a tiny smile on your face there is something wrong!

In the heart of Chinatown, we found a gum machine with "mustaches" and for the bargain price of 25 cents each, they brought temporary but pure happiness!

• People in the city were stopping to laugh and smile 
• Street performers paused to congratulate me on the lovely mustaches on the faces of my offspring
• And proof positive... stone faced TSA agents in SFO and LAS were totally cracking up over the lovely fuzz on the faces of Parker and Chandler, who wore their distinguished look all day long (they didn't even get searched for being suspiscious looking terrorists ) 

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

I would venture to guess that I am not the only one that thinks the world has gone crazy. As I watch the news or read the headlines (which I usually feel better when  avoided, but it is in my genes to keep up on the news, thanks dad!) I find it hard to have much hope in the human race. People are unkind, crazy or just plain dumb!  However, after a fun weekend I had some renewed hope in kindness!

For my birthday, Shawn and the kids met me in San Francisco. As you know, I am a breakfast fiend! My favorite meal, anytime. So I had wanted to go to "Dottie's True Blue Cafe", a  famous hole in the wall diner in the tenderloin (a very sketchy, poor and homeless infused neighborhood) We stood in line for an hour, chatting and laughing with others waiting. We were very entertained by a big fat crow that kept throwing garbage down from a fire escape above us. That same crow decided to poo on my sassy Parker. I swear I believe in Karma! It was hilarious! Breakfast was awesome and totally worth the wait!! As we went to pay the bill, the waitress said, "Oh, someone already paid for you" We were shocked! We were excited and I had my hope  in human kindness restored slightly. We thought about this kind gesture all day! It meant so much to us. We felt warm and happy by this simple gesture from strangers. We have done this for others, but had never been on the receiving end. It was a great feeling! 

After breakfast the boys went to catch a trolley and the operator told them not to worry about paying the fare! In San Francisco, 2 random acts of kindness within  the hour? Unreal! So Sweet! Very Refreshing and unexpected. Ahhhh, renewed hope in mankind! It was a good reminder for me to do more random acts of kindness, because life is meant to be enjoyed! What a good kickoff for the Holiday Season!