Entries by Cheryl Clarson

TOP OF THE MORNING | DECEMBER 18

Merry Merry!

Welcome to Monday exactly one week away from Christmas Day!

I enjoyed collecting these gems to share with you.

Beginning with —

CREATIVE CHRISTMAS TREE ideas
I don’t have a favorite.  They’re all blue ribbon original greatness to me.

INTERESTING PHOTOS is better than scrolling through whatever’s on Google feed today.  Can you believe how GIANT the anchor chain of the Titanic was?  Or how thick one (just one) of the cables is that holds up the Golden Gate Bridge?  Crazy!

OFFICE ANTICS had me smiling big time.  Pretty sure offices could sure use some harmless fun to keep the 9-5 shift a little more interesting.

AI VISUALIZING ALL 50 U.S. STATES as Hunger Game contestants had me scrolling through — first of all with my home state and my now home state and checking out states my friends live in or came from.  Pretty spot on.

RECIPES!

HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS
still time to “whip up” something special in the kitchen for gift giving or impress guests during this “brrr time” of year.  Wonder how these homemade marshmallows would work with the favorite Rice Krispie Treats?  It’s a must read through the entire recipe to see all the cool variations etc … super interesting.

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5 for FRIDAY | DECEMBER 15

Merry Merry Greetings friends and Friday!

Super fun episode today beginning with:

STEPHANIE’S CHIC ON THE CHEAP
Big fan of Stephanie’s ideas for pairing and accessorizing for adding pizzazz to this wonderful time of year dressing the part!

Learned something from today’s Stephanie’s Chic on the Cheap column.  Pic #2 – Kitten heeled boots!  Me being a Birkenstock and flip-flop girl always wondered what those cute little heeled boots/shoes I see women wearing are called.  Now I know!

And!  the beautiful vintage brooches and little purse are super fab ideas.  Same – gold belt, bangles, and the Ooo-la-la print jeans.  Applause to all!

I am so gonna Bling-it-on these next days to Christmas and even a New Year’s gathering (following Stephanie’s fashion in the know tips) and have confident fun doing it!

Thanks, Steph, for always keeping us in the cool-kid-fashion-club!

QUICK QUESTION
When I was a kid – if memory serves me correctly – I had this little stuffed animal dog with long hair that I named Muffin.  Ha!  I know, super creative, right?  I did also have a Charlie McCarthy ventriloquist doll.  It was a Christmas gift from Santa one year.  But he came with his name.

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WEDNESDAY READER | DECEMBER 13

Wednesday Greetings Awesome Readers!

Cool line up today — beginning with …

QUICK QUESTION
My favorite childhood tradition memory is putting up lights on the outside of our home for all to enjoy.  Kinda like driving around and looking at people’s outside decorating.  Happy and cheer!  You?

YES, VIRGINIA
a column piece most of us kinda sorta know — but have you ever read all the words?  Magic, for sure.

The link to the song Snoopy’s Christmas vs the Red Baron is one you’ll probably remember hearing from somewhere in your memory bank.  A Merry listen indeed.

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TOP OF THE MORNING | DECEMBER 11

Hello Readers –

Christmas Day is 2 weeks from today!

I have a few hiccups (so to speak) today so this is what’s today.

Will be back on Wednesday with a fantastic line-up.

Always remember and never forget how much we appreciate your time and love for us!  Incredibly valuable.

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5 for FRIDAY | DECEMBER 8

Friday Greetings !

A super cool line up today beginning with:

STEPHANIE’S CHIC ON THE CHEAP IDEAS

It’s not too late to add another few peek-a-boo things around our homes just in time for Christmas.

LOVE the gift wrapped pizza boxes! What a trick idea.

My favorite pizza is and always has been Italian Sausage + Green Pepper — thin crust.  Ordering now so I can eat the contents and wrap the box!

((Little fun fact))
My first job at the age of 16 was working at Pizza Hut in Billings, Montana.  Employees got to order a small pizza while working a shift to either eat on break or take it home.  My second favorite was Taco Pizza!   *sigh* Taco Pizza is no longer on their menu.  Boo

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WEDNESDAY READER | DECEMBER 6

Wednesday Greetings!

Great line-up today —

Beginning with Quick Question — What’s something I do when I’m bored?  Believe it or not, I clean outside/inside of cupboards and kitchen drawers, baseboards and inside of the fridge.  I think being bored is actually productive in my world.  Ha!  You?

Recipe for Sweet Salted Candid Pecans is addictive.  Make it once and then get ready to make it on REPEAT.

BRIGHT NEW DAY is a reminder to us all.  Every single day of 1,440 minutes is indeed a gift.

Tracy Beckerman’s column Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire is, yet again, another slice-of-life, tongue-in-cheek read I can totally relate to.

FASCINATING STUFF –
I’ve not heard of St Nicholas magazine but – Faulkner, yes (!)  And Wolverines ??
And how about all the towns in our beautiful U.S. with the cool Chrismasy names?

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TOP OF THE MORNING | DECEMBER 4

Monday Greetings !

Presenting first Monday of December Top of the Morning.  A total entertaining line-up beginning with:

MONSTERA ALBO – the marvelous outside the gift box idea to WOW that someone-someone on your list who’s always a challenge to cool gift.  As in the person who seems to have everything.

CANDY CANE hanging from your bird feeder?  Read this little piece and find out why.

Ohhhhh — the GOOSE STORY is a total ear-to-ear smile read and also a wonder of the animal kingdom ((so to speak)) that lives among us.  Or do we live among them?

The Coolest Cookie Box presetation is just that — COOLEST COOKIE BOX PRESENTATION EVER.  Super impressive.

SPANISH POTATO SOUP is so on my list to make this week.  What a great reading recipe.  YUM

The FAB-FIVE recipes for gift giving or appetizers are Rock-Star-Status and too intriguing not to seriously consider making.

GOT A FIREPLACE?  I didn’t know the benefits of this great tip of what to do with the wood ashes scooped out of the fireplace.  Now I do and yes I will.

MEET SNAPPER THE CHRISTMAS TREE – Raise your hand if you’re a fan of the memorable Christmas ads that find us every season?  Mine’s raised.  Wait ’til ya watch this one.  Greatness!

SILVER BELLS by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings is a toe-tapping delightful rendition performance.  It’s a must listen.

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WEDNESDAY READER | NOVEMBER 29

Greetings!

Presenting Wednesday Reader line-up.  A really great read today!
Beginning with:

CHRISTMAS TREE “HATS”
Check out this funky cool pic for a lot of fun inspiration (should you be attending a Christmas event)

QUICK QUESTION
What used to scare me but no longer does?
Me, being alone at home at night,  You?

BE IN THE KNOW – NATO ALPHABET
Gotta read through this A -Z alphabet!  Super fun.  All of the words that represent the letters cannot be mistaken for another because they are specific and unique being associated with their letter of the alphabet.

LOVE AUDREY HEPBURN’S QUOTE
A parallel of Impossible to I’m Possible!
Presenting Wednesday Reader line-up.  A really great read today!

QUICK QUESTION
What used to scare me but no longer does?
Me, being alone at home at night,  You?

BE IN THE KNOW – NATO ALPHABET
Gotta read through this A -Z alphabet!  Super fun.  All of the words that represent the letters cannot be mistaken for another because these words rhyme with no other.

LOVE AUDREY HEPBURN’S QUOTE
A parallel of Impossible to I’m Possible!

LASAGNA SOUP RECIPE
As I wrote, I was in the Sacramento area visiting family for Thanksgiving.  2 days after Thanksgiving my sister, Lisa, brought a Lasagna soup home from her local market, The Nugget (think Central Market or Whole Foods kind of cool ).  Lasagna soup was the bomb-a-reno!
Totally enjoyed it for lunch and then leftovers zapped in the microwave around midnight when I got up craving one more bite.  Lasagna soup called out my name.  It was so good.
Found this recipe which I think would be THE RECIPE or close enough.

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TOP OF THE MORNING | NOVEMBER 27

Greetings Monday and friends –

Another excellent line up today!

Beginning with:

THE KALEIDOSCOPE LIGHT
One of the most amazing, small plug-it-in light shows to have being all magic and mesmerizing in a chosen room in the house.

BOILED EGG TRICK
I sure didn’t know this one.  I’ve always done the lots of salt in the water thing.  Changing lanes now!

DISTINCTIVE U.S. ACCENTS
Having traveled and worked all around the country – and working with people from all over the country and even other countries – I do recognize and can identify many of these accents immediately.  Has always been intriguing to me.

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5 for FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 24

Hey-hey friends!

How was Thanksgiving?  Ours was wonderful.  Can’t go wrong with great food, family, laughter and sharing stories and enjoying each others company.  Thanks-Giving happened!

Well – It’s official!
Christmas season has arrived.  Time for me to break out my pretty twinkle and chunk lights, retro tree (yes, I have a silver one that my great Aunt Jen Lou gifted me with the roll around color wheel – circa probably 1960) , decorations and a wreath or 2.  EXCITED.

Great line-up today.

BEGINNING WITH STEPHANIE’S CHIC ON THE CHEAP COLUMN

42nd high school reunion?!  Impossible – you look too young, for that timeline, Steph.  Seriously.

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WEDNESDAY READER | NOVEMBER 22

Happy day before Thanksgiving!

Presenting Wednesday’s Reader – packed full of interestings to keep ya company in your thoughts while basting the turkey, beating fluffy mashed potatoes, taste tasting the gravy on the stove or setting the table.

I love the story of “The Empty Hand”.  And the Old Newspaper Clipping of Thankfuls.

Leslie Elman, as always, finds and shares cool random facts we never knew before.

Do I remember Encyclopedia Salesmen?  Yep.  My parents purchased a set that were in alphabetical order in a small 2 shelved bookcase upstairs in our home that my sisters and I referred to when we had school assignments.  They were super helpful.
And, yes, I remember the silver milk box on our front porch.  Rusty Houchen was our milkman’s name.  The good old days.  Ha!

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