I am currently obsessed with making Rice Krispy Treats- not the run-of-the-mill treats, but different flavors and textures. They are really a very versatile treat. During Christmas I found pink and white peppermint and dulce de leche marshmallows. Those were good, but they didn't have quite the flavor I was looking for.

I find it is best to start with plain white marshmallows and add different extracts or other things to flavor the treats. Today I made peanut butter and jelly. I added peanut butter to the marshmallow mix and then added strawberry flavoring.  Next time I will probably make two thin pans of peanut butter treats and spread jam in between the layers.

Tonight I am going for pina colada treats. Coconut baking flavoring (which is thicker and not made with alcohol, which tends to evaporate in heat), shredded coconut and finely chopped dried pineapple pieces. Yummy!!!! I might have to put candied cherries in it too. We'll see.

As you can probably guess, my kids are not complaining. Jon is though, he hates marshmallows. I only like marshmallows inside things, or toasted. Plain marshmallows are not my favorite. Oh my gosh, that just gave me a terrific idea for another batch of Rice Krispy Treats — toasted marshmallow. That could take a while though, after all, I would have to toast each marshmallow individually to get the right flavor. I wonder if I can get a camp fire lit in my backyard. The snow might make it a little hard.  Hmm, maybe this isnt' such a good idea. I like my eyebrows where they are.

This could work (S'mores):

http://www.twopartssugar.com/gallery/

Okay, I should not have googled "gourmet Rice Krispy Treat" pictures. Now, I feel as though I have to step it up.

We're lazy. All of us. Yes, it is a blanket statement that encompasses every human being. Okay, maybe that is going too far, but you have to admit, it does ring true. If we weren't a lazy society, why would companies continue to produce items that make life easier and keep us lazy? I guess it's kind of a "What came first?" scenario. Do companies produce products because of consumer laziness, or do the products make the consumers lazy?

For example, the electric jar opener. People have been taking jars off lids for years without the help of an electric appliance. I think Black & Decker makes one of these. At least try one of those rubber grip jar openers before you resort to plugging something in.

There are other lazy makers. The jar opener is not alone -- it is just one in a line of products that include jars of jelly with stripes of peanut butter (because if you can't open one jar without an electric jar opener, how can you be expected to open two), electric scissors (really?), crustless bread and easy feet (shown below, and something I considered buying because it was only $6.99).

I am the first  person to admit I'm not perfect -- I have been known to call my son on his cellphone when he was just downstairs -- but I can open my own jars, mix my own pb&j, use my muscles to cut a piece of paper, cut the crust off my own bread and I can definitely wash my own feet (although I wouldn't say no to a handsome, topless man fanning me with palm fronds while another one washes my feet).

Get up off your butts and start doing everyday tasks without handholding and running up your electric bill.

***First I want to point out- the camera adds 40 pounds and Mom- I am sorry, but in the other picture you looked as though you were going to murder someone.  


It was so nice to visit my grandparents in Enid.  I also got to see my Aunt Kathy and Uncle Carlos who live in Olathe, Kansas.  We spent time visiting, relaxing and reading and going through old pictures.  It was really a nice time.  

I must admit I was very excited at the prospect of visiting their tornado shelter in the garage.  Luckily it was not tornado season quite yet while we were there, but regardless, I made my mom and aunt do a reenactment of what it may look like if a storm hit.

  

We also got a chance to visit the local grocery store, which is my mother's favorite thing to do.  The store, Jumbos, offered many exciting things- some of which included a 6lb. container of Peter Pan peanut butter (Jon's favorite) and Frog Leg Fridays.

     

My aunt and uncle:

  

And finally, my grandparents.   Pictures of them now and when they were younger.