I'm Joining the Circus!

What happens when you need a day off and can't take one?

Well, my girls friends have been throwing around some great ideas and I have decided to take them up on their idea #5.

Ideas that SC gave in all her brilliance..

1. Lunch with someone who can really cook!

2. Hire a Maid so you can have bon bon time

3. Start planning a weekend away with your spouse

4. Declare a "Mental Health Day." Here are the rules. Cereal for breakfast, PB an J for lunch (or McDonald's?) and let Mrs. Dominoes cook dinner. You aren't allowed to do chores, or pay bills, or run errands. The only thing you have to do is make sure the kids don't die. Bring on the cartoons! When you have down time you are only allowed to do something you WANT to do. Like read a book, or watch something like "Ghost Hunters International." Screen phone calls. Power down the computer.

5. Run away and join the circus.

6. Call and commiserate while the children run amok.

7. Invite yourself over to someone's house for a play date.

May I add:

• Have a tea party with cream cheese sandwiches!!
• Drink Hot Chocolate and use lots of mini marshmallows
• Snorkel in the tub

If I joined the circus I would want to be a fire spitter or an acrobat. Not being as young as some...I think I will go for the flames.

One of my favorite circus food is popcorn..in any form, but most of all caramel corn. I love cracker jack (history) and munch and crunch.

Here is a great recipe for some wonderful snackage.

Caramel Popcorn from cooks.com (source)

Ingredients:

• 4 quarts popped corn (I used the left over giant tub of movie popcorn!!-filled up when we left)
• 16 oz peanuts (didn't use...due to family allergies)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 stick butter
• 1/4 cup corn syrup
• 1/2 tea vanilla
• 1/3 tea salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 250°F degrees.
Measure 1 cup of light brown sugar into a medium saucepan (with high sides) and stir in 1 stick of butter, 1/4 cup of corn syrup and a pinch of salt.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly (set timer for 2 minutes).
Remove saucepan from heat and quickly stir in 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and vanilla (mixture will foam up). Stir mixture down.
Using a pot or bowl which is large enough to hold all of the popped popcorn, combine popcorn and hot mixture, stirring and tossing to mix thoroughly using a large spoon greased with butter. Add peanuts (optional). When pouring liquid over popcorn be careful because the mixture is HOT.
When thoroughly mixed, spread the coated popcorn on a greased baking sheet. Do not overload the baking sheet; bake in multiple batches if necessary.
Bake 15 minutes at 250°F; turn over using a silicone spatula and bake another 15 minutes.
Allow to cool thoroughly and store in air-tight containers in a cool place.

Younger family members choose to be acrobats

I choose to spit fire

Everyone enjoys the popcorn