The Spin CycleDecember 2012 - The Spin Cycle

Archive for December 2012

ThinkFun’s Daily Puzzle – Review and Giveaway

By Sue · Comments (2) · December 27th, 2012

There are some things about daily life that I find puzzling.

Why do eleven year-old boys insist upon wearing shorts and calf-length black socks to school in 30-degree weather?

How is it that there is always an 8:00 am girls’ basketball game scheduled on the morning after an impromptu, but decidedly rocking and extended neighborhood happy hour?

Will Gangnam Style ever go off the airwaves?

Some of these puzzles keep me awake at night and eat away at my sanity, meager as it is.

And so when my homies at ThinkFun asked if my family and I wanted to try out one of their newest products called The Daily Puzzle, you can probably understand my hesitation.

Life is puzzling enough as it is, friends.

But at The Small One’s insistence, we took ThinkFun up on their offer.

And I’m so very glad that we did.

You see, while some of life’s puzzles are merely annoying, The Daily Puzzle is actually a fun challenge.

And a perpetual calendar.

All in one.

Isn’t it cute? It’s a set of interlocking pieces, that, when arranged properly, keeps tabs on the date.

The Small One had a fantastic time stretching his spatial reasoning skills and counting down the days until Christmas last week…

And I know that he’ll continue to enjoy it in the coming days, weeks, and months.

I just love toys that teach, don’t you?

And, being the gracious folks that they are, ThinkFun will send another Daily Puzzle to one fortunate reader. Win one of these babies? And you’ll be living Gangnam Style, my friends.

I’m sorry…did I just say that?

Anyway.

Here’s the really ultra-cool part: I’ve joined the masses and am using Rafflecopter to run my giveaways! For those of you who are unfamiliar with Rafflecopter, it’s easy. Just log in with your Facebook or email account to get started and follow the prompts.

And as a consequence, I will no longer be accepting monetary bribes in exchange for giveaway winnings on this blog.

I kid…I kid.

It’s much simpler than the old comment method…I promise. Good luck! Now start entering!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Comments (2)

Cornflake-Marshmallow Wreath Thingies

By Sue · Comments (24) · December 20th, 2012

“Are you ready for Christmas?”

It’s the question of the season, no?

*cue Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town*

And if “ready” means finished with shopping, wrapping, decorating, and Christmas cards, then my answer to that question would most definitely be…

…a resounding no.

However. I do have most of my baking done. I take comfort in knowing that at least Santa will have something to snack upon should he decide to keep The Cherubs on his “nice” list and pay a visit to our humble abode.

And today I’d love to share a favorite recipe that always seems to find its way onto Santa’s plate of goodies. That is, if I can manage to stash a few of them out of The Cherubs’ reach and keep them tucked away until Christmas Eve.

What is this recipe, you ask?

*dramatic pause in music*

Perhaps you’re not asking. Perhaps you’d just as soon not know, considering that I’m not much of a chef.

But I’m going to tell you anyway. ~~Neener-neener.~~

*again with the music*

Why, it’s Cornflake-Marshmallow Wreath Thingies, of course.

And here’s how we make them in my house.

I know…I know…they sound super-fancy. But this is all you need, friends: 3 cups of corn flakes, 30 large marshmallows, 1/2 cup of butter, green food coloring, and red hot candies.

Start by melting the butter in a large pot over medium-low heat.

Next, run into the adjacent family room. Tell The Boys to stop wrestling and come and help you create a Hallmark moment.

Return to the kitchen. Add the marshmallows and the food coloring to the butter. Continue to stir until all the ingredients are melted together.

Hightail it back into the family room and remind The Boys that Santa is always watching them.

Marvel at how quickly Twin B comes running to aid his sister upon the mention of Santa. Remove the marshmallow concoction from the heat. Fold the corn flakes into the marshmallow concoction.

When the concoction resembles Grinch vomit? You’re good to go.

Drop the vomit by large spoonfuls onto wax paper. Butter the ends of a few wooden spoons and have your Cherubs poke holes in the middles to create wreath shapes.

Add a few red hot “berries…” And voila. You have Cornflake-Marshmallow Wreath Thingies. And the only thing better than Cornflake-Marshmallow Wreath Thingies…

Is the smiles that they create. Bon appetit…And a Merry, Merry Christmas to all.

Inspired by a prompt from

“What cookies are you leaving for the big guy?”

Comments (24)

Dear Santa…

By Sue · Comments (34) · December 13th, 2012

First: A bit of business…

The winner of the BYOU Magazine subscription giveaway is:

1) Susan: sgeh——–

Congratulations, Susan. I’ve emailed you to obtain shipping address information. I hope that a special girl in your life enjoys BYOU as much as Twin A has.

And now…Back to our regularly scheduled post:

*************************************************************************************************************************

Dear Santa,

I’m sure that you’re pretty surprised to hear from me. And, to be frank, I’m rather surprised to be writing you, considering the fact that I’ve tiptoed around my home on your behalf every Christmas Eve for the past eleven years, leaving presents underneath the tree and in the stockings, snarfing down cookies, guzzling milk, leaving crumbs and forged reindeer hoofprints in my wake.

But, as you know, my children have joined forces as of late in hopes of winning your favor. And, in all honesty, this uncommon show of unity and cooperation has me somewhat concerned.

So I’m going to hedge my bets and operate under the assumption that you are, indeed, real, and capable of granting super-big Christmas wishes.

Let me be clear: This is not one of those sniveling, smarmy letters about some ridiculous object of my desire that I MUST see under the tree come Christmas morning.

Oh, no.

It’s about what I DON’T want to see under the tree.

And that would be a puppy.

Please don’t be too hasty to judge me. Here’s the deal, Santa: The Cherubs have been yammering for a puppy since mid-October. As soon as their tears over the loss of our beloved Macy had dried, they turned their collective attentions upon Christmas…and how it would be the perfect time for a new dog.

I disagree whole-heartedly.

Does that make me mean?

Wait…don’t answer that. Just hear me out on this one first, big guy.

I think that fulfillment of Christmas wishes is fabulous. I really, really do.

And I love me some baloney-breathed, razor-toothed puppy affection as much as the next girl.

However.

I truly don’t believe that the time is right.

There are the obvious, practical reasons: The Cherubs are in school and unable to help with the care of a puppy. We will be doing some traveling as a family during the winter months. These creatures need to spend plenty of time outdoors as they are being housetrained, and who in their right mind wants to supervise tinkle time while standing in knee-deep Illinois snowdrifts and shivering in sub-zero degree temperatures?

No one, that’s who.

But, practically aside, there’s more.

And here’s where it gets sort of dicey, St. Nick.

The Cherubs aren’t aching for a dog.

There. I said it. And I won’t waver on this issue.

For the past eleven years, they’ve always had a dog – or two – around the house. They’ve tripped over the creatures and pulled their tails and attempted to dress them up and put makeup on them and taught them the Cha-Cha Slide and all the things that ~~deranged~~ young dog owners do.

Dogs have consistently been part of the family portrait around here. The Cherubs have never been without one.

Just like they’ve never been without a family room couch.

Or holes in the big toes of their socks.

Or overgrown fingernails.

A dog always been a given, so to speak.

And now? Now that the given is…well…gone?

It’s become clear to me that they’re truly starting to appreciate what they had. It’s a sensation that’s hard to come by in this age of entitled youth. And it’s…dare I say it? Character building.

So, Santa, while it is most definitely your call whether or not to leave a wriggling bundle of cuteness under our tree this year, I’m going to ask that you resist The Cherubs’ pining and allow them to wait a while longer.

It is Christmas, after all.

And just as a certain birth was heralded some two thousand years ago after the world had waited…

And waited…

And then waited some more…

I know that my children will herald the inevitable arrival of a new friend

If they are allowed to wait

A bit longer.

Inspired by a prompt from

“Write a letter to Santa and let him know what you’d like to see under your tree this year.”

Comments (34)

On Being Your Own You

By Sue · Comments (11) · December 6th, 2012

You know that expression, “She marches to the beat of her own drum?”

Yeah. People used to say that about me. Until Twin A came along.

That girl? Was born with her own marching rhythm section.

At Halloween, while all of her girlfriends dressed up as prom queens and pop stars, she opted to go trick-or-treating as Miss America. But she did it with a blue morph suit, knee-high red boots, a Captain America T-shirt, and a red, white, and blue superhero shield.

With Christmas right around the corner, she has provided me with a list of wishes. There is not an electronic gadget or a name-brand piece of clothing to be found anywhere on it. At the top of the list is an archery set.

Of course. *cue cymbal crash”

She’s never been one to follow a trend. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So when I was contacted by BYOU Magazine to conduct a review of their publication, I was intrigued. You see, BYOU stands for “Be Your Own You,” and it’s written with the eight-to-twelve-year-old demographic in mind.

Giddyap.

So they sent a few issues to us

And Twin A took them for a spin, so to speak.

She loves the fact that BYOU features celebrity write-ups. And I love the fact that the write-ups feature celebrities with talent, substance, and role model-worthy lifestyles.

She was drawn to the “beauty” articles. And I was impressed by the fact that the word “beauty” in BYOU is always preceded by the word “inner.”

We both gave high marks to the cover stories about community service and combatting bullying, as well as the “B-Smart” word puzzles. When my independent thinker and I agree? It is a beautiful thing.

Do you know a BYOU kind of girl who would enjoy this magazine as much as Twin A?

Then you’re in luck…because I am thrilled to offer a one-year subscription to BYOU Magazine to one of my readers. Can you say, “tween stocking stuffer?” You’re welcome.

Giveaway Rules:

Each comment left on this post, from now until Thursday, December 13th, will be considered an entry. The winner will be chosen by random electronic drawing and announced in a post on that date. Multiple entries (up to five) per person are encouraged. To enter, do one or more of the following. Verify each action with a separate comment here.

1. Follow my blog and leave a comment telling me why a special girl in your life might enjoy BYOU Magazine.

2. Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall.

3. ”Like” The Spin Cycle on Facebook.

4. ”Like” BYOU on Facebook.

5. Follow The Spin Cycle on Twitter and tweet this giveaway.

Good luck, friends!

Disclosure Statement:

I was provided with two issues of BYOU Magazine in order to complete this post. All opinions are my own. Only residents of the United States are eligible for entry.

Comments (11)