"The Missy Times" Highlighted in Local Newsletter

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Exciting News!

The Missy Times was recently highlighted in Beaver's own Borough newsletter. The local publication, which is published quarterly by the Borough Council Committee, features lots of tidbits of news, history, town updates and more.

"We're very excited to have The Missy Times highlighted in such a broad way" said editor Missy Koshute.

If you have not yet seen the article, titled "Local Girl Turned Publisher", log onto beaverpa.us where you can find the newsletter's link.

Missy Times Flashback: "Pumpkins, Candy and Costumes, Oh My!"

Taken from the October 31st, 2010 issue of The Missy Times.

While Trick-or-Treating I took the time to notice these three staples of Halloween around town.

Pumpkins Although most pumpkins are usually carved in the same general fashion with two eyes, a nose and a scraggly smile, a few that I saw really caught my attention.

• Most people carve the face or scene on their pumpkin and therefore that carving is the main attraction. Not many people use the front of their pumpkin as a window into the interior where they staged the real show. Our neighbor did just that, though, by carving the front of her pumpkin into jail bars and placing a mini pumpkin inside, where he unfortunately was suffering the consequences of whatever crime it is that pumpkins can commit.
• As we walked up the stairs of one house on Bank Street, we were greeted by a few surprisingly amazing pumpkins. One had quite a beautiful ornately carved design that must have been carved by an expert with the knife, and another had a whole face --A WHOLE FACE!-- complete with hair, eyes and neck. It was very impressive.

Candy What can I say about candy? Most was chocolate but I still got a good basketful of edible and delicious candy. Here are some candy-giving styles I observed:

1. The "take-it-yourself" method: a basket full of candy is quite appealing, especially when there is a large selection. It's nice to hear a friendly adult say "Go ahead, take a piece", or even better, "take a handful" and let you pick your own confection of choice. Some people even just had a basket on their doorstep free to choose from!
2. The "Here you go" method: this method is for parents who want to make sure greedy children do not take more than one piece. Being handed a piece of candy is a minus for Trick-or-Treaters, however, who will often not get the candy they want or that they are not allergic to.
3. The "Sit on the porch" method: It is an unwritten rule that if the porch light is on there's candy in the house. Most of the time, along with the light the bestower of the candy is also situated on the porch, waiting for kids to walk up the steps to receive their prize.
4. The "sit near the sidewalk" method: this method is more convenient than the previous one if you are trying to keep up with a fast moving group of people, though it is less popular.
5. The "wait for them to knock on the door" method: this is the most ominous of the candy-giving styles. Are they giving out candy or are they not? Is their light on to light the sidewalk or as a signal to come to the door? This used to be the only way people gave out candy; not many people would wait outside. It's sort of cool to have someone answer the door and be able to look inside the different houses.

Costumes   Most of the costumes this year were all store bought and very trite. In my own experience, I noticed while at various stores that they were mostly for either grown-ups or toddlers and that there were not many for ages in between. The most creative costumes I saw were on a group of three people: one was Abraham Lincoln, one was a confederate soldier, and one was a union soldier. I myself dressed up as a detective using dark green pants, a trench coat over a turtle neck and a detective hat (two baseball hats in opposite directions covered in plaid fabric).

I hope my observations have made things more interesting and shed a positive light on one of my least favorite holidays.

The Moment We've All Been Waiting For.....

At last, at last. What a sight for sore eyes!

Three pages down, two to go!

Are You Happy to See Autumn Arrive?

After a long, hot summer, Fall has officially arrived according to both the calendar and the weather. The leaves have begun to lose their green, temperatures have dropped dramatically into the 40's, Fall sports are in full swing and bright orange pumpkins are making their appearances at Farmer's Markets across the country.

Do you welcome the change of seasons? Does the departure of summer leave you feeling saddend and nostalgic for the warm days of the past months? Or is the coming of Autumn a happily awaited occasion as you eagerly adapt to the new time of year? Let the Missy Times and More know by sending your comments to themissytimes@yahoo.com ! Then come back and answer our special poll (see sidebar) !

Select responses and full poll results will appear in The Missy Times!

Thoughts from Inside My Head

Everyone is waiting. They're so anxious for a Missy Times. It's been such a long time that they're all worried The Missy Times is over. But it's coming. I will finish an issue someday. Someday soon.
My mind is so blocked, so clogged with ideas and phrases that won't materialize out of my head and onto the page. I can imagine my finished articles, I can imagine the relief of holding the freshly printed copies in my hands and seeing proof that all the agony of this past summer was not for nothing. It has been so long.
I think back over the many months I've struggled to write and shudder at the lost time that has passed as week after week goes by with no more progress than the last. I read my collection of past issues and yearn to write again. I see my old pieces that brought so much pleasure to my readers' faces and wish that I had a new Missy Times to send them, a Missy Times I could be proud of.
I must get it done. I WILL get it done. My dream of writing cannot die, I cannot give up my goal of becoming a journalist. If I ever want to grow up to be a famed writer, esteemed throughout the country for my talented work, I must first overcome this looming road block.
No one said it would be easy. If it were easy, then everyone would be amazing writers. It takes perserverance, it takes commitment, it takes work. That's why I'm going to stick with this. I'm going to write right through this until finally I've trounced this challenge and finished it, down til I've sealed the very last envolope.

The Missy Times is making a comeback. It is coming! And I promise you (and hold me to this) that by this time next week you will be holding an issue in your very own hands.

Summer Update

I haven't updated in over a month (oops!) and I think that may be a record. Ever since we returned home from our Nebraska trip -which you will hear all about in the upcoming Missy Times-  life around the Koshute household has been both busy and lazy at the same time. Last week Dad, Mom, Nick and I drove down to Deleware and spent some vacation time relaxing at Bethany Beach. I helped out at our church's Vacation Bible School the week before, and one Sunday before that, Mom, Gina and I went up to Moraine State Park where we biked and walked the trails around Lake Arthur. In between I've been swimming at the pool, hanging at the library, playing with friends, and watching Food Network Star and "Shark Week" on the Discovery Channel.

Anyway, I just wanted to give you a brief update and apologize for not posting in a while. I'll try harder to get some real, solid posts up this month so you won't be left in the dark. A new Missy Times is headed your way, so stay tuned to your mailbox!

Road Trip!

The Koshute Clan is setting off on its next adventure. Tomorrow morning we will depart for my cousin's wedding which takes place on Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska. Along the way we will travel through the states of Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, all of which are totally new territories for me. Our pit-stops in Chicago, Champaign, Springfield, Hannibal, and St. Louis should prove to be memorable, and hopefully the fun of seeing America will make up for the long hours we will have to endure in the car. Whatever the outcome, this summer road trip will surely be an exciting journey!

The Missy Times and More invites you along for the ride. Check back for special updates from Missy as the Koshute Caravan treks west to the Great Plains. Stay Tuned!

5 Possible Missy Times Headlines

Have you been wondering what's been going on in Beaver? Well wonder no longer:

1. Missy Takes on Projects to Escape Summer Boredom
2. Ice Cream Shop Moves To Beaver
3. Carnival Arrives in Town
4. 10 Tips to Surviving a Graduation Party
5.  Koshutes Battle Garden Pests

(Bonus) Missy Runs Race


Which headline would you like to see a story on?

In Rogers Neighborhood

-Friday, June 17th

Seeking adventure on a mellow summer day with no other particular plans, my Mom and I, along with my neighbor friends Grace, Harper and her little brother Zane piled into the van for a trip across the state line into Ohio. There, accompanied only by a few dollars, some snacks, and our spirit of curiosity, we were to tour the regionally famed Rogers flea market.

Having only been there once before when I was little, my excitement was peaked. I'd always heard people talk of their Friday ventures to Rogers, but now I would finally have a fresh picture in my mind to match with the name.


The parking lot was packed with cars, most from Pennsylvania, although some liscense plates were from as far away as New York and North Carolina. We entered the gate, and our experience began. And boy, an experience it was. The atmosphere was a cross somewhere between a giant yard sale, a fair, a farmers market and the History Channel show "American Pickers".

People trudged up and down the gravel paths that wove around the scores of vendors. There were Amish Country Donuts that smelled as only donuts do; there were fuzzy siamese kittens and velvety puppies; there were smooth wooden rubberband guns that we got to practice shooting at pop cans. Bold entrepreneurs shouted out sales pitches about no fog window cleaners, rug whiteners and squishy little animals that flattened like scrambled eggs when slapped on the ground. Old "Colman's Mustard" and "Cook's Breakfast Cocoa" tins were laid out on tables next to knives and outdated action figures. Vintage metal posters with scenes of Norman Rockwell's "Saturday Evening Post" sat in a box underneath one table near a stand with a huge ferocious looking bear head.

Under the roofed pavillions, the merchaindise varied from T-shirts and hermit crabs to produce and Club crackers. Inside the barn shaped buildings, there were Cucumber Melon and McIntosh Apple flavored candles from "Your Own Candle Company" and a whole hardware store's worth of tools.

Although we didn't purchase anything save a few postcards and some fries, the fun of exploring this eccentric place made it well worth the trip . Just like so many of the items at Rogers, our mediocre day had been turned from trash, to treasure....a summer memory we soon won't forget.

Behind the Scenes, Part 1: 70 Things You Can Buy In Beaver For A Dollar or Less

One night on Easter break, our family was sitting out on the porch and I was pondering what I should write for next main story in The Missy Times. I asked my siblings if they had any ideas and Phil, my oldest brother came up with a good one:
"Why don't you go around Beaver and see what you can buy for less than a quarter?"

That sounded interesting, but I doubted that there were many things for sale these days for under 25 cents. After concluding that the 3 cent nails at Fischer's Hardware Store would probably be the only item I would find for that low of a price, we raised the limit to a dollar or less.  I finally had a topic!

It was a pleasant warm April day when my friend and I walked up to main street to carry out the survey. I brought along with me a pad of paper and a pencil to record the information, and some money in case I wanted to purchase anything we found.

Starting at Cafe Kolache, Beaver's well-known coffee shop and eatery, we made our way down Third Street stopping at as many businesses as possible. "Can I help you with anything?" many of the cashiers would inquire. I knew must of certainly looked odd that we were walking around their store copying prices down from tags, but I wasn't really in the mood to explain our mission to every single shopkeeper. We preferred to work "undercover", per say. "No thank you, we're just looking, ma'am. (or sir)" I'd answer politely. A few times when prices weren't printed clearly though, we did have to ask the cost of an item. One store, "Kathleen's", was particularly talented at not labeling their merchandise. "How much are these cards? How much is this painted lady bug? What about this candle?" my friend kept calling to the lady at the counter. She answered our inquiries one by one, but  seemed puzzled. "Exactly how much money do you girls have to spend?" she finally said. I explained our task. "Oh, well this isn't that kind of store" she declared almost proudly with a chuckle "We don't have anything here for under a dollar." We did find one item, though. It was a fancy kind of instant hot chocolate called "Cocoa Amore".


Some places really impressed me with their selection: Who knew Pizza Joe's sold espressos? Since when has Pollock's sold so many pens? Why hadn't I ever noticed that the cookies at Kretchmar's were so inexpensive?

And others really disappointed me: When did the previously 99 cent silly bands at the toy store go up to $1.21?  Are sugar-free cookies all Cafe Kolache can offer for under $1? Why can't Philly Originals lower the prices on their drinks?

At the end of the day, this had to be one of the most enjoyable Missy Times surveys I've ever done. My friend I both agreed that it was a lot of fun.

Here are a few last notes:

• In only a little over an hour, we collected info from nearly 20 stores.

• I ended up buying an egg roll from China house for Grace to try, a postcard from the Hostess Shoppe to send and a star cookie from the bakery to munch on. All were very successful purchases.

• One of the few stores we had to leave out was Beaver Super, on account of their overwelming array of products.

• When I posted the results in The Missy Times, I forgot to mention that we didn't include tax. If you want to come to Beaver to buy these items yourself, make sure you bring a few extra pennies. 

Stay tuned for "Behind the Scenes, Part 2" for more info on my trip to Baltimore.

Corrections

In the article about "Punks Ice Cream Shoppe" two errors occurred:

• In the quote "Once I made jalapeno ice cream for a man who really loved jalapenos" jalapeno was incorrectly spelled J-A-L-E-P-I-NO.

• The price for ice cream sundaes was listed as "Less than $4". While this fact is certainly true, four dollars is much higher than the real price:  $1.65.

I apologize for these mistakes.

Coming Soon......

Sorry folks for the long delay! Expect the Missy Times soon!

Inside the Times

Got A Buck? 75 Things You Can Buy In Beaver For A Dollar Or Less

Maria vs. The Cicada

A Sweet Treat

Inside Baltimore

Grated Tomato Salad Dressing

Pictures from Beaver's Memorial Day Celebration

Men dressed as civil war soldiers march down the parade route

The people bow their heads in prayer as Dr. William H. Silver gives the innovocation at the cemetery service

The soldiers stand at attention as they prepare for the volley fire salute

The people rise from their seats and applaud

Springtime in a Small Town

 Spring is finally here. And for the residents of Beaver Pennsylvania, that's a relief to know. After months of cold winter weather and weeks of damp March/April/May showers, it seemed as if spring had forgotten our little town.

But spring is making a comeback.

• If in the fall it looks like all the life is slowly being drained out of the world, the spring seems the exact opposite, as if life is being squeezed into it. Everything appears fresh and renewed, bursting in spring newness. Every color is to the most extreme and vibrant degree. The greens of the trees and grass are GREEN, the pinks of the flowers are PINK, and the blue of the sky is BLUE. As you can see, this fact rings true on our street (see picture above).

•  As I mentioned before, people in Beaver are very prone to catch spring fever.  As I ride my bike up and down River Road and around town, I notice all the people out and about, taking advantage of the beautiful weather. Some are playing in the parks, working in their gardens, taking brisk walks, sitting on park benches, or like me, riding their bikes. That's one of the great things about living in a small town. You can get practically anywhere in town by walking, or riding your bike. This past week since the regular soccer fields were closed, my team got to practice by the fire station which is only a few blocks away. It was nice not to have a ten minute drive to get to practice and be able to walk home in the warm evening twilight. I think the place where people mingle the most in the spring/summer around here is River Road since the scenery looks so pretty this time of year.  Yesterday I saw a woman reading a book on a park bench while a man sat leaning against a nearby tree and strumming on his guitar.

• Besides the spontaneous spring activities, there are some organized events planned as well. The Beaver Town Yardsale took place this Saturday. People flowed from one street to another to mull over the many yardsales and see who's junk would become their treasure.  Museums all over the county were open to visitors this weekend for the Beaver County History Days. I wasn't able to participate in this event, but from what I saw from last year's celebration, I'm sure it was a big hit. Fort McIntosh was rededicated with great fanfare on Saturday in front of it's beautiful new memorial which was built as a thank-you present from the president of the dredger company, whoose ugly dredger has graced our river for the past few years. The Borough is gearing up for all the other upcoming summer festivies as well, such as the Memorial Day Parade, Garrision Day, the summer carnival, and more.

Ah, spring.....its such a great season, isn't it? What's spring like in your town?

 

A Unique Way to Dye Easter Eggs.....and More Easter Fun

He is Risen! Alleluia! After 40 days of fasting, prayer and self-denial, the time for celebration has finally come!

Even though its hard to remember sometimes, we can't forget that the Easter season lasts longer than just one Sunday. Are you kidding? Do you think that those 40 straight days of preparation and repentance were all for just 24 hours of rejoicing? Of course not! The Easter season lasts a full 50 days.

Besides the holiday itself, my favorite time around Easter has to be Holy Week. When Palm Sunday arrives my excitement starts to build up. By the time the Sacred Triduum rolls around I am absolutely pumped! All three days are filled with some rich traditions which I love: from the seven church walk on Thursday evening to the blessing of the Easter baskets on Saturday morning.

 We had already bought all the candy we needed from Malley's while staying at my grandma's house a week prior, so I spent the days leading up to Easter getting ready in other ways. Since I'm the least busy and don't live out of state, I was a good candidate to become the official family Baker of the Easter Goodies. On Holy Wednesday I made some special Holy Thursday rosemary buns, which are a close cousin to Hot Crossed Buns. My mom was right, though. I should've started them earlier in the day; They weren't done till 12:40 a.m. ! But despite that, they did turn out pretty good. On Holy Thursday, my friend came over and showed me how to make her grandma's famous nut roll, which, by the way is DELICIOUS! It was my first experience making nut roll and I was surprised at how easy it was. On Holy Saturday I made an Edelweiss Coffee cake. Yummy! There's still one last piece I'm saving in the fridge.

And let's not forget my most favorite pre-Easter activity: dying eggs. I love taking plain white eggs and transforming them into colorful masterpieces. The process reminds me of the transition from winter to spring.

Upon looking up tips for dying the eggs, I came across this fun method:
http://www.rd.com/slideshows/11-ways-to-dye-easter-eggs-naturally/

I thought it looked like such a fun project to do, but unfortunately, this year I can't. But if you're unlike me and don't have an egg carton full of hard boiled colored eggs that are still needing to be eaten, perhaps you can try it for yourself. Let me know if it works!

A New Post is Coming Soon

Dear Readers,

I am very, very sorry that there have been no new posts lately. I know it is no fun to read a blog that is never updated. But never fear: a new post is coming soon!

Editor Gets Piece Published in Online Publication

(See link below)

                                                  
                                       http://www.homeschoolliterary.com/?p=210

Happy Birthday to The Missy Times!

                                        

Tomorrow, March 22nd marks the 5th birthday of The Missy Times. That's right, The Missy Times has been around for half a decade! Isn't that amazing?

The little newspaper has certainly evolved:

-March 22nd, 2006-
The first issue of The Missy Times is created

-August 17th, 2006-
The first Guest Writer appears in The Missy Times with a piece titled "Local Artist Set To Launch College Career". His name was Phil Koshute.

-January 4th, 2007-
The first sponsor (unofficial, that is), "Nick's Junkyard of Sansa MP3 Players" is aknowledged in The Missy Times.

-January 23rd, 2007-
A typewriter is first used to write a few of the articles. This method would not continue, however, as hanwritten pieces remained the favorites

-January 31st, 2007-
The first Missy Times interview is conducted.

-March 13th, 2007-
The results of the first ever Missy Times survey are posted. The survey question was: "Which do you prefer? Mail or email?" 83% of the participants liked mail.

-September, 2007-
The Missy Times is published in pink ink. Comics appear for the first time, though they do not contiue to remain a popular feature. The first official sponsor, JHU Applied Physics Lab, is aknowledged.

-November 1st, 2007-
"Leave it to Beaver", the local Beaver news column, is born.

-February, 2009-
The front page drawing is published in color.

-March, 2009-
The Missy Times reports on March Madness.....again. It's the fifth time in it's history.

-April 4th, 2009-
The Missy Times celebrates three years with a special issue.

-September 21st, 2009-
The first photo (not drawing) appears on the front page.

-February 2nd, 2010-
"The Anonymous Files" is born.

-November, 2010-
The first special holiday edition of The Missy Times is created.

Happy Birthday to The Missy Times and thanks to all my loyal subscribers!

Have You Checked Your Mailbox Lately?

                                                                    Inside the Times
                                                    "Editor Meets Food Network Chef"
                                                                   Readers' Recactions
                                               "Whose Fish Will Be on Your Plate This Friday?"
                                                         "Breakfast at The Inn on Negley"
                                                          "An Epic Tale on a Tiny Scale"
                                                                      Did You Know?

More Yummy Products From Trader Joe's

The last time we went to Trader Joe's, I found a bunch of yummy items to add to my "Trader Joe's Recommend Products"  list:


Strawberry Yogurt O's

Cranberry Apple Butter

Lavash Flat Bread

Lemon Heart Cookies

Yucca Chips

Mandarin Orange Chicken

Lost Issues Recovered

"Winter Pastime Deemed Local Crime"
                         
"Undeemed But Unneeded!"

These are the headlines of the two issues of The Missy Times that were declared lost in the most recent edition of the newsletter. I am happy to announce that I found both a few days ago in one of my old binders in the attic.

Thank you to everyone who searched their Missy Times collections for me! If you had found these issues and were planning to send one or both to me, please keep them!

An official announcement will appear in the next Missy Times.

Put Away the Shorts and Bring Out the Shovels!

Just one week ago, as the red mercury in the thermometers shot up past the 50 and 60 degree marks, spring fever was spreading throughout the town. The brown, dry grass looked as if it were taking a long, deep breath, rejoicing in it's freedom from the suffocating layer of heavy snow, which, except for a few piles of slushy mush, was completely gone. The birds sounded as if they were bursting with joy as they sang up in the trees. People all around Beaver were outside enjoying the weather but most were seen on River Road riding bikes, walking their dogs, jogging, or just taking a brisk stroll. Everyone had been infected, and there was no cure for this disease.

For those couple of days, I was wearing shorts. Less than a week later, I was wearing hat, gloves, and snow pants.

 Just when we had all truly believed that spring was coming like the groundhog had said, winter came flying back like a slap in the face. It was Monday, and the weather forcasters were only predicting some freezing rain and sleet for that evening. That was a mistake. By mid-afternoon fluffy white snow was falling...... and sticking. The shovels were brought back out from the garage and my dad sent my brother and I out to clear the front walk at about 6:30pm, when at least 3 inches already covered the ground . The faster I shoveled, the faster the snow fell and by the time I was done, a fresh dusting of snow had already accumulated on the sidewalk.

The next morning, the world was completely white. Overnight, a total of seven inches had been dumped on the same town which had been basking in the warmth of spring only days earlier.

At first, I was disappointed. Winter will never end! I thought. But soon I was enjoying the snow as I always do. I went outside with the other neighborhood kids and we worked for hours building an igloo and later, a snow man.

The temperature is creeping back up into the 40's and it looks like we're headed for another loooong, slow, thaw. For now, we're stuck with winter again. But while its here I'll try to enjoy it, for the real spring will be back before long.



Have you always wanted to build an igloo? You should! It sounds like it would be hard, but actually, if you have enough people to help, it isn't. Here's how:


1. Take some shovels and mound up a huge pile of snow


2. As you're piling, use a squirt bottle to spray water onto the loose bits of snow make it frozen so that it stays packed into place


3. After your pile is big (it has to be BIG if you want people to fit inside) trace out a doorway and start chipping and digging out a hole that will be the room. Remember to spray the roof and walls as you're digging so that the whole thing does not cave in on top of you!


4. Contiue to thicken the outside igloo walls as needed so that when carving your room, your shovel does not break through and puncture the whole thing


5. Carve the room to your desired size while scraping out all excess snow


6. Put on finishing touches and have fun!

Don't Forget.....February 17th Is Random Acts Of Kindness Day!

Boy, February sure has a lot of great holidays! There's Groundhog day, Valentines Day, Toothache Prevention Day, Candlemas, Presidents Day, etc. You may not be aware that February is home to another great holiday: Random Acts of Kindness Day, which is (of all days) today! I know it is not a big, well known celebration, but the idea of doing spontaneous nice things for people is a practice we should all adopt. Here is some information on the holiday from http://www.holidayinsights.com/





When : Always February 17th


Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day. And, you know what to do...perform a few random acts of kindness. Almost any kind deed will do. And, we highly recommend you perform kind acts on as many people as you can.
This is a favorite day of many people and groups. People like the idea of showing a little kindness to others. Its a fun and good thing to do. And, they like being on the receiving end of this day as well. It makes both the giver and the receiver feel good.
Schools have used this day as an educational event, and to promote the value of kindness. Organizations have used this day to promote their cause, and for fundraisers.


Caution: What comes around, goes around. Random Acts of Kindness is highly contagious.


Origin of Random Acts of Kindness Day:
Our research did not find the creator, or the origin of this day. We wish we could thank the originators of this great day. The originators have truely helped to make the world a better place.
Many organizations and groups have declared other days to be "Random Acts of Kindness Day". These declarations are usually local, one-time events, often for fundraisers.




Aren't you glad I did you a random act of kindness by reminding you that today is Random Acts of Kindness Day?

Good luck with your random acts of kindness!

---

Happy Valentines Day!

How was your Valentines Day? I hope it was just LOVEly!
Here is what I did to celebrate the holiday:

It did not take long after I woke up for my Valentines Day to begin. As I walked down the stairs, I found a red envelope waiting for me on top of the piano. It was a card from my dad. Every year its his project to buy us all Valentines. Its fun to look through the Valentine bag from the attic and read all my old cards from past February 14ths.

After my piano lesson my mom and I drove over to Rosalinds Candy Castle to buy some Valentine sweets. Inside the small store, a line of people waiting to purchase last minute suprises wrapped around the candy displays stocked with Valentine confections complete with colorful red and pink wrappers. There were little boxs of chocolate, heart shaped lollipops, candy berries, and little bags of candy hearts. Most of the people were choosing from the wide variety of gourmet chocolates at the counter or ordering a box of delicious chocolate covered strawberries. We left the store with the latter, two bags of candy berries, and some little raspberry milk chocolates for one of my friends.

Later on after school, I had fun going around the neighborhood delivering my tiny Martha Stewart Valentines which my mom (who has very good taste) found for me at Michael's craft store. I think they're my favorite ones yet! They're so cute! I had a good time trying to think up rhymes such as
"Roses are Red
Violets are blue
Candy is sweet
and I hope your Valentines Day is too!"
to put inside.

At about 5:00 I went over to my friend's house to bake some Valentine sugar cookies. We had a good time experimenting different ways to cut and decorate them (see pictures). One of the cookies turned out to be a giant pink heart with colored sprinkles rolled inside the dough and we even tried baking conversation hearts into some of the others. The funny thing was that even though they melted a little bit into the cookie, their texture didn't change. They still felt hard and crunchy!

After I had finished my dinner back at home, another one of my friends brought me over a big heart shaped Valentine.

The day concluded with me presenting my parents

 their special cards and then watching the new episode of "Pawn Stars" before bed.

I hope you've enjoyed hearing about my Valentines Day and I hope that yours was just as happy.

More Trader Joe's Products I Recommend

Maria and I at the Trader Joe's in Hyattsville, MD Circa 2008

 Joe Joe's Cookies

Avocado's Number Guacamole

Gummy Tummies

Chicken Cilantro Wontons

Dried Fruity Flakes

Plantain Chips

Columbus Salami

Fresh Goat Cheese Medallions

Na an Bread

Triple Berry O's

Salsa Authentica

I will add more to the list when they come to mind, you can add some too in the comment section!

New Missy Times On It's Way!

Inside The Missy Times

"Dreams Crushed: Super Bowl Results In Super Disapointment"

"National Toothache Day"

"Can the Groundhog Be Trusted?"

Be a Star..... Watch Pawn Stars!"

"Trader Joes: Not Your Typical Grocery Store!"

"2 Issues Fall Into Black Hole!"

"Did You Know?"

Here We Go Steelers!

A sigh of relief. Then a shriek of joy as I run laps around the house jumping up and down and over the side of the couch until I wear myself out. Then, I flop down on a pillow, exhausted. That sure was a stressful game. 

That's what usually happens after the Steelers win a playoff game, especially an important one like last week's. (But hey, what Steeler game isn't important?)

And here we go again. I have to gear up and prepare myself for another nerve-racking, pillow biting (that's what I do when I get really nervous), Terrible Towel wringing playoff game. The only difference is that this is the ultimate playoff game........this is the Super Bowl!

By right of birth, born into a family of Pittsburghers who love the "Stillers" I've always been sort of a fan. I'd watch my dad and brothers watch the games and hear them talk about them, but that was about it. You have to start somewhere, right?  It was not until I was probably seven that I started getting really interested in joining my male family members in their football fandom. Ever since then, I've been a big fan. I've cheered the Steelers on every year, but then again, who doesn't! Our whole city loves the Steelers; there is not one Sunday in football season where you can not spot dozens of people sporting  Steelers jerseys. They say -and I don't doubt this one bit- that we have the best fans in all of sports. Of course we do! We're Pittsburgh!

This will be my third Steelers Super Bowl. I saw them win #5 and #6, and boy, am I sure hoping to see them add a 7th Lombardi to the case!
And what will happen if they lose?! I don't know what I'll do, but one things for sure, we will not have a happy household for at least a month. I've seen my brother grieve over sports loses before and Its not pretty.

Whatever the outcome, it'll prove to be an exciting game.

So let's hope the next time I do my post-playoff game routine of sighing, cheering, running, and jumping is on Super Bowl Sunday, when the Steelers win!

Here we go Steelers!!!!!!!





Question: Are you a football fan? Of what team? If not, are you a fan of a team of another sport? What kind? Did you grow up as a fan of this sports team or just recently become one?

Let me know!