Wanna Laugh? Eat Popsicles!

Nothing beats a good Popsicle…

Unless it’s a Popsicle with a joke on the stick!

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So we have been enjoying some Banana Popsicle and laughing at some of the lame jokes they put on the suckers.

You never know if you are going to get a dude or a hilarious one.

I’ll let you be the judge.

Here are the 1st Five Jokes…

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Here are the next four….

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Now, if you laughed at any of those, then make sure you aren’t drinking any soda on the last one.

It is by far the funniest of the bunch!

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Wait for it….

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OMG, I laughed so hard!

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So next time you are needing a good laugh, just head to the store and buy some Popsicles.

You get some yummy ice cream and a laugh to boot!

Oh!! How could I forget!  

When you are done eating those 4 Popsicles a night and notice you have about 100 Popsicle sticks on your table…

The best part is….

You get to make House!   😀

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~~~till we laugh again~~~

What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

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When we were little, people would ask us what we wanted to be when we grew up. Seemed like a simple question. Our imaginations run wild….Doctor, Lawyer, Cowboy, Ninja, Fireman (or woman), Superhero, Official Ice Cream Taster. Nothing was off-limits.

Well, I was one of those odd kids. I never knew. I knew only one thing. I wanted to be successful.  I had no idea how, or what it looked like (other than visions of lots of money) but I never knew what I would be doing.

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In my senior year when kids were deciding on college and what career paths to take. I was still at a loss. Being in honor’s classes, I was with all the kids who had their whole futures plotted out as lawyers, doctor’s, etc. These kids knew what they wanted and what schools they wanted to go to. They had it all mapped out.  Not me. `

I had no idea. I waited till school was almost out to even apply for schools. When I was accepted, I was like “now what”?  And much to my mother’s dismay, I chose not to go at the last-minute. I couldn’t imagine committing to four more years of school when I was clueless as to what was next. Like many kids, I decided to head out into the big bad world, with only my passion for excelling at what I do. I didn’t know what I would do, I just knew I would rock whatever it was.

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So I set out on my path to success. Unsure of what I would be when I grew up. Knowing it would come to me when it was supposed to.

I ended up in a great job that I loved (more on that later) but I was still plagued by the never answered question of “What I wanted to be when I grew up?”.

When I “retired” after 22 years to take over my ice cream shop, I thought for sure inspiration would hit me on what I wanted to do with the next phase of my career as I ran my small business. Surely I would finally figure out what I wanted to be. After all, I had been pretty successful in so many different areas with Home Depot and now this small business, surely something would have taken over. The reality is, I loved all the things I was able to do and be a part of.

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Now I am pondering once again, what I want to be when I grow up.  I spent the past year trying to figure it out, but nothing would ever stick. I was right back where I was 25+ years ago trying to figure out this age-old question. Now I need to head back out into the business world. (Yes, even bribes with ice cream doesn’t pay the bills).

I’m looking at various areas, but really want to find a company I can love as much as I did Home Depot. I loved it there (ok, there might have been a time or two – but overall, I loved it).  Do I go into areas I know I am great at? Do I try new things? I’d love to start a new business, but once again….doing what?

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One thing I know for sure how to do is be me. I’m passionate about everything I do. I’m passionate about being the best at what I do. And I know I will be successful at whatever I end up doing.

I just wish I knew what I was going to be when I grow up?

Maybe since I always say remain a kid at heart, having an answer to this question would mean I could no longer be a kid heart, I’d have to be “gasp” a real adult. Maybe that is why I have mental block.

This week I will be doing a different type of post. This week I will be sharing some of my thoughts on this process to discover what I want to be and how I got here. I know each of our stories help others, so maybe some of you are facing or have faced the same thing.

Don’t worry, we will still have fun along the way.   😀

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Today’s question is…..

Did you always know what you wanted to be when you grew up? 

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~~~till we laugh again~~~

What’s Cutting into My Blog Post Time? Got Cake?

Ok, I’ll admit, I’ve had some short and funny blog posts this week.

I promise, I’m not mailing them in…..

Seriously, I have no stamps.

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With Father’s Day tomorrow, I’ve been making our Father’s Day Ice Cream Cakes. This is a big holiday for us, so it takes a lot of my time. Cakes are fun to make but when you stand there making them back to back and try to work in other stuff it can take all your time.

I become a walking billboard for icing, tint, etc all over my hands and clothes. By the end of the night I feel like I smell like a giant sugar confection.

Would you like to see some of the ones I’ve been working on?

I bet you do!  LOL, just kidding, the little smart ass in my popped out.

Ok, I’ll be nice. Here is a collection of some we have done. It is a mixture of Birthday and Father’s Day. Hope you like a few.

For our Beer Drinking Dads

Or a PG 13 Rootbeer Float version (lots of these made)

For the Handy Dad

Lot of Birthdays this weekend too

I shared the red bird before, we got to do a black angry bird this time

This one was odd…a wolf on the beach?? 

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Ok, I’m off to make more cakes. These were just a few of them, thought I’d share.

See ya for our Funnies tomorrow!

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~~~till we laugh again~~~

Cake Update….

Ok, been making cakes. Lot of them. Funny thing is, most have been for birthdays. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think there was a lot of folks getting busy (if you know what I mean) 9 months ago in previous years.

I thought I’d pull out three we liked and share them. Many cakes we do are copies of the ones you see in the stores with the toys on them or traditional BR ones. We love when we get challenged to come up with them ourselves.

Two Different Flavors of Ice Cream

We do a lot of Hello Kittys

I love this one…(then again ~ I’m an Angry Birds Fan)

 

 

Ok, back to getting ready for the rush we hope to have tomorrow. I’ll post again in the morning…

Thanks for swinging by…

Tootles…..

hmmm….

Why are you still here?  

Can’t leave? 

Like me that much? 

Awwwwww..  

Ok, no really….. 

You got to go……

Vamoose! 

Hasta La Pasta….. 

Leave…

Go read someone else’s blog….  

WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Before you go…

Do me a favor and click that little “LIKE” button.

It will be good for my ego….   😀

 

~~~ till we laugh again~~~~

Proof of My Hard Work

Ok, it’s been a long day so far. But for many of you that statement is probably true.

I even have a green, blue, pink thumb to prove it…

I’d show you my whole hand, but it’s shy. So all you get is a thumb. It will have to do. I’d let you borrow it to hitchhike but hitchhiking is bad for your life. Might be some psycho out there, and my thumb couldn’t live with the quilt of helping to hurt you.

Yesterday I was all pink. Why? I’m glad you asked. Lots and lots of pink purses. Wanna see?

Makes ya just want to run out and get your Mom one doesn’t it? So, if you live next to a Baskin Robbins, go order yours today. Tell them Tammy sent you.  LOL

Ok, I must get back to doing something productive. Tomorrow I get to do this all over again but longer.

As Tigger would say…TTFN……Ta Ta for Now

 

~~~till we laugh again~~~

 

It’s Gonna Be A Long Week ~ I’m Sorry

I might as well apologize now.

There, I’ve said it. Those words we all hate having to say.

Why am I sorry?

This week is going to be a crazy week for me. Too much to do. And no matter how much I like hiding from the “real” world by hanging out with you fine people, I must slide you to the side a wee bit to make room for all the Mother’s Day cakes I have to make.

Yep, you heard me right. Besides my mad skills in the sarcasm world and my extremely gifted talent of finding humor in silly things, I actually can make ice cream cakes.

I’m definitely not that talented, but I have designs I can copy and I’m a great copier. I leave the art to my sister. She is the artist, I’m the smart ass who copies.

There are two times a year we sell tons of ice cream cakes and Mommy & Daddy Day’s are the biggies. So I must focus on those.

So, I will not be able to read as many of your blogs as I would like. But I promise, when I do get back on track, I’ll scroll back to catch anything good I might have missed.

I need you all to do me a favor and save all the good stuff until next week. Ok?  Cool, I knew you would all understand. Good little bloggers you all are.

Now, try not to miss my smart butt comments. I know some of you will hide and cry in the corner. Don’t worry, it will be OK. The world will not end.  (At least not until December).

Off to do a conference call, then off to make some cakes. Maybe off again to do other stuff I need, then back to making cakes. Then tomorrow wash and repeat.

Maybe one day I’ll bore you with some fun we have while making them. Like how I turned my fingers pink today from making too many pink purses. Making the purses didn’t cause the problem, my lack of keeping the tint off my fingers caused it. But that’s a story for another day.

Maybe one day I’ll show you some of the cakes we have done.

Ok, now stop reading!      I have stuff to do!    😀

 

Did I mention that I have some cakes to make?

 

~~~till we laugh again~~~

 

 

Hey There Ms Baskin Robbins!

Baskin Robbins Ford 150

If you are a new follower than you may not have scrolled back far enough yet to discover that in my current incarnation of a working stiff, I own a Baskin Robbins. I love it. What’s not to love? I mean, I LOVE ice cream. And if you don’t… well, you are just sick. What can I tell ya.

One of the great things about owning a Baskin Robbins is people are usually pretty happy. And if they aren’t, they want to be. That is why when we are down we grab a pint of ice cream to feel better.

(oh, you know you’ve all done this once or twice and some of you probably weekly).   😀

 

Living and owning the local Baskin Robbins in your little town has a whole new set of perks. Yep, I’m like a mini celebrity with the kids. And I mean mini. I’ve got nothing on Team Omizoomi

(I just learned about them and thought I’d sneak this new found knowledge in).

Just today for example, I’m going through a local drive through and a kid puts 1/2 his body out the car and turns to me and yells – BASKIN ROBBINS!! with a big thumbs up.

McDonald Arches

When I go through my local McDonald’s drive thru, they take my order and go “Hey there Ms Baskin Robbins?”  Each and every time it makes my heart smile. I know what you are thinking, “Is she really that bad at ordering the same thing each time and going every day?”    Well, yes, but that is besides the point.

They have cameras dang it!

 

I also get milk and bananas a couple times a week and as I walk the store, little kids point at me. Not because I’m hideous or anything, but they recognize me. “It’s the ice cream lady! they shout. I find the Baskin Robbins hat I’m wearing might give me away in the store since they don’t let my truck come inside with me. 

 

I’m constantly having kid’s point at me while I’m driving. Jumping up and down all excitedly. I see them begging their mom or dad to follow me to the ice cream store. The the parents trying to act like they don’t see the big pink truck so they don’t have to go.

 

I have all kinds of stories about life in the Pink Truck and I’ll tell them as we spend our time together. Today, I decided to write due to the smile I got from the shout out from the random guy climbing out of his car Dukes of Hazzard style just to scream out BASKIN ROBBINS!

car window

Who wouldn’t like that?

I might be an introvert by heart, but even that makes me smile!

( I know you don’t believe me about the introvert part, but that is a story for another day….No one ever believes me…LOL)

 

~~~till we laugh again~~~

Valentine’s For All Occasions

Happy Valentine’s Day. Some of you will spend the day with your “love” (or your extreme “like”).

Some of you will have dumped that person a week ago to save some cash. (Don’t worry, you can “Make Up” in a few days)

And some of you will will just curl up with a big tub of ice cream to drown your sorrows.

But however you choose to spend today, I thought I’d share a few of the Valentine’s I found for all occasions.

For the Competitive Couple

The ex- Girlfriend you dumped two days prior

For your Bro-mance

Your elementary Crush

The sweetest thing your gamer boyfriend could ask you

From your backhanded complimenting significant other

From the Man you still find sexy after all those years

And finally , Even Rubber Duckies can find Love

Hopefully you got a Valentine’s card that made you smile, and if you didn’t, then buy your own and sign it…

From the Person Who Matters Most

Then grab the remote, your Quart of ice cream, and sit down to a great night of watching the Storage Wars Marathon going on tonight

~~~till we laugh again~~~

Do You Have Ice Cream in that Pink Truck?

As some of you know, I own an ice cream store. A few years ago I put the shrink wrap advertising on my 11 year old Ford 150. So I went from complete anonymity in my fade in the background grey, to HOLY COW LOOK AT THAT PINK TRUCK WITH ICE CREAM ON IT! Yea, no hiding now.

Today, we had a meeting with the other franchisees and there were like 4 of us with the same wrap on our trucks. Trust me, these suckers stand out. Especially when traveling in packs. We started comparing comments that we get. I was laughing since it seems we all get the same ones. So for today I thought I’d share a few.

  • Pulling into any fast food drive through —- “Did you bring me any ice cream?”
    • Our thoughts – Hmm, I don’t recall you bringing me any Big Macs
    • Now for the record, I heard this 3 times today alone (drive thru, getting gas, stopping at a store)
    • True Story – I was at T-Mobile. I’m parked right in front of the store. I’m working on my upgrade and do I or don’t I. One of the employees asks me if I brought them ice cream. I said – “Did you bring me a phone?” he put his head down, says good point and sauntered away. LOL

 

  • Getting out of truck pretty much anywhere? —- “You got ice cream in that thing?”
    • Our thoughts – Yep, but it’s melted all over my back seat
    • True Story – I went to our local casino buffet. As I’m walking in, I’m stopped 3 different times and asked if I have ice cream in there that they can buy. I smile politely and point out that my store is right down the road on their way out of town. That unfortunately ice cream tends to melt in 115 degree weather.
  • Same Drive though windows – “Do they pay you to drive this truck?”
    • Our thoughts – Nope, we paid $2,000 to have the privilege of driving a bright butt pink truck
    • True Story – I wear a hat with my name badge and the word OWNER on it. I can’t tell you how often no one catches the fact that I own the truck and then they are shocked to learn that it is an 11 year old truck. Yep, PINK has a way of making it look new. (Too bad it still has the 11 year old dust inside)
  • Parked anywhere in town – “Daddy, Daddy, I want to eat this one!”
    • Ok, I’m just adding this one cuz it is soooo cute
    • True Story – Little kids (under 5 usually) run up to the truck and try and take the ice cream off the sides. Yes, it is that life like. And yes, I did have one kid try and lick one. Hmm, I didn’t know it was scratch and sniff too!

Well, I think you get the point, each day is a new adventure of the funny things people say to us. Being the smart ass you have come to realize I am, the hardest part is not saying the first thing that pops in my mind (except that day at T-Mobile). But while it can get old, I do appreciate the attention it brings my store.

I just wish I could get my Taco Bell without being harassed if I brought a Sundae with me.

Hmm, maybe I should just start traveling with ice cream in my pockets.

 

~~till we laugh again~~

Do You Sneeze for Odd Reasons?




I Sneeze After Ice Cream

Ok, I have a quirk that is getting worse. It is my sneezing. And after I share this, you will realize why I am not normal (not that I ever claimed to be).

Most people sneeze to clean out foreign objects that get trapped in their nose hairs. Not me. (well, maybe occasionally)

For  the longest time, I rarely sneezed. It seemed the only time I did was when would go out for ice cream. Leaving the cooler building into the warm air would almost immediately start a sneeze attack. I assumed it had to do with the cold and warm colliding and forcing a ninja fight in my nose until one over took  the other.

Now that I own an ice cream store, I’ve come to realize how naive I was. Silly girl. It had nothing to do with the warm air (although that did feel good walking into the warm air).  You know what it was?

I’m freaking allergic to ice cream! I sneeze when I eat it. Period. Especially if I have soft serve. And not just 1 or 2 sneezes. Or maybe you are a tri-sneezer.  Oh no. I have to sneeze like 7 or 8 times. And not little sneezes either. Big ones that hurt sometimes. The kids that work for me, just shake their head. They say “bless you” like once or twice then give up on me since they know I’m not done yet. They yell at me when I go to eat it, since A) I will sneeze and B) I usually don’t feel good afterwards even though I only have a small scoop.

Yep, my favorite thing in the world has turned against me.  It is a sad day in the neighborhood for sure.   🙁

To make it worse, over the last year, if I eat to fast, I start to sneeze. Huh?? How and why did this start? I just can’t do a polite burp and get it over with. Oh no, I have to be odd and start sneezing.

I’m telling you, my body is making up for rarely sneezing early on in my life. This getting old stuff sucks.  LOL.

So, it begs the questions…..

Do you sneeze for odd reasons?    And do you have a pattern with how many times you sneeze?

HERE IS AN UPDATE:  Looks like I sneeze now when I eat. Check out this updated post PART 2 of SNEEZING

 

~~~till we laugh again~~~

 

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z




Everyone Should Dress Up as a Character Sometime in their Life

For many years my mother worked at a bread store. I was lucky enough to go to work with her a few times and help out. One of these memories was dressing in a giant Snoopy Costume like you see here. I think it was a grand opening or something for a grocery store and all I had to do was wear the costume and roam around. I have three main memories from this.

  1. How hot it was in that darn thing.
  2. The massive neck ache I had from holding my head back against gravity. As you know, Snoopy has one large honker for a nose. And let me tell you, Snoopy is one pain in the neck.
  3. The massive amounts of love you feel when little kids come up and hug you (Snoopy).

Little kids thought I was really Snoopy. They were so happy and giddy. I really understood how the characters at Disney felt.

These memories were dusted off yesterday when I got to “pass along” the fun of looking silly. I borrowed an Ice Cream cone costume to wear on the corner with our sign to help the locals remember we are in town. I’m still amazed that in a tiny town, people still roam in saying they have lived there 2 years and just found us. Did I mention I’m also on the main shopping part of the town that is as long as a block?  Cracks me up.

Anyways, I  was showing the costume to one of my guys and after a few minutes I convinced him to dress up. I laughed my butt off for hours. Not because how he looked (although that was funny enough) but rather from the look on his face that he had to do it. And knowing, he secretly was liking it. One of the other kids put it on today. Same smile but not as much laughter since he willingly did it.

But I will tell you. Something about a silly costume brings out the silliness in all of us. We laugh when we look at others and we become silly in one. Personally I find it funny when I see folks out on the streets in costumes and you can tell how miserable they are. It is funny to see a miserable giant hot dog. LOL.

So next time you drive by someone in a costume have fun with them. Help them have fun. They may not love it, but you know they made you smile.

Try Hiding in a Big Pink Truck

Those that know me, know I own an ice cream store. As part of this, I converted my 2000 Ford 150 into a rolling billboard. First off, I LOVE my truck. Our first 8 years together it was a nice blend into any situation grey color. No one could pick me out of a line up. Then two years ago my veil of anonymity disappeared overnight.

Do you know how hard it is to blend in with a big bright pink truck with giant ice cream all over it?

Thank god I was never one to flip off people or swear at others. I also live in a small town doubling the fun of hiding. When driving, I tend to forget the outside  exterior as the inside is just as cozy and comforting as it was the day I bought it 11 years ago. I’ll be sitting at a light wondering why the people in the cars next to me are staring at me. The natural reaction we as drivers have is to yell out “What you looking at?” or “What’s your problem?”.  But as I stated earlier, thank god I’m not the confrontational type of driver. No road rage incidents in my future.

Now, with that said, let me tell you about an incident yesterday that proved to be one of my “laughter moments”.

Yesterday I had a few errands to run and afterwards I stopped at the Subway around the corner on my way into my store. As I left the sandwich shop and was about to hop in my truck, I heard a woman’s voice yell out “So you are the one driving me nuts today!” My first instinct was to say WTF but being the non confrontational person I am, I slowly turn and see a woman in the truck next to me with her window cracked. I smile and say “Excuse me?” with a quizzical smile on my face.

The older woman smiles back and says – “You taunted me at the Drs office, now you are taunting me now.”  For a brief moment I arch my eyebrow only to realize she was pointing at my truck. She continues on… “That big ice cream Sundae looks so good! but I’m trying to be good.”

Now, if you noticed in the picture above, my nice pink truck has a giant Oreo Sundae on it. And let me tell ya, it does look good.

Needless to say, I left with a smile and chuckled all the way around the shopping center to my store.

This was a classic example of what I mean by embracing the little moments of laughter we have in our daily life.

As for the Pink Truck… I miss my gray truck and our quiet moments together, but the pink has grown on me (trust me – I’m not a “pink” kinda girl). I definitely have loved the smiles it brings to others. Especially the kids.