Mister Softee Sighting in NYC!!!!!!!

Spotted! A lone Mister Softee truck heading southbound on 5th Avenue in NYC this afternoon!

According to my unofficial Mister Softee contact (i.e. the trusty Mister Softee man who spends his summers serving me ice cream cone and soda float lunches from his parked truck on the corner of 22nd St and Broadway), the beloved blue and white mobile unit of frozen awesomeness was not due back in New York until April. So you can only imagine my utter disbelief - followed by feelings of sheer, unadulterated joy - when my eyes spotted said truck faithfully making its way toward Union Square as if it were any random summer day.

This sighting can only mean one thing. Summer is just around the corner. I don't care that it's only February and still freezing cold outside. Mister Softee=Summer. Period. Hallelujah. Amen. Yippee! I can almost taste those rainbow sprinkles and cherry dipped cones as I write this.

As a side note, I would like to strongly encourage you to explore the official Web site of Mister Softee.

http://www.mistersoftee.com/default.html

Not only will you learn about the history of this great franchise, but you will also discover the sheet music to the Mister Softee theme song. Who knew there were actual words?

Pencil Lives!

Oh no! Pencil is stuck!

 

 

His owner tries to help.

A rescue team is called...

Pencil is free. Yay Pencil!

As previously mentioned, I love heartwarming animal stories - especially when they originate from my homeland (a.k.a. The Bluegrass State).

There's a walking horse named Pencil who lives on a farm in Campbell County, Kentucky. Apparently the heater on Pencil's water trough stopped working on Wednesday morning. I guess Pencil got thirsty and taking matters into his own, um, hooves, went off in search of water. He found water alright. Unfortunately for Pencil, he fell right through the ice of the very pond from which he sought refuge from his thirst. And then he got stuck and was freezing to death. Poor horsie! He just wanted a drink of water.

But luckily, with the help of nearly 40 firefighters, including members of the Northern Kentucky Large Animal Rescue Team, Pencil was rescued from the throes of the icy pond within an hour and is expected to make a full recovery. So great.

I totally want a horse named Pencil now.

Today's Good News? The Office Exists.

Funniest show on TV. Period.

And I seriously can't stop watching the opening scene of Sunday's post-Super Bowl special episode.

Video Recaps Full Episodes Webisodes

MACS = Awesome (No, not the computer kind)

Putting a smile on a kid's face is one of the most rewarding things you can do in life....especially when that kid really needs some cheering up. Can you imagine what it would feel like to be a child with a chronic, life-threatening or terminal illness? It must be so scary and awful. I bet they feel really sad and isolated sometimes, too. Don't you wish there was something you could do to help a child like this? Wait, there is! If you'd like to make a positive difference in the life of a seriously sick child, then read on!

There's a Web site. It's called MACS, which stands for Make A Child Smile. Go to http://www.makeachildsmile.org/ to browse the profiles of the many courageous sick kids on there who would be thrilled to receive a card or small gift from you letting them know that someone cares about them and is thinking about them and wishing them well. This is a totally simple way to help a very sick child feel happy and special, and I bet it will make you feel happy and special, too!

Helping sick kids feel better is a win-win situation, and win-wins are ALWAYS good news for everyone involved!

Makeup That's Totally Smurfalicious!

What could possibly be better news than a Smurfs comeback? Well, how about a Smurfs comeback via the Too Faced makeup line?!

Yes, you read right. The lovable blue cartoon superstars that lit up my 80s childhood are now part of a limited edition makeup collection at Sephora...and I really could not be happier.

The lineup includes four totally awesome new products. Check out their descriptions...genius! I want it all! I can't wait til I get paid!!!!!

Mood Swing Emotionally Activated Lip Gloss "...allows you to wear your emotions on your lips. Depending on your body heat level, the gloss blooms into countless shades of Smurf-berry pink. You never know what shade you'll get, but Smurfette thinks that's part of the fun!"

So Smurfy Eye Shadow Collection "...contains four easy-to-use shades that can be used individually or together to create a signature Smurfette look. Your pigment-drenched peepers will be left super Smurf-chic!"

Smurfy-Eyed Liquid Eyeliner "...lets you show off your Smurfette—inspired sparkles as you bat those eyes at every Smurf you see! You can use on the brows, hair, and anywhere else you want a special Smurf sparkle."

So Smurfy Illumination Face Powder "...delivers complexion perfection. Smurfette's signature color-correcting shades blend together for the prettiest perfection—you're sure to be the hottest girl on your Smurf turf."

A Home for the Holidays

What in this life is more heartwarming than happy animal story endings? Well, in my world, nothing. My very pet-friendly friend Beverly recently adopted four new four-legged cuties, catapulting the total population of her ever-burgeoning home-based menagerie into the double digits (11 animals and counting...although she will emphatically note that ONLY 8 of them are technically hers).

I am especially in love with One-Eyed Jack, who was slated for certain death because of his birth defect until Beverly's angel daughter, who works at a vet clinic, rescued the 8-week-old furball. The vet she works for is even going to perform free eye surgery on this too-cute-for-words kitty when he is old enough to have it. Jack was born without his left eye, so the eyelid will need to be sewn shut to prevent the possibility of infection down the road. Bev reports that little Jack is otherwise a "strong, cute and adorable, healthy kitten, who runs and jumps and plays with all the other animals in my house...he doesn't know he is blind in one eye, so he's completely fine with it." Awwwwww. How great is the story of One-Eyed Jack? He may be tiny in size, but this little kitty kat definitely has the heart of a lion.

And check out the other newest members of her clan...the doggie's name is Conan. And Morgan (the black kitty) and Spencer are brothers. How cute are they? They look like little Victorian statue kitties!

Jesus = The Reason For This Awesome Season