Yesterday morning I had to drive Max to the mechanic, but I couldn't find my hairbrush. My bedhead was a mess, and I had no desire to get into the car looking like Jane of the jungle.
I had seen Laura using the brush earlier, when she dropped off Remy and Rory before work. Remy and I tore up the bedroom looking for it to no avail.
I called Laura. "Last I saw it was in your bed," she said.
Of course it was. Why would I imagine that it would magically reappear in the basket on my bathroom counter?
It was not in the bed, nor anywhere else we looked.
I finally knew what my husband, Marty, felt like all of those mornings when our kids were growing up and he couldn't find his brush. It was a very specific brush, and no other would do.
"I swear if I try to get ready for work one more time and this brush isn't here, I'm going to quit. The kids can get jobs and pay the bills. I'm done. I'm serious."
He didn't get mad often, but when he did, watch out. I had to stop myself from laughing at what I felt like was an over reaction from him back then.
Yesterday I understood his frustration.
Unable to find any brush, I pulled my messy hair into a ponytail and decided to stop at the dollar store after bringing Max to the mechanic.
The grocery store was also on my list of errands, but I figured I could get three brushes at the dollar store for less than one at grocery store prices.
Twenty dollars later I walked out of that store with not only the three brushes, but with chef's hats, Play Doh, books for Remy and Rory, hair scrunchies, cotton candy and other things I couldn't live without.
I know. You're thinking I bought the cotton candy to give to the girls before I sent them home. A little payback for Laura losing my brush.
I'm bad, but not that bad.
Earlier this week, Rory told me that her stuffed unicorn pooped rainbows.
"Cool," I said.
"Gross," she said.
A while ago my niece, Sommer, sent me a picture of a cotton candy martini, along with the directive that we needed to make one.
When I spied the rainbow cotton candy at the dollar store, I thought these two things meshed perfectly: I could make a unicorn poop martini!
It has been raining for days and days here in Florida. It's rained so much that my front pavers are turning green.
Add the rain to the quarantine, and I'll admit that I'm going a little stir crazy.
Not to mention powerfully missing my Nola family, North Carolina family, Denver family... you get the picture.
I am missing my job and my work friends, my alone time on layovers exploring other cities.
Both the rain and the virus feel neverending. Considering this is the second rainbow cocktail I've made this week, I'd say more than my subconscious is longing to see that symbol of hope.
In the meantime I'll settle for a unicorn poop martini and a handful of Remy's white chocolate snack mix.
Our kitchen play this week included Remy deciding that she would become a YouTube star.
To that end I videoed her making a sweet and salty white chocolate snack mix.
This is a classic recipe that can be altered with whatever you have on hand. It can contain different types of cereal, some kind of salted nut, mini pretzels and candies like M&M's or Reese's Pieces.
We didn't have candy in the house, but had animal crackers, Lucky Charms, Chex cereal, pretzels and peanuts.
What I've found works best is having five parts dry ingredients to one part melted white chocolate. It's more than sweet enough and sticks together just enough to not be too clumpy.
Sam liked his unicorn poop martini but mine went down the drain.
I topped his with Pineapple flavored spiked soda water. I just used plain soda water on mine.
His drink turned a bluish color, while my version looked like stagnant water. They were both ridiculously sweet.
There are lots of recipes for cotton candy martinis online if you want to experiment. Most of them call for flavored vodkas, none of which I had in the house.
Since I wasn't a fan of the cotton candy vodka cocktail, I tried again with Malibu Pineapple Rum. This version was much more to my liking.
Rather than use the remaining cotton candy that I bought to try more versions, I've put it aside.
If my new brushes go missing, it just might make a nice snack for Remy and Rory before they go home for the night.
White Chocolate Snack Mix
1 cup melted white chocolate
1 cup salted nuts
1 cup mini pretzels
2 cups assorted cereal
1 cup M&M's, Reese's Pieces, animal crackers, etc.
Line a baking sheet with a Silpad or parchment paper
Pour dry ingredients into a large bowl.
Melt chocolate in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. Be careful not to let the bowl touch the water or the chocolate will seize. Stir constantly. It melts quickly.
Pour melted chocolate into dry mixture and gently toss until everything is coated.
Pour onto the prepared baking sheet. Let dry at room temperature.
Store in zip top bags.
Serves 12
Unicorn Poop Martini
Handful of rainbow cotton candy
1 ounce Pineapple Malibu
3 ounces sparkling water
Place cotton candy in a chilled martini glass. Add rum. Top with sparkling water.
Serves one.