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The kiddies are back in school once again, signifying that I have to get my act together and get out the door earlier to get ahead of the big yellow busses. And I’m NOT a morning person, know what I mean?

Passing by the apartment complex on my commute to work, I observe tomorrow’s future, the Classes of the 2020’s, waiting patiently for their ride. Boys and girls equipped with books, sweaters, and backpacks, but never a visible lunch box or brown bag. Makes me wonder how many kids take their lunch any more? Maybe I’ll send that in to Drew Carey for CBS’ The Power of 10 TV show; “What Percentage of School Children In America Today Take Their Lunch?”

Packing lunches previously required a lot more thought and planning. My Mom didn’t have the conveniences of today’s more sophisticated lunch boxes and gel packs for keeping things cold or hot. I carried a metal dome-top yellow school bus lunch box with thermos. And it leaked!

Curious, I did an eBay search on metal lunch boxes and found one just like I had. Awwwww…I Want IT! No, I didn’t bid. I got to thinkin’, “What am I gonna do with that? I can’t take it to work.” Guess I was having a Blonde moment? I KNOW I DIDN”T JUST SAY THAT!

Hey Boomers, clean out those Attics! If you have a metal lunch box in your possession, pre-1970, it might be worth a nice chunk of change. I saw a 1968 Beatles Yellow Submarine lunch box and thermos on eBay, bidding was at US $725.00!

Brown bagging it, preparing school lunches, or planning a party? Check these out!

Pinwheels

8-Ounce Cream Cheese, 1/3 less fat, softened
1-Small Jar Diced Pimentos
1-Envelope Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix
1-4 Ounce Can Diced Green Chiles
1-Small Can Chopped Black Olives
¼ Cup Green Onions, chopped
Flour Tortillas (about 8 to 10 burrito size)
Thin-Sliced, Sandwich-Style Turkey Breast, (or Ham), optional

Cream together cheese and dip mix, add pimentos, chiles, olives, and onions. Spread a thin layer over tortillas, if desired, layer a slice of Turkey or Ham over cream cheese mixture. Roll up tortillas, place on a sheet of Plastic Wrap and cover tightly with another sheet to keep tortillas soft. Refrigerate until ready to serve. To serve, cut in one-inch slices, discard ends. Pinwheels make a great appetizer for holidays and parties too.

Serve with your favorite Salsa and baked chips. Be sure to use an insulated lunch box and pre-frozen gel pack if brown bagging it. Throw in some baby carrots, fruit, yogurt, and a cereal or granola bar. Now all you need is something to wash it down with.

Bon Appetite
The Backseat Gourmet

Popularity: 28% [?]

Sponsored Post

How much of the interior decor, furniture, and lawn and garden ornaments from the 50’s and 60’s do you remember? You know, like pink and black tile in the bathroom, pink flamingos stickin’ up on the lawn, console stereos, and those chrome kitchen table and chair sets. What about those avocado green and harvest gold refrigerators, stoves, sinks, and, of course, sculptured carpet in the same colors from the 70’s? (Excuse me while I gag and s-s-s-hhh-i-i-i-vvv-e-e-e-rrrrrr…I never have taken to the harvest gold and avocado green colors.)

I don’t think I’ll ever forget the pink and black tile in the bathroom because it’s STILL in the home of one of my older family members. Believe it or not, it’s still in tip top condition. Come to think of it, this family member still has one of those console stereos and green, sculptured carpet in the living room, too. Kinda makes it easy to fall back a few years in time and relive my childhood when I visit this family member’s home.

If you’re longing to literally relive your childhood complete with chrome kitchen table and chairs and pink flamingos they’re still available at Amazon.com. BUT, there’s ONLY ONE of The Original Don Featherstone Lawn Flamingo Ornament in Original Packaging! left so you better hurry and have a sizable roll of cash or a good chunk of available credit on your credit card if you absolutely MUST have the original!

One of my fondest memories is getting up at the crack of dawn at my Grandmother’s and gathering around the red and white formica topped and chrome plated kitchen table with other siblings and cousins also visiting to sip our kids version of coffee from a saucer. Amazon.com has a 7pc White & Chrome Retro Oval Table & Rose Chairs Set similar to my Grandmother’s, but hers had a red and white swirly design on the tabletop.

I’d have to say home and garden design and decor has come a LONG way, wouldn’t you? It’s fun to be able to visit the homes of those that seem to stand still in time, but I don’t think I’ll be decorating my kitchen like Rachel Ray’s retro stage kitchen anytime soon. Please tell me you don’t want harvest gold or avocado green stuff in your house.

Popularity: 30% [?]

UPDATE - I’ve added my Summer of Love favorites sponsored playlist from iTunes at the bottom of this post.

How about we stir up the memory banks a little on hump day by finding the #1 song corresponding with the following events in your life. You can find the answers to the following questions at Josh Hosler’s website on his Number One Song on Any Date in History page.

Share it with us in a comment. What memories do the songs evoke for you? What do you think/feel about it now? (Just keep it family friendly, ‘k? K. ) Yea, I’m thinking the therapy will do us all some good. I’ll start off…

What was the #1 song when:

1. You were born?

- Jailhouse Rock/Treat Me Nice by Elvis Presley - Reminds me of my Mom and her friends.

2. You started 1st grade/Kindergarten?

- My Boyfriend’s Back by The Angels Although this was when I began 1st grade it reminds me more of a silly girlfriend/boyfriend feud with some other kids during my 3rd grade year.

3. You entered Jr. High?

- Honky Tonk Women by The Rolling Stones - Hehehe…Reminds me of my uncles and where they hung out.

4. You entered Sr. High?

- Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O’Sullivan - This reminds me of having to attend a different school than the one some of my friends were assigned to. We attended the same Jr. High, but the school district line split our Jr. High into two different Sr. High schools. The one I attended seemed HUGE to me, too. Life went on, but I wasn’t so sure it would at that time.

5. You got your license and your first car (LOVE that one!!!)?

- Show and Tell by Al Wilson - Livin’ it up in the new family car which was a blue and white ‘73 Maverick Grabber with a 302 V8 in it. Daddy jacked up the rear and put glass packs and spoked wheel covers on it. WOOHOO! Fun!!! Cruisin’ the local drag with all my friends…burnin’ rubber and once getting a lecture from an officer about how much that rubber cost my Daddy. Doin’ a 360 when the light turned red while drag racing once. Phew! Lived to tell it and no cops around that time.

6. You went on your first date?

- Truthfully, I can’t pinpoint a “first” date. I always stayed with the crowd.

7. You had your first kiss?

- I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash LOL! Gotta see the humor in THAT one! But, yes, I could’ve sworn I was seeing clearly at the moment.


8. You attended your senior prom?

- My senior class didn’t get to have a prom, but Foot Loose by Kevin Loggins always reminds of this. I graduated from a private school affiliated with a local church.

9. You graduated from high school?

- Thank God I’m a Country Boy by John Denver Now THAT reminds me of my country boy cousins trying to keep up with my Maverick in their fastback Mustangs. Guess who won.

And your songs and memories are…?

Popularity: 21% [?]