Piece Meal

Yeah, StrawberRay made the obligatory mention in Monday's post about National Puzzle Day and he even threw in a word search puzzle to appease me. Still, the whole thing felt kind of tongue in cheek - a mockery of sorts.

So, I'm back.

I'm back today revisiting puzzles... puzzles with ice cream and a cherry on top.

Matthew and I agreed it would be criminal to let National Ice Cream Month pass without hosting at least one neighborhood ice cream party. Immediately we set to work arranging the day, the time, and the invitation list. While it is true ice cream is fun in and of itself, we both agreed the party would we be made that much more fun with an invitation worthy of such an occasion.

Then it was outside to the garage where, together, Matthew, Jack, (Katie), and I painted large ice cream cones on white butcher paper. Once dry, we used markers to include all the necessary information.

Flip over the ice cream cone and draw puzzle shapes on the back. Cut out.

Load puzzle pieces into a mailing tube; a handmade, over sized envelope; an empty plastic container; or any other fun mailing "vessel" you can think of. Address, mail, and sit back, knowing you'll make someone smile AND that ice cream is in your future.

Yes to ice cream, but you have an even better invitation idea? Share. OR, like the invitation idea, but don't love ice cream? For what other event could you make a puzzle invitation and what shape would it be?

One more thought. The recipient of the invitation pictured above is a reader and sometimes-poster on highlowaha. Let's live the Spirit of 218 and treat her to some extra mail this week. Use the address listed above to send a fun note her way.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Calling All Torchbearers

The Director of Student Activities when I was working at Southern Methodist University was an amazing and inspiring woman. Think I'm exaggerating? I'm not.

So amazing and so inspiring is this woman that, of nearly 1.3 million people living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in 2002, she was one of very few people selected to be an Olympic torch bearer. Enough said.

When you walked in her expansive Student Activity Center, buzzing with motivated and empowered student leaders there was a beautifully made sign, the length of the wall, reading "We care most about that which we help to create."

It's true.

I, for instance, am not losing sleep over how big the turnout for Mean Green Field Day is at the University where I work. I'll attend, but that's it.

Do I care if American Airlines reaches their third quarter goals? Not really. I couldn't have any less to do with American's business planning activity.

Conversely, I'm hosting a bake sale at Matthew and Jack's preschool on Friday morning to support the organization Bake For America. I've recruited fourteen bakers, pre-sold baked goods to at least three families, and yesterday morning, launched a five day advertising campaign in the lobby where parents must pass each morning and afternoon.

The relationship between effort and investment is pretty indisputable.

Why do I mention this?

Today at 7:15 p.m., approximately 15 short hours from now, Heather, Cheryl, Katie, and I will meet at Baskin Robbins to tape Friday's Free For All video. We're going to splurge and share a decadent, over-the-top-sundae, in honor of National Ice Cream Month. The kind of sundae that would make Ray proud... or at least make him spew with sarcasm.

I want you to care about our sundae.

So, in the spirit of Arlene Manthey, torch bearer extraordinaire, I am going to have YOU create OUR sundae. Below is a five-question survey for you to answer. The first three questions allow you to select from Baskin-Robbins' 30+1 flavors of ice cream (minus a few because of my peanut allergy) and the other two questions are about toppings (dry and wet). Place one vote per question.

Whichever flavor from each question receives the most votes will serve as the base of our sundae. Then, the two wet toppings and three dry toppings receiving the most votes will top off our decadent dessert.

Got it? Show you care. Help create a sundae for Heather, Katie, Cheryl, and me. Vote now then tune in on Friday to find out the results.

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

P.S. Kat and Ray sitting in a tree K-I-SS-I-N-G. Kat is so in tune with Ray, she guessed that his favorite flavor of ice cream is CHOCOLATE. Congrats on winning the one and only printed edition of the Van-Choc-StrawberRay shirt. What do you think, does that make him boring or a lover of classics?

Signing off until tomorrow...

Gutter Sundae Monday

Hopefully each of you took the Memorial Day holiday seriously and slept in.  I know I did.  

Claudia here, back from Leadershape and loving every minute of it.  My week away, with a group of motivated college  students ready to improve the world, was every bit as rewarding as you might expect.  We did a challenge course, talked Inclusive Leadership, wrote vision statements, set stretch and manageable goals, watched a thought provoking video about social entrepreneurship, discussed the discipline required in being a person of integrity, laughed a lot (even cried a little bit), and before leaving committed to staying the course on our leadership journeys. 

If there are any new St. Mary's readers joining us for the first time today, welcome!!!

Today's creative idea is compliments of the staff at the John Newcombe Tennis Center where I spent the last week.  It happens the idea is perfectly timed for Memorial Day Weekend when the celebration of all things summer is top of the order.

Introducing the Gutter Sundae.  It is the perfect solution to pool parties, end-of-season soccer parties, staff gatherings, neighborhood gatherings, and any other event where you're dishing out ice cream.  It's every bit as simple as it looks...

Simply buy a piece of guttering from either Home Depot, Lowes, or your local hardware store.  Line the gutter with tin foil and then build and serve your sundae.  Unlike a big bowl, the Gutter Sundae stretches the length of the table and allows every one to dig in at once.  Clean up is easy - pull out the tin foil (ice cream is usually gone) and hose it down.  If you're like I am and have a hard time leaving well enough alone, consider decorating the outside of the gutter.  Paint it with the name of your child's soccer team, draw a ruler, or sketch a sundae.  The possibilities are endless!

So how about you?  For what event might you use the Gutter Sundae and more importantly what would you put in yours?  Bananas?  Hot Fudge?  Flavors of ice cream?  Sprinkles or nuts?

Signing off until tomorrow...