11 Things to Do on 11.11.11

by Brooke on November 11, 2011 7 comments »

On this day of cosmological, calenderological, and numerological alignment, it would be a crying shame to not celebrate in some thrilling, spellbindingly brilliant way.  Or, shall we say thri11ing, spe11bindingly bri11iant way? Here’s eleven things we’re going to try to sneak into our day.

1. Catch a classic flick. Get your Clooney and Pitt  (or Sinatra and Davis Jr.) on with a big bowl of caramel corn and some sparkling juice during an in-home screening of Ocean’s 11.

2. Library it Up. Tote yourself to the library and don’t leave until you’ve read eleven children’s books. To yourself. To your kids. To your little niece via Skype. There’s something absurdly enjoyable about reading picture books.

3. Go for a 1:11 walk. Strap on your shoes and head out the front door. See how far you can go in 35 minutes, then turn around and book it back home for a one-hour-and-eleven-minute power walk. It’s just how to roll.

4. Handwrite 11 letters to people you love. Just sit down, pull out a pretty pen, and lay it to paper the old fashioned way. Write in swirly script, doodle, express specifics. Then stick a stamp on it all and drop it in the mailbox. Today.

5. Have a Candy Affair. Got a pretty little shop that sells bulk candy nearby? Run yourself on over there, grab eleven bags, and try eleven new candies that you’ve never had before (or haven’t eaten in, like, forever.) Then taste them one.by.one. And forget the calories. They don’t exist on 11.11.11. Duh.

6. Make it a Game. Find as many words as you can that have double-L’s in them. Parallel. Balloon. Allergen. Naturally. Winner gets eleven mini candy bars.

7. Pray for eleven minutes. Seriously. Set your timer and just talk to God. No asking for things. Just thank you’s. Then sit quietly for eleven minutes more and listen to Him back.

8. Dance! Grab eleven of your favorite songs from yesteryear and don’t stop moving until every one of the songs has played at max volume.

9. Text 11 people something nice. Do you know Tut.com? Their daily Letter’s from the Universe are some of my favorite things to receive via email everyday. Why not send totally uplifting, inspiring, cheerleading notes to eleven of your besties. Just something to make them glow all day. After texting such nice things, you probably will be, too.

10. Clean Your Closet. Toss eleven things you hate from your closet. Then line everything up. Then clean it. While you’re at it, tidy something else. And windex all the windows. And shine your kitchen floors. Once you get started, it’s hard to stop, innit?

11. Make Breadsticks. Stuff them with ham and cheese. Dip them in Spicy Tomato Soup (recipe coming later today!) and say eleven words that make you happy while you eat.

Quick Ham & Swiss Breadsticks

These easy little breadsticks are as fun to make as they are to eat. We served them with Spicy Tomato Soup and three of my four children hummed through every bite, and declared these "Best Breadsticks Ever." I'm just sayin'.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup very warm water
1 packet of yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil
2 1/2-3 cups flour
10 long, thin strips of swiss cheese, provolone, or mozzarella
10 slices of shaved ham

Directions:

Pour the water into a very large bowl. Whisk in the yeast. Then the sugar. Allow the mixture to rest for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the salt, olive oil, and 2 1/4 cups of the flour. Sprinkle just enough flour over the dough until it becomes pliable enough to knead. Knead the dough until it becomes soft and elastic. Cover with a clean cloth and set aside.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wrap a thin slice of ham around each strip of cheese. On a lightly floured board, roll out a small amount of dough, then wrap it around the ham and cheese, sealing the dough completely around the ham and cheese. Place on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Then, bake in preheated oven for 15-18 minutes. Serve immediately with a hot bowl of soup and enjoy!!

Posted in Bread, Breads

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