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Archive for the ‘inspiration’ Category

Friday’s Fresh Five! (8/6/10)

Posted in About me, Creativity, Gardening, Health, Husbands, inspiration, Photography, Recycling, Style and fashion, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 6, 2010| 10 Comments »

” Smash it! Smash it! Smash it!!” the crowd chanted. Goaded on by his peers the bridegroom smashes a piece of wedding cake into his young bride’s face and then ducks to miss her intended aim. What you don’t see is the next frame in which the angry young bride (angry that he had the nerve to duck) grabs another handful of cake from the bottom-most tier and firmly plants it on his face. Turnabout is fair play after all, right? And thus our marriage began. Amazingly, we celebrate our 33rd year of marriage today and through the years we’ve learned the art of compromise and diplomacy, and that there’s no ducking when the cake flies!!

#1 – Two Foods
The Two Foods site offers food nutrition comparisons. In one space type in a food item and in the other space type in the other food item you want to compare it with. The site will give you the calorie, carbohydrate, fat and protein breakdown of both foods.

#2 – Running the Numbers
Okay, here’s my seemingly weekly link to a photo series. Had to pass this one along because it depicts the huge environmental impact of our “throw away” society.

#3 – Color Scheme in a Snap
In my Friday’s Fresh Five post dated 10/23/09 I wrote an entry called Simple Color Theory about determining complementary colors based on primary colors. My son, the artist, told me that this site makes a snap out of determining color schemes for projects and has almost infinite possibilities. Well maybe not infinite, but close to it!

#4 – Making Cut Flowers Last Longer
A. Cut garden flowers early in the morning, avoiding the heat of the day.
B. Remove all the leaves from the part of the stem that will be submerged under water.
C. It is better to cut the stems under water. Cut at a 45 degree angle with sharp pruners/scissors.
D. Change the water everyday to keep the bacteria level low.
E. Adding a teaspoon of sugar to the water will help refresh the flowers. Some use a crushed aspirin instead of sugar.
F. Avoid placing the flowers in direct sunlight and or in drafts.
G. At night store them in the refrigerator or in the coolest room of the house.

#5 – Soul Mates
“A soul mate marriage does not at all mean that you have found someone
you match up with on all the cards – on all the issues, on everything. That
would be the most deadly dull thing to even imagine. Instead, it means you’re
with someone who wants to take care of your soul – they want to make sure
your soul continues to grow, they don’t ever want to blow out that little light
inside you. And you feel the same way about them.”
Diane Sollee, NPR, The Real Life Survival Guide


All’s well that ends well . . .

Celebrate your weekend!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (7/30/10)

Posted in Creativity, Health, inspiration, Pets, tagged , , , , , , on July 30, 2010| 2 Comments »

July is almost gone now, but it was a month filled with the highs and lows of life. Milestone birthdays of 80, 83, and 88 years were joyously celebrated, but tempered with sad news from friends. July brought the reminder that life is to always be appreciated and celebrated.

#1 – Artistic Skylines
Lately I seem to be posting links to series of photos taken around the world, and, although I promised myself I would not do it this week, I am again linking to another series of photos. It features artistic skylines created out of a myriad of materials. Ever consider Jello as a building block before? Sorry, I find these types of things interesting!

#2 – Anyway the Wind Blows
Every year at about this time, I take a close look at the ceiling fans in my home to see which way they are rotating. In the summer, ceiling fans should rotate in a direction that pushes the air downward. The fan blades should spin with the leading edge up and you should be able to feel this downward air flow by standing underneath it. For most, but not all fans, this means a counter-clockwise rotation.

#3 – Good to Know
My local newspaper featured an article about poison control that had some good-to-know information. The most important bit of information is the phone number for the state’s (California) poison control hotline: (800) 222-1222. “It’s staffed around the clock, including holidays, and language interpreters are available.”

#4 – Lesson Learned
Another recent article in my local newspaper brought back memories for me. I wrote a post in April called What Not to Feed Your Pet and I thought it was a pretty comprehensive list, but the newspaper article listed a category that I had not included in mine. How could I have forgotten this one category?! One day when my little Romeo was just a pup, I came in from gardening and removed my shoes and thin nylon socks. I was reading the newspaper when I heard one of my sons say, “Mom, Romeo is sniffing your socks.” I continued reading the newspaper and calmly said, “Okay, keep an eye on him.” A split second later my son yelled out, “Mom, Romeo just ate your sock!” Well, my little dog was lucky that he didn’t need abdominal surgery, but boy was he a pathetic little thing after the veterinarian forced him to swallow charcoal and throw up the sock.

This is what the newspaper article says:
Socks, underwear and nylons: Unsafe. Keep laundry picked up and in hampers, and always watch what your dog has in her mouth – especially during the chew-everything stages of growing up.

Lesson learned for all of us that day. Please add socks, underwear and nylons to my What Not to Feed Your Pet list. It might save you some money on vet bills, but more importantly, it might save your pet’s life.

#5 – Part of Our Lives
“Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole.”
Roger Carras

Today is a great day – it’s my dad’s birthday! Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you!

Have a great weekend everyone!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (7/23/10)

Posted in Art and Crafts, Creativity, inspiration, tagged , , , , , , on July 23, 2010| Leave a Comment »

As I studied this photo taken in my garden of a Peace rose, I began contemplating on, how like the petals in this rose, achieving peace is a layering process. Whether it be inner peace or world peace, it takes layer upon layer – layers of the soul, layers of compromise, layers of human effort etc. – to collectively achieve the beauty of peace. Not one layer alone can create the same harmonious effect.

#1 – Hallucinogenic Computer Art?
My cousin left a comment for me about the computer doodling site I posted about in last week’s Friday’s Fresh Five!. She said it was hallucinogenic. Well, if that one made your mind swirl, check out this one!

#2 – Mental Floss
I used to subscribe to a magazine called Mental_ Floss, but dropped my subscription because I was drowning in magazines that I wouldn’t throw away. Now I pop in on its website to peruse the many fun articles aimed at tantalizing my brain! Here’s an article called 10 Notable Staircases you might enjoy.

#3 -Paper Roses
On Cut Out and Keep, another set-by-step craft tutorial site, is a tutorial for making handmade paper roses. Sheet music was used in the tutorial and the finished project was very cute. The directions are quite simple. Photos of other versions are also posted. My mind exploded with the possible uses for these roses and the types of papers that could be used for different effects! What about using these roses in lieu of bows on gifts – bridal shower gifts, wedding gifts, Mother’s Day gifts? Make these roses larger or smaller – the size is dictated only by the size of the hearts you cut out for petals. How about using Chinese newspaper for an Asian flair? To make cutting out the hearts/petals easier, I would recommend tracing around heart-shaped cookie cutters or using paper punches.

#4 – What About This? Subscriptions
I’ve been asked by many people about ways they can receive What About This? regularly. I certainly appreciate the dedicated followers of my blog! Thank you all so much! I’ve listed a few options below for you to choose from. If you have any problems with any of the options or have followed the steps and still do not receive What About This? in your email, please feel free to contact me.

A. On my homepage on the upper right column is a box with “Subscribe and Get Email Updates!” Click on the link/small green words that say, “Subscribe to What About This? by Email.” That will take you to a window where you will type in your email address and a cryptic word. Click on the “Complete Subscription Request” button and you are done.

Or . . .

B. Email me with the subscription address(es) that you want W.A.T? sent to and I will submit the information for you.

Or . . .

C. Email me and ask me to put you on my mass mailing list, so that you will receive an email from me with a link to W.A.T? every time a new post is added.

#5 – Something to Ponder

If you woke you this morning with more health than illness, you are more
blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of
imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are
ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest,
torture, or death, you are more blessed than
three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead,
and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish
someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If your parents are alive and married, you are very rare.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful,
you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder,
you are blessed because you can offer a healing touch.

If you can read this message you’ve just received a double blessing in that
someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over
two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and pass this along to remind
everyone else how blessed we all are.

Copied from Poetic Expressions, WWW.POETICEXPRESSIONS.CO.UK

Have a peaceful weekend!

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Shaken Awake

Posted in About me, Helping Others, inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , , on July 21, 2010| 4 Comments »

Bad news blares like an alarm and shakes my very existence. Within a short span of time I’ve received bad news from several people I care about. Too much all at once. Each person’s news is a reminder of the fragility of life and the ever teeter-tottering balancing act of happiness.

These bits of news are wake-up calls that cry out for life lessons to be revisited. In the blink of an eye, life can change. I’m acutely aware of that – savoring joy and living in the moment are underlying themes in many of my posts. Still, I let my guard down occasionally, complacency slides in and auto pilot takes over allowing life and happiness to be taken for granted. I’m sure there are countless others like me who need to be shaken awake from time to time by life’s wake-up calls.

Most of us let the details of our every day lives consume and control us to the point were life’s big picture is no longer in focus. We sweat the details and deny ourselves moments of joy. In my post On a Need to Know Basis I wrote about learning a life lesson when one of my cousins fell ill and passed away. I tell many of my friends, who fret and worry over their children’s grades, S.A.T. scores, and such, about how my cousin’s story has always helped me keep life in perspective. My cousin was close to finishing his freshman year in college when he became ill. Before he slipped into a coma and died he told his dad that he was sorry about his grades. My aunt and uncle are not unreasonable people. Like most of us they had hopes and dreams for their child and they pushed him to study hard. They never imagined that his last words to them would be about grades. We would all probably agree that in the big picture of life, grades aren’t really that important, but yet we can all probably relate to getting caught up in the details of grades. Put the details of whatever makes you angry, sad, frustrated, worried etc., into proper perspective  – or whole life perspective – and see if that doesn’t change your outlook on life a little.

Paint the big picture of your life in your mind and what do you see? What is important enough for you to include? What should you be grateful for? It takes practice and daily awareness to live a grateful life. Life is all about making choices. We have no control over certain aspects in our lives, but we can choose how we react and interact. As we go about our everyday tasks or write out our daily “To Do” lists, we must make sure we don’t forget to find some way of showing gratitude. Acknowledge people that support you in your workplace or in your community, find the positive in your job, be grateful for your health, tell your kids you are proud of them, and so on. We should make sure that the messages we are sending to those we care about come out loud and clear. The “unsaids” should be said more and the “saids” should be said less. The best intentions left undone are often ” I should of . . . ,” “I wish I had . . . ,” ” I was going to . . . .” Don’t miss the opportunities in life to show your thoughtfulness or gratitude or that you care. Don’t wait to be shaken awake again.

This post is dedicated to the memory of Steve Strann, a loving husband, a doting father, a fun neighbor, and a most wonderful friend who’s forever changed my outlook on pelicans, squirrels, orchids, and all things electronic.

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (7/16/10)

Posted in Creativity, Gardening, Health, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , on July 16, 2010| 1 Comment »

It’s the middle of summer already and a couple of 100+ degree days are coming my way. All this heat must be good for something, right? I’m taking advantage of the heat by drying my laundry in my oven-of-a-garage. I have five large drying racks out there and my laundry dries quickly and without wrinkles. Heat brings good and bad news for me; on the one hand, my vegetable garden is thriving in this weather, but on the other hand, it’s too hot to turn on my oven, so no baking for awhile. Haven’t yet convinced my husband that solar cooking is safe!

#1 – Desk Travels
Even though my international travels are done for the year, I can still see other parts of the world. The internet is filled with breathtaking snapshots of wonderful worldly sights, that for the most part, most of us will never see in person. Here are two photo essays that transport you to amazing sights without the need to leave your seat: The World’s Most Spectacular Roads, Vol. 2 and the World’s Most Extraordinary Swimming Pools.

#2 – Daily Limits
I’ve mentioned this before, but one of my favorite monthly reads is the Nutrition Action Health Letter. Once a month it provides easy to read, relevant articles about nutrition and health. For example, are you aware of what the daily limits of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar are for a basic 2,000-calorie diet? With today’s dining-out lifestyle it’s easy to exceed those limits. In an issue of the Health Letter there was an article called How Many Sugars? that provided a breakdown of several no-no ingredients found on menu items from popular dining spots. Here’s a quick look at daily limits and a sample menu item from the article:

Daily Limit of Sodium: 1,500 milligrams.
One McDonald’s Sausage, Egg, & Cheese on a Croissant contains 1,250 milligrams.

Daily Limit of Saturated Fat: 20 grams.
One Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee with Cream Coolata contains 22 grams.

Daily Limit of Added Sugars: 25 grams or 6.5 teaspoons.
One Starbuck’s Green Tea Blended Creme Frappuccino with whipped cream has 13 teaspoons.

Choose wisely when you dine out!

#3 – Thumping Watermelons!
According to several sources (my local newspaper, produce guides, and my dad, a former grocery store owner) to select the best watermelon you must consider these characteristics:
1. Shape – Look for a symmetrical shape (no flat sides or dents)
2. Weight – Since watermelons are over 90% water, select ones that are heavy for their size.
3. Sound – Several sources recommend lightly thumping the melon with your knuckle and listening for a hollow sound.
4. Appearance – Besides being firm and having a dull-colored skin, look for the spot where it sat on the ground. This area should be creamy yellow and it indicates the melon was vine ripened.

#4  – Mindless Computer Doodling
Sometimes when I have writer’s block, I look for interesting ways to refocus. I found this site that allows you to spend endless, mindless minutes doodling. The fun part is that the colors change on their own as you scribble and the squiggles move constantly. All you have to do is move the finger icon/cursor around. After doodling for a couple of minutes, I was back to writing!

#5 – Set Sail
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

– Mark Twain

Set your sails this weekend to explore, dream and discover!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! ( 7/9/10)

Posted in Creativity, Handcrafted Cards, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Marriage, Photography, Recipes, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on July 9, 2010| 1 Comment »

Hearts and flowers and joy and excitement fill the air at bridal showers. Generations of women gather to shower the bride with wisdom, laughter, and gifts. Thoughts of times passed for some mingle with hopes of the future for others. Women coming together to support one another is always a good thing!

#1 – Champagne Punch
2-12 ounce cans of frozen lemonade or limeade
1-46 ounce can of pineapple juice, chilled
2 bottles of champagne, chilled
1 quart orange juice, chilled
Fruit for ice mold

Dilute one can of the frozen lemonade/limeade with 1 can of water. Pour into tube pan or any mold of choice and add fruit slices, berries or mint leaves for decoration. Freeze until solid.

Mix the remaining frozen lemonade/limeade, pineapple juice, orange juice, and champagne. Place extracted frozen mold from mold pan and put into a punch bowl. Pour mixed beverages into bowl.

#2 – Explore the Sistine Chapel From Home
If you’ve ever visited the Sistine Chapel, you were probably awestruck by the it – you and the other couple hundred visitors crammed into the Chapel with you. It’s difficult to appreciate the magnificence of the art there because of the wall-to-wall bodies. Here’s an interactive site that lets you take a leisurely virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel. On your computer screen the Chapel is completely devoid of people and is available for your complete exploration. Using your computer mouse, you can navigate to any area – the walls, the mosaic floors, and of course the glorious painted ceilings. You can even zoom in on any particular area of your choosing to see details. I wish I had taken this virtual tour, before I visited the real thing!

#3 – Chilling Drinks Quickly
Chill beverages quickly for a party by placing beverage containers in a ice bucket/ice chest and adding layers of ice alternating with layers of salt until almost to the top. Fill your ice bucket/ice chest with cold water just below the top of the ice.

#4 – Instructables
Instructables is a site where do-it-your-selfers can search for step-by-step instructions for a myriad of projects. I came across this interesting project the other day – How To Hide Your Stuff In A Tissue Box. Although it seems easy enough, I’ve not tried making the project, yet. I like the idea, but my biggest problem would be preventing my hubby from using up the tissues and throwing the box away! Maybe one of you could benefit from this idea, though!

#5 – From Within Your Heart
“Find the seed at the bottom of your heart and bring forth a flower.”
~ Shigenori Kameoka

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (7/2/10)

Posted in Gardening, Gift Ideas, Health, Holidays, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Pets, tagged , , , , , , , , , on July 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »


Fourth of July weekend usually means patriotism, fireworks, barbecues, picnics, and cooling down in some form of water. No matter what you do for your holiday weekend, please take necessary precautions and be safe! Wear sunscreen and hats, store picnic food at safe temperatures, and if you are going to a lake, river, or beach don’t forget to pack life vests! My little dog wears his life vest when he swims in my pool. He’s had two surgeries to repair torn ACLs, so he begrudgingly dog paddles to rehabilitate his knees and stave off arthritis.

#1 -Independence Day Trivia
Here’s a sampling of Fourth of July trivia questions from Starpress.com and a few I threw in to keep you are on your toes:

Q: July 4 celebrates the passage of what important document?
A: Declaration of Independence

Q: What is the name of the group that passed the Declaration of Independence and when?
A: Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.

Q: Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
A: Thomas Jefferson was the primary writer. Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingstone and John Adams also were members of the committee charged with writing the Declaration of Independence and revisions.

Q: By what title did the Continental Congress call the Declaration of Independence?
A: The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America.

Q: How many people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776?
A: Two

Q: How many signatures are on the Declaration of Independence?
A: 56

Q: The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution are familiarly known as?
A: The Bill of Rights

Q: What do the colors on the flag stand for?
A: There is no record stating why red, white, and blue where chosen for the flag.

Q: The dollar amount of all U.S. fireworks imported?
A: $211 million

Q: Estimated number of Fourth of July cookouts?
A: 150 million

#2 – Picnic Safety Tips
If you’re planning a picnic this Fourth of July, take care that you’re following these safety tips as provided in an article by whatscookinginamerica.net. Click on the link to read the entire article, otherwise here’s a synopsis:

A. As always, wash hands and work areas before preparing food.

B. Cook foods in plenty of time to thoroughly chill them in shallow containers in the refrigerator.

C. Have enough coolers with ice or frozen gel packs and pack foods right from the refrigerator into the coolers.

D. Don’t put the cooler in the car trunk; Carry it inside an air-conditioned car. At picnics, keep the cooler in the shade and keep the lid closed. Replenish the ice if it melts.

E. Use a separate cooler for drinks so the one containing the food won’t constantly be opened and closed.

F. Find out if there’s a source of safe drinking water at your destination. If not, bring water for preparation and cleaning; or pack clean, wet, disposable cloths or moist towelettes and paper towels for cleaning hands and surfaces. Cross-contamination during preparation, grilling, and serving food is a prime cause of food borne illness.

G. Pack raw meats, poultry, or seafood on the bottom of the cooler.

H. If you plan on getting takeout foods such as fried chicken, eat them within an hour of pick up.

I. Do not partially grill extra meat or poultry to use later.

J. Don’t put the cooked items on the same platter which held the raw meat.

K. Two Hour Rule. Don’t leave perishable food un-refrigerated for more than two hours.

L. Discard leftovers.

#3 – Patriotic Flower Pots
Buy red, white, or blue flower pots and plant them with red geraniums, blue salvia, and white petunias or any other combination of red, white, and blue summer annuals. Purchase some patriotic-colored, wide, wired ribbon at your local crafts store. Plant the flowers, tie the ribbon in a bow at the front of the pot, and place pots wherever you need a pop of patriotic color that will last all summer long.

#4 – Patriotic Drink
The secret to creating a red, white, and blue multilayered drink is finding beverages with different sugar contents, so says an article in Disney Family Fun. Beverages with more sugar, like fruit juices, are denser and are poured first. The second layer the article suggests would be something like an athletic beverage and the top layer, which would have the least amount of sugar, would be a diet drink. The following recipe from the article is for a children’s patriotic drink, but think of all the possibilities for adult drinks!

Ingredients:
Ice cubes
Cranberry juice
Wild Berry flavor Gatorade Fierce
Diet 7-Up

Instructions:
1. Fill a clear glass with ice cubes. Pour the drink with the most sugar (check the nutrition label) into the glass. For our red, white, and blue recipe, start with the cranberry juice.
2. Very slowly add a beverage that contains less sugar — in this case, Wild Berry flavor Gatorade Fierce. Be careful to pour it onto an ice cube — not directly into the other drink — to keep them from mixing.
3. Use the same technique to add a layer of Diet 7-Up.

#5 – Freedom
Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed – else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (6/25/10)

Posted in Creativity, Gift Ideas, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Style and fashion, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , on June 25, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Hooray! I am the proud mother of a thirteen ounce cucumber! I just harvested my first cucumber of the season and although it may be the first and only one I ever harvest this summer, I can at least say that I finally grew something I could eat! Other veggies in the garden are looking good, too – the tomatoes are are still clinging to their vines and the “squashettes” and “eggplantettes” have not yet shriveled up. Life is good! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

#1 – Trip Tip
If you are planning a trip, I would recommend you check out TripAdvisor. Prior to planning our trips abroad, my husband and I consult the site and we’ve always found it to be extremely helpful. While searching for hotels we learn valuable information by reading reviews submitted by other travelers. The reviews often contain comments such as the pros and cons of staying at different hotels, location advantages, restaurant recommendations, numerous sight seeing tips, and photos taken from and of the hotels.

#2 – Seafood Savvy
How savvy are you when it comes to purchasing seafood at the market or ordering it at a restaurant? The Environmental Defense Fund’s website lists which seafoods are eco-best, eco-okay, or eco-worst. It also provides better alternatives and recipes. You can download a Seafood Pocket guide or a Sushi Pocket guide from the site, too.

Here’s a recap of the EDF’s categories:

Eco-Best choices describe:

  • wild fish from healthy, well-managed populations, caught using fishing gear that does little harm to sea life and marine habitats;
  • or farmed fish raised in systems that control pollution, the spread of disease, chemical use and escaped fish.

Most fish on this list are also low in environmental contaminants and can be safely eaten at least once per week.

Eco-OK fish have mixed records on:

  • how they are managed,
  • the health of their habitat,
  • or how they are caught or farmed.

Some fish on this list may have elevated levels of environmental contaminants – such as mercury or PCBs – and should be eaten in moderation.

Eco-Worst choices have one or more serious environmental problems, such as overfished populations, poor management, high bycatch, extensive habitat damage; or come from farms that allow widespread pollution, the spread of disease, chemical use and escaped fish.

We work with many of these fisheries to help them become more sustainable and keep fishermen on the water. As fisheries improve, they are moved up the list.

Many fish on this list have elevated levels of environmental contaminants – such as mercury or PCBs – and should be eaten in moderation, if at all.

#3 – Rainbow in Your Hand
There is no end to creativity. Someone created a flipbook that, instead of creating animated images as the pages are flipped, creates a three dimensional rainbow in your hand! How very clever!

#4 – Men’s Summer Style Tips
Askmen.com had an article called, “Men’s Summer Fashion Mistakes” that I read because I was curious to see what kind of fashion trouble men could get into during the summer months.

Read the article yourself, but otherwise I offer my quick synopsis:
1. Do not wear socks with sandals, boat shoes, or drivers.
2. Cargo shorts are out.
3. Switch to a lighter, more refreshing fragrance.
4. Do not wear flip flops, Teva-type sandals, or thin-strapped European sandals for any outing other than to a beach or a barbecue.
5. Do not wear tank tops.
6. Billowy board shorts don’t cut it anymore.
7. Outside of athletic activity don’t wear wraparound shades.

My husband scored fairly well. He only got dinged for two out of the seven entries and, believe me, I’ve been working on those two issues with him!

#5 – Fill Yourself Up
“What I know for sure is this: You are built not to shrink down to less, but to blossom into more. To be more splendid. To be more extraordinary. To use every moment to fill yourself up.” -Oprah

As always, enjoy your weekend!


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Friday’s Fresh Five! (6/18/10)

Posted in Art and Crafts, Creativity, Gift Ideas, Health, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Kids, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on June 18, 2010| 1 Comment »

There are always so many reasons to celebrate life, but this weekend is special. My youngest child celebrates her 21st birthday today and I feel so blessed that she has become such an extraordinary adult.  And when I count my blessings, I always include the amazing men in my family. Today’s post is dedicated especially to my dad and my husband, and to all the fathers who work hard, sacrifice a lot, and love beyond measure.

#1 – Top Ten Father’s Day Gifts
Weigh AskMen.com‘s top ten Father’s Day gift suggestions against gift suggestions from What About This?:

1. Landscaping services versus Go to the park or work in the garden with your dad
2. Sports tickets versus Playing his favorite sport with him
3. Meat versus Prepare your dad a tasty and nutritious meal
4. Driving gloves versus Plan a nice drive or day trip with him
5. Wine versus Take him wine tasting
6. Leather wallet versus Create a digital inventory of his valuable personal property for him
7. Set of golf clubs versus Play a round with him, go to the driving range, play miniature golf
8. Fishing gear versus Take him fishing
9. Alcohol versus A nice dinner out together
10. Grilling tools versus Clean his grill for him

You get my drift. Spending time and doing is better than buying.

#2 – Power Breakfasts
Menshealth.com has an article called “Abs Diet Super Bowls” that caught my attention because the ingredients listed in its “Honey, I Shrunk My Gut” bowl are similar to those I eat for breakfast every morning! Check out these recipes and please, no wise cracks about my gut!

#3 – Graduation Thank You Cards
I make my own thank you cards using photos that I take and card stock. Here’s an idea for graduation thank you cards: Print photos of the graduate or of some aspect of the graduation ceremony (hats thrown in the air, close up of the diploma, family photo at graduation, etc.) and using either double stick tape or glue that is photo safe, adhere it to a piece of 8.5″ x 5.5″ card stock folded in half. That would be a sheet of 8.5 ” x 11″ card stock cut in half. Personalizing the card with a photo makes the thank you card extra special for those who could not be there for the celebration or have not seen the graduate in a while. Envelopes can be purchased at any office supply or paper goods store.

#4 – You Peel Tomaaaato, I Peel Toooomato
To peel tomatoes (peaches, and plums, too):  Wash and remove any stickers. Gently remove the stem. With a paring knife, cut a small, shallow “x” on the bottom. Plunge the tomato into boiling water for about 15 – 25 seconds, then put it into a bowl of ice water to cool. After it’s completely cooled, wipe it dry and gently peel off the skin.

#5 –  A Father’s Greatest Gift
“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.” -Jim Valvano-

Have a joyful weekend and a happy Father’s Day wish to all those wonderful dads out there!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (6/11/10)

Posted in Gardening, Health, Helping Others, inspiration, Recycling, tagged , , , , , , , on June 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »

My garden is so lush and lovely right now and would be perfect, if not for the glaring exception of the fountain in the backyard. Thick, icky green was the only way to describe it yesterday. So what to do? Well, a little algaecide goes a long way or so I’ve just learned – now I have a fountain full of bubbles! It’s fun to look at, but I’m really concerned about little birds taking bubble baths in it. It’s time to use elbow grease instead of chemicals! Be kind to the earth.

#1 – Random Acts of Kindness
“Random acts of kindness are those sweet or lovely things we do for no reason except that, momentarily, the best of our humanity has sprung into full bloom. When you spontaneously give a stranger the bouquet of red carnations you had meant to take home to your own dinner table, when you give your lunch to the guitar-playing homeless person who makes music at the corner between your two subway stops, when you anonymously put coins in someone else’s parking meter because you see the red “EXPIRED” medallion signaling to the meter maid – you are doing not what life requires of you, but what the best of your human soul invites you to do.” Daphne Rose Kingma

Make someone’s life a little easier, a little better, perhaps a little happier, by performing a random act of kindness for them. Here are a just a few suggestions that I’ve not mentioned before on this blog:

*Call a soup kitchen to find out how many people they generally serve. Then offer to prepare and deliver muffins, salad, or dessert for one of their meals.

*Share a recipe.

*Tell someone you appreciate them.

*Park farther out, giving others the choice parking spots.

*Offer to return a shopping cart to the store for someone loading a car.

*After loading your groceries into the car, return your shopping cart.

*Invite someone new over for dinner.

*Invite a college/apartment-bound student over for a cooking lesson.

*Open the door for another person.

*Give your full attention and simply listen to someone.

*Pay a compliment at least once a day.

*Roll an elderly neighbor’s garbage cans back up the driveway at the end of trash pick-up day.

*Volunteer to drive a sick friend to his doctor’s appointment or to his chemo appointment.

*Donate blood.

Please send me your ideas for random acts of kindness so I may share them with others.

#2 – Cutting Roses
What time of day is it best to cut roses from your garden? According to Rayford Clayton Reddell’s book A Year In The Life of a Rose, “Rosebushes begin drawing in moisture with the first hint of approaching dusk, and they hold it until the morning light gets strong. Since you want blooms with as much moisture in them as possible, cut either before midmorning or after midafternoon . . . . What you most want to avoid is cutting during midday, especially during hot weather, when blooms are limp.”

#3 – Reuse Those Plastic Storage Bags
Why waste plastic bags? As long as ziploc-type plastic storage bags can be washed out, I reuse them. Unless they contained something gross or raw, I wash them out in sudsy water, rinse them, and then let them air dry. The best way to air dry them is to open them and invert them over something like a bottle or a vase. I separate these used bags from the new ones and use them only for storing nonfood items. These used bags came in very handy during my recent trip to Greece; they held sundries, medicines, cosmetics, scarves, etc.

#4 – Unkind Food
According to the most recent issue of Nutrition Action, The Cheesecake Factory’s Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake ” . . . weighs in at three-quarters of a pound . . . Just 1,670 calories and 2-1/2 days’ worth of saturated fat (48 grams), nearly all of it from chocolate, sugar, cream, white flour, and butter.”

#5 – Make a Living and Making a Life
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
Winston Churchill

It’s going to be a warm weekend in my part of the world and I’m ready for it! Have a good weekend!

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