Monday, December 30, 2013

It will be LIGHTS OUT in 2014...at least for the Incandescents.

If you like that warm glow of the incandescent light bulb, then you'd better stock up now!  It's a fact that in 2014 the 75-watt, 60-watt and 40-watt bulbs will be phased out, never to return!  You'll have to buy the more-expensive, curly CFL bulbs.  Waaaahhhhh!  I like the warmth, even from a light bulb!  Feel free to read on for more info - me, I'm headed to the store to stock up!! 

LIGHTS OUT: Production of 75-watt incandescent light bulbs stopped Jan. 1

  • photo
The warm glow of the 75-watt incandescent light bulb soon will wink out.
Though the bulbs still are available in stores, producers stopped manufacturing them Jan. 1. The industry is phasing out incandescent bulbs to meet federal energy standards by 2014.
The 75-watt bulb is the second casualty of 2007's Energy Independence and Security Act, which requires household lighting to be 27 percent more efficient by next year.
Light bulb producers stopped making 100-watt bulbs a year ago, and 60- and 40-watt bulbs will be discontinued in 2014.
Dousing incandescents will save energy, said John Watts, supervisor in the energy services department at EPB.
"There's a limit to the power the United States can produce," Watts said. "You've got to reduce somewhere or build more power plants to maintain the energy load everyone's demanding."
Consumers still have plenty of lighting options, with halogen, compact fluorescent and light-emitting diode, or LED, bulbs. Each has benefits and drawbacks.
Halogen bulbs are the most similar to the old bulbs, producing the same amount of heat, though at a lower wattage.
Compact fluorescents take time to warm up and turn on, and they dim noticeably as they grow older. Manufacturers, including General Electric, are producing "instant-on" fluorescent bulbs that have shorter warm-up times.
Watts said some consumers may be leery of compact fluorescents because they contain a small amount of mercury, about the size of a pinpoint. Consumers are encouraged to recycle them to prevent the release of mercury into the environment.
LED bulbs are gaining in popularity. They cost more initially -- $20 to $30 -- but can last for 20 years when used about three hours per day.
Watt said newer bulbs could save consumers money, but their biggest effect will not be on individual households.
"It's not going to be something where you're going to put these bulbs in and notice a difference," Watts said. "But on the big scope of things around the country, it will be noticeable."
The 75-watt bulb will be available in stores until the current stock runs out. They are still in stock at Batteries Plus in Hixson, but an employee didn't know how long they will last.
"There have been a lot of people complaining" about the enforced switch, said Johnny Grills, a sales associate at Batteries Plus. "We haven't had too many mass grabs, though."
Every month or so, Grills said, a customer will buy four or five boxes of the old bulbs, but most businesses and individuals are turning to the energy-efficient offerings.
But that doesn't mean the store won't see a run on its remaining stock of old bulbs as 2014 draws closer.
"It's possible," he said. "You might have a few people that will go crazy and grab as much as they can."

Auld Lang Syne - all the words!!

WOW it's coming fast - the last day of 2013, the night that we all sing "Auld Lang Syne".   Auld Lang Syne is a 18th century ballad written by Robert Burns of Scotland...and by the way the title actually means "Old Long Ago" (thanks Google!).. As long as it has been around not many people, including me, even know more than the first few lines of the song!!  Well I can help you out...when the clock strikes midnight wherever you are, you can belt out ALL the lyrics on New Year's Eve!  (sing it with a Scottish or English accent for more authenticity!!)  ;)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne.
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
for auld lang syne.
We twa hae run a boot the braes,
and pou’d the gowans fine,
we’ve wandered mony a weary foot,
sin’ auld lang syne.
We two hae paidled i’ the burn
Frae mornin sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.
And here’s a hand, my trusty friend,
and gie’s a hand o’ thine,
we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
for auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld land Syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
for auld lang syne.
                                                                 
Happy New Year everyone.  May 2014 be a healthy and prosperous one!

Friday, December 27, 2013

Teaching a 20-day-old puppy to howl

Wow, this just had me grinning from ear to ear - and remembering when my German shepherd puppies were just finding their voices!  I think you'll like this one - guaranteed to put a smile on your face!  Enjoy (and feel free to pass it on!!)  Howl away Belka, howl away!!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/26/puppy-howls-with-boy_n_4505572.html

Monday, December 23, 2013

Egg Nog that's VEGAN!!

Wow I can't believe I found a recipe for Egg Nog that my vegan friends can enjoy!!  I LOVE Egg nog but it seems the only time I ever drink it or make it is during the Holidays!  We were at a Christmas party that had some yummy egg nog, which I drank a lot of, but my girlfriend had to turn it down because she is Vegan...and egg nog has eggs!!  So I searched the internet and found this recipe - I haven't tried it yet so let me know how it tastes if you fix it!  Bottoms up and Merry Christmas!

http://thegreenforks.com/vegan-eggnog/

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Aucostic version of "The Little Drummer Boy"

This video will make you say "WOW" and will have you grinning like a Cheshire cat! 
Watch, enjoy and show your friends!!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_MGWio-vc


Anna Kendrick's CUPS song Collage - I still can't get it!!

I really liked the movie "Pitch Perfect" with Anna Kendrick...and of course her song "Cups" has become real popular...But this is a real "WOW"!!! Take a look at this really neat video collage of 1500 people from Drummondville all performing it together - and setting a World Record!!  (I've been practicing and I STILL can't get it right!!)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09Y5QrB2VwI

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

My favorite Cookies...well, one of them!

This must be Cookie Monster's favorite time of year!  Seems like there's cookies everywhere I turn!  At the office, all the parties and, of course, being made at my house for Santa!  I've just got to share one of my favorite cookies...and I seem to only make them at Christmastime!  You can find more Christmas goodies on my Pinterest page too!

 Cottage Cheese Cookies Recipe

Yield: 4.5-5 dozen
Ingredients
  • 3/4 Cup Shortening {Crisco}
  • 1 2/3 Cup Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 Cup Cottage Cheese
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 2 tsp Vanilla
  • 2 3/4 Cup Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Cocoa
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • Powdered Sugar
Instructions
  1. Cream together shortening, sugar, eggs, cottage cheese, salt, and vanilla. Cottage cheese should still be lumpy.
  2. Sift together the flour, cocoa, and baking powder. Slowly add to the creamed mixture. Mix well.
  3. Chill dough for a few hours or overnight.
  4. Roll teaspoons of dough into balls. Roll balls in powdered sugar to coat heavily.
  5. Grease cookie sheet, or line with parchment paper. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes.
  6. Cool and store in sealed container
Notes
Make sure dough is chilled before working with it. Roll dough quickly while forming cookies to keep it from melting. The more powdered sugar you coat the dough balls in, the more the cracks will show.

Traveling with Santa

Tis the season for traveling...especially for Santa!  If you want to travel along with Santa and the reindeer, then you'll want to go over to this site: http://www.noradsanta.org/

NORAD - which stands for North American Aerospace Defense Command - began tracking Santa in 1955 and has continued to do so every year.  Did you know that NORAD has Secret Santa files too?  If you go on the website you can read them!!  Plus you can watch movies from the North pole and find out everything you ever wanted to know about Santa's flight around the world!

I wanted to know about his sleigh - how much it weighed, how fast it goes...things like that!  This is what I found out on the website! WOW, it's just amazing!!  


Sleigh Technical Data
Designer & Builder K. Kringle & Elves, Inc.
Probable First Flight Dec. 24, 343 A.D.
Home Base North Pole
Length 75 cc (candy canes) / 150 lp (lollipops)
Width 40 cc / 80 lp
Height 55 cc / 110 lp
Note: Length, width and height are without reindeer
Weight at takeoff 75,000 gd (gumdrops)
Passenger weight at takeoff Santa Claus 260 pounds
Weight of gifts at takeoff 60,000 tons
Weight at landing 80,000 gd (ice & snow accumulation)
Passenger weight at landing 1,260 pounds
Propulsion Nine (9) rp (reindeer power)
Armament Antlers (purely defensive)
Fuel Hay, oats and carrots (for reindeer)
Emissions Classified
Climbing speed One "T" (Twinkle of an eye)
Max speed Faster than starlight                                                

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Print your own Christmas tags!!

The most wonderful time of the year is here....CHRISTMAS!!  You know my favorite part?  Wrapping presents!!  Really!  I love all the different colored paper and all the ribbon!  My hubby always tells me I put way too much tape on the packages too!  The hard part for me is finding the right tag to use for the gift!
But look what I found - a great site that you can use to print out your own tags for the gifts!  Enjoy and Happy Wrapping!

 http://www.priceless-heritage.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-tag.html

Monday, December 16, 2013

Yummy Crock pot meals

Gotta tell you how much I love my crockpot this time of year....well, I love it ALL year long, but especially on "these" days when you're rushing around shopping for Christmas gifts or taking kids from one place to the next or when it's just too darn cold to go out to the store for groceries!!  I found a great site that has a LOT of super supper ideas that you can freeze!  Just take out of the freezer in the morning, plop it in the crockpot and soon you'll have a wonderful dinner that tastes as yummy as it smells!!  These would make great gifts for a new mom, a housewarming gift or a "just because" present!!  Enjoy!

http://www.mommysfabulousfinds.com/2013/10/easy-crock-pot-freezer-meals-2.html

Thursday, December 12, 2013

2014 SAG Award Nominees

WOW - am so excited for this year's Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards!!  I love going to the movies and getting lost in the stories told....and of course I have favorite actresses and actors who are nominated for the 20th Annual SAG Awards which will be announced on January 18, 2014.  I will be glued to the tube - what about you?   Here's the list of the nominees....who do you think will win?!

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
BRUCE DERN / Woody Grant – "NEBRASKA"
CHIWETEL EJIOFOR / Solomon Northup – "12 YEARS A SLAVE"
TOM HANKS / Capt. Richard Phillips – "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS"
MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY / Ron Woodroof – "DALLAS BUYERS CLUB"
FOREST WHITAKER / Cecil Gaines – "LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER"
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
CATE BLANCHETT / Jasmine – "BLUE JASMINE"
SANDRA BULLOCK / Ryan Stone – "GRAVITY"
JUDI DENCH / Philomena Lee – "PHILOMENA"
MERYL STREEP / Violet Weston – "AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY"
EMMA THOMPSON / P.L. Travers – "SAVING MR. BANKS"
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
BARKHAD ABDI / Muse – "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS"
DANIEL BRÜHL / Niki Lauda – "RUSH"
MICHAEL FASSBENDER / Edwin Epps – "12 YEARS A SLAVE"
JAMES GANDOLFINI / Albert – "ENOUGH SAID"
JARED LETO / Rayon – "DALLAS BUYERS CLUB"
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
JENNIFER LAWRENCE / Rosalyn Rosenfeld – "AMERICAN HUSTLE"
LUPITA NYONG'O / Patsey – "12 YEARS A SLAVE"
JULIA ROBERTS / Barbara Weston – "AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY"
JUNE SQUIBB / Kate Grant – "NEBRASKA"
OPRAH WINFREY / Gloria Gaines – "LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER"
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
12 YEARS A SLAVE
AMERICAN HUSTLE
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER
PRIMETIME TELEVISION
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
MATT DAMON / Scott Thorson – "BEHIND THE CANDELABRA"
MICHAEL DOUGLAS / Liberace – "BEHIND THE CANDELABRA"
JEREMY IRONS / King Henry IV – "THE HOLLOW CROWN"
ROB LOWE / John F. Kennedy – "KILLING KENNEDY"
AL PACINO / Phil Spector – "PHIL SPECTOR"
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
ANGELA BASSETT / Coretta Scott King – "BETTY & CORETTA"
HELENA BONHAM CARTER / Elizabeth Taylor – "BURTON AND TAYLOR"
HOLLY HUNTER / G.J. – "TOP OF THE LAKE"
HELEN MIRREN / Linda Kenney Baden – "PHIL SPECTOR"
ELISABETH MOSS / Robin Griffin – "TOP OF THE LAKE"
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – "30 ROCK"
JASON BATEMAN / Michael Bluth – "ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT"
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy – "MODERN FAMILY"

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Easy Christmas Gifts

Christmas is almost here...and if you have more shopping and gifts to get but not a lot of money to spend, I found a great site with a number of fun, easy ideas!  (my favorite is the drinking cups..or maybe the lip gloss!)
So, look out!  If you're on my list you might just be getting one of these soon!!  Just click on the link below!

http://coolmompicks.com/blog/2012/12/11/handmade-gifts-you-can-make/#sthash.deaTM3LK.MlupfYFh.dpbs


Monday, December 9, 2013

Been Awhile...

Yup it has....Been awhile that is!
Awhile since I've written...Awhile since I've been on vacation and shared pictures and stories....Awhile since Kazmir died and Gabby joined our family from Magnificent Mutts Rescue....Awhile since we've had a "little" one in our family and now we have many "little" ones that are being welcomed into the world - one on the way this month.....Awhile since we chatted about special movies.....Yup, it's been awhile.   
But all that has been remedied - because "Awhile" is here!