A CLASSY Christmas Flash Mob

Hi Everyone!!  I've been away but now I'm back - and boy do I have some good things to share! This for one - the best "Flash Mob" I've seen in a LONG while!  Listen and enjoy the Sounds of the Christmas Season - from our own United States Air Force Band - you WILL be saying …WOW!!

Meat-free meals in your slow cooker

I think everyone's in the routine now that school is back in session - meaning there's less time for you to get dinner ready when you get home from work!  If you're looking for a way to save some money, eat a little healthier by have one or two meat-free meals each week plus get dinner on the table in a short amount of time-then I've got something for you!  Use your slow-cooker, crockpot or whatever you call it and try these
meat-free ideas found on the website www.splendidtable.org.  I do use my crockpot already for oatmeal (great for those rushed mornings!) and I'm anxious to try the enchiladas! I'll let you know how it turns out!

Ya gotta love Quinoa Cakes!

So I've been doing a LOT of canning, freezing and ... eating lately!  Some healthy, some not so healthy!  One of my favorite grains is Quinoa (KEEN-wah).  If you've never tried it before, give it a try today - use it in place of rice or pasta.  In fact here's a great recipe for Quinoa Cakes a healthy, vegetarian version of salmon cakes.  I think you'll be hooked on Quinoa once you try it!  Enjoy!

Make your OWN Pumpkin spice Coffee!

.

Ok it's hard to say this - let alone TYPE it - but Fall is almost here!  And in my book, that means all-things-PUMPKIN!!  While I'm not a big coffee drinker anymore, I do enjoy a good latte.  My girlfriend Robin loves pumpkin spice coffee and came up with a super recipe that you can make yourself!  PLUS it's NOT loaded with sugar! (she doesn't like sweet coffee - but if you do,
 here is the recipe..   Here's the modified recipe:

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 t pumpkin pie spice

1/2 t cinnamon

dash of ground cloves

 Robin says she put the mixture in a mason jar, shook it up and then put it in the fridge - tastes even better the next day I'm told!  Can't wait to try it!

Can you REALLY feed your entire family on $5 - YES!

I gotta tell you, I'm ALWAYS looking for ways to "stretch a buck" these days...aren't we all?!  I was watching "Today" and they told how you can feed your entire family on $5 and have some really yummy food - like Black bean & corn enchiladas, roasted chicken and more!  Check it out and save some $$!!

13 Foods That Last Forever

A friend of mine was moving and had to clean out his pantry - believe it or not he threw away a few items he could have kept FOREVER!  Take a peek at this list - it might surprise you! Let me know if you would eat any of these foods after, say 5 years!!

My Sturgis Adventure! All I could say was - WOW!

 
WOW!  What a trip -8 days. 9 hours. 2442 miles. We love our biker friends: When it rains you put on rain gear. When it hails you pull over. When it's sunny you bask in it. When its windy you lean. You help someone in need and you always enjoy the ride! I have never been to the Black Hills of South Dakota before and it is beautiful! We stayed in Custer but rode to, through and around Hill City, Keystone, Deadwood, Lead, Rapid City, Sturgis and everywhere inbetween!  We saw the beautiful Custer State Park with the wild buffalo (those animals are HUGE), the 4 Presidents on Mount Rushmore, the stone carving memorial of Chief Crazy Horse that is still under construction, met the owner of the 'Buglin Bull' restaurant who has the same name as my husband...and saw bikes of every kind and color!  Hope you enjoy the attached photos...to quote my husband Brian, Life Is Good!

 Welcome to Sturgis!!

Our riding friends! 

 

  

 

Brian Boyer, the owner of the Restaurant 'Buglin Bull' in Custer South Dakota.

 If you look REAL Hard you'll see Mt. Rushmore over my shoulder!

 Bison - real, wild buffalo!! They are HUGE!

 You meet all kinds at the Harley Rally!  This guy's been here awhile at the Hitching Post!

 Celebrities of all kinds are here - even the Budweiser Clydesdales!

 Abe and I having a talk about Illinois presidents....

 Gotta get the rain gear on...don't you just love my purple outfit!  I felt like a little plum!

Security! Who let those girls in our picture?! The Full Throttle bar has a little bit of everything!

YAY! Home at last!

 

The "Hottest" movie trailer out there - Fifty Shades of Grey!

Oh my!!  If you've read the book then you know it's "steamy"...but that's nothing - check out the movie trailer for the hottest book around - Fifty Shades of Grey .  Valentine's Day 2015 can't come soon enough for me! ;)

Best Things to Buy in AUGUST

Well, it's about that time again - Back to School Shopping!  There's lots of deals and bargains to be had now. For instance anything to do with dorms - Linens, appliances, laptops, towels, organizers, plastic storage all on sale.....don't forget about clothes, specifically SUMMER clothes with the BIG discounts! Click Here for more August Deals and Bargains.

6 Things we can do to be MORE Productive!

 Ever feel like you're just not getting enough done? Maybe you - like me - need a little help in figuring out HOW to get motivated!  Check out these simple things that Highly Productive People Do Every Day.

I know I can incorporate these into my daily life - watch out world, you're gonna be amazed at how much I am going to accomplish!

The Ultimate Shopping list of Super Foods!

 If you're trying to lose weight, you know to stay away from the processed foods and load up on the "super foods"...but just what ARE those foods?  I know Almonds are on that list along with Quinoa, Aramatha, Lentils and Apples -  but if you want to know what else you should be eating (and buying) check out the 50 Superfoods - The Ultimate Shopping List..thanks to the site Skinnyms.com!  Oh and you'll find some great recipes too!!

Lorde is now "big time" as Weird Al "mocks' her song "Royals".

Love this!  You know you've made it big when you get mocked by Weird Al Yankovic! Watch this funny parody of "Royals" by Lorde.

Can't sleep? Eat Carbs at night!

I've always been a light sleeper while my hubby can sleep thru anything!  When I read this article I thought I found the cure to my Sleep problems!  Eating carbs at nite!  Just not tooo late at nite!  Pizza, pasta - This is right up my alley....so guess what I'm gonna try tonite?!

I didn't know I could Freeze THAT!!!

I got a new chest freezer last year and have loved filling it up with goodies!  During baking season I knew I could freeze butter and nuts but I had no idea I could freeze eggs!  Take a look at some other foods you didn't know you could freeze!  So now when that great deal comes along, you can just buy it and freeze it!

10 surprising household uses for Lemons

I told you earlier about a great idea for mosquito repellant using LIMES and cloves (if you missed it check on my earlier blog post.) but here are some rather suprising household uses for Lemons!  I knew about using lemons on cutting boards and to clean copper pots - I also put the used lemon in my garbage disposal - but I didn't know about the cleaning of metal jewelry or dealing with cats or the other uses!  Guess I'll be stocking up on those lemons as well as the limes!

I pass my title of "Motor Mouth" to THIS woman!

Ok now I KNOW I don't talk this fast - I can now pass my title of "Motor Mouth" to her!!

How Much Water is Actually Good For You

I always hear that I don't drink enough water - that you should drink 6-8 glasses of water a day....coffee, tea and soda don't count towards that amount either so how much Water do you Actually need? 
Well according to this article,  Dr. Travis Kidner says 2-3 liters of water every day because we LOSE that much every day!!!  That's a lot of water!

There IS a way to fold that tricky fitted sheet!

Whenever I do laundry there's always ONE item that confounds me every time!! The Fitted sheet!! I never know how to fold it correctly so that it fits in the drawer - I've tried LOTS of different ways except this one!

 How Did I Not Know This?   Gotta tell you Jill Cooper from Livingonadime.com made it super easy - take a look for yourself...you'll never have problems again!

23 Patriotic Foods You Must Try This 4th of July

What are your plans for the 4th of July weekend?  If they include cookouts or parties then here are
23 Patriotic Foods You Must Try This 4th of July!  And don't forget the Watermelon!!  Happy Birthday America!

Homemade Flea Powder that's a Winner!

As you know I try to use all things natural whenever I can - and that includes on my pets too! Although we don't have this problem this year, I have friends who DO have a flea problem...found this wonderful homemade Flea powder from Kelly at Primallyinspired.com.  Check out her site for other natural ideas!

Saving Money on your Vacations & road trips!

It's Summertime - translation: It's Vacationtime!  Save some money this summer by using your smartphone on road trips and vacations.  We do tend to use the Gas Buddy app and pack "travel foods" so we don't have to stop so much but the other ideas I'll have to try!  If you use them, let me know how it goes! Travel safely!

Small-Town 4th Of July Celebrations

I love the 4th of July - not only because we're celebrating our Independence but also because of the WAY we celebrate!  Parades, Fireworks, Concerts, Food....just to name a few items!  Found a list of some Small-Town 4th Of July Celebrations but I gotta tell you they left of two important places! The first -  my hometown of Hannibal Missouri - where the celebration also includes the crowning of the new Tom and Becky ambassadors, the national Fence painting contest and lots of music!  The second - my home now of Rockford, Illinois - where we have parades and the Sky Concert 2014....fireworks coordinated with music played on the Variety Station, the New B103!  (download the free 'listen live' app and take the music with you on the 4th!)

Independence and Being Free

It's America's Independence Day coming up, a day we celebrate being Free....But what does that mean?  A friend of mine has a VERY good read on his blog called 'Moments of Destiny' on being “…free indeed.”.

Thanks Greg for your insight!

Fireworks and their names

With the 4th of July coming up, it means FIREWORKS!!  I love fireworks but never knew the names of the ones I liked the best - I do now!  Here are the names of 10 Fireworks effects.   My favorite?  The Chrysanthemum or maybe it's the Spider or maybe the....

Dad and daughter duet in the car to "Let it Go"

Give this dad an award!  Love this!

WD-40 ... not just for squeaks!

I finally had it - couldn't stand the squeaky chair any longer so I got out the WD40 and I sprayed away!  Then I noticed I dropped some on the floor so I wiped it up....and the scuff mark that was on the floor went away too!
Started wondering what other Uses For WD-40 could I find - and viola!  I hit the jackpot with this link!  See for yourself - and stock up!!

Happy 20th Birthday Simba!!!

Hakuna matata!  Happy Birthday Simba!!!  Can you believe it's been 20 years since the release of 'The Lion King'??!!  Here's a cool list of Every Crazy, Weird Fact About the Disney Classic - I thought I knew a lot about the "The Lion King" but I now know I didn't know as much as I thought!!

Ways to Save more $$, yeah!

It's no secret that I like to use coupons and save money - I mean, who doesn't want to save money right?? So here are  7 money-saving tricks of a coupon maven that can help us save a LOT more!

Foods That Make You Feel Full - and are Yummy!!

 So it seems that nite time is my downfall...I tend to crave junk food - and I'm not a junk food eater! So I did some investigating and found 12 Foods That Make You Feel Full from Health.com  - I knew about most of them but I was kinda surprised by pickles! Guess you know what I'll be stocking up on now! ;)

Fizzing Sidewalk Chalk Paint! » The Pleasantest Thing

On those days that the kids are whining about having nothing to do, why not make some  Fizzing Sidewalk Chalk Paint!  From the site, pleasantestthing.com, it's super easy and lots of fun!  Plus it can wash off with the next rain!

I just love this 13 year old's voice - Jackie Evancho

This will definitely make you smile and say "WOW - what talent"!  Enjoy!

Away Mosquitos!!!

I am what my hubby calls "sweet meat" to mosquitos because they just LOVE to suck my blood!!  I don't like to use sprays with Deet in them and have found a few natural recipes that work using essential oils!  My girlfriend told me about this particular Natural Mosquito Repellent Recipe that uses only 2 ingredients!! (My kind of recipe!!)  Lime and Cloves! I'm gonna try it and see if it works - let me know if you try it too!!

Keeping pets safe & happy during Fireworks and Thunder

The 4th of July is almost here, which is NOT the favorite holiday for my dogs!  They don't like fireworks - or thunderstorms for that matter...They have the fear of loud sounds - fireworks, thunder, gunshot -  called noise phobias. For a pet affected by loud noises, this is a terrifying and uncomfortable time; both for the pet and the people. .so I found some great advice for you regarding Fireworks & Pets.

A little precaution can do a lot in keeping your pet safe and happy loud noises arrive. 

Versatile Vinegar - who knew?!!

So, I'm trying to save money these days and trying the "natural" way to clean the house, yard, me!  I never knew there were SO many uses for uses for Vinegar!  I knew it was great for glass cleaner, cleaning the toilet and shining up shoes and handbags but I had no idea it would be great for droopy flowers, killing weeds and making my nail polish last longer!  Looks like I'll be putting vinegar on the top of my grocery list from now on!! Take a peek at some of the other things it can do!!

Repair DVDs.
If you have a worn DVD that skips or freezes, wipe it down with white
distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Make sure the DVD is
completely dry before reinserting it into the player.

Remove wax.
If you get melted candle wax on your wood furniture or floors, gently
wipe it away with a cloth soaked in a solution of equal parts white
vinegar and water.

Unclog drains.
For a natural, nontoxic way to clean clogged pipes, pour one cup of
baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Let
the products bubble and foam, then flush the pipes with a pot of boiling
water.

Soften your feet.
Summer sandals leaving you with cracked heals and calluses? Soak your
feet for 20 minutes a day in one part vinegar to two parts warm water.
The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth.

WOW! She's the Real-life Elsa from "Frozen"!!

Wow, you've heard of doppelgangers, right?  It's the counterpart of a living person who is NOT a twin!  Take a look at the Florida teen who accidentally found her doppelganger in the movie "Frozen" - so tell me, is this Queen Elsa? Funny thing is her sister looks just like Elsa's sister Anna too!

 

Perfect Father's Day (wish) video

This was too perfect NOT to share!  Hope all dad's had a wonderful Father's Day!!!

USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America - Flag Etiquette

In honor of Flag day (June 14, 2014), I've found some information and etiquette on properly displaying the 

Flag of the United States of America. 



 

She wants "mama" but it's "dada" to the rescue!!! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

He's trying!  Even though she says "mama" it's "dada" to the rescue - and gets stuck!!

Chick-fil-A Pay It Forward Chain Comes Full Circle

I love stories like this!  Cherie Miller, a local Florida woman, decided to pay for her meal and
the meal for the car behind her, at her local Chick-fil-A  causing a
massive chain reaction that lasted 18 cars. It eventually ran full
circle, when Miller went back to pick up her son's chicken nuggets and
the meal was paid for. She continued her original action and the trend
lasted another 20 cars!!! I think this is sooooo cool!  Let's try it today - Pay it forward somewhere and see what happens!!

Forget alcohol - Drink away your problems with this!!

Instead of "Drowning your sorrows" or "drinking away the depression" with alcohol - thy these drinks to alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety.  My fav, the  Dark Chocolate Shake! Not only will your taste buds thank you but so will your brain and your body!  Gonna remember this the next time I feel sad! 

Getting a new puppy soon? Try telling your kids THIS way!!

Awww - now THIS is how you tell your child you're getting a new puppy! Love her reaction!

The Singing Nun from Italy!!

Talk about having a marvelous talent and using it for God's glory!  Listen to this "Singing Nun" from Italy who WON the entire competition, The Voice Italia 2014.....this is her blind audition! Amazing!!

Homeless Dog Gets a Makeover

Makeovers aren't just for humans!!

Habits to Have to be Happy!

So my girlfriend Robin Rock told me about this list from MindBodyGreen.com that "Happy" people do and may not realize it....of course I had to check it out! ;)  The one that surprised both of us - they put themselves first! Frankly I would have thought they would put other people before themselves but the rationale behind it makes sense.  And they're thankful for rejection and don't worry about money!  Check out the other habits happy people have and see how many you are doing!  

Phil Collins LIVE - at a Miami Middle School!

I would have loved to see him perform this live but I'll settle for the video! Here's the article by David Onda...and the video too!

Phil Collins; Collins performs at school (Photos: Thomas Niedermueller/Getty, YouTube)

Phil Collins has not performed a live show since
2010, but the Genesis frontman recently returned to the stage… to
perform with a middle school band.


The 63-year-old singer, who announced his retirement due to health
issues in 2011, made a surprise appearance at the Miami Country Day
School’s spring music concert, where he performed “In the Air Tonight”
and “Land of Confusion” with his son’s band.


“I was nervous, because I’ve been doing this all my life, but it’s
still, ‘How good could it be? How good could it be tonight?’” Collins
said after taking the stage. ”And all of these kids came up to me
yesterday and were very, very pleasant, very, very nice, very polite,
and they all made me feel like part of the band. I even dressed in black
and white. They’re a bunch of great kids, and they’re sounding very
good tonight.”


Collins reportedly gave the performance at the request of his 13-year-old son Nicholas, who accompanied his dad on the drums at the concert. Nicholas, who is one of the singer’s two children with third wife Orianne Cevey, also presented his dad with a document making him an honorary member of the Miami Country Day Radio Ensemble.

Eat these foods to lower your cholesterol and age more gracefully.

If you've listened to me on B103fm.com, you know I'm a health nut!  Trying to do and eat all things healthy...and trying to age gracefully!  (Trying being the operative word here!)  There's a lot of talk about cholesterol lately and I've found 10 foods, according to Dr. Oz, that can help lower your cholesterol and help us age more gracefully? Plus they taste great!  Blueberries, Almonds and Chocolate - I'm all for that!!

Now THIS is a proposal!

This happened this past December - and I'm sure they will remember it forever!!! 

 [VIDEO] Justin Timberlake Helps Fan Propose to Girlfriend in His his Louisville Concert - YouTube

Ways to save gas money this summer

Filled my car up over the weekend and almost fainted from sticker shock!  Found these ways to save gas money this summer and believe me, I'm gonna try them out!  Now I did know about parking in the shade (gas evaporates faster in the sun) but I didn't know about filling your gas tank up on Wednesday or Thursday mornings!  Check out the other tips and save some money!!

Twinkies and Yogurt...in the same category?!

I love yogurt, always have....and loved the convenience of having the fruit already cut up in the cups. (Yeah, I like the shortcuts too!)  But this gave me a jolt - to find out that some healthy-sounding yogurts are loaded with as much sugar content as a Twinkie!  Yikes!  I'll be looking a lot closer at my labels now!

Who knew?! You've Been Using Aluminum Foil Wrong!

The "Crazy Russian Hacker" is at it again - showing us what we've been doing wrong all this time with Aluminum Foil and Plastic wrap!  Who knew?!  So watch, learn and as he says "let's shake it up".

Beautiful a capella hymn performed in a train station - Wow!

I love A Capella songs and this train station in Iceland seems to be made just for singing...take a listen to these 6 talented singers taking full advantage of the station...It's hauntingly beautiful!

Friends Forever - Mr. G and Jellybean

Friendships come in all forms....just like Love!

Easy ways to soothe sunburns.

Summertime usually means suntans....and sunburns!  When you don't have Aloe around, you might try some of these remedies to cool the heat! The best way to deal with sunburns is to just not to get them!  Stay safe this summer! Here some easy ways to soothe sunburns.

Coffee does so much more than wake you up!!

Coffee lovers - did you know your favorite drink does much more than get you going in the morning?!  Did you know that you can use the grounds to exfoliate your skin?  Or Repel Bugs?  Or Repair furniture scratches?  (that one I DID know about!!) Or how about using it to make your hair shine!  Be careful if you are a blond however, as it may darken your hair!  Read about the Uses for Coffee.  Who knew coffee was so GOOD for you?!!

It's a Salad you Can't Stop Eating!

My girlfriend made this salad for her family over the weekend and it was gone in a snap!!  It's SO easy and according to Kathy, REALLY GOOD!  I may have to try this special  Salad you can't stop eating sometime soon...I'll let you know how it goes - or you can let ME know if you try it first!!

Yummy SKINNY potato salad!

If you're like me, a picnic isn't a picnic without potato salad!!  My girlfriend told me about this website called "hungry girl" that had an awesome potato that was "skinny" - the secret is to replace some of the potato with cauliflower and adding greek yogurt!  PLUS she adds Bacon! Wanna try it out - here's the Bacon 'n Dill Potato Salad  recipe!

Memorial Day grilling tips

Memorial Day always means cookouts and grilling...and it always brings up the age-old question: Which is better for grilling - gas or charcoal?!  Well whatever you choose, Eatingwell,com has 13 of the Best Grilling Tips

for any chef, including how to keep your food from sticking to the grill, safety tips and marinating advice.

10 Tips for a Sucessful Garden

This warm weather makes me itch to plant veggies!  I like starting from seed although I do cheat a bit with tomato plants!  Found some secrets to getting your garden off to a great start! Check out these 10 Tips for Successful Planting and Happy Gardening!

Paint brush marks - GONE!

Don't you just hate seeing the brush strokes on a wall or cabinet you just painted?  Or have the paint seep underneath that blue tape you put on for protection?  Found a great tip - well, a LOT of great tips for painting from Cyndy Aldred with The Creativity Exchange.  Did you know that when you add a paint conditioner to your paint it
prevents brush marks? Who knew! Check out her other painting tips here.  Guess what we may be doing this weekend! ;)

Surprise Graduation speech from Sandra Bullock.

OK, now THIS is a graduation speech I would have remembered!  Listen to what Sandra Bullock told a New Orleans Grade School.....how can you NOT love her!   Thanks for the "lessons" Sandy!

Claire hates the song from "Frozen"

She just does NOT like that song!

How 9 Beagles react to seeing Sunshine & Grass for the 1st time.

How would you react to seeing sunshine and feeling grass for the first time?  Probably like this!!



This video might just melt your heart. These 9 beagles, identified
only by a number and subjected to lab tests their entire lives, were
rescued in Nevada by the Beagle Freedom Project in May 2014. And in this
emotional video, you can witness the first time they feel a gentle
human touch, the first time they see daylight or feel grass beneath
their paws.


And right around the 4:45 mark, watch one of them dogs tentatively,
skittishly reach out for a treat from a hand extended in friendship and
love. It’s a heartbreaking, heartwarming scene. Watch and let your
friends know about the amazing work done by the Beagle Freedom Project.

Cat trick Nehemiah needs to learn!

Wish Nehemiah would learn THIS trick!

Saving money to "Hide the Grey"

When you reach a certain age ladies the "grey" comes in - and it becomes a necessity...and an expensive one!   Now mind you, I love my hairdresser but this would definitely save me some money!   This is the Best New Way to Color Your Hair - would you use this? I'd love to know if you do! 

High school & the Rubik's Cube - the best Valedictorian speech ever!

My girlfriend Robin shared this with me - and I have to share with you!  I know we've heard our share of graduation speeches but this one takes the cake!  See why high school is like a Rubik's Cube.

Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake - WOW!!

I gotta tell you I loved Michael Jackson - and I do love Justin Timberlake...as the actor and the singer.  But with this video, Justin has just gone up a few more notches in my book!  Watch the new video of Michael Jackson's song  Love Never Felt So Good with Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake and enjoy!

Tips to make those Lilacs last longer!

This is the time of year I love - when the lilacs start blooming!  I love to cut them and fill my house with their wonderful aroma. Problem is how to keep them fresh for more than just a few days! I've used the soda in the water trick and that helps some but here are 8 Pro Tricks that make flowers last longer.  I'm gonna try the one with the vinegar and see if that works...here's to my house smelling like lilacs!

If your dog could talk, Would he/she say this??

Hey found this on iTunes (thanks to a head's up from Ray)...It's a song that's sung from the dog's perspective.

Brendan Biondi's "Song My Dog Wrote" is catching on with dog lovers everywhere.  Like I said, it's on iTunes and half the proceeds will go to Hero Dogs. (Service dogs for America's injured/disabled Veterans.)

Watch these boys rap about Anti-bullying - from Britains Got Talent.

These boys are wonderful with a great message...all about Anti-Bullying!

Lose weight with these 4 high-calorie foods!!

With swimsuit season almost here, along with weddings and graduations, a lot of us are trying to lose a few pounds!  Including me!  I love to eat but found  4 High-Calorie Foods that Can Help You Lose Weight  It's definitely worth trying so those foods are going on my shopping list today!

Predict your risk of a Heart Attack with this One Test!!

Just yesterday a friend asked me what the sypmtoms were for a heart attack - he was afraid he might be having one. Not only did I tell him the symptoms and to call his doctor right away but also told him about a test that measures his "Calcium Score"...According to the experts, this is the single best predictor for a heart attack. A CT scan can give you that number!  Here's more information on what that score should be and information you should discuss with your doctor.

Happy Happy Dog - after being rescued!!

Watch & listen to the dog as she realizes she's being rescued! Love this!

These Animals are "HAPPY"!!

What a great video - guaranteed to make you smile!!



Dogs And A Cat Dance To 'Happy' By Pharrell Williams

Wow, dinner in under 10 minutes!!

After a long day at work, or coming home from a vacation, you gotta love a recipe that puts dinner on the table in minutes and is super easy!!  Thanks to Oprah.com, here are 13 recipes that are super-quick to make! My favorite? Spaghetti with Garlic & Olive Oil. Cook the pasta, drain and then toss with 10 cloves of sauted garlic, grated Parmesan, a
generous amount of freshly ground black pepper and chopped parsley.Viola! Dinner is served!   Check out the other 12 recipes here.

Look Up and Shut Down

Oh soooo true - so let me post this video for you to watch and then let's both "Look Up".

Improve your Memory with these tricks!

 Lately I've been a little more forgetful than usual!  I'm associating it to a lack of sleep and the stress of last week's Easter preparations! I did a little searching and found that altering my daily habits just a "little bit" can help my memory!  Getting just one more hour of sleep (meaning going to bed earlier!) or just one more cup of coffee (really!!) can keep your memory sharp for years to come!  For a few more EASY ideas on improving your memory -  just click Here

Ideas for Leftover Hard-Boiled Eggs

 Ok, so I've already made deviled eggs and egg salad out of the hard boiled Easter eggs...but what else?!  I found a post from Kayln Denny that gives 10 new ideas of what to make From Leftover Hard-Boiled Eggs
I must admit, I have never thought of these - especially using hard-boiled eggs in cookies! (that's number 10!)

Green is Universal - Tips for Earth Day/Week!

Green is Universal

Yes - it is and there are many things we can do today and all week long for Earth week.....and turning off lights is only ONE idea!  Doing your laundry in cold water is another!  What other things do YOU do to conserve energy?

Earth Day 2014 ideas

 Earth Day 2014 - what can YOU do to help your city/town be more "earth-friendly"? Click here for some great, easy ideas!   Green Cities Campaign

Most Common Forgotten Expenses in our Budgets!

Now that Tax season is over, it's easier for me to see where my money went last year and really get my budget under control!  However I find there are some sneaky things that keep cropping up that I don't always plan for and here are a few of the  Most Common Forgotten Expenses that you Forget to Budget for!

Lyrid meteor shower coming on Earth Day

 Earth Day is April 22, 2014 and this year we get a light show from Mother Nature to kick it all off! Here's the details on this cool event!

Lyrid meteor shower coming on Earth Day

Easter Jelly Bean Poem

Do you fill the plastic eggs with Jelly Beans?  Do you know you can tie in the Death and Resurrection of Jesus with Jelly Beans?  Just take a look at this  Easter Jelly Bean Poem

The link above has pictures - this poem, which is slightly different, does not!  Either way, Happy Easter!!

JELLY BEAN POEM:
Red is for the blood He gave...
Green is for the palms we waved..
Yellow is for the sun so bright...
Orange is for the edge of night...
Black is for the many sins made...
White is for the grace He gave
Purple is for the hour of sorrow..
Pink is for the Resurrection, a new tomorrow.

Garage Sale Season is here!

 Last weekend as I was driving to the grocery store, I saw it!!  The first Garage Sale sign of the season!   I've got lots of items to sell and can hardly wait to set up my own garage sale - my hubby can't wait either!  Besides Garage sales here are a few of the Best Places To Sell 8 Popular Household Items 

Easter Basket ideas for Teenagers

Easter is almost here - and while the little kids may enjoy Easter egg hunts and the Easter basket surprises from the "Easter Bunny", the older kids - the teenagers who know everything - still like Easter baskets too (though they won't let on that they do!)  If you're stuck for some ideas, check out this link for Teenage Easter Basket Ideas.

My parents ALWAYS made a point of putting something special in my basket while still keeping the "Bunny" mystery alive for my siblings!  Thanks Mom and Dad!  Happy Easter!

The best time of your life happens in Midwest Schools!

With High School graduations around the corner and college acceptance letters going out, I thought I'd share this with you!  I'm a product of a "Midwest College" and yes, I agree with a number of these!  And I wouldn't have traded those years for anything!  So here's  9 Reasons Why Going To College In The Midwest Will Be The Best Time Of Your Life

Fly Southwest and get a Comedy Routine too!

Now THIS would keep my attention!  I think I'm gonna fly Southwest next time and really listen to the speech!

WATCH: Southwest Airlines flight attendant keeps passengers happy with hilarious safety speech  - NY Daily News

How to Do the Cup Song (with Pictures)

I play the "Cups" song from Anna Kendricks on the radio and people ask me if I can do it - YES I can!! And now YOU can do!  Here's the video I watched (over and over and over!) that shows you how to do it! Have fun!

How to Do the Cup Song: 30 Steps (with Pictures)

This Little Boy Stole the Show

 Ok ladies - this one is for you!!  Guys, you might want to watch and get a few pointers or new moves!

Watch his moves as he steals the show!

Lunar Eclipse To Bring 'Blood Moon' On April 15, 2014

I have never really seen a "Blood Moon" but I'm about to - and if I miss it tonite, I know I'll have 3 more chances over the next year and a half to see one!  Do you know what I'm talking about??!!  Watch this video and I know you'll be watching for the Blood Moon too!!

 Lunar Eclipse To Bring 'Blood Moon' On April 15 (VIDEO)


 

Laugh alert! Listen to this conversation!

This is just a precious video that will have you laughing out loud!  Listen closely to the conversation this dad is having with his one-year-old son!  Enjoy!

Wish I had her energy!!

Have you ever thought about doing a "Ground Hog Day" experiment...this guy recorded his daughter at the same time every Saturday morning for 3 months!!  Wish I had her energy every morning!!

Kids And Their Brilliant, Hilarious Answers

Art Linkletter said it best - "Kids say the darndest things"....and they answer questions quite nicely too! Enjoy!



Kids And Their Brilliant Answers To Test Question - LOL These Kids Are Hilarious

Dance Away the Pounds

My girlfriend and I just went to this new class - I thought it was super fun because it had DANCING involved!

I went just to get a little more exercise but she went to help her lose weight!  Who knew that you could lose not only pounds but inches by dancing?!  I do now - and you do too! Want to know more? Click her to see  How to Lose 10 Pounds by Dancing

Fear of a Car Wash - Heartwarming!

Is there a name for a Fear of Car Washes?  I haven't found one but I did find a video of a little girl who's reaction to the car wash will warm your heart!  Enjoy!

David Letterman Announces His Retirement from the Late Show

See it firsthand...

Quick, Easy Meatless meals with 5 Ingredients!

 Friday nite means Meatless meals - at least now during Lent. I found some quick, easy and YUMMY recipes that only use 5 ingredients!  My kind of meals! 

 

Click here for Quick and Easy Vegetarian Dinners with just 5-ingredients

April and Arbor Day - for most states!

This month is the month most states celebrate Arbor Day - the day that celebrate  the signing of an Arbor Day proclamation.  Each state has their own date but the majority falls in April....so celebrate and Plant a state tree!  Illlinois's tree is the White Oak....do you know what state has what tree?  Click on the following link and find out!

Arbor Day By State By Date

THIS gives you Streak-free windows!!

Was reading my friend Robin's blog yesterday and she was talking about the secret to streak-free windows...it's Jet Dry!!  Wow, who knew?!!  Just mix a little Jet Dry with a liquid detergent in water then rinse off your windows with the garden hose!  The recipe is from the blog "Made From Pinterest".  Streak-free windows     from Jet Dry, Wow!  Gonna try it this year!

Decorah Eagle Cam with a Live Feed and More

Living on the river gives me an opportunity to see a lot of wildlife - birds specifically.  Just a few days ago I saw my first Bald Eagle!!  He (or she) was magnificent! I remembered the site in Decorah Iowa that had a camera focused on an Eagle's nest - I found it online and want to share it with you.  Beware, once you watch it you'll be hooked! 

 Decorah Eagle Cam 2014 Live Feed, Alerts, and More

Yikes! Throw these out Now!

May not feel like it temperature-wise but calendar-wise it's time for Spring Cleaning!  I've got lots to do according to this list - especially #6 with my spices!!

Spring cleaning! 10 things you should throw out right now - TODAY.com

Kirby's first time in - SNOW!

I felt like this EARLIER this winter but not anymore - however this STILL makes me smile!  Its the first time Kirby has ever seen snow!

And I thought these were GOOD for me...

Pretty interesting - and I thought I was choosing the things that were good for me and my family - like trail mix and nut butter! Check out this list from Dr. Oz... 10 Things you think are Good for you but are NOT

Eat more Veggies!!

So you've heard the saying "An Apple a day keeps the Doctor away"...it
might be more appropriate to say "An apple AND Carrots a day keeps the
doctor away.", at least according to this study!  So like your mom
always told you - eat your veggies!! 

Study: Eat 7 servings of fruit, veggies daily

April Fool’s Day surprises- New & Old

I love April Fools Day - not only is it my great nephew Collin's birthday but I love the pranks people pull!  Here are a few cute ones for you to enjoy!  Happy April Fools Day!!


Video: Fox 13 Weatherman gets April Fool’s Day surprise | FOX13Now.com



Here are a few more memorable April Fools Day hoaxes throughout the years!

 Happy April Fools' Day: 6 memorable hoaxes

It's Opening Day of BASEBALL!!

SO happy today is here - it's Opening Day of Baseball - which means
Summer is getting closer!!  Want to see how your teams are stacking up
this season?  Click on the link below and "Let's Play Ball!"

 How the Boys of Summer Stack Up | 2014 MLB Team Previews

7 Things You Can Do NOW to Get Ready For Bikini Season

Oh I need the help! After hibernating all winter, I'm ready to shed the heavy clothes and get out the summer gear...but I'm not too thrilled about getting out the swimsuit just yet!  What about you?  Here are 7 Things You Can Do NOW to Get Ready For Bikini Season.

Pizza crust made out of - canned salmon?!

 Ran across this recipe on one of my girlfriend's blogs, and I gotta tell you it looks pretty interesting!!  Pizza crust made out of salmon!  Might be a big hit for your meatless dinner tomorrow!  Let me know if you try it!

Canned salmon for the pizza crust?

Are You a Food Addict? Dr. Oz Quiz

Believe it or not it's a real thing - being a Food Addict! The Dr. Oz show gave a quiz, only 5 quick questions to help you sort it out....(I may be in trouble, my answer to #1 was yes!)

Click here for the Food Addict quiz

Life Advice From Women Who've 'Been There'

You know sometimes we all need a little advice from someone who's "Been there"....recently some younger women asked the older ones what advice they could give one life in general.  Gotta tell you, there's alot of wisdom in these words!



8 Pieces Of Life Advice From Women Who've Been There

2014 NCAA March Madness Printable Brackets

 March Madness is going on now...and if you're like me, you need a little help in keeping up with who's in and who's out now!  Here's a great printable bracket to use to keep track!  Good Luck!



2014 NCAA March Madness First Four Men’s Division 1 Basketball Printable Brackets - bracket-ncaa.pdf

"Let It Go" being sung in Character Voices!!

Talk about Talented!!! There have been a zillion versions of this song from the movie "Frozen" but I think this one takes the cake!  You'll be saying "WOW" when it's all over!  Enjoy!

Who's the winner - Puppy vs Crab

It's a cute video that will make you smile!!  Enjoy!!

Wasn't what they expected....

They weren't expecting this reaction - but it's really cool! The Swiss/German band BOY made their debut performance in the US in New York City. Take a look at what happens when the crowd starts to sing
along...

)

Cute Alert - Baby Elephant and Bathtime!

This "baby" LOVES his bathtime - I'm sure I see a smile here!!

Nothing like Dodging Potholes!!

Ok, Gotta talk about potholes for just a minute - they are the size of CRATERS here in the midwest with all the freezing and thawing!  It's like driving thru a minefield!  Well I don't want to mess up my tires or the suspension on my car so I did a little researching and found some tips on how to navigate in and around these "hole"y streets!  Hope it helps you too!

Ready for Winter to End? Prepare for Potholes

 

The 'Selfiest' cities in the world

If you watched the Academy Awards this year you know that Ellen took a "selfie"(a picture of herself and other stars) and posted it to Twitter, knocking out the site for awhile!  Well, Selfies are here to stay and Time Magazine ranked the top 100 cities worldwide in Selfies...take a peek and see if you made the list!! You might be surprised!

Top 5 'selfiest' cities in the world

Artificial sweeteners may be harming your body!!

Dr. Oz says "Artificial sweeteners may be harming you by changing the way your body
processes sugar, making you much more susceptible to overeating. As a
result of increased public awareness, food companies are now using
obscure names to hide these sweeteners in their products"  That's Scary!!  Use this list
to avoid them: http://bit.ly/1cJsOqq

My dog Justice turned 12 - this spot got me - thanks Chevy.

I saw this commercial and thought about my boy Justice who just turned 12....it's gonna melt your heart!

Ways to Stretch Your Cell Phone Battery's Life

You know it seems like I'm ALWAYS running out of juice on my cellphone.  Did some searching to find out what I could do to add more "life" and found this - some interesting things I never thought of, like changing the brightness of my screen! 



Ways to Stretch Your Cell Phone Battery's Life

 

Truth Behind the book "Love You Forever"

You know the story - you probably have the book -  Robert Munsch’s children’s book 'Love You Forever' - it's one of the most popular children's books and the inspiration behind it may not be what you think...read on!

Truth Behind Love You Forever


 

Can't Sleep? Try stretching first!

You know how sometimes you are just SOOO tired but when you crawl into bed you can't sleep?  Maybe you should get right out of bed and try some deep stretching before you climb back in!  Hey it can't hurt! :)

Yoga

 

Just one more reason to Microchip your dog

My hubby showed me this video on FB the other day (yes, you can see it on my Facebook page too!) and it made me think of our girl Gabby...who could be a sister to this dog!  I'm so glad she's microchipped!

Lunchables & snacks that aren't just for kids!

You know, sometimes the kids have the best snacks!   I love to buy the fruit rollups (I think those are soooo much fun to eat!) and actually there's a bunch of yummy snacks that are geared to kids but that we adults should actually look into.  I mean after all, we're all kids at heart, right?!  :)


Lunchables for adults

 

Healthier Frozen dinners!

March is National Frozen Food Month....and I gotta tell you I love frozen dinners!  My favorite is Amy's Pot Pies...mmmmm!  You'll find a lot of other great frozen dinners from Amy's usually in the organic or vegetarian section.  I know there's a lot of "TV dinners" that aren't as healthy as they could be and I came across this and thought I'd share!  Better HEALTHIER frozen dinners!  Quick, easy and healthy - MY kind of dinner!



Forget TV dinners! Try these flavorful, healthier frozen dishes - TODAY.com

7 Meatless Recipes for Lent

This is it - the season of Lent, the time to give up meat!  The time that vegetarians rejoice as we can share our favorite recipes with the "meat-eating public"!  Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent are to be "meat free" and that includes beef and chicken, because abstaining from meat is a way to show sacrifice to God - and traditionally meat was a luxury!  So this is the perfect time to make that vegetarian meal you've always wanted your family to try - and if you need some more ideas, take a peek here! 



7 Meatless Recipes for Lent | The Daily Meal

Creative ideas to Give up for Lent

Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent, the time to give something up...just as God gave up His son over 2000 years ago. So, the question remains "What should I give up?" Need some creative ideas? My friend Robin turned me onto the site called "Life Teen.com". I love their suggestions! One of my favorites?  Giving up convenience - Park at the very back of the parking lot!
 What to Give Up for Lent: 20 Weird Ideas - LifeTeen.com for Catholic Youth

KIDS REACT TO ... ROTARY PHONES!!

Oh my have we come a LONG way since I was a kid!!  We had one of these in the kitchen with a really long cord.  Thought we were "hot stuff" when we 'upgraded' to a Push-button phone!!  Enjoy!

Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe!

Ok, I told myself this was the year I was going to try to make a Mardi Gras King Cake - but where to start?  By finding a great recipe - and I found it here at King Arthur Flour's website.  Doesn't look too hard, just a little time consuming but hey, it's Mardi Gras, right?  Only comes once a year!  Wanna try it with me?  Here's the recipe!


King Cake: King Arthur Flour

7 Natural Remedies for Congestion Relief

 I do NOT like colds or stuffy noses!  It messes with my voicework and makes me sound "funny" on the radio - so, I've been drinking tea like crazy, eating alot of oregano and garlic and trying everything I can to "unclog" my nose!  Do you have that problem too?  Try some of these natural remedies I found....and trust me, they DO work!!


7 Natural Remedies for Congestion Relief - Congestion Relief - Everyday Health

Bayou Fun with Gumbo!

Mardi Gras - Love this time of year! Beads, Masks and Gumbo!  I love Gumbo, especially Shrimp!  I always try to make a big pot each year using a different recipe - have found many I like but this is a good one too!  Learned thru the years that the ROUX is what makes it!  I've learned thru trial and error, and lots of different recipes, that it takes time and concentration to get a good roux going!  So, here's to Roux and Gumbo! Enjoy!


Big Fun on the Bayou: Favorite Gumbo Recipes Article - Allrecipes.com

Celebrities Galore in Twitter Pic

It's the most talked about - no TWEETED - photo ever!!!  This one from
last nite's Oscars host Ellen DeGeneres with stars galore!!  I was lucky
enough to get in on the retweet fun before Twitter crashed!

And hey, if you want to get in on the fun - just retweet my tweet by clicking on the link below! (and don't forget to follow me!!) 



 




Liz Wylder Boyer (WOWbroadcasting) on Twitter

Mardi Gras Beads

It's almost time for Mardi Gras!!!  As a friend of mine said, "just keep calm and collect the beads - flashing is not necessary as there will be lots of others doing that!!"  Well, I have taken her advice and I have LOTS of beads - so come Fat Tuesday I'll be decked out, eating paczkis, King cake & crawfish etouffe, wearing my mask and celebrating before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday!  Party on!!



flickr.com Mardi Gras Beads, gotta lotta these over the years....love New Orleans at Mardi Gras!!!! or anytime for that matter

My German Shepherd Justice turns 12 today!

Happy Birthday to my Fur baby Justice - and his siblings who are still living! (I know for sure Marley and Lady and I think Mia, Max and Sabbath....Angel and Kaz have sadly passed away.)  12 years ago today I learned about whelping German Shepherd puppies - and even had one delivered in my hands in the back seat of my car at 3:05pm!!  Guess who THAT was - yup, Justice!!   Here's his "baby" picture with all his siblings...(the arrow is pointing to Justice.....)

(L-R: Ziggy, Mia, Max, Sabbath, Angel, Justice, Kaz and Lady)

And here's my boy now!  Happy 12th Birthday Sir Justice Gabriel Boyer!  Love you!!

2014 Oscar Nominees for the 86th Academy Awards

 Ahh yes, this Sunday is the 86th Annual Academy Awards - but just WHO is up for What award?  Take a peek here - all the nominees are listed.  Can YOU pick the winner?   Good Luck!


academy awards 2014 - Google Search

Wizard of Oz turns 75!

It was and still is one of my favorite shows - The Wizard of Oz - and it's celebrating it's 75th Anniversary with a tribute planned at the Academy Awards on Sunday nite!  Love the fact that all 3 of Judy Garland's chlildren will be there together!  So, just click your heels together 3 times and say 'There's no place like home." 



‘Wizard Of Oz’ 75th anniversary tribute planned for Academy Awards - KGUN9.com

Short, Sexy - and Naturally Gray!

WOW -- this woman is brave!  Now I have short hair - and only my hairdresser knows the REAL color -but this woman is an inspiration for lopping off her long locks and going as short as she did!  Don't think I'm ready for this just yet...but we'll see!  :)

A Vending machine with...SALADS?!

I heard about this from a friend of mine and just HAD to see it for myself!!  It's in Chicago and it's a Vending Machine that doles out SALADS...and other healthy goodies!!!  Boy sure wish I would have had one of these in the past radio stations I worked at instead of spending my money on "Nutty Bars"!  Want more details? Here's the link!  Enjoy!


http://www.farmersfridge.com/

EASY Tips for Daily Exercise

February is Heart Health Month....AND it's the month we start sloughing off on our New Year's resolutions!  If one of your resolutions was to be more active or to work out more (like mine is!) and you find yourself getting back into the old routine you were in before where exercise was getting shoved down the line again....here are a few quick and easy things to do to get more exercise into our daily lives!   (My dog Gabby likes the first one on this list!)

 10 Tips for Daily Exercise -- Go Red For Women

Easy, Yummy REFRIGERATOR oatmeal!!

WOW, I gotta tell you I've been reading a lot about the heart-healthy effects of oatmeal.  Now, I like stone-ground oatmeal but I tend to load on the brown sugar, milk and rasions...and I get BORED with the same old thing!  Guess what, here's some fast, easy, REFRIGERATOR Oatmeal recipes that are really good!!  Banana Peanut butter and Mandarin Orange are my new favs!  Make them up ahead of time and then just "Grab and Go" with a heart-healthy breakfast!



8 New Refrigerator Oatmeal Flavors

Simple Valentine's Day Cards

I love Valentine's Day cards - but they're SO expensive to buy!  So this year I'm saving my pennies and making my own!  Was looking thru a Better Homes & Gardens magazine at the checkout line and thought "hey I can make those"...so got some decorations, looked on line and now am ready to make my own Valentine's day cards!


Simple Valentine's Day Card with Hearts

Frugal Valentine's Day Gifts

 Wow, talk about creative!  Was on the internet looking for some cute gift ideas for Valentine's day and came across a BUNCH of sites - but I really liked this one!  Gifts you can make  (ex: a Valentine's day love box filled with reasons why you love your special someone), gifts you can buy rather inexpensively (ex: flowers, perfume, photo frames), gifts you can share (ex: chocolate covered fruits, massages,)  - Oh the ideas that will flow! Enjoy!

Frugal Valentine's Day Gifts - Richmond.com: Arts + Entertainment

2014 NBC Olympics in Sochi Russia

I love the Olympics! Summer and Winter!  If you want to know all about what's going on in Sochi Russia and when, then keep this link handy!  I'm hoping to be singing in my living room the American National Anthem a LOT!  Go Team USA!!

NBC Olympics | 2014 NBC Olympics in Sochi Russia

Warning: Black Ice Ahead!

Old Man Winter sure has made traveling a bit difficult this year...covering most of the nation with snow and ice! Driving can be treacherous - and black ice is scary!  Take it from one who knows from experience...having had my truck spin in the middle of the highway and end up facing on-coming traffic after bouncing on the meridian! (by the way, I was okay only having a broken finger - the truck on the other hand was totaled!)

So, how do you deal with Black Ice?  Here's some information from State Farm...it's valuable.


Warning: Black Ice Ahead! – Auto Learning Center – State Farm