58~ Can you block a follower!?

Anyone know? You will notice the spammy follower on my list that I would like removed!!

57~ Don't get ripped off on firewood this year!

Soon, we will be scurrying about like squirrels, cutting firewood and storing it for those cold winter nights use! To make sure you are not paying more for comfort- know what a full cord and a face cord are....
*I fell for this one when we first moved into our home two years ago, but NOW? God help the person who tries this one on me! Put on your mathematicians hats on for a moment....


A FULL cord equals 128 cubic feet, usually found as 4'x4'x8' -however can also be 2'x4'x16 8you get the picture....

A FACE cord is stacked where the FACE is 4'x8' BUT the depth is not the 4' measurement.

A FACE cord that equals 3'x4'x8' is only 75% of a full cord!!

56~ Cafe Latte recipe

This can be done for @ .20 cents a cup, depending on coffee used and coupon use, either way it is pennies compared to the .....chain....

Microwave 1/2-3/4 cup of milk for 1-2 minutes, just mix with 1/2 cup of strong coffee (rocket fuel, as I call it!) ...ZZZZZZZZZIIIIPPPPPPPP!.....

55~ Musty Books?

Get rid of the stink! Put sheets of newspaper in between some pages, put the book along with some crumpled newspapers inside of a box. The newspapers will absorb the odor....

54~ Sneaky cat video-funny

I could watch this all day!!
SNEAKY CAT

53~ Homemade facial recipe

Soak 1 cup dried apricots in water until softened. Puree in blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons skim milk powder. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.~By Rachel Paxton

52~Laundry pretreatment recipe

1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup ammonia
1/2 cup laundry soap -see post #8 for homemeade recipe
1/2 cup water
Keep in a spray bottle-spray and launder as usual...

51~Chinese Minced Chicken Wrap- recipe

This is a keeper! On one of our misadventures we ended up at a local farmers market and had the great pleasure of enjoying a sample of their featured recipe...Chinese Minced Chicken Wraps or Saang Choy Bao as it is called...the girls loved it and I HAD to get the recipe being that it is so healthy, crunchy and yummy! It looks like a time consuming recipe, which I am NOT a fan of, but really, it took about 30 minutes, start to finish- give it a try!!

***TO lessen the cost I used thawed ground turkey meat from Aldi @ 1.19 a pound...the mushrooms I used the old standard or portabella....I have tried teriyaki in place of soy sauce....used a regular 'ol onion finely chopped....used black pepper instead of white...canola or olive oil in place of the peanut oil...and we are still alive! We make this so often and when I am not running to the store for a special onion- I have used what I've got- it is impossible to not have a tasty meal with this!***

**for you Lehigh Valley local peeps~the Springtown Farmers Market www.SpringtownFarmersMarket.org **

Recipe by Patrick Bowersock

Chinese Minced Chicken Wraps-serves 4

1 pound ground chicken
20 cashews-chopped rough
3 mushrooms-chopped fine (shitake suggested, any will do)
3 scallions- 2 fine chopped, green part of 1 julienned
4 teaspoons soy sauce
1 Tablespoon Oyster sauce
1Tablespoon rice wine or dry Sherry
1 teaspoon of cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon sugar
salt/ white pepper~to taste
2 teaspoons peanut oil
3 cloves garlic-fine chopped
16 iceberg lettuce leaves
Asian Chile sauce -to taste

Put chicken-cashews-mushrooms-chopped scallions in bowl.
Combine/mix- soy sauce-oyster sauce-wine-cornstarch-sugar-salt and pepper in a bowl, Pour over chicken mixture and toss- Let marinate for 15 minutes.

Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat, add garlic and cook for 10 seconds, add chicken mixture. Cook, stirring until browned. That was easy! You are done!
Spoon some of the mixture onto lettuce leaf, garnish w/julienned scallion and a bit of chile.

I have not made the following, but can accompany the above recipe, it creates a sauce that is frequently used to accompany pan-fried Chinese dumplings...



PB Chang's sauce
Mix together 2 teaspoons of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger. Add 2 tablespoons of water. Microwave for 30 seconds. Although this sauce is fine on it's own, to replicate the PF Changs sauce, mix this sauce with 1 Tablespoon of Chinese mustard and 1 teaspoon Asian Chile sauce.

50~ You CAN freeze eggs!

Whoda' thunk it!? You can freeze eggs, but before you throw a bunch of cartons in the freezer-there is some prep work needed.... I have not tried this yet, but imagine freezer eggs would be best in baking or for future scrambled eggies!
I shop at Aldi a lot so the large eggs are nonexistent and will be trying 6 eggs ;)


Lightly mix 1 cup of raw eggs (about 5 large eggs)
with 1 teaspoon of salt-store in an airtight container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator - will keep for up to 6 months! Ratio* 3 tablespoons of thawed egg mixture equals one large
(non Aldi) egg......

49~Funky Monkey Healthy Organic Snacks Giveaway

Funky Monkey Snacks are gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, certified Kosher-Parve and come in four funky flavors:
Bananamon® (freeze-dried banana and cinnamon)
Carnaval Mix™ (freeze-dried banana, pineapple, apple, papaya and raisins),
Jivealime® (freeze-dried pineapple and lime juice), and
Purple Funk® (freeze-dried banana and açai – pronounced ah-sigh-EE)

To enter, visit Saving in Akron

48~ quote

"The world has enough for everyones need, but not enough for everyones greed" ~Mahatma Gandhi

47~Hells Kitchen...

Robert, poor poor Robert~ I feel for the guy, he needs to get himself in better shape and win the damn show already!! He is so funny and obviously has the talent-hope he makes it back!

46~Win a facial cream from Pangea Organics from thedailygreen.com!!

6 Winners! We are giving away facial creams from Pangea Organics.
Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/sweepstakes/9721#ixzz0Od8VBbXv

Pangea Organics, ecocentric skincare whose facial cream is formulated to hydrate and moisturize with the safest ingredients for your delicate face.
(Total Value: $36.00)Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/sweepstakes/9721#ixzz0Od8dWzWi

45~ Pure Sprouts- and other Organic Food Delivery

For those of you not in the Lehigh Valley, PA -search, "Organic Food Home Delivery" to find a host near you.....I am working on a list below......

Pure Sprouts Organic Delivery is the Lehigh Valley's answer to buying local, organic produce and other organic foods!

Ordering online from Pure Sprouts takes just minutes and we deliver to your door (for free!), saving you time to enjoy doing what you love. We buy our fruits and veggies from local farms as much as possible, align ourselves with like-minded local businesses, and also carry certified organic produce from elsewhere. All our meat and dairy products are organically or sustainably raised by local farmers year round.
Our produce is of the highest quality, fresh, and competitively priced. You’ll love us and our food- try us out today!
Place your order by 8pm on Tuesday for this weekend's delivery!

PURE SPROUTS

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

California *NATIONWIDE DELIVERY****

TEXAS****Seattle,Portland,SanFrancisco,LosAngeles****NewYork,New Jersey***London****NATIONWIDE premade meals( WOW-these look good!)****NATIONWIDE

44~ HUH!?

In New Jersey, cabbage can't be sold on Sunday.

Buuuuaaaahahahahahahha- we are 10 minutes from the NJ state line, I think next Sunday I may drive a bit farther to food shop--heh heh - Dang, that sounds like a Tom Green type thing!
I could do a citizens arrest on the clerk! .......

43~ Homemade Ice pack recipe-~*~Headbangers Unite~*~

My girls are headbangers and knee annihilators, so we go through a lot of first aid items
( I think they are up to @ a $6 a week bandaid habit!) so I was forced to seek out this recipe for homemade ice packs- the fun slushy kind!!

Homemade Ice Packs Using Alcohol
1 cup rubbing alcohol
2 cups water
Freezer Bag (1 quart size)
Pour liquids into freezer bag, remove air and seal bag. Place bag seal side down into another ziploc freezer bag, remove air and seal that bag. Place in freezer and use (and reuse) when needed (nice and slushy!).
The suggestion of food coloring was also a keeper!



***there was some icy drama on the correct amounts, the above was the best ~according to me ;) so here is the link if you would like to compare...LINKY

42~ Win free groceries for a year!

Enter daily to win free groceries for a year!~~ from The New World Pasta family of brands,
"It Pays to Eat Pasta Sweepstakes!"


Grand Prize~$5,200 check
First Prizes~$200 check

ENTER HERE

Sweepstakes begins on 8/15/09 & ends 10/30/09. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C. 18 or older. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited.

41~ Stupid laws of Pennsylvania

*It is illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors.---guess what I'm doing tonight! ha ha

*You may not sing in the bathtub. ---my girls are hardened criminals!!

*A person is not eligible to become Governor if he/she has participated in a duel. ---damn, I have to step down!!


*Motorized vehicles are not to be sold on Sundays.----whoops


*You may not catch a fish by any body part except the mouth.---well, there goes the p*nis fishing tournament I was organizing!

40~ Did you know?

The names of the three wise monkeys?
They are:
Mizaru (See no evil)
Mikazaru (Kikazaru - Hear no evil)
Mazaru (Iwazaru - Speak no evil).
The fourth wise monkey is called Shizaru (Do no evil)

39~Overstock.com Family Bailout

$10,000 prize money is tax free!
One winner chosen each month of 2009.
One entry per day. Return daily to enter and increase your chances of winning!



Overstock.com Family Bailout

Shared via AddThis

38~ Childrens DHA in time for school!

Nordic Naturals Childrens DHA


Supports Brain Development, and Visual and Nervous System FunctionNordic Naturals Children's DHA is a small, chewable cod liver oil supplement flavored with strawberry essence. Children's DHA is a delicious way for children to supplement their diet with the essential brain nutrient, DHA. Molecularly distilled for purity, Children's DHA contains only naturally existing vitamins A and D.For children three years and older.

ORDER HERE or find it in your local health food store..



School is starting soon~ time to pump up the brain power!! My girls (7&10) have taken the Childrens DHA for a bit over a year now- I can tell the difference!

They seem to focus on their school work, and get better grades, when they are on it, (with less distraction).
Don't expect a miracle! BUT~ either way they are getting healthy ingredients in a tasty chewable they like! I tried one and personally, think they are .......not good.......but...... my girls LOVE them!


To read further on the benefits of Omega's and fish oil, visit OmegaResearch.com

37~ Homemade Soft pretzels* EASY RECIPE!!

We made sticks and small inch size nuggets-the kids report that they liked the nuggets better because they are softer...and of course, fun to eat!

They are definitely pretzel like, if you can overloook the non brown color- however these were a big hit dipped in mustard, as well as the kid concoction of melted cream cheese and butter! They did have the correct consistency (the pretzels-heh heh) and could be treated as the store bought type.

I absolutly plan on making these again, but may need to triple the recipe to have enough to freeze! The gobblers in our house ate them all.......

Soft Pretzels

1 package of yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 teaspoon salt
1tablespoon sugar
4-5 cups flour
Prezel salt (optional)

In a large bowl, combine water and yeast. Add sugar and salt, add flour until you have a stiff, plyable dough. Place on floured surface and put your kids to work- knead for 5-8 minutes. Shape as you like, just not too thick or it will burn and be raw in the middle! Brush with a beaten egg and sprinkle with salt-if desired.
Bake at 425 degrees for 5 minutes, or until golden brown. (ours took 10 minutes!)

36~ Buy local, buy organic

The following site has a state by state locator for farmers markets near you, as well as local farms and grocery co-ops to save you money.

We have Strawberry Acres (http://www.strawberryacres.com)
near us and go each year to pick our own apples!

Pumpkin season is coming too!
BUY LOCAL

35~Bought a new tent!

After being sore for a few days, after camping in the yard with the girls(post #25)
- I decided to splurge a bit, I got a great deal on a tent that we will ALL fit in- WITHOUT SCRUNCHING!!
They have some great deals and free shipping on Amazon....

Tent

34~How to Grow Asparagus | eHow.com

How to Grow Asparagus eHow.com

Shared via AddThis


I thought it was interesting, it takes three years to have a good crop to eat- thinking of starting NOW!...

33~ Fall is coming! Think warm beverages....

This is a kid friendly recipe for a twist on the old apple juice....

Spicy Apple Juice

Ingredients:

2 Cups Apple Juice

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon Red Hots

1teaspoon lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan, over low heat,

stirring until the redhots melt. Serve warm or it is yummy cold as well!

32~ Follow up from post #25....The phone is saved!!

Sanyo Katana II is the best phone EVER!!
Let me tell you @ this phone-twice now it has cheated death!!
..About a year ago, I accidentally put the phone in the washing machine (forgot it was in a pocket) -it went through he entire cycle, set to heavy load!!!!
Still ~ not knowing it was being assaulted, it went into the drier. By the time I realized what I had done, it had gone through the washer and 30 minutes in the drier! To add insult to injury, it fell out of the drier onto the concrete floor...


Being as cheap, er, frugal as I am, I decided that dang phone WAS going to work!! I wiped it off and took a hair drier to it-four hours later-it was working and I was calling everyone to tell them!!

It never rusted,(everyone said it would) and still works! After this last Saturdays phone bath-it took two days in a sealed Ziplock baggie with dessicant-but it works baby!! there is no damage,pictures still there, clear, as well as my contacts!

The lesson here is: if you want a reliable phone, go with a Sanyo Katana II and if you insist on bathing your phone-dessiccant in a baggie/hairdrier seems to work.

.....dessicant are those pesky little white packets labeled "Do not eat" that come in vitamin bottles, shoeboxes,bookbags etc. to keep them dry. (these are the places I frantically searched and found them)

31~ Mambo Sprouts

Mambo Sprouts is your one stop resource for healthy and organic living. We feature the latest natural health tips and healthy organic food product news and information. Discover articles on natural health & wellness and green living, healthy recipes and printable organic food coupons on your favorite healthy, natural and organic foods and products. Also don't forget to check out our Go Mambo! events, a free healthy & natural product sampling tour that travels across the country.

MAMBOSPROUTS.COM

This is a great site for your wallet AND health- there are many printable coupons, contests,healthy recipes and helpful articles...

30~ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda special offers

Register For Your Special Money Saving Offer

Register now and you’ll receive your special money-saving offer along with advance notification of upcoming ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda special offers, promotions, tips, recipes and other exciting news!

SUPER USES!...
*Septic Care
Regular use of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda in your drains can help keep your Septic System flowing freely. We recommend adding 1 cup of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda per week to help maintain a favorable pH in your Septic Tank.

*Antacid
Spicy food is yummy until it bothers the tummy. ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda is a safe and effective antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach and/or acid indigestion, when used as directed. Always refer to the ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda package for instructions. Learn more about how ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda works as an antacid.

* Facial Scrub and Body Exfoliant
Are you a fan of the self-tan? Before applying products that give you a ‘glow’, give yourself an invigorating, yet gentle, facial and body scrub with ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda. Removing dead skin cells will leave your skin soft and smooth, perfect before application. Make a paste of 3 parts ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Rinse clean. Gentle enough for daily use!

*Hair Care
For locks that rock, remember to shake it. Sprinkle a small amount (quarter-size) of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly. The ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable

*Hand Cleanser
Give yourself a hand with ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda. Forget the harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with a paste of 3 parts ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to 1 part water, or 3 parts ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to your liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean. Your skin will feel softer too!

...you can find many more tips on their website, click below...

ARM & HAMMER

29~Free Caffeinated Soap

Free Caffeinated Soap
for our first 4,000 subscribers
FREE SOAPCaffeinated SoapHow about an alternative to your morning cup o’ joe that you have to be naked to enjoy? Well here you go, peppermint-scented caffeinated soap! Jump in your morning shower and suds up and you’ll get a bit of caffeine right through your skin served up with a nice therapeutic peppermint aroma. You can start getting your daily caffeine fix before you’re even dressed! And there’s a bonus… topically applied caffeine is reported to be effective in helping reduce the risk of skin cancer as well as in lessening the appearance of cellulite.

Terms & Conditions: We take great precautions to keep the information you share with us private. You must be aged 18 or over to request or send a free sample. Please allow 3-5 weeks for delivery. Only one sample per household will be provided.

28~Queen Latifah Movie Extras for a day

Casting Call For Nets Fans!
I am pleased to announce that me and Commonare filming a new romantic comedy about basketball called "Just Wright" which will feature cameos by Nets President Rod Thorn and a few Nets players. The producers are looking for true basketball fans to work as "extras" in the movie, and we would like to extend a special invitation to all Nets fans to attend an Open Call!
We will film at the IZOD Center on Wednesday, August 12th, Thursday August, 13th, and Friday, August 14th and are inviting men, women and children NON SAG only to join us. Extras can choose to attend any specific day or every date listed above. We expect to shoot each day from mid morning until night, and ask that you are available to stay the entire day if you wish to participate. Please feel free to share this invitation with a friend, but everyone must rsvp for themselves. We will provide exact information, including wardrobe and parking details, to everyone who is cast. Anyone chosen to participate will receive $79.75 for completion of 10 hours of work. Please do not show up unless you have been contacted by someone from casting.

Anyone interested in being an extra in this movie should send an email to fans@njnets.com no later than Wednesday, August 5th with the following information: - Name
- Age
- Phone number (home and cell)
- Email address
- Days available to shoot
- Can you receive text messages?
- Will you be able to travel to East Rutherford, NJ (must arrange your own transportation to shoot)
- Are you SAG (Screen Actor Guild)*?
- Are you a US Citizen or have a valid passport, Greencard, Work Visa? (Everyone must have a social security number)
- Please attach a recent candid picture of yourself (please make sure it is not too large)
We are very excited about this opportunity and hope to see you at the IZOD Center!
Sincerely,

Queen Latifah

* This is open to NON SAG only

27~Total Blueberry Pomegrante Cereal SAMPLE

FREE SAMPLE

26~Hells Kitchen!!

Fifteen minutes folks--get your boobs to the tube -Hells Kitchen starts!!!

25~Today..

Tent City baby!! ..note the jumping rope support because we couldn't find all the poles! ha ha ha

Today began, for me, with a very nutritious breakfast of Tylenol and coffee, after sleepingoutside in *KID* tents with my girls. I probably got about 4 hours of sleep (girls got more)because of countless hours of waking with the "what-if's"...what if a skunk decides this is the perfect place to crash for the evening? ..what if the girls really DID have food in their tents?...what if the girls or I get bitten by the *one* highly toxic and rare snipe beetle!? (we have all gone snipe hunting!) ...anything is possible, maybe there is a snipe beetle?...BUT,
As you can tell none of that occurred, we awoke sore and tired but I have to say I had a painfully good time!

....LATER in the day, we had lunch with G'pa (my dad/Grandpa is a name for old people!) and went to a local watering hole....no, not that kind...a local creek to cool off from this 90 degree humid weather. The girls got into the biggest mud fight I have seen yet! ...by the end of the day, I had fallen in, trying to retrieve a flip flop that was floating away from it's owner (my eldest-10)...FLASHFORWARD>>>>>

I am now with out a cell phone because OF COURSE I had it on me! This is the second time this phone has taken on water (another story for which I SHOULD have a commercial!) ...we will see if it survives this situation, if it does I should consider a Sanyo Katana II tattoo! ha ha --kidding mommy---

24~Alert* Mom-ism...

My 7 year old decided she wanted to create a beach in our yard....
I am always very supportive of creativity, but will have to think twice after this one!
She made a very cute little beach a few days ago and used corn starch and water as the sand. We played with it for a bit- (turns to solid if you squeeze it etc.)
fun fun- yada yada.....uh, as of now, we have been staying off of our porch all together, indoors is best- let me tell you, the smell.....that is coming off of that little innocent mixture of corn starch and water, could peel the skin off a carcass from a mile away!! DISPOSE OF CORNSTARCH AND WATER MIXTURES PROPERLY!!!

I am not sure how to get rid of it- I may have to excavate! ha ha

23~more funny pics...

moar funny pictures

22~Overstock.com Family Bailout

Overstock.com Family Bailout

Shared via AddThis

21~Tibetan Personality Test

This is not your standard personality test-there are 4 questions. A lot of thought goes into this, but it is truly amazing! I do recommend you try it- the results could very well change the way you view others and your life...

Take the test

20~Hell's Kitchen starts Tuesday!!

Gear up! Tuesday starts a new season of Hell's Kitchen!!!
This season the grand prize winner will hold the Head Chef position at Araxi Restaurant in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada! This will be a huge accomplishment, as the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are scheduled to be held there...

We will be watching Tuesday 8-9pm EST/PT on FOX!!

We also watch his show, the F Word and Kitchen Nightmares on BBC, which are greatly entertaining shows.- We enjoy them mainly because they depict Gordon Ramsey out of the kitchen, showing his home and how nice he can be when stresses are minimal.....

You can enter to win a trip for two to Whistler, Canada, and MORE.... there are weekly prizes!

Enter the Bon Appetite, When Hell Freezes Over Sweepstakes