Friday, February 28, 2014

Animal Etched Ring: PETA Catalog

Animal Etched Ring: PETA Catalog



I ordered one of these rings in silver today.  I must admit that I am appalled at some of the stories I read here about abuse heaped upon innocent animals.  Please consider joining this worthwhile organization if only at the lower end of the scale.  Donations are tax deductible.

Animal Etched Ring: PETA Catalog

Animal Etched Ring: PETA Catalog



I ordered one of these rings in silver today.  I must admit that I am appalled at some of the stories I read here about abuse heaped upon innocent animals.  Please consider joining this worthwhile organization if only at the lower end of the scale.  Donations are tax deductible.

St. Patrick's Day is Right Around the Corner

Mark your calendars.  Monday, March 17th is St. Patrick's Day.  Who doesn't like meeting friends dressed in green and drinking green beer late into the evening?  I can tell you I've certainly partied with the best on this festive holiday although I have no Irish ancestry.  I have a very dear friend who is and I wanted to send her something special this year for her St. Patrick's Day table.  And here is what I found.


This pretty table runner.  Who wouldn't want this on their table with their corned beef and cabbage and shepherd's pie and Irish soda bread.  I have to admit, although I am not Irish, I love the food.


We carefully wrapped this in white tissue and mailed it today so that it will arrive in plenty of time before the holiday.


My friend is an avid animal lover and works diligently to find homes for abandoned animals.  I found a sheet of stickers with different depictions of dogs and placed this one on the tissue to hold it in place during shipping.  Of everyone I now, she will appreciate this the most.

St. Patrick's Day is Right Around the Corner

Mark your calendars.  Monday, March 17th is St. Patrick's Day.  Who doesn't like meeting friends dressed in green and drinking green beer late into the evening?  I can tell you I've certainly partied with the best on this festive holiday although I have no Irish ancestry.  I have a very dear friend who is and I wanted to send her something special this year for her St. Patrick's Day table.  And here is what I found.


This pretty table runner.  Who wouldn't want this on their table with their corned beef and cabbage and shepherd's pie and Irish soda bread.  I have to admit, although I am not Irish, I love the food.


We carefully wrapped this in white tissue and mailed it today so that it will arrive in plenty of time before the holiday.


My friend is an avid animal lover and works diligently to find homes for abandoned animals.  I found a sheet of stickers with different depictions of dogs and placed this one on the tissue to hold it in place during shipping.  Of everyone I now, she will appreciate this the most.

We're Making Ice Cream Treats for Baxter This Weekend

That's right.  My good friend, Gabija, posted this recipe on Facebook this morning.


Doesn't this sound delicious!  Now, we'll keep this just between us, but these sound delicious enough for me to try also.  Bananas, yogurt and peanut butter???  How can that be bad?  So Baxter can have an ice cream treat and so can I.  You know that I am into all natural treats for our doggies.  I make his bones in the Bake-A-Bone and now I will make these.  When I am short on time and I buy packaged treats, I buy only those Made in America.  Let's all give these a try this weekend and see how they turn out.

We're Making Ice Cream Treats for Baxter This Weekend

That's right.  My good friend, Gabija, posted this recipe on Facebook this morning.


Doesn't this sound delicious!  Now, we'll keep this just between us, but these sound delicious enough for me to try also.  Bananas, yogurt and peanut butter???  How can that be bad?  So Baxter can have an ice cream treat and so can I.  You know that I am into all natural treats for our doggies.  I make his bones in the Bake-A-Bone and now I will make these.  When I am short on time and I buy packaged treats, I buy only those Made in America.  Let's all give these a try this weekend and see how they turn out.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Calling Cards with Envelopes

During my time at The Paper Source on Monday perusing the stamp wall and getting ideas for Easter, I came across a display of blank business cards in a lavish array of colors.


In addition to the blank business cards, they have the matching #1 envelopes, which I think is a nice touch.


So I got a pack of the yellow envelopes.


 And a pack of the yellow cards.


Actually, the envelopes are more of a mustard and the cards are true yellow.  I know what happened; they didn't have any yellow envelopes so I picked the next closest color.  It works for me.

It is nice to present your card neatly tucked away in one of these little envelopes with the recipients name hand-written on the front.  Always make a nice presentation up front. Impressing clients and clients-to-be is crucial to your success.  Stand out from the crowd, but in a subtle way.  I have business cards for Welcome to Crest Avenue.  I think I will use these for Boxmania.  I can place one of these in the box of each order we mail.

Calling Cards with Envelopes

During my time at The Paper Source on Monday perusing the stamp wall and getting ideas for Easter, I came across a display of blank business cards in a lavish array of colors.


In addition to the blank business cards, they have the matching #1 envelopes, which I think is a nice touch.


So I got a pack of the yellow envelopes.


 And a pack of the yellow cards.


Actually, the envelopes are more of a mustard and the cards are true yellow.  I know what happened; they didn't have any yellow envelopes so I picked the next closest color.  It works for me.

It is nice to present your card neatly tucked away in one of these little envelopes with the recipients name hand-written on the front.  Always make a nice presentation up front. Impressing clients and clients-to-be is crucial to your success.  Stand out from the crowd, but in a subtle way.  I have business cards for Welcome to Crest Avenue.  I think I will use these for Boxmania.  I can place one of these in the box of each order we mail.

The Mirage

What a great shot this is of The Mirage in Las Vegas.


This is where my cousin works.  We had such a good time catching up after so many years, even if the time we spent together was brief.  I believe he is out of the country right now with his girlfriend.  He lives the life!! I can't wait to see him when we go back out there again next year.

The Mirage

What a great shot this is of The Mirage in Las Vegas.


This is where my cousin works.  We had such a good time catching up after so many years, even if the time we spent together was brief.  I believe he is out of the country right now with his girlfriend.  He lives the life!! I can't wait to see him when we go back out there again next year.

Our Follow-up On the Avocado Oil Dressing

In a word, ... bad.  Two words.  Really bad.  I was shocked at just how bad it was.  I even re-read the recipe, threw out the first batch I made, and then made a fresh batch on the off-chance I got something wrong the first time.  Nope.  It is not a good combination.  Which really shocks me because I would have thought this would have been taste-tested before they put it on the label.  Not good.


Here is what the recipe called for.



All of that sounded perfectly normal to me.  I was expecting a great new taste sensation.  Didn't happen.

Just because this recipe did not turn out as we expected does not mean that we are giving up on avocado oil. There are plenty of other ways to use this most beneficial oil and we will be looking into those way.  We will start with this website (http://healinggourmet.com/article/avocado-oil-the-healthiest-cooking-oil-youre-not-using-yet-853).  Give this article a read and I think you will be amazed, as I was, at all the beneficial properties of avocado oil.  Really good for diabetics, like me.  Please check out this site.  I think you will be glad you did.

Our Follow-up On the Avocado Oil Dressing

In a word, ... bad.  Two words.  Really bad.  I was shocked at just how bad it was.  I even re-read the recipe, threw out the first batch I made, and then made a fresh batch on the off-chance I got something wrong the first time.  Nope.  It is not a good combination.  Which really shocks me because I would have thought this would have been taste-tested before they put it on the label.  Not good.


Here is what the recipe called for.



All of that sounded perfectly normal to me.  I was expecting a great new taste sensation.  Didn't happen.

Just because this recipe did not turn out as we expected does not mean that we are giving up on avocado oil. There are plenty of other ways to use this most beneficial oil and we will be looking into those way.  We will start with this website (http://healinggourmet.com/article/avocado-oil-the-healthiest-cooking-oil-youre-not-using-yet-853).  Give this article a read and I think you will be amazed, as I was, at all the beneficial properties of avocado oil.  Really good for diabetics, like me.  Please check out this site.  I think you will be glad you did.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Cereal, Delicious Cereal

One day last week on Facebook, my friend Dana Moos (www.danamoos.com) commented about a show she was watching about the history of cereal.  What ensued was a long string of comments from me and other of her friends about the cereals we ate growing up.  The following day I walked in to the local Walmart and what did I find inside the front door?


This enormous stack of cereal.  During our conversation we reminisced about many different types of cereal which brought back fond memories - Capt'n Crunch, Sugar Pops, Lucky Charms (Dana likes these the best), Apple Jacks, Alpha-Bits, etc.  We forgot Trix, which you see here.  When I was a child, many, many years ago now, we did not have Reese's Puffs or Cinnamon Toast Crunch.  We had Cheerios but not Honey Nut Cheerios.  I still eat cereal, although not as much as I used to primarily because of the carbs.  Even the healthy cereals have too many carbs for someone with diabetes.  But a bowl every now and then is a nice treat.  I think I would like to try Reese's Puffs.  Those have to be good.  Maybe just a little bowl.

Cereal, Delicious Cereal

One day last week on Facebook, my friend Dana Moos (www.danamoos.com) commented about a show she was watching about the history of cereal.  What ensued was a long string of comments from me and other of her friends about the cereals we ate growing up.  The following day I walked in to the local Walmart and what did I find inside the front door?


This enormous stack of cereal.  During our conversation we reminisced about many different types of cereal which brought back fond memories - Capt'n Crunch, Sugar Pops, Lucky Charms (Dana likes these the best), Apple Jacks, Alpha-Bits, etc.  We forgot Trix, which you see here.  When I was a child, many, many years ago now, we did not have Reese's Puffs or Cinnamon Toast Crunch.  We had Cheerios but not Honey Nut Cheerios.  I still eat cereal, although not as much as I used to primarily because of the carbs.  Even the healthy cereals have too many carbs for someone with diabetes.  But a bowl every now and then is a nice treat.  I think I would like to try Reese's Puffs.  Those have to be good.  Maybe just a little bowl.

Clorox Anywhere for Hard Surfaces

Another "WTCA Thumbs Up" product is Clorox Anywhere.


This is not a cleanser.  This is a daily sanitizing spray.  A very light mist over the shower helps to keep harmful bacteria from breeding.  I also lightly mist the bathroom sink.  In the kitchen, a light mist over a freshly washed sink and on the countertops before bed each night.  The odor is not overwhelming.  You are only using just a light spray.  You are not saturating the surfaces.  Give this a try.  We love it at Crest Avenue.

Clorox Anywhere for Hard Surfaces

Another "WTCA Thumbs Up" product is Clorox Anywhere.


This is not a cleanser.  This is a daily sanitizing spray.  A very light mist over the shower helps to keep harmful bacteria from breeding.  I also lightly mist the bathroom sink.  In the kitchen, a light mist over a freshly washed sink and on the countertops before bed each night.  The odor is not overwhelming.  You are only using just a light spray.  You are not saturating the surfaces.  Give this a try.  We love it at Crest Avenue.

Here We Go Again

More snow.





It is beautiful, but I have seen enough this year.  It is starting to become claustrophobic.  The temperatures will warm to the mid-thirties this afternoon and hopefully that will set in motion some melting.

This animation will give you a better look at what we woke up to this morning.


Here We Go Again

More snow.





It is beautiful, but I have seen enough this year.  It is starting to become claustrophobic.  The temperatures will warm to the mid-thirties this afternoon and hopefully that will set in motion some melting.

This animation will give you a better look at what we woke up to this morning.


Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Guess What We are Gearing Up For?

Easter!!  It will be here before you know it.  It is on Sunday, April 20 this year.  That is 54 days away.  The Paper Source was re-opened yesterday from their renovation, so I stopped by looking for stamps.  Easter stamps, in particular.  And look what I found.


New Easter themed stamps and a couple new embossing powders.  The bottom color is a shade of pink. Almost coral-like.  The top color, which you cannot see very well, is a royal blue.  The girl at the register told me the blue is a final color that will no longer be available once all the current stock is sold.  I don't know what they replaced it with because it is extraordinarily beautiful.  So we will be very judicious with this and make it last as long as possible.  She said that the distribution center sends them discontinued items in an effort to deplete the stock.  Luckily for me it was 50% off.  I can see some blue cross favor boxes in the near future.  We will experiment with different colors on the other two stamps.  Hope to have some Easter boxes posted to the Boxmania site during the upcoming week.  Click on the box on the homepage to check it out.   

Guess What We are Gearing Up For?

Easter!!  It will be here before you know it.  It is on Sunday, April 20 this year.  That is 54 days away.  The Paper Source was re-opened yesterday from their renovation, so I stopped by looking for stamps.  Easter stamps, in particular.  And look what I found.


New Easter themed stamps and a couple new embossing powders.  The bottom color is a shade of pink. Almost coral-like.  The top color, which you cannot see very well, is a royal blue.  The girl at the register told me the blue is a final color that will no longer be available once all the current stock is sold.  I don't know what they replaced it with because it is extraordinarily beautiful.  So we will be very judicious with this and make it last as long as possible.  She said that the distribution center sends them discontinued items in an effort to deplete the stock.  Luckily for me it was 50% off.  I can see some blue cross favor boxes in the near future.  We will experiment with different colors on the other two stamps.  Hope to have some Easter boxes posted to the Boxmania site during the upcoming week.  Click on the box on the homepage to check it out.   

Phyllis Nefler Fabulous

Does anybody remember the name of this movie which stars Shelley Long in the role of Phyllis Nefler?


Phyllis Nefler was a Beverly Hills Housewife married to Freddy Nefler, the Muffler King, played by Craig T. Nelson.  They are in the middle of a contentious divorce when Phyllis decides to take over her daughters Girl Scout Troop.  I just love this scene with her in this over-the-top outfit.  This is a funny movie which will have you in stitches.  And you can watch it with your children or any other member of your family without feeling uneasy or being embarrassed by any of the content.

Phyllis Nefler Fabulous

Does anybody remember the name of this movie which stars Shelley Long in the role of Phyllis Nefler?


Phyllis Nefler was a Beverly Hills Housewife married to Freddy Nefler, the Muffler King, played by Craig T. Nelson.  They are in the middle of a contentious divorce when Phyllis decides to take over her daughters Girl Scout Troop.  I just love this scene with her in this over-the-top outfit.  This is a funny movie which will have you in stitches.  And you can watch it with your children or any other member of your family without feeling uneasy or being embarrassed by any of the content.

And Speaking of Credit Cards

I got this notice in the mail yesterday from one of my credit cards.


It is a sheet of paper which states, repeatedly, what the agreement is when they run a special promotion on purchases.  Don't ask me why I find this so incredibly funny.  So they explain that if you purchase on a 6 month waived interest charges promotion that no interest is charged for six months.  If you purchase on a 9 month waived interest charges promotion that no interest is charged for 9 months. Then 12 months, then 20 months.  Really?  Is that how it works?  I mean, is this how things are these days? You have to send this piece of paper through the mail to all of your customers?  People don't understand how it works?  Of course I heard that some colleges are teaching remedial English these days because the young people are entering college without full mastery of the English language.  Very sad.  Let's hope for a better public education system in the future.

And Speaking of Credit Cards

I got this notice in the mail yesterday from one of my credit cards.


It is a sheet of paper which states, repeatedly, what the agreement is when they run a special promotion on purchases.  Don't ask me why I find this so incredibly funny.  So they explain that if you purchase on a 6 month waived interest charges promotion that no interest is charged for six months.  If you purchase on a 9 month waived interest charges promotion that no interest is charged for 9 months. Then 12 months, then 20 months.  Really?  Is that how it works?  I mean, is this how things are these days? You have to send this piece of paper through the mail to all of your customers?  People don't understand how it works?  Of course I heard that some colleges are teaching remedial English these days because the young people are entering college without full mastery of the English language.  Very sad.  Let's hope for a better public education system in the future.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Credit Card Organization

We live in a world ruled by credit and debit cards.  I rarely use an ATM these days to get cash.  Why bother when nearly every retail establishment takes a form of debit or credit card to pay for everything from a bottle of water to concert tickets to an anniversary trip around the world.  Cash has become, well, ... passe.  I have found that keeping all of those credit cards in one place is essential.


So I employ this handy black leather binder to keep track of all my cards.  In here I have all of my credit cards neatly arranged.  I also keep my frequent flier cards and other loyalty cards in this binder.  In the very back, I keep business cards.  This is the original purpose of the binder - to hold business cards.  But I found that it served a much more useful purpose as a credit card holder.


Just inside the front cover is this window which I used as a place to list my telephone number so that if I ever lost it, the person who found it could contact me.  I know you may think this is ridiculous, but there are still people out there who will make the effort to get such an item back to its original owner.  I found a wallet on the ground a few years ago and mailed it back to the rightful owner without helping myself to any of his cash or credit cards.  He was so grateful that he sent me a Celine Dion CD.  I thought that was a very nice thing to do.

So if you find yourself having trouble keeping up with all your "cards" or  they are no longer fitting into your wallet, look for a binder like this to help bring some organization to the problem.  I found this at Target a number of years ago.  I'm sure they have the same or similar these days.  You could probably also find it online.  You can find everything online now.

Credit Card Organization

We live in a world ruled by credit and debit cards.  I rarely use an ATM these days to get cash.  Why bother when nearly every retail establishment takes a form of debit or credit card to pay for everything from a bottle of water to concert tickets to an anniversary trip around the world.  Cash has become, well, ... passe.  I have found that keeping all of those credit cards in one place is essential.


So I employ this handy black leather binder to keep track of all my cards.  In here I have all of my credit cards neatly arranged.  I also keep my frequent flier cards and other loyalty cards in this binder.  In the very back, I keep business cards.  This is the original purpose of the binder - to hold business cards.  But I found that it served a much more useful purpose as a credit card holder.


Just inside the front cover is this window which I used as a place to list my telephone number so that if I ever lost it, the person who found it could contact me.  I know you may think this is ridiculous, but there are still people out there who will make the effort to get such an item back to its original owner.  I found a wallet on the ground a few years ago and mailed it back to the rightful owner without helping myself to any of his cash or credit cards.  He was so grateful that he sent me a Celine Dion CD.  I thought that was a very nice thing to do.

So if you find yourself having trouble keeping up with all your "cards" or  they are no longer fitting into your wallet, look for a binder like this to help bring some organization to the problem.  I found this at Target a number of years ago.  I'm sure they have the same or similar these days.  You could probably also find it online.  You can find everything online now.

Baxter, My Sleepy Co-Pilot

The weather here in the mid-Atlantic this past weekend was delightful.  Very spring-like.  We decided to use Saturday as "clean up outside" day.  So we ran errands on Sunday.  The temperatures were very comfortable even early Sunday morning.  Baxter wanted to go on the errand run and here he is, lounging in his car seat.


Is that the most beautiful boy you've ever seen?

Baxter, My Sleepy Co-Pilot

The weather here in the mid-Atlantic this past weekend was delightful.  Very spring-like.  We decided to use Saturday as "clean up outside" day.  So we ran errands on Sunday.  The temperatures were very comfortable even early Sunday morning.  Baxter wanted to go on the errand run and here he is, lounging in his car seat.


Is that the most beautiful boy you've ever seen?

A Plateful of Kiwi

While I certainly enjoy Toll House cookies, I do not make a habit of eating them.  If I did, well, let's just say it would not be a good thing.  I keep fresh fruit available at all times.  Recent purchases have included red pears, gala apples, white grapes, California naval oranges and kiwi, just to name a few.  I find a plate of kiwi particularly satisfying.


What could be better.  Yes, they are a bit difficult to peel.  But oh so worth it.  This is a plate of four kiwi, peeled and each fruit sliced into four half-inch slices.  The only thing I insist upon is that they are completely ripened before I eat them.  I do not like them under-ripe at all.  I want the outer skin to give a great deal when touched.  That is the sign that the kiwi is fully ripened.  Under-ripe kiwi is too bitter for my taste.  It takes awhile to learn at what point you prefer to consume them.  But with time you will figure it out. Consuming two to three kiwi daily can help lower blood triglyceride levels.  They are worth eating for that purpose alone in my world.

As taken from Wikipedia:


Nutrition

Kiwifruit is a rich source of vitamin C (1.5 times the United States DRI per 100 grams) and vitamin K, and a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin E.[31][36] The fruit and skin contain flavonoids, actinidain, and adhered pollen, which may produce irritation in the mouth and throat of some allergic individuals.[34]
Kiwifruit seed oil contains on average 62% alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid.[37] Usually a medium size kiwifruit provides about 46 calories,[38] 0.3 g fat, 1 g protein, 11 g carbohydrates, and 2.6 g dietary fiber found partly in the edible skin.[39] Kiwifruit is often reported to have mild laxative effects, due to its significant levels of dietary fiber.[40]

Kiwifruit contains carotenoids, such as provitamin A beta-carotene,[41] lutein and zeaxanthin.[42]
Kiwifruit components, possibly involving vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids from its numerous edible seeds, have potential properties of a natural blood thinner. A study performed at the University of Oslo in Norway reported that consuming two to three kiwifruit daily for 28 days significantly reduced platelet aggregation and blood triglyceride levels (similar to popular mainstream aspirin therapy), potentially reducing the risk of blood clots.[43]

A Plateful of Kiwi

While I certainly enjoy Toll House cookies, I do not make a habit of eating them.  If I did, well, let's just say it would not be a good thing.  I keep fresh fruit available at all times.  Recent purchases have included red pears, gala apples, white grapes, California naval oranges and kiwi, just to name a few.  I find a plate of kiwi particularly satisfying.


What could be better.  Yes, they are a bit difficult to peel.  But oh so worth it.  This is a plate of four kiwi, peeled and each fruit sliced into four half-inch slices.  The only thing I insist upon is that they are completely ripened before I eat them.  I do not like them under-ripe at all.  I want the outer skin to give a great deal when touched.  That is the sign that the kiwi is fully ripened.  Under-ripe kiwi is too bitter for my taste.  It takes awhile to learn at what point you prefer to consume them.  But with time you will figure it out. Consuming two to three kiwi daily can help lower blood triglyceride levels.  They are worth eating for that purpose alone in my world.

As taken from Wikipedia:


Nutrition

Kiwifruit is a rich source of vitamin C (1.5 times the United States DRI per 100 grams) and vitamin K, and a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin E.[31][36] The fruit and skin contain flavonoids, actinidain, and adhered pollen, which may produce irritation in the mouth and throat of some allergic individuals.[34]
Kiwifruit seed oil contains on average 62% alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid.[37] Usually a medium size kiwifruit provides about 46 calories,[38] 0.3 g fat, 1 g protein, 11 g carbohydrates, and 2.6 g dietary fiber found partly in the edible skin.[39] Kiwifruit is often reported to have mild laxative effects, due to its significant levels of dietary fiber.[40]

Kiwifruit contains carotenoids, such as provitamin A beta-carotene,[41] lutein and zeaxanthin.[42]
Kiwifruit components, possibly involving vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids from its numerous edible seeds, have potential properties of a natural blood thinner. A study performed at the University of Oslo in Norway reported that consuming two to three kiwifruit daily for 28 days significantly reduced platelet aggregation and blood triglyceride levels (similar to popular mainstream aspirin therapy), potentially reducing the risk of blood clots.[43]