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I love storytelling and always want my readers to have options. You can find my blogs on my YouTube channel and listen to them on the go.
What's Your Sign? I'm An Aries...
So I have never been one for astrology but one of my girlfriends' constant reference has peaked my interest. I have always known I was an Aries, which is a fire sign but that is about it. I figured I would do a little research on Aries and see how much seems to be in line with the person I really am.
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac. Aries are leaders of the pack and first in line to get things done. Aries have excellent organizational skills and like to finish more things at once.
The negative is Aries are impatient, aggressive, and vent anger on others. Hmm so far this is eerily close to my personality traits.
The Aries women are fearless and natural leaders. Aries women are energetic, charismatic, dynamic, and love challenges and adventures. They are also extremely passionate and sexual, which makes her irresistible to the opposite sex. I think that last one is up for debate.
Since Aries is a fire sign, my greatest overall compatibility is with the Leo and Sagittarius, which are both fire signs as well. The best sign for marriage with an Aries is a Libra.
My hubby is a Gemini, which is listed as another compatible sign to consider for Aries. Tip for attracting an Aries woman. She craves love but wants to be in a position of control at all times.
Lastly, the strengths and weaknesses of the Aries. Aries are courageous, determined, confident, enthusiastic, optimistic, honest, passionate. Unfortunately the Aries is also impatient, moody, short-tempered, impulsive, and aggressive.
Well I think I am a believer and a poster child for Aries. What are your thoughts on zodiacs signs and their accuracy? Are you a believer? Please share your thoughts!
My Favorite Time of Year...
Fall has always been my favorite time of year. I love the crisp air, the slightly yellow tint of the sun, and beauty all around as the leaves began to change color. I love the baking, the decorating, and the soup making.
I hate having to resist all of the goodies everywhere but take comfort in being able to hide under an extra layer of clothes.
I plant lots of herbs as the air turns cooler and check daily for the sighting of sprouts. My efforts are usually rewarded around the fourteenth day. Pumpkins are being carved, goblins are on display, and zombie warning signs are going up.
Halloween arrives and small and big children prowl the night on the search for free candy, trading cuteness for chocolate. Will a chill in the air, and a smile on my face, I hand out candy as I admire all the cute and clever costumes.
October ends and on the hunt I go for the perfect turkey. I will the brine the turkey for at least twenty-four hours in a tried a true rosemary-garlic solution that will yield the tastiest, moistest turkey one could dream of.
Thanksgiving night our beautiful Christmas tree goes up. Tired yet content to sit on the sofa with the family to watch lights flicker on the tree and listen to the fire crackle in the fireplace.
December comes and the shopping frenzy begins, for most, but not me. I am an early shopper so most of my presents are wrapped and under the tree at this point. I enjoy evening walks around the neighborhood with the hubby and my girls, with thermos of tea in hand, to spy all of the wonderful Christmas decorations.
On Christmas Eve, technically into winter, we open stocking gifts and track Santa. There is a tinge of sadness in my heart because I know my favorite time of year is coming to an end all too soon.
Christmas morning comes with me sitting by a fire, sipping coffee, and watching the children and husband open their gifts. Although happy I still have to resist the urge to pout about how fast it is all coming to an end. I remind myself to be thankful for all of my good fortune.
Dinner will consist of sides and a yummy baked ham before heading off to the movies. We come home from the movies to a Christmas tree with no presents under it and trash bags full of wrapping paper. There’s a mess to clean up and l can’t wait to do it all over again next year.
It begins...
What do you during the fall? Do you have any fall or holiday traditions for you and your family? Please share your traditions or any suggestions!
What's Growing In Your Garden?
I love gardening. In fact there is always something growing in my backyard and window sills. I am not a beginner since I have mastered growing lettuce, parsley, basil, and rosemary. I am fortunate enough to always be able to go into my backyard for some fresh herbs.
Unfortunately I still struggle with growing tomatoes, which is a hit or miss process for me. I have grown as many tomatoes as tomatoes plants I have killed. I have had a lot of success growing cilantro in the past until I change the location for the planting, which was a bad idea. Currently I am back to growing cilantro in a well drained pot in full sun and having much success. I also have collards growing well in the garden but from past experience these are a favorite of rabbits. My husband rabbit proofed the yard and so far so good.
In my window sill I am trying a new technique of growing thyme, mint, and chives in mason jars. I lightly water daily and so far the thyme is growing well after three weeks. Nothing so far with the chives but I am not giving up hope yet. The mint is sprouting so maybe by the 4th of July the hubby and I will be sipping mojitos in the backyard from our home grown mint.
What's growing in your garden?
Cajun Paste...A Pantry Must Have!
This past winter, yes technically it's still Winter, but not for those of us living in So Cal, I discovered my new favorite thing...Cajun Paste. I was shopping at William-Sonoma for products to make my Thanksgiving and Christmas a little less labor intensive. I came across a product called Turkey Paste - Cajun Spice. I also purchased a yummy rosemary-garlic brine mix.
I mulled it over decided I wouldn't use the paste for the turkey for two reasons. The first being that I have a kids and worried it might be too spicy. The second was that Thanksgiving is too special of a day for me to risk screwing up the bird. I decided to start small. A nice cajun roasted chicken was the first test. The cajun paste jar is small but packed with flavor.
The direction suggest coating the bird inside and out, making sure to get under that breast skin, and allowing to marinade for about two hours. I roasted the chicken as normal and was rewarded with a delicious, flavorful bird. It was spicy so my youngest had a hotdog and green beans for dinner.
I started imagining all of the other uses for the paste. Next I added a teaspoon to home fried potatoes as they cooked for breakfast. Another hit with family. My best discover yet has been using the paste on seafood. Cajun baked tilapia is my new favorite thing. Spoon a teaspoon of cajun paste over each fillet and bake for about 23-25 minutes depending size of pieces at 400 degrees. So yummy!
Another great recipe is cajun shrimp. Toss about a pound of shelled shrimp with 2 tablespoons of paste and lay out on baking sheet. In a 350 degree oven, bake for about 10 minutes.
I have no affiliation with William-Sonoma, but I just wanted to pass on a great find. And psst, I'll tell you a little secret. I have figured out how to make my own, and it tastes just as good, if not better!
The Movie Theatre Experience...Do You Still Enjoy Going?
Times have changed when it comes to the big screen experience. Prices have gone up like crazy for the tickets and do not even get me started on the concession stand prices. I mean $12 for a bucket of popcorn, seriously.
And despite all of the lecturing promos about talking excessively and cellphones use during the movie people still do what they want without any consideration to you.
Why bother going? Why not invest in a nice size television, a surround system, and a comfy recliner. It would probably save you lots of money in the long run. You can buy the DVD, rent from Red Box, or subscribe to Amazon Instant Video, which I love.
You can eat what you want and the bathrooms are always to your liking. Plus movies go from the theatre to DVD in a matter of months now.
Having said all of that I still love going to the movies. Some movies are a must see at the theatre. Nothing really beats to movie going experience but it is pricey, particularly for a family of 4. I have some recommendation for saving you some money.
First I always go the AMC theatre at the mall near my house, so I purchased the AMC Stubs card. The card is $12 a year and pays for itself during the summer block bluster months. You earn money/points on the card when you purchase tickets or buy at the concession. Not only do I earn $10 every couple of visits, I can upgrade my drinks and popcorn for free. Pay for a small and get a medium. Another recommendation is preparation.
I head to Target before a movie trip. Target carries movie theatre size candies for about $1, which will save you about $3 per candy item. Lastly, I always bring a bottle of water in my purse. I refuse to pay $4 for something that is practically free.
Share your tips for saving at the movies.
Sunday Dinners...Go Big Or Keep It Simple?
I tend make big Sunday dinners, except during football season. During football season my Sundays consist of finger foods all day long. The rest of the year I enjoy making roasts, grilling, and going all out. If I am going to make a big meal, this is really the only day of the week when I will have the time.
I guess for me, big Sunday dinner have always been sort of a tradition in my family. We went to church on Sunday morning and then had people over after church and provided a mini feast. As a child I always looked forward to Sunday school and lots of food and friends afterwards. I could not be more opposite as an adult.
Now I enjoy the intimate family meal, blowing up the bounce house in the backyard for the girls, and having a nice cocktail or two with the hubby. Sundays are good but unfortunately Mondays are just around the corner.
Sick Days..This Is What You Need In Your Survival Kit
Today has physically been a rough day for me. I have had a headache, ear ache, and a sore throat. Add to that runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and fatigue, and you get downright miserableness (if that's a word). I have been lucky, so far, to dodge this horrible flu season. However, I am not feeling so lucky right now.
Before leaving work today, and yes I went in and possibly spread my germs, I was given lots of advice about how to get better. I was told to go home and get some rest, drink some tea, eat some soup, gargle with ginger, and drink lots of water. All sound advice right?
The sick day survival kit can consist of many items. There is tea, which will usually be recommended as herbal, or green tea. There is the over-the-counter medication, and sleep or rest are the biggest recommendations because the body needs to rest to truly recover.
Here is the complete list of my recommendation for your survival kit...
- Tea
- Water
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- DayQuil/NyQuil, Mucinex
- Tylenol
- Sleep/Rest
- Humidifier
- Vicks Vapor Rub
- Cough Drops
Sleep is by far my favorite from the survival kit, with tea coming in a close second. As a matter of fact I am sipping tea right now, decaffeinated of course, and soon heading back to bed. Thank goodness it's almost the weekend.
The cold and flu season is upon us. Get your flu shot, wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, and disinfect where you can. And if all else fails, you may need a survival kit. What's in your sick day survival kit?
What's Your T.V. Guilty Pleasure? Come One Fess Up!
I'm going to be honest, I am already suffering withdraws with both "American Horror Story" (AHS) and my new favorite "Sleepy Hollow" (SH) wrapping up their seasons. What's a girl to do with her favorite shows on hiatus. I am left feeling like something is missing. I am not sure how I feel about the season finale of AHS: The Coven. I enjoyed that the most evil characters received their comeuppance, but sad that Misty became stuck. As far as SH, the new season should start off with a bang this Fall, and I could not be more excited. How many shows leaves everyone of the main characters in such serious peril. I mean stuck in purgatory, stuck in jail, buried alive, kidnapped by the Headless Horseman, and possibly dead. OMG! I cannot wait for the return.
Well, I do take comfort in the fact that "The Walking Dead" (TWD) returns this Sunday, and "Scandal" my true guilty pleasure is back. I am so excited to see what is going to happen to the group on TWD now that the prison has fallen and everyone is scattered. Rick suffered a major beat down at the hands of the Governor, Darryl and Beth are on the run, baby Judith is missing, and Michonne looks as if she is having a break down after taking out about 20 Walker. Don't let me down TWD.
On Scandal we get to see what Mama Pope is up to. From the looks of things Mama Pope will be up to no good. Anyway I am super excited. How about you? What's your guilty pleasure or t.v. addiction?
Can Fast Food Be Healthy?
The words fast food and healthy do not usually go together but can they? Is it possible to enjoy fast food without loading up on fat? I think the answer is yes. Many fast food chains offer healthy, low calorie options, but that is not usually what we are there for. Just like many Americans I love french fries and burgers, but I also love a great salad, turkey sandwich, or a yummy soup.
At Wendy's you can get a half size caesar side salad for 250 calories and you can add a small chili for another 180 calories. That's not bad and is actually really filling. Or you can grab some Panera Bread for breakfast and have their breakfast power sandwich, which is delicious, for 340 calories. Go back for lunch and get their cream of chicken wild Rice soup for 310 calories.
Don't get me wrong, I love cooking and taking leftovers for lunch. But sometimes there are no leftovers from the night before, or I am craving something different. It is nice to know that I can get fast food, and have healthy options. Now, whether or not I am choosing the healthy options is between me, and my scale.
I would also like to add the caveat that low calorie doesn't necessarily mean healthy. Don't forget to look at the fat, sugar, and sodium content.
When you go fast food, do you go healthy?
Saturdays...Do They Make You Miss The Weekdays?
My weekdays are crazy with dropping off kids, going to work, picking up kids, cooking dinner, and bath and bedtime rituals. All week long I look forward to the weekend and when it comes I ask myself what exactly was I looking forward to? As a mom with young girls my Saturdays are super busy. I need to squeeze in a workout, both my girls have swimming and dance classes, there's the obligatory family fun time usually to Sea World or the zoo, and hopefully date night with the hubby.
Don't get me wrong, I love my family and feel unbelievably fortunate, but my Saturdays are exhausting. Rare are the days of sleeping in and silence but I guess I would not have it any other way. Despite my griping this is what I signed up for. Every time I think to complain I remind myself that my girls are growing up fast and before I know it I will have an empty nest.
I do get to have wonderful Sundays though. A nice cup of coffee, watching the news, chatting with my husband, and relaxing. So I guess my Saturdays are busy but in a good way. And my Sundays are awesome and revitalizing. When I think more about it I would not change a thing.
How are you spending your Saturdays???