Be Boat Safe!

Boating Operating Under the Influence is just as serious as driving a motor vehicle under the influence.  It’s just as dangerous!   There are injuries and fatalities that occur while boating “OUI,” boating under the influence.  If you or anyone you know operates a boat while OUI, let me urge you to watch the above video and visit the website below.  It might save someone’s life!

Milky Way Homemade Ice Cream…Yummy!

I had some of the most delicious homemade ice cream recently that was made by a friend.  It’s definitely not healthy but would be OK to have on a special occasion.  Here’s the recipe:

  • 12 Milky Way candy bars, chopped
  • 1 can Eagle Brand Milk, 14 oz.
  • 2 quarts of milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla

Melt the candy bars and Eagle Brand over low heat until the candy is completely melted.  Let cool and then add 1 quart of milk and 1 tablespoon vanilla.  Stir until completely mixed.  Put in ice cream freezer and add remaining 1 quart of milk.   Freeze, then enjoy!

Whole-Food Vitamins

First, let me tell you that this is not a paid ad.  I am receiving nothing for this post.  I simply want to share with my readers some information about vitamins that I have been using for the past several years.  These are great vitamins, and I like the fact that they’re 100% whole-food vitamins.  I use several of their supplements, which reminds me, I’m out of some things.  There’s a lot of valuable information on their website about these topics, just to name a few:

  • Healthy eating
  • Juicing
  • Acid & alkaline food lists
  • Gluten-free diet
  • Glycemic Index
  • Cleansing (detox)
  • Lab Procedures
  • Free health questionnaire

Let me encourage you to check out their site!

How to Remove Bathtub Appliques Residue

Have you ever removed the appliques from the bottom of your bathtub and been left with awful looking residue?  Well, that happened to me recently.  I tried several different household cleaners but to no avail.  Finally, I went to Hometips.com and found the solution to my problem.  And it was something I never would have thought to use…Shout (or Spray ‘n Wash).  I just simply sprayed it on, let it set for several minutes, and then used a spatula to scrape off the residue.  In some spots, I had to use several applications, but it worked great.  Now our bathtub looks so much better!

Four Foods on Friday #39

#1. When you need to serve desserts, do you buy them or make them?

I nearly always make them unless I’m in a time crunch.
#2. When baking do you use butter, margarine or something else?

I’ve started using Smart Balance some, and so far it’s worked fairly well.  A few things require butter, though, and several things can use canola oil which is great.
#3. What meats or veggies do you cook in the oven?

I rarely use my oven.  I do a lot of stir-fry or saute veggies on the stove top.  I cut up chicken breast fillets and cook them in olive oil in a skillet.  I cook fish in olive oil in a skillet, also.  Every once in a while, I’ll use my crock pot to cook a roast or a chicken recipe.
#4. Share a recipe for anything that is cooked in an oven.

Crunchy Chicken Crescents

Trusted Tours & Attractions

Orlando is such a fun place to visit.   We went there two different summers with our family, and those vacations were some of our best summer vacations.  It’s obvious we enjoyed Orlando because we went two summers in a row.  There is never a lack of varied things to visit; however, there might not be enough time to do everything that you want to do.  That is why I suggest allowing plenty of time for a vacation there and the surrounding area.  There are so many things to do in Orlando. We visited Disney World, MGM Studios, Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, and the Kennedy Space Center on the east coast as well as several beaches.

If you’re planning your next vacation and aren’t sure where you want to go, look at Trusted Tours online travel guides. You might be interested in going to New York and seeing the sights and visiting Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.   There are a lot of things to do in New York.

Trusted Tours & Attractions is having a special promotion where a person has a chance to win a $150 ITunes Gift Card by signing up for their newsletter.   Just go to their newsletter sign-up page.   How cool is that! Keep in mind that this special contest ends July 31, 2008.

Don’t forget!  Sign up for the Trusted Travels eNewsletter and you will have a chance to win an ITunes Gift Card for $150.

The Irony of Strawberries

What could possibly be ironic about strawberries?  They’re very healthy for people because they are loaded with all sorts of nutrition such as a good amount of Vitamin C.  They also contain phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamin K, magnesium, manganese, folic acid, potassium, riboflavin, vitamins B5 & B6, copper, and omega-3 fatty acids.   And when they are sweet, they are absolutely delicious!  Yet, the irony is that strawberries, though being one of the healthiest foods nutritionally, are listed in the top ten worst foods containing pesticides.

Because of these pesticides, I search the weekly food ads and look for organic strawberries on sale.  I can usually find one store nearly every week or every other week that has them on sale.  The irony is greatly reduced when eating organic strawberries!

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum in Waco, Texas

While traveling, we stopped in Waco, Texas, and visited the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame.  We all enjoyed it, but my husband especially enjoyed it.  The museum not only shares the history of the Texas Rangers along with artifacts, but it also memorializes 30 Texas Rangers who gave their lives in the line of duty or served with great distinction.

Our family thinks this museum is truly worth visiting!  Boys will especially enjoy it. Check here for Visitor Information.

Ups and Downs

I’m having trouble with my foot again, so I’m not back to walking much yet.  I stepped on the scales a couple of days ago, and I’ve gained back every bit of the weight I lost…four pounds!  Since then, I’m trying to be a lot more careful about what I eat, am considering an exercise bike which wouldn’t be putting pressure on the nerve in my foot, and am adding a little more protein to my diet.  I’m determined to lose weight naturally.

Some choose weight loss pills, but they should always check with their doctor before starting anything new.

Outer Banks Rentals in Carolina

Vacation time is in full swing right now, and there are so many places to choose from to visit.  Some people like to travel, rent a house and stay for a month or maybe the whole summer if they’re school teachers, retired, etc. Outer Banks rentals in Carolina might be a place they would visit.  Wouldn’t it be nice to go to a beautiful area with the family and stay for a month!

Four Foods On Friday #38

#1. Fruits and veggies. Do you prefer them peeled or not?

Definitely peeled because of all the pesticides on them.   Unless they’re organic and then I don’t peel them.
#2. What’s your favorite fresh fruit or vegetable smell?

There are several:  sweet strawberries, juicy peaches, an orange being peeled, watermelon, okra frying in the pan or just about any fresh vegetable cooking.

#3. What’s the worst food smell you’ve ever smelled?

I can’t think what it was right now, but I know my family would say cooked cabbage.  I’m the only one who likes it, and on the rare occasion I do cook it then they start gagging when they come in the kitchen.  lol    Actually, I’m not the only one in my family who likes cooked cabbage…our dog loves it!!
#4. Share the recipe for the dish that you love to smell cooking in your oven.

Again there are several:  Enchiladas, Lasagna, Sopapilla Cheesecake, brownies & cookies.

Here’s a recipe for Eggless Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies that I got from our daughter.  The neat thing about this recipe is that it’s safe to eat the dough.

Yeah! I Can Go For Walks Again!

Well, I did lose a total of four pounds, but I haven’t been able to go for my walks the past three weeks and have gained some of it back.  I’ve been having a lot of foot and ankle pain on a daily basis for quiet a while, went to my regular doctor, and finally went to a podiatrist and found out I have an enlarged nerve in my foot.  It’s called Morton’s Neuroma.  (I had to research that because I’d never heard of it.) The podiatrist gave me a shot of Cortizone which has really helped to settle the nerve down.  That’s definitely a blessing!  Hopefully, I can get back to taking at least a couple of walks a week because walking helps me so much!  I still want to lose five more pounds and hope to do that with walking and healthy eating.  Some people take Phentermine, but I prefer a more natural way.
By the way, anyone taking something to help them lose weight should always consult their doctor first.