FaceBomb

FaceBomb is a new tool that enables you to upload a photograph of your choice to the site and then apply an effect to the area or portion of the photograph that you want. The results are saved on your computer, and you can then start using that picture. It's a simple, quick, and easy way to jazz up your pics! Plus...it's free!

Wasting Time

Online Solitaire

'Nuf said!

TripIt

This looks fabulous...gotta remember it for my next trip.

TripIt: An Effortless Online Travel Organizer

Anyone who's ever travelled is surely familiar with the dreaded Manila Folder—that sheaf of printouts, receipts and tickets we rely on to stay on schedule during a trip. Now TripIt promises to free us from those manila shackles with an online service that organizes all the pieces into a single, consolidated itinerary.

TripIt then searches the web for complementary information, including Google maps and directions, weather from the NOAA, SeatGuru airplane seat advice, Wikipedia city information, current events information from Eventful, city photos from Flickr, and dining reservations from OpenTable.

Edible Greeting Card

'Nuf said!

Edibles Inc

"Christmasy" Scent

So apparently my next real Christmas tree should be a Balsam Fir! They maintain their scent longer than most other trees.

Hanging Pictures

Yes...as I'm packing to move, I'm also trying to clean out. So I'm putting all those notes here...finally!

I'll need this one when I get settled in to a new place:
When hanging a picture on a plaster wall, place a small piece of tape on the wall where the nail will go to prevent the plaster from chipping when you hammer the nail in.

Aha!

Broadway Box

Check Broadway Box for free discount codes for Broadway shows...some savings up to 50%!

Journey Woman

I haven't spent much time surfing yet, but it looks pretty cool! Journey Woman is "the premier travel resource for women".

Italian Getaways

Two recommendations for our trip to Italy:

• The Grand Hotel Minerva in Florence (if you're going with family, the 2-bedroom suites are the way to go)
• Il Pellicano in Tuscany (a seaside splurge!)
  

Mayan Riviera

In case I win the lottery (do you have to play to win?), this is one for a remote resort get-away! (No one under 16 is allowed January through April.)

Maroma Resort & Spa

Maui Hotel

This one is for when I get to go to Maui again!
Kaanapali Beach Hotel

Unclaimed Baggage

If I'm ever in Scottsboro, Alabama, I think it would be fun to go to the Unclaimed Baggage Center. Over 1 million items a year end up here after going unclaimed at the airport. And it's all on sale here! Plus it's also pretty fun to check out the website and see some of the strange things that go unclaimed!

Flavored Water

I saw a report the other day about making your own flavored water with flavorings that are helpful to your digestive system as well as giving you overall health benefits.

Mix 4 ingredients with your water:
LEMON
CUCUMBER
GINGER
MINT

Cure for Coffee Drips

I saw a good idea the other day that made a common mess look less messier! :>)

Put a small dish of pebbles or marbles underneath the coffee maker spicket (or any kind of beverage dispenser) to keep a brown mess/stain from dripping on the tablecloth. This made the beverage presentation much more pleasant.

Facial Help

I'm sure no one out there has wrinkles, right? I didn't think so. So this tip is for all the other people!

Ranked the best:
Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Eye Cream

Aveda Enbrightenment Correcting Serum

Out of Dishwasher Detergent?

I was, but needed to get some dishes clean (without the elbow grease!) So I looked up a substitute and decided to post it here in case I need it again. It worked great!

**Note: Everyone strenuously stressed that you use ONLY 3 drops of liquid dish soap or you would be cleaning up suds!

• 3 drops liquid dish soap
• Fill 1/2 of the detergent compartment with baking soda

Some More Travel Sites

Airfare Watchdog - locates last-minute deals, plus has a section of the Top 50 Fares of the Day
Cruisemates - Advise and reviews about cruising
LastMinute - Last minute weekend packages, sometimes saving 70% on unsold airplane seats.
WorldAirportGuide - check out maps of any airport
FlightStats - displays up-to-date arrival and departure boards for major airports

**Note: The best time to buy an airplane ticket is:

• 5:15 pm on Saturday if you're doing it by phone
• after midnight on Sunday if you're doing it online

Some More Travel Tips

Most hotels still leave a shower cap in your bathroom. But if you're like me, you don't ever need a shower cap for it's intended purpose. So I save them anyway and use them to put over any shoes in my suitcase that may be dirty so they don't rub against my clothes.

If you know you're traveling and intend to purchase breakable items or souvenirs, pack a couple of kids arm floaties. They don't take up much room in your suitcase and you can blow them up a little bit to protect any special items, including bottles of wine.

A Few Recipe Subsitutions

I've had to make several of these substitutions in the past...always handy to have.

• Substitute for 1 tsp lemon juice: 1/2 tsp white wine vinegar
• Substitute for 1 cup cake flour: 1 cup less 2 Tbs of all-purpose flour
• Substitute for 1 cup buttermilk: 1 cup milk plus 1 Tbs lemon juice
• Another substitute for 1 cup buttermilk: 1 cup plain yogurt
• Substitute for 1 cup brown sugar: 3/4 cup sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses
• Substitute for 1 cup heavy cream: 2/3 cup milk plus 1/3 cup melted butter
• Substitute for 1 cup ricotta cheese: 1 cup cottage cheese

Last Minute Lasagna

• 1 26-ounce jar pasta sauce
• 2 30-ounce bags frozen large cheese ravioli, unthawed
• 1 10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of excess water
• 1 8-ounce bag shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Coat a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and spoon in a third of the sauce.

2. Arrange 12 ravioli on top and scatter the spinach over them. Top with half of each cheese. Cover with another layer of ravioli and the remaining sauce and cheese.

3. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 to 10 minutes more or until bubbly.

Basic Quiche Recipe

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 medium yellow onions, diced
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup half-and-half
• 8 ounces Gruyere, grated
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 store-bought frozen piecrust in a tin

1. Heat oven to 375° F.

2. In a large skillet, over medium-low heat, heat the oil. Add the onions, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Cover and cook until the onions are softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the parsley and cook, covered, for 2 minutes more.

3. Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs and half-and-half. Stir in the Gruyère, nutmeg, the remaining salt and pepper, and the onion mixture.

4. Place the piecrust on a foil-lined baking sheet. Scrape the egg mixture into the piecrust; it will be very full. Bake until the filling is set and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.

**Note: Tailor this quiche to your liking by stirring in a handful of chopped cooked ham or sautéed vegetables when you add the cheese.

Chickpea Pasta!

I love chickpeas!!

1 Tb olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
7 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
Kosher salt
12 oz angel hair pasta
1 (15.5 oz) can chickpeas (rinsed)
1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup roasted almonds, chopped

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute (do not let it brown).
• Add the broth, red pepper, and 3/4 tsp salt and bring to a boil.
• Add the pasta and cook, stirring until the broth is nearly absorbed the pasta is al dente, about 6 mins.
• Stir in the chickpeas and parsley.
• Sprinkle with the Parmesan and almonds before serving.

Quick and Easy Soup!

Here are 2 recipes that start with two cans of chicken noodle soup. Add the rest of the ingredients and act like you cooked for hours!

**Note: The winner of the best canned chicken noodle soup was Campbell's Select Harvest Chicken with Egg Noodles.

Tortilla Soup:
Bring two, 14-19 oz cans of chicken noodle soup to a simmer. Add 1 cup of frozen corn kernels and 1 tsp. of hot sauce and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Ladle into bowls and serve with an avocado slice and tortilla chips.

White Bean and Chicken Soup:
Bring two, 14-19 oz cans of chicken noodle soup to simmer. Add 1/2 bunch of kale, leaves torn into 2-inch pieces (about 4 cups), and cook until tender, 6-8 minutes. Stir in one 15-oz can of rinsed white or cannellini beans and cook until heated through.

CardTrack Calculator

This may not be information anyone really wants, but...

CardTrack has a web calculator that will tell you how long it will take you to pay off a credit card balance. You just enter the amount you owe, the interest rate, and how much you pay each month.

Best Workout Music

Since I'm a MAC, I can't really use this right now. But I'll save it for sometime in the future...just in case my iTunes are ever on a PC again.

It's pretty cool! As most of us can guess, faster music causes us to exercise longer. BeatScanner is a free, PC-compatible program that searches your music library and finds upbeat tunes for you to use when you exercise.

And if you are a MAC, the site does have pages of playlists of recommended workout songs, as well as a search feature that lets you pick your pace and music genre.

Party Plum

One of my new favorite party supply websites.
PARTY PLUM