Veggie Storage

The best ways to store different veggies:

• Corn - refrigerate ears unshucked in a bag
• Cucumbers - keep in a plastic bag on a shelf toward the front of the refrigerator, which tends to be warmer
• Eggplant - refrigerate in a plastic bag in the veggie drawer
• Squash and Zucchini - refrigerate, unwashed, in a plastic bag in the veggie drawer

Tips to tame your Schedule

Just random info on schedules, life, stress, etc.

• Make a list of all the activities that you long to do more of...things that make you happy, relaxed or sane. Then rank the list in order of importance and pick one or two to focus on.
• "Devoting more time to what you love can help you get more done overall. Research shows that to be productive and creative, you must take time for recreation and relaxation. Trying to skimp on them hurts your motivation and often leads you to procrastinate. Plus, being a little selfish will keep you from becoming resentful, burned out, or cranky. And that's a good thing for everyone."
• A 2004 study shows that office workers are interrupted, on average, every 3 minutes. The study also showed that it takes about 23 minutes for people to get back to the task they were taken away from.
• "Limit distractions: resist the urge to check your email 500 times a day. Experts recommend checking only twice day - at noon and at 4pm. Those are the times when you're most likely to have responses to your previously sent e-mails." (I'm not sure if I could do this, but it sure would allow me to get a lot more done!)
• "Schedule a quick and brainless task first. This will allow you to cross something off your list right away and to start the day feeling accomplished. Schedule your most onerous task second, it's better to get it over with it."
• (My hubs does this, but I haven't perfected it yet.) On Friday afternoons, set aside a half hour to go through what has been accomplished for the week and map out the next week.
• "Force yourself to work on a procrastinated task for a short period of time - perhaps as little as one minute. When you realize how much of the anxiety was created in your head, you'll give yourself the jolt needed to follow it through."

Best Outdoor Tableware

Melamine Dinner Plates from Pier1 (out of season now)
$2 each...great price!

Melamine Dinner Plates from Smith and Hawken
$14 each

Duraclear Iced-Tea Glasses from Williams-Sonoma
$48 for 6

Zak Designs Park Tumblers from Target
$25 for 6

Fish Bowl Temp

My fish, Peanut Butter, is going strong...even though I don't really regulate the temperature in the bowl. I now know it's supposed to be between 65 and 75 degrees.

Adhesive Wrapping Paper

Why hasn't anyone thought of this before??

"The first-of-its-kind product is coated on one side with a low-tack adhesive invented by Hallmark, which sticks firmly to packages, creating a beautifully wrapped gift without a lot of extra work. It is being sold exclusively at Hallmark Gold Crown stores."

The entire back side is sticky, and it will supposedly peel off without leaving a mark!

Yogurt, Dill & Walnut Dip

Sounds good...hope to try soon!
Combine 2 cups of Greek yogurt, 1 clove garlic (chopped), 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, 1/4 cup chopped dill, and 1/2 tsp kosher salt.
Serve with carrots, cherry tomatoes or blanched green beans.

Design your own Rug

"FLOR carpet squares let you easily design area rugs to fit any size space or install wall-to-wall in minutes. Available in a variety of beautiful colors, patterns and textures, FLOR's easy-to-install tiles give you creative control over the largest canvas in your home - your floors!"

Very cool...just put in your floor dimensions and start designing!

Instant Nail Lift

Creative Nail Design Solar Oil
Apply a drop to your nails and rub in for an instant shine of jojoba, vitamin E and sweet almond oil.

Drink Pairings...on a budget

Backyard Bar-B-Q with burgers, franks, chicken, steak and ribs.
Red: 2006 Valentin Bianchi Elsa Malbec $9
White/Rose: 2006 McManis Family Vineyards Viognier $11
Beer: Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale $4

Happy Hour with cheese, crackers, nuts, olives, dip and chips.
Red: 2006 George Duboeuf Chiroubles Beaujolais $12
White/Rose: 2006 Big House Pink $10
Beer: Harpoon India Pale Ale $8.50

Casual Dinner with soups, salads, pastas, and light chicken dishes
Red: 2005 Michele Chiarlo "le Orme" Barbera D'Asti $14
White/Rose: Broadbent Vinho Verde $12
Beer: Blue Moon Belgian White Ale $8

Easy Key Lime Pie

Mix a can of sweetened condensed milk, a can of frozen limeade concentrate and 1 cup of heavy cream. Pour into a graham cracker pie crust.

Email Organizing

I put a * in front of my most used email folders. And I put a "z" in front of the folders I use least. It's a small thing but it works well.

Tupperware storage

I'm shamed to admit that I'm drawn to this. It's because I still haven't found a good tupperware solution. I like this because all containers have a one-size-fits-all lid. And we don't have a lot space, so storage is an issue.

The other thing I've considered is the Tupperware Flat-Out...containers that collapse for storage. Anyone found any other solutions that work?

Keyboard Organizer

I think I like this idea...don't know how practical it would be, but it sure has received a lot of rave reviews.

Best Beach Towels (a little late...or early!)

Best Bargain:
Cabana Fish Towel by Bed Bath and Beyond $8

Best Style:
Modern Damask Beach Towel by Christy $30 (hard to buy...London store)

Best for Traveling:
Beach Towel and Tote by Garnet Hill $34 (just noticed this one is now on sale for $9!!!!)

Best Oversize
Beach Blanket with Stakes by Lands' End $50

Missing Money

Do you have unclaimed money? You should check and see. Just submit your name and the states you've lived in. What if you were a millionaire and didn't know it? Okay, not likely, but it's worth checking, right?

MISSING MONEY

Juice Choices

To piggy-back on my last post...
To go with my breakfast bar, a glass of juice is good too...makes me feel a little more well-rounded. Apparently the best juices based on calories are tomato (53 calories) and grapefruit (96 calories). Since I don't like tomato juice, I do drink a lot of grapefruit juice. All the other juices are more than 100 calories. According to the experts, the top 4 juices that pack the most nutrients with the fewest calories are cranberry, grapefruit, orange and tomato.

Breakfast Bars

Unfortunately, I often have to grab a breakfast bar in the mornings. I do feel better throughout the day if I eat a decent breakfast. If I'm gonna have to do a bar, this is what "they" say is better:

• 5 grams of fiber
• 5 grams of protein
• Less than 200 calories

I just checked and I'm doing pretty good with my current selection.

RoadSide America

A great website for offbeat attractions on America's roadsides!
The results for places close to me:

• Captured leg of Santa Anna
• World's Largest Catsup Bottle
• Purple Martin Capital of the Nation
• Popeye Statue
• Circus Performers Mass Grave
• 2-story Outhouse
• Museum of Funeral Customs

WOW! You should look up what oddities are close to you!

Interstates

I've heard this before but can never remember it when it's important. Thankfully, the hubs has a steel trap brain!

Odd-numbered highways run north to south
Even-numbered highways run east to west

(I still believe you can't always count on this!)

Removing Perfume

Use a cotton pad and alcohol...pretty simple!

Stationery Website

Expressionery: A website I just found out about that has a lot of great stationery options, including some really cute, hand-drawn paper people.

Quick and Easy Cocktails

For Taran!

Margarita = 1 Corona + 1 can thawed Limeade + 1.5 cups Tequila

Strawberry Daiquiri = 1 pint strawberry sorbet + 1.75 light rum (blend with 6 cups ice)

Sangria = 1 bottle red wine + 3 cups apple juice + 1 peach (sliced)

Scar Prevention

Massage a new scar for five minutes twice a day. Applying pressure forces the body to make scar tissue that is flatter and lighter in color. Start massaging 2-3 weeks after the injury and continue for up to a year.

Best Ice Cream Pops

Winner of the best-tasting and least calorie ice cream pop:
The Skinny Cow Mini Fudge Bar
"big chocolate taste for only 50 calories"

BTW, did you know that the way to get rid of "brain freeze" from eating ice cream too fast is to press your tongue to the roof of your mouth or drink a glass of warm water? I didn't, but I plan to try it next time.

Most Economical Online Photo Printing

I should've known! Walmart won. In second place...Snapfish.com.
4x6 inch prints were $.09 at each place.
5x7 inch prints were $0.79 at Snapfish but $0.58 at Walmart.

Fur Fighter

I haven't tried this yet, but it looks like it might help with all our Bailey fur. (We do keep a sheet on our couch most of the time so that it's not as hard to clean when we have company.) The Scotch Fur Fighter Hair Remover supposedly removes embedded pet hair from upholstery.

Gel Pack

I often need frozen gel packs when I have a headache, and I didn't realize you could make your own. Freeze one part rubbing alcohol with three parts water in a Ziploc. I like the soft gel packs better than the ones that freeze solid.

Best Face Sunscreen

The best face sunscreen for the traveler: California Baby Sunblock Stick

• Compact and easy to pack
• Wide stick for face or body
• Does not sting eyes
• Created for those who can't tolerate fragrance

Berry Vodka Spritzers

Halve four limes and squeeze into a pitcher. (If desired, cut the squeezed limes into small pieces and add to the pitcher.) Mix in 3 Tbs. sugar. Add 1 liter club soda, 1 cup berry-flavored vodka, 1 cup blueberries, and 1 cup raspberries. Pour over ice. Serves 8.

Umbrella Today

“It’s like totally the simplest weather report ever, Julie.”

Very true! Go to Umbrella Today and type in your zip code. It will tell you if you need an umbrella. Can't get any easier than that!

This was my answer for today:

Next Vegas Hotel

Next time we're in Las Vegas, I want to stay here. This is the picture that sold me!
"Wet Republic features two spectacular saltwater pools, eight individual pools and spas, exclusive VIP Bungalows, hip party cabanas, spacious daybeds and oversized deluxe chaise lounges."

Yes, please.
-

MUG CAKE

A friend sent me this recipe. I haven't had a chance to make it, but I'm definitely intrigued by it. A chocolate cake in a MUG!!!


5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons cake flour (that's plain flour, not self-raising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla essence
1 coffee mug

Put dry ingredients in mug, and mix well.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla essence, and mix again.

Microwave for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake
will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT!

Note: This can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous.

How many appetizers do I need?

People often ask me this question when planning food for a party or group.

The time of your party is important. For parties planned later in the evening after people have probably had dinner, you should plan for 6-8 appetizers per person per hour.

If your party is earlier in the evening and some people may just smooch off of you for their meal, you should estimate about 14 appetizers per guest per hour.

Pancake House

First, Mr. Ginger loves breakfast. We recently took a garden walk in a local neighborhood that was partially sponsored by The Original Pancake House. After going to the website, I discovered that there are lots of them all over the U.S. I guess I've just never heard of it. Anyway, there are 2 that are close to us so we'll have to check them out.

Clark and Armitage

State and Bellevue

Credit Card Info

Real Simple has some really good answers to common questions about credit cards like:

How many credit cards are too many? And is there such a thing as too few?

What should I consider when weighing a card with mileage points or other incentives against another card?

Is it better to keep a big balance on one card or spread the balances over several cards?

What should I do with cards that I don’t use? Should I leave them open or close them?

Check it out here.

Weigh-In's and Food Diaries

I always wondered about this...

I've never been a person that weighs on a regular basis, and definitely never daily. In fact, I don't have scales anymore. But research shows that women who weigh every day and then act accordingly, either increasing exercises or being stricter about their eating, are 82 percent less likely to regain lost weight than those who don't weigh in as often.

"They" also say that keeping a food diary can result similarly IF you're totally honest and record EVERY morsel you eat. I do that pretty regularly. Another suggestion was to wear or try on a pair of slim-fitting pants each week and gauge by that.

Universal Nail Polish

Do you ever need to know which shade of nail polish will look best on you? Or have you ever bought a polish and find out that it just doesn't go well with your skin? These polishes are universal and look good on everyone.

Opi The Thrill of Brazil

L'oreal Mango Get'em

Opi La Paz-itively Hot

Essie Delicacy

Revlon Sheer Nude

Maybelline Racing Rubies

Protect Your Shoes

I didn't know this and haven't tried it. But apparently if you spray a light coat of starch on brand-new tennis shoes, dirt and grime will be repelled and preserve the life of your sneakers.

Cake by Mail

Want to mail a birthday cake to someone? Just go to Carousel Cakes, pick your cake, and they'll ship it to the birthday girl/boy. My favorite is the Pink Velvet Cake for a Cure.

Boxes, Boxes, Boxes

Go to Used Cardboard Boxes next time you move to find discounted factory misprints and overruns. They sell them for 30% less and deliver them to you in 2 days. And from what I looked up, it's much cheaper than those last minute boxes you buy at the UHaul store!

Airfare Security

Yapta can help if the price of your airline ticket drops after you buy it. Type in your confirmation number and ticket price and Yapta will track the fare for you. If the price drops, you will receive an email with step-by-step instructions on how to claim a refund or travel voucher.

Best Teeth Whiteners

Best Paste
Arm & Hammer Advance White Toothpaste

Best Strips
Rembrandt Advanced Whitening Strips

Best Trays
Aquafresh White Trays

Quick-Fix for Flat Hair

Humidity makes my hair go even flatter than it already is...which on some days seems impossible! So by noon on humid days (or when visiting humid places), my hair needs help. The recommendation that I hope to try soon is to use an antihumidity hair spray like V05 Max! Hold Fast Drying Hair Spray. Supposedly I can lift several sections of hair, spritz the roots, give it a minute to dry and my hair will come back to life! We'll see!

Rough Dog Toy

Since Bailey goes through some toys very easily, it's worth trying this Little Bean that was rated as the toughest dog toy. And according to the ad, you can throw it in the dishwasher!

Sandal/Flip Flop Storage

Get a wine box from your local grocery. Turn it on it's side. The bottle slots are the perfect size for storing flip flops, sandals and some flats during the summer months.

Pleasing Displays

To add dimension and height to your next buffet, cake table or serving display, use wine or margarita glasses instead of bowls for nuts, fruit, crackers, candy, etc. Displays are so much more pleasing to the eye if not completely flat. I must have tall serving pieces when I set a party table. If you don't have tall serving pieces, drape a cloth napkin or silk scarf over a small box and place your dish on top.

LibraryThing

You can create a searchable catalog of your books using LibraryThing.

LibraryThing helps you create a library-quality catalog of your books. You can do all of them or just what you're reading now.

It also has a widget you can add to your blog, a phone-friendly site to check while shopping for books, free copies of books in exchange for reviews, a shareable book profile, and a gateway to your local bookstores.

Ice Cream Cupcakes

I hope to make these sometime soon!

Here’s How:

Step 1- Make cake batter. Feel free to use a boxed cake mix if it makes your life easier.

Step 2- Bake off cupcakes. The trick here is that you don’t want to fill the cupcake papers with as much batter as you normally would for a cupcake. You just want the cupcakes to bake up to fill the cup half way. That way you have plenty of room for the ice cream. I used about 2 Tablespoons of cake batter per cupcake tin.

Step 3- Remove ice cream from the freezer to soften. Let cupcakes cool. And clean out your freezer if you’re making 48 ice cream cupcakes. You’ll need lots of space!

Step 4- Run a spoon under hot water to warm it slightly. Working with the cupcakes still in their baking pans, quickly scoop ice cream into each cupcake. Smooth as much as possible. If the spoon becomes difficult to work with, run it under warm water again to clean and warm it, and continue working.

Step 5- Once cupcakes are all topped with ice cream. Return to the freezer for at least 2 hours. Give them time to firm up.

Step 6- Make Chocolate Ganache. The recipe is simple, and this chocolate sauce freezes perfectly on top of the cupcakes.

Chocolate Ganache

3/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (I used chocolate chunks)

1/4 cup heavy cream

Put chocolate chips in a small bowl. Bring cream to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan. Pour cream evenly over chocolate. Let stand for one minute to soften, then stir until smooth. If frosting is too loose to spread, let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, frosting will continue to thicken as it stands.

Step 7- Remove the frozen cupcakes from the freezer and place on a serving plate. Top each Ice Cream Cupcake with chocolate ganache and decorate with sprinkles. Return to the freezer to harden the ganache. Serve and eat quickly!

Animated ClipArt

I often need animated clipart but so many clipart sites have SO MANY pop-ups! I can't stand it. This is one I found that is free and is relatively ad-free. I can never remember it, though, so I'm putting it here.

AMAZING ANIMATIONS

And my all-time favorite place for free clipart, including animated ones is Discovery Education's School Resource section. They have some of the cutest and most original clipart.

Best Glasses?

I hear that these are some of the best glasses. Picardie Bistro Glasses are the iconic glass of French cafés and bistros. They are made of tempered glass and so they are very difficult to break. They are also good for both hot and cold drinks; "the smallest ones are perfect for an espresso with a dollop of steamed milk; the medium sizes are just right for a cocktail or bedtime glass of water; and the largest size hold an entire can of soda water. They have a vintage charm but a practical durability."

But my question, living in a small loft in the city, do they stack???

Cupcakes in Chicago

Yesterday I added a blog all about cupcakes. These are the places that are in Chicago. Next time I need cupcakes, I'll know where to go.

Alliance Bakery
Chicago Cupcakes
Molly's Cupcakes
Sugar Bliss
Swirlz

NetFlix for Books?

Yep. At Booksfree you can pay a monthly fee and borrow from a library of 40,000 paperbooks and return them when you're finished. Seems like a good deal for someone who doesn't have easy access to a library. They also have audio books. Prices range from $9.99 for 2 books at a time to $37.99 for 12 books at a time.

Dining Etiquette - UPDATED

I've been at several dining events in the last year with people I assumed should know the proper placement of dishes on the table. In a group where I'm the youngest, why am I the only one who knew? Anyway, here's an easy way to remember it: BMW (bread, meal, water). Your bread plate is on the left and your glasses on the right. Left to right...bread, meal, water.

Update: One more thing...
When you are finished eating, your utensils should be placed diagonally on the plate, side by side, with the handles at four o'clock. The knife blade should face the center of the plate.

City Info

A few websites I use if I'm visiting a city and want info on dining, hotels, shows, festivals, etc.

CitySearch
Digital City
Trip Advisor
Metromix (limited to larger cities)

PotLifter

I don't really move a lot of stuff, but the PotLifter looks like it would be really helpful if I did.

Dishwashers

It's official! It's in writing and I'm proven right!
"Most new dishwashers are so powerful that there's no need to prerinse dishes. So you save time - and water."
Argument over.

Angel Lush with Pineapple

This is one of those easy ones you always see in magazines. I always say I'm going to remember it to have for those last-minute needs.

1 pkg (4-serving size) instant vanilla pudding
1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
1 cup thawed Cool Whip
1 prepared angel food cake
1 cup fresh berries

Mix dry pudding mix and pineapple in medium bowl. Gently stir in Cool Whip.

Cut cake horizontally into 3 layers. Place bottom cake layer on serving plate; top with 1/3 pudding. Repeat layers twice.

Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Top with berries before serving.

Strawberry Whipped Sensation

4 cups fresh strawberries, divided
1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tub (8oz) Cool Whip, thawed, divided
8 Oreo's, finely chopped
1 Tbs butter, melted

Line loaf pan with foil. Mash 2 cups of strawberries in large bowl. Stir in condensed milk, juice, and 2 cups of Cool Whip; pour into pan.

Top with Combined chopped cookies and butter; press into mixture. Cover.

Freeze at least 6 hours. Invert onto plate. Remove goil. Frost with remaining Cool Whip. Top with remaining strawberries, sliced.

12 servings

Crispy Pacific Cod with Parmesan-butter Dipping Sauce

1 lb. Pacific cod, skin removed and cut into 2.5-inch-long pieces
2 tsp. olive oil
Kosher salt
1/2 cup corn flakes, crushed
1 stick of unsalted butter
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Heat oven to 400. Rub the cod with the oil and season with 1/4 tsp salt. Dip the top side of the fish pieces (not the bottom side, from which the skin has been removed) in the corn flakes and place on a parchment or foil-lined baking sheet. Bake until just cooked through and opaque, about 10 minutes. In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the Parmesan and 1/4 tsp salt. Serve butter with fish for dipping.

Best Cuticle Trimmer

This La Cross Cuticle Trimmer was voted #1. I'll have to try it...I have a favorite that they don't make anymore!

Best Peanut Satay

I love peanut satay and this was voted #1. I haven't looked for it yet in the store, so I don't know if I can find it.

Sharwood's Indonesian Satay Curry

Tranferring Cassettes and Videos

I have a few cassettes of me singing when I was a kid. Audiomover will transfer those cassettes to CD or MP3.

I'd also like to have our wedding video tape transferred to a DVD. VHStoDVD can do that.

Helpful Blogs

Here are some blogs that might be worth checking out. They are all right up my alley.

Apartment Therapy - decorating ideas for homes of all sizes
Hostess Blog - all kinds of info on entertaining paraphernelia
Unclutterer - strategies and products to help with all our "stuff"
Cupcakes Take the Cake - news, trends and photos, all about CUPCAKES!
Budget Fashionista - deals on clothes and accessories
Omiru - "style for all"
The Sartorialist - a fashion-loving photographer posts stylish looks of real people from city streets around the world.

Note Clips

Man, I'd be in heaven with these things! Clip-Rite Clip-Tabs combine a paper clip with a sticky note. You can instantly clip and tab documents — at the same time! (Yes, I get excited about small things.)

Measurement Cheating

I have 2 different magnets like this on my refrigerator that help me with measurement conversions. I just can't remember any of those that I learned in 4th grade! This Mix-n-Measure also looks like a great idea. The 16-ounce cup includes measurements for teaspoons and tablespoons, cups, ounces with breakdowns for "tumbler", "wine glass", "teacup" and more, grams, and milliliters. I'll guess I'll have to add this to my wish list.

No more rust rings

If you have a container of some kind (like a shaving cream can) that rusts and leaves a ring in your bathtub, you can paint a thin layer of clear nail polish around the base of the can and that will keep it from rusting.

Clip-On Earrings

I have a lot of my mother's jewelry, including clip-on earrings. I have pierced ears, so I don't have much use for them. However, I recently saw that jewel-studded clip-on earrings can be used to dress up a pair of pumps. Attach them slightly off center, and it looks pretty cool.

PlanningWiz

This is the best online room mapping tool that I've seen yet. I've used several in the past when I've moved to a new place, re-arranged a room or even re-arranged my office. I'd rather "see" it before I start moving furniture around! PlanningWiz is great.
(ht: Matthew)

Travel Shampoo and Conditioner

I believe I read about this travel tip (or maybe my husband told me about it) but just hadn't gotten around to posting it here yet. I tried it this weekend and it works great.

I filled an old contact case with shampoo on one side and conditioner on the other. Then carried that with me on my trip. It's enough for one shower and doesn't take up much space in my toiletry bag. I actually had several old contact cases so I filled up two. It obviously wouldn't work on a long trip or if you had really long hair or like A LOT of shampoo, but for a short trip, it was great for me!

Creamed Eggs

I'm visiting my Dad and he made a breakfast recipe that he made when I was a kid. I've always wanted the recipe. I got it from him tonight, so I'm posting it here before I forget it. They may not sound good, but they are!!!

1 stick of butter
1/2 cup flour
2 cups cold milk
2 cups shredded cheddar
salt and pepper to taste
6 boiled eggs

Melt butter in saucepan. Add in flour and stir slowly as it thickens. Add milk and cheese and stir until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Slice boiled eggs and add to sauce. Serve over toast or biscuit. Yummy!

Plantwire

Plantwire is a fun, easy way to find and learn about plants. Information is provided on many of the world's most beautiful, interesting, and important plants.

You can search by plant name, flower color, or by tags. The database now includes over 300 plants and is growing quickly. More than 6000 images are included.

Greeting Card Organization

This was a tip that was sent to me...BUT I already do it! But I thought I'd share it here.

Quick Tip: If you send out a bunch of birthday cards, consider doing them all at once. Write the date they need to be sent where the stamp goes and keep them in chronological order. When you mail them out the stamp will cover the date.

Google Health

(Well, it may take me a while to get all my "health" recorded, but it looks kinda cool.)

Google Health puts you in charge of your health information. It's safe, secure, and free.

• Organize your health information all in one place
• Gather your medical records from doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies
• Keep your doctors up to date about your health
• Be more informed about important health issues

SeatGuru and TripKick

I thought I had already posted about SeatGuru. You can look up any seat on any airplane with any airline and it will tell you which seats are best to book. Maybe not a huge deal for short flights, but priceless for long ones!

Now there is TripKick that will tell you the best rooms to book at a particular hotel. I looked up the Drake Hotel in Chicago

How to Pit an Avocado

I thought I knew how...but I didn't know the last trick!
Check out the handy video.

Mood Swings

Pick your mood, click the button and Wild Mood Swings will open an appropriate website in a new window.

I put in "moany" and was led to a website on how to complain.
I put in "on top of the world" and was led to the astronomy picture of the day.

Kinda cool.

Forkchops

I don't know when I'd ever need these, but I just have this feeling that one day I might!!

Fork, Knife, Chopsticks!
FORKCHOPS

TravelZoo's Top 20

I love this new email subscription! TravelZoo's Top 20. Every week you get an email with the top 20 travel deals for that week...hotels, flights, car rentals, etc. I haven't used any yet, but I hope that one day it will lead to my dream of a spontaneous trip to a fun place! You can sign up here.

DelayCast

DelayCast is a website that can tell travelers the chance of encountering delays on a particular trip. I'll have to try it out next time I travel!

Cookthink

Wouldn't it be cool to have a tool that could listen to what you were craving and then suggest something good to cook? Cookthink is that tool. To find a recipe based on what you're craving, tell Cookthink what you want, choose ingredients, what kind of cuisine you want and what mood you're in.

For ingredient, I chose cheese. For cuisine, I chose middle-eastern. For mood, I chose excited. Cookthink suggested Asparagus-Fontina Gratin, which sounded great to me!

ZIPSkinny

This is a cool website that gives stats, demographics, maps, and school information of any zip code.

Food Blog

My husband sent this food blog to me...some pretty tasty stuff.
BlakeMakes

Wikitravel

Wikitravel is a project to create a free, complete, up-to-date, and reliable worldwide travel guide. So far we have 18,478 destination guides and other articles written and edited by Wikitravellers from around the globe.

Dry Skin Remedy

This lotion was recommended to me by a friend. I haven't tried it yet, but will next winter!

Hand and Foot Smoother Retexturizing Seaweed Therapy

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Eclair Dessert

This is one I want to try...haven't yet.

1 3/4 cup milk
1 small box of instant vanilla pudding
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 8 oz tub of Cool Whip, thawed
24 graham crackers
6 square of semi-sweet baking chocolate
3 Tbs. butter

Pour milk into large bowl. Add pudding and mix until well blended. Add peanut butter and stir. Gently stir in Cool Whip. Layer 1/3 of the graham crackers and half the pudding mixture in a 9x13 dish, breaking crackers if needed. Repeat layers. Top with remaining grahams.

Microwave chocolate and butter on high for 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Spread evenly over crackers.

Refrigerate for at least 8 hours.

Russian Chicken

This recipe doesn't sound good, but it is!

1 large bottle of Russian salad dressing
10 oz. apricot preserves
1 packet of Lipton dry onion soup mix
1 cup mayonnaise
6-8 Boneless Chicken Breasts

Mix the first 4 ingredients together and pour over chicken breasts. Cover and cook at 400 degrees for 45 minutes.

Coma Cake

This is a new cake recipe I've made several times recently. My husband has begun to refer to it as "Coma Cake" because he claims it puts you into a coma shortly after eating it. It's easy and good!

1 box of yellow cake mix
1 large box of instant chocolate pudding
1 cup of sour cream
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup warm water
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
Cool Whip

Mix the first 6 ingredients until smooth. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour into a bundt pan and cook at 350 degrees for one hour. (I've had to use different sized pans...but made sure to adjust my cooking time.)

You can drizzle some dark chocolate over the top and serve with Cool Whip.

How many bottles needed?

Equation:
# of guests x # of hours/12 = # of bottles needed

(Assuming that the average guest will consume one 1.5oz cocktail per hour and that each 750 mL bottle of liquor serves an estimated 12 cocktails.)

Best Concealers

Best Overall:
MAC Studio Touch-Up Stick

Best for Under Eyes:
Rimmel Recover Anti-Fatigue Concealer

Best for Aging Skin:
Chanel Pro Lumiere Correcteur

Best for Acne:
Benefit Galactic Shield

Salmon with Basil Oil

I've never been able to make salmon to my liking. Maybe this one will work.

4 6-oz salmon fillets, skin removed
1 tsp kosher salt
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp black pepper

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a bowl half-way with ice water. Set broiler on high. Place the salmon on a foil-lined pan and season with 1/4 tsp of the salt. Cook, without turning, until the salmon is the same color throughout and flakes easily, 7-10 minutes, depending on thickness. Set aside. Meanwhile, add the basil to the pot and cook for 5 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the basil to the ice water. Drain and squeeze to remove the excess water. Place on a paper towel and pat dry. Place the basil, oil, pepper, and the remaining salt in a blender and puree until smooth. Transfer the salmon to individual plates and drizzle with the basil oil

Gmaps Pedometer

Google's Gmaps Pedometer allows you to trace a path you've walked and it calculates the miles and even calories. It's pretty cool!

To get started, type your zip code into the "Jump To" field. Then press "Start Recording". Double click to make marks along your path.

(It even works for Singapore!)

Smashed White Bean and Avocado Club

2 15-oz cans white beans, rinsed and drained
2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
12 slices multigrain bread
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 cucumber, seedless and sliced thin
1 4-5oz container of sprouts
2 avocados, pitted and thinly sliced

In a medium bowl, combine the beans, oil, salt, and pepper. Roughly mash the mixture with the back of a fork. Place mixture on bread and top with onion, cucumber, sprouts and avocado.

Basil Beer Bread

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
One 1 1/4-oz package of active dry yeast
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 cup (3 oz) grated Parmesan
1 12-oz bottle of beer, preferable ale
1 cup chopped or torn fresh basil

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Oil a baking sheet. In the bowl of a standing mixer on low or in a large bowl with a spoon, combine the flour, yeast, salt, pepper and Parmesan. Add the beer and mix just until the dough comes together. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle with basil and knead gently until incorporated. Shape the dough into a round loaf and transfer to the prepared sheet. Bake until the loaf is lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Turn the loaf onto a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

Sesame Chicken

I love sesame chicken but can rarely find it the way I like it in restaurants. Maybe I'll like this one.

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 Tbs soy sauce
3 Tbs light brown sugar
2 Tbs sesame seeds, toasted

Cut chicken into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Heat the soy sauce and brown sugar in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, add the chicken and saute until cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to a bowl and repeat with rest of chicken. Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the chicken and toss to coat.

Tomatillo Roll-Up

I can't wait to try this one.

1 3-4lb rotisserie chicken, shredded
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup tomatillo sauce (also called green salsa)
3 Roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 head of broccoli, cut into small florets and steamed
4 pieces of thin flat bread or tortillas, warmed
2 avocados, one diced and one sliced
1 lime, cut into wedges

Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl. Add the steamed broccoli and toss. Divide the mixture into tortillas, top with diced avocado and roll up. Serve with remaining avocado and limes.

Food Safe Cleaners

Who knew there was such a thing? I've always wondered as I was spraying stuff in the kitchen if the drops were landing on anything that might eventually end up in my mouth and if that was a bad thing. Who knows! It could be a ploy to get me to buy one more cleaning solution. But I guess I could try Lysol Food Surface Sanitizer.

Sponge Care

I've always put my dish sponges in the dishwasher to clean and de-germ them. Apparently, though, you should put them in the microwave for one minute.

Take care of your Tootsies

I've had a lot more blisters lately than normal, mainly because I have to wear high heels and stand on my feet way more than I used to. I've blogged about my constant travel companion, Band-Aid Blister Block Cushions. (I even have one on now.) But here's some more helpful reminders for achy feet.

1. SofSol True Comfort Sooth - anti-friction balm that prevents blisters, for runners, but recommended for strappy sandals too!
2. Aerosole Shoes - I have had many pairs over the years, and highly recommend them. I'm hoping to get something from their sandal line for summer.
3. Airplus for Her Ball-of-Foot Cushions - perfect for making high heels a little more tolerable.

Online Coupons and Deals

I haven't had a chance to look at these and see if they are really worth it, but I plan to come back to them and figure it out. I should be using more coupons in my life.

Coupon Cart
Fat Wallet
Tech Bargains
Slick Deals

Gas Buddy

With gas so expensive these days, this is a handy website. Find the lowest price near your home at Gas Buddy.