Sing It Whitney

I went looking for a video to post for you for the 4th of July holiday and I am so thankful that I stumbled upon this one. It is truly inspirational. Not only is it by one of my favorite singers of all time, but it also brings with it a sense of true patriotism.

Here she is, one of the most talented singers of all time, Whitney Houston singing The Star Spangled Banner!

Have a happy and safe 4th of July weekend!

Almost There!

I love the Bonnie Hunt show and one of my favorite things she does is give the audience and viewers a feel good moment of the day. My week seems to be never ending, so I thought this particular feel good moment would be fitting.

If you’re feeling the same… just remember, you’re almost there!

7 Mistakes Green-ies Make

I’m a pretty avid “green-ie”. Meaning I like all things green and do whatever I can to keep this world healthy and beautiful. But, I am human, and often make vital “green” mistakes, as I’m sure many eco-friendly folks do. The worst part is, most people never realize it!

Earth911 has created a list of the 7 most common mistakes people make when attempting to keep their lives green. I can say, as I hang my head in shame, that I am guilty of some of them. The key to being green is to do your research. Don’t think that because you label yourself eco-friendly and you don’t litter that you probably aren’t making plenty of “eco-no-no’s”.

Buy The Best Meat For Your Buck

By the first day of Spring I am only thinking one thing… time to start grilling out. I think the desire comes from all the fond childhood memories of summer that were always accompanied by the smell of someone grilling nearby. Now that I have a family and home of my own,  it’s my turn to provide that sweet smell.  I only wish that, as it was back then, I wasn’t having to foot the bill for the ingredients.  I’m no good at buying meat so I usually leave it to my husband, but he tends to get the really good stuff that makes my eyes about pop out of my head when I see the receipt. I’ll admit the taste is amazing but there has to be a cheaper solution to my NEED for grilling .

I guess that someone heard my cry because Shine from Yahoo has given me a solution! Check out this article on how to buy the best meat for your buck. With this information, I can go to the store with my husband and reign him in when he goes steak-happy. Thanks Yahoo!

Diet Destroyers To Avoid

I can’t believe it is bathing suit season already. I don’t know about you but I’m a little nervous about dusting off my swim suit. Let’s face it, it’s been a stressful year and so many of us are not be in the shape that we would like.  We have dieted, cut back on sweets, and started exercising regularly. But still there are moments of weakness and we run off the diet track. TV’s Dr Oz has a remedy for falling off the diet track… beware the diet destroyers!

In his Ultimate Summer Slim Down, Dr. Oz presents us with some very important secrets to help us stay on the diet path. There are temptations all around us that would like nothing more than deter us from staying on the right path. I couldn’t believe when I read the list that these things are actually powerful diet destroyers.

1. Transparent Bowls – Studies have shown that people eat more when they can see inside containers. Choosing ceramic over clear plastic will offer less temptation and keep you from following the voice of your tummy.
2. Warm Colors -  surrounding yourself with warm colors can destroy your diet! Strange I know but believe it or not, cool colors like blue are natural appetite suppressants. Paint party anyone?
3. Dim Light – People eat more when they can’t see their food as well.  So turn on the lights and keep away from those dim restaurant booths. Sneaky sneaky.
4. Floral Centerpieces – Smelling fruit actually causes people to eat LESS. So, ditch the flowers and go for a fruit centerpiece instead.

By steering clear of these diet destroyers you and I both can get bathing suit ready in no time!

What NOT To Feed Your Pets

It’s pretty common knowledge that you shouldn’t feed your pets chocolate. There’s something about it that just doesn’t set right with them, but what exactly. Speaking of which, what are some other things that you should avoid feeding your pets? Sometimes they get into the grossest things and eat garbage or grass and seem to be okay, so are there really that many things that you shouldn’t feed them? YES! A lot more than you would think actually!

Thanks to RealSimple.com, you have a full list of the basic things you should avoid feeding your pets! Some of them I already knew or assumed, but others I never would have thought of.  I’ve even fed my pets some of these things without realizing it wasn’t good for them!

For example, I never knew that feeding a dog macadamia nuts could actually cause muscle and nervous-system problems.  Or that giving a grape to your cat could severely damage their kidneys.  I would have never thought that those things could be harmful. Shows how much I know!

Take a look at the list and see how many things are actually very problematic for your pets. We love our furry friends, so remember what things are big NO-NO’s for them!

Innovation… In Furniture?

My entire bedroom can be transported in a box that is less than 3 feet by 4 feet. Seriously, bed, desk, dresser, shelves, chair, night stands, the works. Don’t believe me? Understandable. My arm chair is also a sofa and a lounger. What do you think about that? I’m sure you are looking at your own furniture right now trying to picture how it’s even possible. Well, believe me, it is!

Transforming furniture is the latest in innovative creations that can quickly simplify your life. There are fewer materials for more uses, sustainable, and what’s better than owning things that can easily change form. It’s like being a kid again! Take a look at the link above to see some of what I’m talking about. Some of them are a bit impractical, but others are beyond useful and just plain cool!

What types of transforming furniture would you put in your home?

Indie Love

I love music. Period. And I like to listen to all types of music no matter what labels are thrown across it. But, In my opinion, the best music out there is music that isn’t mainstream. We all know the world loves the Black Eyed Peas and Lady GaGa, but it seems like there just isn’t enough HEART in the “popular” music. That’s why I go searching for underground or indie music. You can feel the heart in the songs far more than anything on MTV. And yes, it is true that some of these bands turn “pop” when they start making the big bucks, but there’s nothing you can do about. A great example is The Black Eyed Peas. There was a time before Fergie joined the group where they were strictly hip-hop and each member was featured in the songs, not just Will.I.Am. Of course we all know they added Fergie and hit gold but what are you gonna do?

Now, there are bands like Passion Pit, Phoenix and Manchester Orchestra that are the labeled indie bands. Passion Pit actually gained their following after the lead singer “accidentally” formed a band. He made a CD for his then college girlfriend that spread like wildfire and the rest is history. Phoenix isn’t necessarily an indie band per se because they’ve been around for a decade, but are from France and haven’t had a chance at the American market until now. Manchester Orchestra is a small band from Georgia that got their start in high school and have progressed to radio status. All I’m saying is, if you want to get some real music, find the indie groups and look for the heart.

Reverse Phone Lookup

Have you ever looked down at your cell phone at a number you don’t recognize at all? You don’t answer and wait to see if they leave a message. If they do you are in the clear and know who called. If not, you’re now sitting with an unknown number from a mystery caller. Personally, this drives me a bit batty. I like to know whose calling me, even if it was a wrong number, that way I know if I’m missing something important. I just read an article in the Herald Sun that first sparked my interest, then got me really concerned. It’s all about reverse phone lookups online. Essentially you can log on to a specific site and type in any phone number and get the basic personal information about the owner of the number. Pretty helpful if you REALLY need to know who called you. Then I got to thinking… you mean for $39.95 anyone can access my name and location from the internet… not cool. It’s called the phone detective and if you ask me, it’s one service that gives people way too much information. I know that you can Google any land line to get information, and that is scary as it is, but now if you pay for the service, you can get cell phone information as well? I don’t approve.

There are too many freaks and crazies in the world that giving this much power over information is just dangerous. What do you think?

Cinco De Mayo CREAMY Jalapeno Dip

When it comes to celebrating Cinco de Mayo, it all starts with the perfect chip dip selection. Salsa is a no-brainer and guacamole is always great, but today my friends, heat is the word. I found this AMAZING recipe from RecipeZaar.com and had to share it with everyone else! It’s a creamy jalapeno dip and it’s not only delicious but simple to make as well! All you need is:

1 1/3 cups mayonnaise
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup chopped jalapeno
1/3 cup green chilies
1/3 cup cilantro leaf
1 (1 oz.) packet dry ranch dressing mix

Simply give ALL the ingredients a ride in the food processor until they are blended smooth! Serve with tortilla chips or as a spicy salad dressing!

Yes, this Cinco de Mayo is looking pretty tasty!

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