Friday, December 31, 2010

Blizzard on the Beach!

I'm back from my mini vacation to Atlantic City where I got to experience a first....snow on the beach! A blizzard actually. If you've never seen snow on the sand, you'll wanna check out some of the pictures below:














Monday, December 20, 2010

Cinnamon Roll French Toast

Since I'm on vacation and have time to cook breakfast, I thought I'd try out this recipe I've had for a while and been wanting to try:


INGREDIENTS
1can (12.4 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing
2eggs
2/3cup milk
4tablespoons maple syrup
1teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS
1. Bake cinnamon rolls as directed on package. Let rolls cool completely.












2. Spray griddle or 10-inch skillet with cooking spray; heat griddle to 375°F or heat skillet over medium heat. Slice each roll in half crosswise.












3. In a shallow dish, whisk eggs, milk, 2 tablespoons of the maple syrup and the vanilla until blended. Dip each cinnamon roll slice into egg mixture, turning to coat completely. Place on griddle. Cook about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown.



















4. In small bowl, whisk reserved icing, the remaining 2 tablespoons maple syrup and enough warm water to create a pourable syrup consistency. I love vanilla, so I added a little to this mixture.



















Serve over French toast...Jay stopped by on his way to work and he's a picky heater. This recipe passed the Jay test!

Monday, December 6, 2010

The 5 Christmas presents that will SAVE money

Giving someone money for Christmas is weird, unless they're your kid. So it's better to do it indirectly. If someone you know is struggling financially this year, there are five Christmas presents that will save them money and here they are:

#1.) A Filtered Water Bottle. It purifies regular tap water while you drink from it, and they go for about $15 at Target. If the person you give it to normally buys one bottle of water a day, your present could save them hundreds of dollars a year.

#2.) The Belkin Energy-Saving Power Strip. TVs and computers suck up power even when they're turned off. And unlike normal power strips, the Belkin Energy Saver prevents it from happening.

--It costs about $40, which is a lot for a power-strip. But it can reduce your electric bill by about that much every year. On the downside . . . you're giving someone a POWER STRIP for Christmas.

#3.) An Electronic Thermostat. They cost $30 at Home Depot, and they're programmable, which means the person can set it to automatically adjust the temperature when no one's home.

--And according to the Alliance to Save Energy, replacing an old thermostat with a PROGRAMMABLE one can shave 10% off an average person's heating or air-conditioning bill.

#4.) A Half-Decent Coffee Maker. If the person you're buying a gift for goes to Starbucks every morning, a nice coffee-maker can save them in the high hundreds over the course of a year.

--Plus, the regular coffee they make at home will have a fraction of the calories that lattes and mochas have. You can get a cheap coffee maker at Wal-Mart for around $15, or a nice one for about $100.

#5.) The Roku. It's a little box that plugs into your TV and lets you watch thousands of HD movies online for free. They start at about $70 and go up in price. But if the person loves watching movies, it'll help them save on rentals.

--Just make sure it's not a waste of money, because if the person has a Playstation 3, an Xbox 360, or a Wii, they can already access the same movies. And the BIG catch is, they need to have a Netflix account to watch most of the free stuff.

--If you want to be extra nice this year and sign them up for Netflix TOO, subscriptions start at $8 a month, which is about $100 for a full year.

10 Secrets of Great Moms


I found this interesting list of 10 secrets of great moms from Redbook magazine. Who knew?

Gather Helping Hands. Enlist everyone you can to help you. Just because you're a mother, that doesn't mean you have to be Wonder Woman.

Help Homework Happen. As soon as your kids get home from school, set them up for homework time, with each child at his or her own station in the kitchen so that they don't mix up their papers. Then find something to do in the vicinity so that you're nearby for help if they need it, but not hovering over them.

Put Nightmares to Bed. When your child has nightmares, here's how to ward off 'monsters': Use a battery-operated handheld fan to chase them away, and fill a spray bottle with 'Go-Away Monster Spray.' Then lie in bed with your child and ask him what he'd like to dream about, suggesting pleasant things like sharing an ice cream cone or building a sand castle on the beach.

Win the Sweets War. Serve your kids whatever you plan to feed them for dinner, including a small portion of dessert, all together on those plastic sectioned character plates (Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob are their favorites). Each area has chicken, rice, salad, and a Popsicle, or something similar. I don't bug them to eat the veggies before the treat, so even if they have dessert first, it's small enough that they don't fill up -- therefore they always move on to eat a nice amount of dinner. It works like a charm.

Get Feelings Out There, Good and Bad. When there is a cranky child on your hands, swoop them into your lap and say, It's time to complain, so let's complain together. Oh, I feel so angry, or hurt, or sad,' hugging her the whole time and letting her be cranky. After a while, she felt soothed and ready to move on. Also, she learned to put words to her feelings.

Banish Boo-Boo Fears. If the sight of blood terrifies your child, use dark washcloths to clean up cuts and scrapes. Better yet, try storing the cloths in plastic bags in the freezer -- the coldness will help with pain relief.

Make Bath Time a Treat. When your kids are babies and it comes time to bathe them, drop the bottles of soap and lotion into the warm bathwater. That way, when you lather them up, they'll feel nice and warm and won't get a chill.

Prioritize Family Dinner. If you're having a tough time with your kids being rebellious, start enforcing family dinner with no TV, no phones, and no guests -- just your family. Talk about school, homework, and other concerns the kids might have, and sharing these nightly times together should really improve your kids behavior.

Sleep Easy. Put the baby bassinet in the living room during the day, especially if you have other children. Your baby will become accustomed to the noises, and then she'll be able to take a nap anywhere!

Teach the Value of Friendship. When your child is down in the dumps because a child at school doesn't like her/him, Ask them about another kid who you've noticed that's been treated poorly.
Tell them maybe they could be friends. Tell her a good friend is more valuable than any amount of popularity.

There's passion hidden in your soup!


The soup you slurp does more than take the chill off a cold day. Psychologists have discovered an astonishing link between what you ladle into a bowl and what kind of man will really bring your passion to a boil. A woman's choice of soup reveals her ideal fantasy man, says psychiatric researcher Miriam Douglas of Cincinnati, OH.

• French onion -- You have a daring, adventurous personality, and you're always ready for a challenge. Chances are you're attracted to men with similar tastes, and you can best bond with them by sharing some electrifying experiences.

• Chicken noodle -- You're a warm-hearted, nurturing woman who places your sweetheart at the center of your world. Smart men are a real turn-on for you, and you show your love by thoroughly pampering your honey.

• Vegetable -- You're a responsible person who looks for a man who's a true partner, sharing in all decisions. And if your sweetie gives you the high degree of devotion you crave, you'll shower him with affection in return.

• Clam chowder -- You have a habit of falling in love with love, and your taste for novelty may keep you changing partners on a regular basis. Don't be so quick to rush from man to man because you could miss your soul mate in the shuffle.

• Cream of Tomato -- You yearn for the good life, and an ambitious man with a lot on the ball is right down your alley. You're willing to work right alongside him to achieve the financial security you must have to be happy.

• Baked potato -- You're a straight shooter who demands a matching honesty from your mate. Most importantly, if a man shares your strong sense of community and volunteerism, he's sure to win your heart.

How to stand out at your company Christmas party


Office holiday parties are a great way to meet people, mingle and make the kind of small talk that can help advance your career. That is, unless you handle it badly. Then it could derail it. So what can you say that will make you stand out in a good way? Martin M. Antony, a professor of psychology at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario and the author of "10 Simple Solutions to Shyness," says you should reach out to someone by smiling, making eye contact and just being approachable. Show that you are open to conversation. And when the talking begins, this is what you say:

1. Give compliments -- Offer someone else a compliment, but make sure you are honest and don't overdo it. If you receive one in return and feel uncomfortable, just say "Thank you." Don't discount the praise by telling the person all the reasons why you don't deserve it.

2. Join an ongoing conversation -- At a party, it is perfectly appropriate to join an ongoing conversation. People often walk about, moving in and out of different conversations. See if you can join in with a group of people who are discussing something that interests you.

3. Be prepared -- Have some topics of conversation prepared, but make sure to actually listen to the other person rather than rehearsing what you'll say next.

4. Ask questions -- Be curious and intrigued about other people and their lives and interests.

5. Be positive -- People respond better to positive statements than negative.

6. Use active listening skills -- Reflect back that you are understanding what the other person is saying. Paraphrase what they say, ask for clarification and provide feedback.

7. Try to talk about things other than work -- Take the opportunity to get to know people on a personal level.

8. Include your date in conversations by finding common interests -- This is especially important if your date is shy or doesn't know anyone else but you.

9. Stick to neutral topics -- Just like your grandmother advised, don't talk about religion, politics or sex.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Just made the most AMAZING dinner!

Jay Long and I went to SKH and picked up some groceries to make this amazing recipe. I promise you, it's delish!

Beef Sirloin Steak with Baby Spinach


Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 boneless beef sirloin steak, 3/4-inch thick (about 1 pound), cut into 4 pieces
1 large onion, sliced (about 1 cup)
1 small red pepper, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed
1 bag (about 7 ounces) fresh baby spinach
Hot mashed potatoes

Instructions
1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until well browned on both sides. Remove the beef from the skillet. Pour off any fat.
2. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet. Add the onion and pepper and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook until the vegetables are tender-crisp, stirring often.
3. Stir the soup, water, vinegar and rosemary in the skillet and heat to a boil. Return the beef to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the spinach. Cover and cook the beef for 2 minutes for medium or until desired doneness. Serve the beef and vegetable mixture with the potatoes.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Stilettos for Yard Work? Yup!

Shoe maker Teva and New York clothing company Grey Ant have teamed up to bring us a stiletto shoe for the outdoorsy types. The fashion abomination is available in two colors (black or tan) and are currently retailing for $330.

I totally love this new invention....

It's a shirt that displays the 4th Amendment when you go through airport scanners. Love it!

In case you need a refresher, this is what the 4th Amendment says:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

It's That Time Of Year Again, So Here's Your Holiday Tipping Guide:


It's December now, which means anyone who provides any kind of service is going to have their hand out for an extra end-of-the-year tip. Here's a guide on how much to tip each of them.


Child Care:

--Babysitter. One night's pay, plus a small gift from the child.

--Nanny. One week to one month's pay, plus a small gift from the child.

--Daycare provider. $20 to $70 each, plus a small gift from the child.

--Child's teacher. A gift.

--Coaches, tutors, music teachers, and dance teachers. A small gift from the child.


Home and Car Care:

--Housekeeper. One week's pay or more, depending on how long they've been with you.

--Garbageman. $15 to $20 each. (--Does anybody really do this one anymore?)

--Parking attendant. $10 to $35.

--Gardener. $20 to $50.

--Snow plow guy. $20 to $50.


Apartment:

--Doormen. $25 to $100 each.

--Superintendent/custodian. $50 to $300.

--Porter/handymen. $10 to $50 each.


Personal Care:

--Hairdresser. $20 to $100, plus a small gift.

--Manicurist. $10 to $50, plus a small gift.

--Personal trainer. $25 or the cost of one session.


Pet Care:

--Dog groomer. Small gift.

--Dog walker or pet sitter. Cost of one to two weeks' pay.


Delivery Services:

--Mailman. They can't accept cash gifts, so a gift under $20.

--UPS or FedEx guy. A gift under $25.

--Paper carrier. $15 to $25 for daily delivery, $5 to $15 for weekend delivery.