My Side of Life

Wordless Wednesday

2013-05-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

Identifying plants - Bachelor Buttons

2013-05-12T16:28:00.003-07:00

Couple years ago I bought a pound of wildflower seeds. There was no description about what flowers were inside and so this started the process of trying to identify the flowers. Since collecting seeds and sharing them with others it's best to know what you are sharing to start with! This weekend I finally figured out what this one flower was, took me months. I started looking up dazzling blue low growing wild flower- turns out the same flower came up in white, then pink. There went my searching prospects!

It may have taken me awhile but in the entire process of knowing what the seed looked like, the stem, leaves and then finally the flower I get to know the plant even better. Just like the Sunflower process I took pictures of I am learning plants, and flowers from seed to seed. It's fun and interesting.
These Bachelor Buttons grow about 35 inches tall. Long thin stem and spread out just like a button. So far I have seen the blue, white, and pale pink, but have been told they show up in purple.

Here is the Bachelor Button from seed to seed!

I think they have cute seeds!

You can tell the color of the Bachelor button when it hits this stage, look at the very tip and you can catch either a light color for white and pink or a dark one for purple or blue.

Blue seems to be dominate, I like the pale pink ones though. The whites and pinks seem to also be a little smaller than blue.

The pedals slowly die off and the seeds form right at the base o the pedals . You will collect them one all the pedals have gone pale in color and it starts looking dry. The seed pod will look fuzzy on top which will be the tops of the seed. Store in cool dry place!

Happy Mother's Day !

2013-05-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

2013-05-10T15:48:00.004-07:00

Hot days are upon us which means frozen treats are as well! My grandfather used to make his own ice cream during the winter with snow and a hand crank ice cream maker- The BEST ever ice cream I ever had. I miss that so much I have begun to make my own ice cream. Not with snow of course, though that would be a triple treat!
My friend gave me this and she says her mother copied it from a Better Homes and Garden book ( magazine?) Not sure which year but it is not my recipe.

Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients
1 whole vanilla bean
1 3/ 4 cups heavy cream
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar ( divide)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
5 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions
In heavy saucepan stir together cream, milk, half the sugar, and the salt and vanilla.
Heat this over medium-high heat until the mixture starts to bubble . Remove from heat and cover.
Place egg yolks in a medium bowl and whisk. Add in the remaining sugar until smooth. Set aside. Uncover the cream mixture and heat over medium-high heat until almost simmering. Reduce heat back to medium.
Using a ladle, scoop some of the hot cream, whisking constantly at the same time as you pour into yolks one scoop at a time. pour into yolks. Stirring constantly , slowly pour yolk mixture into hot cream in saucepan. Continue to cook on medium, stirring constantly and making sure you scrap the entire bottom of the pan. Make sure nothing burns. Cook until mixture goes from the consistency of heavy cream to that of a thin puree.
Remove the pan from heat and immediately pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring cup or small bowl.
Set the bowl in a larger bowl of ice water and stir frequently with a clean spatula until it is all cooled off. Remove and cover. You will refrigerate for at 3-4 hours until completely cold. Follow the ice cream maker instructions after this.

Enjoy!

Enchiladas made easy

2013-05-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

It's been so busy around here lately things seem to go at warp speed! Ever have days like that? With warmer days approaching and summer on it's way school projects are coming to a close and we've been scrambling to get other things done as well. Days like this I need a quick dinner to put together and I thought this one a friend gave to me was worth sharing.
Instead of using the more spicy sauce you normally use with Enchiladas this takes tomato paste. My kids enjoy this more but I still spice my own helping up more. Can't help it, I like the spice!

Ingredients

1 pound of beef
1 can diced tomatoes ( 14 oz) Drained, save the juice for later use
1 can tomato paste (6 oz)
1 medium onion chopped up ( about a half a cup)
3 teaspoons chili powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
about 10 flour tortillas ( the small 8 in ones)
2 cups four cheese shredded

*measure the tomato juice in a measuring cup and add enough water to make a total of 1/2 cup

Directions
Brown the beef and cook onion in a large skillet until heated through. Drain any of the fat out. Stir in the the tomatoes, the paste and the tomato juice water mixture along with seasonings. Mix well.
Line large baking dish with foil and spray with baking spray. Take the tortilla's and fill each one up with the beef mixture Roll up and place seam down. Finish the rest of the tortilla's . Top with any remaining beef mixture and add cheese on top. Cover with foil and stick in the fridge or bake right away.
Oven at 350F and cool for 35-40 minutes. Uncover the dish for the last 5 minutes and serve right away.
You can freeze these, just take out about 45 minutes before you want to bake.

This weeks good coupons

2013-05-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

Food

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Monster's University Activity sheets for the kids

2013-05-06T10:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some fun Activity sheets for the kids from Monster's University ! Use this link right here should take you to my Google docs ( let me know if there's a problem)

Garden Update

2013-05-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

The weather has been all over the place but this past week it was perfect for planting. Not to hot, which if planting in super hot weather could cause the plants to go into shock!.
What's happening in the garden now is a whole lot of everything!

Peas are climbing

More squash is growing, the copper mesh is protecting the young plants from pests

I've got chives going all over the place,

Tomatoes finally went into the ground. With the weather so up and down it's starting to effect the growth but I think they will take off quickly!

What's happening in your garden this week?

Wordless Wednesday

2013-05-01T17:20:00.001-07:00

Bees, copper and pests!

2013-04-29T15:18:00.004-07:00

I am late getting my Garden post up today. We were doing a lot this weekend. Saturday was spent outside in the garden and dodging bees. The overhang right infront of our door is over come by bees. It freaks the kids out but they are mason bees. Mason Bee's are important in the garden ( all bees are!) Mason Bee's though don't even bother with us really they only sting if you squeeze them ( why would you do that!!) Or step on them, which I have done, and I'll tell you it hurts less than it does other bees. They really do not bother with people, they are so focused on flowers they could care less with humans or pets. Mason bees are considered "safe".

Besides bees, we set up the pool. Each year same weekend long set up , this year no troubles and I cannot wait. I will be able to do water therapy at home from my recovering broken hip! Hopefully it will help me out with my never ending pain. It's overwhelming most days, never goes away and there's nothing much to do about it. Just keep fingers crossed that things mend in the next few months.

Garden news!
Copper, it's all about copper these days. Couple weeks back put couple wire in the garden, it was a so-so solution . Since then I put copper mesh in the garden around the most troublesome plants that get killed off within days if not hours ( literally) of sprouting. The squash mostly are the target.

I placed the mesh right over the areas I planted the seeds, places rocked around the edges to keep the copper down. So far so good. Nothing has touched them, while in another area the squash have vanished. My conclusion so far is copper is proving to be a really good thing to have in the garden. I haven't lost a plant to snails since putting the mesh down which makes it a win in my book!

What's happening in your garden?

Brood X $300 Home Depot Gift Card Giveaway!

2013-04-28T22:07:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Brood X $300 Home Depot Gift Card Giveaway!

Hosted by Giveaway Promote.

Sponsored by author Michael Phillip Cash.

Are you prepared for the invasion of Brood X? It's here and you need to get ready!

Nothing will stop this 17 year swarm from happening. All humanity can do is hope that they will not stay around long.

Introducing Michael Phillip Cash's new book, Brood X. It is available on Amazon and coming soon to online book stores near you. Now you can win a copy of Brood X and a $300 Home Depot Gift Card or $300 USD via PayPal to help you get prepared for the invasion!

About Brood X:

Seth is laid off from work. His wife Lara just found out they are expecting a baby this summer. Seth plans on documenting the entire pregnancy with his brand new digital camcorder.

During an evening home watching television, the news reports that a swarm of cicada (Brood Ten) are expected to overwhelm the entire Northeast.

Brood Ten is vicious and ready to invade.

During a sweltering summer night, Brood Ten emerges and wreaks havoc with the electric grid, phone and cell service, wi-fi, food and water supply. Civilization as they know it is gone.

Seth and Lara are thrown back to the stone age in their own home with trillions of cicada trying to deposit their eggs and breed.

Will Seth grow up and take responsibility for his family? Or will the devastating bugs destroy humanity?

About Michael Phillip Cash:

Born and raised on Long Island, Michael Phillip Cash has always had a fascination with horror writing and found footage films.
He wanted to incorporate both with his debut novel, Brood X. Earning a degree in English and an MBA, he has worked various jobs before settling into being a full-time author. He currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children.

Enter to win a $300 Home Depot Gift Certificate and a copy of Brood X.

Complete the tasks below to earn entries into this giveaway.

Refer your friends using your unique link at the top of the Rafflecopter for even more chances to win.

One winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries to receive a $300 Home Depot Gift Card or $300 USD via PayPal and a copy of Brood X (English version).

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Ends at 11:59pm EST on May 12th, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bloggers, we'd love for you to join an awesome group giveaway event like this one! Sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by Giveaway Promote.

This weeks coupons

2013-04-26T13:59:00.001-07:00

Food

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In the Home

EXPIRING COUPONS, Ending soon (in the next 7 days)
(Pays $0.42 Per-Print-Session + $0.18 "New User" Credit)
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It's a messy job but someone has to do it!

2013-04-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was trying to come up with a new granola recipe. Four batches later with the house smelling amazing I await for the dishes to cool. I had a whole idea going on, fruity granola bars and more. It looked great, came together great, baked great then I kept waiting for this one to set, but it never got to set. It looked too good, smelled to good.

It had the kids drooling. Warm tart cherries, brown sugar granola, you can't really let that get cold. So I waited maybe thirty minutes and cut into it while it was still warm unable to resist the sweet temptation
It was good but now I have to make another one to see if the recipe works and if the fruit sets.

It's a messy job but someone has to do it. :) I'll let you know if I actaully can let it cool off this time and will share the recipe!

Traces Of Kara Book Tour

2013-04-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Kara Knight can't wait to leave her hometown for the promise of nursing school and a fresh start on her future--leaving behind an over protective mother, a broken heart and painful memories. However, twenty-five miles away, the twin she doesn't know exists is determined to be reunited with the sister he cannot forget.

Kara is abducted and thrown into her obsessive captor's delusional world. As the past she thought she knew unravels around her, Kara struggles to make sense of the memories that come creeping back, threatening her sanity and her safety. Meanwhile, Kara's mother races against time to save the daughter she fears she will lose when a long-held secret is revealed. The hours tick away as her captor plays out his plan--to take Kara with him into death at the exact moment of their birth, never to be separated again.

TRACES OF KARA is an action packed, pulse pounding psychological thriller/suspense novel that features a determined killer who slowly loses his grip on reality as his
carefully detailed plan starts to fall apart and a heroine determined to move forward with her life who now must reconcile everything she believed to be true
about her family with the reality of their tragic past.

From International bestselling and award-winning author Melissa Foster comes her newest pulse-pounding thriller and Kindle Bestseller (Amazon US & UK)

Author Melissa Foster's Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads Pinterest

About Melissa Foster

Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of four International bestselling novels. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women's Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Cafe. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success.

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children, she's written for Calgary's Child
Magazine and Women Business Owners Magazine, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa's interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes
comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on The Women's Nest
or her personal website.

Buy the book from......

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Barnes and Noble

printed book ebook version

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

2 LUCKY WINNERS WILL EACH RECEIVE A

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Ending on Sunday 12th May at 11.59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!

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Garden News- Trouble is a brewing

2013-04-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

Each year I deal with several problems right off the bat, pests, weather, seedlings being knocked over which would be the kids fault or even my own. You name it, every year. Same thing. This year while most the garden is infact blooming, I'm having mysterious things happen. Little shavings of plants are showing up. Curly shavings.

I have no idea what is doing it.

Not only that, something is eating my beans.

Something is eating to the Daisy bush.

Something stole the baby zucchini plants right out of the ground! (I'd show you a picture but it would just be dirt!)

What is going on in my garden!?

Makeup Through the Ages

2013-04-18T15:13:00.000-07:00

Makeup is hardly something new in this day and age. In fact it's been around as long as civilization has been around! Check out the graphic below for a glance back in time with makeup!

Infographic provided byTEMPTU Airbrush Makeup Systems

Everest Nutrition Krill Oil- Review

2013-04-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

I'm a Mom of four, wife to a diabetic and in recovery from breaking my hip five months ago. Health is and always has been important in my life but it's even more of a focus ( not that it wasn't ever). We eat healthy, I even grow our own vegetables, we get our nutritious health from nature as much as possible. Even though you are healthy, eat healthy your body still may need something extra and the past few months I needed it .The need to focus even more on my health for recovery became top priority. Things had to change while I recovered and it started with my health. Most that have followed me know I changed my diet to help me recover faster and one of the things that's been added to my diet is Everest Nutrition Krill Oil.

What is Krill Oil? It's a Omega-3's which have amazing health benefits. What are some of the benefits of Omega 3 Krill Oil? Some of them are helping your heart, lowering cholesterol, even brain power for you! The biggest reason I added this Omega-3 into my daily routine is for the benefits of it's helpful anti inflammatory properties. I broke my hip in two places, nothing simple about that, and every day I fight inflammation while I recover. Every little bit helps when trying to keep it as low as possible.

While fish oils ( Omega- 3's) are an excellent addition to your diet, Krill oil is a little different and your body absorbs it easier even faster making it the best possible choice. You want the best benefits , and boosting your over all health is number one priority Krill oil is great for the entire family, even has studies to help blood sugar health which is a huge help for my husband battling diabetes. You take two capsules with your breakfast and are set for the day.

Going beyond the regular Krill Oil on the market, Everest Nutrition Krill Oil as an extra addition that your body needs. Astaxanthin <-- I had to look this up as I've never heard of it and it turns out it's a powerfully packed antioxidant that can help in many ways. Helps free some radicals from your body, helps over all health, skin, liver helps boost that immune system to fight off illnesses and if that's not even for you, it's been known to help fight off aging.

If you are already taking Fish oils, I highly recommend switching to Everest Nutrition Krill Oil for the maximum health benefits of much needed Omgea-3's. It's a great addition to your line up of supplements so check it out.

I was happy to participate in this Blog Friendly PR campaign. I received Krill Oil for this review and no other compensation was given , any and all opinions are my own as always.

Walk and Roll

2013-04-17T10:42:00.002-07:00

Our schools have been doing something called Walk and Roll to school the last few years. In the effort to reduce automobile use. The students have an option to walk, roll on a bike , scooter or skateboard, carpool with friends or even riding the two buses that go between the schools for our district. The bus itself is a green friendly as well.
They say if everyone in the school avoids five one mile trips to school by car in a month we would keep one ton of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere! Not only is it easy, you are getting exercise!

The kids who walk or roll to school get a raffle ticket for a chance to win some prices and for the whole month each Wednesday the kids are encouraged to find a better way to school. It's wonderful to see, we live just down the street from one school which has grades 4-6th there. So my son walks each morning, I also get other kids across the street as we live at the corner and they are dropped off right at our sidewalk. The other school which my two younger girls go too is about 5 minutes away but they encourage you to park a ways away and walk the rest which we have always done. We would walk the entire way but I am just not up to walking that far yet- still in recovery mode from breaking my hip.

It's important to get the kids involved early so they are more likely to pick up that habit and keep with it later in life. You can do your part as well and it's easy! Park further away from a store and enjoy the walk through the lot instead of fighting for the closets parking pace. Or if you live close by, try a walk if you aren't picking that much up. Start walking or riding your bike more, get the entire family involved! It will encourage the kids to get up and move more often and you will all benefit from it as well as the planet!

Do you already cut down on usage of cars? Does your community encourage a similar program like our Walk and Roll to school?

The Lone Ranger

2013-04-16T15:59:00.001-07:00

Have you seenany previews about The Lone Ranger? Here's the quick run down -

From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger,” a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.

“The Lone Ranger” also stars Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson and Helena Bonham Carter.

A Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films presentation, “The Lone Ranger” is directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski, with screen story by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio and Justin Haythe and screenplay by Justin Haythe and Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio. “The Lone Ranger” releases in U.S. theaters on July 3, 2013.

Looks really good! I want to see it! How about you?

Garden tip - Protect seedlings

2013-04-15T16:57:00.000-07:00

Sunday I posted about Tomato seedlings and since this is the weather for prime planting I wanted to share another easy tip to get the best start on the summer garden. Often this time of year we get weather all over the place. It was freezing not two weeks ago, then down poured for days, hailed another and suddenly scorching hot. This week it's been so windy I've had to move seedlings and small plants under a protective cover so the delicate plants don't snap.

For any and all weather changes a simple recycled water bottle can help you out with the little plants.

Take a water bottle and cut in half. Cut the mouth piece off and cut the very bottom off so you now have two pieces .

Now just place the cut bottle around the seedling and press slightly into the dirt so it stands up.

This protects from wind and I've found it helps against frost - but for frost leave the tops of the bottle on and place in dirt over seedling. While it doesn't keep bugs or snails out it does keep other critters out. Sadly this mustard green was half eaten by snails.

I will forever be dealing with snails, but hey at least the wind won't damage the plant! :)

What's going on in your garden?

Garden Update- Tomato Adventures and my dirty hands!

2013-04-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

It feels like summer here, hot days are not supposed to be here yet! It's funny because a lot of people on my facebook were posting snow pictures. I held in my laughs ( for about 30 seconds) then ran out to smile at the sun . I can't help it, after last years weather messing with my garden it's great to finally have it working in my favor! Hopefully your weather will warm up fast! On to the garden-

My seedlings are ready to transplant to bigger pots and they are nice and hardy. While planting them I had a passer by ask me tons of questions and one of them I thought I would share with you guys. Question was- How do I pick out which to plant, not the type or variety but which seedlings when I have so many to choose from ?

Here is how and why I do it.

I have 2-3 tomato seedlings per small square and 3-4 squares for each tomato variety . They say you need to thin out to one per square ( or pot whichever) but I have found this ends up giving me about 50% or less chance to have a plant come out stronger. When I get ready to transplant to bigger containers here is how I choose.

Start with the way the plants look

I would toss the one with the worst health but keep the next runner up. The one on the right has so little chance on surviving into a healthy plant, it's growth is stunted for whatever reason and won't do you any good. The next runner up is healthy but not as healthy as you want it to be. There's no reason to toss it just yet. It can still be a fine plant with time. Plus if something happens to the healthiest I'll need the back up .

Next move to the roots. If you do not have a good root system chances decrease on the plant growing and producing healthy fruit.

The bad root system is string like and floppy so much it's started wilting around the bottom of the stem which in turn will most likely kill the plant in due time. You could ( and I have) buried the stem to a plant like this before to produce more roots but I find if it's at this stage , The plant in the long run doesn't produce much at all and stays on the smaller side.

Next how you plant the seedling

The best way I've found to plant tomatoes is bury the stem. Extra roots will spring out just under the surface of the soil once planted if you bury the stem as opposed to just getting the roots covered. First of all you should never do that with any plant, second tomatoes carry heavy fruit in which a weakly planted root system will uproot itself quickly. The deeper you plant the stronger it is and the more weight it can bear.

The pen would be the soil . They will also grow much straighter this way. Since mine are still in little pots I don't have them caged but once you do get them into the ground give it a support system. I will updated with the next planting with tips for that as well. It will only be a few short weeks.

I am getting emails on planting tips and will be happy to answer what I can. I learn as I go, am no expert in anyway but will share what I've learned along my journey as a gardener . You can post a question in the comments or just email me I'd be happy to help!

Plus I know you love seeing my hands dirty! :) Happy Sunday everyone!

Disney Junior Appisodes

2013-04-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

Some exciting news from Disney Junior! There are now Interactive Apps for the iPad, iPhone and the iPod touch !

An expansion of the groundbreaking "Disney Junior Appisodes" app for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch was announced today following the success of the multi-award winning "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally Appisode," the first TV "appisode" app for kids that combines viewing and interaction with the TV characters and stories they love. It can be found now in the App Store at: www.appstore.com/disneyjuniorappisodes

Developed by Disney/ABC Television Group’s Digital Media team, the new app offers true interactive viewing, allowing fans 2-7 to touch, tap, swipe, tilt, shake and talk their way through various fun-filled activities embedded into episodes of some of their favorite Disney Junior shows. The all-new "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - Mickey and Donald Have a Farm Appisode" and the "Jake and the Never Land Pirates Appisode," which features "Hide the Hideout" and "Captain Hook's Hooks," are available for $4.99. A free download of the original "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally Appisode" is included. In the coming months, popular episodes of top rated shows "Doc Mc Stuffins," "Sofia the First" and more "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" will also be available for download as appisodes.

With the launch of "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally Appisode" last year, Disney Junior introduced an innovative new way for kids to enjoy their favorite shows. Well received by both fans and the industry, the app topped iTunes charts for weeks – making it to #1 on the Overall Free list - and won the 2012 Mobile Excellence Award for Best Content Extension Made for Mobile, as well as the iKids award for Best Web/App Series.

"The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse appisode has been successful because it’s a natural extension of what kids are already doing in their daily lives," said Lauren DeVillier, vice president of digital media for Disney Channels Worldwide. "Over 70% of households with kids have app-enabled devices in their homes. Touching, tapping and swiping are second nature to them. We are allowing kids to move the narrative of their favorite show forward by interacting with the characters, giving them the opportunity to take an active role in the story. Being able to do that with one of their favorite TV shows is really exciting for them. And from a content perspective, it gives our shows a whole new life on another platform."

Over the past several years, the Disney/ABC Television Group has consistently launched innovative apps for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Other notable DATG apps include WATCH Disney Channel, WATCH Disney Junior and WATCH Disney XD, all of which enable authenticated customers to access live streaming of linear channel feeds, as well as on demand episodes of popular shows, the ABC Family Player app, which also makes full ad supported episodes available, the ABC News app for iPad, and the Emmy Award-winning official Oscars app, which provided unique backstage viewing experiences for the 83^rd, 84^th, and 85^th Academy Awards.

Tomato Salad

2013-04-11T15:18:00.002-07:00

This is a fun way to make salads new with fresh new tastes. I often am over loaded from summer to fall with tomatoes and other vegetable from the garden -> with no complaints of course but this means finding new ways to use up the variety . You can use whatever you have on hand, eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, pretty much all goes here with this recipe.

Yum!

Ingredients

1 tomato sliced up

Fresh mozzarella ball cut up in sliced you can use how many you like. 2 is plenty.

Choice of greens, spinach, lettuce, or arugula

1/4 cup Sprouts

1 or 2 sticks of Grilled asparagus. ( or steamed) cut up

1/3 cup mix of chopped sweet onion, red and green peppers

Couple leaves of cilantro

Pinch of pepper

Drizzle of either your favorite salad dressing or red wine vinegar ( my fav with tomatoes)

Directions , layer lettuce on the bottom tomato and alternate with other ingredients. Top with the cilantro and sweet bell pepper mix before drizzling dressing on it ( or no dressing at all! ) Cut it up and enjoy!

It's refreshing and I love using different vegetables with it.

Do you have a favorite way to use up spare vegetables or a favorite salad?

Wordless Wednesday

2013-04-10T15:31:00.002-07:00

Have you heard? Marvel Studios has begun the Production on 2nd Installment of the Iconic Franchise CAPTAIN AMERICA!!!

2013-04-09T17:17:00.000-07:00

Following in the footsteps of the record-breaking Marvel Studios’ release, “Marvel’s The Avengers,” production on the highly anticipated release, Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” has commenced in Los Angeles, Calif., with production also including locations in Cleveland, Ohio, and Washington D.C. Directing the film is the team of Anthony and Joe Russo (“Welcome to Collinwood”) from a screenplay written by Christopher Markus (“Captain America: The First Avenger”) & Stephen McFeely (“Captain America: The First Avenger”). Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” returns Chris Evans (“Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”) as the iconic Super Hero character Steve Rogers/Captain America, along with Scarlett Johansson (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Iron Man 2”) as Black Widow and Samuel L. Jackson (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Iron Man 2”) as Nick Fury. In addition, film icon Robert Redford has joined the all-star cast as Agent Alexander Pierce, a senior leader within the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is set for release in the U.S. on April 4, 2014.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” will pick-up where “Marvel’s The Avengers” left off, as Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and teams up with Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, to battle a powerful yet shadowy enemy in present-day Washington, D.C.

Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1941, Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” features an outstanding supporting cast that includes Sebastian Stan (“Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Black Swan”) as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie (“The Hurt Locker,” “Million Dollar Baby”) as Sam Wilson/Falcon, Cobie Smulders (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “How I Met Your Mother”) as Agent Maria Hill, Frank Grillo (“Zero Dark Thirty”) as Brock Rumlow and Georges St-Pierre (“Death Warrior”) as Georges Batroc. Rounding out the talented cast are Hayley Atwell (“Captain America: The First Avenger”) as Peggy Carter, Toby Jones (“Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Hunger Games”) as Arnim Zola, Emily VanCamp (“The Ring 2,” “Revenge”) as Agent 13 and Maximiliano Hernández (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Thor”) as Agent Jasper Sitwell.

Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing the film. Executive producers on the project include Alan Fine, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo and Stan Lee. The creative production team on the film includes director of photography Trent Opaloch (“Elysium,” “District 9”), production designer Peter Wenham (“21 Jump Street,” “Fast Five”), editors Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. and Mary Jo Markey, A.C.E. (“Star Wars: Episode 7,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”) and three time Oscar®-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky (“The Hunger Games,” “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”).

Marvel Studios’ upcoming release schedule includes “Iron Man 3” on May 3, 2013, and “Thor: The Dark World” on November 8, 2013. The studio most recently produced the critically acclaimed “Marvel’s The Avengers,” which set the all-time, domestic 3-day weekend box office record at $207.4 million. The film, which shattered both domestic and international box office records, is Disney’s highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time and marks the studio’s fifth film to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.

In the summer of 2011, Marvel successfully launched two new franchises with “Thor,” starring Chris Hemsworth, and “Captain America: The First Avenger,” starring Chris Evans. Both films opened #1 at the box office and have grossed over $800 million worldwide combined. In 2010 “Iron Man 2,” starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury took the #1 spot in its first weekend with a domestic box office gross of $128.1 million.

In the summer of 2008, Marvel produced the summer blockbuster movies “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk.” “Iron Man,” in which Robert Downey Jr. originally dons the Super Hero’s powerful armor and stars alongside co-stars Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub and Gwyneth Paltrow, was released May 2, 2008, and was an immediate box office success. Garnering the number one position for two weeks in a row, the film brought in over $100 million in its opening weekend. On June 13, 2008, Marvel released “The Incredible Hulk,” marking its second number one opener of that summer.