Featured post
Delicious Recipes For Soup Swap Day

Delicious Recipes For Soup Swap Day

2 Replies

Soup Swap Day!!!

Winter is the perfect time to warm up with a nice bowl of soup. Rich in nutrients and energy, it’s not surprising that soup is one of the most popular appetizers. Around since 20,000 B.C, soups are one of the best comfort foods of winter. But as the cold chill of winter stretches into the new year we often become tired of the same old soups in our recipe repertoire. To combat this and have some fun, have or attend a soup swap!

We celebrate Soup Swap Day on the third Saturday of January, which takes place on January 21 this year. Soup Swap Day is a national holiday in which people come together for a soup party. Everyone brings their favorite soup and shares it with others. Soup Swap Day is a perfect chilly middle-of-the-winter day to gather with family and friends and enjoy some tasty hot soup of every type.

–Practical Self Reliance     

What is a Soup Swap Day Party?

A soup swap day party is a fun and easy party in which you invite your soup-loving friends to come together and bring several quarts of their favorite soup to share. Then, you take turns swapping soups and everyone goes home with different soups than what they brought.

–The Full Plate Blog

Before the Soup Swap
Give your prospective guests plenty of time to prepare for Soup Swap. This is a great party for mixing people who don’t know each other. How better than over soup?

Invite at least 6 guests: A bigger group is better, more soup, after all!

Explain Soup Swap to your invited guests: Make sure that everyone knows what a soup swap is and how it works. The invite is a great time to do this.

What Each Guest Should Bring:
Six quarts of soup in separate containers that they don’t mind giving away.
The soup should be frozen or refrigerated.
Swappers should also bring a separate container of soup for tasting.

Soup Swap Day Party Invite Idea: “I’m having a Soup Swap on (DATE) at (TIME)! Swap begins at (TIME). I have invited you because you are a great cook or (ahem) you could really use a freezer full of homemade soup to enjoy this winter. The beauty of a Soup Swap is that each person just has to make one big batch of one kind of soup, divide it into six one-quart containers, and everyone will go home from the party with six different types of soups to enjoy. Surely, you have one soup recipe that is a family favorite or crowd-pleaser. Chilis, stews, soups, healthy purees… it need not be fancy, just comforting and delicious.”

If you are hosting the Soup Swap Day Party, here’s what you need to set up.

Set up your party: You’ll need a place for everyone to set out their soups and tasters, and to mingle and talk. Make sure there is plenty of room for jars of soup.
Cover the table: There will be lots of soup drips, cover the table with a tablecloth or butcher paper for easy cleanup.
Put out small bowls, cups, or jars for the tasters: Make sure you have enough for all the soup swappers.
Decide how you’ll sample soups: You can buy or make a loaf of great bread. Or, you can also use crackers or tiny disposable spoons.
Plan some snacks: Offer a spread of bread, soup toppings, brunch bites, or little sweets. 
Offer drinks: Tasting soups is thirsty work! Put out some water, coffee, sparkling wine, or a pitcher cocktail.
Have labels and tags ready: If it’s a crowd of people who don’t know each other, do name tags! In case, everyone doesn’t label their soups. Have blank labels to put on soup containers.

Make swap cards: These cards stay with each soup and let people note if they’re interested in that soup. If someone loves a soup, they should write their name on the swap card to indicate they want it.

When it’s time to Swap Soups: The Soup Swap site suggests everyone pick numbers, and then go in order: The first person chooses a soup, then the next person, then the next, and then it all starts back over with the first person, until all the soups are distributed. A variation of this method is after each pick to pass your number to the person behind you. With the last # going to the first # in the previous round. This gives everyone a chance to pick first.
Another more hectic option, that works best when everyone knows each other, is for everyone to stand around the table behind their soup. Everyone then starts calling out names on their swap card. The first person to respond immediately gets a jar. Soup passes back and forth over the table, some people swapping directly; others giving soup to one person and then receiving one from another.

If you want people to stay after the swap, recommend that they bring coolers or put their soup in your refrigerator.

That’s it! Everyone goes home with 6 homemade quarts of soup to enjoy during the cold winter days ahead!

Whether you’ve been invited to a Soup Swap or just looking for a delicious soup for your family, I’ve put together some great recipes for you to try. If you got a great recipe to share, please add it to the linky below!

    
     

Make soup for the homeless:
Not everyone has the privilege of being invited to a soup swap party or having a home to host one. Homeless people face the challenge of surviving the cold weather this time of year and sharing soup with less privileged people is a great way to make the most out of soup swap day.

Featured post

EASY to Make RECIPE! No Churn Sundae Swirl Butter Pecan & Coffee Flavored ICE CREAM!

7 Replies

Let me start by telling you about the coffee that inspired this recipe.

You can enjoy a delicious cup of this Sundae Butter Pecan Ice Cream Flavored Coffee anytime. Thanks to the creators of this coffee you can even have dessert for breakfast. No Guilt, No Shame!

About the product: 

    • Drink your dessert ice cream hot or cold, Just fill your cup (glass not recommended)
      with ice and brew your ice cream flavored coffee on low setting.
    • Extra fresh and filter brewed, using only the highest quality 100 percent Arabica beans.
    • Sundae coffee Ice cream flavored pods are 2.0 Keurig K-Cup Brewer Compatible.

We found that when we brew up one these pods there is just a hint of the butter pecan with no lingering after taste. With rich and robust coffee as the base, each of these single-serve pods is bursting with the flavor of great coffee. Since we both really love the taste of this coffee, we are pleased that the flavor was not overpowering. However, we know that some are really looking for a strong coffee with a lot of added flavor. If this is you, we suggest brewing these pods on one of the smaller settings.

Not only have they mastered the art of making great tasting flavored coffee, but they’ve created heaven in a cup with this Sundae Ice Cream Flavored Coffee. Each of their flavors; Butter Pecan, Pralines & Cream, Chocolate Caramel, Rocky Road, Dulce de Leche, Mint Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Cup, Vanilla Swirl, Maple Walnut, Mocha Chip, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Toffee Crunch flavors; all live up to the high standards set by this brand. Rich and full of flavor, they remind us of fun summers of yesteryear.

Speaking of Summer… Summer is a time when we look forward to being carefree and often get to enjoy a vacation. Whether you have plans to climb a mountain, do a bit of off-roading, play in the surf or just spend time lounging poolside; for most of us, summer also includes some yummy treats. It’s been proven, no time passes faster than the summer months and that which you have your favorite frozen dessert in your hand.

Have you been dreaming about having a cup of coffee with a big bowl of butter pecan coffee swirl ice cream? Yeah, now that I mentioned it, you want ice cream!

Sundae Swirl Butter Pecan Coffee Ice Cream

No need to dig out the ice cream churn. Because, this easy recipe doesn’t need one!

  • 1 Tablespoon instant coffee granules
  • 1/8 cup hot water
  • 2 cups (480ml) heavy cream
  • 1 can (14oz/397g) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped, chilled
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 Tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • smidgen of sea salt

Instructions:

First in a small bowl or cup, dissolve the coffee granules in the hot water. Set aside.

Next, toast the pecans. You can do this on the stove or in the oven. To toast them in the oven, add chopped pecans to a baking sheet and toast them in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-10 minutes. Turn them halfway to avoid browning on one side. When done, immediately remove from the sheet and place in a metal or glass container. You can also toast nuts by placing them in a dry nonstick skillet and cooking them over medium heat, shaking pan until nuts are lightly browned. To avoid over browning remove from pan immediately and place in a metal or glass container. Set aside.

For the next step you will need two medium bowls and two spoons/spatulas for stirring. I prefer to use spatulas since I’m going to need them to fold in the heavy cream in the next step.

For the butter pecan flavored ice cream:

In one of the medium bowls, stir together the melted butter, pecans, sea salt, and maple syrup, and the 1/2 the can of sweetened condensed milk, until fully combined. Set aside.

For the coffee flavored ice cream:

In the second medium bowl, stir together the other 1/2 of the can of sweetened condensed milk and the dissolved coffee, until fully combined. Set aside.

To make the ice cream base:

Pour the heavy cream into a large bowl. Using a handheld or stand mixer on medium-high speed, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Now, place 1/2 the cream into the bowl with the coffee mixture and the other half into the bowl with the pecan mixture.

Next, fold the heavy cream into each mixture.

To swirl the ice cream:

To do this you will spoon the mixtures into a 9×5-inch loaf pan or 2-quart container. Alternate spoonfuls of coffee and butter pecan ice cream into your pan. Once all the ice cream is in the pan, using one continuous motion, drag an offset spatula or butter knife through it from end to end and then side to side to create lines that are both horizontal and vertical.

Cover and place in freezer. Freeze for 6 hours or until firm.

TIPS:

  • Make sure you are swirling all of your ice cream by having your spatula/knife lightly touch the bottom of the pan.
  • For a super chunky ice cream you can fold in coarsely chopped dark chocolate into the coffee ice cream. For tips on how to prevent your chocolate from feeling gritty read this post.
  • A smidgen of something is half a pinch or 1/32 of a teaspoon.
  • Preparing your toasted pecans and/or chocolate pieces ahead of time and placing them in the freezer to chill before adding will help your ice cream set faster. (Ice creams full of chunks take longer to set, and pre-chilling the chunks makes for faster hardening times, which in turn means slightly smoother, creamier ice cream when it fully freezes.)
  • Instead of instant coffee and water you can use 1/8 cup of any strong brewed coffee. (However, you will not get as much coffee flavor this way)
  • I had some ceramic mini loaf pans that I used part of the ice cream to make two individual servings for dessert.

What’s even better than a delicious cup of coffee? Coffee that’s been infused with the flavor of ice cream.  Yes, just like all the great tasting ice cream we know and love this coffee delivers the delicious flavor of our favorite ice creams but without the guilt! And, it’s a good thing because, like us, once you enjoy the taste of these incredible ice cream flavors in your favorite coffee mug you’ll be wanting more. 

So pick your favorite, brew up a cup or two, and savor the sweetness with someone special.

This Post Was Sponsored By

Please Show Them Some Love
Twitter ~ Facebook

Two Rivers Coffee is also sponsoring a giveaway for all my great readers. If you’d like to win a box of this ice cream flavored coffee, be sure to ENTER.

Featured post

Make This Famous Jordan Marsh Recipe and Enjoy Boston’s Best Blueberry Muffins at Home!

1 Reply

Crave Blueberry Vanilla Flavored Coffee

Guilt-free, decadent coffee bursting with flavor!

We recently had the pleasure of enjoying a box of Crave’s Blueberry Vanilla Coffee and just love the well-balanced flavor of this coffee. We have brewed it on several different settings, including the strong setting on our machine, and have found that it is never bitter. Plus, with the wonderful aroma of blueberries and vanilla, this coffee is a real treat for all our senses. We love all the flavors that are offered by the Crave Coffee brand, but their blueberry vanilla is one of the favorites in our house. Just one sip of their coffee and you’ll know why we say that their coffee pods aren’t going to be around for long! The flavor profiles of all their coffees match perfectly with Crave’s big flavors. This coffee from Crave has once again lived up to our high expectations.

Just like quality coffee, you need quality ingredients to make the best muffins. Both are dependent on the quality of the ingredients used to make them. All of Crave’s flavored coffee pods are made with quality coffee, that is smooth and mellow. That’s why we couldn’t resist the chance to bake up a batch of Jordan Marsh’s to enjoy with our coffee. Grab a box of this coffee and bake up a batch of these muffins to enjoy it with today!

For 45 years John Pupek made Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins. Thanks to their now-famous recipe we are enjoying Boston’s best blueberry muffins fresh from our Lowcountry kitchen! From the 1860s to the late 1900s these yummy muffins were sold at the now-closed Jordan Marsh department store. You ask, muffins from a department store? Well actually, that’s not so unusual. Like nearly all grand department stores of their time, the Jordan Marsh store in Boston, also housed an on-site cafe and bakery that served up refreshments to shoppers.

I say these big, tender bakery-style muffins that are studded with juicy blueberries are the winner of “The Battle of the Blueberry Muffins.” I don’t know what the nonsense about Ritz-Carlton muffins is all about anyway. Never heard of ’em. Tea at the Ritz. Muffins from Jordan Marsh. Everyone knows that!

Jordan Marsh’s Blueberry Muffins

Soft Interior, Crispy Top, and Loaded With Blueberries.

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 4 tablespoons lard
  • 2 cups unbleached unsifted flour (for most authentic results use a 50/50 blend of bread and pastry flours)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 fortified eggs (such as Eggland’s Best, which have more Omega-3 fatty acids than typical eggs)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/2 cups blueberries
  • sugar for topping
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla

PREPARATION

  • Preheat oven to 400° F.
  • In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients. (You can use an electric mixer to combine the dry ingredients thoroughly so that you won’t need to over mix once the wet and dry ingredients are combined.)
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, lard, and sugar until light and fluffy; add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter and sugar mixture alternating with milk and vanilla.
  • Mash 1/2 cup of the blueberries, and gently stir in by hand (this will turn the batter a light shade of blue and add a touch of blueberry flavor). Toss the remaining berries in the reserved flour before adding them to the mixture. Add the remaining whole berries and stir in gently by hand.
  • Grease large muffin tins well with butter; grease the top surface of the pans as well. With an ice cream scoop, fill each greased muffin cup with a heaping amount of batter. Makes 6 giant muffins.
  • Sprinkle a generous amount of sugar on top of each unbaked muffin.

For high domed muffins bake at 400° F for 5 minutes. Reduce oven temperature and bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes. Cool in pan for 30 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of each muffin to free it from the pan and finish cooling them on wire racks.

 

TIPS

  • Enjoy a glass of milk and some fresh fruit with these muffins for the perfect Red, White, and Blue Breakfast.
  • How long you cream the butter and sugar depends on many things, including weather conditions, such as humidity. However, in order to get butter and sugar “light,” you really need to beat it for at least 10 minutes.
  • You can substitute vegetable shortening for the lard.
  • Take the flour to toss the blueberries from the 2 cups so as not to add extra flour to the recipe and leaden the final product.
  • You may want to skip mashing the 1/2 cup of blueberries if you are using frozen ones. And, you will also want to rinse them several times in cold water, then pat them dry with paper towels before using; this will help prevent the muffins from baking up blue-green.
  • You can also use Baker’s Joy or other non-stick spray.  Be sure to spray the top surface of the pans as well.
  • Foil lined or silicone muffin liners can also be used when making these muffins. These are helpful as the abundance of blueberries make them especially prone to sticking.
  • To create muffins that rival the originals, cover the tops with a full teaspoon or more of sugar before baking. After baking several batches of these muffins, we have found that using a soup spoon in a side-to-side motion to spread a generous layer of sugar evenly across the entire top of the muffin works best.
  • Don’t over mix the batter, otherwise, it will yield a tough muffin.
  • Once cooled muffins may be brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with sugar. However, this will not give the crispy top like the originals.
  • For extra flavor add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest and a teaspoon of cinnamon.
  • Starting with a very hot oven (400° F), then reducing the temper to a lower temperature after baking for five minutes gives your muffins that wonderful domed top.
  • Reduce sugar to 1/2 or 3/4 cup for less sweet muffins.
  • If you’re using the classic normal sized muffin/cupcake pans they will take about 16 minutes to bake. Recipe makes 10 – 12 regular sized muffins.
  • If pastry flour is unavailable, to achieve the 8-10% protein content that is found in pastry flour, you can use 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 7/8 cup of all-purpose flour for each cup of pastry flour required in a recipe. Another alternative is to substitute equal parts all-purpose flour and cake flour.
  • For easy morning preparation. You can allow them to rest overnight, covered in the fridge. Then in the morning, you can just pop them in the oven. To bake in a convection oven, start them at 400° F for 9-11 minutes, until they’ve risen just above the top of the tin. Then reduce the temperature to 325°F until they are fully cooked (20-25 minutes). Increase the temperatures to 425° F and 350° F if you a baking them in a traditional oven. You may also need to adjust the baking times.
 

What Do You Crave?

Enjoy guilt-free decadent flavored coffees – No sweeteners & No calories.

Crave Coffee has the flavors that you’ll keep on Cravin’!

Vermont Maple

Coffee that tastes like it is straight from the sugar house!

Southern Pecan

Nutty, Buttery goodness all brewed into a fantastic cup of joe.

Hazelnut

Classic, time-tested, and scrumptious.

French Vanilla

Coffee with the delightful taste of creamy vanilla swirled in.
 

Cinnamon

Spicy and Sweet, Cinnamon is a delicious compliment to a smooth cup of coffee.

Caramel

Adding the ooey gooey flavor of sweet caramel to hot cup of coffee is pure perfection.

Butter Toffee

A smooth, rich buttery flavored coffee, perfect for a morning or afternoon treat.

Blueberry Vanilla

Bursting with sweet ripe blueberries and silky vanilla, this is a flavor combination that will leave you craving more.

This Post Is Sponsored By Two Rivers Coffee

Please show our sponsor some LOVE!
WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ PINTEREST

We often hold giveaways for this great sponsor so be sure to watch my right sidebar for your chance to WIN FREE COFFEE!

~ Thank You For Visiting Today ~
Please Leave Some Comment Love While You Are Here!

Featured post

These Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipes Are The Perfect Treats!

26 Replies

Frozen Hot Chocolate! We’re Enjoying Our Favorite Tootsie Roll Hot Cocoas Cold For The Ultimate Hot Chocolate Experience

To help you cool off we’ve come up with two fun and delicious recipes. First, you can skip the frozen hot chocolate drinks at Starbucks, Dunkin, and Dairy Queen. We’ve blended chocolate and strawberry for a drink that will have all the goblins asking for more. And for the mint lovers, we’ve hidden little nuggets of minty goodness inside mint chocolate cocoa pops. So much minty goodness in one place! No tricks here, these treats are perfect any time.

Chilled Strawberry Hot Cocoa Drink

If you like chocolate-dipped strawberries, you’ll love this strawberry hot chocolate recipe!

Strawberry and chocolate have always been a great pair. While Tootsie Roll’s Strawberry Nougat Charleston Chew hot chocolate is perfect for a cold day, you can also serve it cold for a decadent treat on a hot summer day.

Ingredients:

1 Tootsie Roll Charleston Chew Strawberry Nougat Hot Cocoa Single Serve Pod
½ cup of Frozen Strawberries + a few extra
Whipped Topping
Charleston Mini Chews for Garnish

Directions:

For this refreshing drink, simply brew one Strawberry Charleston Chew Hot Cocoa Single Serve Cup on the smallest setting for each person. Let cool. Then, blend ½ cup frozen strawberries for each serving in a blender until smooth. Add prepared cocoa and blend just until mixed. Transfer into a glass, add the extra frozen strawberries, and top with whipped topping. Garnish as desired. I found a movie theater-sized box of the cutest Charleston Mini Chews candies at my local store to garnish ours with.

This fruity and chocolatey drink will have you wanting more so be sure to make extra. Don’t forget about Cupid. This recipe also makes a great sweet treat for Valentine’s Day that everyone will love! 

We’ve had the pleasure of trying all three Charleston Chew flavors! Check out our review Which Charleston Chew Hot Cocoa Flavor Will Be Your Favorite? and see what we thought of them.

Frozen Mint Hot Chocolate Popsicles

If you like America’s favorite chocolate-covered creamy mint, you’ll love these minty hot cocoa pops!

Paired in these popsicles are two classic combinations, mint and chocolate. While Tootsie Roll’s Junior Mints Mint Hot Cocoa is a delightful treat on a cold day, you can also serve it cold for a luscious dark chocolate treat. Don’t be scared of all this chocolatey goodness. Cool off and enjoy these rich and creamy frozen hot chocolate popsicles today. 

Ingredients:

4 Tootsie Roll Junior Mints Mint Hot Cocoa Single Serve Pods*
Junior Mints Candies

Directions:

For these refreshing popsicles, simply brew hot cocoa pods on the smallest setting. Let cool slightly. Drop a few Junior Mint Candies into each popsicle mold. Then, add prepared cocoa and insert sticks. Place in the freezer for 6-8 hours or until completely frozen. Unmold and enjoy the delightful flavors of smooth peppermint and indulgent dark chocolate.

*Depending on the number and size of your molds you may need more or less cocoa to fill them.

We’ve had the pleasure of trying this cocoa! Check out our review Junior Mints Mint Hot Cocoa: Smooth Peppermint & Indulgent Dark Chocolate and see what we thought of them.

Strawberry and mint also pair well so there is no reason you can’t mix and match the cocoas, fruit, and candies in these recipes.

What are your favorite hot chocolate flavor combinations and mix-ins?

Featured post

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich and Dipping Sauce Recipes

28 Replies

At $3.79 each, taking a family out for one of these sandwiches can wreck your weekly budget. Not wanting to give up enjoying these delicious sandwiches I set out to find out how to make them at home. Thanks to the Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich recipe below and stocking up on boneless chicken breasts when they are on sale for $1.99 per pound, we can make eight sandwiches for less than $10!

It feels great to feed the entire family without emptying our pockets of all their cash. And, this chicken sandwich gets its flavor from a yummy pickle brine just like the one at our favorite fast-food restaurant.

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich

Ingredients

  • 1 8-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • ½ cup dill pickle juice
  • ¾ cup milk
  • 1 cup vegetable oil for frying
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 hamburger buns, toasted
  • 6 dill pickle slices
  • 1 teaspoon of Tabasco sauce for a spicy sandwich

Directions

  • Place a chicken breast on a cutting board. With your hand flat on top of it, carefully slice the chicken in half horizontally to make 4 thin cutlets. So that the breasts cook more evenly, pound them out so that the breasts are of equal thicknesses. I do this by placing the cutlets between 2 pieces of heavy-duty plastic wrap and pounding with a mallet (or heavy skillet) until they are ¼-inch thick.
  • In a large resealable plastic bag, combine chicken, pickle juice, and ¼ cup milk (add a teaspoon of Tabasco sauce for a spicy sandwich). Chill for at least 30 minutes.
  • In a large skillet preheat oil to 350° F.
  • Meanwhile, in a shallow dish combine remaining ½ cup milk and egg. In another shallow dish combine flour, powdered sugar, salt, and pepper.
  • Drain chicken. Dip chicken in egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Dip in flour mixture to coat. For extra thick crispy crust REPEAT this step with each piece.
  • Add chicken to hot oil and fry 4 to 8 minutes or until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165° F, turning once. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Place chicken on a bun and top with pickles, and top bun. Serve with waffle fries, if desired.

You can even buy straight pickle juice by the gallon—absolutely no pesky pickles included.

For baked version: Substitute Panko bread crumbs for the flour and coat as directed. Bake at 375° F for 10-15 minutes until cooked through.

For air fryer version: Add 2 Tablespoons Potato Starch to the flour mixture and coat as directed. Grease basket/pan of air fryer well. Place the chicken in air fryer and spray the chicken with oil. Cook at 340° F for 6 minutes. Flip the chicken and spray with oil. Cook for 6 more minutes. Increase the temperature to 400° F and cook for two minutes on each side.

Nuggets: Cut breast into ¾-inch pieces and coat as directed. Cook at 365° F for 4 – 6 minutes turning once.

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Dipping Sauce

Did you know that Chick-fil-A Sauce is a magical blend of Honey Mustard, Barbecue and Ranch Sauces? Mixing up some to add to your sandwiches is easy!

  • 1/2 C Mayonnaise
  • 1/4 C Honey
  • 3 TBSP Yellow Mustard
  • 1 TBSP Dijon Mustard
  • 1 TBSP Lemon Juice
  • 1/4 C Smokey BBQ Sauce

Whisk all ingredients together and ENJOY.

Tips:

If you find that your dipping sauce isn’t as smokey as the real sauce, add a drop or two of liquid smoke.

You can also make with just 2 ingredients, Ken’s Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce and any brand of honey barbecue sauce. Our favorite is Sweet Baby Ray’s honey bbq sauce.
Featured post

Make This 3 Ingredient Child Safe DIY Glitter Slime For Just a Few Dollars!

15 Replies

Create some sparkly glitter slime using a few common household ingredients.
It’s super easy and kid-friendly!

It’s been a long winter and it’s time to have some FUN! Slime is one of the coolest chemistry experiments and is a great after-school or weekend activity. I have been wanting to make slime with my granddaughter, but the traditional recipes with cleaning chemicals made me nervous. Then, we discovered a simple glitter slime recipe that uses completely safe materials and doesn’t require any messy food coloring. Check out the ultimate three-ingredient glitter slime recipe and tips below. This recipe creates amazing slime. 

It’s Science! It’s Sensory Play! It’s Great Fun All!

When purchasing your saline solution check the ingredients and make sure that it contains a mix of sodium borate and boric acid. Contact solution and saline solution are not the same product. Although contact solution has the ingredients to make slime, you may find that slime made with it will become watery overnight.

We purchased all our ingredients at Dollar General. The box of baking soda was only 50¢ and the leftovers can be used for cooking or other DIY projects like Bath Bombs, Kinetic Sand, or Play Dough. The saline solution was $3.25. However, there is enough saline solution to make this recipe at least 30 times. We wanted to make different colors so we bought the bonus pack which had three bottles Elmer’s glitter glue and a free bottle of clear glue for $9. At a cost of $3 to $4 per batch, this DIY Glitter Slime is less expensive than purchasing premade slime and you get the added bonus of having lots of fun making it.

Note: At first we tried the Dollar General Imagine brand of glitter glue and it does NOT work. It wasn’t a total waste. We had some of the Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue that we had on hand and added it to the “soup” to make glitter puff slime.

NO-MESS GLITTER SLIME

This no-mess slime recipe from Elmer’s is a great STEM-friendly chemistry experiment that you can enjoy making rain or shine.

Ingredients:
1/2 tbsp of baking soda
1 to 1¼ tbsp of contact lens solution
6 fl oz Elmer’s glitter glue

Instructions:
1. Pour out the entire contents of the glitter glue into a bowl.
2. Add 1/2 tablespoon baking soda. Using a spoon, mix thoroughly.
3. Add 1 tablespoon of the saline solution.
4. Mix with a spoon until the mixture gets harder to mix and slime begins to form.
5. Take the slime out and begin kneading with both of your hands.
6. If needed, add up to ¼ tbsp more of the solution to make the slime less sticky. Remember a little goes a long way. The more of the solution you add the thicker the slime becomes. We found that 1 tablespoon was sufficient for the white glue while the glitter glue needed 1 tablespoon plus a few more drops, as the one we did with 1 ¼ tablespoons was quite. thick.

Tips:

  • If the slime is too stringy, add baking soda
  • If the slime is too sticky, add contact solution
  • If the slime is too watery or too stiff, add glue

We made white slime with regular Elmer’s glue and green, pink, purple, and red glitter slime with a variety of glitter glues.

The science behind the craze. Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid. This means that it ignores Newton’s law of viscosity by flowing under certain conditions yet stiffening when compressed quickly. The amazing thing about non-newtonian fluids is that they are neither a solid or a liquid, you can pick slime up like a solid but it will slide through your fingers like a liquid. Slime is made from the chemical reaction between two main ingredients; polyvinyl alcohol and borate ion. Polyvinyl alcohol can be found in simple PVA glue. Borate ion is created when bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is mixed with the saline solution.

Thanks to a chemical reaction called an endothermic reaction when Polyvinyl alcohol comes in contact with the borate ion it begins to thicken and turns into a viscous, gooey mass. Endothermic reactions are those which absorb energy from the surroundings and result in a net decrease in temperature. Evidence of the endothermic reaction is when the slime goes cold.

“Slime also does not have its own shape so it can change to fit whatever container it is in. Yet, because of its elasticity, it can be bounced like a ball. Using these examples you can demonstrate how the viscosity of non-newtonian fluids change and teach the properties of liquids and solids.” – Curiscope

You can also try tugging sharply on the slime which will cause the slime to break, yet if you gently pull it the slime will stretch out. When this slime is pulled slowly, it becomes thin and flows easily. Pulling the slime quickly makes it thicker and it can snap because the chemical bonds in the slime break. 

Slime: Is It a Solid, Liquid, or Both?
Would you say the slime is a liquid or is it more like a solid?
It can feel as hard as a solid when squeezed in your fist, but as soon as you release your grip, it will ooze out through your fingers like a thick liquid.

 

The fun doesn’t have to end. Make your own bouncy balls with this fun preschool craft!

Here’s two different ways you can make homemade bouncy balls.

For both you will need two cups or bowls for mixing in, stir sticks, and measuring spoons.

For the first one you will also need these items to make:

  • 2 Tablespoons Hot Water
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Borax
  • 1 Tablespoon Elmer’s Glue
  • 1 Teaspoon Cornstarch
  • Food Coloring (optional)
  1. Pour the water and borax in the first cup and mix until dissolved. 
  2. Pour the glue, cornstarch, and food coloring into the second cup and mix.
  3. Next, pour the borax mixture into the cup with the glue mixture. Let sit for 15 minutes and then stir.
  4. When the mixture becomes difficult to stir, scoop it out and gently work it in your hands until it is no longer sticky.
  5. Then, just roll between your hands to form a ball. The more you roll it the smoother it will become.

Just like with the slime, if you use glitter glue be sure to use Elmer’s Glitter Glue, other brands just don’t work. There’s something about the Elmer’s glue that is different than the generic glues.

The second one for super bouncy balls comes from Life’s Carousel and uses just 3 ingredients.

  • 1/2 Cup of Warm Water
  • 1 Tablespoon of Borax
  • 1 to 2 Tablespoon of Clear Elmer’s Glue (or Elmer’s Glitter Glue)
  1. In cup one stir together the water and borax, until it is completely dissolved (add more water if it doesn’t all dissolve).
  2. Next slowly add your desired amount of glue into the bowl of borax solution. The more glue you use, the bigger the ball!
  3. As soon as the glue hits the borax solution it will start to harden. Gently squeeze and squish the glue ball until it is no longer sticky.
  4. Remove from the borax solution and roll between your hands to make it ball shaped. Continue to roll it between your hands until it is as smooth as you like.

She gives a word of warning that these super bouncy balls are basically very very thick slime. So if you leave them for any length of time they will slowly go flat and make a disc. But it’s very simple to just roll them in your hand to make them ball shaped again. Be sure to check out her site, there’s cool stuff help you go from chaos to calm there.

Featured post

2 Weight Watchers Smartpoints Healthy Berry Probiotic Kefir Popsicles Recipe

48 Replies
Healthy Berry Probiotic Kefir Popsicles
 Looking for a great dessert or special treat? These make-ahead popsicles will disappear quickly. Learn how to make these healthy Kefir popsicles today.
 
We all know eating ice cream all the time isn’t the smartest option when it comes to being conscious about our food choices. If you happen to have a weak spot for ice cream or popsicles but don’t want all the yucky stuff that is found in most of them, these popsicles are a great alternative to satisfy that craving. Plus, these healthy Kefir popsicles are a great way to incorporate kefir’s probiotic health benefits into our diet. And sweet or tart, you can adjust the honey to suit your taste.
 

What you need for this recipe

3 C. Plain Unsweetened Kefir Cultured Milk Smoothie
1/2 – 3/4 C. Raw Honey
1 tsp. vanilla (optional) 
1 C. Fruit

How to make this recipe  
  • Place fruit into popsicle molds.
  • Blend kefir, vanilla, and honey in blender or ninja until smooth.
  • Pour into popsicle molds, insert sticks, and place in the freezer until frozen.
  • To unmold the popsicles, hold the mold under lukewarm water for a few seconds until the popsicles release.

Recipe Tips

You’ll need to scale the ingredient amounts to the size of your popsicle molds. The basic formula you’ll want to follow is 2/3 base + 1/3 fruit to fill each mold.

Always taste your mixture before freezing to make sure it’s a little sweeter than what you like. Remember that things are not as sweet to your taste buds when frozen.

I had fresh blackberries, raspberries, and pomergranate so that is what I put in these pops. You can use any fresh or frozen fruit that you enjoy. 

I used the smoothie cup that came with my Ninja to blend the kefir mixture. It makes just the right amount to fill my 6 molds.

If the pops aren’t completely frozen, they may break or may not come out of the molds completely.

Make Red, White, and Blue Popsicles: Place 1 pound strawberries, hulled and chopped, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons honey in blender and puree until smooth. Fill the into popsicle molds 1/3 full with the strawberry purée and freeze until it’s firm, about 2 hours. Next, whisk two tablespoons honey into 1 cup Plain Unsweetened Kefir Cultured Milk Smoothie until well-combined. Remove the popsicles from the freezer and create the middle layer by evenly spooning the sweetened kefir into each of the popsicles. Gently push blueberries into the middle layer leaving enough room in the mold for the final puree layer. Place back into the freezer and freeze until firm but still soft enough to be able to put the sticks in. For the final layer finish filling each mold with the remaining strawberry puree. Insert sticks and return to the freezer until all layers are set, preferably overnight.

Fun mix-ins: crushed peanut butter cup pieces, peanut butter poweder and chocolate chips, 2-3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder per cup of kefir, add a pureed banana to the kefir mixture, crushed oreos, replace 1/3 the kefir with chopped mango, strawberries, peaches, or your favorite fruit for a fruity popsicle base, 

Make them fancy:  Pour melted chocolate into a tall, narrow glass, or something that fits the popsicle with just a little room around and dip your pop into it. Place in freezer on a baking sheet lined with parchment and then dip the next one. Repeat until you have dipped all the pops 3 – 4 times and there is a solid coating of chocolate on your popsicles. On the final dipping, gently roll your popsicle in your topping of choice. Chopped nuts, coconut, tiny candies, sprinkles, or dried fruit bits all make great toppings.

We have been using YS Eco Bee Farms Raw Honey for the last several years because we have found that it offers the maximum level of antioxidants and healing agents. This company is a pioneer in organic bee farming so their honey does not contain any pesticides, herbicides or pollutants. Two places that I know you can find it are on Amazon and Kroger Ship.

What is Kefir? Pronounced like Kee-fer Sutherland or Keh-fer that rhymes with Heifer, it is an amazing yogurt-like drink that has tons of health benefits. One of them being that it is loaded with probiotics that can boost our immune system.

In addition to these great popsicles, I’ve also been doing protein shakes. Have you started using protein powder? Do you know how many scoops you should be using a day? If you’ve got questions about adding protein powder into your diet, you gotta check out this informative post: https://totalshape.com/supplements/how-many-scoops-of-protein-powder/

Featured post

Hydration While Dieting. Understand how important it is to stay well hydrated and how much water it takes to stay that way.

13 Replies

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey Week 22
The Importance of Hydration When Dieting

Yes, it’s MONDAY already and time to continue our journey into health and wellness. It’s also time once again to reflect on the past week! Hydration was a big issue this week. So this week I dive into the subject of staying hydrated. Learn how important it is to stay well hydrated and how much water it takes to stay that way.

If you’ve missed any of the posts in the recent weeks be sure to check them out. In addition to uncovering where sugar is hiding in your food (aka sugar bombs) and looking at the benefits of shopping at farmer’s markets, we’ve also covered the importance of milestones, how to stay motivated, the smart use of free foods, some tactics for dining out, surviving the holidays while dieting, the benefits of a 5% weight loss, diabetes, the importance of exercise, starting an exercise routine, beginner exercises, and exercising in the summer heat. Since beginning my weight loss journey in January, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and now the fourth of July have come and gone.

Hydration for Weight Loss

You would think that after everything I’ve written and learned about being healthy that I would know how important it is to stay hydrated. However, like many people, I didn’t understand how important it was to stay well hydrated and how much water it took to stay that way. That became evident when after several days of severe pain, I went to the clinic to get it checked out. Even with drinking 64 ounces of water daily plus all the water I get from the cornucopia of fruits and vegetables that I eat, I was severely dehydrated. 

Why Water Is So Important

Almost two-thirds of the human body is made up of water. It regulates our temperature, cushions and protects our vital organs, aids digestion, transport nutrients to working muscles and organs, helps dispel waste and can help prevent us from over-eating.

Sometimes We Can Mistake Mild Dehydration For Hunger.

When we don’t drink enough fluids, our body gives us signals which resemble hunger pains. When this happens, many of us start eating unnecessary calories because we have misunderstood what our body is trying to tell us. Drink water whenever you are feeling thirsty or hungry.

A lack of water consumption can be detrimental to your body. If your hydration levels drop by only 2 percent, you may experience fuzzy thoughts, lack of concentration and difficulty focusing visually. It has also been linked to increased risk of cancer, premature aging, irritability, anxiety and numerous other ailments. There also has been a correlation made between chronic dehydration and obesity.

While a diet rich in fiber is essential for weight loss, fiber cannot do it alone. Water consumption is the other team member to a healthy gastrointestinal tract. Drinking a lot of water keeps the food flowing through your digestive tract and prevents constipation and bloating.

According to Revive Your Life, a study conducted at the University of Washington found that drinking one 8-ounce glass of water eliminated midnight hunger pangs in 98 percent of the subjects. Thereby decreasing caloric intake from midnight snacks.

One of the most important ways your level of hydration affects your caloric burn is in relation to your ability to perform physical activity. When you start to become dehydrated your muscle tissue starts to lose water and it makes it harder for that muscle to contract effectively, reducing your strength and endurance.

While water is world’s most effective, least expensive, and virtually side-effect free weight loss supplement, there are other ways to stay hydrated.

Water is best, but fruit and vegetables can be great sources of hydration. These water-rich foods tend to be lower in calories. While fat-rich foods, which have less water, are generally higher in calories. Fruits and vegetables not only have a high water content, but they also contain key vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Celery, for example, is 95% water and has only 6 calories per stalk. It is also a source of folate and vitamins A, C, and K.

Clear soups and broths can also help you feel full for very few calories, thus contributing to weight loss. Skim milk and low-fat, no-added-sugar yogurts and puddings also help hydration and nutrition without excessive calories. Drink your water and eat it, too.

Are you drinking enough water each day?

You can quickly check for dehydration at home with the tent test. Here’s how to do it. Pinch the skin over the back of the hand, on the abdomen, or over the front of the chest under the collarbone between two fingers so that it is tented up. Hold for a few seconds and release. This will show skin turgor. Skin turgor is the skin’s elasticity. It is the ability of skin to change shape and return to normal. Skin with normal turgor snaps rapidly back to its normal position. Mild dehydration will cause the skin to be slightly slow in its return to normal. Lack of skin turgor occurs with moderate to severe fluid loss.

Each day we exhale about two cups of water as water vapor. Normal daily perspiration causes about two cups of water to be lost. The intestines and kidneys utilize about six cups of water each day for normal functioning. That totals ten cups. When you add exercise to that, you increase the minimum amount of water you need just for daily functions. And for weight loss benefits, tack on a couple more cups to that total.

The amount of water you need to drink will depend on several factors, including your age, gender, activity level, weight, climate, and more. Most experts agree that drinking eight glasses of water, or 64 fluid ounces, is a sufficient amount for the average person to be properly hydrated.

However, here’s a good general guideline when it comes to recommended daily water intake for both health and weight loss benefits. To calculate how much water you should drink a day multiple your weight by 2/3 (or 67%) to determine how much water to drink daily. For example, if you weigh 175 pounds you would multiply 175 by .67 and learn you should be drinking about 117 ounces of water every day.

Since you are expelling additional water when you sweat, you should add 12 ounces of water to your daily total for every 30 minutes that you work out. This number also does not include additional water loss from sweating from being in a climate. Ask your healthcare provider or nutritionist for your body’s exact needs.

Drinking water during weight loss provides hydration without unwanted calories. 

You burn roughly one calorie for every fluid ounce of water you drink, but this only true if the water is extremely cold. For example, if you drink a liter of ice cold water that is an extra 32 calories burned without doing any extra physical activity!

? SELF LOVE ?
Be there for others, but never leave yourself behind. ~Dodinsky

All we have of freedom, all we use or know —
This our fathers bought for us long and long ago.
~Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue, 1899

How my freestyle weight loss week went:

This week was a week of pain for me. Normally I’m driving other people to appointments and rarely have them for myself. However, this week I was in constant pain and every time I had the urge to urinate I was in extreme pain. To make matters worse on Tuesday we got stuck in traffic traveling less than a half mile in over an hour trying to get to Marcus’ appointment. The pain of holding it for so long had me thinking of climbing in the backseat and peeing in a bottle. After all, we weren’t moving. The problem was taller vehicles were all around us. So I held it and held it. Until we got to where I could pull in to a fast food restaurant. Not getting any better I went to the clinic Thursday morning. They checked for a UTI and did a few tests to rule out my appendix. When they did the tent test my skin just hung there. I was severely dehydrated! With orders to drink 128 ounces of water every day, I was on my way to do blood work. They only need two small tubes yet, I was so dehydrated that I left there with three new holes in me and they only got one and a tiny bit in the second.  

After this the rest of week was spent drinking water, eating high water foods like watermelon and cucumbers, and drinking more water. I spent some time working on our blog and tending the garden. With temperatures in the 90s and heat indexes over 100, we are all losing more water than we are taking in. I picked some of my pickling cucumbers and will be making pickles today. I continue to do my new exercise routine. Even though I didn’t feel well most of the week, I pushed myself to do some and felt better for it. I’m not sure where the week went but before I knew it it was time to step on the scale once again. With all that water I drank this week and getting rehydrated, I gained a half pound. Hopefully, with continued hydration, I’ll be seeing better numbers in the weeks ahead. Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

OnlinePlus – Put the power of Weight Watchers in the palm of your hand. Learn more.

This year, the Fourth falls on a Hump Day. Deciding when to celebrate can be a bit tricky.
Will you celebrate the weekend before and then again on Wednesday, on Wednesday then back to work until the weekend after for more celebrating, on the 4th only, or do you go for it and celebrate all 10 days?
Whatever you decided, I hope you have a safe holiday and stayed hydrated.

Share your thoughts on the importance of drinking water and how you celebrated the 4th below or on my Facebook fan page.

I am not a medical professional. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

FREE Online SmartPoints Calculator

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S POST?

Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey Week 21 – Eating Healthy On a Budget

Check out the entire series of Weight Watchers Inspirational Posts.

Featured post

The Benefits of Shopping at a 👨‍🌾 Farmer’s Market ‎‍🌾

43 Replies

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey – Week 19

Benefits of Shopping at a Farmer’s Market

Can you believe it’s MONDAY already and time once again to reflect on the past week?! In the recent weeks we have looked at milestones, how to stay motivated, the smart use of free foods, some tactics for dining out, surviving the holidays while dieting, the benefits of a 5% weight loss, diabetes, the importance of exercise, starting an exercise routine, beginner exercises, and exercising in the summer heat. Since beginning my weight loss journey in January, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day have come and gone. At my daughter’s suggestion, this week I’d like to share with you the benefits of shopping at a farmer’s market.

Shopping at a Farmer’s Market

A huge benefit of eating fresh organic produce is your health. Thanks to composting and our neighbor’s animals, we are fortunate enough to have a small organic garden that produces many fresh fruits, vegetables, and greens that we need each year. However, we don’t grow anywhere near enough to meet our needs. As you know grocery stores charge an arm and a leg for organic fruits and vegetables. At a farmer’s market, however, they are typically not much more expensive than conventionally grown produce. 

    • Farm Fresh. Fruits and vegetables you find at the grocery store are often several days or even several weeks old before they even reach the produce aisle. Farmer’s market produce, on the other hand, is often picked it that morning. It’s as fresh as you can get it outside of growing and picking it yourself.
    • Organic and non-GMO: Organic farming is better for the soil, the environment, and our bodies. Many farmers who participate in local farmer’s markets use organic methods to grow their produce. Most label it as such, so you can be certain you are purchasing chemical free products. They also are more likely to use non-GMO modified seeds.

  • Seasonal Needs: Some nutritionists and scientists suggest eating seasonally available foods is better for our bodies because humans ate seasonal produce for thousands of years before refrigerated shipping changed all that. Eating produce that is in season still makes sense.  Lighter fruits and vegetables are available seasonally in the spring and summer, while heartier winter vegetables like squash and parsnips provide sustenance for the cooler autumn and winter months.
  • More nutritious: Vivid colors in fruits and vegetables are a reflection of the nutrients they contain. Look at the of produce found at the farmer’s market, and compare that to produce at the grocery store. You’ll see that the supermarket fruits and vegetables are pale in comparison.
  • Save on healthcare. The health benefits of organic food include ingesting fewer pesticides and heavy metals. You will also find more healthy fats and possibly more antioxidants in organically grown food. Organic produce is often fresher because it doesn’t contain preservatives to make it last longer. With all the health benefits of eating fresh organic produce, you are likely to save you money on healthcare expenses over the long-term. 

  • Ripeness: Eating produce when it is ripe not only tastes better, but it also provides the best nutrition possible. Produce at the farmer’s market is generally picked at the peak ripeness when its natural sugars are at their highest. Try This: Buy a tomato from the supermarket and one from the farmer’s market. Taste them side-by-side and see what you think. Produce from the farmer’s market almost always tastes better.
  • Shop Local. Just like everything else in this country, industrialized farming has become the norm. Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned business, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers, and farms — further strengthening the economic base of the whole community. Giant corporations run industrial farms, driving local family farms out of business.
  • Benefits the environment. For the sake of efficiency, industrial farming favors monocultures, where a single field only grows one type of fruits or vegetables. Monocultures sap the soil of essential nutrients, leaving it barren and unplantable for our future generations. In general, industrial farming (both conventional and organic) is hard on the land, depletes the soil of nutrients, uses industrial chemical fertilizers and/or pesticides, and utilizes environmentally unfriendly practices that are not sustainable over the long-term. While small-scale farmers are more diversified, simultaneously fueling the sustainability of the land and increasing biodiversity in our local ecosystem.

  • Value: At a farmer’s market the prices are not much more than commercially grown, mass-produced produce. For the sheer nutrition you get from farmer’s market produce compared to supermarket produce, it’s a really good value. Since more farmer’s markets are accepting nutrition assistance benefits such as SNAP and WIC, they are a great way for low-income households to get nutritious foods.
  • Variety: Farmer’s markets offer a large variety of fruits and vegetables. You can often find fruits and vegetables that won’t find in the produce section of your local supermarket. Visit different booths to pick up seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain, herbs, and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.
  • Preparation Recipes and Tips: Farmers often have recommendations for preparing their products. Farmers eat what they produce and will often share real recipes they eat on the farm, from hearty breakfasts to homemade desserts.

  • Eating local is Green: Eating local reduces your carbon footprint. Famer’s market produce doesn’t have far to get from the farm to your table, significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels. While many supermarkets receive their produce from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. This involves the significant use of fossil fuels and the use of refrigerated trucks and rail cars. When your food doesn’t travel long distances, you’re promoting better air quality and reducing pollution. 
    Along with conserving fossil fuels, small family farms also produce less environmental waste in the form of carbon monoxide, pesticide use, and chemical fertilizers.
  • Farmers markets are easy to find. We have several located near our rural home that I love to shop at. If you don’t know where one is located near you, use USDA Farmers Markets Search to find one. I discovered that there are twenty-five located within 50 miles of us!

Meet your local farmers, learn about foods grown in your area, and catch up with friends and neighbors while stocking up with local goods. When you shop at the farmer’s market, you know where your food has been. Often, you can even visit the farms to see how they grow and handle the food that you are serving your family.

? SELF LOVE ?
Eat like you love yourself. Move like you love yourself. Speak like you love yourself. Act like you love yourself.

The Best Project You’ll Ever Work On Is You!

How my freestyle weight loss week went:

This week, we made our monthly shopping trip and Marcus got two procedures done that he had to fast for! It was a rough week for him but with two days of fasting and medication, he did get a good cleanse. I spent the week working in the garden, helping him prep, driving, and waiting. I would have loved to have spent more time tending my plants. All this rain has everything growing like crazy, including the weeds.

Last week, I continued with my new exercise routine and continue to work on adding to the time and reps I do. I spent a few hours helping my aunt clean her house again this Sunday. Before we got busy I stepped on the scale and was pleased that I had lost another pound for a 34.2 lbs total lost so far. Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

OnlinePlus – Put the power of Weight Watchers in the palm of your hand. Learn more.

TALK TO ME

Where are you on your journey? Do you shop at a farmer’s market? What is your favorite thing to buy there?

Share your thoughts below or on my Facebook fan page.

I am not a medical professional. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

FREE Online SmartPoints Calculator

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S POST?

Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey Week 18
Exercise In The Summer Heat

Check out the entire series of Weight Watchers Inspirational Posts.

Featured post

Tips To Help You Safely Exercise In The Summer Heat ☀️

15 Replies

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey – Week 18

Exercise In The Summer Heat

Can you believe it’s MONDAY already and time once again to reflect on the past week?! In the recent weeks we have looked at milestones, how to stay motivated, the smart use of free foods, some tactics for dining out, surviving the holidays while dieting, the benefits of a 5% weight loss, diabetes, the importance of exercise, starting an exercise routine, and beginner exercises. Mother’s Day and Memorial Day have also come and gone. Last week, I continued with my new exercise routine and am working on adding to the time and reps I do. Now that the heat of summer is really starting to kick in I wanted to take a look at what steps I needed to take to make sure that I stayed safe. This week I’d like to share what I learned with you.

How To Exercise In The Summer Heat

Summer is the perfect time to go outside and have fun. It’s one of my favorite times of year because there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy. Everything is more fun outside, whether you’re playing ball, swimming, walking, running, or cycling. When it comes to sweating it out in the summer heat, common missteps can lead to dangerous health risks. While you may not be running a marathon in the desert or playing beach volleyball for gold, there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to exercising in the heat. Protect yourself by taking these steps:

      1. Don’t Protein-Load Before Your Workout. Some research has suggested that too much protein before a sweat session could elevate your basal temperature, making you feel even hotter. Save the protein bar for after your workout when it will help you rebuild muscle.
      2. The time of day is important. Generally, the early morning is the best time to workout. Unless, you are training for an event that takes place in the daytime heat, avoid exercising during the hottest part of the day, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

     

    1. Wear loose, light-colored clothing.  Lighter colors help reflect heat and cotton material helps the with the evaporation of sweat. If you can afford them, specially designed “hi-tech” clothing items are often made from material meant to keep you cool.

    2. Sunscreen is a must. Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays. With a history of skin cancer in my family, I wear one that is higher just to be safe. You’ll want a broad-spectrum sunscreen for both UVB and UVA protection Ingredients to look for are benzophenones (oxybenzone), cinnamates (octylmethyl cinnamate and cinoxate), sulisobenzone, salicylates, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone (Parsol 1789), and ecamsule (Mexoryl SX). No matter how long-lasting it’s supposed to be, reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours, and more often if you’re sweating or getting wet.

       

    3. Decrease the Intensity. When it’s hot outside, it’s harder to exercise at your normal level of intensity. Heat and humidity both raise your heart rate, and your body has a harder time dissipating extra heat. Because of this, you should plan on only working out at 60-70 percent of the intensity of your normal routine. You’ll get the same amount of exercise, and you’ll be safer.
      When the temperatures first start to climb, take your workouts down a notch: do fewer intervals, or save that long endurance ride for a cooler day.
    4. Acclimate Yourself. When traveling or switching from exercising indoors to outside, remember that it takes your body 10-14 days to adjust to a new temperature. Start slow and easy, and increase your workouts over the course of two weeks.
    5. Stay hydrated. Drink water all day, not just before or after your workout: Staying hydrated will help prevent some of the symptoms you may experience from exercising in heat such as dizziness, stomach cramps, and headaches. It can even result in kidney failure or in extreme cases, death. During your run, sip four to eight ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes.
      DO use the “lemonade test.” When you look in the toilet immediately after you urinate, you want to see liquid the color of pale lemonade; if it’s a vibrant yellow or looks like apple juice, you need more fluids.

    6. Replenish your electrolyte and salt intake while exercising.  When you sweat, your body loses not only water but electrolytes and salt, too. This delicate balance of water and electrolytes is crucial to keep your body functioning properly. If you drink too much water without replenishing your electrolytes, you can experience hyponatremia. You may experience confusion, nausea, muscle cramps, seizures or even death in extreme cases.
      The highest concentration of electrolytes lost from sweat is from sodium and chloride (i.e. table salt) followed by potassium. You can add a pinch of salt to a glass of water to replace sodium and chloride. Salty foods like broth or vegetable juice are also good for replenishing sodium levels. Fresh tomatoes and lettuce can help replenish chloride. Be sure to also eat foods that are high in potassium such as banana, dates, raisins, coconut, and avocado.
    7. Listen to your body. Stop immediately if you’re feeling dizzy, faint, nauseous, or display any of the other signs of heat stroke.  Any time you begin to feel dizzy or nauseous, immediately stop what you’re doing and drink something. These are early symptoms of dehydration, and ignoring your body’s need for liquids can lead to heat-related illness.
    8. Know the symptoms of heat stroke. Heat stroke is a serious threat that can be fatal. Symptoms include:

High body temperature (104° F/40° C or higher)
ABSENCE OF SWEATING with hot, flushed, or red/dry skin
Throbbing headache
Rapid pulse
Difficulty breathing
Strange behavior
Hallucinations
Confusion
Agitation
Disorientation
Dizziness and light-headedness
Muscle weakness or cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Seizures
Unconsciousness

  1. As the great outdoors beckons with its warmer weather and longer days, we all like make the most of the season by turning your tired indoor routine into fun outdoor workouts. Whether you’re at the lake, in the mountains, on the beach, or at the pool just make sure that you do it safely! 

    ? SELF LOVE ?
    Strive for progress, not perfection!

    Part of my workout inspiration is working off the summer treats like ice cream.

    How my freestyle weight loss week went:

    With fewer appointments this week, only three out of five days this week, I had more time to focus on my weight loss, exercise, and my blog this week. I’ve got a new favorite snack. Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich – PB Fit spread on a banana sliced in half length-wise as the bread!

    Sunday was spent with my daughter cleaning my aunt’s place. She bought us both Chinese for our efforts. Good thing we were able to work off some of that chicken and broccoli made with General Tso’s sauce and white rice. Before we got busy I stepped on the scale and was pleased to see that I was back on track. I had lost two pounds! The biggest difference that I’ve noticed so far is more than the number on the scale. It’s how I feel and how my clothes don’t fit. Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

    OnlinePlus – Put the power of Weight Watchers in the palm of your hand. Learn more.

    TALK TO ME

    Where are you on your journey? What is your favorite activity to do when the weather gets warm? Do you have a summer workout tip?

    Share your thoughts below or on my Facebook fan page.

    I am not a medical professional. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

    FREE Online SmartPoints Calculator

    DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S POST?

    Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey Week 17 – MEMORIAL DAY

    Check out the entire series of Weight Watchers Inspirational Posts.

Featured post

Memorial Day 🎖️ Remembering Those Who Have Sacrificed For Us ✊ Read This Post To Learn How You Can Pay Tribute

38 Replies

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey – Week 17

Memorial Day

Can you believe it’s MONDAY already and time once again to reflect on the past week?! In the recent weeks we have looked at milestones, how to stay motivated, the smart use of free foods, some tactics for dining out, surviving the holidays while dieting, the benefits of a 5% weight loss, diabetes, the importance of exercise, starting an exercise routine, and beginner exercises. Mother’s Day was the start of our grilling season and the first of a long list of summer grilling holidays. Last week, I continued with my new exercise routine and spent time with my sweetheart who is a Marine Vet. Since it is Memorial Day, I would like to say thank you to him, my father, who is retired Air Force, and all my readers who have or are serving in our armed forces for their service to our country. Thank you, for ensuring our safety and making the freedoms that we all enjoy in this great country possible. I appreciate each and every one of you.

Memorial  Day

Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers.

We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.

– James A. Garfield May 30, 1868, Arlington National Cemetery

In 1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities observed Memorial Day, and several states had declared it a legal holiday. After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars and was then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States. In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and established that Memorial Day was to be commemorated on the last Monday of May. 

HONOR. REMEMBER. NEVER FORGET.

The online Poppy Memorial pays tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation. Anyone is welcome to dedicate a poppy to a fallen servicemember. If you don’t know one personally, you can dedicate the poppy to “The Fallen Heros.” Dedicate A Poppy HERE.

This Memorial Day as we enjoy the warm weather, cookouts, and all sorts of outdoor activities we need to remember that today isn’t about beer, brats, and an extra day off from work. The heart of a holiday is to honor the more than 1.3 million Americans who have died in our nation’s wars. These men and women took an oath to the Constitution and served our country and each other with honor, dignity and courage. Giving ALL for their country. Join me as I reflect on the sacrifice these members of our armed forces have given so that we can enjoy our freedom and prosperity.

? SELF LOVE ?
You can’t hate yourself happy. You can’t criticize yourself thin. You can’t shame yourself worthy. Real change begins with self-love and self-care. -Jessica Ortner

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.

How my freestyle weight loss week went:

With appointments four out of five days this week it was another week of appointments and waiting rooms. With only two days of doing any exercises, my new exercise routine took a back seat this week. I did get some walking in as it’s over a half mile from were we park to the check-in for physical therapy. The new kitten is also keeping me busy. She thinks we are her human teething rings. Who would have thought that such tiny teeth could hurt so much!

Saturday was spent taking my neighbor to dialysis and working on this blog. Sunday was spent at home hanging out with Marcus. The weekend always seems to go by so fast. I got on the scale for my weekly weigh-in early Sunday. When I stepped on, I saw that this week I had not lost nor gained any weight. Not surprising as I’ve been lax and not doing as I know I should. Time to make time for ME and get back on track. I know I can do this as I’ve done it before. It just seems so much harder to lose weight this time. Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

TALK TO ME

Where are you on your journey? What do you do to stay motivated? Did you dedicate a poppy?

Share your thoughts below or on my Facebook fan page.

I am not a medical professional. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

FREE Online SmartPoints Calculator

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S POST?

Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey Week 16 – Keep Moving

Check out the entire series of Weight Watchers Inspirational Posts.

Featured post

🤱 How We’re Honoring Motherhood & Favorite Mother’s Day Quotes

17 Replies

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey – Week 15

Mother’s Day

It’s time once again to reflect on the past week. Recently, we have looked at milestones, how to stay motivated, the smart use of free foods, some tactics for dining out, surviving the holidays while dieting, the benefits of a 5% weight loss, diabetes, the importance of exercise, starting an exercise routine, and last week beginner exercises. This week I will be visiting my Mom and celebrating Mother’s Day with her and my children on Sunday so I am writing about my WW Freestyle journey on Saturday night. I will still be venturing onto the scale for my weekly weigh in when I return home Sunday night. I haven’t mentioned it before but I really like the structure of having a set day to weigh. I find that I’m not obsessing all week about the scale by having a set day to do it.

OnlinePlus – Put the power of Weight Watchers in the palm of your hand. Learn more.

Origins of Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed in different forms throughout the world. It’s origins go way back to the era of ancient Greek and Romans. The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908. Anna Jarvis had originally conceived of Mother’s Day as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families. Her version of the day involved wearing a white carnation as a badge and visiting one’s mother or attending church services.

It can also be traced in the UK where a Mothering Sunday was celebrated long before Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation in 1914 designating Mother’s Day to be held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. In the United States, Mother’s Day continues to be celebrated by presenting mothers and other women with gifts and flowers. Some families also celebrate by giving mothers a day off from activities like cooking or other household chores.

No matter how you celebrate the important woman in your life, whether she be Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Sister, Friend, Mentor, or someone special who is like a Mom to you remember what all us mom’s want is…

For You to be Happy and Healthy!

Some Of My Favorite Mother’s Day Quotes:

The love of a mother is the veil of a softer light between the heart and the heavenly Father. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. – Theodore Hesburgh

A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take. – Cardinal Meymillod

If at first, you don’t succeed, try doing it the way mom told you to in the beginning. – Unknown

Mother’s love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved. – Erich Fromm

Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; A mother’s secret hope outlives them all. – Oliver Wendell Holmes

Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. – Unknown

Mothers were meant to love us unconditionally, to understand our moments of stupidity, to reprimand us for lame excuses while yet acknowledging our point of view, to weep over our pain and failures as well as cry at our joy and successes, and to cheer us on despite countless start-overs. Heaven knows, no one else will. – Richelle E. Goodrich

? SELF LOVE ?
Give yourself the gift of your own joy and happiness for Mother’s Day. Make time for at least one thing you can do for yourself.

Cherish the moments you have with your Mom. Let her know how much you appreciate her.

How my freestyle weight loss week went:

With physical therapy, pain management specialist, lab work, and check-ups, this was another week of appointments and waiting rooms. However, Wednesday had been set aside for an oil change, my Mom and two aunts birthday lunch at the Golden Corral, and our monthly shopping trip. That was a busy and diet landmine filled day! Lunch at the restaurant was challenging. Not because of all the food but there was so little prepared in a healthy manner. Most of the items on the bar were either fried, smothered in cheese, loaded with carbs, or high fat. I know that they are catering to what the public wants and that the items offered are low cost to prepare but I was still shocked that the healthy choices were so few. I did fix myself a nice salad and manage to find some baked fish, veggies, and lima beans that didn’t have a whole lot of added fat on the bars. Of course, I had to have a piece of my favorite sweet. But only one and I cut it into six tiny squares to savor each small bite. After lunch, thank goodness, we had a full day of shopping to work off the square of fudge that I had for dessert.

I did accomplish my goal of three 10 minute walks in this week. Plus, I was able to do my new exercise routine a few times this week. Before beginning this journey I was to tired to do much more than this blog so I was proud that I was able to accomplish so much this week.

Sunday was spent at my parents’ house celebrating Mother’s Day. My youngest son cooked on the grill for everyone. All too soon it was Sunday evening and  I got on the scale for my weekly weigh-in to see if the changes I’ve made would pay off. When I stepped on I saw that this week I had lost 2 pounds this week. Each week presents its own challenges, but isn’t that what makes life so exciting? Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

TALK TO ME

Where are you on your journey? What is your favorite quote or saying about Mothers? What is one thing that you would like to do for yourself?

Share your thoughts below or on my Facebook fan page.

I am not a medical professional. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

FREE Online SmartPoints Calculator

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S POST?

Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey Week 14 – Beginner Exercises

Check out the entire series of Weight Watchers Inspirational Posts.

Featured post

Homemade Shanklish Recipe – Add This Syrian Blue Cheese To Eggs For Just 3 SmartPoints!

23 Replies

Shanklish

Shanklish, also known as shinklish, shankleesh,  skunk leesh, sorke, or sürke, is a Lebanese and Syrian bleu cheese made from cow or sheep’s milk. Change up your morning eggs! This cheese adds a lot of flavor and is only 3 SmartPoints per ounce!

My great-grandparents immigrated from Syria to the United States and brought their recipe with them. Over the years it has been Americanized and modernized for the way we live today and the ingredients available. This Middle Eastern cheese is similar in texture to feta. It takes time to make but is so worth the effort and patience that you put into making it.

Ingredients:

3 pounds Farmer’s Cheese              Oil
3 Tablespoons Salt                          Thyme

Directions:

• Open and drain the cheese in cheesecloth.

• When drained – In a large bowl mix cheese and salt very well.

• Line a cookie sheet with plastic wrap. Then, with paper towels.

• Form cheese mixture into balls and place on paper towels. Traditionally they are about the size of oranges but I prefer them about half that size

• Next, cover with another layer of paper towels.

• Now place in a warm place (top of the refrigerator works well) for 3 –  4 days. Important: Each day turn the balls and replace the paper towels with new ones.

• Now place a paper towel in the bottom of a container ( I use a coffee can) and place the balls inside and another paper towel on top.

• Cover and Place in a warm place and check for mold in 3 – 4 days.

• When the balls are ready, In separate bowls place enough Oil and Thyme to coat the balls. If you want you can get Za’atar online to roll the balls in.

• Wash off the mold and roll the balls in the oil and then the thyme.

• Store in the refrigerator or wrap each ball in plastic wrap and freeze. Thaw at room temperature as needed.

Note: For 2 Weight Watchers SmartPoints use 1 Tablespoon.

I love this on eggs, salads, fresh tomato slices, and pizza.

WHAT I USED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

 

High-Quality Jolly Chefs Natural Unbleached Cheesecloth
  • Grade 90 Best Quality Cheesecloth
  • 6 Square Yards
  • Made from 100% soft and absorbent lint free cotton
  • Natural and Unbleached – no bleach or harmful chemicals
  • 100% Money Back Guarantee
  • Possible Uses
    -> Nut Milk Bag Alternative
    -> Spice/Herb and Natural Tea Bags
    -> Basting Turkey/Chicken and other poultry
    -> Canning, Cheese Making, Wine Making, Straining Jelly
    -> Making Greek Yoghurt
    -> Art and Craft
    -> Polishing/Dusting Furniture
    -> Cleaning Cars, Mirrors, etc…
Get Jolly Chefs Unbleached Grade 90 Cheesecloth on Amazon
My Thoughts:
When I received the opportunity to review the Jolly Chefs Cheesecloth in exchange for my honest opinion being of Syrian descent I knew that I wanted to make Shanklish from my family’s recipe. The cheesecloth was strong and the tightness of the weave made extracting the liquid simple and effective. This 90-grade cloth performed very well for this recipe. I will be using it for a long time because there’s such a large amount in the package I barely used any. I believe this a great value and would highly recommend this product.
Featured post

Make Your Celebration Unforgettable With These Brisket, Sliders, BBQ Pickles, and Crispy Onion Straws Recipes

56 Replies

Fireworks, flags, family, friends, and brisket – there isn’t anything more American than smoked meat to celebrate the Fourth of July. Whether it’s a holiday feast for just the family or the whole neighborhood, a big barbecued brisket is a perfect way to bring everyone together for a day of celebrating the red, white and blue.

Sometimes preparing such a large piece of meat can be scary but cooking a brisket doesn’t have to be intimidating! With a few easy steps and a little time and patience, everyone can make an incredible brisket. To help you here’s a great guide from Stubb’s BBQ Expert Rocky Stubblefield.

Rocky Stubblefield’s Tips for Preparing Brisket

“My grandfather Stubb was famous for all kinds of barbecue – ribs, chicken, you name it. But brisket – cooked low and slow – was his specialty. He made so many briskets that he used to joke that he didn’t have any fingerprints left because he’d burned them off pulling meat off the pit.”

Preparing Brisket: My granddad would have made brisket low and slow in his own hand-welded pit. You can do the same on your gas or charcoal grill using hickory wood chips. Just be prepared to man that grill for at least a half day, monitoring the temperature.

Selecting a Brisket: A brisket is usually about 12-15 pounds. If you need a smaller option, those are available as well. With this size of meat, you’ll need to plan ahead when cooking. It’s better right off the grill but if you don’t have time, you can make it the day before and rewarm it on the grill or in the oven.

Prepare the Brisket: Preparation with a rub is critical for a good flavor crust. Rub the entire brisket generously with Stubb’s Beef or Bar-B-Q rub. Only put the rub on 15-20 minutes before the meat goes on the grill. The longer the rub sits on the meat, the more the salt draws out the moisture of the meat

Cook the Brisket: Fat side up! Place the meat fat side up on your grill or smoker so that the fat drips down into the meat and it stays moist. Most people at home have a charcoal grill, and you can easily smoke a brisket on it.

Here’s how to do it:

  • First, soak your wood chips in water for 30 minutes.
  • Spread charcoal on one side of the grill, leaving the other side empty. Light your charcoal and allow to heat until a subtle coating of gray ash forms.
  • Sprinkle soaked wood chips directly onto the coals and allow them to start smoking.
  • Place brisket over the side of the grill without charcoal, and cover, so it cooks over indirect heat.
  • Cook at 225-250 degrees until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the brisket reaches 180-185 degrees. This can take 8-10 hours depending on your grill.
  • To maintain the temperature, check every hour to adjust vents and add more charcoal and soaked wood chips as needed.
  • I usually wrap my brisket after about 5 hours to keep the juices inside.

Slicing Brisket: Slice along the ribbon of fat that runs horizontally through the meat. Then, slice the meaty halves of the brisket against or across the grain. Not sure where the grain is? It’s easier to see on the raw meat before it’s rubbed, so cut notch when prepping to help guide once it’s cooked.

Add the sauce: As they say in Texas – it’s not done ‘til you add the sauce! We add it after so the sauce doesn’t burn on the grill. You can put in on the side and dip, or drizzle it over the top.

Now that you have the perfect brisket, it’s time to kick it up a notch and prepare the ultimate Bar-B-Q Brisket Sliders for your family and guests. 

Bar-B-Q Brisket Sliders with Barbeque Pickles and Crispy Onion Straws

Loaded with flavor, these Bar-B-Q Brisket Sliders are just how Stubb would have made ‘em himself. From his tangy-sweet brisket seasoned with Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Rub and Bar-B-Q Sauce, to the savory, spice-rubbed barbeque pickles, and crispy onion straws, these sliders have got it all. 

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

Barbecue Pickles:

  •    2 cups very thinly sliced small cucumbers (1/8-inch thick)
  •    1 tablespoon Stubb’s® Bar-B-Q Rub
  •    1 tablespoon sugar
  •    2 tablespoons white vinegar

Crispy Onion Straws:

  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon McCormick® Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 medium onion, very thinly sliced and separated into rings
  •  Vegetable oil, for frying

 Bar-B-Q Brisket Sliders:

  • 2 pounds sliced Stubb’s BBQ Brisket (see above)
  • 12 slider or small dinner rolls
  • 3/4 cup Stubb’s® Original Bar-B-Q Sauce

Instructions:

For the Pickles, mix cucumbers, Bar-B-Q Rub, and sugar in small bowl. Let stand 30 minutes. Strain cucumbers and place in glass bowl or jar. Stir in vinegar. Cover. Refrigerate until ready to use.

For the Onion Straws, mix flour, salt, and pepper in a large resealable plastic bag. Add onion rings; toss to coat well. Pour oil into deep fryer, large heavy skillet or saucepan, filling no more than 1/3 full. Heat oil on medium-high heat. Carefully add onion rings to hot oil. Fry 4 to 5 minutes, turning once to brown evenly, until onion rings are golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

For the Sliders, serve brisket slices on slider rolls topped with Barbecue Pickles, Crispy Onion Straws and Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Sauce. (Store any leftover pickles in a tightly covered glass container in the refrigerator for another use.)

Makes 12 sliders.

Still looking for more recipes for your celebration? Rocky Stubblefield, the grandson of Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q founder C.B. “Stubb” Stubblefield has more original recipes that are sure to please every partygoer:

Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Brisket, smoked low and low, or one of these favorite takes:

  • Brisket Sliders with Crispy Onions and BBQ Pickles
  • Brisket Walking Nachos
  • Brisket Tacos with Roasted Corn Avocado Salsa

Delicious family-friendly BBQ sides:

  • Cowboy Beans
  • BBQ Cole Slaw

Now that you’ve got your brisket cooking it’s time for some fun and a giveaway! To help you make your 4th of July celebration extra delicious Stubb’s Bar-B-Q is sponsoring a Fourth of July giveaway with coupons, swag, and product valued at $50 for one lucky reader to win. All you have to do for a chance to win is enter on the widget below. Remember the more entries you do the better your chances are to win!

Look at all the great Stubb’s sauces and rubs that you can get to make your next get together extraordinary on AMAZON!

Welcome to the

Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q
Prize Package Giveaway

 Dates: June 21, 2017, at 12:01 am EST to July 4, 2017, at 11:59 pm EST

Prize: ONE Lucky WINNER will receive Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q coupons, swag, and product valued at $50

Want to know what I thought of this giveaway prize?
See My Complete Review HERE

Hosted By Sweet Southern Savings

Co-Hosted By IMHO Views, Reviews, and Giveaways and Deliciously Savvy

Sponsored By:

Please Show Our Sponsor Some Love
Website ~ Facebook ~ YouTube ~ Twitter 

I would like to give a big shout out to all the blogs
participating in this giveaway! I couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for bringing this promotion to your readers.

By following us on our social networks and by email we are able to get the best giveaways together on the internet! Please take a minute to follow us! Thanks!

This giveaway is for Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q coupons, swag, and product valued at $50 and will run through 7/04/2017 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. It is open to residents of the US ages 18+. You are not eligible if you have won a prize from the sponsor in the last 90 days. Winners are subject to eligibility verification and will have 24 hours to confirm before a new winner will be drawn. For any questions or concerns please email paula_stewart (at) ymail (dot) com (please consider adding this email to your “Safe List” as the winning email notification will be sent from this email). Chances of winning depend on entries received. Remember the more entries you do the better your chances are to win! If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified. Winning entry will be verified. 

GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

 

Summer’s Here! Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q Prize Package Giveaway
Disclaimer: Sweet Southern Savings nor any blog promoting this giveaway, is not responsible for the awarding of the prize. Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. Any Questions about this giveaway? Email Paula At paula_stewart (at) ymail (dot) com.
 
Disclosure of Material Connection: PaulaMS has received the product mentioned above for free to facilitate the writing of a review. *Some of the links on this blog post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, she only recommends products or services that she uses personally and believes will add value to readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

If you have any questions or are a brand/company and would like to work with Paula Stewart please contact us HERE.

As Always…. Thank You For Visiting Today ~ Please Leave Some Comment Love While You Are Here!

Featured post

Origins of Mother’s Day

Leave a reply

Mother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed in different forms throughout the world. It’s origins go way back to the era of ancient Greek and Romans. The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908. Anna Jarvis had originally conceived of Mother’s Day as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families. Her version of the day involved wearing a white carnation as a badge and visiting one’s mother or attending church services. It can also be traced in the UK where a Mothering Sunday was celebrated long before Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation in 1914 designating Mother’s Day to be held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. In the United States, Mother’s Day continues to be celebrated by presenting mothers and other women with gifts and flowers. Some families also celebrate by giving mothers a day off from activities like cooking or other household chores. No matter how you celebrate the important woman in your life, whether she be Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Sister, Friend, Mentor, or someone special who is like a Mom to you we’ve got a giveaway to help you get her something really special.

 
Welcome to the
$1000 Mother’s Day Giveaway
​
Are you ready for a chance to WIN your share of the $1000 Paypal Cash prize? Giveaway will run April 15th @4PM EST and end on May 24th @11:59 PM EST, is open WW, and there will be 2 lucky winners of $500 each!

Disclaimer: PaulaMS’ Giveaways, Reviews, and Freebies nor any blog promoting this giveaway, is not responsible for the awarding of the prize. Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.
​

 
​If you have any questions or are a brand/company and would like to work with Paula Stewart please contact us HERE.
​
As Always…. Thank You For Visiting Today ~ Please Leave Some Comment Love While You Are Here!

Just in time for the holidays, A Christmas Story Christmas is available on DVD, Digital, or with Subscription.

Leave a reply

A Christmas Story Christmas

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES

A Christmas Story Christmas

Available to own, rent, or view with subscription TODAY

This 2022 American Christmas comedy film follows Ralphie as he returns to the house on Cleveland Street. He wants to give his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had as a child. This movie offers plenty of Christmas nostalgia as Ralphie deals with Christmas and all that comes with it.

While never replacing the magic of the classic A Chrismas Story film, this release offers solid entertainment, and lots of Christmas spirit.

Synopsis

Ralphie is all grown up in this sequel to the annual holiday favorite in which he must deal with Christmas and all that comes with it, this time as a dad. Peter Billingsley returns to the role that has made kids of all ages anticipate Christmas morning like no other.

About the Film:

  • Directed by Clay Kaytis
  • Screenplay by Nick Schenk and Clay Kaytis
  • Based on characters created by Jean Shepherd
  • Produced by Irwin Zwilling, Marc Toberoff, Cale Boyter, Jay Ashenfelter, Peter Billingsly, Vince Vaughn
  • Starring Peter Billingsly, Erinn Hayes, Scott Schwartz, R.D. Robb, Zack Ward, Julie Hagerty
  • Film Run Time: 98 minutes
  • Rating: PG
  • Watch with a subscription on Max, rent on Vudu, buy on Amazon, Walmart, Apple TV, Vudu and more.

You can find A Christmas Story Christmas and all the Holiday movies that Warner Bros. offers here.

Movie Intro:
In December 1973, 33 years after the events of A Christmas Story, Ralph “Ralphie” Parker lives in Chicago with his wife, Sandy, and two children, Mark and Julie. Ralph has been taking the year off from his job to write his first novel, but its excessive length leads multiple publishers to reject it. Mrs. Parker calls to tell Ralph that his father, “the Old Man”, has died, and the grief-stricken family makes its way to Hohman, Indiana to be with her. She gives Ralph two tasks: write his father’s obituary, and take up his mantle of making Christmas special for the family.

Ralph’s children befriend one of the Bumpus kids next door, and have their snowman smashed by two bullies on a snowmobile. Ralph reunites with Flick, who now owns his father’s old tavern, and Schwartz, who still lives with his mother and has run up a large tab at Flick’s. While leaving the house to go ice skating, Sandy slips and sprains her ankle.

As Christmas Eve approaches, the family goes to Higbee’s, where Ralph miraculously buys everything Mark and Julie asked for while the children speak to the store’s Santa. On the way back, Ralph’s car overheats, and Ralph accidentally hits Julie in the eye during an impromptu snowball fight. After Julie receives a temporary eyepatch at the hospital, the family discovers their car was robbed in the hospital parking lot; the presents are gone, and there is little money left to replace them.

Continue reading the A Christmas Story Christmas  plot on Wikipedia

 More Must See Christmas Movies

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION, A CHRISTMAS STORY, ELF, AND THE POLAR EXPRESS

ARE ALL AVAILABLE FOR YOU VIEWING PLEASURE!

About these classic holiday family films:

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and children, as he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations. However, things go awry quickly. His hick cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid), and his family show up unplanned and start living in their camper on the Griswold property. Even worse, Clark’s employers renege on the holiday bonus he needs.

The film is directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. The screenplay is by John Hughes and based on characters by Hughes. The film is produced by Hughes and Tom Jacobsen and stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, and Randy Quaid.

A Christmas Story

Set in a 1940s-era Midwestern town and told from the viewpoints of a seven-year-old boy, who only wants one thing for Christmas — a Red Ryder BB gun — the episodic tale chronicles not only his schemes to convince his mother and father to buy him one, but also offers a warmly nostalgic look into 1940s middle-class American life. From the stories of, and narrated by, Jean Shepherd.

The film is directed by Bob Clark. The screenplay is by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clark and is based on the novel “In God We Trust: All Other Pay Cash by Shepherd. The film is produced by Rene Dupont and Bob Clark and stars Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin and Peter Billingsley.

Additionally, A Christmas Story Christmas, from Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max, will debut on HBO Max on November 17. The long-awaited follow-up to the annual holiday favorite A Christmas Story, this time Ralphie is all grown up and must deal with Christmas and all that comes with it…as a dad. Peter Billingsley returns to the role that has made kids of all ages anticipate Christmas morning like no other.

Elf

This hilarious Christmas film tells the tale of a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts on Christmas Eve and is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf. Years later Buddy learns he is not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York City to find his true identity.

The film is directed by Jon Favreau and written by David Berenbaum. It is produced by Jon Berg, Todd Komarnicki , and Shauna Robertson, and stars Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Edward Asner and Bob Newhart.

The Polar Express

When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

The film is directed by Robert Zemeckis from a screenplay by Zemeckis and William Broyles Jr. It is based on the classic Caldecott award-winning children’s book written by Chris Van Allsburg. The film is produced by Steve Starkey, Zemeckis, Gary Goetzman, and William Teitler, and features the voices of Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, and Eddie Deezen.

THE CREDITS

About Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, WB Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.

-wbhe-

You can find all the Holiday movies that Warner Bros. offers here.

Are You a Modern Craveman? Take the Quiz and Find Out! Plus, Get Your 15% Discount Code

Leave a reply

Take the Modern Craveman Quiz:

  1. Do you like your snacks with no added sugar?
  2. Are you looking for foods with no refined carbs?
  3. Do you want something to eat that is nutritionally dense?
  4. Are you interested in eating organic or vegan foods?
  5. Does Gluten-free and Grain-free foods interest you?
  6. Are you not willing to compromise on taste?

The Modern Craveman LOVES
Organic, Kosher, Keto, Vegan, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free Natural Snacks with NO Added Sugar, NO Refined Carbs, that do NOT Compromise on Taste and Nutrition.

Plantraw is an up-and-coming company that is focused on bringing you the highest-quality, most nutritious snacks gustatorily possible. We had the privilege of trying three of their unique snacks; the Cocoa-Date Truffles (Dark), Tomato Onion Chips, and Nutrionally Dense Granola.

Our Modern Craveman loves him some Cocoa-Date Truffles.

The Cocoa-Date Truffles (Dark) contain just a few high-quality ingredients: Raw organic dates, Raw unsweetened organic coconut, Raw organic cocoa paste (100% dark chocolate), and Raw organic coconut oil. That’s it!

They have no added sugar, sweeteners, fillers, thickeners, emulsifiers, or preservatives. The fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, flavonoids, and other micronutrients in this product are intact and bioavailable.

Since these delectable bites are only sweetened with dates they are not overly sweet like many truffles. Unlike when you eat highly processed sweets, after eating these truffles your palate still feels clean. 

Attention Modern Craveman loves Tomato Onion Chips!

Plantraw Tomato Onion chips are gluten-free, vegan, and natural. These chips lose 2/3 of their weight during dehydration. This leaves the remaining 1/3 rich in flavor and nutritionally dense.

It is amazing that with so much taste they are a good source of fiber. If you’ve ever eaten a high-fiber bar you know this is not always true. These chips are also a good source of Omega 3, the “healthy fats” that may support heart health. And, ever conscious of carbs since I help several family members with diabetes understand what is beneficial for them to eat; these chips are a great snack for them with 0g refined carbs.

Tomato-Onion Chips also have just a few simple ingredients. They contain tomatoes, onions, flaxseed, nutritional yeast, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, smoked paprika, and acerola cherry. That’s it!

Did You Know That The Modern Craveman Loves Nutritionally Dense Granola?

Plantraw’s original granola is grain-free and gluten-free. It is sweetened solely with whole organic dates so it has no added sugar or sweeteners.

With its ingredients of sprouted almonds, dates, pecans, sesame, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and acerola cherry it is a good source of dietary fiber, Omega 3, and plant-based protein. 

We enjoyed this granola as a late afternoon pick-me-up while spending the day at the aquarium with our grandchildren. I was pleasantly surprised at how much the kids loved it. They kept reaching their tiny hands into the bag for more.

 

If you’re a modern craveman and are looking for healthy and minimally processed foods that taste amazing, you’ve got to check out the products that Plantraw offers. We’ve tried their truffles, chips, and granola so far. And, are loving them!!!!

PlantraW has graciously offered our readers a 15% discount. Just enter code Sweet15 at checkout or use this link to get your discount

My father’s, Ronald George Povero, Funeral 1PM 4/28/23

Leave a reply

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have had to take time off from my online activities. My father was very proud of my writing and supported me in my pursuit of creating a successful blog. So, I will return to blogging in the future.
My father passed away Friday, April 21, 2023. He was a wonderful dad, husband of 57 years, grandfather, and great-grandfather. We are thankful that, thanks to Hospice, we were able to get him home with his family around him before it happened. Please keep our family in your prayers.

Obituary of Ronald “Ronnie” George Povero

Ronald George “Ronnie” Povero, 79, of Summerville, South Carolina, passed away peacefully surrounded by close family in his home on April 21, 2023.

Born on March 4, 1944 in Seneca, New York, Ronnie was the only child of the late Dominic and Mary Povero.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Pauline Povero; two daughters, Paula Stewart-Sealund (husband, Marcus) and Connie Robertson (husband, Cleveland “CJ”); seven grandchildren and their spouses, Joey Povero, Christine Alexander (Paul), Jamie Campbell (Marissa), Robert Campbell (Anne), Bobby Stewart (Alicia), Felisha Thomas Tresler, and Berry Robertson; ten great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Ronnie joined the United States Air Force in 1962. After he completed boot camp and technical school in Texas he was assigned to the Charleston Air Force Base. In 1971 he joined the 315th Airlift Wing reserve unit in Charleston, SC where he served until he retired as a Master Sargent in 1990.

Through his church, Saint John the Beloved, and the Knights of Columbus, honorary 3rd and 4th degree life member, he served the community of Summerville for more than fifty years.

As an avid fisherman, Florida State, and NASCAR fan, he enjoyed spending time outdoors with his many family and friends.

Visitation will be on Friday, April 28, 2023 from 12:15 until 1pm at Saint John the Beloved Church, 28 Sumter Avenue, Summerville, SC 29483. The Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow the visitation.

The family asks in lieu of flowers, contributions be given to your charity of choice.

https://obits.postandcourier.com/us/obituaries/charleston/name/ronald-povero-obituary?id=51740112&fbclid=IwAR3_jt_GSwc2exBmTPwBcHBhlq1ha5b-0fCwMW7mo495j9YUk39IG0TMXiU

50th Wedding Anniversary

Marriage Is…

A commitment.  Its success doesn’t depend on circumstances, feelings, or moods – but on two people who are loyal to each other and the vow’s they took on their wedding day…

Marriage Is…

A relationship where two people must listen, compromise, and respect.  It’s an arrangement that requires a multitude of decisions to be made together.  Listening, respecting, and compromising go a long way toward keeping peace and harmony.

A union in which two people learn from their mistakes, accept each other’s faults, and willingly adjust behaviors that need to be changed.  It’s caring enough about each other to work through disappointing and hurtful times and believing in the love that brought you together in the first place.

Patience and forgiveness.  It’s being open and honest, thoughtful and kind.  Marriage means talking things out, making necessary changes, and forgiving each other.  It’s unconditional love at its most understanding and vulnerable – love that supports, comforts, and is determined to triumph over every challenge and adversity.

Marriage is a partnership of two unique people who bring out the very best in each other and who know that even though they are wonderful as individuals… they are even better together.

How to Make and Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

Leave a reply

A New Year’s Resolution is a promise that we make to ourselves.

As the year ends, many of us are thinking about how we can get 2023 off to a smashing start. The new year is the perfect time to get a fresh start. Seize the opportunity to change bad habits and establish new routines that will help you grow psychologically, emotionally, socially, physically, or intellectually.

The problem is, resolutions are much easier to make than to keep. With the best of intentions, we promise to start doing something good or stop doing something bad on the first day of the year. Too often by the end of March, many of us have lost our resolve and returned to our old patterns. If this is you, don’t worry, You’re not doomed to have unfinished resolutions forever. Picking a focused New Year’s resolution that’s both inspiring and manageable will have you more likely to check it off, come the end of the year.

Make only one resolution. You may be tempted with grandiose plans for self-improvement. But try to avoid creating a list crammed with lots of resolutions. It is better to focus on just one. That way, you can focus all your energy on achieving it. Plus, you won’t be disappointed when the end of the year comes and you haven’t checked off a bunch of resolutions on your list.

Focus on just one behavior. Your one resolution should address one behavior, not multiple behaviors. If you try to commit to eating healthy, exercising, and drinking plenty of water you’re more likely to get overwhelmed and quit. Instead, just focus on one of the three behaviors and you’re more likely to succeed.

Make your goal specific. The more vague goal is the more difficult it will be to achieve. Specific goals are more actionable and therefore more achievable.

Choose your resolution for the right reason. Make sure is something that you genuinely want to achieve. If it’s because you think it will benefit someone else or make someone envious you won’t be as likely to succeed as you will be if you pick a goal that means a lot to you. Before committing to a New Year’s resolution, ask yourself, “Why do I want to do this?”

Pick a meaningful resolution. Pick a resolution that makes you feel inspired, aligns with something that you are passionate about, or motivates you. And, you’ll be more motivated to do it. Some ideas are to join an art class, volunteer at a pet shelter, or take a class at a local school.

Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal says, “The best kind of resolution is one that has a “big why” – to create health, to reconnect with a personal passion, to strengthen an important relationship, to change your financial situation, to develop yourself in some way, or to contribute to others in some way. And then you pick a small action or change that reflects this big goal, to remind yourself of it and to help you take steps toward it.”

Choose a resolution that helps you grow as a person. A resolution that brings you closer to your ideal self will be easier for you to achieve. You don’t want to make to choose a resolution to make a huge transformation but one that focuses on a single action that will help you grow in some way and get you a little closer to who you want to be.

Choose a realistic resolution. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Make a list of potential obstacles. What day to day constraints might interfer with achieving your goal. Write them down. Then, assess if it’s still a realistic resolution. For example, if your resolution is to walk five miles everyday after work, consider your work schedule, the weather, other obligations that may interfer with doing it, and how likely you are to stay commited long term. A more realistic goal may be to commit to exercising for 15 or 30 minutes each day.

Break your resolution into smaller parts. Even if your resolution is specific and realistic, it might still be overwhelming. To make your resolution more manageable divide it into a series of smaller goals that are measurable. Say you want to finish something by the end of the year. Creating a subgoal to do one part of it each week and assess that progress every week. If you’ve done it, continue what you’re doing. If not, ask yourself why that happened. For example, if you want to lose weight, setting a goal of one pound per week is less daunting than losing 50 pounds. If you want to put your photos into albums, committing to doing a few pages a week is more likely to get done than being overwhelmed with hundreds or even thousands of pictures that you’ve stashed in a box for later.

Pick a resolution you haven’t attempted before. If you’ve tried a resolution in the past and failed, you may be setting yourself up for failure.

Stay Motivated. During the first few days of a resolution, you’ll probably feel confident and highly motivated. That’s because you haven’t really faced any real discomfort or temptation associated with changing your behavior. However, after the reality of dragging yourself out of bed at 6 a.m. to go for a run or suffering through the ill effects withdrawal sets in, your motivation may wane.

In these moments, remind yourself exactly why you are doing it. Write a list or think about why you are doing it, what do you have to gain by achieving your goal. Finding sources of inspiration can keep you going when times get tough. Don’t Give UP! Stay Focused On Your Goals With The Staying Motivated Tips In This Post.

Share your resolution with family and friends. They can be super helpful in making your resolution a real. They can hold you accountable, offer advice, and most importantly cheer you on!

You don’t have to start your resolution on New Year’s Day. You can start anytime. If you aren’t ready on the first you can start when you are, you don’t have to wait until the following New Year.

Some of the most common resolutions are:

  • Losing weight
  • Sticking to a healthier diet
  • Exercising regularly
  • Making better financial choices
  • Quitting smoking
  • Spending more time with family
  • To de-stress
  • To declutter

What is your New Year’s Resolution? Tell me in the comments below.