Spring is here and before you know it, we will soon be consumed with the heat of summer. As we know the sun and heat is treacherous to our skin. So now’s a good time to start a good skin care regimen, if you haven’t already done so. Click the post title for a great article about protecting your skin. I must admit, I’m not dedicated to my skin care regimen. I’d always been under the assumption that since I’m dark skinned I don’t need to worry about the sun affecting my skin. But after reading up more about skincare, I now know that regardless of our race or skin tone, we all need to protect our skin from the sun’s harsh effects. I’m vowing to take the few extra minutes each morning and night to protect my skin. I mean, I’m not getting any younger and wrinkles don’t discriminate!
Be Good To Your Skin April 23, 2008
Spring is here and before you know it, we will soon be consumed with the heat of summer. As we know the sun and heat is treacherous to our skin. So now’s a good time to start a good skin care regimen, if you haven’t already done so. Click the link to this post for a great article about protecting your skin. I must admit, I’m not dedicated to my skin care regimen. I’d always been under the assumption that since I’m dark skinned I don’t need to worry about the sun affecting my skin. But after reading up more about skincare, I now know that regardless of our race or skin tone, we all need to protect our skin from the sun’s harsh effects. I’m vowing to take the few extra minutes each morning and night to protect my skin. I mean, I’m not getting any younger and wrinkles don’t discriminate!
Did You Know – Today is Earth Day April 22, 2008
(The first Earth flag designed for the first Earth Day by John McConnell.)
Today is Earth Day, that is here in the northern hemisphere. (Earth Day is celebrated during Autumn in the southern hemisphere.)
A little history about Earth Day
* Earth Day was started by John McConnell in 1969. Global observance was started by Gaylord Nelson in 1970.
* Earth Day was started in an effort to inspire awareness of and appreciate the Earth’s envrionment.
* April 22 is the official Earth Day observance across the United States.
* Day on April 22 in 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide.
* Many cities extend the Earth Day celebration to be an entire week, usually starting on April 16, and ending on Earth Day, April 22nd.
(The Ecology Flag. According to Flags of the World, the Ecology Flag was created by cartoonist Ron Cobb, and was published for the first time in October 25, 1969. The flag was patterned after the flag of the United States, and had thirteen stripes alternating green and white. Its canton was green with a yellow Theta. It originally had a symbol that was a combination of the letters “E” and “O” taken from the words “Environment” and “Organism”, respectively. Later flags used either a Theta because of its historic use as a warning symbol, or the Peace Symbol. Theta would later become associated with Earth Day.
Recipe of the Week – The World’s Simplest Bread Dough & The No-Frills Loaf April 19, 2008
In my quest to be more domesticated, I’ve decided to try my hand at baking homemade bread. I found a recipe that’s seems to be pretty simple, so I decided to share and post two Recipes of the Week for this week, in case any of you (as if anyone is actually reading this blog, but anyway) get the baking bug as well. Get the kids involved for a some fun, family quality time. Good luck and happy baking!
The World’s Simplest Bread Dough
Ingredients
Difficulty: Intermediate
Prep Time: approximately 30-40 minutes (does not include allowing bread to rise. This takes about 1-2 hours and then another 45 minutes before baking.)
Bake Time: 45 minutes
Yields: 2 loaves
2 cups warm water (for a tender, brown crust use 1/2 cup warm water and 1 1/2 cups warm milk)
1 tbsp active dry yeast
1 tbsp sugar
5 1/2 – 6 cups all purpose or whole wheat flour, or a combination
2 tsp salt
1. The key to activating yeast is to find the right water temperature. (Think warm bathwater. If it feels warm on the wrist, but not hot, it’s ready to pour in the bowl.)
2. Add the yeast. (I heard that this stuff smells!)
3. Measure the sugar into the bowl. (Sugar helps make the yeast grow/rise.)
4. Whisk until the sugar and yeast are dissolved.
5. Measure 2 cups of flour into the bowl. To get an exact measurement, spoon the floor into the measuring cup and level with a knife.
6. Whisk the mixture well, then let it “proof”, or sit for 10 minutes. If tiny bubbles appear and the batter looks slightly expanded, you’re on the right track.
7. Stir in the salf, then add the remaining flour, 1 cup at a time. (This can get messy, so if kids are helping you and aren’t up to the challenge, you might want to take over here.)
8. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured countertop.
9. To knead, fold the dough in half and push it down and away with the heel of your hand. Rotate the dough and repeat until it is smooth and elastic. (Kneading can take up to 10 minutes.)
10. Place the ball dough in a bowl that’s been greased with vegetable oil and turn to coat.
11. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap (might want to secure with a rubber band or something) and let the dough rise in a draft-free area for 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
12. Punch the dough (kids will think this is fun!)
13. Knead it again to remove air bubbles, then shape and follow the baking directions below.
The No-Frills Loaf
1/2 recipe of The World’s Simplest Bread Dough – above (1/2 of the recipie makes one loaf. For 2 loaves, use all of the dough.)
Butter or margarine
1. Roll the dough into a rectangle and fold it into thirds like a letter. Turn the ends under adn place the dough, seam side down, in a greased loaf pan.
2. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth and let it rise again for about 45 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees adn bake the bread for 30 minutes.
4. Remove the bread from the oven; if the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped, it’s done.
5. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
6. Rub with butter or margarine for a shiny finish and enjoy a warm slice. When cool, wrap the remaining loaf tightly in plastic.
Egg Wash
Add an egg wash to your loaves of bread by brushing them with an egg wash just before putting them in the over. To make an egg wash, whisk one egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Use a pastry brush to carefully cover the surface of the bread (be gentle so the risen loaf won’t fall.)
What’s Cooking – Week of 4/20-4/26 April 19, 2008
This is our menu for the upcoming week.
Sunday: Meatloaf, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Cabbage, Hot Water Cornbread, Cheesecake
Monday: leftovers
Tuesday: Grilled Burgers with trimmings, Baked Fries, Fruit
Wednesday: Grilled Pork Chops, Rice, Green Beans, Homemade Biscuits
Thursday: Hamburger Helper or Baked Ziti, Garlic Bread, Salad
Friday: Frito Pie with cheese
Saturday:
Grocery List for the week:
charcoal
ketchup
milk
bread
cheese
cream cheese
graham cracker crust
sweet potatoes
ground meat
pork chops
baking soda
active dry yeast
Recipe of the Week – Hot Popcorn and Sweet Peanuts April 19, 2008
I thought I’d try this one for hubby. He likes this kind of thing. So if you like sweet and spicy, here you go! Enjoy!
Hot Popcorn and Sweet Peanuts
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
1 sack microwave low fat popcorn, cooked to directions
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
Salt
1/2 cup honey roasted peanuts
Pour popcorn into a bowl. Place butter in a small ramekin with garlic cloves, chili powder, and hot sauce and melt in microwave on high, 15 to 20 seconds. Drizzle hot and spicy butter over the popcorn and season with salt, to taste. Add honey peanuts to popcorn and eat!
Investing & Saving April 19, 2008
One goal that my husband and I have is to become debt-free. One of the biggest things we want to accomplish is building our savings to cover our income for 3 months. I stumbled upon Dave Ramsey’s website by accident and found some interesting information about investing. If you are interested in starting a nestegg for your family, here are a few good tips from Dave to get you start! Click the title of this post if you’d like more tips about saving and investing.
Baby Steps: Don’t start investing prior to completing Baby Step 3.
$1,000 to start an emergency fund.
Pay off all debt using the debt snowball.
3-6 months of expenses in savings.
Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement.
College funding for children.
Pay off home early.
Build wealth and give! Continue to invest in mutual funds and real estate.
Investing For Those Just Getting Started:
Be sure you have completed the first 3 Baby Steps.
Begin by doing pre-tax savings in (401k, 403b, TSP, Traditional IRA) and tax-free savings (Roth IRA, Roth 401k)
NOTE: If you receive a match in your (401k, 403b, TSP), invest here first up to the match. Then, fully fund a Roth IRA for you (and your spouse, if married). Then, come back to the (401k, 403b, TSP).
If you are still on Baby Steps 1-3, be patient; put off investing for now. Avoiding a crisis with a fully funded emergency fund and paying off high-interest debts is a fantastic investment!
Courtesy of Dave Ramsey
Wal-Mart & Going Green April 19, 2008
Well, since I’ve been on a “Going Green” tangent, I decided to post this link to info that I found on Wal-Mart’s website. Click the title of this post to go find additional things thta you and your family can do to save money and our environment at the same time.
10 Savings Tips April 15, 2008
1. Track spending and evaluate results. By tracking your spending habits, you’ll get an idea of where you spend your money. By evaluating the results, you can see if you’re using money for things that aren’t really necessary. For example, do your monthly membership fees go to a gym you never have time to visit? Do you buy coffee every morning when it’s available in your office for free? Look at all the places where you can save money; even small outlays can add up.
2. Pay yourself first. This idea is certainly not new, but it’s a strategy that starts a consistent savings program. Unless your entire paycheck is earmarked for monthly bills and necessities, you should be able to put money into savings every month. If you get a raise, add that money to what you’re putting aside.
3. Company savings plans. Many companies offer 401(k) plans. Take advantage of them. If one isn’t available, open an IRA. Use direct deposit for these retirement savings accounts so you’re not tempted to spend the money elsewhere.
4. Forget the plastic. Limit yourself to one or two credit cards with the best rates, and use them for only major purchases or emergencies. Also, pay off your credit card balances monthly.
5. Learn how to shop. The Internet provides a very easy way to compare prices. Look for lower prices, discounts, sales, and coupons. Check out price comparison Web sites, such as AllBusiness.com, Shopping.com, and BizRate.com. Avoid paying surcharges, late fees, and other fees for convenience. Shop from lists rather than browsing the aisles, and establish a firm “no impulse buy” policy.
6. Look to save on your home. Look for lower mortgage rates and refinance. Also, while paying off your home mortgage each month, round up. You can pay off the loan a little faster, and save a surprisingly high amount of the interest over time.
7. Save on utilities. Review the offers from competing phone and electric companies. Look for energy-saving appliances, and save some money by opening windows when it’s warm, and using a second blanket when it’s cold.
8. Be car smart. Find a mechanic you can trust before paying big bucks for unnecessary repairs. Don’t buy a second or third car that will hardly be used or will sit at the train station. Look for lower gas prices in your neighborhood, and keep your engine tuned, trunk uncluttered, and tires properly inflated to save on gas.
9. Get everyone onboard. Discuss ways of saving money and establishing good spending habits with everyone in your household.
10. Read the fine print. Review your bills carefully, including your credit card statements. Errors in billing cost customers millions of dollars each year. Also, in this new age of warranties included with every major purchase, read the fine print carefully, and buy only what will be valuable for those products most likely to need service.
(This information is Courtesy of Yahoo Finance – Copyright © 1999 – 2008 AllBusiness.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Accentuate the Positive April 15, 2008
Accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.
You gotta spread joy – out to the maximum.
Bring gloom – down to a minimum.
Have faith – or pandamonium’s liable
to walk upon the scene.
To illustrate – my last remark
Jonah and the whale
Noah and the ark.
What did they do
just when everything looked so dark?
You gotta, accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.
Don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.
