HAPPY ROOT BEER FLOAT DAY

Good morning everyone and welcome to The Frugal Mom! I'm your host, Renee, and I am elated you could join us this morning! So how are you my friend? I'm doing good... excited to wake up and breathe in a new day! But I am very sad this morning. My little Rescue bunny has passed away during the night. My mom consoled me this morning and she made alot of valid points that are helping me cope. I gave the bunny probably more time than she would have had if I had left her with that bad lady, and I raised as a housepet which most rabbits are outside stuck in a outside cage. I seriously think Rescue thought she was a cat LOL! She snuggled up to you like a cat, she ran around the house and played like a cat, and she even ate constantly... just like my cats LOL! So I can rest well knowing I gave her a good life. DH buried her by my window this morning so she can be close to momma. R.I.P. Rescue... you will be missed.



Now as you see on the title, today is National Root Beer Float Day! YUM! I remember when mom would make us big old glasses of this frothy fave when we were younger and boy was it good. The fizzles in your mouth from the chemical reaction of the ice cream and the soda were just OMG-fun! The ice cream soda, float (United Kingdom, Canada, United States and East Asia), spider (Australia and New Zealand), brown cow (Hong Kong) or black cow (Brazil) is a beverage that consists of one or more scoops of ice cream in either a soft drink or a mixture of flavored syrup and carbonated water. In the United Kingdom cream soda was named that as it was traditionally served with a dollop of ice cream floating in it making ice cream soda. The tiny bubbles of air present in the soda cause the ice cream to float and are nucleation sites for the formation of large bubbles of carbon dioxide. This gives the beverage a "foamy head" similar to a beer head. Also known as a "black cow"or "brown cow", the root beer float is traditionally made with vanilla ice cream and root beer, but can also be made with other flavors.

In the United States and Canada, the chain A&W Restaurants are well known for their root beer floats. The definition of a black cow varies by region. For instance in some localities, a "root beer float" has strictly vanilla ice cream; a float made with root beer and chocolate ice cream is a "chocolate cow" or a "brown cow." In some places a "brown cow" was made with cola instead of root beer.

In 2008, the Dr Pepper Snapple Group introduced its Float beverage line. This includes A&W Root Beer, A&W Cream Soda and Sunkist flavors which attempt to simulate the taste of their respective ice cream float flavors in a creamy, bottled drink.

The origin of the name "black cow" has always been of interest to food and beverage experts and allegedly dates to August 1893 in Cripple Creek, Colorado. The only source of this story is the great-grand-nephew of Frank J. Wisner, who has popularized it through advertising on his soft drink products and website. Wisner, owner of the Cripple Creek Cow Mountain Gold Mining Company, had been producing a line of soda waters for the citizens of the then-booming Cripple Creek gold mining district. He had been trying to create a special drink for the children of Cripple Creek and came up with an idea while staring out at his properties on Cow Mountain on a moonlit night. The full moon's glow on the snow capped Cow Mountain reminded him of a dollop of vanilla ice cream floating on top of his blackened Cow Mountain. As he told the story later, he was inspired by this view to hurry back to his bar and add a big scoop of vanilla ice cream to the one soda water he produced that the children of Cripple Creek seemed to like best - Myers Avenue Red root beer - and served it the very next day. The drink was an instant hit. Originally named "Black Cow Mountain", the local children shortened this to "black cow". Wisner was known to say many times in his later years that if he had a nickel for every time someone ordered a black cow, he'd have been a rich man.

Alright, time to be frugal! I found this article and thought to myself "OMG are people really paying for some of these things?" But on the other hand, there are 2 things I am quite guilty of on this list as well... books and pets LOL and I'm NOT willing to change it! LOL! However, many people DO pay for most or all of these and I wanted to show you the waste and lack of frugality in it... so here ya go!

15 Things You Shouldn't Be Paying For
by Phil Taylor

So much money and energy is wasted on things we could get for free. If you're into new, shiny things and collecting stuff, this is not for you. But if you want less clutter in your life and want to keep more of your money, then check out these 15 things you shouldn't be paying for.

Basic Computer Software -- Thinking of purchasing a new computer? Think twice before you fork over the funds for a bunch of extra software. There are some great alternatives to the name brand software programs. The most notable is OpenOffice, the open-source alternative to those other guys. It's completely free and files can be exported in compatible formats.

Your Credit Report -- You don't have to pay for your credit report. You could sign up for one of the free credit monitoring services online to get a quick look at your credit report. You just have to remember to cancel the service before the end of the free trial. Or you could do one better and visit www.annualcreditreport.com, the only truly free place to see all three of your credit reports for free once a year.

Cell Phone -- The service plan may be expensive, but the phone itself doesn't have to cost a thing. Most major carriers will give you a free phone, even a free smart phone, with a two-year contract.

Books -- There's a cool place in your town that's renting out books for free: the library. Remember that place? Stop by and put your favorite book on reserve. And if you don't feel like getting out, visit www.paperbackswap.com and find your books there (small shipping fees apply).

Water -- Besides the monthly utility bill, there's no reason to shell out $1 for every bottle of water you drink. Bottled water is so last decade anyway. We're over it, and into tap, filters, and reusable water bottles. It's cheaper for you and better for the environment.

Credit Card -- With as many credit cards as there are available on the market today, it's easy to avoid a credit card with an annual fee. Unless you're dead set on a particular perk that a fee card brings, skip the annual fee card and pocket that money yourself.

Debt Reduction Help -- Speaking of credit cards, if you're in over your head with credit card help, there are many free sources you can turn to for help with your debt. No one is going to be able to magically wipe away your debts, but there is help out there that will set you up on a debt reduction plan you can handle. Start with a visit to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Basic Tax Preparation -- If your tax situation isn't that complicated, then you should probably be preparing your own tax return using one of the many free online services. It's now common for e-filing to be free as well with many services. You won't even need a stamp.

The News -- Leave it to a blogger to try and kill off traditional print. I'm not anti-newspaper. I just don't find them practical anymore. Skip the daily .50 cents and get your news online. And for you dedicated coupon clippers, you can get most of your Sunday coupons online now too.

Budgeting Tools -- There are many budgeting tools (both online and desktop) that offer up the service for free. Don't ask me how they do this, but who cares. If you're looking to reign in some of your spending, the good news is you can do it for free.

Pets -- This is a controversial one, I know. But there are likely many pets down at your local animal shelter that could use just as much love as the pure-bred types. There may be a small fee due to the shelter for shots and basic care, but you'll have your pet home without paying a mini-fortune.

Shipping -- If you like to buy online, you probably use coupons to get a percentage off of your purchase. Take your skills to the next level and look for coupons or promotion codes that offer free shipping. If in doubt, visit a site like www.freeshipping.org.

Checking Account -- Isn't it nice when a bank takes your money, lends it out to earn money, and then has the audacity to charge you for the service? What a joke. Checking should be free. If yours isn't free then move to one of the many banks that offers a checking account for free. And the same can be said for ATM fees, teller fees, and checks.

DVD Rentals -- Did you know that you can rent DVDs from RedBox locations for $1 a night? And better yet, if you use one of the coupon codes from www.insideredbox.com you can avoid the $1 charge. Free DVD rentals! Most libraries now have free DVD rental as well.

Exercise -- Skip the expensive gym memberships. Visit your local park for a walk or run. Do basic push-up and sit-up programs in your living room. Rent a workout DVD from the library. There are many free workout programs you can download online as well.



And then of course, yesterday was National Cupcake Day, so ya know the Frugal Mom was going all out and celebrating with a kitchen full of cool and crazy creations! This was the first one... instead of the layered clown, I made a hippie cake! French Vanilla cake with a Jamaican Rum frosting. It was really good LOL! I layered the cake colors like you do with the clown cake, but then I took a tooth pick and swirled them around in the cup to make the Tie Dye effect! Super trippy!



Then I made these super yummy BANANA cakes LOL! I made the cake batter and diced up some fresh banana to stir into the cakes. Then they were cooked to a golden brown and iced with 2 different flavors. The first was just a milk chocolate YUM! Then the second set, I cored and filled with molten caramel sauce and iced with a rich caramel icing. I had originally planned on usingi some caramel squares melted into this creation somehow, but it seems the Dh and kids must have found my candies! LOL!



Last but not least... the Butterscotch overload! Now normally I have issues with little butterscotch candies thanks to mom when I was 5 at Walgreens LOL, but today it called for them! I made a butterscotch flavored cake, cored and with a butterscotch filling, cream cheese icing, and a butterscotch syrup drizzle and disc on top for garnish. So if you don't like butterscotch, DON'T eat these! When I was trying to ice these, it was extremely hot in the kitchen (mid-day, oven on, 100 degrees outside, yea LOL) so my icing didn't want to set, but a few minutes in the fridge and we were good to go! Don't they all look just so yummy?!



Ok now for today's craft idea, I sought out something to make an item I saw at the mall this past weekend when the family went for a day out. They were pillow animals. Now these things have been around forever and even my kids used to have some. Well I thought how that would be a cool gift for a small kid, and seeing as some of my readers HAVE small kids, it would make a fairly inexpensive and cute Christmas gift! So I looked and I found one! Elizabeth over at Twelve Crafts Til Christmas blog made an amazing tutorial to make your own pillow buddy! Ya gotta click on over on the link because its a LONG tutorial and it has lots of great pictures too!



Craft Idea of the Day: Pillow Buddies

What you need for the body:

1 - 20 x 20 inch piece of microfleece, regular fleece or chenille
1 - 20 x 20 inch piece of microfleece, regular fleece or chenille with corners cut out in an arch shape
4 - arch-shaped pieces of contrasting fabric (These arches should be slightly bigger than the arches that were cut from the body piece.)
2 - 4 x 10 inch pieces of microfleece, regular fleece or chenille for the strap
2 - 3 inch pieces of hook and loop (Velcro)
extra microfleece, regular fleece or chenille for the tail
Stuffing

So tell me, are you enjoying this week's secret ingredient? BODACIOUS BANANA week is providing us with lots of potassium so our legs don't cramp up while dancing a jig cause we're excited over the great recipes LMAO! And today is no exception! Today I am gonna grill em! Yes... you heard me... GRILL them! WHAT? You've never had a grilled banana? OMG! Well check out this recipe for some Sizzlin' Summer Scrumptiousness!



Island Kabobs with Tropical Fruit Salsa

Ingredients

2 ripe, firm DOLE® Bananas, peeled, each cut into 6 pieces
1 ripe DOLE Banana, peeled and diced
12 chunks DOLE Tropical Gold® Pineapple
16 extra large or jumbo shrimp, shelled and deveined
1 green or red bell pepper, cut into 8 pieces
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 mango, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon chopped mint
1 DOLE Green Onion, minced
2 to 3 teaspoons minced jalapeño pepper

Directions

Thread banana pieces, pineapple, shrimp and bell pepper pieces equally onto skewers.
Whisk together lime juice, oil and allspice in small bowl. Brush 2 tablespoons over kabobs.

Combine remaining marinade with diced banana, mango, mint, green onion and jalapeño pepper; place in a serving dish.

Grill kabobs over medium high heat 8 to 10 minutes, turning once or until the shrimp are opaque.

Arrange the kabobs on top of the salsa.

Ok kids, got a couple of things to do this morning, including a phone interview, so I better get off here and get cracking! Then its hopefully some crazy sewing day. I had fun with you this morning and hope you will visit again tomorrow too! Be safe, have fun, and see you then... HUGS!

HAPPY NATIONAL CUPCAKE DAY

Welcome folks to the wacky Wednesday edition of The Frugal Mom! So how are you doing this morning? I'm good... thanks for asking! Sorry I am a bit tardy this morning. For once, I got to sleep in so I took full advantage of it LMAO! Not to mention I had actually been up at 4:30am and went back to sleep LOL! I want to wish everyone a HAPPY NATIONAL CUPCAKE DAY and I will be celebrating by making the French Vanilla Rainbow Clown Cakes you see here! And probably a few more fun flavors! LOL! I have so many exciting things to share with you, so hurry and go refresh that cup of coffee and have a seat. Hold on for a wild ride! LOL!

Ok folks, first off, I found out about a crafting contest hosted by JoAnn's and am OH SO EXCITED to bring you! Especially since it's for charity!!! It's JoAnn's Craft For a Cause contest and not only couldl you win a $1500 gift card for JoAnn's, but your favorite charity could win big too... up to $50,000!! I will definitely be entering and I think you should too! Check it out here on the JoAnn's site for the rules and regulations!

"Use your creativity, skills & passion to help your favorite worthwhile cause and enter to win prizes yourself!

Contest Dates:

· Crafting contest begins August 15, 2010 and ends October 30, 2010

· Charity voting ends December 4, 2010

Crafters — Enter to Win $1,500 Gift Card

· Using materials purchased from Jo-Ann make and donate useful crafted items to your favorite charitable organization. Experience the satisfaction of giving!

· Submit photo of each donation - crafted items will be judged for prizes!

· The makers of the top five* crafted items will each win a $1,500 Jo-Ann gift card.

*Judged on creativity, quality & functionality for the charitable organization receiving item. Open to legal U.S. residents age 14 or older. Void in Maryland & Vermont.

Jo-Ann Donates a Total of $90,000 to Three Causes

· The three charitable organizations receiving the most donated items become Craft for a Cause finalists.

· Then you can join other crafters and go online to vote for your favorite among these three."



OMG, OMG, OMG! Then I saw an article on Yahoo that I want to tell you all about! No, its not a frugal tip... well it could be though! Its about a young lady named Marisa Lynch who was in a rough spot in her life and watched the movie Julie & Julia (excellent movie BTW! Saw it in the theater with my mommy YAY!) and was inspired to do something similar with her life. She chose clothing to blog about and make a 365 challenge out of! BUT here is the twist. All the outfits cost no more than $1 a day and she recycled by finding things at thrift stores! OMG isn't that great! Read the whole write up about her on the article called Turn ugly dresses into nice ones for $1 on Yahoo. Or better yet, hop on over to her actual Blog and check out some of her creative creations! Her blog is called New Dress A Day and its really awesome to read through. Some of the things she's found I particularly didn't care for, but some are pretty darn cute! Unfortunately I am nowhere near seeing all the posts as I just found this yesterday LOL!



Ok, now I have to show you this... remember all those stockings I told you I was going to make? Well I finally finished the last one and it ended up being motorcycles instead of Classic cars. I showed the recipient (my DB if you haven't guessed already LOL) and he loves it! So... I had to show you! It was the last of the 4 that I had listed to make, so that mini project is complete! YAY! By Monday, I'm going to have LOTS of surprises for you! Monday starts school! YAY!!!



Now my mom & dad came over yesterday to help me with some things around the house. Dad changed out all my light bulbs, fixed my fan, put up these awesome shelves in my master bath, etc. Mom helped me declutter and organize some problem spots that made me just want to scream! Don't I have like the best parents in the world? After they left, I sat and organized the 2 gigantic boxes of things that were to fill the shelves... keeping my mom's voice in my head saying "one piece at a time". Needless to say, the boxes are gone, lots of things were thrown out, and here is what is left! Very neat and tidy if I do say so myself!



And then there is my cat... my Rebel... my special little baby! I rescued him years ago when I lived in some apartments across town. Kids in the parking lot were beating him, hanging him in a tree, and trying to light him on fire. (Believe me, those kids didn't like it when I took them by the collar of their shirt to their parents and threatened them with legal action but I didn't care!) I nursed him back to health and then the DH fell on him, squishing him... I swore he was gonna die BUT I nursed him back AGAIN! He has some problems now... some due to those kids and some due to Frank LOL, but all in all he is pretty healthy. And FAT! LOL! Anyway, I thought this was the cutest thing and I had to take a picture! I guess since I am always calling him my baby, he was gonna get in the baby's walker and ACT like a baby LMAO! Regardless, I think its too cute and I wanted to share!

Now its time to get crafty! I used to get my DS14 these wooden puzzles to teach him alphabets and such. They were special wooden puzzles aimed at special needs kids and he used to have bunches of them. When I ran across this craft on another blogspot site, I was like "Wow I would have loved to have those back then!" LOL. But I want to bring it to you today because I know that those wooden puzzles have become very popular with kids of all ages and types. Thanks to the fellow blogger/crafter Maria for a great project! So here ya go... your



Craft Idea of the Day: The Puzzle Bag

Materials:

puzzle
fabric
a zipper
scissors
a sewing machine with thread
optional ribbon for a handle.



Well here we are again... time for the most tasty part of your visit! Our BODACIOUS BANANA recipes today are gonna be sweet... cause we are cooking some classics! These are recipes our mothers and grandmothers may have made for us when we were younger. Or maybe they symbolize the South for you... ya never know as it means all kinds of things to different people. Bananas were first found in the region of Malaysia. With the help of curious visitors, bananas found their way to India, Buddhist Pali writings dating back to the 6th century B.C. support this fact. It was Alexander the Great who brought the banana back with him to the western world. Bananas were grown in the southern region of China but only became popular with the masses around the 20th century. Americans first tasted the banana almost three hundred and fifty years later. At that time, they were wrapped in tin foil and sold for 10 cents each at the celebration held in Pennsylvania in 1876, to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Instructions on how to eat the banana also appeared in the Domestic Cyclopaedia of Practical Information.

Banana Nutrition Facts

A banana contains Vitamin C, potassium and dietary fiber.

Bananas do not contain sodium, fat or cholesterol.

The Vitamin C, which is found in bananas, helps the body to defend and heal against infections. This vitamin also proves valuable in the synthesis of the connective tissue, absorption of iron and the formation of blood.

Not only are bananas rich in vitamin C, they also contain potassium. Potassium is a mineral that helps in the building of muscles and protein synthesis. This is done as potassium stimulates nerve impulses for muscle contraction.

A diet rich in potassium is said to reduce the risk of hypertension and stroke. As bananas are free from sodium and very rich in potassium, they can be included in the diet to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

Bananas contain three natural sugars, sucrose, fructose and glucose along with fiber. A banana thus gives an instant and substantial boost of energy.

A banana contains Vitamin B6, which helps in the synthesis of antibodies in the immune system apart from red blood formation, protein metabolism and functioning of the central nervous system.

No other fruit contain more digestible carbohydrates than bananas. This is advantageous because, the body burns off calories from carbohydrate more easily and quickly than calories from fat or protein.

Interesting Facts About Bananas

The word banana is derived from the Arab word "banan," which means finger.

Bananas are harvested green because they keep ripening even after they are picked.

Unlike most other fruits that grow on trees, bananas grow on plants.

An average American is said to consume more than 28 pounds of bananas every year.

Brisbane holds the world record for the longest banana split, which measured 7.3 kilometers.

3 medium bananas would weigh about a pound.

Despite that fact that bananas love a tropical climate, they are grown in Iceland too, by heating the soil with geysers.

So now that you have had your banana education for today, let's dig in to a few old time banana classics! Eat & Enjoy!



Old Fashion Banana Bread

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 medium, ripe DOLE® Bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped almonds

Directions

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in medium bowl; set aside.

Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Beat in bananas, sour cream and vanilla until blended. Add in flour mixture; beat until just blended. Stir in nuts.

Pour into 9 x 5-inch baking pan sprayed with vegetable cooking spray.

Bake at 350°F., 55 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes.



Old Fashioned Southern Banana Pudding

Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup self-rising flour
2 cups milk, low fat or whole
2 eggs, separated
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
vanilla wafer cookies
3 bananas, ripe but firm
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Preparation:

Combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar, the salt, and the self-rising flour in a bowl.
Slowly stir in milk. Put mixture in top of double boiler over simmering water and cook until mixture begins to thicken. Beat egg yolks then briskly stir a small amount of the hot mixture (about 1/2 cup) into them. Add egg yolk mixture back into the hot mixture in top of double boiler and stir in butter and vanilla. Cook until mixture thickens again.

Place a layer of vanilla wafers in an 11x7-inch baking dish (or other shape 2-quart shallow baking dish). Add half of the sliced bananas. Pour half of pudding mixture over banana layer.

Repeat layers, ending with remaining pudding. In a mixing bowl beat egg whites until foamy; gradually beat in 1/4 cup granulated sugar and cream of tartar.

Beat until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pudding. Bake at 350° until browned completely. Remove from oven. Serve hot or cold.

Serves 6 to 8.



OLD FASHIONED BANANA CREAM PIE

1 pie crust (9 inch), baked
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 2/3 cups water
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 medium bananas
lemon juice
whipped cream

In heavy saucepan, dissolve cornstarch in water; stir in sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.

Remove from heat; add butter and vanilla. Cool slightly. Slice 2 bananas; dip in lemon juice and drain. Arrange on bottom of prepared crust. Pour filling over bananas; cover. Chill 4 hours or until set.

Spread top with whipped cream. Slice remaining banana; dip in lemon juice, drain and garnish top of pie. Refrigerate leftovers.

Serving Size: 6



OLD FASHIONED BANANA NUT MUFFINS

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup mashed bananas
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray.

In large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.

In a medium bowl, beat egg whites slightly. Stir in bananas, sugar, oil, and lemon peel. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until combined. Stir in walnuts. Fill muffin pan cups 2/3 full.

Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops are lightly browned. Remove muffins from pan.

Well that's all for me folks! I better get off here and go work on some more decluttering and cleaning and crafting and such. I Also plan on making lots of more cupcakes to celebrate this day of days! YUM! SO have an awesome day, make some delish cupcakes, and I will see you tomorrow! HUGS!

CRAZY CUPCAKE CREATIONS

Good morning to you all! How are you doing this fantastic Friday? I'm good really... a bit sore but good. So how has your week been for you? Mine... very busy as you have seen! DN went home last night and I got a couple of things done... not much really LOL as I was kinda in "baby recoup" mode LMAO! Oh Mom, yes I have actually tried the Jalapeno Margarita and it is quite tasty... for a margarita anyway LOL. However, the beer was a recommendation from someone, as I don't drink beer. I have issues with beer LOL! The closest it comes to these lips is in a beer batter... fried up all golden yummy LOL!

Folks, I have done it again LOL! I found a frugal news article (in a way anyway) LOL that I was like "Wow" and HAD to share it with you. Now I know that alot of my readers aren't into sports, and of those that are... alot of people despise Floyd Landis. MY purpose on bringing you the article is because it involves garage saling and a reminder to keep your eyes and ears open! If I could turn a $5 find into a $6000 investment... shoot yea! So check out this article!

Bike bought for $5 at yard sale belonged to Floyd Landis
By Chris Chase

The bicycle at a Kentucky yard sale had two flat tires, broken pedals and carried a $5 price tag. That didn't stop Greg Estes from buying the bike in hopes of flipping it for a small profit. He should get his wish, to the tune of a few thousand dollars.

It turns out the broken-down bicycle was originally owned by Floyd Landis, who rode it in a race in 2007. The bike was built especially for Landis, complete with custom pedals that look foreign to those unfamiliar with professional cycling (hence the original seller's belief that the pedals were broken). It retailed for $8,000.

Landis rode the bike in a mountain-bike race one year after winning the Tour de France. That title, of course, was later stripped after the American cyclist tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Landis is currently banned from the sport, but has stayed in the spotlight with his accusations against Lance Armstrong and other athletes.

Estes told the Owenton News-Herald that the bike was found abandoned on an interstate and nobody ever reported it lost or stolen. He says he'll return the bike if someone claims it. For now though, authorities say it belongs to him.

I can understand someone thinking the bike wasn't worth a few thousand dollars. After all, how many abandoned bikes are custom-built jobs for Tour de France winners? But five dollars? That seems a little low. If I were having a yard sale I'd have probably put a $5 tag on the bike's water bottle. Even if the bike were an actual piece of junk, wouldn't, say, $25 be a more appropriate asking price?

Anyway, just like he said, the Owenton, Ky., resident showcased his new bike at his own yard sale. Estes' asking price? Six-thousand dollars.



I have to show you something... something super scrump-diddly-umptious that I made last night! Its the beginning of my many cupcake creations for a business plan I am working on. Well I made these and OMG... if you absolutely LOVE peanut butter, these are for you! I clipped that rose from my garden/bed to enhance the picture LOL. Anyway, this is a peanut butter cupcake with a Celeste Fig Jam filling in the center. Then there is a whipped peanut butter frost on top. I finished it off with a super spiffy chocolate drizzle! OMG yum! I have to get to the store today because I need a tiny bottle of tequilla for my next creations! Can't tell ya... you gotta wait! LOL but doesn't this one look devilishly decadent?? They were! LOL!

Ok today's craft is inspired by the numerous amount of trips I am always making to the store and all the couponing, etc. that I do. I found this great craft for an organizer on another site to make who was inspired by the same problem! So thanks to Becca at Blue Cricket Designs! Make sure to go check out the tutorial, as she has some wonderful step-by-step photos as well as the following instructionals!



Craft Idea of the Day: Shopping Cart Organizer

Materials:

Two complimentary pieces of Fabric. I used FAT QUARTERS.
Stiff interfacing
Coordinating Double Folded Bias Tape
Pins or stapler
Ruler

Directions:

STEP ONE: Measure and cut your fabric and Interfacing 18" x 18". I found that by stacking them and then cutting them made the process faster and easier. Lay it out just how it will be sewn....a fabric with RIGHT side facing down, then interfacing, then fabric with RIGHT side facing up.

STEP TWO: Now we will be cutting out a section of your 18" square to create the Caddy straps. Using a ruler and pen mark off the following measurements and cut through all three layers creating straps that measure 7" long x 3" wide.

STEP THREE: Use straight pins to secure the three layers together. I prefer using a stapler . It lays flatter and the staples are easy to remove.

STEP FOUR: Adding the bias Tape. You will first need to sew an 18" strip of Bias tape to the bottom section of the caddy.

STEP FIVE: Fold the bottom section in half leaving about a 1 1/2" gap. This is creating your pocket. be sure to be aware of the fabrics. You will determine what fabric shows most so chose wisely which way you fold. Secure with pins or staples.

STEP SIX: Now it's time to add the Bias Tape around the edges. Start at a top of a strap in it's middle. Pin it on if that will help you keep it straight. Sew it on using a straight stitch. Corners Can be pinned or stapled to help them line up right. The inside corners are tricky. Sew around it completely being sure to fold your tape at the very end so you don't have a raw edge.

STEP SEVEN: Sew a straight stitch line in your pocket making a second section in your pocket. You can determine how big you want each section. Also you may want to add another stitched line to make a pen pocket.

STEP EIGHT: Lastly we will be adding Velcro
Cut two 1 3/4" strips of Velcro. Separate the pieces and sew them onto the straps. Sew one on the top of the strap and the other at the bottom of the strap where it meets the pocket section.

And that will do it!!!!

Your very own Cart Caddy ready to make your life that much easier!!!!!

As easy as this looks it takes about an hour to sew. The bias tape can be tricky. I must have bough a pack that was ironed weird becasue mine was hard to get it to keep straight. Just take your time!

And now it's time for some more HOPPIN JALAPENO recipes! Being I am from the Gulf Coast, you should have known some seafood was gonna sneak in SOMEWHERE right? Well, if you love fish and seafood, you'll love the addition of jalapeno peppers to your meals. Whether you're cooking up a flaky whitefish, a meaty swordfish filet, grilling up lobster or whipping up any seafood recipe combination, make sure you've got plenty of jalapeno peppers on hand. Today I am bringing you a wide variety of seafood splendor! Lobster, oysters, crab, shrimp, and scallops to tantalize your taste buds. Eat & Enjoy!



Lobster Tails in Jalapeno Marinade

This marinade does not overpower the distinctive flavor of the lobster tails, but brings a spicy tang that makes this meal different from any lobster tail you'll get in a restaurant. Gone are the days of lobster served solely with a stick of butter. We like to bring on the jalapeno spice.

Ingredients

2 five-ounce lobster tails, thawed
1 large jalapeno pepper, sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh dill

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Remove the shells from the lobster tails. Set tails aside.

In a food processor or blender, combine jalapeno, olive oil, garlic, dill, and Creole seasonings.

Process until smooth.

Coat lobster tails with jalapeno mixture and set on a baking dish.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until lobster tails are opaque and cooked through.

Serve!



Jalapenos Rockefeller

This recipe is quite fun for the adventurous seafood lover. You can probably use more jalapeno peppers and spread the mixture out a bit, or include more oysters for a meatier dish. Also, try a variation with crabmeat instead of oysters. The flavor is different, but certainly delicious and spicy!

Ingredients

12 jalapeno peppers, sliced lengthwise
12 oysters, off the shell, chopped
1 small white onion, chopped
2 cups bread crumbs
2 eggs
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a large shallow bowl, mix bread crumbs and seasonings.

Stir in eggs and chopped oysters. Mix well.

Stuff the jalapeno slices with your Rockefeller mixture.

Heat oven to 350 degrees, and bake on a sheet approximately 1 hour.

Serve warm.



Jalapeno Shrimp Bake

Ingredients

1 pound prawns, peeled and deveined
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped into rings
12 stalks asparagus
1 large orange, zested and sliced
1 teaspoon Cajun seasonings
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, add prawns, olive oil, Cajun seasonings, cinnamon, ground black pepper and half the orange zest. Toss to coat the shrimp.

To a medium sized baking dish, add in this order; asparagus, jalapeno slices, coated prawns, then top with about half of the orange slices.

Bake about 20 minutes, or until the prawns are cooked through – pink and opaque.

Transfer meal to 2 dishes. Top with remaining orange zest and orange slices.
Serve!



Jalapeno Crab Cakes

Ingredients

2 jalapeno peppers, diced
1 small onion, chopped
16 ounces cooked crab meat
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tablespoon spicy mustard
1 egg
½ teaspoon fresh parsley
1 teaspoon Creole seasonings
½ cup breadcrumbs
6 teaspoons parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon butter

Directions

Heat a sauté pan to medium and add 1 tablespoon butter with onion and jalapeno pepper

Sauté until vegetables are soft, about 3 minutes.

Add cream, mustard, 1 egg, parsley, chili powder, Creole seasoning and the breadcrumbs and mix well.

Fold in the crab meat.

Transfer crab mixture to a mixing bowl and allow to cool.

Form into 6 patties.

Press 1 teaspoon parmesan cheese onto the top of each patty.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Serve with your favorite seafood sauce.



Mini Jalapeno Scallop Kabobs

Ingredients

12 large scallops
2 large jalapeno peppers
1 tablespoon chili powder
Fresh garlic powder to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Light spray oil

Directions

Preheat grill to medium heat.

Slice each scallop in half lengthwise. Season scallops with chili powder and garlic, then salt and pepper to taste.

Slice each jalapeno pepper into long spears, 6 slices per pepper.

Using toothpicks as skewers, pierce one jalapeno spear between two scallop slices.
Repeat until you have 12 mini kabobs. Spray lightly with spray oil.

Grill about 6-8 minutes or until scallops are cooked throughout.

NOTE: Do not overcook as scallops can become tough. It is usually a good idea to cook over tinfoil so the scallops to not fall through the grate.

Well that's it folks. Its time for me to sign off and get some sewing or something done before the DN gets here LOL. Of course, I got some serious stiffness going on this morning, so I think a nice hot shower is in order first. Loosen up this old decrepid body LMAO! Who knows, maybe I will dye my hair this weekend too! Ok, you have a terrific end of the work week day and be safe out there in the concrete jungle! HUGS!

10 MOST UNLOVED FOODS

Good morning there everyone! I hope you are having a great day so far and will continue to have one. I am anxious really. Anxious to get to the hospital with my mom and see if they are going to let her go home today! I also made a special scrub to wear today just for her... it is "Planet Green" top. But sadly I made it too big and so I have to do some alterations to it. I was kinda out of it last night when I was trying to make it LOL.

So what are you up to today? I caught this headline on Yahoo and I had to share this article with you... its about my favorite topic... FOOD!

The 10 most unloved foods
by The Foxy Life by Elycia Rubin and Rita Mauceri, on Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:26pm PDT

In the food world, being a piping hot pizza or a big bowl of pasta is sort of like being Oprah – you can do no wrong and everyone adores you. On the other hand, if you’re one of these unlucky edibles below, you have to work hard for every ounce of love, and you’re more likely to conjure up a “yuck!” as a “yum.” But, before you judge these foods by their reputations, you may want to take a second taste. Or not.

Liver. The first problem here is just knowing what liver is. For many, that’s a deal breaker. Still, liver has a surprisingly robust fan base, many of whom are true gourmands. But like other “gourmet” treats (steak tartare, sweetbreads), liver can be an acquired taste. If you’re not quite ready to dive into a slice but are curious, you can always try easing your way in by topping a cracker off with some chopped liver – usually mixed with grilled onions, garlic and eggs. The pluses: high in protein and nutrients like vitamin A, iron, and zinc. The minuses: high in cholestrol and can contain high doses of contaminants or metals. Even if it can taste good, we can't stop hearing Hannibal Lector talking about fava beans and Chianti...



Blue Cheese. The varieties of blue cheese seem to range from stinky to stinkier. This stuff is not for the faint of heart. If you’ve tried it and can’t stand it, you’ll probably never be converted. For those of us who adore blue cheese, it’s a surprisingly versatile food – perfect sprinkled in an arugula or spinach salad, a delicious way to spike a pasta primavera, a rich sauce for steaks, or the ideal accompaniment to a glass of red wine and some water crackers.



Eggplant. This purple-hued veggie has several things going against it. It’s spongy and bitter when raw (not very appealing), doesn’t have a strong taste of its own (no huge flavor appeal), and tends to get mushy when cooked. And when it’s undercooked, it’s a bit too tough for our taste. BUT, when it’s perfectly whipped up until oh so melt-in-your-mouth tender and sautéed in Chinese dishes we find it irresistible. And, cheesy eggplant parmesan is so irresistible!



Okra. Many people don’t even know what okra IS. Well, it’s a long, green vegetable filled with rows of tiny seeds that you’ll find are a bit sticky when you slice one open raw. That stickiness is useful in gumbos and other Creole and Cajun cooking, as it adds texture. Maybe it’s the funny name that makes people hesitant to dive in. We love using it in stir-fry dishes or just sauteeing some in a bit of garlic and olive oil. It's light and tasty -- and loaded with vitamins A and C. So, try giving this ultra cool veggie a whirl!



Sardines. Oily and fishy. Not quite what we’re looking for when it comes to a delectable treat. These little guys have a cult following, anyway. We have a hard time figuring out why. Maybe it’s because they are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein? That’s the only thing that appeals to us.



Lima Beans. We think it's the color that has killed their reputation. They're the color of sun-bleached curtains from some early '70s kitchen. Too bad because they’re filled with fiber and they are delicious -- really! They're best made from scratch, but we buy them frozen to save time. Simply steam or boil them, then toss with olive oil, salt and pepper, and top with shaved Parmesan cheese. They're also great tossed into a veggie stir-fry and mixed with brown rice and even beer!



Brussels Sprouts. There’s no way to be particularly delicate about this – these little buggers have a reputation for making people, uhm, gassy. That issue aside, they are one of the super-stars of the veggie world in our book. It’s essential that they not be overcooked – it ruins the fresh green flavor. Toss them with olive oil, garlic, and sea salt and roast them in the oven until they start to brown. Enhance their flavor with lemon juice or shred them and sauté with shallots and bacon.

Grits. One of us is a Southern girl who gets a little peeved when people diss grits. We’ve heard the argument that they are tasteless mush. Without any accoutrements, that’s pretty much true, we admit. But slather on a little butter (okay, lots of butter), salt and pepper, and you’re in heaven. If you really want to fall in love with grits, try cheesy grits. Nirvana!

Hard Boiled Eggs. Let’s face it, with a rubbery white outside and a pasty yellow inside, it's not hard to see why hard boiled eggs aren’t on everyone’s love list. Whether they’re chopped up in a Cobb salad or deviled at a barbecue, or simply sprinkled with salt and pepper, these could be something you like more than you think.



Beets. People who don’t like this vegetable could not be more wrong. Usually it’s those poor folks who were force-fed slimy, mushy canned beets as a kid. We urge you to give them a second chance. If you’re too annoyed by the mess created by red beets, then try golden beets, which are sweeter, anyway. No need to peel them – just scrub with a veggie brush, trim the ends, and wrap loosely in foil. Roast in a 350 degree oven until a knife slides in and out easily. Allow to cool and the skin will peel right off. We serve them sliced with a little olive oil, sea salt and pepper, but they’re so sweet and delicious you may find yourself munching them whole!

So how many of these things do you actually like? Me... oh about 5 of them really LOL! And talking about food leads to a great craft idea. If you have little kids, you can make some "fake food" for them to play with or as an educational prop. You could also use them for decoration around your home too! There are alot of links for things such as fried eggs, tomatoes, strawberries, pasta, fortune cookies, and more on the Angelfire Sewing Site. Just scroll down about to the half a page and they are listed on the right! But here is just one example for you!



Craft Idea of the Day: Fake Food

Cupcake (instructions with step by step pictures)

Materials:

Paper + pencil
-Scissors
-2 colors of felt of your liking (one for the bottom/middle part and one for the icing)
-Cereal box cardboard (or anything similar)
-Stuffing (wool, toystuffing, etc.)
-Thread (can match the felt or not)
-Needle (small one to fit through little beads if you choose to use them)
-Stuff for embellishment (beads, embroidery floss, little scraps of felt, anythings and everything that you fancy)

Directions:

1. Cut out the paper shapes. The sizes are 1) the first circle/bottom piece 1.3/4″ x 1.3/4″, 2) the next smaller circle is cut from the cardboard and is 1.1/2″ x 1.1/2″, 3) the next pac man looking piece is 2.1/2″ x 2.1/2″, 4) the long piece at the bottom of the picture is 5.3/4″ (the longest part at the top) and 5″ (the smaller bottom part) x 1.1/2″.

2. Pin the paper shapes onto the felt and cut them out.

3. Sew up the top to make a little cone. I used a backstitch here but any old stitch would work just fine

4. Flip the cone inside out and embellish the top to your hearts content. I sewed on little beads here and there to look like sprinkles. (this picture shows the middle part already sewed on, but it is easier to embellish before sewing on the middle so please ignore the color change and order of this photo).

5. Sew the middle piece together. I just put one end over the other and sewed it up.

6. Flip the middle inside out and pop in the already sewed and embellished top piece to the larger end of the middle piece (embellished side down).

7. Sew them together!

8. Flip it all inside out and stuff away. I used some of the toy (acrylic) stuffing from a teddy bear we were getting rid of.

9. Smoosh the cardboard circle and the bottom felt circle into place on the bottom. (Have your needle and thread ready for the next step)

10. Sew the bottom circle onto the middle part. I used a blanket stitch here.

11. Tada! a lovely little cupcake eagerly awaiting its first playmate.

Ok now lets talk something you can actually eat! And even one step further, let's stick with cupcakes! By: BAKERAMA: "This is a very moist and light carrot muffin. It's not too sweet and not greasy like other carrot muffins/cakes. The White Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing adds just enough sweetness to round it off."



Carrot Cupcakes with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

Ingredients

2 ounces white chocolate
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/8 cups white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups shredded carrots
1/2 cup crushed pineapple
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 12 muffin cups.
In small saucepan, melt white chocolate over low heat. Stir until smooth, and allow to cool to room temperature.

In a bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in white chocolate, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and orange extract. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until the mixture is fluffy. Mix in heavy cream.

Beat together the eggs, white sugar, and brown sugar in a bowl, and mix in the oil and vanilla. Fold in carrots and pineapple. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Mix flour mixture into the carrot mixture until evenly moist. Fold in 1/2 cup walnuts. Transfer to the prepared muffin cups.

Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool completely on wire racks before topping with the icing and sprinkling with remaining walnuts.

Doesn't that look sinfully delish? Ok kids its time for me to get off here and get my butt up the road to the hospital. I will chat with you more later tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by and until tomorrow... HUGS!