TMS Show & Tell - June 1- 30

Join us for Show & Tell in July on the sidebar :-)

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Thursdays With Linda: Fourth Of July Weekend

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States

Fourth of July weekend is almost here… What are your plans… Remember anyone can share their blog entries by linking up in our sidebar… We love to see what you have been up to…

 

We’ll be setting up the pool…

Hubby will be BBQing…

I’ll be making my infamous potato salad…

Hubby will be making his infamous burgers…

Can’t forget the watermelon…

And the water park across the freeway from us will be putting on three firework shows throughout the weekend…

Happy Fourth of July…

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In Honor of Independence Day

Independence Day reminds us of the sacrifices of freedom, not only 235 years ago, but also today.

On Santa Monica Beach each Sunday, there is a memorial for our war dead of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.





In Santa Clarita last Fall, I attended a funeral procession for a local soldier. Thousands of us stood at the side of the road, strangers to the family, but there to abide.

The Freedom Riders were out in full force to act as a shield for the family, in case there was a protest against the procession and funeral. The dichotomy of our protected rights of free speech and assembly, guaranteed by our constitution, and its ability to harm and be hateful is not lost on me.



To those who have served and their families, past and present, I thank you for your service, sacrifice, and our abundant freedoms.

To you and yours, a safe, happy, and healthy 4th of July, thank you.

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Independence Cake!

Ok, this is not really about cake, but still...

Fourth of July is the perfect Summer Holiday.
BBQ's
Pool Parties
Games
Cold Beverages
The Beach

The list goes on... but we can tend to indulge too much.
That's why, if you are going to a party or hosting one yourself, always prepare something decadent for yourself that if you have seconds you won't feel guilty.


Take the Trifle. 
The trifle can be horribly fattening, but when done right, it can be a glorious treat!
Here are a lot of recipes.... but here are a few tricks to make it better, and better for you!

Use 2% or 0% Plain Greek Yogurt (like Fage)
For the "lady finger" layer... try low fat graham crackers or angel food cake
For a brighter flavor, add a little orange juice (fresh from the fruit) or lemon to the yogurt.
You'll be amazed at the difference.
For crunch and protein you can add a few almond slivers to the top.
And, a drizzle of organic honey can really take this trifle to the next level.

And of course, use appropriate fruit colors (strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, etc!)

ps. I gave all of you ladies an award on my blog. Seen here. Please pass it on to anyone you feel deserves it!

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Motivation Monday - Find Yourself

                                                                           Source: imgfave.com via Martha on Pinterest

Have you heard of pinning yet?

Pinterest is a virtual pin board! You create your own pin boards and then sift through the incoming pins and add your favorites to your own boards - or you pin anything you find that you love from blogs or anywhere on the Internet!

I had seen this on several blogs lately but didn't sign up until this weekend. I finally worked my last 10 hour day on Thursday and decided to just take a weekend of total rest and relaxation. Once I got into relaxation mode I got started with Pinterest  - I have to say I really, really love it!

I will say that it can definitely be addicting and yet another way to procrastinate and waste time on the computer - but at the same time, it's a great way to find out who you really are! Seriously, after looking at the pin boards I've created I actually said to myself  "So that's who I am!" It was so liberating!

I guess the cool thing is that's it's a place to put together own own wants, likes, needs, styles, and loves all in one place without considering others opinions. Of course we can create special boards for things for our loved ones too if we want to.

Pinterest has also been really helpful for my upcoming redecorating. I have so many different likes and styles that I didn't know which direction to go - and I have two homes to finish renovating and decorating. My thoughts on things were all just mashing together. Pinterest really helped me to separate and organize the chaos.

Stop by my boards using the button below and then just click on each board to see details...



Hope you'll try it too!

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R & R for Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Of all the days that's in the week
I dearly love but one day
And that's the day that comes betwixt
A Saturday and Monday.

Henry Carey

R and R Tip #55: SUNDAY IS A DAY OF REST

Rest has a bad reputation today. For many, the word REST smacks of laziness and sloth. We live in an always on society, where people brag of their ability to multitask

It wasn't always that way. Sunday used to be a day of rest for most people. I grew up in a time when stores were closed and you planned ahead so you'd have things done before Sunday. We didn't stay in bed all day. It was a day for being with family, for worship and for recreation. I like to call it re-creation. It was a time for all the things that could get neglected during the regular work week. The principal goal of the day was rest.

Sunday is a frame of mind. Your day of R and R may not come on an actual Sunday, but you can still celebrate the day with Sunday ways of long ago. Taking time for rest, relaxation, time with family, worship and recreation is one way to help yourself in having a good rest of the week.

Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week.

Joseph Addison

The rest of the week is the other 6 days that you are committed to work. Chores have to be done. Meetings have to be attended. Sunday however is a break away from all the duties and we have a chance to get refreshed and renewed.

Sleep in, get up late, drink lots of that good coffee...enjoy the newspaper. It's a good opportunity too to review the past week and plan activities for the coming week.

Sunday is by far my favourite day of the week for its simplicity and mellow feeling.

The more your life is packed with deadlines and stress, the more you’ll benefit from taking time out to just be in the moment.

When life gets in the way... Remember it's Sunday!

See you all next week!

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma

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IT'S SATURDAY GITTING TIME AGAIN

I was so busy GITTING, that I almost forgot to post!  I hope you can join me this morning as we GIT and get organized!

For those of you who are somewhat new to TMS you may not know what a GIT Challenge is - GIT stands for Get It Together!

The idea with the GIT Challenge is to play catch up with whatever we need to get done. Just leave a comment saying you'll play along, minimize this post so you can easily come back to it throughout the day, stop what you are doing (meaning get off the computer and stop procrastinating!), take an hour right now to catch up on things you need to do and work as fast as you can!

Come back every hour or two and leave a comment with your progress. Check out what other participants have accomplished - all in the comment section, no blog hopping necessary. After updating, get back to work for another hour or so until you're done for the day. We always accomplish so much during these challenges!

Jump in anytime, there's no special time to start or finish. It's fun working together - join us!

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Frugal Fridays With Jen- Perennials

I am NOT an avid gardener, but I do like a tidy yard- and I LOVE flowers.

We do our own landscaping, despite daydreaming about being able to hire someone else to do that chore in the far distant future. Until then, I prefer to garden the frugal and lazy way- with perennials. My philosophy is that if I planted them once, I better never have to plant them again.

Every state should have its own agricultural extension office that should list the best perennials for your region. My best friend is a master gardener, and recommended a few local gardening catalogs. Most catalogs will even plan out both shade and sun perennial gardens- all you do is order, plant according to their layout, and feed and water as instructed.

Our yard is full of tulips and iris in spring, lilies and hollyhocks in summer, and reblooming iris in the fall.

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Thursdays With Linda: Don’t Worry…

Happy Thursday…

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Flashes of Insight, Powerful Quotes

Like a lot of people, I find motivation, joy, and wisdom too, in certain quotes and experiences. Life is truly our teacher, but as I've learned, only when we are ready.

Here are some of my favorites-

People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

(This is a saving grace to carry into the workplace for me.)

Trains and airplanes wait for no one.

(Wisdom care of my dear old Dad who taught me that being on time is crucial.)

If you walk past trash without picking it up, it's just as bad as if you threw it there yourself.

(Thank you to our kayak and zipline guides from the Princeville Ranch in Kauai, HI.)

Do the worst, first.

It really is hugely motivating to get the stuff, you are dreading dealing with, off your to do list.

(Harvey McKay- author, How to Swim with the Sharks)

Being polite costs nothing and pays big dividends, forever.

What are some of your favorite motivational quotes which help and sustain you?

Thank you very much.

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Tuesdays with Kris: Green This Way

Juicing can be so beneficial to our health. 

We can get so many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and nutrients from one little fresh squeezed glass.

A great ratio that I heard when juicing on your own is 3:1 for vegetables and fruits. 

Fruits can really pack in the sugar so best to get bulk of your juice from veggies.

{photo credit}

Here is my favorite green juice. 

1 Cucumber
1 Pear
1 handful Kale

1 handful spinach

This will make about 2 servings and the Pear and Cucumber will really cut any grassy tastes from the greens.

Happy Juicing!

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Motivation Monday - Motivational Guest

Most Important Skills For Careers And Businesses 

 By Clint Cora

"It’s always great to see students study hard to get good grades.   Decent grades will help guarantee a bright future academically and for career.  Top grades will enable graduates to get their foot in the door in the fields of their choice.

  However, after more than twenty years working in the corporate sector, I can say that grades and even technical skills do not determine how successful a person will be professionally.  Instead, the most important set of skills that will determine how far one will go in his or her career (or small business) involves dealing with people, ie., people skills.

  People skills or soft skills as they are sometimes known, are how effective one deals with many different types of people on a daily basis.  The wider the range of others in terms of ages, cultures and company levels that one can deal with, the better that person’s people skills.  

It doesn’t matter which field it is but the most successful individuals are not necessarily the ones who had the highest school grades or are the most technically gifted.  Instead, the top stars in each field are the ones with the best people skills. 

 

Unfortunately, people skills are not usually taught in classrooms at any educational level.  So many students who end up spending all their time and energies during their school years to maximize their grades do not end up with decent people skills, especially if these skills were not developed outside of the classroom.  In effect, their development was unbalanced too much towards pure academics. 

Once these individuals enter the workforce, they will soon realize that those with superior people skills will end up moving up the corporate ladder faster.  Their competition will get promoted through the ranks past them.   If they are lucky, after a few years of learning the hard way, these individuals will learn to develop much needed soft skills and hopefully, management will notice their improvement in social interactions at the office enough to warrant promotions.  

The same thing with those who start small businesses.  Better people skills will often result in more business.

  However, most folks in this situation will not be so lucky.  They are either too set in their ways to change or don’t even recognize their own personal deficiencies.  These individuals will have reached a ceiling in their fields relatively quickly in their careers.  

Fortunately, this problem can be addressed.  For those already in the workforce, people can utilize seminars as part of on-going professional education on soft skills including diversity training.  All management potential candidates as well as current management should attend to further develop these skills.

 
Parents also need to be educated so that they foster a more balanced development for their children.  Academics are important but kids need to learn soft skills as part of their overall development."

Clint Cora is a motivational speaker, author and Karate World Champion. 

Visit http://www.clintcora.com/freeinspirationpersonalgrowth.html for a FREE 3-part Personal Development Video Series.

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R & R for Sunday, June 19th, 2011

Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. ~Sam Keen

R AND R TIP #54: GET A GRIP ON LIFE - HOLD ON

We all have a lot on our plates and I've found that as we age the demands on time management only increase. It is easy to be stretched thin between work, family, friends, and community. Personal goals and self care are often neglected because there just isn’t time. It is critical to set aside time for yourself. You can’t sustain taking care of others if you don’t take care of yourself.

Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.

THINGS YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW BUT NEED TO REMEMBER

• Go to bed on time.

• Get up on time so you can start the day uncrushed.

• Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

• Delegate tasks to capable others.

• Simplify and unclutter your life.

• Less is more.. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

• Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

• Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all to

• Take one day at a time.

• Separate worries from concerns

• Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

• Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

• K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

• Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

• Get enough rest.

• Eat right.

• Get organized so everything has its place.

• Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

• Write down thoughts and inspirations.

• Every day, find time to be alone.

• Laugh.

• Laugh some more!

• Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

• Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

• Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

• Sit on your ego.

• Talk less; listen more.

• Slow down.

• Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

If you've never experienced fatigue, you can't understand how debilitating it is. Exhaustion is that burn out toddlers experience when they've skipped their afternoon nap.

Hold on to the truths you may have known all along and forgot about along the way. Rest when you are tired. The rest and relaxation needed to keep your grip on life is only a matter of what you knew all along.

When you have a lot of things to do, get your nap out of the way first.

Go back and listen again to what has already taught you. Do a lot of review. If there were books that spoke to your heart, read them again. If you've listened to recordings of messages that made an impact on you, get them out and listen again and again. Repeat and repeat what you already know

Plan to be a re-learner, so that you're not so prone to wander from the good and basic lessons already taught to you.

Re-learn, hold on to the lessons...relax, get some rest...

See you all next week!

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma

More about → R & R for Sunday, June 19th, 2011

IT'S SATURDAY GITTING TIME AGAIN

For those of you who are somewhat new to TMS you may not know what a GIT Challenge is - GIT stands for Get It Together!

The idea with the GIT Challenge is to play catch up with whatever we need to get done. Just leave a comment saying you'll play along, minimize this post so you can easily come back to it throughout the day, stop what you are doing (meaning get off the computer and stop procrastinating!), take an hour right now to catch up on things you need to do and work as fast as you can!

Come back every hour or two and leave a comment with your progress. Check out what other participants have accomplished - all in the comment section, no blog hopping necessary. After updating, get back to work for another hour or so until you're done for the day. We always accomplish so much during these challenges!

Jump in anytime, there's no special time to start or finish. It's fun working together - join us!

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Frugal Friday

Hi, Martha (MM) here filling in for Jen this evening. I received a recent email that I thought would be great to share with you for Frugal Friday. I'm re-posting it with permission to introduce you to this great new site...

"It is called Grocery Circular Roundup and lets you search by zipcode for all local circular deals, filter grocery deals by retailers and/or food category, and even pinpoint what’s on sale and where from an existing grocery list that you type in. Using the search features it’s also a great way to coupon stack, and you can print coupons directly from the list as needed. Here is the direct link – it should automatically “locate” you, or simply enter your zip code and it goes to work. www.allyou.com/grocerycircular

Behind the scenes, the site is powered by Grocery Server, a grocery search engine that pulls grocery deals from all across the US in real time. We have some good deals discussions on our Facebook page and the occasional giveaways, so swing by and join us if you get a chance. www.facebook.com/groceryserver

Also, if you are able to check out All You’s Grocery Circular Roundup, we’d love to hear your thoughts if wouldn’t mind sharing feedback. Grocery Server is always looking for new ideas and ways to improve the experience, and we very much appreciate hearing from shoppers using sites powered by Grocery Server."

Have a great weekend!

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Thursdays With Linda: Paper

With all the technology nowadays, I find I am still surrounded by paper…

 

The computer/art room… A room for creativity that has become the room of dump all…

My desk once again covered in papers that need shredding and filing…

Sorting and a sense of order has begun…

Son1’s paper piles that need sorting and shredding from when he moved out and since has moved back in… and the boxes toward the back are free computer paper and envelopes that hubby brought home from work a while back that need to be moved to a better storing place…

Sorting son1’s papers…

Shredding and more shredding…

Son1’s current paper pile…

More shredding…

All of son1’s filing and mail all in one place…

Son3 making hubby a Father’s Day Card…

 

Desk starting to look a little better…

 

Another school year has ended and the boys brought home all their school projects, reports, class papers, certificates, awards, and report cards… (those bags are waiting to go to the Goodwill…)

School papers sorted and the best saved to their memory boxes; report cards and certificates saved to their memory books…

An ongoing project is letters and greeting cards being sorted…

A plastic tub for each son… and then just my letters and greeting cards will be sorted in the dresser drawers…

I finished reading this book… So very good!

Now which to read next… I won a gift card recently and splurged on new books…

What paper surrounds you… Does it need sorting, filing, shredding, reading, painting or hung on a wall…

Happy Papering…

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Pan Fried Zucchini Blossoms Recipe

A delicious, economical, and adventurous way to eat and cook, is to shop for food at your local farmers' market. Once you've tasted an egg fresh from the ranch, it is hard to go back to eating the month old eggs from the supermarket! Season's Bounty from both my herb garden and the local farmer's market.

Baby zucchinis with the blossoms attached are a summer treat. Prior to cooking the zucchini blossom, remove the center stamen while leaving blossom intact and attached to baby squash. Rinse thoroughly.

Beat one egg with a couple tablespoons of water and moisten squash completely. Next, coat zucchini in a mixture of Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, Panko bread crumbs, a few tablespoons of whole wheat flour, and a few pinches of dried herbs, garlic, and salt.
Please add vegetable oil to a sturdy and deep fry pan to the depth of approximately one to one and one half inches. Heat oil until it creates bubbles when a wooden spoon is placed in the oil.

Gently shake off excess coating from zucchini and ease into oil. Cook for approximately 3-4 minutes, turning over zucchini midway through cooking.

When coating is golden brown, remove squash from oil and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately or keep warm for prompt serving.

This makes a delightful side dish and appetizer, and I've also made an entree out of it too! Another variation is to stuff the blossoms with filling like goat cheese or mushrooms, tie blossom with cooking string, and then fry as directed above.

Buon Appetito! Thank you so much for your visit and what seasonal delights and recipes do you enjoy?

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Tuesdays With Kris: Get Your Wok On!

It was time for a new Wok and now I can't stop.
Cooking stir fries with a little oil is a healthy and EASY way to get lean meats and vegetables into your diet.
One pot wonders!

Here is today's recipe:

Sweet & Spicy Chicken Stir Fry

Ingredients

4 tbsp Sherry Cooking Wine (reserve 2tbs for final sauce)

4 tbsp Soy Sauce (reserve 2tbs for final sauce)

2 tbs honey

1 tbsp Ginger Root, minced/grated

6 Garlic Cloves, minced 

red pepper flakes to taste

2 tsp Pure Sesame Oil (reserve 1tsp for final sauce)

2 chicken breasts, sliced thin

1 tsp Vegetable Oil/spray

2 cups broccoli

1 cup sliced zucchini

1 cup snap peas

4 scallions, chopped

Directions

In a bowl or ziplock bag, combine 2 tbsp sherry, 2 tbs soy sauce, 1 tsp Sesame Oil, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes . Add chicken and toss. Cover and let sit in fridge for an hour. Meanwhile whisk the remaining soy, sesame oil, sherry and honey in a bowl and set aside. In a large wok over med-high heat, add the vegetable oil. Add the chicken and brown on both sides, then set aside. Add vegetables to wok and stir fry for 4-5 min. Return chicken to pan. Pour the extra sauce into the wok and let chicken and veggies cook for another 4-5 minutes but be sure that the chicken is cooked and the veggies still have a crunch. Toss in scallions before serving.

I will be featuring a shrimp stir fry on my blog tomorrow as well.

Happy Wokking!

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