Hooping

Hooping has been my new form of exercise lately. Its one exercise I can do that does not make my knees hurt. I do not have to get prepared with special clothing and only 8ft of space is needed. I can just grab it anytime I feel a notion and hula. Its quiet, so you can actually watch TV while doing it.

Any one can (hula) hoop with the right size hoop. Most adults hula hooped at one time or another during their child hood, but now if you go to the toy department and try the child's hula hoop, you can forget it! It will not work for you. Small hoops will rotate too fast making it impossible for a larger person. You will walk away feeling like you've lost all the experience you ever had.

An adult has to have the right size and weight to accomplish hooping. If you think you can not hoop, you can! regardless of age, size or coordination. Your Hoop should stand between your navel and boobs. The bigger you are, the bigger the hoop should be. The bigger and heavier the hoop, the slower it rotates around making it possible to do.

I picked mine up at a local TJ Maxx store. It weighs two lbs. Its padded and comes in pieces that snapped together for easy take along on travel. You can also make your own and I will have a link to that at the end of my post. 

Here are some benefits to Hooping.

• You can burn 200 Calories in 30 minutes.
• Engages your core muscles.
• Increases flexibility.
• Builds lower back muscles.
• It gives you a solid massage (Your intestines and organs get a firm rhythmic rubbing.).
• Easy on your knees.
• Convenient.
• Good for spinal and hip mobility. 

Once you get used to using it around your waist, you can learn to use other body parts for hooping. It will build up and strengthen those areas as well. I hoop each day off and on a few minutes at a time but try to do at least a 15 or 20 minute session. I feel like my middle section is firming already.

Here is a great site showing how to make your own hula hoop
http://www.jasonunbound.com/hoops.html


Ive shared this at:
whatd-you-do-this-weekend at tumbleweedcontessa. 
freedom-fridays at myturnforus
submarine-sunday73 at usscrafty

Snow Bound

We are just now digging our way out of a three day snow storm here in North Carolina. A snow storm with thunder and lightning as well. We ended up with eight to twelve inches of snow. That may not seem like a lot, but around here we are lucky to see a flurry or two and the schools close down with the first sign of snow sticking to the ground or even in the forecast. So this was a big deal around here.

We were really only snowed in for two days. The snow was so pretty. No one had to work and families got to spend much needed time together. Snow can be so peaceful.

Beautiful scene of the neighborhood

 

Crocheted me a new winter hat for the occasion.

I didn't have to go into work, but I still worked. The work phones were transferred to my cell so I could still assist customers while at the same time doing some home chores, crocheted , went out for a walk and to play and even made snow cream.

Snow heart for Valentines Day.

We Stopped to take a snowman selfie.

We named him her Sarah.

 

My Daughter and the snowman

The roads finally cleared and we got to enjoy a night out for Valentines Dinner. Once we got back home and as I'm typing this post, the earth starts to move with a swaying motion for just a couple seconds. We just experienced an earth quake. Yes, something else we don't get much of around here. I learned I wasn't just going crazy when I seen on Facebook that everyone else felt it too. The news just said it was a 4.4 magnitude and 110 miles from where I live and only 3 miles deep.

I'm calling it a night. Just hope nothing else crazy happens.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Spicy Roasted Cauliflower

If you like cauliflower, then you will love this. No need to spend several minutes breaking and cutting up cauliflower. For now on , just bake the whole head! Peel off the green leafy parts and cut off the woody stem, rinse well and now your ready to cook it any way you wish.

The other day, while my husband was visiting his brother he saw him preparing  to roast this really pretty head of cauliflower. When my husband told me about it, I had to try it.
You can find the recipe HERE.

It was really simple to do.

 Just look at that steamy goodness escape.

The coating consist of yogurt and many different spices. It had a different taste than im used to. I think it was the curry. Im not a big fan of curry.

The inside was tender with a slight crisp. It was easily cut into wedges for a wonderful side dish.

I think I will do this again but use a different topping. Maybe some sort of flavored bread crumb topping and dipping sauce or simply buttered.

I can see many possibilities here and Id love to see some of my readers ideas.


Ive shared this at:
whatd-you-do-this-weekend at tumbleweedcontessa  
made-by-me at jaqsstudio  
full-plate-thursday at mizhelenscountrycottage
amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome

Avocado Dressing/Dip

I hate to admit it but its been quite a while since I've eaten a salad. I just get tired of them and I can never find a salad dressing I like. Ranch is at the top of my list on dressings but its so fattening. I just gave up on trying to find a good dressing....Until....I made my own. Its low in calories and full of healthy benefits of Avocado and Yogurt.

Not only will this make a tasty dressing for salads, It also makes an awesome dip for other things such as crackers, potato chips, pretzel and more. This stuff taste almost just like Ranch.

Now, get your blender out.

Here is how its simply made.

Avocado Dressing/Dip

1 Large Avocado

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon hot sauce

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves fresh garlic

1/4 cup milk (leave the milk out if you want it thick for dip)

1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt

3/4 teaspoon salt

Mix it all together in a blender

Here is a little fun fact about Avocados : The avocado is colloquially known as the Alligator Pear, reflecting its shape and the leather-like appearance of its skin

Some of the benefits of Avocado are:
Healthy Heart
Lower cholesterol
Anti-Inflammatory
Promotes eye health
Prevents birth defects
Cures bad breath
Reduce stroke risk
protects against cancer
Anti-aging
Skin care
Weight management
and more.......check it all out HERE for how and whys.

Maybe ill eat more salads next week using my newly found dressing.



Ive shared this at :
dwellings-theheartofyourhome
inspire-me-monday at create-with-joy  
marvelous-mondays-link-party at thisgalcooks

Creamy Jalapeno Bites

While I was out shopping the other day, I found a new food. I'll admit, if it has the word "new" on the package, then I'm sold. I'm a sucker for "new things". My latest new find is this Philadelphia cream cheese with Jalapenos.

I love both cream cheese and jalapenos so I grabbed a small tub of this combination and just knew I could come up with some kind of snack with it.

I had an idea in my mind so I had to try it. I named them "Creamy Jalapeno Bites" because that's exactly what they are.

Take a can of crescent rolls and rolled them out onto a baking sheet. I cut each triangle in half and pressed them out so they would be thin and wide enough. The pieces were not any certain size or shape, I just wanted them big enough to pinch around a spoon of cream cheese spread.

Bake them according to directions on the crescent container, sprinkle with bacon and ..................

Wah lah. You have a delicious side item or finger snack. Perfect for super bowl parties, tailgates or showers. These little bites of hot and cheesy goo will sure be a crowd pleaser. They just got a big thumbs up in my house!


I shared this at:
whatd-you-do-this-weekend at tumbleweedcontessa  
full-plate-thursday at mizhelenscountrycottag  
create-link-inspire at thecraftyblogstalker
kitchen-fun-crafty-friday-link-party at kitchenfunwithmy3sons 

Children on Facebook

Face it, just about everyone is on Facebook now days. Its fun to socialize, share funny stories, read prayer request, look at someones new baby. Then again there is a lot of drama, ugly pictures, dirty jokes, etc. that come along with it.

Facebook has a rule that you are suppose to be at least 13 to sign up ( I personally think it should be 15).
Kids now days are getting around this, or should I say the parents are letting their kids get around it by teaching them to lie and showing them how to set up a Facebook account with fake information.

(source)

40% of the Facebook users under the age of 18 are actually under the age of 13. This just burns me up!
I know personally a mother that helped her son open up a face book account. He is only 11! His profile states that he is 22. His pictures look as if hes 9 and his little friends? They all look like little tots dressing and acting as if they were teenagers.
I find this to be so wrong and dangerous.
Parents, if your going to open your child up to this part of the world, teach them safety and monitor them. Its not a thing about trust, its about keeping them safe and morally protected.

First off, his page is not even private. So, its open for all the predators and stalkers out there to see everything about him, his family and his friends.
Next, its shows the world where he lives.
You can also see and view just about everyone of his little friends in which I'm sure are only barely 12 or younger. Why? Because their pages are not private either so I was able to snoop all around them. I was disgusted at why in the world a parent would let there child do this.
Parents now days do not monitor their children like they should. I mean, at least make it private where only people they know and trust can see their Facebook. There is a setting for that!
Even though your child is "a good child" or a "mature child" does not make a difference. Children have curious minds. One thing will lead to another. If a little 11 year old is flirted with by "anyone" they will be flattered and carry on with conversation easily. They are too immature to think out the dangers. People on Facebook are real, not a character in a video game (which I have complaints about too but that's another story).

Needless to say, he has asked me already to be his Face book friend but I denied it. I have a rule that I will not allow anyone under 15 to be my friend on Facebook. I am against it, therefore I will not promote it.
I do not put anything on my profile that is not kid friendly but I have friends that will use adult humor or life drama on their Facebook and I wouldn't want a child to see.

Parents! Please. Let you kids be kids. Make them go out and play with the kids on the playground for social activity, not sit in a closed room on the computer talking to "who knows who".

Copyright

I have just added a copyright to my blog. You should too.

You may think like me, that surely there is nothing on my blog that anyone would want to copy as their own but you will be surprised. If someone thinks its a win, they will take it and call it there own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(source)

By placing a copyright on your blog you are simply showing thieves that you do not tolerate this type of activity.

Lets get started.....

Click webweaver and generate your free copyright code. It will only take a minute. Once you have generated the code, add it to the bottom (or wherever you choose) of your blog page by using the html gadget option on your layout. You can scroll down and see mine at the very bottom. ;) Cute huh?

There are also more legal information you may need or find interesting by visiting serendipityandspice. This is were I just learned about the copyright thing.

Its a good idea to always add a source to as of where you copied a picture, clip art or artical you use on your blog that is not your own. And bloggers rule, its always a respectful and fair to add a link leading to where you got some of your information. It also would not hurt to add a watermark to your pictures. I use Pickmonkey for mine. Its a fun picture editing site. Sure, people can still steal and use your pictures but this will detour them to a degree.

I hope maybe I covered a few things you didn't know. Its always good to be safer than sorry.