Thursday, December 28, 2017

STUFF YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS

For some strange reason, Awesome Anna Cade from herding cats & burning soup
and I usually end up spending some portion of Christmas together, and it's always fun.  And every year she'll tell me about an unexpected x-rated event received via her blog, or on one of her social media pages. Then I'll giggle - very loudly, because she really knows how to tell an outrageously humorous story about how it happened. This time it was all about candy canes, and I'll never look at them the same way again. (lol) 

The other thing that happens is we get kicked out of the restaurant because we lose track of time by talking too much and people just wanna close up and go home. 


While there she gave me this really wonderful cookbook for Christmas.

Speaking of porn, here's a really neat recipe for breakfast or a snack. 

OAT PORN WITH DRAGONFRUIT & BERRIES
Okay, so I chose this recipe because it has a pretty creative title, but it actually looks quite yummy.  This is perfect for those who may be a little iffy about eating oatmeal.


Combine 3/4 cups each of old-fashioned oats and unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon and a pinch of salt.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  When you're ready to serve, top with 3 slices star fruit or blood orange, 1/4 cup each blackberries and raspberries, 5 apple slices, 5 balls or cubes of dragonfruit and 1 tablespoon toasted unsweetened  coconut flakes.  Feel free to add strawberries or bananas too.

YOUTUBE WINNERS
Almost everyone suggests visiting youtube to get instructions, but there's so much more going on there.  It was surprising to see how much money that people actually make for doing fun stuff every day, and some aren't even adults yet. I wish I could find a way to read all day on my couch, or show people's opinion on what to read next from my massive TBR pile and get millions of dollars, but that's a pretty slim market. How much do they make you ask?

Ryan Toysreview is a 6 year old kid who just happens to love toys, with a subscriber count of over 10 million and growing.  Ranked #8 on Forbes Youtube Entrepreneur's list, he's raked in just over $11 million dollars for reviewing toys, and he can't even drive yet.

This is sort of unbelievable, but Evan Fong (some may know him as VanossGaming) plays games like Grand Theft Auto, etc. with other gamers, and gets paid for it. 

Evan has over 21 million subscribers, is the 13th most subscribed, earns a little over $450,000 a month, and is just 25 years old!

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE
Remember that tip I mentioned the other day about revving up your metabolism by standing in the cold for 15 minutes? And remember me telling you that I love the cold weather. Well, it's hard to just stand in the cold and do nothing, so I went out this morning in 25 degree weather and walked around the block - a few times. Yes, a heart will get moving, and it felt like I did a 1 hour workout.  Now I just want to celebrate by eating a cheeseburger and getting my breath back.



FUN NEWS
If you've been reading this blog, you've seen how obsessed I am with pop culture and trivia, so before we end 2017, here's some cool stuff that I can tell you really wanted to hear about. (lol)

You may be surprised to know that the highest grossing movie was one of my faves - Beauty and the Beast.

Ed Sheeran did it again by having his hit The Shape of You streamed and listened to 6.3 million times on Spotify!  I still love that song.
CAN YOU FIGURE THEM OUT?
Do you ever work on crossword puzzles?  Some aren't that easy to finish, but the challenge is fun.   The first one was actually published in 1913 in the New York World , and they quickly became popular throughout the world. One would think that a person who creates this puzzle makes big bucks, but not really.  On average, the New York Times will pay a Constructor in the range of $200 - $1000 per puzzle.


MAKING MONEY MOVES
GET PAID TO SAVE
Many people focus on being more healthy or losing weight as a resolution, but others want to make the effort to save money.  What' better way to make sure you stay on target than to get paid when you succeed.  Head on over to www.stickK.com, fill in your Commitment Contract with your specific goal, and you're pretty much set to start earning.

GET PAID TO LOSE
If you do want to take the leap to lose more weight AND get paid, check out www.dietbet.com.  When you succeed, split the moola with other winners, and get your share via Paypal.  Statistically, lots of people reach their goals AND get unexpected cash.

GET PAID TO TELL IT LIKE IT IS
Yes, you can make money by taking surveys, but they have to be the right ones that won't take up all your time, or don't pay as advertised.  The best ones to use?

www.mintvine.com
www.swagbucks.com
www.paidviewpoint.com
www.bzzagent.com 


WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Have you seen Lady Bird?  It's a great movie about a senior in high school who anxiously needs to exert her independence, and we soon see that she's very much like her opinionated mother.   


One of the things you may notice right away is Christine's desire to be called Lady Bird, and not by her given name.  That changes however, once she leaves home to attend college in New York and gets drunk enough to end up in the hospital.

Actors and authors frequently change their given names for various reasons, and it works, but have you ever wanted to change your own name to something creative or crazy?  


It's always neat to find out how different someone's real name is.  For example, Norma Jean Mortenson legally changed her name to Marilyn Monroe in 1956, even though she was already publicly known that way 10 years earlier.

As a kid, my dad gave me a really outlandish nickname that stuck with me until I met this guy in the Air Force that I really liked.  He told me that I needed to get rid of my ridiculous nickname, and use what was on my birth certificate. So I did. 


Then back in the day, I knew a lot of erotic romance authors, so to ensure they never knew I was reviewing their work, I came up with these quirky pseudonyms.

I strictly stick to interviewing now, and after years of my name being butchered (lol), I changed it up to just RO.  That's pretty hard to screw up, and a lot easier to type.



Sunday, December 24, 2017

SUPER SUNDAY FUN


Anyone who has the patience and diligence to do some hardcore collecting holds a soft spot in my heart, so when I saw the HUGE collection that caused this guy to enter the the World Guinness Book of Records in 2011, I was thrilled.  Jean-Guy Laquerre, who lives in Canada, has a whopping collection of close to 26,000 Santa pieces that include figures, stuffed toys, calendars and more, and the list is still growing.  Can you imagine having that many Santas in one place?

Photo by James Rahe
Meanwhile this year, everyone is raving about James Rahe's collectible Santa figures which exceed just over 4000 in Commerce City, Colorado.

Photo by James Rahe
His collection is rumored to be worth about $100,000!

CHICKEN DINNER
On Christmas in Japan, most people aren't celebrating by eating ham, roast or turkey as we do in the states. Their food of choice is fried chicken, but not just any chicken. A Kentucky Fried Chicken Dinner with wine and all, is eaten by almost  3.6 million people, and costs about $52.00.


OOPS!
I've seen Boxing Day on calendars and always assumed it was a day to honor boxers in Canada, but it actually has nothing at all to do with the sport.   It originated in the United Kingdom, and is also celebrated in Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
This holiday of giving started around the 19th century with the opening of alms boxes in the local churches and giving the contents to the poor and needy.  It was also a way for servants of the rich to spend time with their own families.

FREE APP
If you don't already have enough apps on your phone, here's another one to add called Fooducate.  

Fooducate Weight Loss Coach - Android Apps on Google Play

Use it to scan food package barcodes to get the nutrition grade and information,  as well as a healthy alternatives if needed.

IN NEED
Miracleflights.org/miles is a great way to give back to kids who have rare or life threatening health issues which require them to travel for medical care far away from home.

CRUNCHY SALTY LEMONY SALAD
I thought this was an unusual salad, and I love lemon, so it sounded like a good one to try.  Even better, you can add lettuce, sunflower seeds or fruit if you like.

INGREDIENTS
2 Small Beets, any color (trimmed & peeled)
2 Persian Cucumbers
1 Medium Watermelon Radish, trimmed
1 Oz. Parmesan, Pecorino, Asiago or other hard cheese of your choice, thinly shaved
1 Lemon
Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Drizzling
Sea Salt
Black Pepper

DIRECTIONS
Very thinly slice the beets, cucumbers and radish crosswise into coins on a mandoline, then toss to combine in a medium bowl.  Arrange on a platter, and scatter as much cheese as you like on the top.  Graze some lemon zest over the salad, then halve the lemon and squeeze on some juice.  Drizzle with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.  If you like heat, add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.


CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
Do you remember reading Hans Christian Andersen as a kid?  The Danish writer arrived in Copenhagen with lofty plans to become an actor, singer and dancer.  Unsuccessful, he wrote children's stories instead, eventually publishing his first volume (there were 3) of  Fairy Tales for Children in 1835, and included the Princess and the Pea.  

All 3 volumes with a total of 9 classic stories were eventually sold as one book for 72 shillings in 1837.  How much is that in American dollars these days?  About 70 cents.  If you decided to purchase it today (the 1932 version) from www.biblio.com, it'll set you back $2750.00, and they'll be nice enough to not charge tax!

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
In Mederra County, CA many police officers spent time performing random acts of kindness.  They included giving away Christmas cards with $100 bills inside versus traffic tickets, purchasing groceries for an elderly couple, cutting firewood, and lots more.


PAYING IT FORWARD
Many of you may remember how a homeless Marine veteran named Johnny Bobbitt, who used to sit on the road on Hwy I-95 every day with a sign. He saw her run out of gas, told her not to worry and to lock her doors, and he would be right back. Using his last $20, he returned with a gas can to help her get back on the road.  She could have thanked him and forgotten all about it. Kate McClure wasn't able to repay him then, but she kept coming back to give warm clothing, food and small amounts of cash.  Then she set up a GoFundMe pageasking for $10,000.  Even though funds are no longer being accepted, people are still commenting about the almost $403,000 raised to help this selfless man.

Kate McClure, Mark and Johnny
What is he doing with the money? He had 2 trusts set up to help him manage the money. He recently purchased a home, so he'll never be homeless again, plans to purchase a truck, and finally, he'll pay it forward to a student who started a GoFundMe page for another homeless veteran who he spoke with every day.




Monday, December 18, 2017

MIX IT UP MONDAY



Every year the Hallmark Channel uploads A Very Happy Yule Log, but you can also find various other burning fireplaces streaming online, usually for a 3 hour period.  It's ridiculous how hypnotized I get with a simple fire that's burning on television with Happy the Cat or Happy the Dog running around, but I can't seem to help myself. (lol)    Something about it is just soothing and addictive.

Ro's coupons inside the binder  all neat & organized
I've been couponing since 2010, but in 2015 it became a serious hobby.  Most friends feel that it's too time consuming, but the money to be saved is pretty phenomenal,
FREE Cottonelle Tissue and La Brea Cranberry Bread
and I can't tell you how often I get things for FREE.  Some items I stockpile, but others I give away to shelters or friends.



RO's Coupon Binder - Love purple
Once I get the coupons clipped and put in the binder as shown in the pictures listed, it looks very organized, but the things that aren't clipped end up in giant unruly stacks, which can sometimes drive me bonkers.  I've figured out a fairly good system, sort of (lol), but still think I need a partner to maintain my sanity!
YIKES! Before it gets to the binder.  RO's disaster.(lol)
LucasFilms/Disney
STAR WARS MANIA
Are you a Star Wars fan?  If you saw The Last Jedi this weekend, you contributed to the over $220 million opening this weekend!

I used to watch Star Wars as a kid, and they're still good movies, but these days, I'm a little more into Star Trek.

RO's Planner
PLANNERS
Another fun passion is working on my Planner.  Artsy people are really good at it, and draw a lot of the things that go inside, but I stick with washi tape and stickers to decorate.  


You can never have too much washi tape.
Some of these items can be expensive, so I get them on sale at yard sales, thrift stores, or Michaels when they're marked down. Michaels and AC Moore & Crafts also offer military discounts year round.

If you're thinking about starting a Planner, https://www.iheartplanners.com/blog/ is a great blog to visit.  In addition to great tips, she also offers FREE printables.

RO's Planner
RO's Planner
RO's Planner


TINY EATS
I watch the Food Network a lot, and they previewed a new show that focuses on Teeny Tiny food.   
At first glance, everything looks totally fake but Jay Baron, who also has a program on Youtube, prepares real food that can really be eaten. It just happens to be in miniature form.  Watching him as he looks for alternative ways to make dinner, is truly amazing.

CHEESEBURGER LOVE
If you've been reading this blog, you already know that I adore cheeseburgers, so when possible, I find a way to sneak in a tidbit. (lol)  Wendy's the fast food restaurant opened for business in 1969 in Ohio.  Everyone knows that the pigtailed logo is based on Dave Thomas' daughter.  But did you know her name isn't really Wendy?  It's actually Melinda Lou!  As a kid, it was rough for her to pronounce certain letters, so she referred to herself as Wendy or Wenda, and eventually it stuck.

UNUSUAL ORNAMENTS
Some people have traditions which include using the same ornaments each year, and others prefer to stretch the depths of their imagination or offer up a really good laugh.













MORE TO READ
I read books...a lot, and my TBR pile is huge.  Here's a couple books next up on my list to read for the start of 2018.


One of things that always makes me happy is hearing about or seeing random acts of kindness, so this is something I couldn't help sharing.  

Secretly, 200 Walmart layaways totalling a little more than $40,000 in Everett Pennsylvania were
paid off this year.  Santa B, as this gentleman is called, did the same thing last year, and continues to remain anonymous.