SUNDAY SWEETS & TIPS

If you have 92 cents, take a trip to your local Wal-Mart to pick up a pop mold for this super simple and fruity recipe with some ingredients you probably already have in the refrigerator.  Or, if you'd prefer to use different sizes or shapes, check out places like Target, Bed Bath & Beyond or Amazon.  You can find  Orange Blossom Water in Wal-Mart as well, on-line at https://www.olivenation.com, or in the aisles of Middle Eastern Supermarkets. Using this ingredient gives the unique taste of an orange grove to this recipe. This fantastic dessert is perfect to cool things off on a hot day, or to use as a fun project with the kids.

Canteloupe and Mint Yogurt Pops
Ingredients
12 Ounces seeded and chopped Cantaloupe
1 Cup 2 percent or full fat Greek Yogurt
1/3 Cup Honey, or more if needed
1 Tablespoon Mint Leaves
1 Teaspoon Orange Flower Water

Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor, blending until smooth.  Adjust the flavors for your level of sweetness, by adding more honey, slowly. Pour everything into frozen pop molds, and freeze until completely solid, at least 6 hours or overnight.

LAUNDRY PACKETS
Every once in a while, I can find really good deals on those laundry packets that dissolve in the washing machine, but according to Good Housekeeping, all are not created equal.  During their tests they found that the quickest dissolving packs were Ajax ProPax Single Dose Laundry Detergent Powder, and Target's Up & Up Green Meadow Detergent Liquid.  They also give their Good Housekeeping Seal Holder to Tide Pods Original.

YARD SALE
Wow!  Can you imagine close to 700 miles of yard sale hopping?  If shopping for deals is your passion, put on your walking shoes and head out to The World's Longest Yard Sale from August 4 - 7, 2016.  This extravaganza mostly covers HWY 127 through the states of Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.  This is also a great way to earn some extra cash by being a vendor at this large event. Check out http://www.127yardsale.com/ for more info.

It's been a week since the horrific tragedy in Orlando, FL,and I can't help reliving the sadness of it all over and over again.  I keep seeing visions of unanswered texts, hearing ringing phones, victims carried with blood, and whispers of fear in a crowded bathroom.

In addition to many lifestyle topics, this blog is also about supporting victims/survivors of domestic violence.  The irony is that we bow our heads in silence as a show of support for friends, family and strangers who have died, yet needless crimes of violence such as gang wars, acts of hate, physical abuse, bullying, murders continue.  No truer statement was made than this song, "What the World Needs Now is Love".

SHOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE YOU'VE FALLEN OUT OF LOVE?

One of my cousins was married at an early age to someone she met in a grocery store, and for a while things were great.  Eventually, her husband became verbally abusive and emotionally distant.  Most of her relationship was filled with tears, anger, frustration and deep regret.  She gained weight and became a shadow of her former self.  Being degraded, cheated on, treated badly and ignored, she emailed me one day to say that she resented her husband, and every time she looked at him, she became livid. Thoughts of his secret phone calls, lies, trysts, verbal mistreatment and constant denials had finally caused her to reach her threshold.  At one time, he even threatened to have her committed.YIKES!

After three years and no improvement, she came to the realization that she no longer loved the man she married, and struggled with telling him how she really felt.

One day, she looked around the house, packed up the things that were important, scheduled disconnections of anything that was in her name, had her phone number changed, and left.  For the first time in a long while she felt empowered and was able to smile, but she still never actually said the words, "I don't love you anymore" out loud.  I'm no expert, but it made me wonder, even if there is no abuse or cheating - does it really matter? Will it make a difference?  Are you afraid of hurting that person's  feelings? Is there just a sense of peace?

MUSIC
Just 23, Nick Jonas is a cutie, and I can't stop listening to "Close" on the radio, the computer, or Pandora. Something about that song is catchy and makes me want to sing along every time I hear it.  What about you? Do you have a favorite song that won't get out of your head?

JUNE

In addition to being Fathers' Day this Sunday, June is also National Adopt a Cat Month - Yay!  For those who like or want to eat healthy, it's National Fruit and Vegetables Month.  Don't forget it's Gay Pride Month, Candy Month and Turkey Month, too! 

YEP, THESE ARE CAKES & SOME SECRET WEDDING TIPS

I'm not sure if I would eat this, but it's super creative!(lol)

I'm not that great at baking, but lately, I've been totally fascinated over the amazing cakes that have been posted on the Internet.  Here are a few that caught my attention.

Very life-like!

Great handbag that looks super realistic!

Creepy, but very unique!

Yummy!

Amazing!

Glitzy Glamour!

I have no idea why, but for some reason, brides really love to get married in June, but whatever month you choose to tie the knot, here's a few tips.

1.  There's nothing wrong with a colorful bridal gown.  In fact, Grace Kelly wore pink, Elizabeth Taylor wore green, and Dita Von Deese wore my favorite color, purple.  This is your day to express who you are, so go for it!

2.  Lots of other countries ask for cash, and it's okay, as long as you word it properly on your invitation. 
                                                                    a.  Brides in Greece the money is pinned to the bride.
                                                                    b.  Brides in Spain have money directly deposited into their bank accounts.
                                                                    c.  Brides carry a bag in Italy for guests to place money in.

3.  Calling off the wedding is never easy, but if you're having second thoughts, DON'T go down that aisle. There is a difference between nervous jitters and feeling depressed or sad, so pay attention to you heart and mind. It's best to ask for help in letting guests know, and to give back those gifts before you make a Huge mistake that could affect the rest of your life. Also, don't forget to notify your vendors. 

MOVIES
Do you have special movies that you like to watch over and over again?  Of course, I have a quite a few.  True Lies, Bandwagon, Eagle Eye, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,  every Jason Bourne movie, every Mission Impossible movie and The Devil Wears Prada.

CANDY CRUSH
Have you ever played Candy Crush, and before you knew it, became hooked?  You're definitely not alone. Candy Crush is played in over 231 countries!

FRUITY FUN & TIDBITS

Nope, it's not quite summer, but many of us are feeling the heat with temps reaching over 90 degrees already.  These two yummy treats are easy to make, don't involve an oven, not too heavy and perfect for friends and family! 

Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
2. zest of 1/2 orange
3. 3 tablespoons heavy cream
4. 1 cup (about 4.4 ounces) white chocolate, broken into pieces
5. 1 teaspoon orange extract
6. 1/4 cup powdered sugar
7. red & yellow food coloring, optional

Instructions

1. 1. In a medium saucepan, melt butter and add orange zest. Once the butter is completely melted, add the heavy cream and stir to combine. Remove from the stove. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain out the orange zest into a small bowl. Add chocolate to the bowl. Allow to sit for 1 minute before stirring. Stir and make sure the white chocolate is completely melted (if some pieces remain, return saucepan to the stove and cook mixture over low heat while stirring constantly until chocolate is melted).
2. 2. Add orange extract and give it a good stir. Finally, add food coloring (if using) and stir until desired colored is reached. It only takes a small amount of food coloring. I used 1 drop of red and 3 drops of yellow. Cover mixture and place into the fridge for 2 hours.
3. 3. Pour powdered sugar into a small bowl. Remove truffle mixture from the fridge and form into balls (I used about 1 tablespoon per truffle) and roll in the powdered sugar. Repeat. Place truffles into the freezer for 15-20 minutes if you want to enjoy them right away, or keep in the fridge for up to 1 week.  Thanks to Kathi from www.deliciouslyyum.com for this great recipe!  Check out her blog for more exciting ideas!
   

SUMMER BERRY PARFAIT
Toss 1 1/2 quarts hulled and quartered strawberries, 2 cups blueberries, 1 cup raspberries, 1/4 granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest, 1 teaspoon lemon juice & a pinch of salt in a large bowl.  Let sit, stirring occasionally until the berries are juicy - 20 to 30 minutes.

Whip 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, 3 tablespoons confectioner's sugar & 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract in a large bowl until peaks form.  Or you could just used whipped topping in a bottle(lol).

Layer the berries and cream in mason jars or parfait cups, dividing evenly.  This serves about 8 people.

Do you remember Law & Order?  It was a procedural drama that depicted the crime, and eventually the courtroom drama that tied everything up.  It was on from 1990 through 2010 with various actors.  I loved this show and frquently watched it over and over again.  I can't tell you what in the heck was going on, but for some strange reason I missed seeing the series from 2006 - 2009.  What in the world!  Needless to say, whenever I can, it's been catch-up time.  What are you catching up on these days?

HOTELS
Are you one of those people who clean the room again once you get to your hotel?  I'm the same way, and it's good to know that we're not alone.  According to a study in 2015, 3 out of 10 people bring along their own supplies to make sure the room is spotless.  This is so important that many believe this is a top reason to stay in that room, and more than half would pay extra to be guaranteed that the room is absolutely pristine.

TIP:  I learned this from a friend who used to inspect rooms once the staff finished. Lots of people just jump in the bed because they are so dang tired upon arrival, but do this first!. If you want to find out if the bedding is really clean, pull back the comforter and inspect the sheets.  Are there hairs, is it crumpled, or you see crumbs or stains?  Tell the manager immediately that you need the sheets changed.

When you feel helpless or the world seems as if it's catching up to you, focus on just one thing you can control.  The rest will have to wait.

BEST POTATO SALAD & FINDING FREE BOOKS

THE BEST POTATO SALAD RECIPE

SERVES: 8

PREP TIME: 20 minutes

COOK TIME: 12 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 32 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 pounds mixed fingerling potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp. prepared mustard
• 1 Tbsp. pickle juice
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 cup peas, cooked and drained
• 1 cup corn, cooked, cut off the cob
• 8 slices fully cooked bacon, chopped in large pieces
• 1/2 cup bread and butter pickles, chopped
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped
• 1/4 cup red sweet peppers
• 1/4 cup chives

DIRECTIONS:

Bring water to boil in a large pot; add in 1 Tbsp. of salt plus the chopped potatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook for abut 10-12 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Drain well.

In a small bowl, make the dressing by adding the mayonnaise, mustard, pickle juice, sugar, and garlic. Mix together and set aside.

Cook the peas and corn and allow to cool. Chop the bacon, pickles, celery, sweet peppers, and chives.

Toss the potatoes gently with the dressing; allow to sit for about 10 minutes.

Add in the remaining ingredients; salt and pepper to taste. Gently toss until mixed together.

Hugs to the Reluctant Entertainer

I've seen a ton of potato salad recipes, but this one has to be the most creative.  I haven't tried it yet, but it sure looks like a keeper. On a side note, this recipe is frequently shared and raved about on Pinterest. Of course, you know I love my spices, so feel free to add lots of cayenne pepper or jalapenos to kick it up a notch. *heh*

BOOKS  
If you're a book fanatic like me, you won't mind hunting for that perfect story.  It may be on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble or in your local library.  Every once in awhile, you may even find that perfect treasure where you least expect it.  This site is for those who like to use Kindle, Nook or other computer devices to read.  Be sure to visit  https://www.freebooksy.com, where you can get notified daily or weekly about new books.

http://www.baen.com/categories/free-library.html - Baen is actually a very large ebookstore, but it allows reader to read many of their novels for FREE, and they have many newly released titles.  Visit their site and start downloading today!

Top Shelf Book Club bills itself as the largest on-line book club, and you can get thousands of downloaded books that will amaze you.  Some of their authors include Sylvia Day, Anderson Cooper and J.R. Ward to name a few.  Sign up for free so you can get notified when new novels are ready to download.  http://topshelfbook.org/ 

                                                                         

If you're looking for new and exciting topics, plenty of bloggers are participating in the A through Z Challenge this month.  Lately, I'm lucky if I can get two blogs done a week, (lol)so this isn't one I'll be joining, however, I do take the time to check out new blogs to meet new friends, view other opinions, or check out new authors.  If you can, get out there to say hello.

Earlier today I watched Cinderella with Cate Blanchett, and one of the quotes that touched my heart was, "Have courage and be kind". Great words to live by.

p.s. - Remember my friend who I've known for 30+ years who we never thought would get married?  Well, he did it by golly, and I can't tell you how thrilled, proud and happy I am for him and his beautiful bride.  In addition to that, he visited the Grammy's this year as a voting member AND his songwriting skills  with a phenomenal artist.  Can you tell that this was his year? Kudos and HUGE hugs to my friend Raymond.  You got it done!