The Salad Shouldn't Get Prepared First

Salads can sometimes lose their freshness relatively easily or quickly. The people who are planning to take these salads outdoors may need to avoid taking them outside when it's still too early. 

Fresh Salads

The salad is sometimes the very last part of a meal that people will prepare. Most salad recipes can be followed quickly. Putting together a salad will sometimes only take a few minutes. If the vegetables for the salad have already been chopped, people may only need a minute to combine everything using the salad tongs. Even cutting the vegetables might not take all that long.

Once everything else is on the table, it could be time to mix the salad and remove the vegetable ingredients from the refrigerator. The people who approach salad preparation like this will often have salads that won't start to wilt at any point during the meal. Getting rid of even one wilted lettuce leaf will also quickly improve the quality of the entire salad. 

Vegetable Choice

Lettuce tends to be a moist vegetable. Washing the lettuce long before it's used to make the salad can help people avoid issues with lettuce that is too damp. It is also possible to dry the lettuce with a paper towel, which can help reduce some external moisture without making the lettuce too dry. 

Some salad toppings may also be comparatively dry, which will make the overall salad less moist than it would be with different toppings. People who use too many of these toppings may end up with a salad that seems too dry.

However, if they add those toppings to the salad later, they might absorb less of the water from the salad's other components. Those toppings will stay dry, and the lettuce won't become less moist than most people will expect. 

Source 

I Hope You All Had An Amazing Christmas

Christmas has changed now that the kids are older. In some ways it is better and in other ways so sad. I miss the kids being small and excited about Christmas morning. 

Fortunately as a preschool teacher of toddlers I get to experience the excitement of kids just learning about the holiday. Which is fun too but seeing Christmas through a child’s eye is special. 

There are fewer gifts than the past but the kids know and understand about needs and wants and are respectful. Nothing they asked for was impossible so they got many of the things they wanted. 

My favorite part of the morning was the quest my husband created for my daughter. He had her open a box which contained a burnt scroll with a map. She had to follow the map to a “pot of silver” an ice cube holder under blue lights which contained another scroll with a map where she had to open a floor vent for her package. I love that he did it all on his own! He never does any thing for Christmas except get my gifts! 

The Best Homemade Gift I EVER Got

My daughter was asking about gifts for weeks up till Christmas. After telling her I wanted World Peace I mentioned  that her homemade gifts are my favorite. 

I love this card she created.

She always told me she doesn’t work well with watercolor but this tells me differently. 

What was your favorite gift this year?

WOW It's Been Crazy

 

The past few weeks have been insane. Actually, the past 4 months have been ridiculous.

 September my kids returned to school and everything that comes with that but as a preschool teacher, I got a few new students and that has its own learning curve but then there was no assistant in the class and still actually isn't. They sent floaters to cover the time which sometimes meant I had 4-6 different people with my class on any one day. That isn't good for me and it isn't good for toddlers who need consistency. I've had someone in my room for the past three weeks and it has really made a difference, but it came too late. I am DONE! Exhausted and WIPED!

October my family was planning for a trip to Disney. Or very first trip on a plane but with Halloween coming it meant weeks of planning for my class to have a fantastic Halloween and do a lot of arts, crafts and activities all while working with random assistants who honestly could care less.UGH!

November, we came back from Florida and before you knew it I was planning Thanksgiving for my family but also for my class. The holidays are so much fun in preschool and I love doing things with them but the days were long and sometimes I bite off way more than I can chew because I want my class to experience anything and everything. 

December is ridiculous! Thankfully I've got a really, hard working assistant at the moment. She wasn't planned or hired for my room, but I have requested to hold her until they have someone in there. She is a Godsend. I have spent the past three weeks working on the kids gifts to their families. We are doing a snowglobe and magnets kinda like last year. It takes so much time. 

So between school stuff, home stuff, holidays for my class and holidays for my family along with everything else that happens in life I am OVER it. 

I pray for the day I can handle all this and actually enjoy the holiday. You know, head out with my daughter to see the lights, Santa, town things, friends, etc. I feel like each day just flows into the next day with it all being kinda the same. 

Anyone else feeling stressed, over worked, stretched too thin and guilty for not enjoying the best part of family during the holiday time? 

The photo above is our grinch hands and our melted snowman. Working with 2-3 year olds is so much fun!

:LivBar Yummy Nutrition Bar

 

My family are loving these bars. I have taken them to lunch as a meal replacement many days. I have only a half hour and as a teacher I need my prep time. 

My husband asked for a box as his stocking stuffer! That's easy and I don't mind. I had to hide the review ones because everyone was eating them before I could try them. 

Sorry for the terrible photo. Look at all those seeds. You actually feel full afterward and instead of a soft bar you get this nice size bar that you eat slower. I LOVE IT!

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD PERFORMING ARTIST

A good performing artist has put in the hard work and training necessary to succeed. True performing artists' passion for what they do will supersede their desire for money or fame, although these may also follow after increased fans. If you are looking to become a performing artist, then it does help if you have a healthy dose of the below traits:

Creativity

Creativity is among the most important traits of a good performing artist. This is because their creativity will push them to experiment and try new things to create something great; it allows them to use their imagination to develop original ideas like Dan Avidan. Without creativity, true art cannot be made.

Passion

Passion is key for any artist, performing or not. Without it, the drive to continue when times get tough will be absent, and the artist's work will suffer as a result. A performing artist must have the passion for spending countless hours rehearsing and perfecting their routine. They must also have a passion for pleasing their fans by putting on the best show possible.

Discipline

No one ever became a great artist without discipline. This quality allows artists to push themselves beyond their limits and achieve things they never thought possible. A performing artist must have the discipline to maintain their focus during long rehearsals and stay in top condition; this quality will also help them deal with any setbacks.

Imagination

Without imagination, a performing artist would be limited to what already exists and could never dream of anything new. They will rely on their imagination to create something unique, powerful, or influential. 

Charisma

A performing artist must have the charisma to engage with their audience and connect emotionally. This quality will help the artist create a rapport with the audience and feel like part of the show.

Confidence

A performing artist must be confident to put on a good show. They cannot let their nerves get the best of them, or they will stumble and fall during their performance. A performing artist must also be confident in themselves and their abilities, which will give them the drive to push themselves further.

Opinion

An artist's opinion separates them from the rest of the world. They must have an opinion on everything they do to give their work meaning and purpose; this unique opinion will define who you are as a performing artist and allow you to get noticed over other artists.

Versatility

Without versatility, a performer can only be limited to one style or theme of performing art. An artistic performer needs to perform traditional tasks easily and know when and where to try something new and innovative instead.

Vision

The performing artist's vision allows them to see beyond others' eyes and think about things differently. This trait is necessary to succeed in any field, but especially so for performing artists who need to see the potential in their work.

Work Ethic

Last but not least, a performing artist must have a good work ethic to succeed. This means that they must be willing to put in the time and effort necessary to achieve their goals. It also requires them to be professional and reliable.

Patience

Working hard, taking criticism well, and having patience are all qualities that a performing artist should have, as these allow them to stay composed during stressful or difficult situations. It also allows them to show respect toward others even if they are not treated respectfully. 

These qualities will allow performing artists to succeed at whatever they set out to do, whether it be becoming rich and famous or simply doing what they love for their reasons. While not all performing artists will have every quality listed above, having most is a good foundation for building a successful career.

The photo is owned by Maria Gagliano and may not be used without permission 

Anklebiters On Demand and DVD

 

The 411:

Starring 4 real life sisters Anklebitters is a dark comedy, horror movie where the innocent aren’t that innocent!  Laura is a widow with 4 little girls and a new love Sean. While Sean loves Laura and tries very hard to be a good step parent to his new family, the girls aren’t ready for a new daddy.

There was something about these mini killers that really creeped me out. I was wincing as they do their damage and mad that mom seemed so distracted that she didn’t notice she has a real problem on her hands.

4 Steps to a Great Book-Themed Party

Book-themed parties can be a great way to show off your love of reading while having a blast with friends. In order to throw the best literary-inspired get-together, though, you'll need to make sure you have a few key components. Specifically, you'll need the right drinks, food, entertainment, and decor.

Drinks

If you're throwing a party for adults, incorporating book-themed cocktails is a must. There are plenty of options for literary cocktails available. Many excellent choices are included in Tequila Mockingbird, written by Tim Federle, which offers recipes for dozens of cocktails that would perfectly suit your bookish party. 

Food

Books from all genres offer a ton of great choices for party foods. If you're a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, you can offer your guests some Turkish delight. Tiny cakes with the words "Eat Me" written in icing would be perfect for fans of Alice in Wonderland. If you're entertaining children, you can combine Rice Krispie treats and modeling chocolate to create book-shaped pops. 

Games

There are some fantastic party games available to include in your bookish gathering. For example, you could play Call My Bluff, in which you pick a word, then write down its definition, along with two other definitions that are incorrect. The object of the game is for the other players to guess the correct definition. The best part about this one is that you only need a dictionary, pencils, and paper.

Or, if you enjoy charades, you could try out the Name in the Hat game, where each player has to guess a character based on clues given by their team leader. Whichever team guesses the most names correctly in one minute is the winner of that round.

Decor

The decorations for your party can be the area where you can get the most creative. Depending on the time of year, you could create snowflakes or wreaths from the pages of old books. You could also set up a photo booth with some of your favorite comic book characters. Or, if you're throwing a dinner party, you could create centerpieces out of stacks of books. Also, don't forget some cute invites or placecards in the form of library due-date slips.

A book-themed party is an excellent option for readers of all ages. You can customize it to suit the tastes of both you and your guests, making it memorable and fun for everyone. The best part is, you might come out with a few new books to add to your list.

Photo source

We Craft Box The Subscription Box For Lil' Crafters

 

The 411:

I am in love with this subscription box. My class loved the coloring poster and my babysitting charges a soon to be 3 year old and 5 year old loved the Thanksgiving crafts.

The box had so many great ideas and I hope to use them in the future. Grab some pinecones, cut them in half, keep all packaging popcorn and let my kids at it.

Santa,You Can Stuff My Stocking With Old Trapper

 

Getting lunches ready for the week thanks to Old Trapper Beef and Cheese. The Jalapeño Cheese and beef stick is exactly what I need to feel I’m eating. I mean being in my 50s my lunches have changed a lot! I only have a half hour so I need fast and simple and yogurt is perfect but I am not a fan of mushy foods. I’m a carnivore and like meat! This makes me excited about lunch tomorrow.

On a funny note my husband opened a cheese up to try it and was like “ahhh this cheese is bad! There are green spots all over it!” I looked at him like he was crazy before saying “uhhhh it’s friggin Jalapeño honey!” I had to quickly move away so he didn’t see me rolling my eyes. I mean who eats something without looking at the labels first?

OMG Ethel Why Do You Have To Be So YUMMY?!

 

Ethel’s began with their Original Pecan Pie Bar, the Pecan Dandy. Inspired by Grandma Ethel and pecan pie, it starts with a sweet, buttery, flaky shortbread crust. That’s topped with real, handmade caramel, made using real butter, brown cane sugar, pure vanilla, and clover honey. Plus whole pecans! 

THE 411:

I have ordered 2 boxes since this review and 2 for gifts. These bars are so good and I share every edible review with my daughter but honestly this one I ate two by myself. THEY ARE RIDICULOUSLY DELICIOUS!

You can tell they are made with the best ingredients. They taste homemade, and if you were to put a pretty plate with these unwrapped someone would think you were baking all day! 

Each flavor was good, I guess if I had to pick a favorite it would be the BLONDIE. 

They are gluten free and I am craving them right now!

To Order Head To Ethels Desserts or find out where you can purchase them here

Work On Stress Management With Buddha Board

We all have troubles, stress, situations or just things we need to let go of so that we can continue living our best life. Sometimes these situations take longer to fix and sometimes it just requires us to think on it and let it go,  move forward without the baggage. Right before we headed out on vacation last month we received Buddha Board, an artistic way to create and then let go without! 

Buddha Boards for relaxing doodling that disappears! 

It comes in 3 very affordable sizes that give a minimalist, artsy look to your coffee table, shelf, or anywhere. No reason to keep this in a closet. Have it available all the time so when the mood strikes you to create, make some swirls, write, even just to keep your hands busy while watching TV so you don't snack, Buddha Board has your back! 

I prefer the larger size, it is so pretty and honestly looks like art! With the elevated wood stand and well for your paintbrush. 

We used a soy sauce plate for our water, it just felt right!

Light a candle, grab some water, a paint brush and Buddha Board. While you paint, breathe  and think about nothing. Just let your creativity flow.

The 411:

I found it very relaxing! My artist daughter was stressed. She complained that it dries too fast for her creation. She loves art and drawing but had a difficult time with the fact that before she could even finish her art, it was disappearing. I am not an artist so my hand is heavier, my strokes, deeper, I simply used more water and less strokes because well, NOT a sketch artist. 

Here is her cat drawing she was doing of our Jinxy while he slept as we used Buddha Board. She hates it, It was after she decided to just sketch a larger piece so she could have something for my review. Can you see it? He is lying with his back to us, on a cushion! This was after she decided she couldn't do it because it disappears to fast. 

You will see this and many more things on my Holiday Gift Guide coming up very soon. 

To Purchase:  Visit Buddha Board or Amazon

Portal Runner Is A Different Holiday Movie! #portalrunner

After this will people be having the same argument they have over Die Hard Being A Christmas Movie? I guess time will tell. 

The 411:

The movie has a solid start. Traveling between parallel timelines or universes sounds fun but what if you are trying to escape someone trying to hurt you? 

Nolan is a teenager trying to enter a mirror in order to escape something apparently evil and dangerous. When he finally goes through he is in his room but now has an older sister Mae,  he never had before. She knows who he is but she has never been in his prior universes? 

Could his sister Mae be the key to stop running?

I enjoyed it. A bit hokey with the siblings talking through shards of glass to communication but it was sweet too with quirky uncle getting ready for Y2K, mom who just wants her family together, Mae going through some teen situation and Nolan trying to keep everyone safe. 

Worth a watch.

Night House Was Creepy AF. #TheNightHouse

The 411

Horror/thriller film about a woman (Rebecca Hall) haunted by vivid nightmares and visions after her husbands suicide. Rebecca gives a solid performance as the grief stricken wife. 

Beth’s husband killed himself and not only is she still reeling from his loss but she is suddenly getting visions, hearing things, having nightmares, seeing things and even getting text messages from him. 

She finds another house that mirrors hers across the lake and realizes there was a side of her husband that she never knew.

I absolutely love this movie and I think that has everything to do with Rebecca Hall and her emoting. We watch many horror/thrillers with tons of blood, jump scares and things that go bump in the night. I found this way creepier.  

This is a must see. Keep a light on!

 

My Life In Pictures - April 15 - April 30

April 15 - I received dad's ashes. It was not expected and shocked me. I was happy to have him with me. 

April 16 - Playing with reflections and shadows. It was early and the road was beautiful

April 17 - My Goddess' best friend made her a birthday cake. It was a lovely gesture and so yummy!

April 18 - Dropping my daughter and her bestie off at their volunteer gig at the animal shelter. I love that they do this together

April 19 - Sage is a cute girl but she is afraid of her own shadow. 

April 20  NOTHING

April 21 - Looks like Spring is here!

April 22 - Nothing

April 23 - My gorgeous girl who thinks everything is wrong with her. 

April 24 - The deck is getting ready

April 25 - My Fluffy Luna

April 26 Nothing

April 27 Waiting in the car for the kids to come out school is the only time I am alone ever. 

April 28 - Jinxy BOY!

April 29 We have blooms

April 30 - Selfie with app help

Time Now - An Amateur Review #timenow #eleanorlambert

The 411:

From Dark Star Pictures TIME NOW, writer/director Spencer King’s highly anticipated new mystery-thriller was released at this year’s Austin Film Festival (October 21- 28). Now in theaters and released On Demand you have the chance to see it.

Claudia Black and Eleanor Lambert made this movie worth it. Solid performances from both.  A dismal story about a single mother returning home due to the sudden death of her twin brother. The movie focuses on why she left and her trying to piece together what happened to him. While the pace was slow to get moving, the scenes with Claudia and Eleanor saved it for me. 

The ending surprised me and I was left wondering why? A mother’s reason should always be her child and I felt that she was setting her own little family up a dismal circle of existence.