06.23.2009

Greetings! I am flattered that you are sitting at your computer reading this when it's so warm and pretty outside! I'm happy to announce this issue we have a new columnist. My bff Terrie is going to be doing a column with things for and about kids called Mommy Moments. She has two daughters, Alyssa, 9 and Hailey, almost 8, so she has lots of mommy experience. Hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time... ~Toni


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(I have decided to start listing birthdays and anniversaries, so if you have one you want included just send it to me by the Friday before the issue date it needs to go in.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES TO:

my mom on June 23
Alyssa on June 23
Brittany on June 23
Lib on July 1
Sue on July 2
Marianne on July 3
Toni (yes, me...I'm not too shy to toot my own horn...lol) on July 3
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~Mommy Moments~

Here is an easy pizza recipe that I fix for my girls quite often.
I use soft tortilla shells, pizza sauce, whatever topping you like, bake it just until the cheese is melted and the edges are lightly browned. You can also do this in the microwave, but of course, my girls prefer it baked.

Here is a site that has all sorts of fun food ideas for kids. Enjoy!
http://www.easy-kid-recipes.com/index.html

Here are a few sites that have fun kids games.
http://www.funbrain.com/
http://www.candystand.com/

Here you can check to see if you can take your kids to bowl for FREE :)
http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/
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New Mexico

--Santa Fe is the highest capital city in the United States at 7,000 feet above sea level.

--Each October Albuquerque hosts the world's largest international hot air balloon fiestal.

--The Rio Grande is New Mexico's longest river and runs the entire length of New Mexico.

--The world's first Atomic Bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945 on the White Sands Testing Range near Alamogordo. North of the impact point a small placard marks the area known as Trinity Site. The bomb was designed and manufactured in Los Alamos.

--White Sands National Monument http://tinyurl.com/knm8d4 is a desert, not of sand, but of gleaming white gypsum crystals.

--New Mexico is one of the four corner states. Bordering at the same point with Colorado, Utah and Arizona.

--More than 25,000 Anasazi sites have been identified in New Mexico by archeologists. The Anasazi, an amazing civilization who were the ancestors of the Pueblo, where around for 1300 years. Their great classical period lasted from 1100-1300 AD.

--1/4 of New Mexico is forested, and the state has 7 National Forests including the Nation's largest, the 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest which includes the Gila Wilderness.

--In 1950 the little cub that was to become the National Fire Safety symbol Smokey the Bear was found trapped in a tree when his home in Lincoln National Forest was destroyed by fire. In 1963, in Smokey's honor, the New Mexican legislature chose the black bear to be the official state animal.

--The Navajo, the Nation's largest Native American Group, have a reservation that covers 14 million Acres.

--At Lake Valley, miners discovered silver in veins so pure that the metal could be sawn off in blocks, instead of having to be dug out by traditional methods.

--To test the latest rockets White Sands Missile Range was created on the same land where the first atom bomb had been exploded.

--After WWII Los Alamos and Albuquerque had many new laboratories. Hundreds of highly educated Scientists and Engineers moved in the state. New Mexico soon had a higher percentage of people with Ph.D.s than any other state.

--Two important aspects of New Mexico's economy are scientific research such as the nuclear energy research carried out at Sandia National Laboratories and mining of natural resources such as oil, natural gas, uranium, potash, copper, coal, zinc, gold and silver.

--Since New Mexico's climate is so dry 3/4 of the roads are left unpaved. The roads don't wash away.

--During the height of the so-called lawless era of the late 1800' when Lew Wallace served as territorial Governor, he wrote the popular historical novel Ben-Hur. First published in 1880, it was made into a movie in 1959 starring Charleton Heston.

--Cimarron was once known as the "Cowboy capital of the world". Some of the old west's most famous names, such as Kit Carson and "Buffalo Bill" Cody lived there. A quote from the Las Vegas Gazette illustrates how lawless Cimarron was. "Everything is quiet in Cimarron. Nobody has been killed in 3 days."

--Roswell the states 4th largest city was founded in 1869 when a professional gambler established a lone store on the cattle trail.

--Moon Rocks can be found at the International Space hall of fame that is located in Alamogordo.

--Tens of thousands of bats live in the Carlsbad Caverns. The largest chamber of Carlsbad Caverns is more than 10 football fields long and about 22 stories high.

--Taos Pueblo is located 2 miles north of the city of Taos. It is one of the oldest continuously occupied communities in the United States. People still live in some of its 900 year old buildings.

--New Mexico's capital city Santa Fe is the ending point of the 800 mile Santa Fe Trail.

--The City of Truth or Consequences was once called Hot Springs. In 1950 the town changed its name to the title of a popular radio quiz program.

--New Mexico was named by 16th century Spanish explorers who hoped to find gold and wealth equal to Mexico's Aztec treasures.

--Native Americans have been living in New Mexico for some twenty thousand years. The Pueblo, Apache, Comanche, Navajo, and Ute peoples were in the New Mexico region when Spanish settlers arrived in the 1600s.
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This is a pretty interesting site. Gives decorating ideas from things found at the dollar store.
http://www.dollarstorestyle.com/
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~What I've been reading~

If you like to read true crime books, you will want to check out Columbine by Dave Cullen. I feel like the author interjects his opinions from time to time on certain subjects. Other than that, the author shows you the true and entire story you didn't hear in the media. Cautions: there is bad language and lots of details that aren't for the faint of heart.
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Save Lukewarm Water for Plants

While waiting for hot water from your sink to get hot, place a milk jug under the faucet to collect water. Use this water to water plants, pets, etc. You'll be surprised with how much water you've collected.
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~Tips from Cheryl~

No More Sticky Rice
To prevent rice from sticking to the pot when it's cooking, spray the bottom with and sides with nonstick vegetable spray before you add water or rice.

Reusing Aluminum Foil and Plastic Bags
After you've used it, clean with a damp sponge and wipe from the center to the edge (this will flatten it). Let dry. Clean zipper bags with lots of soap and hot water, rinse well and dry before reusing

Sugar Shaker
Pour granulated sugar into a salt shaker or recycled Parmesan cheese shaker. It will be so handy when you want to sprinkle sugar on pie crust tops, cereal or homemade donuts. You will have good control of how much you add.

Freeze Extra Tomato Sauce
If a recipe calls for just 2 or 3 ounces of tomato sauce or canned tomatoes, save what's left. Pour into ice cube trays, cover and freeze. You will have individual cubes on hand to pop into future dishes.
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~Marie's Laughter~

Mrs. Sullivan and her little daughter Patty were outside the church watching all the comings and goings of a wedding. After the photographs had been taken, everyone had driven off to the reception, and all the excitement was over. Patty asked her mother, “Why did the bride change her mind, Mommy?

“How do you mean, change her mind?” asked Mrs. Sullivan.

"Well", said the child, “she went into the church with one man and came out with another!”
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Head over to http://www.nophonetrees.com or http://www.get2human.com where you can type in the name of a company you're about to call, and instantly find out which special series of numbers will connect you without having to go through the voicemail menu.
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~More tips from Carol~

--In a pan, where you've overcooked your food, is not going to be an easy clean up unless you have some ammonia. Simply pour in a capful of ammonia and then fill your pan with a little bit of water. Bring it to the stove and let it boil. Once it boils just push it all around, and look how easy it comes off.

--Something you should always have handy in your laundry room is a simple bar of soap. It works great to take out make-up stains. Simply wet the soap. Once the water reaches the shirt with that soap on it, the cleaning power will be released and it'll be "clean as new".

--Cleaning the microwave: No one likes those food particles that accumulate on the door and inside. So, take a couple cups of water and put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Now, what happens is that the water starts to boil and it starts to steam. All the steam inside the microwave loosens up those food particles. Wait until this is done and watch how easy it is to clean up.

--Cut a lemon in half and just rub it on your cutting board. It'll help disinfect and sanitize it. And for tough stains on plastic or light colored surfaces, simply cut your lemon in half, squeeze on some of that lemon juice and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Rinse with water and its good as new.

--Scuff marks on the floor, crayon marks on the floor and even on the walls: Simply take a sponge, dampen it a little bit, and dip it in some baking soda. Rub away; no more scuff marks and crayon marks to worry about.


--Dusting tip: Use a little fabric softener and mix in a bowl with some warm water. Because it helps keep things static free, it is great for dusting off glass tabletops, TV monitors, even your stereo equipment. (Note from Toni: if you use this on electronics I'd be really careful and not get the cleaning cloth very wet)


--You know when you're moving your furniture around and you find those indentations? Here's a good way to get rid of them. Take a little chip of ice before you go to bed and just put the little chips in the indentation marks. Let it soak through overnight. In the morning, after its dry, the bristles start to come back up. Use a fork to fluff. Indentations marks be gone.

--When you spill cooking oil on your kitchen floor. Here's how to clean it up: First clean up any glass if it's a glass container. You want to cover the oil with a thick layer of flour and let it sit for a few minutes because the flour will absorb the oil. Then, just sweep up the flour-oil mixture into a dust pan. And, for those really thick oil spots, you might have to use a paper towel actually to "scrunch" it into the dust pan. Then throw it all away. Then just use some glass cleaner to get any of the remaining oil off the floor and there you have it. Fresh and Clean! Probably cleaner than it was before you dropped that oil.
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At http://digital-photography-school.com/ you'll find tips such as: You can give the impression of a thinner tummy by rotating your upper body slightly at the waist. And make thighs look narrower by crossing one leg in front of the other. One last tip, ask the person photographing you to hold the camera slightly above eye level and point it down if you have a double chin.
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more state Preambles from Regina:

--Massachusetts 1780, We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction ..

--Michigan 1908, We, the people of the State of Michigan , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom establish this Constitution.

--Minnesota, 1857, We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:

--Mississippi 1890, We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.

--Missouri 1845, We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness . Establish this Constitution....

--Montana 1889, We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ...

--Nebraska 1875, We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Establish this Constitution..

--Nevada 1864, We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...

--New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God
according to the dictates of his own conscience.

--New Jersey 1844, We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

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Such a cool idea! This is a free webside that lets you quickly track every gift you've given and received, complete with a search box, so you can take 5 seconds to make sure you're not giving the same gift you did last year. You can also get free email reminders.
http://www.giftelephant.com/
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Here is a recipe that Lib sent in for us:

VEGGIE BURGERS

2 CUPS DICED ONIONS
2 CUPS DICED MUSHROOMS
2 GREEN PEPPERS DICED
2 CANS CHICK PEAS OR PINTOS MASHED
1 SMALL CAN TOMATO PASTE
1 CUP MOZARELLA CHEESE GRATED.
2 CUP CARROTS, SHREDDED
2 EGGS
1 or more TEASPOONS EACH OF CUMIN, CAYEENE,DILL, GARLIC POWDER
3 TEASPOONS DIJON MUSTARD
2 CUPS BREAD CRUMBS

Chop and sauté onions, mushrooms & peppers. Combine all ingredientsand make patties. Grease pan and bake at 350º for 20 minutes. Flip. Bake 10 more minutes. Great done on the barbeque or fried. Good with barbeque sauce. Freezes well.

(Add the spices to the veggies as you fry them - gives better distribution.
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You know you've had that carton of eggs in your fridge for weeks (or maybe months). Are the eggs still safe to eat? How about the jars of capers or marmalade that you bought for that recipe and haven't used yet? http://www.stilltasty.com is a website devoted to answering the question: Save it or toss it? It provides shelf life info for thousands of foods, answers questions, and provides info on topics related to food safety.
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More real celebrity names:

Billy Idol -- William Board
Marty Ingels -- Martin Ingerman
Burl Ives -- Burle Icle Ivanhoe
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Firefly Watch is recruiting volunteers to devote just 10 minutes each week to monitor firefly numbers in their back yard. Details and instructions are available at https://www.mos.org/fireflywatch/
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The unusual town names list is mighty short this week...

Papa, Hawaii
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Did you know? Though Hawaiians use the word "aloha" for both "hello" and "goodbye", the literal traslation is "love".
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Hello everyone from Phyllis!

June is almost done, and we'll be celebrating the 4th of July soon. Typically on the 4th of July, we go see fireworks or cook out on the grill.
The 4th of July is the anniversary of the day when the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence, in 1776. Independence Day was made an official holiday in 1783. In 1941, Congress declared it a federal holiday.
Here is a list of the ten best places in America to go watch fireworks:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8379793/
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July 1
The first adhesive postage stamp was offered for sale in 1847.
The United States Post Office started using 4 digit zip codes in 1963.

July 2
Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in 1937.

July 3
Congress created the United States Veterans Administration in 1930.
Singer Jim Morrisson of the Doors died at the age of 27 in 1971.

July 4
Thomas Jefferson died in 1826.

July 5
The first bikini was debuted in Paris in 1946.

July 6
Louis Pasteur successfully tested an anti-rabies vaccine in 1885.

July 7
Readers Digest was founded in 1922.

July 8
Florentz Ziegfeld introduced his "follies" in 1907.

July 9
Louisiana and South Carolina were re-admitted to the Union in 1868.

July 10
Wyoming was the 44th state to enter the Union in 1890.

July 11
President John Quincy Adams was born in 1767.

July 12
Congress authorized the Medal of Honor in 1862.

July 13
Alabama was re-admitted to the Union in 1868.

July 14
Billy the Kid was shot by Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1881.
President Gerald Ford was born in 1913.

July 15
Georgia was re-admitted to the Union in 1870.
Billy the Kid died at the age of 21 in 1881.
The Boeing Company began in Seattle Washington in 1916.
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The ruby is the birthstone for July.
The water lily is the flower of the month.
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Here's a great use for all that junk mail you get...make paper beads with your kids!

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Paper-Beads
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Memory Lane
Do you remember drive in movie theaters? The first drive in movie theater was opened in 1933 in Camden, NJ. Drive in movie theaters peaked in popularity in the 50's and 60's with over 4,000 theaters in the U.S. But in the 80's with the cost of land rising and the popularity of VCR's, many drive ins started to close, until there were less than 750 left by the mid 90's.
For some reason, the decline of drive in movie theaters has stopped. Here are a couple of cool websites to tell you more about the history of drive in theaters, and to tell you if there are still any open in your area.

http://www.driveinmovie.com/mainmenu.htm

http://www.driveintheater.com/
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Alternative drive in theaters:

http://mobmov.org/
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Smiling is contagious, you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around a corner, and someone saw my grin,
When he smiled I realized I'd passed it onto him.

I thought about that smile, then realized its worth,
A single smile, just like mine, could travel round the Earth.
So if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected -
Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected.
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Save money when dining out with your kids-
http://www.frugalliving.tv/free-stuff/kids-eat-free.html
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Legacy Locker
This site isn't free, but its worth checking out.
http://legacylocker.com/
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Spring and summer can bring unpredictable weather. From severe thunderstorms, flash floods, hurricanes and tornadoes, the weather can be dangerous. Here are some tips to get you through weather emergencies;

BUILD A PREPAREDNESS KIT:
Include at least one flashlight for each family member.
Also include a battery operated lantern for lighting bigger areas.
Include a battery operated radio.
Don't forget to include extra batteries in all sizes.
Remember to add specialty batteries for things like hearing aids, glucose monitors, etc.
When you 'spring forward' each year, take the time to check the batteries in your preparedness kit. (This is also a good time to check the batteries in your homes smoke alarms.)
Be sure to put your kit in a place that is easily accessable.

DEVELOP A PLAN:
Locate the safest places in your house to go to in the event of a disaster. But remember that some times your safest place might not be at home, but somewhere else in your community.
Determine escape routes from your home, and places to meet.

PROTECT YOUR HOME:
There are 4 critical areas to reinforce and protect; roof, shutters, doors and garage doors.
Make trees more wind resistant by removing damaged limgs that could post a threat to your property during a storm.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO HAVE FOR AN EMERGENCY:
Water; FEMA says each person should have a supply of one gallon of water per day for 3 days.
Food; enough to last 3 to 7 days.
Non-electric can opener; so you can open your food when the power is out.
Paper plates and plastic utensils.
Blankets and pillows.
First aid kit, including your prescriptions.
Pet care items.

For more safety tips, visit
http://www.energizer.com/preparedness/Default.aspx
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A website for gardeners, with fun things for kids each month:
http://gardeningtips.org/
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Awe inspiring views of earth from space:
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/20-amazing-images-of-earth-as-seen-from-space/12526
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Easy Meatball Casserole

18 oz package of frozen meatballs, thawed
16 oz package frozen peppers and onion mix, thawed
2 cups chunky pasta sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine meatballs, peppers and onions mix and pasta sauce in a 2 quart glass casserole, and mix well to combine.
Top with cheeses.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until casserole is bubbling and cheese has melted.

Makes 6 servings.
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To find out when your favorite singers or bands will be touring your area, go to:

http://www.songkick.com/
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Just for fun:

http://lsdex.ru/interactive-psychedelic/interactive-kaleidoscope/
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Here's a site where you can enter various sweepstakes:

http://www.prizey.net/
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Cool Pick for kids:
This weeks Cool Pick website is

http://funschool.kaboose.com/index.html
This site is just chock full of activities for kids, ranging in ages from preschool to middle school! From games to downloadable coloring pages, there is sure to be something that your child will like. So the next time your son or daughter complains of being bored, send them to FunSchool!
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For weather buffs, here's a site that will show you the lightning strikes within the U.S. within the last hour.

http://www.strikestarus.com/