Be A Tutor

via squidoo.com

I know you are thinking that it's funny I should pick a picture of ducks to share on my blog today. And you're probably right.

Well the reason I chose them is that they are on my favorite squidoo lens at:
http://www.squidoo.com/be_a_tutor
and they remind me of 3 eager students waiting for their tutor to give them more instructions.

I must say, not all my students have been this eager. But I have had a few real sweethearts who really warmed up to the idea of tutoring even though they started out thinking it was such a pain that their parents were making them get help.

electric toothbrushes

You know that I blog a lot about taking good care of your teeth. Electric toothbrushes have been shown to do a great job of cleaning your teeth and lengthening the time between dental cleanings.

Everything that you can do to take care of your teeth is worth the time and investment. We are not talking a lot of money here, either. Many electric toothbrushes these days cost only a few dollars, and even some of the hand toothbrushes are getting expensive!

Here are some sites to browse so you can find an electric toothbrush that suits your needs:

http://www.consumersearch.com/electric-toothbrushes

http://www.oralb.com/

http://arthritis.about.com/od/assistivedevicesgadgets/tp/electoothbrush.htm

http://www.canadapost.ca/shopper/electric-toothbrushes/sc/721

http://www.bestbuyereviews.com/best-electric-toothbrush.html

Well that list should keep you busy for a few minutes. Did you know that a new electric toothbrush makes an incredibly good Christmas present for the right person? Hey, I would love to get one. Want to add me to your list?

rocking horse collections

Some years ago, a friend gave me a rocking horse ornament for Christmas. I did love it, but it wasn't any more or less special than any other ornament I owned. However, a few more were given to me in the period of the next few years.

My husband noticed that I was "collecting" rocking horse ornaments, so he started to give me a rocking horse every year.

Now I really love my rocking horse collections. Not all are Christmas decorations. Many are too big to be put on the tree. Some are moveable music box rocking horses. Some are wooden, some are ceramic, and some are snow globes.

It is a wonderful collection and I really love it. I have it on display year-round.

Here are some sites with wonderful rocking horses. Maybe you would like to start a collection?

http://theornamentfactory.com/

http://www.xomba.com/all_hallmark_rocking_horse_ornaments

http://www.ornament-shop.com/productList/Rocking-Horses/-s121.html

http://www.hookedonhallmark.com/Rocking-Horse-Miniature_c_260.html

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=Rocking+Horse+Ornament

Well, this should get you started. Good luck and have fun. You will notice there are some great Hallmark rocking horses, in regular and miniature sizes. The last link also gives you other options apart from Hallmark.

PROPER TOOTH BRUSHING TECHNIQUE from Dentist.net

via dentist.net

I wish I could have gotten all the instructions and pictures for proper tooth brushing technique to show up on this blog post, but since only the link came through, I hope you take the time to visit the site.

It is especially good for kids, because they can see the pictures and then practice proper tooth brushing techniques on themselves.

It's a good review for adults too.

All Best Muffin Recipes - 120 Muffin Dishes Recipes

via recipe4all.com

Muffins are the best! They are so quick and simple to make, and you can make them very nutritious and delicious.

This site that I have presented today has a large selection of very yummy and easy-to-follow muffin recipes.

I hope that you enjoy perusing the menu and choose a tasty recipe to make today.

Sour Cherry Jam

I saw a picture of it and now I just have to have it.

Sour Cherry Jam is about the yummiest thing you can imagine. Try it on fresh homemade bread or even better, on toast. It just can't be beat.

My grandma used to freeze the fresh cherries she brought home. Then when it was a hot summer day, she would get them out and let us pop one into our mouth. As it cooled us off and warmed up in our mouths, we would get that delightful cold cherry juice taste. Once completely thawed we would carefully bite into it; it was soft like a soft candy and so delicious. Carefully we would tease out the seed and spit it out, savoring the cherry for as long as humanly possible before finally giving in and chewing it up and swallowing it.

Then, of course, we would go back to see if she would give us another...

Cherries are so healthy and nutritious. To top it off, they're also delicious!

Getting a meal on the table

Sometimes the hardest job for a busy mother can be getting supper on the table. You may have a cook who does that for you (haha not me) or you may have a husband who takes care of that for you (double haha, also not me) but if you, like me, don't have either, then it is up to you to figure out a way to get that food on the table on time. And make it yummy, please. Oh, and don't forget, make it fit within the budget.

So I got out my crockpot this morning and decided to make potato soup, but I was too lazy to find a recipe so I made it up myself. I put in chicken broth, frozen corn, grated carrots, chopped onion fried in a little oil, and lots of peeled, diced potatoes. I added garlic, sea salt, thyme and marjoram. It smells heavenly and I hope it tastes as good as it smells.

This is a great article to find more quick easy cheap meals.

This website also has quick easy cheap meals.

Well I hope that will get you started.

My potato soup will end up costing me almost nothing and will be very filling. Someone gave me 20# of potatoes, my sister gave me some frozen corn, I bought the onion, carrots and chicken broth. The crock pot holds 6 quarts and it's full. Even if none of the ingredients are free, this will cost only pennies per bowl. I will serve with hot biscuits or muffins.

Crock Pot Venison and Game Recipes

Barbecued Venison
Burgundy Venison
Chuckwagon Venison
Crock Pot Venison
Crock Pot Venison Barbecue
Deer Stew
Hawaiian Venison
Kristen's Favorite Burger Soup
Peppered Venison Steak
Venison Stew
Rabbit or Pheasant Stew
Swiss Venison
Venison Pot Roast
Venison Meat Balls

More Crockpot Recipes:

Appetizer Recipes
Barbecue
Beans
Beef/Lamb
Beef, Ground
Slow Cooker Chili
Chicken
Turkey
Pork/Sausage
Fish/Seafood
Soup
Stew Recipes
Vegetables
Desserts/Fruit
Venison/Game
Miscellaneous
Top 30 Crockpot Recipes
Top Crockpot Chicken Recipes
Weekly Crockpot Recipe
Crockpot Index Page

via southernfood.about.com

For those of you with a hunter in the family, it's time to start gathering both old and new recipes for cooking the wild meat. I didn't used to enjoy deer meat but awhile back someone gave us some deer pepperoni that was absolutely delicious.

Now that I only have 2 or 3 rings of it left, I wish I had more so that I would not run out.

Venison is delicious when killed, prepared and cooked properly. It doesn't have a strong wild taste at all and is very lean and luscious.

You have to boil it or add oil to try deer meat because it is so lean it will just stick to the pan.

Try out a new recipe, the list above includes crock pot recipes as well as some rabbit/pheasant recipes.

Have fun cooking and enjoy.

Crockpot Recipes - More than 1400 Crockpot Recipes for the Crock Pot or Slow Cooker

The big index of crockpot recipes and resources for crockpot or slow cooker

More Popular Recipes Ground Beef Favorites Chicken Recipe Index Casserole Recipes Cake Mix Desserts Rainy Day BBQ Pot Roast Meatloaf Casserole Index Macaroni & Cheese Chicken Breast Recipes Pork Tenderloin Breakfast Gallery With Recipes Compare Prices All-Clad 6.5-qt Review Your Slow Cooker Cuisinart 6.5-qt Cuisinart 4-qt Kitchenaid 7-qt Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Hamilton Beach 5-qt Hamilton Beach 4-qt Rival 6-qt Rival Stay or Go Rival 3.5-qt Rival 2.5-qt Rival 1.5-qt Deni 3-qt Slow Cook/Fryer Crockpot Cookbooks

Crockpot Recipes Index
Appetizers and Snacks

Barbecue Recipes
Beans and Peas
Beef and Lamb
Ground Beef
Chicken
Turkey Recipes
Crockpot Chili
Dessert and Fruit
Fish and Seafood
Pork/Sausage
Crockpot Soups
Crockpot Stews
Vegetables and Side Dishes
Venison and Wild Game
Miscellaneous
Stuffing, rice, eggs, etc.
Crockpot Chicken Favorites
Top 30 Crockpot Recipes
Weekly Crockpot Recipe in E-Mail
Video Recipe: Crockpot Pot Roast

Slow Cooker Cookbooks
Compare Prices on Slow Cookers
6 Items or Less

More Slow Cooker Resources
Review Your Slow Cooker
Adapting Recipes
Crockpot FAQ
More on About

via southernfood.about.com

With the cold chill of winter on the way, it's about time to get out the slow cookers and dust them off.

I use my crock pots (or slow cookers) all year round, but more so in the winter time. I have several, so that I can cook more than one dish at a time.

A couple weeks ago when I was expecting company, I put some chicken in one crock pot and a lentil-rice dish in another. In a third pot I put a vegetable mixture. I had timed them to all be ready at about the same time. That means putting the crock pots on to cook at different times, but because it only takes a few minutes to put in the ingredients and turn it on, that's not a big deal at all.

When company came, I already had the table set and all we had to do was dish up the hot food. No stress, very little mess. It is cooked in the slow cooker and then I just lift the inner crock out and serve the food in the original crock instead of using a serving bowl.

It looks nice and is less to wash up after. All my inner crocks and lids can go in the dishwasher. After cleaning I just return the inner crock into the base, put on the lid and put away until next time.

In fact, I think I will go put something into the crock-pot right now...then about 2 hours before my meal I will put some bread dough into the bread machine. We will have fresh hot chili and homemade bread for supper! A cheap, filling, satisfying home cooked meal.

Flaky Potato Biscuits

This is the best, tenderest, and flakiest biscuit recipe you will ever taste.

This recipe for Tender Potato Biscuits is the best you could ever make, and it is guaranteed to become a family favorite, just like it has for my family. In fact, my kids talk me into making mashed potatoes just to make this recipe with.

I found the recipe a few years ago, and we enjoy the biscuits with butter and honey or butter and jam. However, the biscuits are so moist and flaky and tasty that you seriously don't need anything at all on them.

They are delicious just eaten plain.

So, I encourage you to try the recipe and see what you think.

News snippets

Did you know that a hospital in Haiti, St. Nicholas Hospital, is over-run with cholera patients? They are setting up triage areas outside using wooden benches. While there are aid organizations assisting with this crisis, the hospital is over-flowing, literally, and hoping that the cholera outbreak will reach its final wave soon. Mostly children and the elderly are stricken, and many are severely dehydrated because of this problem. You can read more about it here: CNN News.

In other news, scientists are attempting to solve the prematurity puzzle. What other conditions besides the associated symptoms of prematurity, are these infants susceptible to? Conditions like cerebral palsy or autism. This is a question that many parents of premature infants are asking. There is still room for a lot of research in this area. Hopefully some answers will help in the understanding of what we can do to prevent some of these conditions that affect the child for life.

These little bits of news get me thinking that sometimes we just get wrapped around what is happening in our own little world. Are we oblivious to what ever else is going on around us in the world? So many people are suffering. What can we do to help? If not elsewhere in the world, what can we do to help the neighbors in our own community, in our own family? It is time to reach out and use our skills and talents to help others.

I Need More Patience...NOW!

Come on patience, hurry up and come!

That's how I felt today when my daughter just wouldn't listen to me. She asked for my help and advice for a sewing project and she went ahead and did whatever she wanted to with it anyway, not heeding any of my advice (which she asked for by the way!)

Then, when it wasn't working out so well she came and showed me what was going wrong. That's when I asked her if she had tried it on before pinning it, and she proceeded to yell at me that I was just saying I could do it better than her, and I never help her, and so on. Maybe you've heard it before. So I just listened to her rant and she stomped away mad at me, not at the sewing project.

You see, somehow it was my fault she didn't listen to me, my fault her project didn't work out, and then my fault again that (I can't remember now). So, it makes sense she should be mad at me, right? Not mad at herself and not mad at the project.

Here's a good article about 5 Ways to Develop More Patience With Children.

I'm going to study it and hopefully find out some things I can do so that I will have loads more patience.

Do you think it will work?

The Best Re-fried Beans

For the best re-fried beans, cook them yourself instead of buying a can. The taste is amazing!

You will need 1 cup of dry pinto beans. Rinse them.
Fill pressure cooker to 1/3 full, adding 2 tsp oil.
Follow directions and cook until done, adding onions and garlic before cooking if desired.

Strain and put beans in fridge overnight.

The next day, mash and fry beans in olive oil, adding salt as needed.

These are very delicious, and you can eat them plain or in a tortilla with other ingredients.

Click here for more fabulous bean recipes.

Enjoy!

Be a tutor to make extra money

Have you ever considered using your experience to be a tutor?

Becoming a tutor is a great way to both make money and help someone else.

Tutoring can be done in many subject areas. I had a friend who was a volleyball coach. Every summer he ran volleyball camps. These camps filled up quickly and he made good money. The camps would be from 9-5 every day, and he would charge $200 per student per week, taking about 16 students maximum. His wife helped him run the camps, and part of the time would be spent in theory, part in planning, part in playing games and doing drills. There would be some swimming thrown in on some days, some exercises specific to strengthening muscles needed for volleyball, and whatever else he thought would be helpful and fun.

The camps appeal to youth age 10-18, and are a good way for parents to provide something different for their children to do over the summer holidays. Each child was required to bring their own lunch every day, and a lunch break of 1 hour was part of the daily schedule. My friend was able to cheaply rent the gym of a church building for the volleyball practice.

This is a great idea to adapt to other subjects. You could run a math camp over the summer, and sprinkle in some other fun things like swimming, playing at the park, etc.

The only limiting factor is your imagination.

Writing

Writing is something that comes naturally to some people and not to others. You don't have to have a gift to love writing. I have known some people who were great writers but worked very hard at it; it didn't come naturally.

My daughter, on the other hand, both loves writing and has a gift for writing, especially for writing fantasy.

If writing is something you have been thinking about, then consider finding out your writing style.

Every day, give yourself some time to write freely. Don't stress about what you are going to write about, or how it's going to be organized, or anything like that. Just write freely, not worrying about details like spelling, sentence structure, or flow. Just write. You need the practice, even if you are already an accomplished writer. You just never know what is going to flow out of your fingers.

Keep these random writings. They are a good basis for something in the future. You may be the next famous blogger. Just keep writing.

Cell Phones for Seniors

I never thought of this until my dad started having problems figuring out which keys to use on his cell phone. I noticed two things: number one, his fingers are big. I mean they are very big. Also, his eyesight is not as sharp as it used to be. I got to thinking that they should make cell phones with big numbers. You know, like the large pad calculators with big numbers?

Well, surprise of surprises, they do!

Look here at Cell phones for seniors,

It's amazing. I am starting to think that I want one, too.

It's hard to think of my dad as a senior, but I need to start thinking that way so I can help him more.

My mom has already moved into a senior's lodge, and she is only 69. She's been there for two years, because of poor health. My dad on the other hand is 79 but in quite good health. He deserves the security of a cell phone that is easier for him to use. By the way, the link above is not an affiliate link. I am just sharing a site with you in case you are looking for the same thing that I am for that special Senior in your life.

Halloween Stinks

That's just my opinion. I know a lot of you will think I am a party-pooper. Oh well. I happen to think that halloween candy and costumes is a colossal waste of good money. Most of the candy is junk and the kids are hyper for a week. The costumes are mostly all the same every year, unless someone does something really unique and makes their own. You can too:

http://www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com/#

I think homemade is definitely the way to go. If I have to tolerate looking at them, then I want them to look unique. Not just the same thing off the rack that everyone else is wearing.

Or, if you're not too creative, then combine two costumes into one. For example, a baby-vampire. Or a hulk-ballerina. How about Obama with a grass skirt?

Can't wait til halloween is over again for another year. Don't give me any candy. I don't like it. (But you can sneak me chocolate...)

I will never go back to a j-o-b again!

I have been self-employed for almost 30 years now, since I was a youth. I was always dreaming up things to do to make money. I used to decorate writing paper and then package it with some envelopes and sell these little sets of writing paper to relatives and friends. Then I went to packaging dry beans and spices together and selling it in a package with a recipe at farmer's markets. I have also done tutoring, sewing, cleaning, running a hamster hotel, writing fantasy books, and a myriad of other things. I love it. I am my own boss. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Self-employment packs many benefits, including deciding your own schedule, being picky and choosy about which clients you want and which you don't, and tax benefits, of course. If you're not making enough money to warrant hiring your own accountant, I suggest you become very educated about the tax guidelines in your area: what can you claim as expenses? This is one of the big perks of self-employment. Even if you also hold down a j-o-b, you can enjoy running a little business on the side. Your business can absorb the cost of some of the things you want to have, like new technology or equipment, as long as you can show that it was purchased for and is being used by, the business.

Start brainstorming...what kinds of things would be fun for you to do and would make you extra money? Homemade dog food? Custom-made halloween costumes? Unique bridal accessories? The sky's the limit, so start writing down everything that comes into your mind. Next, brainstorm a business plan. How will you advertise your goods or services? Be careful with initial investments. Keep them small until the income from your business can support further investments.

Good luck and have fun!

I finally got texting

It was inevitable. I thought at first it was silly, just something that teenagers wandered all over doing all day...texting. Then when I upgraded my phone I decided to get a texting phone so my teenagers could send me a message telling me where they are...or I could send them a message telling them to come home. Hahaha. Little did I know how much I would enjoy this new piece of technology.

I certainly don't text all day, like they seem to, but I sure love it for keeping in touch with my kids. Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks?