Webmaster Finds!

     Building websites can be such a chore. You start with an idea in your head and you spend hours trying this, trying that and then what? STILL NOT HAPPY! Ok maybe that's just me, I am a bit of a perfectionist. But no really, you need just the right host (cause I can't host them myself even tho I have tons of ppl asking me to build a website), you have to find just the right code, colors, text ... blah blah blah! Its so much work! I'm not sure people really know that. Oh sure you can do the plain old cookie cutter type that comes with so many website builders but yuck! There's no fun, no challenge and no personality. And sometimes that just won't work anyway.
     So here I am, I took on the challenge of building another website. This was months ago and I'm not done (I'm so ashamed of myself too!) but no matter what I do its not working, its not right, its MAKING ME CRAZY!!! Then today, a miracle happened! It actually started to come together.. finally! So (insert sigh of relief here...) it will actually be up and running soon! Hopefully those who trusted me to build the website aren't ready to kill me by now (NOS you know who you are! And yes I paid for the domain way back so its already yours.).
     In the hopes this doesn't happen to just everyone, but just in case it does, I have decided to list a few of the very helpful things I have found while doing graphics or building websites:
               1. Flipping Typical This lets you see all the fonts installed on your computer. Such a lifesaver!
               2. Smashing Magazine They say it best themselves: "Founded in September 2006, Smashing Magazine delivers useful and innovative information to Web designers and developers. Our aim is to inform our readers about the latest trends and techniques in Web development. We try to persuade you not with the quantity but with the quality of the information we present. Smashing Magazine is and always has been independent."
               3. Zen Textures Because I swear, what used to be a background is now called a texture... seriously!
               4. Free Online Image Editor Don't ask me why but every once in a while I need this and yes I do have programs for such a thing!
               5. Hybrid Lava is a web design, Inspiration, graphic and development blog that is written by designers for designers all over the world. The primary purpose of this site is to act as a platform for sharing web design related knowledge and resources. Topics range from design inspiration to tips and tutorials and everything in between.
               6. Naldz Graphics  Founded in February 2008, Naldz Graphics is a fast growing Design Blog for designers and design lovers. We are showcasing the best tutorials, freebies, inspirations and other useful and informative resources to help and give love to design community.
               7. Common fonts to all versions of Windows and Mac equivalents. 
     Well that's all I have to share at the moment but hopefully I have helped someone out there and you two wont be stuck on the same project for what feels like decades ;)

Ways to Beat the Heat!

     I know usually we are way into summer long before it actually is summer, but this year its been so nice, so mild, so unusual for my area. I was really enjoying gardening and being outside in general. Then WHAM! Summer Solstice rolls around and what does it bring with it? Heat  and lots of it! We are supposed to get up to 103 next week! The only hope we have in the near future it seems is Tropical Storm Debby which just formed in the Gulf of Mexico. Cross your fingers she brings a cooling! Rain never hurts either.
     In the spirit of the hot hot summer (please let my failing air conditioner hold out for awhile longer) here are some great cool down ideas:

 

First this is a great little source of useful info How to Cool Yourself Without Air Conditioning. I found some great ideas there.
And lets not forget recipes. I try to never use my oven in the summer. I totally rely on my crock pot or my grill. Maybe my microwave altho its not the tastiest for cooking. And once in awhile my big roaster, which does put out some heat, but not so much as the oven, and besides I can put it in an already hot unused room or even outside if I want.
OK for starters drinks! I will be trying these immediately! Bobby Flay's Frozen Mojitos OMG Yum! And this one looks so yummy as well Giada De Laurentiis' Blended Cherry Mojitos. No you can't tell I like mojitos not at all LOL! Now lets give Martha Stewart her shot with her Lemonade Recipes, there are 20 here and they look so good! I like thyme in mine so that one looks like a winner ;)
One of my families new favorite simple recipes is to take boneless skinless chicken breasts and cut it into 3 or 4 pieces. Wrap each with a piece of bacon. Skewer it and throw it on the grill. Baste with barbeque sauce or whatever sauce you like as it cooks and Voila! Tasty grilled chicken. Add some grilled veggies or a tasty salad and you have a great easy summer meal. I love my grill. I use it all through the winter as well as in the hotter months. One of my favorite things to grill is vegetables and this Grilled Corn with Chive Butter recipe looks like a super tasty one! Better Homes and Gardens has a yummy looking Grilled Tomato Melts recipe. And don't neglect the great summer squashes and some tasty mushrooms as well! I'm pretty sure my favorite meat of all time is beef so a steak on the grill or even a burger (like I'm making tonight) is heaven to me! This info at Steak Enthusiast in very useful! For a lighter meal why not try a Steak Salad? I love making this and all I do is cook a steak and chop it up and throw it into my favorite salad fixins with Blue Cheese Dressing of course, cause I couldn't imagine a salad, especially a steak salad with any other dressing! (And if you don't like Blue Cheese use your favorite dressing) Seafood is also great on the grill. I often make shrimp the same way as my chicken, wrapped in bacon and basted with sauce while grilling, or if u want it spicy, add a slice of jalapeno in the bacon wrap and then grill. And another favorite. Grilled Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Jalapenos this recipe is the closest I can find online to how I do my own.
So you want dessert? Well these Honey-Rum Grilled Bananas sure look good! Looking online the most popular fruits for grilling seem to be pineapple (of course who hasn't had that?), peaches and mango. Also strawberries and bananas and apples. And pound cake seems to be VERY popular to grill as well. Fruit and cake kabobs would be quiet a treat I bet! And never forget the tried and true summer dessert classic... SMORES!
     So maybe armed with these recipes and stay cool ideas you too will be able to beat the summer heat and have just some good summer fun!

Bunnies!

Bunnies...bunnies bunnies bunnies!

So this month we decided we needed more animals (eye roll) and I went on Craigslist and found some cute little miniature mixed breed bunnies! They are Dutch/Mini-Lops and just the cutest tiny little things. So curious, friendly and happy :) We have had rabbits before, but I have to say so far these are the sweetest ones yet.

Clone me, please!

So there needs to be more than one of me, or at the very least, more hours in the day! I can not ever get everything done. I want to blog and almost never do. I have a million craft projects going all the time. I need to do some yard work but its either far too hot or mosquito's are annoying me (and I hate using bug repellant)! I've got a website job I need to finish. And there are a million other things, so here's hoping I find more time!

Blog Changes

So I made some changes to the blog. If you have any trouble reading any of it I would really like the feedback. I do like the look tho, what do you think?

I know I say I'm gonna blog and I never do! But I love writing so its not like I don't want to, I just I find myself so busy!

OK I'm going to find something interesting to share with you... and in the meantime, have a great day!

Pumpkin Seeds

So I was thinking about pumpkins... it is only a few days till Halloween after all, and what I was thinking about was pumpkin seeds. I love the seeds and always try to roast them if I carve jack-o-lanterns. Of course I also try to use the pumpkin too if its still fresh, just cook it down and use in recipes. Most people will say you have to use pie pumpkins for that, but that's just not true. Thinking of all this got me to wondering about seeds with and without the hull. So I did a little reading and interestingly enough, I learned a lot! For instance did you know,

I'm still here...really!

I know I barely blog anymore. And I barely got started in the first place! Can't believe I'm grabbing a few moments to do so now! But I am so let's see whats going on.
Looking back at previous blogs I notice that I didn't say much about my ducks after I said I would. Well they have been here for about six months now and

Sounds Good!

So today I ran across a great website and wanted to share it with you. They even have a radio you can listen to while surfing. This website sells sound and I think you will enjoy browsing there: Royalty Free Music and Sound Effects Download the music and sound effects you need for your multimedia project today at Partners In Rhyme. Go check it out!

Spring Babies!

Well its not spring yet, though I wish it was, but I do have some adorable spring babies that make it feel like spring! :

 

Awww aren't they just the sweetest things? These are Rouen ducklings, they grow up to look like Mallards. In this picture they are about 8 days old. They are growing so fast I won't be able to keep them in this pet taxi much longer. Today the babies are 11 days old! Here they are playing in the water, which they get to do every day while the cage is cleaned out.:

As you can see I just put them in a laundry basket with towels around the water pan so they can get out if they need to. Since this was their first time in this deeper pan they sometimes needed a boost out :) I will post more pictures of them as they grow!

One more quick thing...

Hey is anybody out there? I'm not just talking to hear my head rattle... come on peeps talk to me... I must say something sometime that you would like to comment on, argue, agree, debate...????

Plans to Blog! / Cold Winter.

So for days now I have been intending to blog... I am having blog withdraw symptoms after all! What you may ask are blogging withdraw symptoms? Well for starters I keep imagining myself at my keyboard while I am doing other menial things. Also I keep talking to myself, see its just not wise to let these things bounce around inside my head... I have to get them out of there before they break something!
OK I know I wasn't here for the whole entire holiday season, which probably explains why I'm getting a bit nutty. I find this great therapy after all. Hope you don't mind! But where was I? Oh I know I wasn't here, but I'm back... or thats the plan anyway :)
So whats first today?
Oh how about this funny video:

Made ya look O.o (grin).
And now for a look at my world this week! This is my backyard 3 or 4 days ago, but... tada, no need to take pics again today cause somebody musta hit rewind...or this is deja vu? Anyway today is looking the same!
Have a look see:

 

Cold enough for ya? Ok look again:

So are ya cold yet? You should be I'm freezin taking all these pics, I'm going back in and get some apple cider... see ya later!

October?

Really? October? And its almost over? Um....where have I been?
Ok you were probably already wondering that, but suddenly so am I! So October is a very busy month for me. Between birthdays and my favorite holiday of all time HALLOWEEN!!!! (oops sorry got a little excited there hehe) anyway where was I? Oh yeah - busy busy! So I just get the birthday parties over with and suddenly I have another party to plan. Yes I know only last month I was saying how much I love parties, and I truly do, but I always let them stress me out at the last minute. Its just in my nature to second guess everything, change my mind, come up with new ideas, and just flat be a perfectionist about it all. I really should give myself a break! But since I know me so well, I can tell you that won't happen!
So...

Kids Toys!

I'm not a kid but I have kids toys. Why? Cause I'm nuts :) no its because I find toys I want that fit into my own interests. For instance I love Halloween so if the store throws a Halloween toy on the shelf in front of me, I'm gonna want it. I have a Mr. Potato Head with a ghost costume, I also have the spider man one but that was free with an order of Christmas presents. I'm starting to think I need to collect Potato heads, cause I want the Star Wars ones! And speaking of Halloween toys I got a Fisher Price catalog in the mail and what was on the cover? This:

 

Its so cute! Are they trying to make me crazy? :) There were also

No Recipe Recipes

Here are a couple of recipes that came from t.v. that I have to make with my fingers crossed because there is no recipe. But they are really good and I did make them, so of course, I'm sharing!

Compact Turkey Dinner

So I was thinking about this recipe I saw on
Food Networks Diners Drive-ins and Dives.
It was at Comet Cafe in Milwaukee. They make this turkey dinner and fry it, but not like you would think. When I saw it I had to try it, and ended up making a turkey the next weekend just so I could try

Good Eats

I'm a huge fan of Alton Brown and his show Good Eats on Food Network. You may have also seen him on Iron Chef America, Feasting on Asphalt and Feasting on Waves.

And the reason I am telling you that, is because I want to share the recipes I have tried. So far I

Sheepy!

I had to share my latest amigurumi. I just made this up looking at pictures. I wanted to make a sheep for someone special (You know who you are and no you can't, its not Christmas yet!) and so here it is:

Pine Cone Fire Starters

Here's a great gift idea. I made these last Christmas for a friend with a fireplace.

You need:

Reuse!!!

I'm hoping for comments on this post!
So today's thought: reusing. I mean this in the sense of repurposing an item more than to just use it again for the same use.  In some ways reusing can be better than recycling because you do it yourself, without a bunch of hassle involved. I'm always looking online for more uses for things. If you have any that you do, feel free to comment, I need ideas!

Here are some of the ones I do already:

Followers!

Woo hoo! I have followers. 

Welcome everybody!

Ack Internet!

Ok, so I'm working on my myspace page right? I spent ages putting in all my interests, favorite music, movies all that stuff, and what happens? It all disappeared right after I saved... grrr. Ok, not doing that again right now, maybe later when I have a ton of time to waste!

So yesterday, or was it the day before? Anyway I got on this solar kick, decided to do some research on the net and what did I discover?