Planning A Happy Transition

Photo of Jennifer Oxenford, Kate Vecchione and Nancy Vecchione

Volunteering at Alex's Lemonade Stand at Bertucci's in

Springfield, PA (Photo courtesy of Darla DeMorrow)

 

Part of being happy in your transition to living independently is making new friends and becoming involved in the community. Kate joined Jennifer Oxenford, Kelly Moran and Darla DeMorrow helping raise money for Alex's Lemonade Stand and having fun at the same time.

 

 

 

Choose your favorite charity or a way to give back to your community and join in. You'll find you make new friends and expand your support group.

 

They group also raised money with other friends at the Springfield Mall earlier in the month.

 

 

How can you give back or expand your horizons?

 

• find your own favorite charity
• help coach a team
• work on improving the environment of your home town
• join a political campaign
• help with a scout troop or other group for children
• volunteer with your church
• work with the ARC in your county to improve services
• join a community theater group
• join your choir or choral group
• check out Meetups in your area for hiking groups, cooking groups, and more.
• volunteer at your food pantry
• work at the senior center
• and a variety of other choices that fit your own personality

Bertucci's Springfield Joins Alex's Lemonade Stand To Fight Cancer

 

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Where? Bertucci's Springfield PA

 

 

WHEN?

 

Saturday, September 28, 2013

 

From 2 to 6 PM

 

Join us at Bertucci's Springfield, 965 Baltimore Pike, Springfield Square, Springfield PA and support Alex's Lemonade Stand and the Million Mile Run this Saturday, September 28, 2013 from 2-6 PM where great food at a great restaurant meet a great charity, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.  Come support Alex's Lemonade Stand AND grab some great pizza or other Italian entrees. Come on, you know you want to come on out and help the support a great cause.

 

 

 

Volunteers Help Alex's Lemonade Stand and Million Mile Run (By Guest Blogger, Kate Vecchione)

 

Photo courtesy of Nichole Ann (Left to Right Randi Kobielnik, Kate Vecchione, Nichole Ann, and Heather McCurdy)

 

Springfield Mall in Springfield, Pennsylvania recently hosted an Alex's Lemonade Stand on Friday and Saturday September 20th and 21st to raise money and awareness for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation For Childhood Cancer and the Million Mile Run.

 

Volunteers Jennifer Oxenford, Melinda Babiak, Bridgette Klose, Heather McCurdy, Darla DeMorrow and Kate Vecchione raised $650 in honor of childhood cancer heros Lily and Maggie.

 

Photo of volunteers Kate Vecchione and Jennifer Oxenford

 

Build a Bear donated their signature stuffed animals to the cause. We also raffled off jewelry from Stella and Dot, a cruise on the Spirit of Philadelphia, Bertucci's gift certificates, and a candy basket. 

 

Find out how to join the Million Mile Run and help fight childhood cancer.Run or walk in a team with your friends and family to help raise money for childhood cancer research. If everyone joins together we can work toward beating this disease.

 

Look for more info on where these ladies will be raising $$$ for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

 

 

 

 

Beat Sore Feet

Photo courtesy of Amazon

 

I recently found this great product that saves you from foot pain on Amazon. It's called Friction Block by Band-Aid. It looks like a tiny stick of deodorant and is easy to pop in your bag as you head out hiking, sightseeing, or going dancing in a new pair of shoes. Don't worry about ripping your feet to shreds and mega blisters anymore, apply friction block and your feet will thank you.

 

I love this product. It is easy to apply and works like a charm. It beats new shoe pain and keeps you from limping through your entire vacation or that first week or two of wearing new shoes.

 

And if you are one of those ladies who love hitting the clearance aisle at DSW or other fabulous shoe stores, you will want to invest in a few of these (one for each purse for those nights out dancing.) Make new shoes a pleasure and never a pain.

 

Also seen on WDW(Wedding Day Weekly)Blogging for Brides.

Eating Out Gluten Free

Are you on a gluten free diet? No matter what the reason, eating gluten free when you are eating out can pose a problem. But some restaurants are taking the hmmm... out of making menu choices and are offering a gluten free menu. The Cheesecake Factory is one of the latest restaurants to offer a gluten free menu to it's guests.

The Cheesecake Factory tested their new menu choices with more than 80 dishes that are gluten free. Not just a couple of choices, but 80 delish choices for you. So far only 1 cheesecake is offered gluten free. Some are reworked existing dishes that have subbed gluten free buns and pasta. So head to the Cheesecake Factory (my closest Factory is in King of Prussia PA but check their web site for your closest restaurant.

The menu cautions: "We prepared this menu for our guests with sensitivities to gluten. While we strive to provide accurate information, our menu items are freshly prepared in our kitchens, which are not gluten-free. Cross-contact with other food items that contain gluten is possible. This is especially true for fried items, which are cooked in shared fryer oil." A good thing for anyone who needs a gluten-free meal who is eating out.

Ask the host or your server for the gluten-free menu. Cheesecake Factory managers reported that gluten free dishes are one of the top requests by guests, so these new dishes should be popular.

Other restaurants offering gluten-free menu items? Applebees, Chili's, Burger King and Olive Garden all have lists of their gluten-free offerings on their web sites so head on over and check them out!

Lemonade Without the Lemons?

Photo courtesy of Very Best Baking

 

How can you make lemonade without the lemons? Try Brazilian lemonade. Brazilian Lemonade? Hmmm... sounds promising on a hot day, so why not give it a try? The folks at NESTLÉ® offer this great recipe--the trick? American Brazilian lemonade uses common limes not  Brazilian lemons. Huh? Lemonade without the lemons? Well it seems Brazilian Lemons look and have a flavor similar to our common limes so sub our limes for Brazilian Lemons to get a similar flavor.

 

Brazilian lemonade is rich and creamy and perfect for a hot hot day. Make it and serve it right away for the very best taste. Finally a new use for your trusty blender! This recipe makes 8 servings of 1 cup each or 4 servings in a tall frosty glass.

 

4 common limes (wash carefully)

6 C water, divided

1 C granulated sugar, divided

1/2C sweetened condensed milk, divided

14 ice cube (1 tray), divided (plus more for glasses when serving)

 

Take washed limes and slice off the ends. Cut each lime into eight wedges (yes, you leave the rinds on! bizarre I know!) Put sixteen wedges, half the water, half the water, half the sugar and half the condensed milk and ice in your favorite blender. Cover, blend only 20 seconds. Do not over blend it will make your lemonade bitter.) Strain into a pitcher using a fine mesh strainer(not your pasta strainer with the wide holes). This removes remaining rind pieces. Repeat with other half of your ingredients. Now you have a large pitcher of cool and refreshing Brazilian lemonade--sure doesn't taste like that powdered stuff or even frozen concentrates!

 

If your guests are looking for a zing with their drink, add some Bacardi rum.

 

We made this for a cookout recently and it was a huge hit. So give your backyard cookout some zip and serve Brazilian lemonade.

It's National Lasagna Day!

Photo courtesy of Bertucci's

Lasagna....yum! One of my favorite Italian foods. I make it myself at home but sometimes (like in the summer) when it's really hot I don't want to heat up my house by using my oven. So what's the perfect solution? Head to your local Bertucci's (mine is on Baltimore Pike in Springfield PA) and enjoy their version. So easy! So fast! And best of all, it tastes great without heating up your house. The perfect solution in the summertime.

Not only that but Bertucci's sent me an email with a $5 off coupon--what can be better? I don't have to cook and save money! I knew there was a reason I love Bertucci's! Be sure to sign up for their email club so you too can get wonderful money saving emails and notices of new menu items.

What else do I love about Bertucci's? Their rolls. OK, yes I admit, filled with calories but so good to snack on while you wait for your entree and eat your salad. And speaking of salads, try not just their house dressing but their balsamic vinaigrette, it takes their house salad from veggies with Italian dressing to a heavenly dining experience!

I won't tell you all my favorite things at Bertucci's, I'll save that for some tweets (look for them marked #BertuccisBest #BertuccisSpringfieldPA) and of course if you follow me on Facebook you'll probably hear all about my latest trip to Bertucci's.

Now you know you want that lasagna tonight don't you? Go Bertucci's Springfield PA!