Signature Drink For Thanksgiving

Graphics courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

Looking for a signature drink to serve at Thanksgiving this year? Why not serve some spiced apple cider? It's easy to make and everyone is sure to enjoy the tart taste of apples dusted with cinnamon sugar mixed with some cider and spiced rum.

Buy some pre-sliced apples. Place on a cookie sheet and dust with cinnamon sugar. Then place in freezer ready to use as the 'ice cubes' in your Spiced Cider.

To make your cider use 1/2 gallon of your favorite apple cider (we like Zieglers), 1 cup dark rum (we use Capt. Morgan's), 1 cup cinnamon schnapps mixed in a glass pitcher. 

Pour spiked cider into a short glass with five or six of the frozen apple slices to act as ice. Yum! What could be better! Almost like liquid apple pie! 

Signs of The Times

That I even think signs like this need to be posted is a sign of the times. Seen on sign at local baseball practice fields:

 PLEASE REMEMBER: 

 1. These are kids. 

 2. This is a game. little 

 3. The coaches volunteer. 

 4. You do not play for the Phillies. 

 City of Philadelphia 

Department of Parks and Recreation 

 Have you ever been to a kids baseball game (or football, soccer, name any sport here) and seen a parent who needs to take a look at this sign? Parents need to sit back and relax and let the kids know that this is a GAME not war. And unfortunately too often there are those few parents who turn a simple game into WWIII. So the next time you are tempted to yell at your kid's coaches or get on your kid's case for striking out...remember, IT IS A GAME. Lighten up! Have fun!

No Texting While Driving: Surprising Data

Photo from Accuform Signs

When are we going to learn not to try and text and drive at the same time? While we often hear the dangers of our teens texting while driving, statistics from a recent survey by AT&T shows that 49% of adult commuters admit to texting while driving versus 40% of teens who text and drive.

Wow! Who knew? Despite knowing the grave risks of texting while behind the wheel, adults are still texting away. They admit that 98% of them are aware of that driving and texting is a high risk activity but they still engage in it.

Six in ten adults admit to texting more now that they did three years ago. And 40% of those who admitted to texting while driving admit that it is a habit. Let's make this our habit to break this New Year's!

We can't expect our teens to not text behind the wheel if they see us doing it. While there may be fewer accidents with adults texting simply because they are more experienced drivers, there's no excuse for anyone driving and texting. So if you are one of those adults who text and drive, put the phone on silent mode and put it in the back seat so you can't reach for it when you are behind the wheel.  And don't forget, practice what you preach!

Gift That Makes You Smile

Photo courtesy of Happy Money Saver Box of Sunshine Post

 

Have you ever been looking for a gift that will just make someone smile? We all know someone who is sick or whose family is having a hard time. So if you are looking for a way to make someone feel better on down days this is just what you need! Put together this Box of Sunshine for them. This box was designed and made by Ashley at Happy Money Saver (be sure to read the rest of her blog for other great ideas.)

 

Not only that, she has made some 'box of sunshine' printables to use on your box (which makes is so much easier than designing your own). Just fill the box with anything yellow (Ashley has some great specific ideas of frugal ways to pull this together in her post if you can't think of some on your own) or pick out your own choice of yellow gifts that will make the receipient smile.

 

Sometimes when you are in the Dollar Store just pick up that 'something yellow' to add to the box and you'll have everything you need except food products ready for when you need to send one of these.  Think of small yellow foods or drinks or candy or other items

 

I love this idea for sending to someone who is in the hospital or having a hard time. My best friend used to call things like this 'warm fuzzies' because it was something small that made the recipient feel all warm and fuzzy inside just knowing someone cared. So if you have someone you want to make smile and feel a little bit better on a down day, send them their very own box of sunshine.

How To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks

Stretch marks... who doesn't have them? OK, what woman who has had kids doesn't have them? And anyone who has been overweight has too. Stretch marks occur during any sudden change in your body size like pregnancy, puberty, or other rapid weight-gain (you know, that fifty pounds you put on for the big movie role last year?) OK, OK, so most of us haven't had to gain a lot of weight for a movie but you get the idea..

We've all heard old wives tales about how to get rid of stretch marks, but a friend of mine swears by the following tip.

1. Make a paste out of coffee grinds and olive oil.
2. Massage well into the area that has stretch marks for approximately five minutes.
3. Then take a hot towel and wrap it around the area for 20-25 minutes.
4. Remove the towel and wash the paste off with warm water.
5. Apply moisturizer to the area.

The coffee grinds combined with the olive oil supposedly stimulate the area to remove the stretch marks. Do three times a week and you should see a difference in about two weeks.

Urban legend? Old wives tale? Or does it really work? You tell me. I don't drink coffee and I'm sure not going to make a paste of coffee and olive oil, I'll live with my stretch marks but for the rest of you, give it a try.

Are You Safe On SEPTA?

Are you safe riding SEPTA? Riders report that taking SEPTA is becoming more and more dangerous. SEPTA provides mass transit for the Philadelphia and Suburban Philadelphia areas. Unfortunately, due to driver disinterest and overcrowding riding the buses and trolleys is becoming more dangerous every day.

Incidents include fights due to overcrowding (with no intervention by the driver), shoving and pushing, drivers allowing the perpetrator of inappropriate conduct to get away with aggressive conduct instead of pulling over and putting them off the bus or the trolley at the next stop.

If you take SEPTA chances are you have either been the victim of violence on their vehicles or witnessed it and reported it with no change in the way drivers react to violence on their bus or trolley. Some riders bully smaller or weaker riders to take seats. Riders no longer feel safe taking the bus in certain areas, even in the safer 'burbs.

In just the last month I have heard reports of incidents on SEPTA where no action was taken and the same events happen over and over caused by the same individuals with no intervention by drivers. Buses are so crowded that passengers who want to get off when an incident escalates can't get to the door to get off.

SEPTA please make it safe to take your buses and trolleys again. Provide an inservice of handling violent passengers for your drivers, because obviously some of them missed the content of the last one. Then followup when a rider complains and ride the bus or trolley where the incident was reported to check on the safety quotient on that line.

I know there are more and more people riding today due to the increased cost of purchasing gasoline but that doesn't mean the safety quotient should decrease. And if you witness or have been the victim of violence on SEPTA please contact them and report the bus or trolley you were on and information on the time and place it took place and the driver's name. We have to be responsible for reporting violence or the SEPTA hierarchy won't know it's happening until it escalates out of control and someone is hurt.

And if you live in a different area and take mass transit be sure to be aware of and report issues on your transit system. This problem isn't just a Philadelphia problem. Be safe!

Fix Those Broken Zipper Tabs

Photo courtesy of Dealfind

 

Ever wanted to fix broken zipper tabs? Broken zipper tabs are the bane of my existence. Now there is an easy and inexpensive way to fix them (and I don't mean using a key ring or paperclip, all of which I've used in the past, they work but don't look so good.)

 

This new Easy Fix Zipper is just that--a fast and easy fix for that broken zipper on your favorite handbag, jacket or other zippers. Not only that it's only $7 from Dealfind. Give it a try and see how you like it. I just love finding those tricky little gadgets that solve the problems of my day.