Thursday, March 5, 2015

Cheese Doodle Day MAR 5, 2015

DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Cheese Doodle Day

While cheesy cornmeal snacks can be enjoyed all year round, they are best enjoyed on Cheese Doodle Day. While there are many variations on the snack food, which is made by puffing and baking cornmeal and then coating it with cheese, the most popular are Cheez Doodles. These are produced by Wise Foods, who began selling packets of Cheez Doodles in the 1960s after taking over the family business of Morrie Yohai, inventor of the cheese doodle snack in the 1940s.
Today, 15 million pounds of Cheez Doodles are produced every year, which is equivalent to the weight of 1,000 adult elephants. Sometimes called cheesy puffs, other brands of cheese doodles sold in the USA are Cheetos and Chee-Wees, while in the UK, Wotsits are a form of cheese doodle. Celebrate Cheese Doodle Day by opening a bag of this tasty treat, but expect to end up with fingers coated in bright orange cheese flavoring!




Word of the Day

gelid 


Definition:(adjective) Very cold; icy.
Synonyms:arcticfrigidglacialpolar
Usage:After only a few minutes in the gelid wind, they were shivering too hard to speak.


History

Boston Massacre


Many Bostonians resented the heavy British military presence in their city during the late 1700s, and the soldiers' enforcement of the unpopular Townshend Acts merely exacerbated the tense situation. On March 5, 1770, soldiers opened fire on an aggressive, rioting civilian mob, killing five men. The Boston Massacre, as it became known, fueled the anti-British sentiment that culminated in the American Revolutionary War

Scientists Work Out the Weight of a Stegosaurus


Paleontologists wish they could be so rude as to walk up and ask a dinosaur her weight. Traditionally, they've guessed the mass of the long-dead dinos by making estimates based on the size of the bones in their thighs and upper arms. For more ...

1750 - "King Richard III" was performed in New York City. It was the first Shakespearean play to be presented in America.
1872 - George Westinghouse patented the air brake
1918 - The Soviets moved the capital of Russia from Petrograd to Moscow.
1922 - "Annie Oakley" (Phoebe Ann Moses) broke all existing records for women's trap shooting. She hit 98 out of 100 targets. 
1924 - Frank Caruana of Buffalo, NY, became the first bowler to roll two perfect games in a row. 
1984 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cities had the right to display the Nativity scene as part of their Christmas display. 
1985 - Mike Bossy (New York Islanders) became the first National Hockey Leagueplayer to score 50 goals in eight consecutive seasons. 
1993 - Sprinter Ben Johnson was banned from racing for life by the Amateur Athletic Association after testing positive for banned performance-enhancing substances for a second time.
1998 - NASA announced that an orbiting craft had found enough water on the moon to support a human colony and rocket fueling station. 



If You Were Born Today, March 5

There is a restless quality to you that is unmistakable, and this can lead you to your share of adventures, but it can also get you into trouble at times! You easily feel stifled and bored by routine, so that is essential that you choose a life path that allows you the freedom to grow and learn. You may move forward prematurely, failing to complete projects you start, until you discover that your talents lie in inspirational, motivational, and other such fields. You are enthusiastic, versatile, and very humorous. Famous people born today: Rex Harrison, Chuck Baldwin, Andy Gibb, Eva Mendes.


Picture of a polar bear and cub with prey in Kaktovik, Alaska

Catch of the Day

Photograph by Yoh Fong Chan, National Geographic 
“The polar bears were usually playing, sleeping, and sometimes nursing,” writes Yoh Fong Chan of observing the bears in Kaktovik, Alaska. “They were hanging out near the shore during this time of the year, waiting for the sea to freeze before they could go out hunting for seals. On this very rare occasion, this bear came proudly from the horizon with its catch of the day.” Chan, who had long dreamed of photographing polar bears in the wild, says patience and endurance were important. “It was bitterly cold out there. As with most wildlife photography, hours were spent observing and waiting to capture that one special moment.”



knit
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Cloud On Her Shoulders pattern by Diana Troldahl
In exchange for downloading this pattern, please consider making a shawl for a friend or stranger who may find it comforting when recovering from injury, ...
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knit
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Freeze Warning pattern by YaYa Lovestoknit
A cozy cowl big enough to cover neck and shoulders. Ribbed neck can be worn up or folded down.
Preview by Yahoo
knit
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Insta-hat pattern by Lee Meredith
Free quickie hat pattern, posted in 4 parts on instagram and tumblr:
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knit
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Red and White Maple Leaf Mittens pattern by Darcie Story...
My daughter wanted a pair of the Olympic maple leaf mittens in the worst way. And despite our valient efforts we weren’t able to find any for her. So I decid...
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knit
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Honeycomb Stroller Blanket pattern by Terry Kimbrough, ...
Unlike most typical baby blankets, this one features a unique honeycomb pattern. It may look complicated, but the pattern is actually easy enough to maste...
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crochet

crochet, vintage
pp1c388da0.jpg

crochet

crochet

crochet





MEMBER CHEF
thanks, heide, yum!
Corn,Bean & Chicken ENCHILADAS


Cook 1 cup rice in 1 can " Mexican " style tomatoes(chilis)and enough water to make 3 cups total liquid when combined.

Cook until water absorbed ..about 15 min.

Optional(sliced celery)

Mix with:
1 cup chopped cooked chicken
1 can corn(drained) 
Optional...(sliced olives)

I use flour tortillas..the larger ones.
Place about 1/4 cup mixture in each tortilla and wrap ends in and roll up.

Place in greased casserole

Top with: 1 can enchilada sauce
1 cup shredded cheese

Bake 350 about 25 min. 

Serve with guacamole, sour cream & salsa




crockpot recipe
stephanie o'dea

Barbeque Beans and Weenies CrockPot Recipe



The Ingredients:

--1 pound of dry kidney beans (I was fancy and used dry beans--PLEASE see note below!. If you are crunched for time, this would work fine with 4 cans)
--4 cups of your favorite barbecue sauce
--2 packages of Lil' Smokies, or cut up hot dogs

The Directions:

--wash and sort kidney beans the night before
--in the morning, drain and put into a large pot with enough water to cover with an additional 2 inches. Cover, and bring to a boil. Boil briskly for at least 10 minutes before draining, rinsing in cold water, and adding to the crockpot.
--cover parboiled beans with enough water to cover another 2 inches
--cook in your crockpot on low for 7-10 hours (these cooked for 9 and were a bit mushy. No one seemed to mind but me. I felt like they should have been prettier.)
--drain and rinse the kidney beans
--cover with bbq sauce and plop in your hotdogs or smokies

cook on low for 4-5 hours, or high for 2-3. Everything is cooked already, so it's just a matter of heating through. If your hot dogs or smokies are still frozen it will take longer.

IMPORTANT NOTE!! PLEASE READ!: Kidney beans have a toxin in them and need to be parboiled before using. Please do your research!

The Verdict.

Surprise, surprise, these were a huge hit. My three-year-old told me that these were the best beans she's ever had and thanked me a few too many times.Oh, and if you're 6? The bean song does not get old.





craft





CHILDREN'S CORNER ... craft


And not only is the process fun.......playing with them afterwards is thrilling!
To make your own butterflies, gather some plain white paper towels, food coloring, and pipe cleaners.
Mix your food coloring with water in separate bowls.
Now, fold your paper towel in half, in half again, another time, then one more time.......into sixteenths. Allow your child (assisted if necessary......thanks daddy!) to dip each corner of the folded paper towel into the colored water of their choosing.
(Don't dip the paper towel in too deep or for too long. Leaving part of the paper towel white in some spots also helps with the coloring and outcome. Let the kids experiment.)
Let the excess water drip back into the bowls after dipping each color, then open up the paper towel and lay flat to dry.
Once each paper towel is dry.......gather along the center of each paper towel, wrap a pipe cleaner around the center, twist it off, even out the wings, flatten the body, and then curl the antenna's.
Nice and simple.
Now, hang from the ceiling with some string, pin to the wall, perch on a desk..........
.........or just allow them to flit around the room.




quote
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. - Benjamin Franklin





'where's the bathroom?' in Arabic (Kuwaiti) - wƤƤn il-hhammĆ”m? 

Runde's Room: Optical Illusions in Art Class - an easy to complete art project that students will be proud of






clever!
Child's Own Studio
thanks, patty

Animal crackers and cocoa to drink,
That is the finest of suppers I think;
When I'm grown up and can have what I please
I think I shall always insist upon these.
What do YOU choose when you're offered a treat?
When Mother says, 'What would you like best to eat?'
Is it waffles and syrup, or cinnamon toast?
It's cocoa and animals that I love most!
-Christopher Morley (1890-1957)
Mom and baby kangaroos drawing by Georgia, age 5
Mom And Baby Kangaroos, drawing by Georgia, age 5
Bird for baby drawing by Kirin, age 5
Bird For Baby, drawing by Kirin, age 5
Horse drawing by Natalie, age 9
Horse, drawing by Natalie, age 9
Pink Maddie Ducky drawing by Madison, age 8
Pink Maddie Ducky, drawing by Madison, age 8
Octobunny drawing by Laney, age 10
Octobunny drawing, by Laney, age 10
Koala drawing by Raina, age 7
Koala, drawing by Raina, age 7
Wolves In Red Jackets drawing by Carla, age 3
Wolves In Red Jackets, drawing by Carla, age 3
Deadly Scorpion, drawing by Walker, age 7
Deadly Scorpion, drawing by Walker, age 7



EYE OPENER!

Science-Backed Tips For Better Sleep Tonight

huffington post
1. Set an alarm to go to bed.
If you find yourself consistently wishing you had hit the hay earlier but staying on track with a calming bedtime routine is virtually impossible for you, consider setting yourself an alarm -- to go to bed.
2. Resist the urge to snooze.
snooze
Sleep caught between soundings of that alarm is just not high-quality sleep. The snooze button often disturbs REM sleep, which can make us feel groggier than when we wake up during other stages of sleep. You don't have to launch out of bed in the morning, but setting the alarm for a slightly later time and skipping a snooze cycle or two could bring big benefits.
3. Go easy on the alcohol before bed.
While that nightcap really can make it feel easier to fall asleep, when your buzz wears off later in the night, you're more likely to wake up frequently.
4. Slip on some socks.
Some people have the unlucky lot in life of colder-than-comfortable extremities. Buthaving warm hands and feet seems to predict how quickly you'll fall asleep, according to a 1999 study. Speed up the process by pulling on a pair of clean socks before climbing into bed.
5. Keep your bedroom dark.
eyemask sleep
Even the most inconspicuous glow -- like that from a digital alarm clock -- can disrupt your shut-eye. If you can't seal up all the light sources in your room, consider using a comfy eye-mask.
6. Keep it cool.
Temperature in the bedroom is a little bit of a Goldilocks situation: A room that's too hot and a room that's too cold can both mess with your sleep. Aim for somewhere between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit, Dr. Christopher Winter, M.D., wrote in a HuffPost blog.
7. Power down an hour before bed.
Dim the lights and turn off all your devices -- smartphones, laptops, TVs, all of which belong outside the bedroom -- about 60 minutes before bedtime. Bright light is one of the biggest triggers to our brains that it’s time to be awake and alert, so start sending the opposite signal early.
8. Cut caffeine by the afternoon.
caffeine sleep
Your afternoon jolt stays in your system longer than you might think. Experts recommended laying off the caffeine by early afternoon to guarantee it won't keep you up in bed later.
9. Exercise regularly.
In the National Sleep Foundation's 2013 Sleep In America survey, regular, vigorous exercisers reported getting the best sleep. The best news is that it doesn't take much: Adding even just a few minutes of physical activity to your day can make a difference in your rest.
10. Just try not to do it too close to bedtime.
Most of us don't exercise intensely enough to really rev ourselves up so much that we override the sleep-promoting benefits of regular workouts. However, especially in people with trouble sleeping, making sure your sweat sessions end at least a couple of hours before bedtime is generally a good idea.
11. Avoid heavy meals when it's late.
Your body isn't meant to be digesting while you sleep, so a big meal too close to bedtime may keep you up at night. Protein is especially hard to digest, so if you haveto eat late, opt for lighter fare.
12. Paint your bedroom a tranquil color.
paint bedroom
Maybe it's a relaxing blue or a warm yellow -- the exact shade doesn't matter so much as long as it calms you. But do go for a matte finish rather than a high-gloss one, Michael Breus, Ph.D., told HuffPost in 2012.
13. Reserve the bed for sleep and sex only.
Reading in bed is a form of relaxation, right? Yes... and no. A page-turner, a mystery or any other book that demands your emotional and intellectual attention may be more distracting than relaxing. Opt for lighter reading before bed, and keep it to the couch or your favorite comfy chair.
14. Keep your bedroom quiet.
Noises like whirring electronics or ticking watches can easily be left outside the bedroom. For snoring bed partners or blaring sirens outside your window that are slightly more difficult to avoid, try a handy pair of earplugs.
15. But not too quiet.
When your sleep haven is so silent you could hear a pin drop, every occasional bump in the night becomes that much more evident and disruptive. You might want to consider a white noise machine if your bedroom verges on the too-quiet side of the spectrum.
16. Ban furry friends from bed.
pets bed sleep
Every little purr or tail wag is likely to disrupt your sleep, no matter how much you two enjoy cuddling. Plus, the animal dander Fido and Fluffy bring with them into the bedroom can trigger reactions in people with allergies, further disrupting their slumber.
17. Make sure your mattress fits.
Believe it or not, lots of tossing and turning may be less about you and more about what you’re lying on. That's right: An uncomfortable mattress might the source of your sleepless nights. Whether that's because it's lost its cushioning or because it's simply too small, it's important to recognize the signs that it's time to buy a new one. Expect to make a swap every five to 10 years, according to Consumer Reports.
18. Nap -- wisely.
When done right, a little daytime snooze won't destroy your nighttime slumber, and can boost memory, alertness and job performance while you're at it. Just make sure you limit your nap to 30 minutes, max, and don't snooze too close to bedtime.
19. Try separate blankets in a shared bed.
If your bed partner is constantly stealing all the covers or one of you sweats while the other shivers, it might be a good idea to try making the bed with separate sets of sheets. “Use only one fitted sheet to start,” Robert Oexman, D.O., director of the Sleep to Live Institute told HuffPost in 2013. “Then make the top-of-bed with twin-size flat sheets and blankets to meet each person's needs. If you're worried about how that will look -- no problem -- you can cover this up with a single comforter when dressing the bed each morning.”
20. Keep a consistent sleep/wake schedule, even on weekends.
Sticking to your work-week sleep and wake schedule over the weekend sounds like torture to most of us, but it's actually a wise move where sleep is concerned. Staying up and sleeping in later than normal can shift your body's natural clock in the same way that cross-country travel does. This so-called social jet lag can make it extra difficult to fall asleep when Sunday night rolls around, making for even more unpleasant Monday mornings.
21. Work through your thoughts about the day before getting into bed.
Anyone who finds his or her mind racing in bed may not have taken enough time to process the day first, Michael A. Grandner, Ph.D., instructor of psychiatry at the Behavioral Sleep Medicine program at the University of Pennsylvania told HuffPost in 2013. “A better approach would be [to] take some time in the evening to work through the day, make lists to do tomorrow and clear your mental desktop of the stuff that you still have to think about,” he says. “Then, get into bed.”
22. Strike a pose, say a prayer.
yoga sleep
Yoga, meditation, even prayer are all helpful tactics to coax your mind to wind down. These quiet activities may help you slow your breathing and heart rate and drift off sooner.
23. Take deep breaths.
If the quiet reflection above isn't your style, some simple breathing exercises may do the trick. Breathing deeply mimics how your body feels when it's already relaxed, so after inhaling and exhaling for a few rounds, you just might find yourself feeling calmer. That's because deep breathing stimulates the body's naturally-calmingparasympathetic system, NPR reported.
24. Try aromatherapy.
The scent of lavender has noted benefits for sleep. A small 2005 study found that a sniff before bed led to more deep sleep. And a 2008 study found that lavender helped women with insomnia fall asleep more easily, the Wall Street Journal reported.
25. Take a hot bath.
bath sleep
A cozy soak raises your body temperature slightly. Then, when you hop out, you'll cool down quickly, which mimics the natural drop in body temperature caused by the brain as it readies the body for sleep. A warm bath before bed seems to help people fall asleep more quickly, but also get better quality sleep, according to a small 1985 study.
26. Experiment with progressive muscle relaxation.
This relaxation exercise involves tensing then relaxing the muscles throughout the body, directing your attention to each as you go. It can improve sleep quality andreduce fatigue.
27. Visualize.
It might feel a little silly the first time you try it, but go ahead and imagine yourself somewhere calm, relaxing and sleep-inducing. This deep relaxation method can slow brain wave activity, coaxing you toward sleep. Start with a few imagery ideas here.
28. Write down what's bugging you.
worry journal sleep
If other relaxation tricks won’t cut it, get literal with those racing thoughts and put them on paper in a worry journal you keep by your bedside. Clearing your mind of this mental clutter can help you drift off more smoothly.
29. Get out of bed if you really can't sleep.
If all else fails, get out of bed. Continuing to lie there only stresses you out more, making it even more difficult to nod off. Experts recommend getting out of bed to do something else -- as long it's relaxing and doesn't involve bright light. Then, climb back into bed when you're really tired.
30. Get some sunlight first thing in the morning.
There's nothing quite like bright light to trigger your brain to stay awake and alert. Getting some natural light -- you'll want to aim for about 15 minutes -- first thing in the morning can help night owls reset their biological clocks and ease into sleep a little earlier.
31. Combat snoring.
About 37 million American adults snore regularly. It certainly disturbs a bed partner's sleep, but "sawing logs" can disrupt the snorer's sleep, too, leading to more daytime sleepiness, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Some simple tips may help you keep it under control, like sleeping on your side instead of your back, avoiding alcohol before bed and even losing weight. Many experts recommend sewing a tennis ball into the front pocket of an old t-shirt, and then wearing it backwards to make sleeping on your back uncomfortable enough to help you stay on your side.
32. Get checked for sleep apnea.
It's possible that your snoring could be a sign of sleep apnea, a potentially-harmful sleep condition in which people stop breathing for brief periods, sometimes as many as hundreds of times a night. Lifestyle changes like losing weight and avoiding alcohol may help people with sleep apnea too, but often, to get the best rest, additional treatment -- typically with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine -- is required from a doctor.
33. Try a new pillow.
pillows sleep
Dust mites might just love your pillows even more than you do. In some people, the build up of these critters can trigger allergic reactions that make it harder to sleep, according to The New York Times. Generally, pillows should be replaced every 12 to 18 months, WebMD reported.
You’ll also want to make sure you’re sleeping with the right pillow. Stomach sleepers, for example, need very thin, flat pillows, and side sleepers need something a little firmer to fill the distance between their ear and shoulder.
34. Don't stress about sleep.
We're certainly not saying to shrug off your shuteye like it doesn't matter, but don't stress yourself out about getting adequate time in bed, either. The more anxious you get about getting enough sleep, the more difficult it will be to actually get any.
35. Avoid drinking too many liquids too close to bedtime.
liquids sleep
Don't go dehydrating yourself, but consider cutting off your water supply a couple of hours before bed to save yourself middle-of-the-night trips to the loo.
36. Quit smoking.
Nicotine, like caffeine, is a stimulant, and consequently could keep you up at night. Smokers are four times more likely to say they feel tired when they wake up than nonsmokers, according to a 2008 study. As if you really needed another reason to kick the habit.
37. Consider therapy.
Maybe your sleep troubles are a little more serious and could use the insight of a professional. Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered the gold standard when it comes to treating insomnia, and usually involves meeting with a therapist for various sleep assessments, keeping a sleep journal and adjusting some of your bedtime habits.

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