Archive for » June, 2010 «

Many ways

There are many ways to access the internet these days. I remember when there was only 1 way. That was by a big, clunky desktop computer. Now you can access it by your cell phone, PDAs and laptops.

I guess you could call me an old fashioned girl. I only get online by my desktop but it’s not old and clunky. I have a nice flat screen monitor (my old one took up half my desk!). The tower is still big but usually that hides in a door in my desk. I do use a wireless mouse though and wireless internet. When I 1st started online there was only dial-up and I was on AOL. That was the biggest pick-up place ever. Someone would always look for people online and try to pick them up. It was a bad scene.

I don’t use my cell for internet access because the data portion that’s necessary for that costs extra. I don’t need that anyway. But I do send status messages to Facebook by text once in awhile.

Do you use a PDA or cell phone for internet purposes?

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New hobby

I decided I want to try out a new hobby. I want to get a program to do some digital scrap booking. I want to make a scrap book for my mom for when she goes in the nursing home and it might even be good for making some cute baby shower invitations.

I’d like to make a book for each of our grandkids too. It’s something they can save and show to their kids, when they have some later on.

I’ve been checking out reviews of such programs and found a good one for under $40. But all this will have to wait until I move and get my stuff out of storage so I can scan old photos to put in mom’s book.

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Clairol Natural Instincts Hair Color Review

The following is a review. I was not paid by or contacted by anyone to do this review. I bought the product, tried it and decided to do a review.

I got Clairol Natural Instincts hair color a few weeks ago and finally tried it out this morning and I’m not very impressed with it. There are 2 pluses for this product. It only takes 10 minutes and it doesn’t have that ammonia smell other hair color products have. My hair does feel nice and soft and it’s a little shinier.

The minus is that it didn’t change my hair color. My roots are still dark and the rest of my hair didn’t change colorwise. I got the same result as just washing my hair with shampoo infused with vitamins.

I will not use this product again nor do I recommend it.

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About to have a yard sale

I went over to my sister-in-law’s house today to go through some stuff in her garage that I had stored there. It turned out there were only a couple things that are mine. But my oldest son, on the other hand, has a ton of stuff stored there. He has stereo equipment, pull up bars, boxes of papers and all kinds of other assorted junk. He’ll be in from Texas the end of July to sort through it all.

Sis-in-law is having a yard sale this weekend and probably one more before she moves out. She went through her spare room, which was wall to wall boxes of stuff she never unpacked when she moved into that house. She did a lot of throwing out of stuff and has a ton to sell at the yard sale.

I’ll be going over tomorrow to help her get everything priced and ready for sale.

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Memories

I don’t know why I thought of this now, in June. I was sitting here remembering Christmas’ when I was little. I remember emptying out my stocking and always finding it full of nuts, oranges, little net bags filled with chocolates that looked like gold coins and all kinds of yummy goodies.

My mom always bought a big box of chocolates and made all kinds of cookies. Almost everything back then, in the 50′s and 60′s, were home made like cookies, cakes, pies and breads. Before I started working, after my youngest was in 5th grade, I used to bake all that kind of stuff all the time. Nowadays people go to bakeries or buy stuff in supermarkets. To me there is nothing better than something homemade.

How do feel about that? Are things better homemade or store bought?

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White Chocolate Buttercream Cake with Strawberries

This cake is 430 calories per serving so be careful or you’ll be looking for diets that work. Gotta watch that girlish figure.. you know? :)

Cake
1 3/4 cups butter recipe yellow cake mix (from an 18.25 oz box)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg

Filling and Topping

4 oz white chocolate baking bars or squares, chopped
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, cut into pieces, softened
1 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon berry-flavored liqueur – optional
2 cups fresh whole strawberries, sliced thin

1. Heat oven to 350°F (or 325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom and sides of 8 or 9 inch round cake pan with baking spray with flour.
2. In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, water, 1/4 cup of the butter, the almond extract and the egg with electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally and pour into the pan.
3. Bake as directed on box for 8 or 9 inch round pans. Cool in pan for 10 minutes then remove from the pan to the cooling rack. Cool completely for about 1 hour.
4. In the mean time, put the white chocolate and 2 tablespoons butter in a small metal bowl. In 2-quart saucepan, heat 1/2 cup of the whipping cream just to boiling. Pour the hot cream over white chocolate and butter; let stand until mixture is melted and smooth when stirred. Refrigerate the chocolate mixture 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until cold.
5. In a large bowl, beat the remaining 1/2 cup whipping cream, the cold chocolate mixture and liqueur (optional) on high speed until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until ready to use.
6. Cut the cake horizontally in half, using long, sharp knife. On a serving plate, place 1 layer, cut side up. Spread with 1/2 of the filling; top with 1/2 of the strawberries. Add the remaining cake layer, cut side down. Spread remaining filling over top of cake; top with remaining strawberries. Store covered in the refrigerator.

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