Hula Hoop

The Hula Hoop appeared on the market on March 5th but invented in 1958 by Arthur K Melin and Richard Knerr. Both children and adults around the world have played with hoops, twirling, rolling and throwing them. Children hula hoops are approximately 28 inch in diameter and for adults they are 40 inches round. Traditionally hoops were made of willow, rattan and other stiff grasses. Today they are made up of plastic.

Native American Hoop Dance is a form of storytelling dance. One to thirty hoops may be used in the dance. The hoops create both static and dynamic shapes to represent animals, symbols and storytelling. The dance is generally performed by solo dancer with multiple hoops.

Past history of hula hoops include using wooden an metal hoops in the 14th century England. Doctors would treat patients suffering from pain and dislocated backs due to hooping. Likewise, in the 18th century the "hula" was familiar with Hawaiian dance.

In the 1950s a plastic version was marketed by the California Wham-O toy company. In the 1950's the hula hoop craze would sweep the country. More than 50,000 hoops a day were made. In 1999 the hoop was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester New York. I can recall my sisters and I having hula hoops and spending hours with them. The fad did start dying out in the 1980s.

Do you recall hula hooping fun?? Were you part of it

This Day in History

This day in history Elvis was discharged from the military. The future would write itself for Elvis and we know the rest of the story ....

Cheese Doodle Day and a great recipe for Chicken Fingers

Cheese doodles are super fun to eat and today is the day to eat a few and share some more. Today , March 5th is National Cheese Doodle Day. . The inventor of cheese doodle is Morrie Yohai in the 1930s.  He was in charge of a snack food company by the name of Old London Foods when he created the snack treat of cheese doodles.

In the 1960s the company that created the cheese doodles was acquired by Wise Foods Inc. The snacks quickly became part o the potato chip division and today they are one of the strongest brands at Wise Foods. Every year more than 15 million pounds of cheese doodles are made each year. Imagine enough cheese doodles to fill 36 olympic sized swimming pools.



The delicious and satisfying puffy, crunchy cheese coated snack foods that children and their parents have craved for over 50 years. Cheese doodles were an accident that they realized when the Old London machines processed corn meal under high pressure. The tubular shape resembled doodles as they are today was a surprise but also a new snack. The process went something like this:

• Water and cornmeal are mixed together at a high temperature

• The resulting Doodle base is pushed through a machine which cuts out the doodles

• During the process, the water boils forming steam

• When the mixture hits the air, because of the pressure build up, the steam immediately causes the mixture to puff forming what is known as a collette (or a doodle).

The shaking, rocking and rolling of Elvis during the 1960's was also greeted with rocking taste buds as cheese doodles were introduced to Americans. They were greeted with eagerness to find more. The population continued to grow in 1965 when Borden Condensed Milk Company (Wise foods) purchased the Cheez Doodle's company. Later in 1994 and the year 2000 the company was sold again but the cheez doodle consistently remained a top selling product. Wise is currently creating a new batch and selling more cheez doodles as Americans desire more. 

Cheez doodle flavor has went through a few changes but the original still is available. The taste of Jalapeno cheddar, ranch, barbq, mac n cheese, star spangled doodles, doodle heads and croc o doodles which were shaped like crocodiles. Today the available flavors include a crispy version by the name of crunchy cheez doodles, fiery limon fusion crunchy cheez doodles, white cheddar puffed cheez doodles, cheez balls, honey bbq puffed cheez doodles, hot n honey puffed cheez doodles, jalapeno poppers cheez balls.

Check out more about cheez doodles at their website located here Check out the recipe below sure to touch the taste buds of all

.

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups Wise® White Cheddar Puffed Cheez Doodles, crushed
4 portions oven-baked fries, cooked according to package directions
Plum sauce

DIRECTIONS:

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4

Cut each chicken breast lengthwise into 4 strips. Mix flour with salt. Place flour mixture, eggs and crushed Cheez Doodles into separate shallow dishes.

Dip chicken strips in flour, then eggs, then Cheez Doodles. Place on foil-lined baking sheet; spray lightly with cooking spray.

Bake in 400°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

Serve chicken fingers with fries and plum sauce.

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National Pound Cake Day: Strawberry Dessert Recipe

The pound cake I am sure most everyone has had a piece. Some times served alone but often dressed up with fruit and used in desserts. The history of pound cake dates back to the 1700s. Where exactly the first recipe came from is up for debates. Some say it was created by the English and others say it was a Norther Europe recipe. Main ingredients and where the name comes from was a lb of butter, a lb of flour, a lb of sugar and a lb of cracked open eggs. Now there are a grand variation for pound cake. The cake is normally dense and does not need leavening. The variation of the cake means that the ingredients have changed over time as well. As early as 1851 the easy to remember lb recipe was replaced with 10 eggs, lb of flour and the juice of two lemons or 3 oranges


Strawberry Pound Cake Dessert

Ingredients:
For the pound cake:
1 cup of butter
6 eggs
3 cups of white sugar
3 cups of white flour
1 pint of heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp of vanilla
For the whipped cream:
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
For the strawberry glaze:
2 pounds (32 oz.) fresh strawberries, stems removed
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup water
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon corn starch

Directions:
For the pound cake:
Preheat your oven to 350 °F; grease and flour a loaf pan (9″ X 5″ X 3″).
With an electric mixer, cream butter, sugar and eggs until fluffy.
Add the flour one half cup at a time along with a little cream and keep on mixing until you have incorporated all of the flour. Mix in the vanilla.
Pour into your prepared loaf pan.Bake for 50 minutes or until the cake has risen, has a golden crust and when you check it with a toothpick, the pick comes out clean.
Let the cake cool standing upright in the pan for 15 minutes. Then turn the pan on its side and gently tip it to coax the cake out. Stand the cake back upright and let it cool completely.

For the whipped cream:
Whip cream until almost stiff.
Add sugar and vanilla, beating until cream holds peaks.

For the strawberry glaze:
Combine water, strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a large saucepan on high heat. Stir thoroughly while bringing it up to a boil.
After the mixture begins to boil, reduce the heat to low, and allow to cook for up to ten minutes, occasionally stirring throughout. As the strawberries soften, use a wooden spoon to break them in pieces to release the flavors from the strawberries.
Whisk the cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Pour into the simmering pan of strawberry juice. Increase heat to high, and continue to whisk the mixture until it thickens into a glaze (approximately 3-5 minutes).
Remove glaze from heat, and pour into separate bowl to cool down. Once the glaze has reached room temperature, place in refrigerator until it is chilled.

Assembly:
Cut or tear pound cake into small pieces.  Layer 1/3 each of the cake, then strawberry glaze, and then whipped topping in bowl.  Repeat two more times.  Top with a dollop of whipped cream and garnish with fresh strawberries.

Hug A GI

Hug a GI Day started by Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith in 1996. Celebrated the 4th day of March each year gives all Americans a command to "March Forth" and offer Thank you to our service men and women. Those that serve in the military provide an invaluable service to our country while risking their own freedom and safety. Offering a simple hug or personal message is a small token of thanks for the sacrifices they make every day.

Some great organizations that help GI's and gives us a chance to say thank you are:

A Million Thanks www.amillionthanks.org: This organization provides support and appreciation to active duty and veteran service men and women through letters, granting betterment of life wishes and helping fund college scholarships for their children.

Adopt a Platoon www.adoptaplatoon.org: This organization provides ongoing mail support for service men and women and their families. Individuals or groups can pledge to write letters or send care packages to one service member or as many as entire platoon. Their mission is to ensure that all service members are not forgotten.

Blue Star Mothers www.bluestarmothers.org: This organization is made up of mothers, stepmothers, foster mothers and legal guardians of service men and women. Their goal is to support each other and their children during their time of service. Their mission is to make sure that no service member, veteran or fallen warrior is forsaken or forgotten.

Books for Soldiers www.booksforsoldiers.com: This volunteer organization sends care packages of books, DVDs, games and relief supplies as requested by the soldiers. This network of volunteers is operated by Red Grail Ministries, an interfaith relief church whose main goal is to provide comfort, counseling and fellowship to individuals in crisis situations.

Cell phones for Soldiers www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com: This nonprofit organization recycles donated cell phones and turns them into calling cards for active duty service members and veterans. They are dedicated to providing cost-free communications.

Homefront Hugs www.homefronthugs.org: This organization serves the troops and their families. Their mission is to ensures that no hero is forgotten as long as freedom means sacrifice. They have many programs for individuals, groups, as well as kids and teens to get involved in.

Operation Gratitude www.operationgratitude.com: This organization sends care packages to new recruits, veterans, first responders, wounded warriors, care givers of wounded, and to individual service members. Their mission is to lift the spirits and meets the needs of active duty and veteran communities. They help allow all Americans to express their appreciation.

United Service Organizations www.uso.org: The USO has been serving men and women of the military since 1941 and their mission is to lift the spirits and support military men and women and their families until everyone comes home. The USO offers many ways for individuals in get involved in support of our troops.

Dame's Rocket

If you are looking for an easy plant to grow then today's plant will work for you. Dame's Rocket is popular in flower gardens but they can also be grown as wildflowers. Some even consider it an invasive weed. The USDA refers to Dame's Rocket as "weedy and invasive" 

The Dame's Rocket is native to Japan. A member of the mustard family the plant was first introduced in the U.S. in the 1600's The quick spread of it was due to the plant itself. 

Those that create flower arangements love Dame's Rocket as well. They are fragrant, colorful with colors ranging from white, pink or purple. They grow in large loose clusters from May to August. 

The plants can be found in nature around woodlands where they can live hapily in  light shade area. 

Peach Blossom Cake

.

Unlike the name suggests, there are no real peaches in this cake - just a pretty peachy swirl of colour inside and a really light and fluffy texture.

1/2 c butter

1 cup sugar

3 egg whites

1.5 cups self raising flour

1.5 teaspoon cornflour

1/2 cup milk

cochineal (scarlet food colouring)

Cream butter & sugar until white and fluffy, add stiffly beaten egg whites and then remaining ingredients.  Divide mixture into two bowls - leave one plain and add a small dash of cochineal to the other.  Alternate spoonfuls of the coloured and plain cake mix into the cake tin.

Bake in a moderate oven (180 degrees) until cooked through nicely.  Ice once cool and enjoy.

Happy Days..... Laundry Day

Housewives of yesterday had a much harder time doing what was expected than the housewives of today. That is very apparent by the many T.V. shows that are on featuring housewives. The truth is that housewives now days are somewhere in the middle of these two but a whole lot easier than yester year.

Laundry in the olden days was done by hand. Soaking, beating, scrubbing, and rinsing the dirty linens was something that took lots of work. Indoor plumbing was not yet invented and the water had to be carried in, boiled and then the rinsing began. Between 8 to 10 buckets of water were drug in from the pump, well or spring. The water would be reused from the first wash to the last starting with the least soiled clothing.

Soap would be rinsed out with clear water then rolled into a ball, twisted by hand with water being extracted. Laundry would be done one day a week as it would take the entire day to complete.

Today March 3rd would have made many happy as it was on this day that Laundry became easier with Briggs and the first patent for the washing machine

National Cold Cuts Day

5 Trivia Facts about National Cold Cuts

1. Cold cuts are sliced, precooked or cured meat, often sausages or meat loaves.
2. Usually they are served on sandwiches or a platter with cheese and crackers.
3. They are most commonly for sale vacuum-packed at the grocery store or sliced-to-order at the deli.
4. Most pre-sliced cold cuts are higher in fat, nitrates, and sodium than those that are sliced to order.
5. The CDC advises that those over 50 reheat cold cuts to “steaming hot” 165 °F (73.9 °C) and use them within four days.

The Dagwood sandwich has been around for quite a long period of time and mad especially famous by the Blondie and Dagwood cartoon strip series. In honor of the Superbowl I am sharing with you as my vintage Thursday Recipe for a dagwood sandwich

1/3 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1 pinch cajun seasoning

10 thick slices white sandwich bread

1/4 pound sliced pepperoni

1/4 pound thinly sliced Swiss cheese

1/2 pound thinly sliced turkey breast

1/4 pound thinly sliced provolone

1/2 pound thinly sliced roast beef

1/4 pound thinly sliced mild Cheddar

1/2 pound thinly sliced pastrami

1/4 pound thinly sliced pepper jack cheese or Monterey jack

1/2 pound sliced salami

5 pieces thick-cut bacon, cooked crisp and halved

1 medium tomato, cut into thin slices

10 whole green leaf lettuce leaves, washed, patted dry, and stem end removed

3 red cherry tomatoes

3 small pickle slices

3 long metal skewers

Combine mayonnaise and mustard in a small bowl. Season with chopped garlic and cajun seasoning. Arrange 5 bread slices on a large cutting board. Spread 2 tablespoons of the mayonnaise mixture evenly on each slice. Layer the meat and cheeses evenly among the bread slices in this order: pepperoni, Swiss, turkey, provolone, roast beef, cheddar, pastrami, pepper jack, and salami. (Fold the meats so that the sandwiches will stack evenly on top of each other.) Top each of the sandwiches with tomato slices and the remaining bread slices. Spread about 1 tablespoon of the mayonnaise mixture on top of each sandwich and lay 2 bacon halves on top of each sandwich. Place 1 cherry tomato and 1 pickle slice through each skewer. Carefully build the Dagwood Sandwich by stacking all 5 sandwiches on top of each other. Separate the sandwiches by placing 2 lettuce leaves in between. To keep the sandwich tower from falling over, fit the skewers into the sandwich tower all the way through the center. To serve, pull off the desired amount of bread, meat and cheese

Mulled Wine

National Mulled Wine Day is on the 3rd day of March each year. There is nothing more enjoyable on a rainy, cold and damp night like tonight than a warm sip to say good bye to winter and get ready for spring. 

Rome first served the warmed wines known as mulled. It was around the 2nd century and the Romans traveled the continent. The Romans through their explorations would share the mulled wine recipes with others. England, Germany, The Netherlands and Austria are all areas that the mulled wine would be shared with.

Sweden and Norway refers to the mulled wine as Glogg Germany calls it gluhwein. The French and Italian also call it by other names. The drink is normally served during the holiday season and as a festive drink. Bonfires and parties also serve up the mulled wine. 

There are many recipes for mulled wine. Red wine is used in most recipes. The trick is that the recipes add a variety of mulling spices. Ginger, cloves, cinnamon and anise are all considered mulling spices. Fruit may be added to the recipes as well. The most popular fruits are orange slices, raisins or cranberries. The drink is always served warm but may be served piping hot as well. 

This mulled wine can also be served in a crock-pot, after you strain the boiled mixture, to keep hot for a party. Some recipes may suggest floating orange slices on top while you keep the mulled wine hot, but if the slices are left in too long, the wine can become bitter.

Quick Question , a bit of fun

Can you imagine if dogs and cats had opposable thumbs?? If they were able to open their own food or treat containers. What about the refrigerator door, I am sure that they would find lots of treasures in there. What about finding a new ride, after all they would be able to hitchhike. 

What do you think would happen if our pets had thumbs?? 

National Anthem Day

March 3rd is a day to celebrate your national anthem. Here in the United States you would hear this song.

What is the song you would hear where you live??

Etta James was an amazing entertainer. She sang across the genres and time. Each musical piece whether it be blues, rhythm, rock and roll, soul, gospel or jazz had a piece of Etta in it. Etta entered the musical world in the mid 1950s. Songs such as Dance With Me, Henry, At Last or Tell Mama were pieces that she shared with the world. During her musical career she faced a number of personal problems that included addiction. In the late 1980s she reappeared on the stage of music with the album The Seven Year Itch

Etta James had a sound of her own in a musical world that demanded perfection. She is regarded as having bridged the gap between the rhythm and blues era into rock and roll. During her career she won six grammys and 17 Blues Music Awards. In 1993 she was nominated and inducted into the Rock & roll hall of fame. Etta was also included in the blues hall of fame as well as the grammy hall of fame. Rolling Stones ranked James as number 22 on the list of the 100 greatest singers of All Time and number 62 on the list of the 100 greatest artists.

Do you Know A Pet Sitter

When my friend found herself out of work she looked for a new job but was unable to find one that met with her needs and something that she qualified for. Living in a big city you would think she would find a job somewhere but it seemed a bit hopeless. Then she got an idea she would use her love of pets and offer her skills to other pet owners. Now she has her own business as a pet sitter. Have you ever thought of being a pet sitter? Let me share a bit about this job in case you are interested Anyone who has a pet loves them and wants the best for them. Even if they do not have the full time to do the best for them they know their pet deserves it. Often pet owners look for help just as a mother of a young child would. It is here where pet owners will look for a worthy person to care for their pet during their absence.  Pet sitters help your pet stay in their own home where they are secure. With familiar routines, diet and exercise your pet will be happier. There are kennels that can help you care for your pet but then they have the chance of being exposed to illness of other animals. As a pet sitter you and the pet will be happy offering each other love and attention  As a professional pet sitter will help the pet owner by offering them a chance to not feel guilty about leaving their pet to go to work , school or to do errands. A pet sitter may become a home sitter as well if the pet owner must go away for a short period of time.  IF this sounds like something you would like then go ahead and take that step to becoming a pet sitter. Let your friends and family know that you are available and offer your services.

Salute to The Elders

As a caregiver of residents in a nursing home. I take time to remember that they are human beings just like you and me. That they still dream and breathe and wake up each day looking forward to the simple things of life. So the next time you go visit your relative or hear about a visit remember that they are humans and take your time with them because once upon a time they did for you.

Peanut Butter Lovers Day

The first day of March will delight Peanut Butter Lovers. National Peanut Butter Lover's day is a sticky sort of day with lots of lovers to celebrate their favorite choice of peanut butter spread. We often send our kid out the door with a PB & J and right we are as PB offers great protein to keep them going. Peanut butter can be enjoyed on toast, crackers, and celery as well as in a variety of great recipes. 

Ever thought about playing with peanut butter?? Well when you make play dough from peanut butter you can do just that

Edible Play Dough

1/2 cup Peanut Butter

1 cup powdered milk

1/2 cup honey

Mix up, play with like playdough  

Another quick recipe that will be great for supper or to take to the next picnic or potluck check out this recipe for no bake PB pie

No Bake Peanut Butter Pie

4 ounces cream cheese
1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/2 cup milk
8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 deep dish graham cracker or chocolate flavored crust
whipped topping
chocolate syrup

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar. Mix well. Add peanut butter and mix. Slowly add milk and mix well. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into pie crust and cover. Freeze for at least 30 minutes. Pipe extra whipped topping around edge of pie. Drizzle with chocolate syrup.

and yet another delicious treat that you can try is these St. Patricks Day Peanut Butter Irish Buckeyes

Irish Buckeyes

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 bag white chocolate chips

green food coloring

(mini chocolate chips are optional)

Mix the peanut butter and butter until creamy, then mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla. You can also add mini chocolate chips here too, if you've got to have that chocolate fix!  Roll into balls and place on a sheet covered with wax paper.  Melt white chips and stir in desired amount of food coloring.  Using a toothpick, dip balls in melted mixture and let harden on wax paper.  You can use almond bark for this too, if you'd like, but something funky always happens to my almond bark when I add food coloring and they just don't turn out as nice. 

Letter of Appreciation :: Coupons

To make ends meet in this day and time there are many of us who look for great deals. Sometimes we find a product that we truly love but perhaps it is a stretch for us to purchase. There is one proven manner in which to get a coupon for a product that you may other wise not be able to get. Write a letter of appreciation. Yes., that's right we all like to hear how well we do our job and companies are just like we are. They love to hear that a product of theirs is doing great and being enjoyed.

Here are a couple of sample letters. My advice is to write so that it will be original for you though, use the form letter to simply be an inspiration.


Sample Letter to manufacturer requesting coupons:

Hello, I am writing to let you know that we really enjoy using (name of product). (Write a few things you like about the product or how it helped in a specific situation, such as an illness or cleaning or just preparing.) We live on a budget and try to use coupons to help us stay within the budget. If you could send any coupons or samples of (name of product) we would really appreciate it. Thank you for such a wonderful product! Sincerely, (your name)



Dear (Company or brand) representative,

My family and I are loyal (Company or brand)customers, and we just love your products. While we are trying to stay within our strict grocery budget, we still like to splurge on (your ...or name the product) products once in a while. I would therefore like to ask, if it is possible to request coupons for your great products. If so, I would highly appreciate it.

March Is Adopt A Guinea Pig Month

How cute is a guinea pig?? I know my mother does not think they are very cute. My aunt Tunie bought me one at a local festival when I was a kid. Well, my mom did not like it but she did not say that I could not keep it. I did not have it long though as we could not afford a cage. We placed my new pet in a cardboard box, to which it promptly chewed out of. For quite some time my mother would see the guinea pig run through the house only to be fed whenever he would come close enough to get the food she had or we shared what we had. 

The guinea pig belongs in the rodent family. While you may be led to think that they belong in the pig family the truth is despite their name they do not.

 They are from Guinea but were originally from Andes. They are domesticated animals and therefore are not found naturally in the wild. The Indigenous South American groups use guinea pigs as food, folk medicine, and community religious ceremonies. 

Western societies consider the guinea pig a household pet. The European traders brought the pets to the U.S. in the 16th century. Guinea Pigs are easy to care for which continues to make them a popular pet. Breeders have took up the plea to create guinea pigs with varying coat colors and compositions to make those looking for pets happy. 

March is adopt a rescued guinea pig month. These small pets have their own personality that I am sure you will admire. There are lots of guinea pigs out there looking for a family. You can look at animal shelters, petfinder or other pet source in your area. 

Before you adopt a guinea pig you may want to know that they take special care that is different than a cat or a dog. For instance they eat a diet of hay, veggies and guinea pig food. They often poop a lot so they will take a lot of cleaning up after. Guinea Pigs also often make a lot of noise. If you are up for the challenge then head out and find your special pet and enjoy life together

Make It a Month for Alport Syndrome

Alport Syndrome is a genetic condition characterized by kidney disease, hearing loss and eye abnormalities. Nearly all those who have this syndrome have blood in their urine which indicates abnormal function of kidneys. Around 1 in 50,000 children are affected. While Alport can affect the eye the changes do not normally affect sight

The alport syndrom was first identified by the University of Edinburgh Medical School in 1927.

Many are not aware of Alport and therefore bringing awareness to this rare disease is very important.



Do you part by:

• Joining ASF social media networks. 
• Like ASFs posts and share on your own social networks
• Share your story with others
• Share your story on social networks use the hashtag #AlportSyndrome and #AlportAwareness
• Do your part to check out the current therapy guides for your self or family members

Sadly while Alport is a devastating disease it does not receive the same level of attention that other diseases that affect millions of people do. Therefore it is important that those that can help share the information and draw awareness. Alport Syndrome is a rare disease that only affects 30-60 thousand individuals in the U.S. It accounts for 3% of children with chronic kidney disease and .2% adults with end stage renal disease. 

Cheerleading Week

The week of March 1st through the 6th recognizes cheerleading. Those girls and boys who have the enthusiasm to support their team and cheer them onto a win. They also are role models to all the little girls like Princess who want to grow up to be cheerleaders as well.


A cheerleader is often asked to enter new challenges and to try new things. A good cheerleader is always willing, not afraid to out of her comfort zone and try different routines. She loves to practice her cheers and does not simply think they are good enough. She realizes she is part of a squad and continues on practicing ensuring everyone meets their full potential. Practicing new stunts, cheers and such to make the routine spectacular where the crowd will react in a positive nature.

A good cheerleader realizes that practice makes perfect. Stunts often require members of the squad to be patient and not get bored after practicing the same stunt time and time again. While some members will learn the routine fast others will take longer and it is every cheerleaders goal to make sure all are the best they can be.

Good cheerleaders looks forward to the "shining" moments during performances and wants every member of the squad to have their share at the spotlight. Cheer-leading is not about one cheerleader but the entire squad of cheerleaders. By coordinating efforts of the squad the performance appeals to everyone. With such precision and synchronization the cheer-leading group does their job and the crowd will react with enthusiasm

One thing that none of us like is criticism. We practice and work toward the goal for long period of time only to hear criticism?? A cheer leader must be able to handle such criticism in order to grow and perfect the routine. A good cheer leader should keep an open mind and listen to other's point of view and be objective about it. Criticism should not be looked at as a personal attack but rather as a way to improve the routine.

.Does your child dream of being a cheerleader? Do they have the correct heart and attitude

March 1st Lion or Lamb

In Like A Lion Out Like A Lamb

Since I was a little girl I have heard the old saying : March comes in like a Lion and goes out like a Lamb. I decided to do a bit of research into this and turned to a favorite faithful resource of my parents and grandparents the Farmers Almanac

It seems that weather sayings come from a range of resources and may or may not be based on careful observations. Some are accurate and others are merely rhymes or beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation. In the olden days it was believed that there were spirits that could affect the weather and so if you believed in this then you were very cautious as to what behaviors you had. The important thing to do was to keep a balance between your life and the weather. Thus the opposition between a lion and a lamb.

The truth is that this saying is simply a rhyme more than it is a true weather predictor. We all know that March weather is very unpredictable. Today here in our neighborhood March 1st has started with some freezing rain, snow on the ground and very cold. The hope is that since it March started like a lion it will end at peace like a lamb with lots of sun and warmth. We never really know though since March may offer us winter like weather or get warm like spring. My hopes are that you get the weather that you desire.

Family Fun Tip
On a calendar for the month of March keep tract of the days. If it is a cold day then place a Lion or if it is a spring like day place a Lamb. This should be a fun activity to see if the old saying is true for your weather or not. Have Fun

Leap Day Tornado

The last Leap Day that I celebrated this is what happened. An EF4 tornado hit our community and surrounding communities. The devastation left behind was amazing and drew our community together. The love within our hearts for each other is amazing. While things were destroyed that day, lives were lost we carried on. We will never forget that day but will continue to build stronger.

Reasoning Leap Year

Why do we have Leap Year:

I saw a cute piece on one of the early morning shows. I am not sure which one. I am sorry but I was at work. But the reason for leap year goes like this

For example just for a moment imagine that a cherry pie is equal to one year.

Now if you are not aware for the earth to complete orbit of the sun it takes 365.2422 days to complete. We use the Gregorian calendar which has 365 days a year but you can easily see that a full orbit consist of just a bit more than the 365 days. The extra time for the orbit to take place is excused via means of leap seconds. So each year we have what would average 1/4 of pie extra every year

Each year we are given an extra 1/4 of the pie of time and thus at the end of 4 years we have enough to equal an extra day. So every 4 years on February 29 we celebrate leap day.

Rare Disease Day

The last day of the month of February is a day that looks at rare disease. What makes up a rare disease is something that takes on different meanings in different parts of the world. A rare disease in Europe affects fewer than one in 2,000 people yet in the U.S. the standard is a bit different affecting 1 in 200,000. Most rare diseases are genetic in origin, still others are the result of infections, environmental or degenerative factors.

The goal of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness among the general public and decision makers. Since rare diseases do not affect as many as other diseases do I am sure that there may be many that are not aware they even exist. Rare Disease Day helps bring to light the impact that these diseases have on patients lives. The holiday was first observed in Europe in 2008. It was the European Rare Disease Organization that shared the holiday. The holiday was first celebrated in the U.S. only 2 years ago in 2014. 

The theme for 2016 Rare Disease Day is to celebrate the "patients voice" You can get involved in Rare Disease Day by:

• Telling others your story. If you love someone or are someone who has a rare disease then share your story with others. You never know it may help someone that hears you talk
• Take a selfie with a sign made celebrating Rare Disease Day and holding your hands high
• Join in an event, there are several planned, where Rare Disease Day is celebrated
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Happy Leap Day

Happy Leap Day!!! May you Leap Into A Lucky Day and The Rest of the Year Be Leaping Beautiful. 

Spring To Me Brings Back Creamsicle

With the weather getting warmer my mind starts thinking about times gone by and the food we have enjoyed. Can your remember those delicious creamsicle frozen treats? I sure do and I thought I would share this yummy treat recipe with you. I think its perfect for Easter treats as well.

CreamSicle Fudge
(original recipe Woman's Day)

•6 oz (1.5 sticks) butter
•2 cups granulated sugar
•3/4 cup heavy cream
•1 package (12 oz) white chocolate chips
•1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow cream (or fluff)
•1 tablespoon orange extract
•orange (or a combination of red and yellow) food coloring

Prepare a 13x9 pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray. In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, cream, and butter over medium heat. Continually stir the mixture until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Brush down the sides with a wet pastry brush. Bring the mixture to a boil, and once it starts boiling, stir continuously for four minutes. After four minutes of boiling, remove the pan from the heat and immediately stir in the marshmallow cream and white chocolate chips. Stir until the white chocolate has melted and the fudge is completely smooth. Working quickly, pour about a third of the white fudge into a bowl and set aside. To the remaining fudge, add the orange extract and orange food coloring, stirring until it is a smooth, even color. It is important to perform these steps quickly, because the fudge will start to set if you take too long, and the end result will not be smooth. Pour the orange fudge into the prepared pan and spread it into an even layer. Drop the white fudge over the top by the spoonful, then drag a table knife or toothpick through the fudge to create orange-white swirls. You can spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray and gently press them into the top to smooth out the swirls, if desired. Allow the fudge to set at room temperature for 2 hours, or in the refrigerator for 1 hour. To cut, pull the fudge out of the pan using the foil as handles. Use a large sharp knife to cut the fudge into small 1-inch squares. Store Orange Creamsicle Fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, and bring it to room temperature to serve.

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