Give Me 5

Becca over at Give Me 5 Monday asked us to listed our TOP 5 Summer TV shows.
I would if I could, but there are only 2!

Eureka

Stargate Atlantis

Have and Have Nots

I saw this a while back over at Mercedes World.

Everything that I have done is in purple. 120 haves and 80 have nots!

It’s long but I hope you enjoy it.

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby’s diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain up a trail
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said “I love you” and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath does a shower after the 1994 earthquake?
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don’t
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Accidentally bounced a check & then bought a calculator
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon I have been to the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someones mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair highlighted
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden on a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf does body surfing count?
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon - been to the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator I would freak out
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

Give Me Five ways to fit exercise into your life

The Give-Me-Five Monday meme is hosted by Becca and is designed to share fun information in a short list. This week's topic was suggested by Joyce at Mom's Musings.

Give Me Five ways to fit exercise into your life.

1. Start by rearranging your schedule so you make time for 30 minutes of exercise each day. You can always find 30 minutes if you try hard enough!
2. Walk the dogs around the block or a couple of blocks.
3. Take several quick trips up and down the stairs several times a day.
4. Park as far away from the entrance to any store as possible.
5. Do leg lifts or free weights for your arms while you're watching TV at night.
   

Thursday Thirteen ~ All about ITALIAN coffee

So is everyone out there as confused as they sound when they order Italian coffee?
I thought I'd do a list of the definitions you need know in order to order efficiently.
Learn more here.

1. Caffè (kah-FE) - We might call it espresso; a small cup of very strong coffee, topped with a caramel-colored foam called "crema", a very important element in the best examples.
2. Caffè Hag is a decafinated version. You can order a "decafinato" as well; Hag is the name of the largest producer of Italian decaf coffee and that's the way you'll see it on many bar menu boards.
3. Bicerìn (pronounced BI-che-rin) - Traditional drink of Piemonte around Torino, consisting of dense hot cocoa, espresso and cream, artfully layered in a small glass. Not usually found outside of the Piemonte region.
4. Caffè Shakerato (kah-FE shake-er-Ah-to ) - in its most simple form, a caffe shakerato is made by combining freshly made espresso, a bit of sugar, and lots of ice, shaking the whole deal vigorously until a froth forms when poured. Can have some chocolate syrup added. See, Caffe Shakerato - What's This Italian Shakerato Thing.
5. Caffè latte (kah-FE LAH-te) - Espresso with hot milk, a cappuccino without the foam usually served in a glass. This is what you might call a "latte" in the US. In Italy, outside of tourist joints, you run the risk of getting what you asked for - milk, or worse yet, steamed milk.
6. Latte macchiato (Lah-te mahk-YAH-to) - Steamed milk "stained" with espresso, served in a glass. Ideally 1/3 espresso, 2/3 warm milk with a small head of foam - aka a coffee with milk that costs 5 times as much as coffee with milk.
7. Cappuccino (pronounced kah-pu-CHEE-no) - a shot of espresso in a large(er) cup with steamed milk and foam. Not ordered by Italians after 11 in the morning.
8. Caffè con panna - espresso with sweet whipped cream
9. Caffè ristretto (kah-FE ri-STRE-to) - a "restricted coffee" or one in which the stream of coffee is stopped before the normal amount. The essense of coffee, concentrated but should not be bitter.
10. Caffè corretto (kah-FE ko-RE-to) - coffee "corrected" with a drizzle of liquor. I like sambuca, but most prefer conac or grappa.
11. Caffè freddo (kah-FE FRAYD-o) - Iced, or at least cold, coffee
12. Caffè lungo (Kah-FE LOON-go) - a long coffee. They'll let the water pour from the machine until the coffee becomes weak and bitter. Also called a Caffè Americano or American Coffee, which is also expressed as acqua sporca, or "dirty water" by Italians.
13. Caffè con zucchero (ZU-kero) - espresso with sugar. Usually, you'll add your own from a container at the bar, but in some places, especially in the south around Naples, the coffee comes with sugar and you have to order it "sensa zucchero" or without sugar if you don't like it sweet.
    

Give Me 5 Tip or Tricks for clutter and cleaning

Give Me Five tips and tricks for keeping your house clean and clutter free.

1. Organization - Everything has a place and when you're done using it, it goes back in its place. Period. This includes newspapers, magazines, bills, filing, etc...
   
2. NO Procrastination - When a job needs doing - I do it - otherwise you end up with stacks to sort or chores to do when you should be doing something else.
3. Use the basics - I don't spend a lot of time or money on fancy cleaners. I use the same things our grandmothers used like bleach, vinegar, soap & water.
4. Dishes - this one goes back to #1 - if you use a dish rinse it & put it in the dishwasher. I also do this as I cook and by the time dinner rolls around all I have to do is put our plates in and press start.
5. Sinks - if you wipe them down after each use they stay cleaner (or at least look it when you have guests.
   

Give Me 5 #25

Give Me Five tips and tricks to save money
or cut corners to stretch your budget.

1. When I menu plan, I plan meals back to back that require the same items. For instance, if a meal calls for a half a box of mushrooms, you can bet that the next night's meal will call for the other half of the box. I don't use a lot of prepared veggies or box mixes. Due to health issues I was forced to prepare everything fresh many years ago. And while it does take a little longer, we no longer have a ton of leftovers because we only prepare enough for us to consume and ultimately this save us money and our health! I also use a mortar and pestle for dried herbs which revives their aromas instead of buying pricey fresh herbs. Ultimately I will build a greenhouse and grow my own on many items!
2. Plan your trips to town. I no longer run to Walmart on one day and the doctor on the next. I plan 1 day around ALL the errands once every 10 days or every 2 weeks. I work from home so I also use the USPS stamps.com and Fedex pick-ups. Try shopping overstock.com too. They have super reasonable shipping ($2.95) and can eliminate all the running around to find everything from books, sheets, electronics to furniture & more! And all for $2.95 shipping an entire order, less than a gallon of gas.
   
3. I clip coupons. Okay, that sounds a bit mundane, but if you also watch the ads you can save a bundle. Hubby didn't really believe me in the beginning so 1 week, I saved the receipt where it shows at the bottom how much you saved. I put it and the amount I saved on his dresser with a note tell him to go have fun with the boys. When he asked if that was for real (the part where he got to go play with the money), I said sure. He asked if we could do it all the time and Guess who started helping me watch for sales and clip coupons?
4. Buy in bulk or when they have dollar days sales ALL the items that won't expire or go bad. Things like paper towels, toilet paper, soaps, shampoos, etc...
   
5. Turn off lights!! Have you seen the price of electricity? We also don't leave on the computers or unnecessary electronics! It adds up really fast!

Thursday Thirteen ** 13 of my Favorite, but hardly eaten foods

Boston Cream Pie

Beer Battered Deep Fried Halibut

German Chocolate Cake

Red Velvet cake with real butter cream frosting

Crab Cakes

Beef Goulash

Strawberry Shortcake with real shortcake not the store bought imitations

Tempura

Banana Cream Pie

Beef Wellington

Lemon Meringue Pie

Spaghetti Carbonara

Home made Apple Blackberry Cobbler

Give me 5 Favorite Candies

*My all time favorite is from See's Candy~~~Milk Chocolate Bordeaux ^TM
See's Milk Chocolate-coated Bordeaux ^TM is a heavenly blend of brown sugar and buttercream, rich and creamy.

*HERSHEY'S KISSES - both regular and cherry cordial - yummy!

*REESES - the original ones only!

*SYMPHONY - milk chocolate
*KRACKLE - brings back childhood memories

Friday's Feast

Appetizer Invent a new flower; give it a name and describe it.
I love German Bearded Irises, Sunflowers, lacy Parrot Tulips and Daisies, regular and Gerber. My new flower would have the delicate petals of the daisy with the fringed lacy edges of the Iris and Parrot Tulip and grow as tall and strong as the sunflower so they would last longer. Some would be red and yellow like the Parrot Tulips and others would have the deep purple and blue hues of the German Bearded Irises. I'd call it a Gracie after Sandra Bullock's character because she was strong, lacy around the edges, bold and beautiful inside and out. It would smell like a cross of apple pie and pumpkin pie with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla.

Soup Name someone whom you think has a wonderful voice.
James Earl Jones - I love when he narrates like he did the Serengeti for the IMAX film.

Salad On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how clean do you keep your car?
Used to be a 9, but since moving to the country, try as I might for the 9, I only reach a 7 most of the time. Winters are a -1.

Main Course How do you feel about poetry?
I like Odes especially because they tell a story.

Dessert What was the last person/place/thing you took a picture of?
A wine bottle and glass for the PhotoHunt meme.