How to Make a Kite

While kites are inexpensive to buy, making one adds to the fun. You'll be especially proud when your diamond shaped creation takes to the sky.

Things You'll Need:
2 Dowel Rods
Ruler Or Yardstick
Utility Knife
Strong String
Stiff Construction Paper
X-Acto Knife
Glue
Scissors
Ribbons Or Strips Of Cloth




Instructions:
Step 1
Cut two lengths of doweling rod, one 16 inches long and another 24 inches long.


Step 2
Measure each cut piece with a ruler. Mark the shorter, 16 inch piece at half its length and mark the longer, 24 inch piece at a third of its length.


Step 3
Position the two rods at right angles, one on top of the other so that the marks touch. The two rods should form a cross shape.


Step 4
With strong, thin string, bind the two rods together where they meet. Tie a secure knot and cut off excess string.


Step 5
Use a utility knife to cut a small notch into the ends of both rods. These notches will hold the string that gives the kite its shape.


Step 6
Place some string in the notch at the top of the kite frame and wind it around the top of the rod.


Step 7
When the string is well secured at the top of the rod, draw it tightly around the edge of the frame. Make sure it fits securely into each notch in the rods.


Step 8
When you return to the top of the frame, secure the string by tying its ends together in a tight knot.


Step 9
Place the finished frame on top of a large piece of paper.


Step 10
Using the kite frame as a template, cut the paper with scissors or a utility knife. Leave an excess of about 1/2 inch when cutting around the sections of string.


Step 11
Smear glue along the outside edges of the paper and fold it over so that it encloses the string and secures itself to the paper inside the frame as well. Make sure you use enough glue and spread it evenly enough to attach the paper both to the string and itself.


Step 12
Tie a length of string to each end of the shorter rod. The string should be a bit longer than the rod.


Step 13
Tie another length of string to each end of the longer rod. Again, the string should be a bit longer than the rod.


Step 14
Pick up the two strings with one hand, finding the point at the front of the kite where they overlap. Using a bit of extra string, tie them together. This is the point at which you will attach the kite string when it comes time to fly.


Step 15
To make a tail for your kite, secure several ribbons to the bottom of the kite using strong glue.

Now You're Ready To Fly!!!

PiperLime.com

You can shop Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, PiperLime, and Athleta all from this same website!!!

www.piperlime.com

Chicken & Broccoli Lasagna

Makes 8 Servings

(double batch, so you can freeze half to eat another time)

For the sauce:

- 4 tbs. butter

- 4 tbs. flour

- 2 cups milk

- 1 cup chicken broth

- 3 eggs

- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese

- 1/2 tsp. salt

- Pinch of nutmeg

- Pinch of ground red pepper

- Lasagna noodles

- 2 tbs. butter

- 1 cup chopped onion

- 1 tsp. minced garlic

- 1 1/2 cup diced chicken

- 1 bag frozen broccoli cuts

- 1/4 cup parsley

- 1 lb mozzarella, sliced thin

- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Sauce:

- Melt butter, stir in flour.

- Add milk, whisk until smooth.

- Stir in broth.

- Cook, stirring constantly, until thick.

- Beat eggs in separate bowl, add small amount of sauce; then combine egg mix with all sauce.

- Stir in cheese and seasonings.

- Cook noodles.

- Sauté chicken in butter with onion and garlic.

- Stir in broccoli, cook 5 min.until tender.

- Add seasonings.

- Layer in 9 x 13 pan: sauce, mozzarella, noodles, chicken. Repeat. Finish with cheese.

*To serve: Bake 350F for 50 min, until bubbly.*

Easy to make and isn’t as expensive as regular homemade lasagna.

You can freeze leftovers for a delicious meal days later.

Best Info To Know

To my friends who enjoy a glass of wine... and to those who don't.

As Ben Franklin said:
In wine there is wisdom,
in beer there is freedom,
in water there is bacteria.

In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 litre of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. coli) - bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop.

However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, whiskey or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

So Remember:

Water = Poop

Wine = Health

Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid,
than to drink water and be full of shit.

There is no need to thank me for this valuable information: I'm doing it as a public service. ;)

10 Habits for a Stronger Heart

The smartest plan for attacking a heart attack is, of course, preventing one from ever happening. Choose at least three of the following strategies and make them a habit. The closer to the top, the more you reduce your risk of heart disease.

1. Drink Five Glasses of Water a Day

People who drink that many 8 ounce glasses are 54 % less likely to have a fatal heart attack than those who drink 2 or fewer glasses a day. Researchers say the water dilutes the blood, making it less likely to clot.

2. Convince Your Partner to Stop Smoking

Nonsmoking spouses of smoking partners face a 92 % increase in their risk of heart attack. Breathing secondhand smoke boosts bad cholesterol levels, decreases good cholesterol, and increases your blood's tendency to clot.

3. Work Out for 30 Minutes, 4 Times a Week

Middle aged people who exercise vigorously for 2 or more hours cumulatively per week have 60% less risk of heart attack than inactive people do.

4. Lose 10 to 20 Pounds

If you're overweight, dropping 10 to 20 pounds lowers your risk of dying from a heart attack. A 10 year study found that overweight people had heart attacks 8.2 years earlier than normal weight victims.

5. Switch from Coffee to Tea

A recent study found that people who drink 3 cups of tea a day have half the risk of heart attack of those who don't drink tea at all. Potent antioxidants, called flavonoids, provide a protective effect.

6. Eat Salmon on Saturday, Tuna on Tuesday

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health say that eating fish at least twice a week lowers heart disease risk by more than 30 %. The magic ingredient is the omega 3 fatty acids.

7. Ask Your Doctor About Vitamin E and Aspirin

Men who take both, cut the plaque in clogged arteries by more than 80 %, according to a recent University of Pennsylvania study.

8. Eat a Cup of Total Corn Flakes for Breakfast

This cereal contains one of the highest concentrations of folate (675 micrograms) of any cereal. Taking in that much folic acid daily cuts your risk of cardiovascular disease by 13 %, according to researchers.

9. Count to 10

Creating a 10 second buffer before reacting to a stressful situation may be enough to cool you down. People who respond with anger are 3 times more likely to have heart disease and 5 times more likely to have a heart attack before turning 55.

10. Eat Watermelon

It contains about 40 % more lycopene than is found in raw tomatoes, and a new study shows that your body absorbs it at higher levels due to the melon's high water content. Half a wedge can boost heart disease prevention by 30 %.

Now go ahead make your choice!

New Site!

Check this site out. It is Amazing!!

www.shopbop.com

Celebrity Gossip

Just wanted to share these YouTube videos and some pics with you all of Wes from The Bachelorette.

Wes Tells All: His Own Addition...

The real story from Wes' own mouth:
Many of you have wondered why I didn't go on the Men Tell All. It's quite simple........ they would not allow me to say what I have said in interviews. I didn't want to go thru another editing job by ABC. If you want to hear it in my own words. Check out the YouTube video. I think you will find it VERY interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDjAtDIngik

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Wes Live on ABC:
Here's a video clip of Wes on Good Morning Texas on ABC on July 28, 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIhEUfVuP7o

*and an interview after that...

Wes Tells All on Good Morning Texas:
From the hit TV show The Bachelorette, bad boy Wes Hayden appeared on WFAA's "Good Morning Texas" to set the record straight about what he said was just "playing a character."
WES HAYDEN!! SMALL PORTION OF THE TRUTH FROM GOOD MORNING TEXAS INTERVIEW..CHECK IT OUT..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDuHp_GvmJ0

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Here are pics from the show that they were talking about at The Gaylord Glass Cactus in the second Youtube video...

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Here is Me (on the left) and my friend, Kara and I enjoying the show.

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High school buddies Wes and Jeremy, from Deanna's season of Bachelorette.

I have caught alot of crap from people as to why we went to the show. It was a great show, we had a fun time, and he is not as bad of a guy as it looked on The Bachelorette. Take away all that and just listen to his music... it's pretty good, you just might like it too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-IrQscU3o4&NR=1

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Here is an interview that lasts about an hour with Wes, but this youtube interview does it in 9, 10 minute sessions, so that's why there are 9 parts.

Interview Part 1

Interview Part 2

Interview part 3

Interview Part 4

Interview Part 5

Interview Part 6

Interview Part 7

Interview Part 8

Interview Part 9

*******************

*******************

After all this extra info... Now you can decide if you think Wes is still a Bad Guy or a Good Guy now?!?!

What do ya think?

I would love to hear your opinons, good or bad.

Chicken Pasta Primavera

*Ingredients*
- 1 Red Bell Pepper (cut all into 1 inch pieces)
- 1 Yellow Bell Pepper (cut all into 1 inch pieces)
- 1 Green Bell Pepper (cut all into 1 inch pieces)
- 4 tbl extra virgin olive oil (E.V.O.O.)
- 2 cloves of glarlic (minced (finely chopped))
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can peeled & diced tomatoes (no need to drain)
- 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes w/ green chile peppers (rotel) (no need to drain)
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomatoe sauce
- 1 pound angel hair pasta
- 2 tbl butter
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (cut into bite size pieces)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic herb
- 1/2 tsp Toney's creole seasoning (if you want it a little spicey)
- 1/2 rubbed sage
- 1/4 cup parmesean grated cheese


*Directions*
Sauce:
- In a large skillet, over med heat, cook the peppers in 2 tbl of E.V.O.O. w/ the minced garlic until just tender.
- Stir in diced tomatoes & diced tomatoes w/chilies (rotel), add spices, & reduce heat to med-low to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove to a serving bowl.

Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, add pasta, & cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender. Drain.

Chicken:
- While pasta is cooking, heat 2 tbl of EVOO & the butter over med. heat in a large skillet.
- Cook the bite size pieces of chicken in the butter mixture until juices run clear, about 5-10 minutes.
- Place cooked chicken over tomatoe sauce mixture

- Put the chicken over the pasta, with sauce and parmesean on top.

- Serve with some broiled garlic toast and a side salad and Eat It Up!

Cupcake Bath Puff

What's more convenient than a bath puff with the soap already in it?

Supplies: 1 pound melt & pour glycerin soap (Dial gylcerin soap works well)

5 Mini/travel bath puffs

Cupcake pan (silicone pans are good)

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What To Do:

1) Melt soap in microwave for 30 seconds at a time until the soap is all melted.

2) Pour the melted soap into the cupcake pan, filling it half full.

3) Press the bath puff into the pan.'

4) Allow to it to set for a little while then remove it from the pan.

This would make a fun filler in an Easter basket or a nice gift for Mother's Day.

Outsmart Your Appetite

With diet traps lurking around every dinner table and pantry shelf, it's easy to overeat. Here's how to navigate the danger zones without gaining a pound.

Sidestep These Diet Traps:

You work out regularly, and you watch what you eat, so why do you have to lie down to button your skinny jeans?
Things around you, from the candles on your dining room table to those super cute dessert plates, are setting you up to overindulge. "But if you understand the external forces that make you buy and eat more, you can avoid the pitfalls," says Brian Wansink, PhD, a FITNESS advisory board member and the author of Mindless
Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think.

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Diet Trap: Eating Slowly
Mom's been telling you for years to stop shoveling in your food, and you know that this bad habit makes you consume more calories. But eating too slowly can also backfire. Research shows that the longer a meal lasts, the likelier we are to reach for a third glass of wine or dinner roll. "Just sitting at the table means a greater chance of nibbling on something, even if you're not hungry," says Sasha Loring, a psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher at Duke Integrative Medicine.

Sidestep It: A meal should last 45 minutes, just long enough for you to enjoy it, but not so much that you'll overeat.

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Diet Trap: Low Fat Labels
When a food (even chips or cookies) is labeled low-fat, we think it's healthy and tend to go overboard, research shows.

Sidestep It: Look at the serving and portion size. Bonus in smaller packages provide a stopping point, so you can decide whether you want to keep eating. If you think you've downed an entire serving, you're more likely to feel satisfied.

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Diet Trap: Meals in Front of the TV
Time to Fess Up... How many times this week did you dine under the influence of TV?
Kids in a University of Toronto study who ate in front of the tube consumed, on average, 228 more calories than those who didn't. "If you're distracted during a meal, you'll enjoy your food less and lose track of how much you're eating," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Sidestep It: Can't give up a night watching your favorite shows like The Bachelorette or So You Think You Can Dance?... (my personal favs) Then DVR them and consider it your after dinner treat.

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Diet Trap: Too Many Choices
Research suggests that a plate holding a variety of foods heightens our senses and turns on our taste buds. "Take away the choice and our senses get numbed, making a tray of the same type of muffin look less appealing," says Wansink.

Sidestep It: To help you say no to the bagels and doughnuts at your next meeting, bring a snack of your own, or pick a spot at the table where you'll have to leave your chair to take one. You'll be more likely to think twice about it, since you'd attract attention to yourself getting up.

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Diet Trap: Color
Ever wondered why lots of fast food joints use red in their stores and logos? It's because red is a stimulating color and it just may increase your appetite.

Sidestep It: In your kitchen, go for blue, which experts believe suppresses hunger. "Blue is a soothing, calming color that can subconsciously help you slow down and enjoy your meal," says Taub-Dix. Not ready for robin's-egg walls? Use blue place mats, or arrange a bouquet of hydrangeas as a centerpiece.

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Diet Trap: Family Style Dinners
A serving bowl of fluffy mashed potatoes on the table is just begging you to take a second (or third) helping. Instead, put a full portion on your plate at the beginning of the meal and leave the rest on the kitchen counter... you're more likely to eat less this way.

Sidestep It: Make it harder to pig out. Put the leftovers in the freezer immediately after you serve a meal. Since it takes more effort to defrost a food, you are less likely to dip into it all week.

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Diet Trap: Mouthwatering Aromas
Can't gather the willpower to keep walking past the bakery once you get a whiff of chocolate chip cookies? Studies show that simply smelling a food can increase appetite and stimulate salivation, which will make you eat more if you do indulge.

Sidestep It: Distract yourself so you won't follow your nose. Take out your cell phone and check voice mail or send a few texts when you walk by that yummy smelling cafe.

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Diet Trap: Wining While Dining
Keep the bottle on the table while you eat and you're more likely to refill your glass (100 calories or more a pour).

Sidestep It: Leave the bottle on the counter or in the refrigerator during dinner, and use tall glasses. People in one study poured 28 percent more into short, wide glasses than they did into tall, narrow ones, even though both glasses held the same amount.

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Diet Trap: Group Outings
Hitting your favorite restaurant with friends? The celebratory atmosphere means you're more likely to let your dietary guard down. Typically, when you eat with another person, you consume 35 percent more than you would alone, and the amount you eat increases as much as 10 percent with each additional person at the table.

Sidestep It: Sit next to the smartest eater, sharing with her or reaching for the same foods she does.

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Diet Trap: Cute Dessert Plates
Those plates you got as a housewarming gift could be upping your sweets intake. In one study, people were asked to rate brownies served on dessert plates, paper plates, and napkins. Although they were all from the same batch, those on real plates were rated "excellent" compared with "nothing special" for those on napkins.

Why? Our taste buds are led by our imagination. We figure that the dessert on the pretty plate is more likely to be delicious and if we expect a food to taste good, it will. And of course, the tastier it is, the more we eat.

Sidestep It: Put your fine china away and use your tableware that is not as nice.

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Diet Trap: Buying in Bulk
It may be better for your budget, but loading up at a Sams can sabotage your diet if you're not careful. In one study, people who were given large packages of spaghetti, sauce, and meat typically prepared 23 percent more (around 150 extra calories) than those given medium-size ones. "Big packages make you think that your portions can be bigger too," says Wansink.

Sidestep It: When you're unpacking your groceries, separate the contents of giant value packs into several smaller containers.

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Diet Trap: In-Your-Face Goodies
If candy is in a clear container rather than an opaque one, we'll eat 22 percent more, research shows. "When we see something delicious, the pancreas secretes insulin, which lowers our blood sugar and makes us feel hungry," says Wansink.

Sidestep It: Keep treats under cover. Hide your favorite snacks at the bottom of the fridge or in a drawer. If it's not right there in front of you, You are less likely to reach for it.

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Diet Trap: Mood Lighting
You may be tempted to dim the overhead lights before you sit down to dine with your sweetie, but studies show that it may spur your appetite. "Soft lighting calms you down, making you more comfortable and uninhibited," says Wansink.

The result? You reach for that monster size serving of fettuccine Alfredo and pile on extra Parmesan. But too bright lights are also bad news. They stimulate your senses and can cause you to eat faster and feel rushed.

Sidestep It: Ditch the candlelit meals and the bright fluorescent lights, and find a happy medium.

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Diet Trap: Icy Temperatures
Restaurants and theaters often keep thermostats low. That's not good for your waistline, because your body needs to eat more to stay warm. In hot temps, you'll drink more liquids and eat less.

Sidestep It: Set your thermostat between 68 and 75 degrees and bring a jacket when you go out to eat or to the movies.

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Diet Trap: Easy Access
Are you more likely to indulge in a slice of chocolate cake if 1) you have to bake it from scratch or 2) if it's sitting on your kitchen counter? It's a no brainer. We're lazy when it comes to snacks.

Sidestep It: Avoid buying treats at the grocery store. This way, if your sweet tooth hits, you have to get out of the house and go get some, which is sometimes more trouble than it's worth and you'll pass up on eating sweets.

Now Get To Side Stepin'!