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A Doggy Christmas Surprise

Heather R. — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:54:45 +0000

My kids used to be easily entertained by the funny cat and dog videos we used to look up on Youtube. The videos of cats skidding across floors and dogs jumping up to catch a frisbee but missing and landing in a pool are booooring to them now, so when I go searching for something fun to surprise them with I have to be extra discerning!

This video comes from Hungary, and features an actual dog obedience school’s presentation group putting on a performance for the holidays!

These very well-trained (and cute!) dogs decorate a Christmas tree, complete with ornaments, glass balls, tinsel and even the presents before plopping down from exhaustion. That’s about how I feel after a day of decorating, too!

Unless your dogs are this well-trained, it’s probably best not to let them chomp down on the glass balls, though — ouch! Check out some other holiday pet safety tips.

Post from: Blisstree

A Doggy Christmas Surprise

Homemade Pasta Recipe

Heather R. — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:22:46 +0000

Today marks the last day of National Pasta Week, but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to enjoy it just the same! Pasta is one of my family’s favorite things to eat (and one of my favorite things to make), whether it’s with an easy tomato sauce, a cream sauce or just some olive oil, garlic and fresh chopped tomatoes.

Though it might be easier to just use dried, store-bought pasta from a box for your next meal, the taste and texture of fresh pasta is really worth the bit of time and effort it takes to make it.

The recipe below, which makes about three servings, doubles or triples easily.

Homemade Basic Pasta
from allrecipes.com

1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons water

~ In a medium sized bowl, combine flour and salt.

~ Make a well in the flour, add the slightly beaten egg, and mix. Mixture should form a stiff dough. If needed, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons water.

~ On a lightly floured surface, knead dough for about 3 to 4 minutes.

~ With a pasta machine or by hand roll dough out to desired thinness.

~ Use machine or knife to cut into strips of desired width.

~ To cook, place in lightly salted boiling water until the pasta floats. Drain and serve with desired sauce.

…..

~ Homemade pasta photo tutorial
~ Homemade pasta for kids
~ Homemade pasta for hectic nights
~ Vegan pasta dough
~ Gluten-free homemade pasta
~ Homemade pasta sauce
~ Meatballs and homemade pasta sauce

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Homemade Pasta Recipe

Please…Don’t Photograph My Crafts!

Mary Emma Allen — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:42:53 +0000

Having someone (generally a stranger) photograph their crafts and original designs without permission concerns many artisans. In today’s electronic world, with cell phones that can take a photo unobtrusively in a second, this becomes an even greater concern.

Image: sxc.hu

In addition, the picture taker can almost instantly place these photos on a site/blog or send to another person. Even signs around your display, “Please do not take photos,” won’t deter some people. These signs may even spur them on as a challenge.

With today’s ease in photography and the disregard (or ignorance) of copyright, most crafts aren’t safe from copying. Print magazines still adhere to the legal terms of copyright and getting permission to post photos and designs. However, while some Internet publishers are aware, the general public often isn’t or figures there’s no way of an artisan following up if the photos are used and designs copied.

Also, photos of you may appear on the Internet. This might be to your benefit if it publicizes your business and art. However, it is nice to know beforehand if it’s going to happen.

This is something to be aware of…that your designs aren’t safe from copying or being posted on the Internet. Sometimes you don’t mind if it publicizes you. Other times it can mean infringement of your ownership.

What can you do? What have you done when this happens?

Post from: Blisstree

Please…Don’t Photograph My Crafts!

Life Size Lego House Built~ Then Tore Down?

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:02:25 +0000

My son loves to make Lego creations, but this Lego creation tops them all. A life size Lego house was built this August in Dorking, Surrey for the BBC series James May’s Toy Stories. The Lego structure was built complete with a working toilet and shower. James May wanted it to be placed at Legoland, but a deal to put it there fell through, so the Lego house did not have a long life.

Post from: Blisstree

Life Size Lego House Built~ Then Tore Down?

The 10 Coffee Shop Commandments

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:16:09 +0000

I was sitting here and thinking of all of the weirdness that goes on in coffee shops. I mean, talk about slice of life!

The thing is that different people go to coffee shops for different reasons. Marc and I go to have some time alone and talk. Some people go to have business meetings. Students go there to study. Lots of people with lots of reasons and sometimes the lifestyles clash.

Post from: Blisstree

The 10 Coffee Shop Commandments

It’s National White Chocolate Day

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:18:42 +0000

Today, September 23rd, is National White Chocolate Day. Though not a holiday in the sense that it’s not observed or, well, even recognized as a real holiday, it doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun with it! White chocolate, which is actually a recent “invention” by Nestle created to use up excess cocoa butter, is a good addition to many baked goods, though it w

Post from: Blisstree

It’s National White Chocolate Day

How to green your budget

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:35:28 +0000

Odds are if you’re thrifty, you’re also already pretty darn green. Eco-friendly living and thrifty living go hand in hand in so many ways. However, there’s always a few more things you can do to green your budget situation. Bank responsibly: Banks are not all the same shade of green. Some banks offer special green incentives and ways you can socially invest your money as well.

Post from: Blisstree

How to green your budget

New EyeClops Mini Projector For Kids

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:22:13 +0000

Jakks Pacific has some of the coolest gadgets for kids. I love their Night Vision Goggles, they were a huge hit last year at Christmastime. This year Jakks is introducing a new EyeClops® Mini Projector for kids to add to their wish list, I’m sure it’s going to be a popular toy for Christmas 2009.

Post from: Blisstree

New EyeClops Mini Projector For Kids

Chocolate Strawberry Banana Smoothie

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:05:17 +0000

We all know that chocolate and strawberries together are good, and chocolate and bananas are good, and bananas and strawberries are good. So how can you go wrong with all three together in one relatively healthy drink? PerfectSmoothie.com has a lot of great tips for making, well, a perfect smoothie! Their four vital tips to make a smoothie are to use frozen ingredients, choose “super foods,” use a high end blender, and make it healthy. They also offer information on the health benefits of having a smoothie every day.

Post from: Blisstree

Chocolate Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Baby’s 13-Month Sleep Regression

admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:34:48 +0000

Now I have no idea whether there is such an “official” thing as a “13-month sleep regression” — a general tendency for babies to wake more frequently at night when they turn about 13 months old, but I am too tired to look into it. My toddler just turned 14 months old and the last month has been a challenge in the (lack of) sleep department. I noticed other mothers mentioning that their toddlers were night-waking more often too, and I am not surprised. There must be a few different factors playing into it.

Post from: Blisstree

Baby’s 13-Month Sleep Regression