Yogurt Time!

I have been eating Greek yogurt every day for as long as I can remember and I have been paying an arm and a leg for it for as long as I can remember. This morning it occurred to me that yogurt is mostly milk and milk is readily available at any grocery store, so it can't be hard to make, right? RIGHT!

I found all kinds of easy recipes for making your own yogurt and they're all super doable. All you need is a crock pot or regular pot (double-boiler recommended, but what Average Joe has one of those?), milk, bowl, candy thermometer, yogurt starter*, cheese cloth or towel, colander and time. I couldn't believe it. Next week I'm going to do a test run and you can bet you'll read about it here when I get back.

Here are just two of the recipes I was able to find:

Pot and bowl version: http://cleanerplateclub.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/makin-yogurt-from-scratch-you-bet-i-am/

Crock Pot version: http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/04/crockpot-greek-yogurt.html

*You can buy yogurt cultures online and at some local stores...OR you can just use store bought yogurt to get things rolling. The cool part is you only need to do it once, when you make following batches of yogurt just use a bit from the previous batch. The heat will grow the good bacteria for your whole batch.

Happy Wednesday!

-Shala-

No Socks!

Today is National No Socks to Work Day, so take off your socks and donate a pair to the homeless or others in need.  If you ask me it's a pretty cool way to go commando in your shoes :)  What's better is the organization could not make it any easier to donate a pair of socks - check out the locations here.  Visit their site to read all about it at http://nosocks.cranberry.com/


Happy Holidays,
Allison

Rock, Paper, Scissors

This year most of my gifts are handmade, which is proving to consume more time than I had originally budgeted, but I think the receivers are going to be pleased. A few things on the list are hot pot table protectors made with bamboo mats and rocks,(from my back yard), personalized notebooks with tabs for each month of 2013 and woven pixel pictures made with strips of paper. I also have some scarves, purses and leather jewelry to make. If only I could pause time...



Happy Wednesday!
-Shala-

Fun Holiday Music

Can it really be that time of year again?

Being a native of Minnesota there are some so many memories of sitting around the house (or is that being stuck in the house because it was too cold) and listening to holiday music while we baked cookies, and decorated. 

Well, we didn't have Bob Dylan holiday music back then, but we do now.

Enjoy Mr. Dylan and his friends while they celebrate the joys of the season, and

have some eggnog for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE6WQmNus

Happy December

Busy Weekend

I'm pretty surprised at how fast this week flew by considering I was only here two days last week. Since tomorrow is the last day of the week, I've been planning on what to do this weekend.

If you have a good memory you probably know my family is coming to stay with us for Christmas. If you have a really good memory, you also know that we're pulling up the carpet in our bedrooms upstairs. Well, with 17 days to go I still don't have all of the carpet ripped up. I definitely don't have any meals prepared and my Christmas gift count is two. Not to mention I haven't decorated the house for the holidays yet. So, on the agenda for this weekend: Rip up remaining carpet, fix house*, clean house, prepare meals, decorate for Christmas, make/buy gifts, wash blankets, buy new sheets** AND rearrange house to fit seven people and two dogs.

Any volunteers?


Happy Thursday!
-Shala-


*I've started several projects around the house and each one is about 97% complete. Hopefully I can finish up some before the family arrives.
**I bought the most amazing sheets last night. They're fleece!! Now I want a set for every bed in the house. Not priority, but it would be nice to get a few more.

Fun Weekend

This coming weekend should be quite fun.
First up is the Parade of Lights in downtown Denver. The show is on 11/30/12 @ 8pm, and 12/1/12 @ 6 pm. Both shows are free and the kids should be entertained for the duration. Hot cocoa and the Parade of Lights with the family, can't beat that.
Next up is getting a Christmas tree. We've had an awesome fake tree for the last few years that we got off of Craigslist. Over the last two years the top has broken and some of the lights don't work anymore. So this year we're getting a real tree. Sherry thinks we're getting a 6 footer:) No way, I've measured and we have a 16 foot clearance where we usually put the tree. I'm thinking at least a 12 foot tree (don't tell Sherry).
And to top off the weekend we have the pleasure of watching the Denver Broncos annihilate the Tampa Bay Bucs. Should be fun to watch the greatest NFL quarterback of all time.

Wishing you a

Hexa What?

If you find yourself bored at nana's house, the airport or maybe even in the car this Thanksgiving, why not whip up a few hexaflexagons? What's a hexaflexagon, you say? Prepare for your mind to be blown.

Even as an adult, I can't help but be pretty impressed by these little pieces of paper. Here are a few great videos to fill you in:











Happy Flexing and Happy Thanksgiving!

-Shala-

Turkey Day Travels

This year, like every other year since we've lived in Colorado, our family is taking a trip to Oklahoma. We always drive at night, so The Toddler can sleep on the way there and not die of boredom. Since she sleeps sitting up in a car seat her head is always hanging forward all uncomfortable looking and I always feel bad, (even though she doesn't seem to mind). This year before we take off I am going to make her a car seat pillow. Similar to a seat belt pillow, but modified for her car seat. Hopefully it works really well, so she can get some good z's before we get to grandma's house.


Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving!

-Shala-

Mmmm Candy

It's that time of year right after Halloween and just before Thanksgiving and Christmas where we all start to give in to our sweet tooth.  Want to eat candy and not feel guilty?  Check out UNREAL candy.  It's so tasty! I bought some at Target the other day to sneak into a movie (shhhh) and they are exactly like M&M's without the junk.  Their website explains everything and is also one of the most interactive and fun websites I have seen in awhile. Pay em' a visit and munch on the good stuff...for real.

Allison

Already Dreaming of a White Christmas

White sand that is.

Thank you Veterans

For Pet Lovers

Tips from a dog owner and lover of all pets

November is National Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month

Why should one consider a senior pet?

Older pets are often already trained

Older pets are often more calmer

Older pets require less exercise

Older pets make wonderful companions for seniors

If you cannot adopt an older pet, please consider fostering

If you see a yellow ribbon on a leash – give that dog some space

Promoted by the Yellow Ribbon Campaign

http://www.gulahund.se/default_en.asp

The goal of this organization is to let people know that some dogs need space while they are out on a leash and this a splendid way to do so.

Some reasons are the dog are in training; some may have health issues, or  have had a previous bad experience. Whatever the reason, this campaign is designed on the principle of respect. So if ya know someone that could use this information please paw it forward.

Happy Tails

I Just Need Some Space

So, our house has a huge crawl space. Actually, it's more of a "duck space", but only for Ruben. I can walk about just fine down there. Anyway, I have family coming to stay with us in December and we only have one spare bed. They never complain and just bring their air mattress, but I would love to have more room for them.

Back to the crawl space. It has plenty of space, dirt floor and never puddles. My plan is to dig it out, but only partially since there isn't a window or door to get dirt out of. If I can pile all the dirt over to one side, build a frame around the perimeter, lay down some plastic and pour some concrete I want to build these:





How cool would those be? Maybe some lights around the top? Perfect for my two younger sisters!


Happy Wednesday!

-Shala-

Get out and Vote if you haven’t already

Celebrate - Amendment 17 and Amendment 19

Be a part of history.

Fall Back

It's that time of year when we roll back the clocks an hour and the days get shorter as the nights get longer. Also, known as the end of Daylight Savings. Don't forget to roll your clocks back an hour this Sunday or you might be a little early for work.

Happy Halloween, Y'all!

This year I had planned on making an awesome Halloween setup in our driveway. I wanted to have decorations, games, prizes and of course candy, but somehow holidays ALWAYS sneak up on me. I didn't even get the house decorated this year. Last night, instead of getting everything set up like I wanted, I bought a last minute bag of candy at Costco, (which is the important part, right?). Hopefully, I'll have enough time after work to put out some lights before it gets dark. At least the weather will be nice enough for us to sit outside and hand out candy.

Next year will be awesome.

Happy Wednesday and Happy Haunting

-Shala-

Roller Disco is Back!

We've seen old fashions and trends come back in style, well now it is official - rollerskating is finding a resurgence.  Shala and I have been on the search for a rink with more of an adult atmosphere and alas we have found one!  Introducing Down and Derby - http://sk8party.com/about/  So, lace up your skates, grab a drink, and roll where the music takes you because roller disco is back baby!

http://sk8party.com/

See me rollin',
Allison

My favorite place that I have ever visited is New Zealand

They Northern Island of New Zealand is a paradise that one should put on your bucket list.

The country has an incredible culture and the people of New Zealand are the most gracious host’s one could ever ask for.  Mixed in with their British accent is a sense of humor that will leave you smiling and wishing you could stay.

The country is as diverse as one small country can be. From the heavenly ski slopes to the abundance of water activities you can easily spend a glorious two weeks and still not experience all the bounty of a small country.

The rainforest of the Coromandel Peninsula and the beautiful beaches allows you to slip away from the day to day living and enjoy one of the affordable guest homes that are steeped in the comforts of home. Many of the accommodations throughout New Zealand include a kitchenette, which is a nice option to experience the array of the local produce and products available at the grocery store.

The city of Auckland, which I visited before the earthquakes, is a cosmopolitan and friendly pace.  There are several must see places in or near the city. The Auckland Domain, is the oldest park in the city and sits on the site of an extinct volcano. You will also find the Auckland War Memorial Museum here. Another fun place to visit is the Sky Tower; this is the tallest feature of the Auckland skyline. From the observation deck you can take in a 360 degree of this hoping city dating back to the 1880’s.

You cannot go to New Zealand without visiting the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves. You can take a guided canoe trip thru the caves. New Zealand is the only cave in the world where you take in this phenomenon.

If I were ever to return to New Zealand I would visit Lake Taupo. The lake is actually in the crater of an extinct volcano, and is about the size of Singapore. The water of the lake is warmed by geothermal water which makes for an excellent swimming hole. Not only can you take in a guided boat ride of the lake, but you can water-ski, sail, kayak and it boasts the best trout fishery in the world.  The people in this community love to have you there and their hospitality is above and beyond when it comes to sharing their life in paradise.

Happy Trails

Scales make unique and thoughtful gifts

Gift Giving Ideas 

Do you have sportsman, elderly family members, travelers, newlyweds, small/home business owners, coworkers, bird and other pet owners, new parents, soap/lotion or candlestick makers.  Then you have come to the right place for a gift that will be useful, and appreciated.

Many of us find that our parents and Grandparents can be especially difficult to find something that is more than a dust collector. Here are some ideas.

Talking scales can help with the visually impaired.

Weight can be very important in the health of our beloved seniors.

We have a kitchen scale that has a talking feature and a bowl for $36.90 plus shipping

This is the My Weigh Vox 3000

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-vox-3000.html

We also carry a selection of talking bathroom scales.

The My Weigh Phoenix Talking Bathroom Scale is $44.80 plus shipping

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-phoenix-talking-scale.html

or a larger size talking scale that makes getting on and off a bit easier

The My Weigh XL-440

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-xl440.html

For the sportsman we offer scales that can weigh fish, game, and even bicycles

Weston offers a selection of Sportsman Pull Spring Scales.  These are mechanical hanging scales.

Jennings offers 2 UltraSport models  and these are digital hanging scales.

These and other sports related scales can be found at:

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/hanging-scales.html

For the bird lover we offer a selection of avian scales. 

These scales come with a perch and have a 30 year warranty.

These can be found at:

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/search.asp?keyword=avian&x=0&y=0

Scales for people that have everything

For the smaller kitchen we offer a scale with an Ipod dock

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/ade-joy.html

A beautiful bathroom scale for the new homeowner or just a nice update to the plain scale

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/soehnle-63804.html

Good combination gifts

A recipe, or cook book with a kitchen scale

For   the elderly, those that find getting to the post office is difficult or to just avoid lines at the post office

A small shipping scale with stamps and perhaps cards and envelopes or small shipping boxes

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/shipping-scales.html

New parents might enjoy a baby scale

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/baby-infant-pediatric-scales.html

For the traveler we offer luggage scales

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/search.asp?keyword=luggage&x=0&y=0

and even a Portable body fat scale

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/ade-yvonne.html

For crafty people we have Soap Making, Candle Making & Lotion Making Scales

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/candle-and-soap-making-scales.html

These suggestions are just to get you thinking about how you can give a gift that shows you thought enough to make it personal. For these and other great ideas please visit our website 24/7 or call us Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, mountain time.  We look forward to hearing from you.

It's that time again!

For those who have yet to experience the brilliance that is The Walking Dead, you are missing out on a GREAT show! The new season kicked off this past Sunday and it didn't disappoint in any way. Lots of blood, guts, drama and Zombies! What else could ya ask for in a show? If you haven't had a chance to catch The Walking Dead I would suggest picking up season's 1 and 2 of The Walking Dead to get acquainted with the show, then catch the new episode and brace yourself for an action packed, horror filled, drama overload, thrill ride! I for one catch every episode and I am always giddy when it is time for the new episode.

Zombie Out
Dale

Haloween Costumes

It never fails. Every year I plan on making the coolest Halloween costumes ever and every year I either forget, or can't find the time. This year I'm a teensy bit ahead of the game and it's a good thing, too. This Halloween The Toddler says she wants to be a princess pirate frog. That's right, a frog that is both princess and pirate. Now, I can do pirate, I can do princess and I can probably swing a frog, but trying to put those all together might result in a hot mess.

I've got a ton of work ahead of me and the possible outcomes don't look promising. It'll be awesome if it works out. It'll be even more awesome if she changes her mind and decides to go with a Star Trek uniform instead.


Happy Wednesday!

-Shala-

Haunting Season

With leaves changing to their beautiful hues of orange and red, and the cooling air, that we keep at bay by closing the window's at night, it can only mean that the time for indoor entertaining can not be far away.

As the smell of summer BBQ's become part of our summer memories, it is time to think about some of our
favorite indoor things. I've always enjoyed the savory smells of chilli cooking on the stove top for hours,
freshly baked cookies and pie's wafting through the house. As the days become shorter and the nights become longer, cooking seems to take on a new dimension.

I have always enjoyed the holidays as they bring friends and family together for special moments and celebrations.

One of my favorite fun holidays is Halloween.  This year as it will fall on a Wednesday which  (play on words haha) means that the evening festivities will be a bit more home based.

Below you will find a seasonal family friendly brew with a touch of scariness.

Witches Brew

Ingredients

1 (10 ounce) package frozen raspberries thawed

2 ½ cups of cranberry juice

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin

2 liters ginger ale

2 liters sparkling apple cider

6 gummi snakes candy

1 Latex free rubber glove

Directions (a day or two in advance)

To make the frozen hand: Wash and rinse the out outside of the rubber glove. Turn glove inside out and set aside. In a 4 cup measuring cup, combine the thawed raspberries and cranberry juice.

        Pour 2 cups of the raspberry mixture into a small saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over and let stand 2 minutes. Warm over low heat, stirring constantly, just until gelatin dissolves. Mix back into the reserved raspberry mixture in the measuring cup.

       Pour raspberry mixture into the inverted glove. Gather up the top of the glove and tie securely with kitchen twine. Freeze until solid, or several days if possible.

     

       To serve (the day of)

       Carefully cut glove away from frozen hand. Place frozen hand, palm side up, leaning against inside of a large     punch bowl. Pour in ginger ale and sparkling cider. Garnish with gummi snakes.

You may also use any number of seasonal cake pans/molds in place of the hand.

For more suggestions please visit the reviews at:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Witches-Brew/Detail.aspx

Watch out for the ghouls and goblins as they make their way to the table.

       

1       

Space

There has been a lot of neat space related news lately. Red Bull Stratos has twice delayed the record breaking dive from space due to winds. Rather than take it day-to-day, they've rescheduled the dive for Sunday at 6am MDT. So much for sleeping in Sunday. Another cool snippet of news is about Nasa's Mars rover Curiosity. On October 7th Curiosity scooped up a sample of dirt from the surface of Mars. After a few scoops are taken, they'll start analyzing the samples to see what Mars is made of. Finally, if you're a meteor chaser, I know what you'll be doing on the morning of October 21. The Orionid meteor shower will be putting on a show, possible courtesy of comet Halley. All of the Orionid meteors are pieces of Halley that are left in space after the comet passes. The shower will only produce about 20 meteors per hour. While 20 meteors per hour is not a lot, there are a lot of nebula, galaxies, and star clusters near Orion to keep you busy while you wait for the shower to get going. Dark skies and a pair of binoculars will grant you access to all the nuggets in the sky. Get out there and have some cold fun!

~T

Weed Killin' Time

When we bought our house two years ago, (in Winter mind you) the back yard was filled with landscaping rocks. We didn't really think it was a big deal and the yard is small enough that we could move them pretty easily once Spring rolled around. Well, as time went on and Spring finally did arrive our wonderful rock filled yard became overrun with weeds. Upon inspection we found that whoever put the rocks down failed to cover the ground with landscaping paper first. Yay! Since The Toddler wasn't quite a toddler yet, we pretty much had our hands full with her, so we let the yard get out of control. This past Summer I pulled all of the weeds and got most of the rocks moved to one side of the yard. Since we didn't put down any grass when I moved the rocks the weeds just got worse. Now that Winter is approaching, and the weeds' growth has slowed, it's time to bring out the big guns. In the next few weekends we're pretty much going to drown the yard in weed killer, till it up, spray it down again and hope the weeds stay away until we can plant grass in the Spring. We also have a garden box in the back yard that we can't spray weed killer in, but I did read that boiling water does a good job of killing weeds, too.

I've never used weed killer and have always been against it because of the chemicals, but the condition of our yard limits our options. I wish we lived out in the middle of nowhere, so I could just burn them all, but maybe that day will come later in life :)

If any of you have suggestions for getting rid of weeds, I'm all ears! Anything to avoid spraying those chemicals.


Happy Wednesday!

-Shala-


PS. We've tried cutting the weeds and applying salt, covering the area with tarps and using vinegar. I think the big problem is that most of the weeds are vines that propagate with root sprouts, so they just pop up all over.

Bye Bye Bruises

Recently I attended the wedding of my college roommate.  I was a bit embarrassed because I had bruises everywhere thanks to my CrossFit classes.  Sometimes I seriously wonder if I'm really improving my body or if the abuse is worth it.  Anyhow, I looked up some quick fixes for getting rid of bruises faster and thought I would share them with you all.  The following article provides some good methods for preventing, managing, and healing bruises -

http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Bruises

Hasta,
Allison

Chilly

I woke up this morning, looked out the window and to my surprise snow covered my vehicle. It is only October 5th and Denver, Colorado has already received some snow. Not exactly what I wanted to see as it means cold weather has arrived. Although it could be worse as I heard Minnesota had about 14 inches of snow. 14 inches already? It isn't even Halloween yet.

Happy Friday
Dale

Surprise!

The ground level of our house has wood flooring and we love it, but everything upstairs, including the stairs, is carpet. I hate carpet. For a while now, we've been saving up to add wood floors upstairs, too, but it's taking forever and it's so expensive.

Last weekend, I built a bookcase in our hallway and had to pull up a little carpet to attach it to the wall. As I pulled up the corner I took a peek under the carpet and guess what I found. Our entire top floor is wood (not like real wood, but the fake wood flooring. Still way better than carpet)! After I finished building our bookcase, I went into our spare room and started pulling up carpet. I got half of the room finished and it's so awesome! No more icky carpet and the wood floor underneath wasn't too awful. It was really dirty, but the floor itself was in great shape.

I still can't really believe we've been living in that house for two years now with wood floors we didn't even know about. Crazy awesome!


Hope the trash guys don't mind taking the old carpet. Maybe I should get them a gift card or something :)


Happy Wednesday!

-Shala-

Record Catch

There is a new record for a yellowfin tuna fish and it belongs to Guy Yocom. The massive tuna weighed in at over 420lbs.  That is a lot of tuna sandwiches by the way. Not only does Guy get to gloat to his buddies about his huge catch he may be able to get 1 million dollars for a fishing competition he was in for the largest fish. Talk about a great day of fishing. Congrats Guy Yocom!

Happy Friday
Dale

The Crayons Have It

Lately, I've been noticing myself looking in our fridge at leftovers wondering how long they've been in there. I know I end up throwing out food that's still good and eating food that I really shouldn't be. I've tried lots of different methods of keeping track, but none of them seemed to work longer than a week. A while back I thought it would be a good idea to use masking tape on the food containers to mark when it was made. I had a roll of masking tape hanging on the fridge with a little pen next to it, but it never got used either and now I'm not even sure where the tape is.

A month or so back we started teaching The Toddler at home and had to buy school supplies. I wanted to get her some dry erase markers, so she could reuse a lot of her worksheets, but they were pretty expensive and only had a few colors. I continued shopping for the remaining items on the list giving up on the idea of reusing worksheets. That is until we got to the crayon aisle... Did you know there is such a thing as dry erase crayons?! I was so excited when I found them! They're way cheaper than the markers, non-toxic, odorless, washable and come in so many more colors than the markers do. I have The Toddler's worksheets in page protectors now and the crayons wipe off great! Couldn't have asked for a better solution.

Last night while I was putting away dinner and preparing my lunch for work today, I noticed The Toddler's dry erase crayons on the floor. I thought for a second, picked one up, wrote on my container, wiped it off and eureka!I can use dry erase crayons to mark the dates on leftovers! Works great. No tape, no calendars, no organizational system to keep up with in the fridge, no more wasted food and no more risk of tummy aches.

If you have leftover woes, too, you should definitely pick up a box of dry erase crayons and give this solution a try. I think this one is really going to work for us :)


-Shala-

Bobo Update

Afternoon All,

I thought it would be nice to provide an update on the company mascot - Bobo.  He's still feverishly loyal, but this week he has had some anxieties about going down the stairs unless Mom is behind him.  This morning I took the liberty of snapping some photos of Bobo in action -

Smile!

Deep in Thought

Performing Weekly Inventory

Whoof!
Allison

Uses for that left over vinegar

Hi All,

I don't know about you, but I never seem to use up that bottle of vinegar I bought last year.

Here are some helpful, and environmentally friendly ways to use it up.

Clean chrome and stainless steel (for your new scale)

To clean chrome and stainless steel fixtures around your home, apply a light misting of undiluted white vinegar from a recycled spray bottle. Buff with a soft cloth to bring out the brightness.

Unclog and deodorize drains

The combination of vinegar and baking soda is one of the most effective ways to unclog and deodorize drains. It’s also far gentler on your pipes (and your wallet) than commercial drain cleaners.

• To clear clogs in sink and tub drains, use a funnel to pour in 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1 cup vinegar. When the foaming subsides, flush with hot tap water. Wait five minutes, and then flush again with cold water. Besides clearing blockages, this technique also washes away odor-causing bacteria.
• To speed up a slow drain, pour in 1/2 cup salt followed by 2 cups boiling vinegar, then flush with hot and cold tap water.

Clean windshield wiper blades 

When your windshield actually gets blurrier after you turn on your wipers during a rainstorm, it usually means that your wiper blades are dirty. To make them as good as new, dampen a cloth or rag with some full-strength white vinegar and run it down the full length of each blade once or twice.

Keep car windows frost-free (we are going to need this one soon)

If you park your car outdoors during the cold winter months, a smart and simple way to keep frost from forming on your windows is by wiping (or, better yet, spraying) the outsides of the windows with a solution of 3 parts white vinegar to 1 part water. Each coating may last up to several weeks — although, unfortunately, it won’t do much in the way of warding off a heavy snowfall.

Soak away aching muscles and take the edge off of stress 

Got a sore back, a strained tendon in your shoulder or calf, or maybe you’re just feeling generally rundown? Adding 2 cups apple cider vinegar to your bathwater is a great way to soothe away your aches and pains, or to simply to take the edge off a stressful day. Adding a few drops of peppermint oil to your bath can lend an able assist as well.

Stop reds from running

Unless you have a fondness for pink-tinted clothing, take one simple precaution to prevent red — or other brightly dyed — washable clothes from ruining your wash loads. Soak your new garments in a few cups of undiluted white vinegar for 10-15 minutes before their first washing. You’ll never have to worry about running colors again!

Brighten your loads

Why waste money on that costly all-color bleach when you can get the same results using vinegar? Just add 1/2 cup white vinegar to your machine’s wash cycle to brighten up the colors in each load.

Exterminate dandelions and unwanted grass (Pet friendly and no chemicals!!!)

Are dandelions sprouting up in the cracks of your driveway or along the fringes of your patio? Make them disappear for good by spraying them with full-strength white or apple cider vinegar. Early in the season, give each plant a single spritz of vinegar in its midsection, or in the middle of the flower before the plants go to seed. Aim another shot near the stem at ground level so the vinegar can soak down to the roots. Keep an eye on the weather, though; if it rains the next day, you’ll need to give the weeds another spraying.

If you want more ways to be environmentally friendly, and inexpensive ways to clean you can find a total of 150 ways to use vinegar: from Readers Digest at:

http://www.rd.com/home/150-household-uses-for-vinegar

I Gotta Get One!

Apple has announced the latest and greatest iPhone, The iPhone5. Staying at their usual $199 price with a 2 year contract is a bit shocking considering the features included in this phone. The iPhone 5 is only 7.6 millimeters thick, and still they crammed in an amazingly good camera. The camera will have a whopping 8 megapixel sensor. You will have the ability to take panoramic shots, which is really cool. Another cool feature, which I'm wondering if it will work, is the noise-canceling earpiece. It would be pretty awesome if that worked well. The features go on and on, and I'm not going to run through all of them. Good luck getting one on the 21st if you're going to try, the lines shall be long.

On another note, Google is announcing the first official fiberhoods tomorrow. I'm hoping like crazy that my area is on the list. It would be so nice to have unrestricted internet speed. I can only imagine what that would be like. Make sure to check tomorrow to see if you one of the lucky ones.

~

A Day in Pompeii

When I was a kid I used to love this book about Pompeii...I have no idea what the title was - but I remember having to choose an event in history to give a speech about in middle school so I chose Pompeii.  I was obsessed with learning about the tragedy and volcanoes in general.  This week I learned there is an exhibit coming to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science called "A Day in Pompeii." Here are the top ten things the museum suggest you experience at the exhibit -

1. See a statue of Venus and beautiful frescoes as you are transported to Ancient Rome and welcomed to Pompeii.

2. Meet and interact with a historical enactor tending the counter and sharing stories at the thermopolium -- an ancient fast-food restaurant.

3. Encounter more than 250 exceptional artifacts that once lay buried in Pompeii's ruins, including room-size frescoes, marble and bronze sculptures, jewelry, gold coins, and everyday household items.

4. Examine casts of the volcano's victims frozen in their last moments.

5. Discover the power of volcanoes past and present.

6. Experience the daily life of ancient Pompeii through a model home, touchable objects, and a re-created storefront.

7. Watch a digital re-creation that depicts 24 final hours in Pompeii, beginning the morning of August 24, AD 79.

8. Touch and examine reproductions of everyday items, including mirrors, dice, spoons, and more.

9. Learn about Roman mythology and take a quiz to see which god or goddess you would have worshiped.

10. Consider whether you would have stayed or fled Pompeii.
 
Sounds like a pretty cool exhibit to me, check out the CBS4 rundown here: http://denver.cbslocal.com/2012/08/22/get-advance-tickets-for-a-day-in-pompeii/

Allison

Are you lookin?

Are you new to town? Looking to broaden your friend list?  If so, I may be able to help with a suggestion. I came across an article titled "9 Proven Ways To Meet Someone" and thought it offers good information for those of you looking to meet someone. So if you're a looking, give the advice in the articla a try. You never know who you'll meet.

http://living.msn.com/love-relationships/love-sex/slideshow?cp-documentid=253402935

Happy Friday
Dale

High Altitude Deliciousness

Over the long weekend my family and I battled the holiday traffic for over two hours to barely make it onto the famous Cog Railway. It was so stressful trying to get there, but it was totally worth it. Once we got on the train, we made our way up to the tippy top of Pike's Peak. The ride was awesome and the scenery was beautiful. As the train climbed higher, the temperature dropped like crazy. It was so cold at the top, people were wearing hats, gloves and coats. I didn't even think about the temperature. I was in a t-shirt and shorts and The Toddler only had on a dress. The cold wind hurried us into the gift shop at the top where we quickly purchased a hoodie for the little one and a blanket for the trip down, but those weren't the only things we bought.

The left side of the shop is a restaurant that sells snacks, coffee and the most delicious donuts I've ever tasted in my life! Apparently, it's a recipe that only works at 14,114 feet. Bummer!

I'd buy a whole mess of them, but they don't taste as awesome once you start getting closer to sea level. Bummer again!

I guess those precious little puffs of dough will have to remain a special treat that can only be enjoyed at the top of Pike's Peak.

Until next time,

-Shala-

What Happened To Free Airshows?

I've been able to see about 15-20 air shows, and all but the last couple have been free. The common theme with the recent air shows that charge for admission...Colorado. For some unknown reason, any air show in Colorado wants to charge you 4 months pay to get in. I thought the whole purpose of air shows was to attract the younger generation into flying. So the last few air shows have been the Broomfield air show, charging around $20 to get in. It's the same show every year, so this year, our whole family decided we didn't want to pay $22 per person to see the same show. I thought, we'll use the money we're saving there and go the Blue Angels show out in Grand Junction this September. I forgot in my plan that this show is in Colorado, $20 admission. That's on top of gas money. That's alright though, despite the costs, the Blue Angels show will be well worth the money. Here's a link to the show if you want to check it out.

~wt

Which came first - Peter or Matthew?

Hi All,

A little labor day history mystery for ya...

While most sources, even the Department of Labor, credit Peter McGuire with the origination of Labor Day, recent evidence suggests that the true father of Labor Day may in fact be another famous union leader of the 19th Century, Matthew Maguire.

According to legend, Peter McGuire stood before the New York Central Labor Union on May 12, 1882, to suggest the idea of setting aside one day a year to honor labor. McGuire believed that Labor Day should "be celebrated by a street parade which would publicly show the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations."

Peter McGuire was a young, though well-respected, union leader. A child of immigrants, he quit school at an early age to go to work. In 1881, he founded the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, which would become the largest trade union of the time. Later, McGuire would join with his friend, Samuel Gompers, to found the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Through the AFL and the Carpenters, McGuire led the great strikes of 1886 and 1890, which would eventually result in the adoption of the eight-hour workday on the nation's agenda.

Recently, however, evidence uncovered at the New Jersey Historical Society in Newark reveals that another respected union figure of the day, Matthew Maguire, may quite possibly be the man behind the creation of Labor Day.

In the 1870s, Matthew Maguire led several strikes, most of which were intended to force the plight of manufacturing workers and their long hours into the public consciousness. By 1882, Maguire had become the secretary of and a leading figure in the Central Labor Union of New York.

According to the New Jersey Historical Society, after President Cleveland signed into law the creation of a national Labor Day, The Paterson (N.J.) Morning Call published an opinion piece entitled, "Honor to Whom Honor is Due," which stated that "the souvenir pen should go to Alderman Matthew Maguire of this city, who is the undisputed author of Labor Day as a holiday." This editorial also referred to Maguire as the "Father of the Labor Day holiday."

So why has Matthew Maguire been overlooked as the "Father of Labor Day"?

According to The First Labor Day Parade, by Ted Watts, Maguire held some political beliefs that were considered fairly radical for the day and also for Samuel Gompers and his American Federation of Labor. Allegedly, Gompers did not want Labor Day to become associated with the sort of "radical" politics of Matthew Maguire, so in a 1897 interview, Gompers' close friend Peter J. McGuire was assigned the credit for the origination of Labor Day.

Retrieved form http://www.dol.gov/laborday/history-maguire.htm

Have a good holiday weekend!
Allison

College Football

Fall is right around the corner which means College Football is upon us. The College football season starts tonight with some lackluster games unless of course you are a fan of the teams playing. I am excited for this upcoming season as once again the Oklahoma Sooners are one of the top teams and have a very good chance of playing in and winning a National Championship. Now the question is where can I watch the OU games at? They usually aren't on tv here in Denver, Colorado :(

Dale

So Long Summer

September is right around the corner, and although it's still hot, I can feel Summer slipping away. The days are getting noticeably shorter, kids are back in school and stores already have their Halloween decorations for sale.

Summer is, by far, my favorite season. It's not that I hate the cold, it's just that the rest of the year isn't as awesome. I'm powered by the Sun, and the short days and cloudy skies of winter just really stink.

Instead of sulking about the upcoming months, I'm going to list some things I'm looking forward to.

Halloween - I love decorating and handing out toys to all of the cute kids in our neighborhood.

Fashion - As much as I hate Fall and Winter, I really love the clothes and accessories. Layering is the best and I have a closet full of scarves!

Thanksgiving - Who doesn't love eating until they can't move?

Snow Ball Fights - The Toddler is old enough to pummel with snow this year. Should be pretty awesome.

Soups and Stews - A big steamy bowl of goodness just isn't the same when it's hot outside.

Christmas - My family is driving over from Arkansas to spend Christmas* with us this year! *Actually, they're spending the week before Christmas with us, but it's still the same level of awesomeness.

Hot Chocolate - Best drink ever invented.

New Years - Last year we celebrated New Years in Central time because we're old people and can't make it to midnight. This year will be awesome...maybe.

Snugly Pajamas and House Shoes - Yes, house shoes. Not "slippers"...Allison.

Super Bowl - I will admit, I don't really enjoy football, but I DO love Super Bowl snacks =D

Seed Starting - Some veggies just do better when you start their seeds indoors. Hopefully I'll have a garden full of veggies next year. I just need to learn how to can.


What are you looking forward to in the upcoming seasons?


-Shala-

Like Code? Got stuff to do?

Hi All,

I hope everyone is finding themselves in a happy place this Friday afternoon.  Found a cool little tidbit on the Interwebs that I thought I would share with all of you.  I am continuously keeping lists at work of things I need to do, trying to rearrange and prioritize, but I always wish I had something online so I don't tear through so many post-its or notebooks.  *Que bright, shiny lights*  Then I found Holly - A true nerd's to-do list creator.  Enjoy my friends - https://hollyapp.com/

Allison

Surprisingly, It Gets Easier

This week I started riding my bike to work instead of taking our car. I made this decision for a few reasons. Not only does it save money, but also wear and tear on the car. It's 40 minutes less of car pollution a day, GREAT exercise and I don't feel as stressed out or tired when I get to work (I hate Colorado traffic).

Monday, on my way to the Old Will Knott warehouse, I thought I was never going to make it. I was so tired, my legs were on fire and I was sucking in wind like the World was running out. There were hills I had to zig-zag up, I stopped what seemed like a hundred times and I stayed in the lowest gear pretty much the entire time. Oh, and I got passed by another bike.

Yesterday was a bit better. I made it up hills without crying (I never really cried, just wanted to :D), I was able to stay in second gear for most of the trip and I got to work a little bit earlier.

Today was great. I left my house the same time as Monday and Tuesday and got to the warehouse 10 minutes sooner. 10 minutes doesn't seem like much, but it's a crazy difference. I was able to power through most of the inclines though, I admit, there's still one that kills me. I even hit third gear a few times.

My point is, it's crazy how fast your body adjusts to exercise. I did my test run a few Saturdays back to see if I could actually make it 7.5 miles and it was so hard. Now, it's no big deal.

So, if you're just starting to exercise and you feel like it's too hard, keep going! It gets easier!


-Shala-

Sweet, Sticky Goodness

I recently found out that honey is not only delicious on toast, delightful in tea and a great sub for sugar in tons of recipes, but it can also be used as a gentle face wash.

I was reading a blog post about honey over at www.marksdailyapple.com the other night and one of the readers commented that she uses honey as a face wash followed by almond oil for moisture. She said that before she started washing with honey her face had pimples, red patches and dry areas, and now she doesn't even wear makeup. Holy cow! I thought about how awesome it would be to have skin nice enough to go without makeup, so I gave it a try.

I noticed a difference with the very first wash. My skin looked bright and it felt so soft. I didn't have any oil to follow up with, but I didn't need it.

The important thing is to use raw, unfiltered honey. It acts as a natural peroxide and has antibacterial properties that clean up the bacteria on your face. Just remove your makeup if you wear it, wet your face, put about a teaspoon of honey in your hand and rub in small circles. Leave it on your face while you finish up your nightly routine, (you know, brush your teeth, floss, change your clothes, etc...) and then rinse. It comes off easier than I imagined. Finish up with a splash of cold water to close your pores and you're set! You can also use almond or coconut oil to moisturize when you're finished.


If any of you give this a try, I'd LOVE for you to share your results!



-Shala-

Got NutterButter?

Well I have a new addiction to go along with my Red Bull addiction. NutterButter cookies are my new addiction. They are peanut butter sandwich cookies that are delicous. I just can't get enough of them. They are high in calories at 250 calories per a 4 pack. Since Peanut Butter is a key ingredient they aren't all bad but still not what I would consider healthy eating. Yet I still eat a pack a day. So beware if you haven't tried NutterButter cookies that if you do try them you may become addicted.

Consider yourself warned

Dale

Bicycle, Bicycle!

So, starting Monday, I'm going to be riding my bike a lot and I've been looking for ways to replenish my electrolytes without drinking nasty, chemical laden sports drinks. One of my friends recommended lemon, baking soda, salt and maple syrup mixed with water. Another said that raw coconut water with chia seeds is great, too. I took a look online and celery stalks blended with an apple was popular, but I think I'll pass on that.

I currently have an effervescent powder with minerals and electrolytes that I use, but it's a little on the expensive side. What do you use to replenish all the good stuff you worked out?

-Shala-

It's Hot!

So, this Summer has been pretty darn hot and our electric bill is the proof. Since our last bill, we've been looking for ways to cut costs while keeping cool.

A few things we've been doing, (which we should have been doing all along) is turning off our power strips that hold our tv, game consoles, computer, monitor and more. Every night, right before bed, those puppies get switched off. We also have our router and modem on a timer that shuts them off at midnight. We unplugged our microwave, since it never gets used, and keep all of the curtains closed to keep the heat out.

I read that a good thing to do is insulate your garage door, so we might save up to do that. I might even break out the trusty old tin foil to cover our windows :)


What do you do to keep cool when it's scorching outside?

-Shala-

Wake Up!

This week has been an extremely exhausting week so far.  I am officially addicted to watching the Olympics, and thus I don't get to my grad school work until around 11pm.  Between the late bedtimes and my dogs crying about every other boom of thunder, this has been making for some very tired mornings.  So, I found this entertaining blog detailing ways to naturally wake up -

How to Manipulate Your Body to Wake Up

No tired excuses now, huh?!

Allison

Do Knott Watch The News!

If you're wanting to watch the Olympics, avoid the news at all cost. Last night I had the 93" fired up ready to watch the great Missy swim the US to a gold medal. I wonder if she'll win? About an hour before the Olympics started, I was watching the news when the news ticker at the bottom of the screen spilled the beans. Missy Franklin won the gold. 

Really? So on I watched as she made the great comeback from 4th place in the last 50 yards. What a surprise! So today I'm trying to avoid the news which is pretty much impossible. 

Good luck

Olympics

The 2012 Summer Olympics started on July 27th and will continue until August 12th. Be sure to catch some of the action. Currently the USA is tied with China for the most medals at 21 a piece. However, China holds a 12 to 7 lead in Gold medals. Come on USA!

Dale

DirectTV

Good news for the people who have DirectTV as their provider. They have agreed to a new deal with Viacom Inc so channels such as MTV and Comedy Central can now be watched again. Previously those channels weren't available for subscribers to DirectTV but with the new deal they are on again. You can again watch shows such as Jersey Shore & SpongeBob.

TGIF
Dale

How Hot Can It Get?

The temperature today in Denver will peak at 101 degrees. Tomorrow will be a bit worse at 102 degrees. June was 2 degrees above the average for the United States. The last 12 months have been the hottest since the United States began record-keeping in 1895. The heat so far this summer has already brought 56% of the US into drought conditions. Forecasts for the rest of the summer do not look good. Heat along with severe drought conditions are expected to continue until winter. Since I hate the heat, I'm in fear of what is to come later this year. Seriously, how hot can it get?

In The News:

Kobe Bryant says the current Team USA could beat the NBA Dream Team of 1992. (My opinion...Ain't Likely!)

Tom Cruise and Katy Holmes are divorcing. (Shocked..NOT!)

Steven Tyler steps down as an American Idol judge.  (Oh how will the show go on)

The movie Magic Mike is getting a sequel. (Sigh, I am sure women are jumping for joy!)

Rare baseball cards worth millions found in an attic. (Better start checking your attics)

Gas prices are still high. (Anyone surprised?)

Happy Friday
Dale

Here Fishy Fishy Fishy...Oil...

Recently it was recommended to me by my trainer that I be sure and get my daily does of fish oil.  This is something that I have heard was beneficial and tried taking before but let's face it..fish oil pills are big, gross, and cause nasty fish-tasting burps.  However fish oil, which includes cod-liver oil, is a significant source of the Omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA.  These fatty acids have numerous, documented health benefits: improved cholesterol balance, reduced inflammation, increased blood flow, reduced rates of heart disease and atherosclerosis, better immune system function,improved brain function, improvement in psychiatric disorders, and prevention of cancers (particularly breast, colon, and prostate). When I told this to my trainer he laughed and recommend sfh fish oil.  Sfh produces liquid fish oil from natural sources that comes in several flavors: lemon, tangerine, mint, vanilla, and chocolate.  It's actually very tasty and my personal favorite is the mint.  If you're interested in taking a daily dose of fish oil, give it a try you won't be disappointed!

Ta ta for now,
Allison

Good News

Rain is in the forecast for this weekend in Colorado. With the lack of rain in the area and fires throughout the state rain is welcomed. The weather people are even calling it a monsoon of rain so there may be some flooding. Stay tuned!

Dale

1911 Build Part II

A while back, I mentioned I was going to try and build a 1911.  Well, I now have all the parts I need except for one vital part, the lower receiver, I mean frame.  The frames are out of stock with no known ETA, so it's time to play the waiting game.  I was able to install the barrel link and barrel link pin onto the barrel, as well as adding the hammer strut to the hammer, again with the help of a small roll pin.  Finally, I assembled the main spring housing and lanyard loop (a small punch and vice works much better than a cow with a nail in it for this step).  I got the slide today from UPS so I can install the firing pin spring, firing pin, firing pin stop the extractor.  So it looks like tonight I have about 5 minutes of work before it's back to the waiting game.

Have a good weekend!

The Big Bang

Did you have a good Fourth of July? I hope you did, my Fourth was quite fun. The wife and I took the kids to Erie on Tuesday night to see the fireworks. That show was pretty boring, lots of little fireworks and not too many booms. They did however, have an awesome finale that lasted well over a minute. Then on the Fourth we went to Broomfield's fireworks show. We got as close as we could and it paid off, the show was pretty amazing. It lasted about 20 minutes and most of the show was giant mortars that seemed to be going off directly above us. The downside to the Broomfield show was the extremely short finale. I was expecting a finale at least as good as Erie had, but it only lasted about 20 seconds. Overall, I had a fun time hanging out with the family and watching the fireworks.

Even though I had a good Fourth, it looks like the best 20 second "finale" was in San Diego. I've seen this show a few times in previous years and it's awesome. But yesterday they had no show, and an amazingly awesome finale. San Diego had four barges and a pier packed with fireworks all go off in 20 seconds. The show was supposed to be 20 minutes long, and fell a bit short at 20 seconds. But that 20 seconds was beautiful.

-T-

Cravings

So I hear somebody was craving KFC after awaking from a coma and it got me thinking what would I crave after awaking from a long sleep? My guess would be TGIF's Jack Daniels Flat Iron Steak. What do you think you would crave after a long sleep?

Happy Friday
Dale

Soon!

Not too long ago, I blogged about the amazing Google Glass that will eventually enter the market. Well, that eventually turns out to be 2014. At the 2012 Google Developer Conference, Sergey Brin was talking with reporters when he let out the expected release date of 2014. I was totally stoked when I read that. Not stoked because of the minimum year and a half wait. Stoked because these glasses actually work, they do exist, and eventually I will own a pair. Extremely lucky developers that were at the conference were able to purchase a pair for $1,500. The developers will get their glasses early next year so they can get to work making software that will work with the glasses. Here's another cool video from Google with the Glass in action.

GB²

Tea, Tea and More Tea

I recently read in a magazine that herbal teas can be great for your health. I love tea, so this was good news to me!

I've been drinking tea every morning for as long as I can remember, usually orange or green, but lately I've been getting tired of those two and decided to switch it up a bit. A couple of days ago I bought a sample pack of herbal tea from my local Natural Grocers and I'm in love! So far, my favorite is Lemon Zinger tea from Celestial Seasonings. It tastes so good, I don't even need sweetener. Apparently it has some health benefits, too. I found an article on the Lemon Zinger Tea that explained some of the ingredients and what they can do for your health. Not bad.

I still have Peppermint and Honey, Vanilla, Chamomile to try. I might skip the Sleepytime tea, I don't need any help in that area :)

When I run out of this sample pack, I'll probably order more from my second favorite website, (the first being www.oldwillknottscales.com, of course) www.iherb.com. You should check them out! They have tons of stuff from organic bug spray to fluoride free toothpaste to teas and herbs! Orders over 20 bucks get free shipping if you're in the contiguous US and, if you've never bought anything from them before, you can use my coupon code OLU332 to get $5 off your first order.

I can't wait to try more of these delicious herbal teas. If you have a favorite brand or blend please let me know! I want to try them all. Maybe someday, I'll have an herb garden with ingredients to make my own teas. I wonder where I would find a scale to weigh my blends ;)




Happy brewing!
-Shala-

PS. Herbal teas can be very beneficial to your health, but some herbs don't play well with certain medical conditions or medications. It'd be very smart on your part to have a chat with your doctor before you go out and try herbal teas. Better safe than sorry!

Just Another Day in Colorado

 According to the photographer, these monks from Cambodia were very impressed with the beauty of Red Rocks... Gotta love it when people capture cool moments!

Stay cool,
Allison

Buildin' Stuff Part 3

Well, I used to be a mechanic for many years and I have always wanted to build a project car.  There once was a time when I had the knowledge, tools, ability and time, but was lacking in the area of $$$$.  Cash is still thin, but I'm sure I could skim a bit here and there to make it work, but the problem I'm facing now is time, and the fact that my Home Owners Association will not let me work on a car in my own driveway.

So I decided I wanted to build a kit car.  It is a complete kit that you can assemble over a weekend inside your garage, oh wait.  I don't have $20,000 for the kit or $5,000 for the engine, or $4,000 for the tranny, drive shaft, rear axle, wheels and tires (which are all not included in the COMPLETE build kit.

So instead I bought a parts kit to build a gun. To be specific, it is an M1911A1 (Pre-70).  This is going to be a mil-spec plinker just for fun at the range, but plan on making a few more, like a super reliable and smoothed out carry gun, and a match grade pistol for driving tacks.  I've never built a gun before so wish me luck!

Bye,
Ruben

Weekend is here

The weekend is finally here. Hope everyone has a fun filled weekend. I will be busy trying to catch some fish while at the same time trying to stay cool. Staying cool may be the hardest part as temperatures are set to hit over 100 degrees. Yikes, that is hot.

Stay Cool
Dale

Cabbage Soup

The past few days I've been thinking about things to blog about.

I was going to write about spinach because I eat it almost everyday. Then I thought about writing something about The Toddler's new bed and what colors we should paint it. I also played with the idea of writing about video games and how much I love them even though I don't have the temper for them. Then I remembered watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory earlier this week with Ruben and The Toddler.

Watching that movie really reminded me that I have a lot to be thankful for. I don't live in a house that's missing parts of the walls. I don't have four old people sleeping in my living room and I don't have to eat boiled cabbage everyday for every meal. Instead, I'm able to buy the groceries I want. My parents and parents-in-law still live on their own and our house has all of its walls.

I know the Bucket family is fictional, but there are a lot of families out there living just like that. Heck, there are even some living worse. So, next time you get frustrated, mad, down about your job or not having enough money to go on vacation, try thinking about all the things in your life you are thankful for and be happy you don't have to live on cabbage soup.




Count your blessings!
-Shala-

Father's Day Followup

Hi All,

I just wanted to update you on my previous Father's Day post.  So, remember how I was trying to decide what to get my Dad....well, let's just say I'm no Beyonce. MediaTakeOut reports that Beyonce gave her husband Jay-Z a new $40 million Bombardier Challenger 850 for his first Father's Day.  The jet comes equipped with a full kitchen, living room, bedroom, and TWO bathrooms.  For pictures, check out this featured article - http://allhiphop.com/2012/06/17/hip-hop-rumors-did-beyonce-buy-jay-z-a-jet-for-fathers-day/

Tata for now,
Allison

Thunder Struck

Well the Miami Heat won game 2 of the NBA Finals series so it doesn't look like my OKC Thunder will bring out the brooms and sweep. Now the Thunder have to travel to Miami (wouldn't that be nice) to play 3 games straight in Miami. Hopefully, they can at least win 1 game or better yet win all 3 games and win the series.  Game 3 is this Sunday so be sure to watch.

Thunder Up!
Dale

Dancing in My Flip Flops

I'm very excited for this weekend,even though things came together a bit last minute.  I am officially one week away from having two weeks off of grad school, which is amazing!  But mostly, I'm excited to be attending the annual Flip Flop Ball this Saturday night. 

The concept is simple.
        Semi-Formal Attire ...a nice change of pace
        Everyone Wears Flip Flops ...an ode to summer
        The Best Party Venue in Town ...to set the vibe
        Denver's Best Party Band ...to get your dance on

 The best part is that it is all for a good cause as well.  This year all proceeds will benefit the Listen Foundation.  The Listen Foundation is a small non-profit that helps Colorado families with deaf or hard-of-hearing children learn to listen and talk so that they may have the same opportunities as other children, regardless of their ability to pay.  I really only dread the dress part...dresses aren't really my thing, but I'll make it work.  So, here's to a little fun for a good cause! Now, let's hope the weather cooperates. No one wants to dance in wet squishy flip flops. 

Cheers,
Allison

A New Quilt for a New Bed

So, Ruben and I, (mostly Ruben) built The Toddler a new big kid bed. It's not just any old bed. It's a loft bed. With a playhouse underneath. And stairs. It's pretty amazing.

Since it's a bigger bed, we'll need to get new sheets and blankets for it. I thought it would be cool if I could make her an awesome quilt to go with her new awesome bed.

I have a little experience with quilting, so I don't think it will be too hard. The hard part is going to be shelling out the dough for the fabric. Wasn't there once a time where making things cost less than buying them? Anyway, I'm going with a night sky theme because the bed is raised. Since the aforementioned fabric is stupid expensive, I was thinking that bleach and glow-in-the-dark fabric paint might become my new friends. I really hope it actually gets finished. If it does, I'll post a pic!



Happy Wednesday!
-Shala-

Random

The shopping cart was first introduced on June 4, 1937. Invented by Sylvan Goldman who owned the Piggly Wiggly in Oklahoma City. Can you imagine trying to go shopping without a shopping cart. Prior to shopping carts customers would select a few items off the shelf and take them to the front counter and repeat that process until they had what they needed.
Since I mentioned OKC, go Thunder! I figure I can jump on the Thunder bandwagon since I'm technically from Oklahoma. Maybe I should switch from the Nuggets to the Thunder since the Nuggets never win.
Colorado has been all over the national news lately. The High Park Fire west of Fort Collins is all over the news due to how fast it grew. It grew from a two acre fire to 40,000 acres in only three days. As of right now it's at 43,433 acres and only 5-percent contained. It's going to be a very bad fire season. The other bit of news that went national was the great sidewalk chalk debate. The family-friendly neighborhood of Stapleton is going to start fining home owners whose children use sidewalk chalk. I'm sure this will not go through after all this national attention.
A quote I heard by Jim Rohn, "It's the bottom of the ladder that is crowded, not the top".

Trevor

NBA Finals are quickly approaching

The Oklahoma City Thunder just won the Western Conference in the NBA and are on their way to the NBA Finals. They will face the winner of the Eastern Conference which will be either the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics. Personally I don't think it matters who they face as the Thunder are the best team in the league and will beat any team they face in a 7 game series. So get ready to witness a start of a basketball dynasty.

Thunder Up
Dale

It's So Amazing!

Have you noticed anything different about the internet lately? Chances are you have not, at least nothing related to the brand new IPv6. On June 6, 2012 the World began the switch from IPv4 to IPv6. At most you might need to upgrade your home router in the future, otherwise you shouldn't have to do anything. Prior to IPv6 there was a limit of 4.3 billion unique IP addresses, we now have 340 trillion trillion trillion. If you can't picture 340 trillion trillion trillion, I'll do it for you, 340,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000! I guess that is also 340 undecillion. I don't believe we'll be running out of room anytime soon. Google has a good FAQ page on the transition here.

Have a great weekend!
WT

Hold On To Your Hats!

Check out these grande clouds forming behind our building!

Just got a text from Weather Underground saying that we're under a tornado watch until 9pm. I believe it. You should see how much the clouds have grown since I snapped the photo above. These clouds are looking pretty awesome out my window, but I hope no tornadoes actually form. A storm would be nice, though. 

Happy Spring!

-Shala-

Father's Day 2012

So, I'm always trying to think of new things to get my parents for both Mother's Day and Father's Day.  I feel like it's always the same things...flowers and a sentimental card for Mom, and a T-shirt or cologne for my Dad.  This year I'm trying to do better without any ideas from Mom and Dad.  My parents recently got an iPad, which they like to refer to as "The Pad."  They also joined Facebook this year, which don't even get me started on that...Anyway, I like to keep them hip when I can and my Dad is a huge fan of techie gadgets (even though he can hardly figure out how to answer his cell phone, no joke.).  This year, I'm thinking of getting him a keyboard for his "Pad" because he has been talking a lot about one lately.  Check out this laser keyboard, it makes any surface a fully usable keyboard -

How cool is that?

Until next time,
Allison

Ergonomic Keyboard

The ergonomic keyboard helps to minimize muscle strain by allowing a slight angle for the hands. Recently I received a Natural Ergonomic Keyboard in place of my plain old fashioned keyboard and I must say it is much more comfortable than the old style. With all the typing I do throughout a days work it is nice to have a more comfortable way to type. So if you are having problems with your hands or fingers aching after a long day of typing I would suggest you pick up one of these ergonomic keyboards. It may reduce some of the pain and discomfort caused by the plain keyboard.

Dale

Garden Woes

So, I've been trying to get a garden planted for a while now and finally got around to getting the frame built over the weekend, (actually, Ruben was nice enough to build the frame for me with his fancy tools. It looks so nice!). I bought the materials a few weeks ago to build a 4' x 4' raised garden, but when I got everything home I realized that it wouldn't be big enough. After some thought, Ruben and I decided to put the garden in the corner of the yard and use the fence as two of the four walls instead of cutting the two 8 foot boards in half. Yippee, we now have an 8' x 8' garden. So close to planting!

I finished leveling the rocks in the bottom of the bed pretty quick. After that I mixed the sand, soil and compost so the bed would drain well. I'm pretty exited by this point because I'm just minutes away from planting all of my fruits and veggies. I start to pour the soil mixture into the bed and...aw snap!


















Remember how I bought enough materials to make a 4' x 4' garden? Well, that included the soil. Once we made it an 8' x 8' garden instead of needing 16 cubic feet of soil, we now need 64 cubic feet of soil. Darn, darn, darn. Guess planting will have to wait until payday.

At least it's a short week!



-Shala-

Weekend is here

Friday is finally here. After 4pm, it is the start of a three day weekend for us here at OLDWILL's. All of us here at OLDWILL's want you all to have a fun filled and safe Memorial Weekend. Also, be sure to understand and remember that this holiday weekend is in remembrance of the fallen soldiers.



Be Safe
Dale

SpaceX

History was made this morning at 6:56 a.m. PDT. SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft was captured by the robotic arm of the International Space Station. This is a huge milestone in the history of spacecraft development. Previously led by large governments and huge aerospace companies, small private companies are now leading the way.
If all goes well during this mission, SpaceX has clearance to begin fulfilling their $1.6 billion contract with Nasa. The contract is for 12 cargo flights to the space station. This is definitely an awesome new era in spaceflight.

Got Plans for Memorial Day?

Usually on Memorial Day weekend I would plan ahead to go camping or do some type of mountain excursion, but not this year.   I have zero plans but to just relax and maybe soak up some sun as I'm starting to resemble Casper the friendly ghost.  If I'm feeling like I want to get out and do something there is definitely a lot going on in the Denver area this holiday weekend -

 * Denver Day of Rock 5/26
*  Rockies vs. Astros 5/28 - Fireworks after the evening game
*  Downtown Denver Arts Festival 5/25-5/28
*  Memorial Day Parade 5/26
*  The Big Eat 5/27 
*  Water World Opening Weekend
*  Multiple Denver Art Museum Events

If that's not enough options to keep ya busy, well then you are just crazy :o

Happy 3-day weekend!
Allison 

Camping Time

Tomorrow will mark my 1st camping trip of the year. My fishing poles and tackle will be packed up. The cooler will be filled with beverages so I can stay hydrated. The tent and sleeping bag will be brought to ensure a good nights rest after catching many fish and staying up a little later than this old man should. Needless to say I am ready for my 1st camping trip of the year. I'll be camping at a lake near Denver, Co called Jackson. If you are in the area stop by and say hi. I will be the one with all the fish.


Happy Catching
Dale