The Old Reader is the {new} Google Reader!!!!

Sign up to The Old Reader!!!

I am sad that Google decided to shun their Google Reader and close down the service.  ...I'm was looking for a new service that was similar and there are plenty to choose from but it seemed they were too "frilly" -- meaning they made me click at least two times to read each post....and this was twice as much effort as Google Reader.  My awesome sister told me about a beta site called The Old Reader and how it is uber similar to Google Reader.  I watched their virtual tour and then signed up.  It was super slick to transfer all my files & folders from Google Reader to The Old Reader AND The Old Reader has potential to have an app for phones --- awesome!  I can now read all the blogs I follow while also driving.  Sweet.  haha.   ;)

{The Old Reader}

Import Google Reader to The Old Reader

1. Log in to Google Reader
2. Click the gear icon in the upper right corner and choose Reader Settings
3. Click on “Import/Export” tab
4. Click link “Download your data through Takeout”
5. This will open a new page and when it says “100%” then click on “Create Archive.”
6. Click “Download” and it will automatically download to your computer (probably the Download Folder.)
7.  Log-in to The Old Reader
8. Click on “Import” in the upper right corner
9. Click “Choose File”
10. Find the file in your download folder…the file is called “subscriptions.xml”
11. Click “Import”
12. I found that the importing of files takes a few minutes.  I had to log-off and log back in to see the changes.  

National Park Fee Free Days for 2013

Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates in 2013:

• April 22-26
  five days during National Park Week
• August 25
  National Park Service Birthday
• September 28
  National Public Lands Day
• November 9-11
  Veterans Day weekend

Here's a tip-265 of your 398 national parks NEVER charge an entrance fee. So start Planning Your Visit!

If you're planning a trip that includes multiple national parks, you might consider the $80 annual pass that provides entrance to all national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and many other Federal lands-more than 2,000 in all. This America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is offered free to all active duty military members and their dependents. Information on these and other pass options is available online.

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm

Joke [pregnant lady + help button]

I read this in Reader's Digest and I thought it was funny.....


Nine months pregnant with twins, I bellied up to the supermarket meat bin in search of the perfect roast.  The butcher appeared from the back and asked, "May I help you?"  

"No, thank you," I said.  "I'm just looking."

A minute later, he returned, "Can I help you?"

"No, I'm just looking," I repeated.  

A few minutes later, he appeared yet again, asking the same annoying question.

"I'm just looking!" I said testily.

"In that case, ma'am," he said politely, "would you please step back a bit?  Your stomach is pressing our service bell."


----Shirley Kraselsky, Peneacola, FL

How to take Autocorrect off for Costco pixs

When you order pictures via Costco they will automatically autocorrect the coloring of them....UNLESS you choose to take it off (which i suggest you do!  If you don't then the filtering/changes you made will not look nearly as good.).  In order to change that feature complete the follow:

log-in to Costco Photo Center
click on "My Account" (upper right-hand corner)
choose the "edit print preferences" link
click the radial button "off" under the "auto-correct" section

.....
now, I also choose the printing image name on the back -- just for kicks.  so feel free to change any other preferences you have.  I suggest you also change from "glossy" to "lustre."  Lustre is what professionals use and the photos have a higher-quality look to them.

Browned Butter Brownies recipe

I've been on a lil' kick of trying new recipes.  And this one "spoke" to me when the chick wrote about it on her blog so i decided to whip it up and try it.  

Browned Butter Brownies
http://www.somethingswanky.com/browned-butter-brownies/

Just for the record...I will never make it again.  It took too much effort, time, and ingredients when I adore the Ghiradelli brownie mix much more!  It is less than $2.50 and can be whipped up in seconds and costs less than all the ingredients used in the Browned Butter Brownie recipe.  

Herb & Crumb Topped Tilapia recipe

I am pretty obsessed with Panko and trying to dredge every meat item and roll in Panko.  (okay -- not really every meat item -- just 60%.)  And speaking of Panko you can now buy it in the bulkfoods section of Winco!  (thanks Saralicious for the tip!)  I merged 2 tilapia recipes together and i think it was a happy companionship.  The recipe follows:

Herb & crumb topped tilapia

4 Tbsp bread crumbs

1 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp minced garlic or garlic powder

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

2 Tbsp olive oil

4 5-6 oz tilapia fillets

1 lemon or lime, cut in wedges for garnish

1.  preheat oven 375

2.  coat baking pan with cooking spray.  In bowl to drudge combine bread crumbs & spices.  Drizzle 1/2 of oil over tilapia.  Rub to coat.  Dredge tilapia in bread crumb mixture.  Place on pan and drizzle with rest of oil.  

3.  Bake for 10-15 minutes.  

Recipes from Whole Foods Market and Women's Health Magazine.  

Crispy Buffalo Chicken Roll-ups

these were pretty tasty....you should make them sometime soon.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Crispy-Buffalo-Chicken-Roll-ups

P.S.  i didn't have cornflakes so i used Panko instead.

Spices for cheap!

I realized that my spices are super, super, duper old. ... and even though i have canned green beans that are 3 years old (and still using them), I realized that spices need to be a bit fresh so they can do what they are suppose to --- add flavor.  So I dumped out all my spices and replaced them.  All for less than $4.00.  

If I was the average "Lets-go-buy-spices" person I would go to the Spice section of the grocery store and buy the bottled spices.  But instead I'm the "thrifty-lets-go-buy-spices" person and I went to WINCO and visited their BULK FOOD section.  There I loaded up on the spices I wanted to buy.  And based on how much I use a spice, I was able to buy the amount I want to buy. An example, oregano only cost 7 cents for my amount needed.  Fresh spices for cheap = awesome.

Go Red!!!!!....(target style)

okay folks....you really should listen up here.  go to your fav Target store this week and sign up for the Target Red Debit Card!!!!  I promise you -- triple promise you --- that this will be one of your favorite things you have done in a long time.  you will feel super savvy.  and why?  because you will feel like it isn't true.  that is can't be possible.  but yes it is --- TARGET IS CHEAPER THAN WALMART WITH THIS DEALIO!!!  

Target started offering a Red Credit Card.  That is NOT a good idea to invest in -- no one needs another credit card.   ;)   And then a bit later, it started the Red Debit Card program also.  Basically all it does it pull your money from your own bank account so there is no additionally credit/debit account created.  Here's the cool reason why you do this --- YOU SAVE 5% ON YOUR TARGET PURCHASES!!!!!  And you get FREE SHIPPING from Target.com all the time!!! 

All you need to do to sign up is go to your fav Target store and give them a void check.  Then they will set up the account for you to be linked to your bank checking account.  Then you are set and will walk around with a spring in your step when you walk in Targetland.  Target is already cheaper than Wally's  (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-23/target-cheaper-than-wal-mart-as-gap-widest-in-two-years.html) and now it is even cheaper when you use your Red Debit Card!  

Best Perks with RED DEBIT CARD:

1.  5% purchases @ Target

2.  Free shipping on Target.com

3.  Double the amount of return time

4.  Choose a school to have Target donate 5% of your purchase amount

SIGN UP TODAY!!!  

(and i am getting no commission/perks/deals from sharing this info....just want you to be more savvy.)

Every First Aid Kit should have....

I took my renewal First Aid & CPR class and I learned 2 things.  1.) the Puyallup Bradley Lake Park is quite scary and full of gangs and Gypsies at nighttime.  and 2.) every single first aid kit should have chewable baby aspirin because it gets in the system faster than others -- by 20 minutes.

Thus, stay away from Bradley Park and go buy some chewable baby aspirin.