March 8, 2009

Did we have spring break when we were kids? Waaayyy back when we were kids? I don’t remember ever having a spring break; only 2 weeks at Christmas and a full 3 months of summer. Maybe we did have spring break, and I just forgot. Perhaps my memory lapse has something to do with all those brain cells I murdered unceremoniously in the 80s. Surely not.

At any rate, it seems like spring break season is in full swing in school districts around the country, and spring makes me think of summer which makes me think of vacation. I’ve heard on the news for a while that more people are doing the “staycation” thing, where they stay close to home and enjoy local attractions to save money in this treacherous economy. The same can’t be said for expectant moms who are heading to Babymoon Destinations for one last adult only holiday.

But if you’re going to take a real vacation, let me share this cool site I just heard about from my friend SA. It’s vrbo.com, which stands for Vacation Rentals by Owner. Instead of paying exhorbitant hotel rates, this site allows you to search all over the world for condos, homes, apartments, villas, etc., that are offered for rent by the owners. I’m not planning a vacation, but I had a ton of fun browsing all of the homes available for rent. It was amazing to see how many there were, but it was even more fun to see all of the gorgeous homes for sale in the Caribbean. I couldn’t stop myself from imagining being in a beautiful house in Playa Hermosa in Costa Rica, just enjoying myself, but that’s just a dream for now. However, it doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to a little traveling. Someday (soon!) LilSis and I will take our dream trip to Greece and Italy, and this will be a great resource! Here are a few of the homes I found for rent:

• A luxury vacation log home in Wasilla, Alaska. Yep, the same Wasilla where Sarah Palin served as Mayor before she went on to become the Governor of the state. For $1300-$1800 per week, you get 3 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths, a cook’s kitchen, wi-fi and cable in a woodsy setting.
• A condo on a private island on Lake Travis in the Hill Country of Texas. $109-$159 per night gets you 1 bedroom, 1 bath, a 42″ flat screen TV, views of the lake and marina, and access to tennis courts, fitness facilities, and hot tubs.
• A chalet on the peak of Mt. Kanimbla in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. Talk about an escape! For $365 Australian dollars per night (about $234 US), you get a one bath studio with a private hot tub, fireplace, and a kitchen stocked with food staples! And you’re surrounded by the native wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies and eagles. Trust us, it is the most breath-taking scenery, sounds, smells. You won’t regret it. Australia is a perfect place for road trips too, so if you’re feeling adventurous, you could look up hiring a van to drive around in. Maybe you could go up to Brisbane. There are some great van rentals there too. Click here for more information.
  

  Australia Chalet

• A villa in the village of Kefalas on the Greek island of Crete. Check out the 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, private pool and equipped kitchen, all for 60 to 200 Euros per night (about $76 to $253 US).
• A penthouse apartment with a view of the Coliseum in Rome, Italy. This penthouse has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths on 2 levels, with a year-round terrace on the upper level. It’ll run you 180 Euros per night ($228 US).
  

  View from Rome Penthouse

• A villa in Tramonte in the Lucca area of Tuscany, Italy. How about a 1600s antique villa with 4 floors, 5 bedrooms, 6 baths, a private pool, and an onsite caretaker? The property features an antique olive oil mill, fruit trees, olives, vines, forests, and horses. The rates start at 2380 Euros per week and go to 4760 Euros per week, depending on the season (about $3013 US to $6025 US per week).
  

  Tuscan Villa

  I’m ready to pack a suitcase, how about you? Once you get your rental reservations made, don’t forget to check out the airfare deals available now! You can even use this private jet charter cost estimator if you want a bit of luxury!

~BigSis

March 7, 2009

It’s Girl Scout cookie season! But, where are all the Girl Scouts? I haven’t seen any outside my local grocery store where they normally camp out nor have I had one come door to door.  So, these Samoa-inspired coconut treats from Food Network will have to tide me over until I can get my hands on some Girl Scout Samoa cookies. You can find the recipe for the Samoa Tartlets here.

Bo is in town visiting from Chicago and we were looking for a sweet treat to make. She actually suggested the Samoa Tartlets from the latest issue of Food Network Magazine. She had already made this recipe and gave them rave reviews. (I think hers turned out better than mine.)

Okay, you all know that I am not a baker. I’m really trying though! Just don’t compare my photo too closely with the photo in the Food Network Magazine!  I wouldn’t say that the cookies were burnt, but they are definitely darker than the ones in the magazine. I purposely set my timer for 18 minutes instead of 20 minutes and they still came out a bit overdone.

We did make one change in the recipe that made the cookies even better, I think.  I found the Edy’s Girl Scouts Samoas ice cream, so I had to buy that instead of the plain coconut. It’s REALLY GOOD!

If you like the Girl Scout Samoas, you’ve gotta try these. They’re quick and easy. Enjoy!

~LilSis

March 6, 2009

Thanks for the Borba update, LilSis.  I’m still using the Borba Firming Body Trio, and still liking the results.  I’m really bummed that QVC isn’t carrying the products any longer, since their price was so great.

What is it that makes me STILL wonder if there is a better anti-cellulite solution out there, even though I like the Borba products?  I don’t know if that’s a woman thing, or if I’m just fickle and always searching for more when it comes to beauty and body products.

I’ve been digging around the internet for a couple of hours looking for well-reviewed anti-cellulite products without caffeine.  Guess what?  I can’t find any. Seems caffeine is the primary ingredient in all of these products, but I’m determined to stay away from it.  My search will go on, but meanwhile I’ll keep using the Borba trio.

~BigSis

March 5, 2009

You may remember BigSis talked here about the Borba Firming Body Trio Set and the results that she noticed after using these products for just a week.  Once I heard that, I ordered my set from QVC the same day. Unfortunately, I just checked with QVC, and as of today, they no longer offer the Borba Firming Body Trio.

Borba Firming Body Trio

The Borba Firming Body Trio set is still $60 through the Borba website.  I really love all three of these products! I’ve actually been doing the same routine as BigSis. Instead of using all three products on the same day, I use the Body Polish on one day, the Cleansing Serum on the next day and the Contour Cream every day.

I’ve been using the trio for about five weeks now and I can honestly say that I can see a difference! My skin is firmer and smoother. I don’t want anyone to think that I’m saying that these are some miracle products that will literally melt the cellulite off your thighs, but I have definitely noticed a change. (I dream of a day when I could say that I’m cellulite free. Ha! That will probably only happen in my dreams!)

Since I’m not using the Serum and the Polish every day, I’ll have to order more of the Contour Cream before I need more of the other two products.

The Borba Firming Diamond Shimmer Contour is $32.00 from Borba when ordered individually. This product is unlike anything I’ve ever used before. It’s pretty thick and creamy, but it absorbs into the skin really fast.

Borba Firming Diamond Shimmer Contour

In comparison to all the other products I’ve used, I do have to say that this brand is the only one that has shown me some real results. Worth sixty bucks, if you ask me!

~LilSis

March 4, 2009

What the “L” is BigSis up to?

• Loving the thought of taking long after-work walks next week…thanks to Daylight Savings Time!  Bring it on!
• Looking forward to spring.  It’s been a weird winter in Texas this year.
• Lusting over tonight’s Lost reunion episode!

More of this tonight??

• Lunching on these meatless Gourmet GardenSteaks in the Baja variety.  These are not your usual critter-free patties; they’re very delicious, well-seasoned and filling.
• Livid that I got suckered into this season’s Bachelor!  Livid, I tell you!  Snarl!

And most of all:

• Lifting up in prayer all those around me going through a rough time…my friend who just lost her dad, my friend whose long-time BF just came to light as a long-time cheater, my friend who’s trying to discern if her dating relationship is of God or not, my friend whose brother is struggling with the path his life is taking, and LilSis and her family dealing with Sarah’s increasing health problems.  Love all of you!

~BigSis

March 3, 2009

Hot off the Skillet!

I absolutely love breakfast!  During the week, we all have pretty quick breakfasts, but on the weekend, I like to make something a little more special. A great omelet is probably one of my favorite breakfasts.

On Sunday, I decided to make a Frittata, an Italian omelet, for a change. I really wanted to make one with asparagus, but I had spinach on hand, so I used that instead. I started with a basic Frittata recipe from Bon Appetit, but I changed it up a little to suit my taste. I really liked the addition of the Rotel diced tomatoes. And, next time, I’ll add mushrooms and maybe some crispy bacon! Overall, I was pretty happy with the way this Frittata turned out.

HayHay couldn’t wait for it to cool a little, so this is what it looked like after I cut a slice for him.  Ahhhh! Have I mentioned that I LOVE cheese?

And here’s a perfect little slice.  I managed to get a teeny tiny piece while it was warm. I actually wanted a second little piece, but when I returned to the kitchen, the entire thing had disappeared. So, it was definitely a hit with the guys!

Spinach & Ham Frittata

3 T Olive Oil
1 garlic clove, minced
10 oz. package frozen spinach
4-5 oz. ham, diced
7 eggs
3 or 4 teaspoons Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilis, drained
ground pepper to taste
5 or 6 oz grated cheese (I used Trader Joe’s Shredded Three Cheese combo of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Mozzarella)

Heat oil in heavy medium nonstick skillet over low heat. Add minced garlic and saute about a minute or two. Mix in spinach and diced ham. Add the Rotel tomatoes and chilis on top of the spinach mixture. Whisk eggs, add ground pepper, and pour over spinach mixture. Cover skillet and cook until eggs are almost set, around 8 minutes. Preheat broiler. Sprinkle frittata with the cheese and place under broiler until cheese melts and bubbles, just about a minute or two.  Serve warm.

~LilSis

March 2, 2009

Remember the other day when I talked about my undying love for the OXO Good Grips Pop Containers?  I’ve been skipping up to Bed Bath & Beyond every weekend to buy a few more containers.  If I only buy 2 or 3 each trip, it seems to my little brain that I’m not spending as much money on this project as it would if I got them all in one fell swoop.  Just a little psychological game I play on myself.

So today, I made another trip to BB&B and picked up the last two containers I need for Phase 1 of my pantry organization project.  All of my flours, sugars and cocoa are contained and labeled!

OXO Good Grips Pop Containers at work

They fit nicely on one shelf, and make me a verry happy girl!  I could go crazy and start Phase 2, which will be containing the lentils, popcorn, beans, and rices… all of those little bags of stuff, you know.  But I’m pretty content for now and the bags aren’t bugging me at this minute.  Next week may be a different story, but everything’s good in BigSis’ pantry today!

~BigSis

March 1, 2009

I am a big fan of The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I don’t always have time to read all of her Confessions of a Pioneer Woman posts, but I do subscribe to The Pioneer Woman Cooks. The woman is pretty darn amazing.  A lot of times, she has 40 or 50 photos posted with a recipe, and with some pretty incredible photography, at that!

I hope this doesn’t come out sounding the wrong way, but I really want to know if Pioneer Woman is a one woman show or if she has a team of people helping her.  If any of our readers happen to communicate with Pioneer Woman, I would absolutely LOVE it if you would pass this post on to her.  I know she admits that she doesn’t have time to comment much or reply to emails. She’s just too busy!!

But, I would love to know how she home schools all her little ones, helps Marlboro Man with the ranch, cooks amazing recipes, takes amazing photography, and maintains a wonderfully organized blog.

Inquiring minds want to know…How DOES SHE DO IT?

~LilSis

February 28, 2009

Happy Caturday!  Thanks to ICanHasCheezburger, we can start our weekend with a laugh or two!  You KNOW by now how much I love me some Cats in Hats:

These two kitty pies aren’t in hats, but they crack me up…look at their cute little expressive faces.

Enjoy your weekend, friends!

~BigSis

February 27, 2009

The past few days have been very draining on me for more than one reason. I think the New Moon on Wednesday had something to do with some of that! Almost everyone I’ve talked to in the past two days has told me that they also had a lot of things happen on Wednesday. Okay, it is probably a coincidence, but that’s when my laptop got attacked by the ‘virus’.  Yesterday, I was able to drop it off for an emergency visit with Phil, my IT guy, also known as Dr. Phil!!

Technically speaking, Dr. Phil says that it’s not a virus. It’s malicious software that is installed on your computer and when it attacks, it’s unstoppable. I tried for a couple of hours to install some new software to try and remove the malicious software, but could not even get Firefox or IE to run.  I hope this never happens to anyone else, but chances are that it will.  Just beware! There is a window that pops up that tells you that your computer is at risk because it has no virus protection. This new window looks very similar to a real Microsoft Windows alert. If you click on enable protection, it will take you to a site to buy their anti virus software. But, it is just a scam to get your credit card information. Don’t do it!!

I just found out that a couple of my friends have had more serious issues arise in the past couple of days, so I’m not going to go on and on about my laptop being out of commission. I’ve just become quite dependent on it and almost feel lost without it.

Besides all my blog work and my ‘real work’, I rely on my Outlook  for all my tasks and my appointments. If I had a Blackberry or an  iPhone, I’d be able to retrieve my Outlook from that device.  I’m just not ready to go there yet.

Since I’m such a good-natured, sweet, forgiving, LilSis, I’m not going to fly to Texas to kick BigSis’ ass! You know I’m just kidding, BigSis!  🙂 You had no way of knowing that site was malicious.

Hopefully, Dr. Phil will get me up and running on my laptop in the next few days.

~LilSis