Sunday Silliness: Things You CAN’T Do when You’re NOT a Dog

Oh, my goodness. This is so silly. These guys do videos for our church, but this is one they did on their own. I admire their silliness… giggle, giggle.

Enjoy.

Photo of the Day 4/16: Relaxing

On a Saturday Morning ~ 16 April

Outside my window… the squirrels are eating all the black sunflower seeds in the feeder, the sky is crisp, clean and beautiful – washed clean after last night’s storms. It’s going to be a gorgeous day.

I am thinking… about plans for today and what we’ll do.

I am thankful… for my house, my family, my health, and my blessings.

From the kitchen… homemade pizzas tonight (maybe)

I am wearing… warm slippers – it got chilly last night!

I am creating… uh, nothing right now. Hoping to get a little scrapbooking in this weekend, but we’ll see.

I am going… to the grocery later this morning and maybe something fun for the kids later today.

I am reading… The Day the Falls Stood Still

I am hoping…that I can get all my reading in this weekend for my class on Tuesday night.

I am hearing… Little Bit and her sister singing while they play on the computers.

Around the house… lots of laundry and things to do.

One of my favorite things… the breakfast casserole I’m munching on.

A few plans for the rest of the week… my bible study class on Tuesday night, ballet visitor’s day on Monday, prep for Easter weekend.

Join us at The Simple Woman’s Daybook and write your own entry.

Photo of the Day 4/15: It’s been one of those days…

Five on Friday: Favorite Android Apps

As I mentioned last week, I am not an iPhone user. That is not because I don’t like iPhones. I don’t have an opinion one way or another, actually. It’s more that my cell carrier did not offer iPhones until recently and I was absolutely, positively not going to switch to the carrier that did carry iPhones just to get a particular phone. Especially since I had left their service years ago because of terrible service!

Anyway.

Just because I don’t have an iPhone does not mean I don’t have some nifty apps on my Android phone. Actually, I love the fact that having an Android phone is a little bit like carrying around a mini-computer everywhere I go. If I’m bored waiting for an appointment now, it’s my own darn fault. There’s plenty on my phone to keep me occupied.

I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite applications ~ and I’d love to hear from you if you have an Android phone – share your favorites, too!

Lookout Mobile Security: this is a terrific application that has saved my skin quite a few times. You can back up your contacts, locate a missing device, and even remotely wipe your device if it’s unrecoverable. I’ve had to restore contacts on SuperMan’s phone a couple times… I can’t tell you how nice that was. I can’t imagine trying to recreate a phone list of several hundred names/numbers that are not documented anywhere else other than on his phone. *scary* It is available on Blackberry, Android, and I think, Windows mobile phones.
Silent Sleep: I can’t sleep without this. Literally. During spring break it got accidentally turned off. I was awakened I don’t know how many times during the night because of the beeps and blips my phone was making. *ugh* For a pre-menopausal middle-aged woman, sleep is a precious thing. Getting woken up for no reason is no stinkin’ fun. Hence, this program is permanently on my phone. I can set the time for the sounds to be turned off and back on again. Sweet, silent sleep.
Angry Birds Rio: Duh. Who isn’t addicted to Angry Birds these days? I am late to find Angry Birds, but boy, oh, boy am I addicted now. SuperMan found it on my phone this week. I got out of the shower the other night to find that he’d played on my phone and advanced me three levels. Instead of being happy I was up three levels, I was mad that I wouldn’t be playing those levels! (ha!) It’s crazy fun, a serious time-suck, and way, way worth having on the phone.
Audible for Android: I love being able to listen to books when I am traveling, especially if I am the one driving. My short attention span means driving on a long trip is b-o-r-i-n-g!!! This allows me to occupy my mind while I drive – or wait in carpool lines, go for a walk, etc. I love that it saves my spot when I stop listening, automatically pauses if the phone rings (and automatically resumes where I left off after I “hang up” the call) Couldn’t live without it.
Where: This is another great app for when you are traveling (can you tell I was on vacation recently?) – I love being able to look up restaurants, movie theaters, etc. while I’m in a strange city and the app will tell you where it is, give some reviews and even provide driving directions.

Okay, I have TONS more apps on my phone, but given that this is “Five on Friday” I will stick to these five. More will come in another post.

Now, it’s your turn. What are your favorite phone apps?

Photo of the Day 4/14: Jazzy Girl

Love Bends

I was inspired to make this on Sunday night after an awesome message at church that morning. I thought I’d share with you…

I’m still doodling, as you can see, when the inspiration strikes me. It still feels a little strange, but it is relaxing at the same time.

Click here to download your own copy.

Photo of the Day: 4/13 Visitor’s Day at Jazz

Perfect Springtime Meal

One of my favorite meals when the weather warms up is salad – garden salads, veggie salads, pasta salads, you name it.

I love a cool pasta salad the most, I think, next to my green salad concoctions I’ve come up with.

This is one that I have made my own over the years but it comes from the days I was a road warrior. I was teaching in Dallas (or was it Houston? I can’t remember.) One of my fellow instructor-buddies was based there and offered to fix me a home-cooked dinner. Since eating in restaurants was 90% of my daily intake Monday thru Friday, I was only too happy to accept his offer.

He had the tiniest apartment. I remember it because I remember wondering if I would be happy if I were on my own and had a tiny little apartment like that. I loved it, though. His decorating was serene and simple. It made you feel calm and peaceful. Funny that I remember that even though it has been, oh, I don’t know, fifteen years?

Anyway, he whipped up this awesome pasta salad for our dinner. And I was in heaven. Most pasta salads I’d had prior to that were typical Southern, mayonnaise-laden affairs which I could barely stomach. This was light, cool, and fresh.

I later found out that James had invented the recipe on his own. It made it all that more special to me.

I’ve since altered it a bit to suit our tastes, but the essence of the salad is still all James’ original dish.

Chicken Pasta Salad

1 Deli Rotisserie chicken, diced into bite-sized pieces (you can also use baked chicken, but rotisserie seems to have a better flavor for this dish)
1/2 cup finely chopped sweet onion
1/2 chopped red bell pepper
1/2 chopped green or yellow bell pepper
1-2 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 pound fusilli pasta, cooked al dente & drained
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
Sweet basil (about 2 tsp)
Garlic powder (about 1 tsp)
Italian Seasoning (about 1 Tbsp)
Cajun Seasoning (about 1 Tbsp)
Black Pepper
Salt
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil

In a large bowl, combine chicken, pasta & vegetables. Mix well.
In another bowl, whisk together all remaining ingredients except the parmesan cheese.
Pour dressing over pasta mixture & toss to coat. Dressing should have a little “bite” to it from the Cajun seasoning but not be too spicy.
Top with parmesan cheese. Chill before serving.

If I am making this for a crowd, I double the amount of pasta & veggies and make a double batch of the dressing.

The batch you see above also has some cucumber, peeled, seeded & diced in there.

And this is one of those recipes that’s even better made a day ahead.