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8.31.2011

Pizza Joints

A small pizza joint among the store fronts of historic Market Street in Corning, New York, Aniello's, has been around for as long as I can remember and since they have been in business for 38 years, that sounds about right!


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Whenever I go home to visit, we always schedule a visit to our favorite, local pizza joint Aniello's Pizzeria. There is nothing like falling into a booth at a favorite childhood restaurant to make you feel like home. We always use the back door, just like you would at your best friend's house.



The staff, mostly cute, young guys, take your order and compute your tab without a pencil and paper. They look at you intently while you order at the counter, give your total immediately, then turn around to prepare your food. We have double checked their math several times, and they have never made a mistake.



The hand tossed pizzas are delicious but the hot subs are my fave! Made with fresh baked Italian rolls, the Chicken Parmesan...no, Meatball...no Chicken Parmesan...is my favorite. Order up some pitchers of beer or try out their new soda fountain that was just installed.

The restaurant is always busy, yet magically, seats open up just in time for you to sit down every time you visit. It is, by far, my favorite pizza joint ever! I've even converted The Big Guy into a die hard fan. I love to toot the horn of businesses with good, simple food that has stood the test of time.

The next time you find yourself in Corning, New York, gateway to the Finger Lakes Region of Central New York, stop at Aniello's! Or, you could order one to be shipped directly to your house...this could be a pretty cool birthday present for a certain Big Guy I know...

I know at least one of my readers has probably been there...Tricia?

Where is your favorite home town hangout?

Come join the fun at Centsational Girl's Favorite Home Town Things Party. I shared a visit to the town I live in now, Pittsburgh. To visit a Pittsburgh Pirates game with my family click here!

8.29.2011

Tutorial Tuesday!

Hope Studios


Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday - If you are new here, this party is to showcase your weekly tutorials. What counts as a tutorial? Anything to Teach Me Stuff counts - a recipe, a kid's craft, a DIY project, how you got your baby to sleep through the night ... I'm not picky.

This week I shared how to make Candy Baby Shower Favors!

Here are some of the faves from last week: Stuff I Learned!

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog address) using your name and a the subject of your tutorial to generate interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!


GIANT Bubbles!



I pulled out our stack of Family Fun pages last week to find something to cure the "I'm bored's" and we decided to make Giant Bubbles! Here is the recipe for your own bubble fun:

1 gallon distilled water
2/3 cup dish washing liquid
6 Tbsp. glycerine
(I found mine in the pharmacy aisles at Walmart)

Stir gently ( we don't want foam on top).

We experimented with a few different containers and discovered a flat, rectangular tub worked the best.

We made a giant bubble wand with:

2 three foot long dowels
yarn


We cut two pieces of yarn, one 4 ft. long and one 5 ft. long and tied them to the ends of the dowels with the shorter length on top. The longer pieces hung down and formed a big loop.



We had the best luck if we made sure the yarn was completely submerged then pulled it out of the solution with both dowels together. Once the yarn was clear of the container, we slowly pulled the dowels apart, allowing the loop to open. You can slowly walk backwards or move your arms to catch a breeze and a bubble begins to form!



Too much wind caused the bubbles to break to quickly, so try this on a day with no strong breeze or else you are going to hear some serious whining. Just sayin'. And making three wands for three kids would have cut down on a lot of "MY turn's" and "He's hogging the bubbles!".

At some point, they are going to get bored again and begin to play in the bubble solution. Have them rub their hands together then form an "O" and blow. You can make a bubble wand from your own hands! Cool, dude!


8.25.2011

Maggie Goes on a Diet. Feedback Friday


My friend Shelley, from Single Stone Studios, suggested this week's Feedback Friday topic: The children's book, "Maggie Goes on a Diet" by Paul Kramer.

The book, to be released in October to a target audience of age 6 and up, is described as follows: "This book is about a 14 year old girl who goes on a diet and is transformed from being extremely overweight and insecure to a normal sized girl who becomes the school soccer star. Through time, exercise and hard work, Maggie becomes more and more confident and develops a positive self image." amazon

Good Morning America covered this story:



And here is the author's response:



It's Feedback Friday...

What is your gut reaction to this book?

Do you think this book promotes a healthy lifestyle or promotes eating disorders and encourages society's discrimination against the overweight?

8.22.2011

Tutorial Tuesday!

Hope Studios


Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday - If you are new here, this party is to showcase your weekly tutorials. What counts as a tutorial? Anything to Teach Me Stuff counts - a recipe, a kid's craft, a DIY project, how you got your baby to sleep through the night ... I'm not picky.

This week I shared how to make Candy Baby Shower Favors!

Here are some of the faves from last week: Stuff I Learned!

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog address) using your name and a the subject of your tutorial to generate interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog address) using your name and a the subject of your tutorial to generate interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!

Hope Studios





Candy Pacifier Baby Shower Favors



Don't you love it when a friend shows up at the door with a shoebox full of Lifesavers, jellybeans, and ribbon and teaches you something new?

I helped a friend prepare for her daughter's baby shower this weekend by constructing 50 pacifier favors using just those supplies!

I'm past that particular phase, but I recognized it and swear I saw it linked up here once or twice, but couldn't find the link to save my life. Luckily, my friend came prepared to teach, so grab your supplies.

Baby Shower Candy Pacifiers


Supplies:



Life Savers Mints
Ribbon
Pink Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
1/2 inch Sequin Pins (pictured below)




Set yourself up on the back porch with tv trays so you can also watch the wiffle ball home run derby in the back yard.



Follow these simple steps:



1. Tie a bow around one Life Saver mint.

2. Insert pin through knot in ribbon from behind.

3. Place second mint on top.

4. Stick the end of your jelly bean into the hole in the Life Saver and through the pin to anchor.

**Note**  Though you could never eat the pin without eating the ribbon, some readers were still worried  and came up with an alternative "glue" made from melted white chocolate you might wish to substitute just in case you have some ribbon-eating guests :)

8.19.2011

Stuff I Learned!

Coiled Newspaper Coasters:



Cottage Style Vent Hood:



Fun Sensory Tub for Kids:



Distressing Without Sandpaper:



Front Porch Makeover:



And, of course, How I Got My Baby To Sleep Through The Night!

CLICK PICKS (this week's most clicked links):

#1 Southern Baby Shower



#2 Hair Tutorial

#3 Scary Love

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Is Honesty the Best Policy?


Have you heard about the twin boys who have $50,000 on the line after a prize winning hockey shot? 11 year old twin brothers, Nate and Nick, bought three $10 tickets to take a chance at a shot on goal during a charity hockey game for a cash prize last week.

When Nick's name was called, his family realized he had left the building and quickly sent his twin brother in his place. His brother, Nate, stepped up and took the shot for his brother. He shot a 3 inch puck into a 3 1/2 inch goal from a distance of 90 feet! You can watch the story and the amazing shot here:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy



The family, never expecting him to make the shot, came clean soon after. Now event coordinators are unclear about whether the boys will receive the $50,000 after all, since the boy who made the shot was not the name on the ticket.

It's Feedback Friday...

Do you think the boy should be awarded the prize?

Was the father right to come forward with the truth?

8.18.2011

What is "Summer Chic"?

Formal, Semi-Formal, Cocktail, Dressy casual, Business casual



I think most of us know the usual dress codes listed on invitations. Evite breaks it down for us like this:


Black tie/formal: Long gown.

Semi-formal — Knee-length or long dress.

Cocktail — Knee-length dress or skirt.

Dressy casual — Skirt or dressy pants.

Business casual — Dressy pants or skirt. Blazers with a t-shirt underneath.

Casual — anything goes.

But, this summer I've received invitations with some confusing dress codes listed. So, I've compiled some of my online research to help you dress for the summer weddings and events coming up! I had some fun with Polyvore and spent some time working on some idea boards for each dress code.

Festive - Something like a skirt, dress, or top with sparkle or beading!

Festive Dress Code



Smart Casual - Knit shirt or blouse, no t-shirts except under jackets, pants or skirts, leather sandals.

Smart Casual



Spiffy Casual - Dress it up, but keep it modern and trendy. A cocktail dress is always right.

Spiffy Casual



Summer Chic - Summer dresses or skirts and blouses or dressy knit tops. Leather sandals or wedges.

Summer Chic



Casual Chic: A mix of relaxed and sophistication. Classic pencil skirts, dark jeans, crisp white blouses.

Casual Chic



Resort Attire - Linen pants, dressy capris or Bermuda shorts. Casual knee-length dresses or short skirts with knit tops or a shell. Sundresses.

Resort Wear



It would end lots of confusion if we all received a link to an idea board on Polyvore with invitations that specified a dress code, wouldn't it?

Have you encountered any unusual dress codes recently?

8.16.2011

Tutorial Tuesday!

Hope Studios


Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday - If you are new here, this party is to showcase your weekly tutorials. What counts as a tutorial? Anything to Teach Me Stuff counts - a recipe, a kid's craft, a DIY project, how you got your baby to sleep through the night ... I'm not picky.

This week I shared how to make Sidewalk Paint.

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog address) using your name and a the subject of your tutorial to generate interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog address) using your name and a the subject of your tutorial to generate interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!

Hope Studios





8.15.2011

Sidewalk Paint!


I found a recipe for Sidewalk Paint this summer in my Family Fun magazine and added it to my list of summer activities for my boys. We used to buy the Crayola Sidewalk Paint, but that stuff is expensive!

This recipe is quick and easy and you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry right now.

Sidewalk Paint

1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup water
8-10 drops food coloring

Mix ingredients and paint away! the painted dries like chalk and rinses away clean.

I like to buy those cheap chip brushes at Lowe's so the kids can make big paintings that cover lots of sidewalk. Have you painted your sidewalks yet this summer?


8.12.2011

Par-tay! Or is it?


Some of you have been waiting for this post since I baited you on Facebook and Twitter, so here it is.

The schools in my district have decreased our holiday parties to 4 per year, they are all acceptably innocuous and called names that won't directly offend any person or their beliefs, Halloween, Winter, Spring, and End of the Year. After some changes a few years ago, one treat was allowed and a "healthy alternative" must be present. Example: If you serve cookies, you must serve water to drink and also provide carrot sticks or grapes as a healthy alternative. If you serve a drink with sugar, you cannot have a cookie and only fruits or veggies.

These parties are only allowed for students in grades K-3 and all parties are to cease at the level of 4th grade (you know, 9 year olds are grown up). Any parties from that point on are very few and in some cases none, and must relate to some sort of academic milestone (100th day of school, 3rd quarter, etc...) and are allotted 20 minutes at the end of the day to mill around and visit while music is on.

The kids spend 8+ hours a day in school and it's a hard pill for them to swallow.

Last month, our school board had a meeting and voted to eliminate all food and drinks from all school parties. This topic was not on the agenda and no one (including PTO officers) knew of the vote or the decision until it was final. Have you ever attended a party that served no food or drinks?!?

It's Feedback Friday...

Do you agree with eliminating food and drinks from school parties?

Is this a step forward to solving the childhood obesity epidemic? If it's an allergy thing, would your child with an allergy prefer to have approved food at his/her party or no food?
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8.08.2011

Tutorial Tuesday!

Hope Studios


Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday - If you are new here, this party is to showcase your weekly tutorials. What counts as a tutorial? Anything to Teach Me Stuff counts - a recipe, a kid's craft, a DIY project, how you got your baby to sleep through the night ... I'm not picky.

This week I shared some Wedding Gift Ideas.

Check out some of my favorites from last week: Stuff I Learned!

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog address) using your name and a the subject of your tutorial to generate interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog address) using your name and a the subject of your tutorial to generate interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!

Hope Studios





Wedding Date Gift Idea



If my business is any indication, this fall is going to be very popular for weddings! I like to have something small and personal to accompany the card. Check out this simple idea for Wedding Date Art I blogged last year. Bring it along to your next wedding as a gift!

Here are a few of my Wedding Gift Pins you might like:

I'd Still Choose You:



Monogram:



Can of Dates:



What do you like to bring to a wedding?

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