Happy Swap Ideas Day!

I'd love to hear your ideas!
(You are always hearing mine.)
~Angel

Happy Teddy Bear Day!

If you've got time, here are my teddy bear ramblings:

The teddy bear is a stuffed toy bear. It is an enduring, traditional form of stuffed animal often serving the purpose of comforting children.
And today is Teddy Bear day
according to my wacky holiday list!

Do you know where the term Teddy Bear comes from?
According to Wikipedia:
"The name Teddy Bear comes from one of President Theodore Roosevelt's hunting trips.... A suite of Roosevelt's attendants, led by cornered and tied to a tree an American Black Bear after a long exhausting chase. They called Roosevelt to the site and suggested he shoot it. He refused to shoot the bear himself, deeming this unsportsmanlike, but instructed that the bear be killed to put it out of its misery. This became the topic of a political cartoon... later issues of cartoons made the bear smaller and cuter.

A Brooklyn store owner saw the drawing ...and was inspired to create a new toy. He created a little stuffed bear cub and put it in his shop window with a sign that read "Teddy's bear." The toys were an immediate success....
By 1906 manufacturers had joined in and the craze for Teddy Bears was such that ladies carried them everywhere, children were photographed with them, and Roosevelt used one as a mascot in his bid for re-election."

Have you ever been to Build-a-Bear?
My younger son Brian's very first job was working at Build-a-Bear Workshop. We had to go and make a bear while he was working there. I love my teddy bear.

I also still have my oldest son's very first teddy bear. He's a little worse for wear and sadly no longer winds up to play "Brahm's Lullaby". But I plan on surprising him and giving it back to him one day when he's older.

Check out these Teddy Bears!


A teddy bear USB drive!

After my uncle Wick passed away, my aunt made all of their children and grandchildren teddy bears like these out of his many flannel shirts! What a great idea!

You can make a teddy bear cake with the pans sold here.

I can't forget my very stamp set which I still have....
Button Bear!


Happy Teddy Bear Day!

~Angel

Happy "Late for Something" Day!

~Angel

Happy Kiss & Make Up Day!

That's my kind of Kiss!
~Angel

Happy "Be an Angel" Day!

According to Holidays on the Net today is "Be an Angel" Day!
Sounds like a plan to me!

~Angel

Happy Potato Day!

The Potato....
informally tattie, tater, spud, tato, pota, spudzie, papa or tate!

And WHO doesn't like potatoes? Baked potatoes are something I've been eating a lot since I have been having stomach problems.
Doing a little bit of research, I have discovered that the average American eats 126 pounds of potatoes a year. Wow!
Did you know.....
~You should never bake a potato in aluminum foil because it traps the steam and actually boils not bakes your potato?
~Prolonged exposure to light will cause potatoes to turn green?
~Storing potatoes near onions will cause them to rot faster due to the interaction of gases that both of the vegetables produce?
~Washing potatoes can shorten their life? You should wash them only right before you use them and not before storing them.
~You shouldn't store your potatoes in the refrigerator because it converts the starch into sugar creating a sweet taste and causing the potato to darken prematurely when fried.
~A new potato peeler will become easier to use
with time. The starch in potatoes reacts with
the blade, making it sharper with each potato
peeled.

And here is a great recipe using potatoes!!

Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

4 medium russet potatoes
8 ounces 90%-lean ground beef
1 cup broccoli florets, finely chopped
1 cup water
1 cup reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3 scallions, sliced

1. Pierce potatoes all over with a fork. Place in the microwave and cook at 50% power, turning once or twice, until the potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. (Or, use the "potato setting" on your microwave and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions.)
2. Meanwhile, brown meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Increase heat to high, add broccoli and water to the skillet, cover, and cook until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain the broccoli; add to the meat.
3. Carefully cut off the top third of the cooked potatoes; reserve the tops for another use. Scoop the insides out into a medium bowl. Place the potato shells in a small baking dish. Add 1/2 cup Cheddar, sour cream, salt and pepper to the potato insides and mash with a fork or potato masher. Add scallions and the potato mixture to the broccoli and meat; stir to combine.
4. Evenly divide the potato mixture among the potato shells and top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Microwave on high until the filling is hot and the cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
Yield: 4 servings

More great info on potatoes here! And here!

Happy Potato Day!!
~Angel

Happy Twins Day!

It's Twins Day!
And I just so happen to have THE cutest one year old twin godbabies!
Aren't they adorable??

~Angel

Happy Watermelon Day!

Another wacky holiday.
Gives me practice in my Photo Shop program.
And aren't they fun?
If I had my stamps, I would make someone a watermelon card!
Let me know if you indulge in a juicy piece of melon!
~Angel

Happy Ice Cream Sandwich Day

This one I WILL celebrate for sure.

Especially since I have discovered Skinny Cows!
YUMMY!

~Angel

Happy Cheesecake Day

Yummm.... CHEESECAKE!
This amazing dessert reminds me of my oldest son. He loves it. Lucky him that his new mother-in-law makes amazing cheesecakes!
If you're feeling like making a cheesecake, check out the recipes I found for you!

Southern Living's Double Chocolate Cheesecake
Oreo Cheesecake
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
Lemon Ripple Cheesecake Bars
Turtle Cheesecake
Strawberry Pineapple Cheesecake

I wish I had my cookbooks. I would add my Grandma's Pink Cheesecake. That will have to come later I guess!

Cheesecake. Is there a better dessert? It's even Biblical!

According to Wikipedia:
"Cheesecake is a large family of sweet, cheese-based cakes.
Cheesecakes are generally made with soft, fresh cheeses. Other ingredients such as sugar, eggs, flour, and cream are often mixed in as well. Typically, the filling covers a crust, which may be pastry, cookie, or digestive biscuit.The word cheesecake is also used to describe the creamy, cheesy flavour of the dessert. In this usage, there are cheesecake yogurts, ice creams, brownies, and cookies. There are also savoury cheesecakes, often flavoured with blue cheese and served as hors d'oeuvres or with accompanying salads.
Cheesecakes are strongly associated with the Jewish feast of Shavuot, when Jews consume dairy food. The association of milk with Judaism can be traced back to the Song of Songs, which in the Jewish tradition is interpreted as an allegory of the relationship between God and the Children of Israel ("honey and milk are under thy tongue" 4:11, King James translation)."

~Angel

Happy Milk Chocolate Day

YUMMY!!!!!!!!!

Happy Parent's Day

Today is Parent's Day... not a particularly wacky holiday, but one that is not greatly celebrated. I want to take this opportunity to wish all the parents out there a wonderful day. But especially the parents God blessed me with nearly 40 years ago!

Happy Ice Cream Day!

Another Wacky Holiday!
Yes, I AM a fan of ice cream! I like vanilla especially, but once in a while I like my ice cream with LOTS of chocolate and fudge and brownie bites, etc....
YES, ice cream day is a great wacky holiday!
Have a bowl or cone for me!
And have a great day!
~Angel

Happy Pecan Pie Day!

No, I am not a big fan of Pecan Pie. But I love wacky holidays!
And today is Pecan Pie Day! So, if you like pecan pie, have a slice and celebrate!

~Angel