Listen Up Girlfriends

We Have A Story to Share

We Have A Story to Share
Current mood:  adventurous
Category: Life

Hello Everyone! I am writing everyone in hopes to reach many people and hope
that each one of you will spread the word for us no matter what country
you live in. My husband (Robert) and I are doing a project called: “We
Have A Story to Share”. We are looking for 300 stories about everyday
life stories that are happy, sad, tragic, compassionate, life changing,
fulfilling, passionate, triumphant, costly, horrific, justice,
frightening, etc. This project will be a collection of stories from
real people such as yourself no matter your age or nationality.  You don't need to be a writer, just send us as much detail as you can and we will tell your story for you.  We are doing this project in hopes that your stories will help everyday people through times of trials and tribulations. We want stories that people can
relate to. We need Stories that encourage and uplift people. We want
people from all walks of life, different countries, etc. These stories
can be anonymous if you choose. These can be short stories or you can
make them lengthy. If you are interested in emailing or mailing us your
story, please email me at:
live4espresso@aol.com

If you want to stay anonymous you can mail your story to:

ASAP

PO Box 836

Nixa, MO  65714

We would like to have your story by May 15th.......

http://www.caneicorporation.typepad.com/

SHARE YOUR STORY!  INSPIRE OTHERS! 

Bread, Wine and Cheese Mediterranean Healthy Diet

Do you love Bread, Wine and Cheese?  Well you can enjoy this diet all the time, just go Mediterranean. Dieting doesn't have to be about deprivation, especially when you follow a Mediterranean-style way of eating. This delicious diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds, bread, dairy, fish, olive oil, poultry and wine. Most of the fats in this eating regimen come from healthy monounsaturated fats. In addition to weight loss, a Mediterranean diet also prevents heart disease and has been shown to increase lifespan.   Medical studies indicate that Mediterranean countries and specifically Greece, where olive oil consumption is high, suffer less cardiovascular problems from any other country in the world.


Olive oil helps the normal function of the digestive system reducing to minimum the chances of ulcer creation and the other relative diseases, not to mention that is the best natural medicament for the fight against constipation. The use of olive oil in nutrition helps to sustain:
1. Human metabolism at a good balance
2. Body's growth and bone growth at a good level.
3. Good level of Vitamin E in our body.
4. It's the best medicament's for delaying aging
5. Vitamin E improves our sexual life, so one can say that olive oil is by itself an aphrodisiac!
6. It dissolves useful substances coming from food that cannot be absorbed by the human body.

VALENTINE'S DAY RECIPES

Raspberry Kisses         

1 small box raspberry gelatin
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup egg whites
3/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 (4 ounce) can shredded coconut

Combine gelatin, sugar and salt. While beating egg whites at high speed on electric mixer, gradually add gelatin-sugar mixture. Add almond extract and continue beating until glossy and stiff peaks form. Stir in coconut. Place baking parchment on baking sheets; drop mixture by heaping teaspoonful about 2 inches apart onto prepared sheets. Bake at 275 degrees F for about 35 to 40 minutes.

Valentine Heart Pops

These sugar cookie lollipops embedded with candy hearts make the perfect edible Valentine.

Ingredients

Makes 32 pops (2 1/2 inches each)

• FOR THE SUGAR COOKIES
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 32 white lollipop sticks (6 inches long)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• FOR THE CANDY CENTERS
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon peppermint, cinnamon, or other flavored oil, optional
• Paste or gel food coloring in pink tones

Directions

1. In a large bowl, sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In bowl of electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar on medium until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla until incorporated.
3. Gradually add flour mixture on low until combined. Wrap dough in plastic; chill 1 hour.
4. Heat oven to 325 degrees. On a well-floured surface, roll out dough to 3/16 inch thick. Cut out 2 1/2-inch rounds. Use smaller cutters to cut hearts from rounds. (If desired, save and bake heart cutouts.) Transfer 8 cookies to an ungreased cookie sheet. Press 1 lollipop stick under each cookie. Place small hearts on same cookie sheet. Chill until firm, 15 to 30 minutes. Bake 8 to 12 minutes, until firm but not browned. Transfer cookies on pan to wire rack to cool, about 20 minutes. Repeat until all dough is used. Leave cooled heart pops on ungreased cookie sheet. Set aside.
5. Combine 1/2 cup corn syrup, 1 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup water in heavy 2-quart saucepan. Stir over medium heat, until sugar has dissolved. Increase heat to medium high; boil until mixture reaches 300 degrees on a candy thermometer, 25 to 35 minutes.
6. Remove from heat, and stir in flavored oil. Quickly pour mixture into 2 small heatproof bowls. Add food coloring to each; stir to combine. Pour into each empty heart. Make candy mixture again as in Step 5 with remaining ingredients and 1/2 cup water. Fill remaining cookies. Let set until hard, 10 to 20 minutes. Transfer in single layers to airtight containers. If humid, refrigerate.

CHOCOLATE CASHEW TRUFFLES

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2 Tbsp. whipping cream
• 1/4 cup butter
• 12 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 5 oz. milk chocolate, cut into chunks
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups finely chopped cashews

Preparation:

In a medium saucepan, bring cream and butter to a boil. Remove pan from heat. Add chocolates and vanilla and stir until mixture is creamy and smooth. Refrigerate about 2 hours until candy is firm enough to handle easily. Form into 1" balls, then roll in chopped cashews. Store in refrigerator.

Fudge Recipe~Very Easy to Make

        

Be sure to use sweetened condensed milk in this recipe, not evaporated milk - that's a common mistake. It is probably the easiest recipe in the world, thus the name!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Preparation:

Place chips and milk in microwave safe bowl. Microwave on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Microwave, stirring at 1 minutes intervals, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth and thick. Pour into greased 8" square pan and cool. You can also melt the chips and milk in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Makes about 2 pounds candy.

Heart-Shaped Angel Food Cake With Fluffy Frosting
Check out more Valentine's Day Recipes

Angel Food Cake

• 1 3/4 cups egg whites, about 12 to 14 large eggs
  
• 1 1/4 cups cake flour, sifted before measuring
  
• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Sift the flour with 3/4 cup of the sugar 4 times; set aside. In a heavy duty stand mixer bowl or in a large grease-free bowl with electric hand-held mixer beat egg whites with the salt and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining 1 cup of sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time. Beat well after each addition of sugar. Continue beating until stiff peaks form when beaters are lifted.

With a rubber spatula, gently fold flavorings into the egg whites. Sift about 1/4 of the flour mixture over the egg whites and fold in gently, using about 15 strokes. Repeat until all flour mixture is folded into the egg whites, ending with about 10 mote strokes to blend flour in well.

Heat oven to 375° and position rack to lower third of oven.

Gently spoon the batter into an ungreased 10-inch heart-shaped or round tube cake pan. Cut through batter with a flat spatula or knife to cut down on excess air bubbles. Smooth top and spread so batter is touching edge of pan.

Bake on lower oven rack for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the cake springs back when toughed lightly with fingertip. Invert pan to cool completely, about 2 hours. Using a narrow spatula or knife, slide around cake to gently loosen sides and middle tube of pan. Grasping the center tube, gently lift cake out of pan. Carefully remove from the tube section. Brush crumbs from the cake and frost with fluffy white frosting, below. Garnish with whole strawberries and fill center with sliced fresh strawberries. Sprinkle top with a little flaked coconut if desired.

Fluffy White Frosting

As a child, I always asked for this frosting. It's less sweet than a buttercream, and there's no fat!

1/2 cup water

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

3 egg whites

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place water, corn syrup, and sugar in a saucepan. Stir, cooking, until sugar is dissolved. Boil to about 232 to 236, or until syrup spins a thread when a little is dripped from a spoon.

Place egg whites in clean, grease-free bowl. Beat with hand-held mixer or wire whisk attachment of stand mixer until egg whites begin to hold their shape. Continuing beating, gradually adding hot syrup in a thin, steady stream, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Add vanilla and continue beating for about 5 minutes or until frosting loses gloss and stands in stiff peaks. Frost cake immediately. This makes enough to frost a large angel food or 2-layer cake.

Poem ~ Different Worlds

Different Worlds


You and I are in different Worlds.
It is so hard to meet in the middle.
It is like tug of war with you on one end and me on the other.
I close my eyes wondering why,
hoping when they open things will be different.
I say one thing, you say another.
I like something, you hate it.
Why can't we just agree,
or at least disagree in a loving manner.
Why can't we just love each other
for who we are?
Must we make each other feel bad?
Not sure why we do this,
but we do love each other.
Maybe this is the way it's supposed to be,
with me on one end and you on the other.


~Sallie Kintigh

Make Kids Valentine's Day Crafts~Fun Ideas

I have searched and found some fun and easy projects on the web for you to try with your kids.  These are fun and easy step by step Valentines crafts that your kids will love doing.

Valentine Craft Ideas for Kids

Heart Necklace Valentine
Sew up some love with this Valentine craft!

Materials
Craft Foam
Plastic Lacing Cord (Lanyard)
Plastic Pony Beads
Hole Punch
Scissors
click here for supplies

Directions
Cut two identical hearts from the craft foam (about 3 inches wide).
With a hole punch or nail (adult only), make holes for lacing around 
the edges. Be sure that the holes match on each heart.
Cut a piece of plastic lacing (lanyard) long enough to sew around 
the edges and and tie for a necklace.

Stack the two hearts together so that the holes match.
Start with the holes at the upper left side of the hearts and thread 
the lanyard through both holes. Pull enough lanyard through, so that 
the heart will end up in the middle of your necklace when all of the 
lacing is complete. Thread through the remaining holes.
Tie a knot one each side, directly above the heart.
String a few beads on each side. Tie the ends for a necklace.
Fill the pocket with stickers, candy a small toy etc.

*Add a stick-on foam heart, glitter or other additional 
  decoration to your necklace.

*Tracing around a heart shaped cookie cutter onto the foam,
  will make cutting much easier.

Swedish Paper Heart Valentine Craft
Fill this traditional Swedish heart basket with treats for your sweetheart!

Admittedly, these woven hearts are a bit tricky to learn.
But, with practice and patience you'll see they aren't so hard after all.
Once you get the hang of  it, you can experiment with felt, craft foam, fabric etc. This project will be easier for kids 10 and up. 

Materials
To make a woven Heart Basket, you will need:
Two pieces of paper, each a different color ( craft foam, fabric 
or felt will also work)
pencil 
scissors 
click here for supplies

Directions
First cut two paper rectangles from colored construction paper and round off the ends. The exact dimensions of the rectangles don't matter as long as the two pieces are the the same size. You may want to start with larger pieces while learning.

Fold the strips in half and cut 2-3 slits through the folds. 
Do not cut all the way to the edge.

Weaving
You'll be weaving "through and around", as opposed to the 
"over and under" in traditional weaving.
     
Begin by weaving strip 1 through slit A, around strip B, through slit C.
Push this row to the back, where the slits end. Continue the weaving with strip B. Weave it through slit 1, around strip 2, through slit 3. 
Until this row is finished. 
Continue until all the rows are done. 

To make an optional handle on your basket cut a strip of matching paper and staple the ends to the front and back of your basket.

Candy Rose Valentine's Day Craft for Kids
Three sweet ways to transform lollipops into a bouquet of Valentine treats! 
Easy enough to make a bunch for a classroom Valentine's day party!

                  

Easy To Make Lollipop Valentine's Day Roses
No cooking, no gluing, easy for younger children to make!

You'll Need:
wrapped heart shaped lollipops
green chenille stems
scissors


Directions:
Starting at the top of the top, tightly wrap the chenille stem in 
a coil around the lollipop stick. Cut off reaming pieces of chenille,
about 3 inches. Twist the small piece of the chenille around the 
stem where you want the flower leaves to be. Then shape the 
leaves and twist to secure. If you want to add a name tap or note,
cut a piece of paper and make a hole with a hole punch. Secure the 
note onto the smaller piece of chenille before twisting into the leaf shape.

Chocolate Heart Valentine Roses
These candy roses take a few more steps and more effort, 
but will make a fun Saturday afternoon project for you and the kids.

You'll need:
a candy heart lollipop mold (craft store)
lollipop sticks (craft store)
melting chocolate or almond bark (craft or grocery store)
construction paper 
clear plastic wrap
wire "twisties"
glue stick
scissors

Directions:
Melt the chocolate according to package instructions. Carefully pour 
the melted chocolate into the mold and insert the stick.
Chill or leave until hard. Gently remove the lollipops and wrap with a small pieces of plastic wrap. Secure with the wire "twistie". Fold the green paper in half and cut the leaf shapes on the folded edge, so that they open up. Fold the leaves around the lollipop sticks and glue both sides of the leaf together. Add a note if desired. 
If you want to use two colors for your hearts. Pour one layer first. 
After the first layer is hard, pour the second color. The swirled heart 
that you see above, was created by drizzling the red first, let it harden and then add the white. It was very easy and created a unique effect.
       

Use tissue paper and ribbon to make a sweet bouquet 
for a teacher or grandmother!

TIP:
The colored candy melts that you can purchase at the craft store are more expensive than white almond bark (grocery store). We purchased 
one bag of red candy melts and used almond bark for our white. 
You can also mix the two together to make pink.

Valentine's Day Kiss Rose

A unique valentine for kids to give to friends and family!

You'll Need:
wrapped chocolates - kiss shape
lollipop sticks (craft store)
constructions paper
hot glue gun

Directions
Use the hot glue gun (adults) to attach the kiss-rose to the lollipop stick.
Fold the green paper and cut leaves along the folded edge, 
so that they open. Wrap the leaves around the lollipop stick and glue 
both sided of the leaf together. Add a message toe the leaf with a pen.
Tip: We found our kiss shaped candies in the bulk section of the 
grocery store.

Valentine Flower

This Valentine's flower is a nice simple craft that toddlers or preschool children will be able to make (if you cut out the pieces for them!).  

Sometimes parents worry that their children's projects aren't turning out right... so I thought I'd include a photo of "the real thing" (see above), to reassure you that nothing's wrong with your toddler if their coloring is scribbly or their petals are a bit crooked.  At age 2, Kaitlyn's flower wasn't perfect, but she sure had fun making it!

  

Print out the template of choice.
   Colour (where appropriate) and cut out the template pieces. 
   Glue together the four large hearts to form a flower (the points should all face towards the middle of the flower). 
   Glue the flower to the top of the rectangular stem and the smaller hearts to the bottom of the stem as leaves.

 

Alternative Decorating Ideas:

Use sparkles, sparkle glue, or felt to decorate the "flower".
   Use a pipecleaner or popsicle stick instead of the printed rectangle template piece for a sturdier stem.  
   This craft has nice big pieces, so try using paint rather than crayons to colour in the template.
   Print a Valentine's message onto a circle of white or yellow construction paper and paste it to the center of the flower.  Give the flower to someone special instead of a Valentine's card (Grandma's love to get crafts!)
   Use the template for the black and white printer on red or pink coloured construction paper.  Print a second template on white or green paper and mix & match the pieces.

 

Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
    

Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).

  

Template  (color)   or   (B&W)

Heart Angel Materials: craft foam or construction paper (Jenny used red, white and pink) yarn 3 craft sticks (popsicle sticks) permanent marker scissors optional:  decorative scissors yarn rubber cement (ordinary white glue would likely work as well if you were careful with them afterwards) optional:  magnet backing optional:  wiggly eyes

Instructions:

• cut heart from red craft foam
   
• cut 2 hearts (about half the size) from white craft foam.  Jenny cut them with decorative scissors to give the wavy edges.
   
• cut small circle from pink craft foam for the head
   
• cut one of the popsicle sticks in half
   
• Position the red heart upside down for the body -- the point of the heart is the neck. 
   
• Glue the two half popsicle sticks near the neck for arms.
   
• Glue the two full popsicle sticks on the bottom of the body for legs
   
• Glue the wings (white hearts) on the back of the body behind the arms
   
• Glue the pink circle (head) onto the neck
   
• Cut a few lengths of yarn and glue to the top of the head
   
• Color the ends of the leg popsicle sticks to make shoes and draw facial features with permanent marker.  Jenny put a little dot of white fabric paint on each eye.  You could also use wiggly eyes.
   
• Write a message on the front of the body
   
• Apply magnet strips to the back so you can put them on the refrigerator.  

Paper Plate Valentine's Day Card Holder

Click here to print
How cute is this FreeKidsCraft original project? Great to make in your classroom at your Valentine's Day party. Add your name and go around collecting Valentine's from your classmates. Supplies Two 10" Paper or Plastic Plates 4' Ribbon Hole punch 12" Lace Scissors Tacky Glue Click here for printables Instructions Cut one of the paper plates in half. Hold the plates fronts together and punch all around the lip approximately every inch. Beginning at what would be the top, lace all around, leaving an 8" tail for hanging. Glue lace across the top edge of the front plate. Cut hearts out of additional plates. Glue to front to decorate.

Valentine's Victoria's Secret

Sexy Valentine's Day Lingerie

Valentine's Day is a special time when you can put on that special lingerie and show it off to that special someone.  Here are some ideas for Sexy and Hot Lingerie to Wear this Valentine's Day.

                                                             

Come A Little Closer
By Deborah Woolverton

Honey, Come a little closer,
let me whisper in your ear.
Let me tell it to you softly,
So that no one else will hear.
What I have to say is private,
and is just between us two;
just want you, to know how much,
I love the things you do.

                              

 

                                                                     

 

                                                                         

SEXY VALENTINE'S SHOES

 

                               

Sexy Lingerie

I have searched and found some really sexy lingerie for Today's Woman.  Check out these sites for more Sexy and Hot Lingerie, great for Valentine's Day!

Sexy Lingerie

Victoria's Secret for Sexy Lingerie

                                                        


 

                                                        

HOT AND NAUGHTY LINGERIE FOR ANY SPECIAL OCCASION

Dare to add some spice to your life

 

                                                                  

         


      

                     

                              

Shop For Coach Handbags on Ebay

FIND COACH HANDBAGS ON EBAY AND SAVE MONEY!

 

 

 

 

 

Make a Kids Valentine's Day Craft

Step by Step Video craft from Crayola. Make a 3-D Heart Pouch for Valentine's Day.  Your kids will love this project!

is pr

Children's Crafts