photo credit: //amy//

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there is no better time than now to think about friendships, relationships, love, and marriage.  Of course everyone wants to be loved and appreciated all the time, but Valentine’s Day is a perfect time to express it in a very special way.

I came across this article a very long time ago, saved it, and decided to post it at this special time of the year, when so much love is in the air.  I don’t know who the author is, or even where I originally got it from, but would love to share it with all my readers, especially my children, nieces, nephews, and their loved ones.

Twelve Rules For A Happy Marriage:

1. Never both be angry at once.
2. Never yell at each other unless the house is on fire.
3. Yield to the wishes of the other as an exercise in self-discipline, if you can’t think of a better reason.
4. If you have a choice between making yourself or your mate look good, choose    your mate.
5. If you feel you must criticize, do so lovingly.
6. Never bring up a mistake of the past.  Your silence will be greatly appreciated.
7. Neglect the whole world rather than each other.
8. Never let the day end without saying at least one complimentary thing to your life’s partner.
9. Never meet without an affectionate greeting.
10. When you’ve said or done something hurtful, acknowledge it and ask for forgiveness.
11. Remember, it takes two to get an argument going.  Invariably the one who is wrong is the one who will be doing most of the talking.
12. Never go to bed mad.

If you memorize these twelve rules (or print, frame, and display in your bedroom), and apply them to your everyday life, you both will always grow together, and never apart, you and your spouse will be best friends forever, and your home will be a happy place to live in.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!!

photo credit: Andrew D Smith

Chocolate lovers beware…..this chocolate cake will call to you for a second serving!!!
I made this cake for someone’s birthday, who loves chocolate and lots of frosting.  I used the Dark Chocolate HERSHEY’S Cocoa for the cake, and made a double batch of the Dark Chocolate frosting.  It was very rich, very dark, and no leftovers.

Cake Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa
• 1 ½ tsp. baking powder
• 1 ½ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract (or rum extract)
• 1 cup boiling water

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
(Single batch)

• 6 Tbs. butter, softened
• 2 2/3 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup HERSHEY”S Cocoa
• 1/3 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract (or rum extract)

Directions for Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease and flour two 9-inch, round baking pans.
3. In a large mixer bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. Add eggs, milk, oil, and extract.
5. Beat two minutes on medium speed of electric mixer.
6. Stir in boiling water.
7. (Batter will be thin)
8. Pour batter into prepared pans.
9. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
10. Cool 10 minutes.
11. Remove from pans to wire racks.
12. Cool completely.
13. While the cake is cooling, prepare the frosting.
14. Slice each cake in half horizontally, using a cake leveler.
15. Sprinkle each layer with water mixed with a 1/8 tsp. of extract, or sugar, to moisten it.
16. Spread the first layer with frosting, cover with the second layer, spread the second layer with frosting, cover with third layer, spread the third layer with frosting, cover with the fourth layer.  Now frost the top and sides of the cake.
17. Refrigerate, for the frosting to set.

Directions for Frosting:

1. Beat butter in a small mixer bowl.
2. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternatively with milk.
3. Beat to spreading consistency (add a little more milk if needed).
4. Blend in extract.
5. Set aside, until cake is ready for frosting.

This is a perfect treat for that someone special on Valentine’s Day, or at any time.

I just visited a site, allwomenstalk.com, which posted several great ideas for Brides-to-Be, to utilize as gifts for their Bridesmaids.  I left my comments about a stunning gift my daughter-in-law created for her Bridesmaids, a bead necklace and matching earrings, in colors complementing their dresses.  She bought the beads, and created the jewelry by herself, which gave this gift a very thoughtful and personal touch.  Every time the girls will wear this jewelry, they will remember the special day they all shared together.

Since I was not able to share a picture with my comments (my IT specialist was not available at that time to assist me…..), I decided to post this short article and include the picture here.

Please share your comments, and provide any other creative ideas you may have for Bridesmaids gifts, to help out any Brides-to-Be, who are trying to come up with something very original and creative.

“Love is Honesty”

“Without Honesty, there is no Love”

The latest buzz going around is about a recall on peanuts and peanut butter, due to Salmonella outbreak.

I felt compelled to post some of the links I came across on this subject, to keep my family and friends informed, and safe.

To view a list of organic products being recalled, please click on this link organic foods.

One of my favorite places to shop at, Traders Joe , is recalling its branded seven-ounce containers of sliced green apples with all-natural peanut butter, because they could be contaminated with Salmonella.

General Nutrition Centers Inc. said Friday it is voluntarily recalling its Triflex Peanut Butter Soft Chews. At the same time, Supreme Protein Inc. said it is voluntarily recalling certain lots of its Supreme Protein Peanut Butter Crunch Bars and Caramel Nut Bars because they contain peanut paste which may have been exposed to salmonella bacteria at a Georgia manufacturing facility.

FDA posting 1: Jenny Craig Announces Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Jenny’s Cuisine® Anytime Peanut Butter Flavor Nutritional Bars Due to Possible Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) Contamination and Potential Health Risk

Peanut butter recall – FDA posting 2:  Peanut Corporation of America Expands Nationwide Recall of Peanut Products

photo credit: knitsteel

Pamper Her with Jewelry:

Starting tomorrow, Feb. 2, 2009, until Feb. 14, 2009

Extra 30% Off Select Jewelry

Sweet Savings on Intimate Apparel:

From now until Feb. 10, 2009, from select Intimate Apparel and Underwear sellers like Bare Necessities and Freshpair. Choose from over 2,500 items and brands like Le Mystere, Jezebel, Hugo Boss and Diesel to find Valentine’s gifts for him or for her.

Save $10 on $50 Orders of Intimate Apparel or Men’s Underwear

photo credit: apium

One Dozen Assorted Christmas Lights Roses

PLUS 12 FREE roses and FREE vase

photo credit: TheTruthAbout…

Many people work from home these days, and some of my family and friends have home based businesses.  So when I read this article about home-office tax deductions, I decided to pass it on.

5 Tips on Understanding Home-Office Deductions
From SCORE.org, a partner with The Company Corporation®

1. Take advantage of every legal opportunity to reduce your taxes. Recent changes in the law benefit business owners who use their homes as an administrative and management base but work at other locations—such as plumbers, general contractors and health-care professionals.
2. Ask your tax professional to analyze your business regularly so you don’t miss important deductions.
3. Document deductible items. These usually include such costs as computers and other equipment, telephone charges, furnishings, and pro-rated portions of rent, utilities, home insurance and homeowner association fees.
4. If you are a homeowner, discuss with your tax adviser whether or not to take a depreciation deduction for the office space. Sometimes it pays; sometimes it doesn’t.
5. For detailed information, visit http://www.toolkit.cch.com/ the web site of CCH Inc., a business information services company based in Illinois. Or, go to the Internal Revenue Service , and download IRS Publication 587, Business Use of Your Home.