Monday, July 29, 2013

Music Monday - Romantic Love Songs


A two and a half hour playlist of romantic 80s and 90s love songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZiXP9z5a5g

1. MLTR- [25 Minutes]
2. Kelly Clarkson -- [Because of You]
3. Monica -- [It's Angel Of Mine]
4. REO Speedwagon -- [Can't Fight This Feeling]
5. Mark Sherman -- [Changes In My Life]
6. Basil Valdez -- [You]
7. Whitney Houston -- [Where Do Broken Hearts Go]
8. Katy Perry -- [Thinking Of You]
9. Celine Dion -- [That's The Way It Is]
10. Bryan White -- [God Gave Me You]
11. Celine Dion -- [My Heart Will Go On]
12. Aerosmith -- [I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing]
13. Avril Lavigne -- [Wish You Were Here]
14. Gino Padilla -- [Closer You and I]
15. Selena -- [Dreaming of You]
16. Indecent Obsession -- [Fixing a Broken Heart]
17. Martin Nievera and Regine Velasquez - [Forever]
18. Bobby Caldwell -- [Heart Of Mine]
19. Mariah Carey -- [Hero]
20. Peabo Bryson -- [If Ever You're In My Arms Again]
21. Celine Dion -- [Immortality]
22. Mariah Carey ft Whitney Houston -- [When You Believe]
23. Natalie Cole -- [Miss You Like Crazy]
24. Bon Jovi -- [Thank You For Loving Me]
25. MLTR -- [Breaking My Heart]
26. Rockstar -- [Parting Time]
27. George Benson -- [Nothing's Gonna Change]
28. Christian Bautista and Sarah Geronimo -- [Please be Careful with My Heart]
29. Richard Marx -- [Right Here Waiting]
30. Roxette -- [Spending My Time]
31. Savage Garden -- [I Knew I Loved You]
32. The Corrs -- [All The Love In The World]
33. Roxette -- [Listen To Your Heart]
34. Donna Cruz and Jason Everly -- [Wish]
35. Michael Jackson -- [You Are Not Alone]
36. Original Version -- [Pusong Bato]

Have a romantic evening...

Monday, July 22, 2013

Music Monday - Ambeint Trance

This is definitely a type of music that I love to listen to while I'm writing, though it does depend on what I'm trying to do with my story at the time. Sometimes I listen to other types of music while writing. But this type of music with its dreamy quality helps get me in the zone.

Here's a full hour and nineteen minutes worth of ambient trance. May it help you get into your creative zone as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrYpqc244s8

Have a meditative evening...

Saturday, July 20, 2013

20 More Things to Cherish

1. Grandpa












2. Boyfriends











3. Beach Weddings











4. Romantic Dinners












5. Firelight












6. Sand Between Your Toes












7. Birthdays












8. Trails












9. Blue Jays










10. Kestrels













11. Wrens











12. Cardinals












13. Woodpeckers












14. Florida











15. Gators












16. Conch














17. Africa
















18. Sea Biscuits











19. Police










20. Detectives

















Thursday, July 18, 2013

Cherish - Eating Healthy - Carrot Burgers!


In my book, Cherish, the protagonist's mother loves to cook healthy food for her family.

The following original recipe by me would fit into any Ovo Lacto Vegetarian diet, as it does require the use of eggs. But feel free to substitute anything that you might use in place of eggs for binding.

Also, keep in mind that it is always preferable to use organic carrots and free-range chicken eggs when possible.

Ingredients:

7 - 8 large - medium carrots (Shredded)
2 whole eggs
1/2 - 3/4 c. flour (Any type that you prefer. I use organic whole wheat flour.)
2 - 3 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp garlic powder (not garlic salt)
Pinch of Salt (Optional)

Optional Ingredients:
Brown and wild rice (cooked), chopped raw spinach, black beans, or oatmeal. Any of these or even a combination of these can be added into the batter to "beef" up the patties. I have even added alfalfa sprouts (that I home sprout) and wild greens that I have gathered. Delicious!

Other Flavors:
Adding sage, black or white pepper, and marjoram gives a more chicken-y flavor to the patty and adding rosemary, thyme, and sage can make the patty taste more like sausage.

Frying:
2 pats of butter melted in the pan

Preparation & Cooking:

Cook carrots until they are still moist, but tender. About 3 - 5 minutes in a microwave should do. Mix in the rest of your ingredients until you get a thick, easily portioned batter. You can add more flour to thicken the batter, if necessary. Likewise you can add a little water if the batter is too thick.

Melt butter in a frying pan or wok over low to medium heat. Don't let your pan get too hot so as not to burn the patties. Spoon carrot mixture into patty shapes into pan. Allow to brown on one side, flip, brown other side, then remove from pan and allow to drain excess butter onto a paper towel laid in a plate or platter.

Once you have all of your patties (this recipe should yield 7 - 8 large patties) you can then put them on any bread that you prefer using the same condiments that you use whenever you have hamburgers. You can also eat these alone or paired with a side salad or cut into strips and placed on a hotdog bun with cole slaw. The possibilities are endless for what you can use this recipe for, even meatloaf. Just mix in what you normally put into your meatloaf, such as bell peppers, onions, or tomatoes, etc. Bake and enjoy!

I have even used these to make spaghetti and meatballs by forming the mixture into balls and partially cooking them before adding them to the sauce.

You can bake the patties in an oven as well, but since I don't have an oven I'm not sure how long they would need to bake to cook thoroughly and you want to be sure that the eggs in the mixture are completely cooked.

Personally, I just microwave 7 - 8 on a plate on high for 9 minutes. But with the way cooking times vary depending on microwave brand and the possibility that you might under cook the eggs in the mixture, I can't really advise others to prepare them this way.  After all, I live in a part of Florida that is right about at sea level and that will definitely affect cooking times in a microwave or even a regular oven.

However you choose to cook them I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. They are a very nutritious addition to your mealtime repertoire. 

Enjoy!!

Monday, July 15, 2013

Music Monday - Dubstep

Yes. Yes, I do. I wub the bass, the wobbles, and all the rest!

Enjoy!

Raise Your Weapon - Deadmau5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnwfTHpnGLY

Pumped Up Kicks Remix (Butch Clancy) - Foster the People
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXO-jKksQkM

Set Fire To The Rain (Ember Waves Dubstep Remix) - Adele
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZQ_RDb0lcE

Louder (Doctor P and Flux Pavilion Remix) - DJ Fresh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_0dLDsc-Vw

First of the Year (Equinox) - Skrillex
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cXDgFwE13g

What Am I Doing Here - Chicane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4oHWPEbMYA

Electric Daisy Violin - Lindsey Stirling (Original Song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxIOUJ7by6U

DubstEpic - Robot Boys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvc4lsmCmy4

Bring Me the Horizon - Shadow Moses (Dubstep Remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIaVtBdHsa8

Just wanted to share --
Some Awesome Middle School Talents Dancing to Louder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwPqxIQ3Kps

And just for fun--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGhVXgMoz4g

Have a meditative evening...

Monday, July 8, 2013

Music Monday - Polynesian

When I was in 5th Grade a woman came around to our school to teach us about Polynesian music and culture. I was already into all things Polynesian, because of some of the old albums my parents had, so this was absolutely exciting to me. She even taught us some Hula moves and how every movement and gesture told the story of the music. It was wonderful! Well, I still have a love for all things Polynesian, so this week I'd like to share some of my favorite Polynesian music with you.

Some of the Music from My Parents' Albums that Kicked Off My Interest: 

My Little Grass Shack In Kealakekua, Hawaii
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qm6NYz1bHg

Hawaiian Sunset
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4cOaA3nztQ

Under Hawaiian Skies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wv9yIzL7Zo

Tradewinds Over Mamala Bay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NGNUOQY_70

The More Modern Polynesian-Style Sounds I Love Today:

Kua Iti Te Marama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GMQPjeDv3c

Tamahana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iafubcZ2EAY

Te Moana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BD6MTiJgqI

Panini Pua Kea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkKOSV1xaVg

Samoa e, Maopoopo Mai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi2p_qGnbYU

Lei Hali'a
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjLR1NmbF7Q

Every Road Leads Back to You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0_uLxKmhc8

Heiau
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiRP3vUuT0w

Have a meditative evening...

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Cherish - Independence Day!


I cherish the Independence and Freedom of this country, the United States of America, and I wish to all of my fellow Americans a very safe and happy Fourth of July!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzs52OzgWOs

God Bless You, Oh, Sweet United States of America! How I Love You!

Monday, July 1, 2013

Monday Music - Sweet, Sweet Bubblegum!


There is literally a ton of sugary sweet, bubblegummy, diabetes inducing music out there from both yesteryear and, well, this year. I loved it when I was a little girl and I still enjoy the nostalgia of listening to it from time to time. Not all of these acts went on to greatness, but some of them did. However, I appreciate them all for their sweet, fun, and sometimes double meaning (and not so double meaning) lyrics.

:::WARNING:::
The following sweet ear candy could cause decay, so be sure to brush after consuming!

Lemon Pipers best known for their song Green Tamborine:
Jelly Jungle (Of Orange Marmalade)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOVn6vR_p4c

1910 Fruitgum Company best known for their song Simon Says:
Goody Goody Gum Drop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5YOW0sQJ5k

Ohio Express best known for their song Yummy Yummy Yummy:
Chewy Chewy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V-FYolawTw

The Smoke best known for the following song:
My Friend Jack (Eats Sugar Lumps)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqc95i9VJdo

The Monkees best known for their song Daydream Believer:
Tapioca Tundra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWRnrRauCS8

Leslie Gore made this Marvin Hamlisch song very popular:
Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQmBXEZEYtg

The Archies were made famous by this song (Ron Dante is the vocalist):
Sugar Sugar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9nE2spOw_o

The DeFranco Family best known for their song Abracadabra:
Sweet Sweet Loretta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7I-TwHsAm8

The Osmonds best known for their song Puppy Love and the following song:
One Bad Apple
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlFQvbHVk5o

The Jackson 5ive best known for their song ABC (and a whole slew of other songs!):
Honey Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=504yWOEg4Hw

The Bay City Rollers best known for their song Saturday Night:
Money Honey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fJv5kUjddc

Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs best known for, well, the following song:
Sugar Shack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DW8ecqu0Iw

Have a sweet evening...