My kind of Smoothie...3 hours of power!

I LOVE Smoothies.

 

These are my favorite ingredients that 

I use over and over.

 

1. FROZEN STRAWBERRIES

Sometimes with mixed berries but I'm not

fond of the seeds in the raspberries.

2. ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATE

I always use it undiluted and straight

from the box from Gordon's or can from

the supermarket.

3. MILK 

Often soy milk but regular skim 

milk works for me too...never

ice cream. Although I think it 

would be good but defeat the

healthy factor.

 

4. YOGURT

Always fat free or low fat and

often Vanilla flavored. I always try for

Greek yogurt because I think it's better for you.

 

5. CARROTS

Baby carrots are sweeter. If they add some

crunch, so what. I love that.

 

6. FROZEN BROCCOLI

I put 2 or 3 florets in. It doesn't turn the

smoothie green and you can't taste it. I call

it my secret ingredient. My granddaughter knows

that "secret ingredient" means broccoli and often asks if I've put

in the secret ingredient and smiles at me. Hey, broccoli

is good for you.

 

7. ALMONDS

Any kind of almonds work but the sliced ones really

blend up nice.

 

8. ALMOND FLAVORING

Gordon's Food Service has a nice big bottle for

a reasonable price. I use it so much I need a big 

bottle. I love almond flavoring and really notice

the difference if I forget it.

 

9. BANANAS

A must!!  I can't believe I forgot to put that

in the picture. But I'm telling you. A banana

is a must-have ingredient. I love bananas.

I keep some peeled frozen bananas in my 

freezer and if I'm out of fresh ones, I always

have a stock in the freezer to pop one or 

two into the smoothie.

10. OPTIONAL INGREDIENT 1

Powdered protein powder. Sometimes I

have it...sometimes not. It's not a must but

something I use sometimes.

 

11. OPTIONAL INGREDIENT 2

Ginger root. I love the taste of fresh ginger.

I just have trouble keeping a fresh piece

hanging around in my refrigerator or remembering

to buy a new piece. But when I

do, I'll grate some up or put in a few slices.

Slices don't blend up well and you end up having

to chew a few pieces so getting out the grater is

really the best option. But it's just another thing to

have to clean. Sometimes I get too lazy.

12. A PRETTY GLASS

It tastes so much better in a pretty glass.

I often use my Mom's crystal glass for my 

smoothie and put the extra in another glass and

keep refilling my crystal glass. EVERYTHING tastes

better in a pretty glass but especially smoothies.

I just use a regular blender but I'm thinking of

getting a Ninja blender that holds 72 ounces or that one 

from Costco that costs an arm and a leg. If I ever do bite

the bullet and pop for an upgrade,

 I'll post an update on it.

I'm also thinking of getting some kale to add on a regular

basis but I've added spinach in the past and it 

 turns the smoothie a St. Patrick's 

Day Shamrock green and the kids around here 

really are turned off by green smoothies.

I think I need to branch out and try new ingredients 

but these are the ingredients I really love and this 

smoothie gives me 3 hours of a 

powerfully full feeling of healthy happiness.

Not your ordinary totem pole

Hey...sometimes you just have to give 

folks some big kudos.

I'm sure this tree had to be cut

down for some reason and

these folks went to a whole

bunch of effort and expensive to

make what was probably a sad 

decision into something creative

and beautiful and show stopping to me.

I was driving along a road in my 

neighborhood and WOW...there was this

big fish and turtle.

I jumped out of the car and started snapping pictures

with my trusty iPhone.

The guy across the street yelled over to me

"Isn't that great!" and I confirmation that

it sure was. He then informed me that it 

cost $1,000. 

Now here's some folks that sure made

some good lemonade from the lemon of 

having to lose their tree that was in a

prime time spot at the end of their driveway.

Now every time they drive in and out of their 

driveway, they get to admire it. 

And every time I drive down

their street, I'll be admiring it also.

It sure beats the other style of tree 

stump salvage decorations. This one

is in my neighborhood also.

Sorry....no kudos here.

Magnolia Tree Heart Break

 I have a Magnolia tree in my yard.

I transplanted it from my previous house and

it was the only thing I brought over. 

I love this tree but it has a painfully brief time of

beauty in the spring.

This year it was even more brief.

I went out over the weekend and took the pictures in

the top photo. I took some really close ups with the macro

lens on my iphone. The tree looked exquisite.

Monday we got a frost.

Of course.

It's still March. 

Whew....Glad I at least have the pictures 

because I now have a brown tree in my yard.

Another reason I love my iphone.

The boss

The whole house to pick from and my

Daisy picks my favorite fleece with

the zipper pocket I love to put my 

iphone in to keep it safe.

I couldn't bear to move her.

I had thrown my fleece on the floor at the 

top of the stairs and I had to walk 

around her all day as she siesta'd.

As I traveled up and down the stairs

in various times of the day, she never

budged. She had laid claim to it and

was staying put. 

 She's 'da boss and

I know it.

Restaurants Around Town

SIEGEL'S DELI

Love the fact that they had the

courage to put an Unhealthy 

omelet on their menu AND make you feel

guilty if you ordered it. Mama is looking 

out for you!

FAMOUS DAVE'S

Who feels like doing math after

you've stuffed yourself with ribs?

 Thanks Famous Dave's for

making life both delicious and easy. 

MAIN STREET TAVERN

Really?? Only Bud Light on tap?

With all the really wonderful craft beers brewed

in Michigan and you only have Bud Light on tap??

Well, at least they only charge $2.50 for

the crap. But if it was free, I still wouldn't

drink it.

THE BREAKFAST CLUB
Commerce, Michigan
Oh Yeah.....sweet place.
Right to the very end.
I want my check always brought to me
like this.

My Amaryllis plants are like people

I planted both of these bulbs on

the same day in December. They looked to

be the same size bulb from the outside

but who knew what was going on inside.

They were placed in the same spot by

my kitchen sink so I could keep 

them sufficiently watered in an easy way.

Turns out they are like people. They

grow up at their own pace.

I'll bet if I were still in school I could

write a whole essay on how people are

like amaryllis flowers. Instead I'll just ponder 

on how much my name

Marlyss is like Amaryllis...especially if

you take away the A.

What is it about those Chipmunks??

What is it about those darling

chipmunks? 

I taped the movie on my Dish Network.

I was watching it last night and...darn it...

I fell asleep. Not because I wasn't just

enjoying it like crazy. I was sleepy.

I just love them.

I have Alvin scream at me when

I get a text message on my phone.

He goes:

"text message, Text Message.

TEXXXTTTTT MESSSAGE!!!"

I never get over loving it.

Now little Eleanor is my computer screen saver.

I'm so hooked.

Is there no hope for me?

I'm too old for this. 

Or not. I guess there is no 

age limit on chipmunk love.

Inexpensive Memory Books for theme parties

Last year we started making these

simple and inexpensive 

Memory Books for parties.

We've made them for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs,

Sweet 16's and Birthday Parties.

The book is 12" x 16" and have 20 

big pages inside. The cover is a 

glossy bright white so any color 

decorations look good on it.

They are only $65. plus shipping and

often can ship with other items that

are ordered so the shipping costs nothing.

We just slide it into the box with other things.

We like making one-of-a-kind things because

we often have to make multiples of things and 

that's takes so much more time. It's why we

also like making Gift Card Boxes for their

unique and one-of-a-kind qualities.

I hope we get to make many more Memory

Books this year in 2012 'cuz we like to do them. 

Front Porch Holiday Decorations

Well...last year it was around March before

I decided to remove the decorations.

It probably will be the same this year.

I'm in no hurry about it at all.

A fatal fall we couldn't save her from

My Mother always worried about falling.

We installed an extra stair rail. 

We installed bars in the bathroom. 

My brother put a rail by the front porch and 

one in the garage by the entry into the house. 

We taped down the rugs. 

My Mother steadied herself with a rolling walker and had a cane. 

Yet she still fell and sustained a fatal bleed on her brain 

from which she died on November 7th, 2011.

Now it's January 1, 2012.

Pickin' up life here again on this blog.

It's yogurt not mayonnaise!

I'm sitting at my computer multi-tasking.  Eating and working.

I had slopped in some fat free Meijer Brand vanilla yogurt into a soup bowl. It was fast and filling.

Stacey came over and looked into the bowl and looked at me. "Are you eating MAYONNAISE?" she asked.

Not on my worst most decadent eating day would I eat a bowl of mayonnaise.
After all, I take a cholestrol lowering pill. That would be like self-sabotage.
Besides...yuck. Who's eats that much mayonnaise? I feel guilty if I put a
tablespoon on a turkey sandwich. A whole bowl??

Then one night as I was channel surfing I saw Andrew Zimmern...that guy that travels around the world eating weird things. He was visiting a mayonnaise restaurant in Japan. Yeek gads...you can get mayonnaise soup?  mayonnaise drinks?  mayonnaise fondue?  He thought it was yucky and he knows yuck.

Oh well...it's my blog and I thought I'd share this earth shattering interesting bit of information.

Connecting the creativity dots with ipad apps

In 1996 Steve Jobs was quoted as saying 

this about "Creativity":

“Creativity is just connecting things. 

When you ask creative people how they did something, 

they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, 

they just saw something. 

It seemed obvious to them after a while. 

That’s because they were able to connect experiences 

they’ve had and synthesize new things."

Well that's exactly it.
Well stated.

He said you just connect the dots.

Easy Peasy.

Even easier now with ipad apps.

I love to make photos into something

new and different. Maybe even

more fun to view.

I guess that's why I also believe in

a little photo airbrushing to improve

people in their photos.

Here's a few of my current favorites

ipad apps. Try 'em and see if you don't agree.

        1. WaterMyPhoto

2. PosterFX 
 3. OutColor 

(It's not called OutPhoto but I

keep calling it that...makes more sense to me.)

(By the way...this is just strictly
my opinion....not any sort of 
paid advertising for them.)

Nascar racing party decorations

Nascar Racing!

Here's some signs and 

centerpieces and placecards we've done 

in the past year for this slant on car racing.

We've done go-cart type car racing party themes before

but Nascar is on a different level.

Here's a few ideas if you are looking for

something fast and colorful and fun.


These pictures are mix from 3 different 
parties but it does seem like black and
red always are the dominant colors mixed
in with checkerboard.


Red is hot and sexy.
Checkerboard is flashy and eye catching.


Guess that sums it up.

DIY: How to make a foamcore palm tree centerpiece

This tree is made from 3/16" foamcore
and is 3 dimensional and looks the same
on the front and back.

You can make it any size but this one was
about 32" high.

It would make a cute centerpiece for a 

tropical beach theme, Hawaiian Luau or

even part of a travel theme.

Here's how to make one yourself.

Start with the trunk.

Now make the leaves.

Here's  how to assemble it altogether.

Hope you enjoy the instructions!

www.marlyssandstacey.com

Music Parties vs. Sports Parties .... Who leads?

In the year 2011 are boys (and some girls) picking a 

music theme over a sports theme?

Well...if you ask me, MUSIC is pulling out ahead.

Now we've done some sports party centerpieces and 

sign in boards and candle lightings. Yes, we have.

Here's a couple of signs with a sports theme.

ESPN of every sort, All Stars, Sports Center, 

Sports Spectacular, Game Day......some of the few words

we've used mixed in with footballs, baseballs, basketballs, 

hockey sticks, etc. Throw in some lacrosse and swimming

 and running too. Add some stars and lights and 

it cool and fun looking.

Even lots of sports tickets for PLACE CARDS.

But there are loads of up and coming guitar players out there. 

Could it be because of Rock Band and Guitar Hero? 

We've done Rock Band and Guitar Hero centerpieces elevated up like this one.

 We've made them simpler too.

But more than anything, we've done loads of

guitars in all shapes and ways.

Here's one of our newest ideas.

This works well on a round table in the

entrance to greet your guests with a fun guitar look.

Placecards can be placed all around

this centerpiece with its triangular base.

Guitars really do Rock!

We've done guitar centerpieces for birthdays from 1 to 80.

For Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Sweet 16's, Corporate Events, 

once for "Our Docs Rock"...even weddings and baby showers.

Of course, baby showers. "Potty like a Rock Star" is popular 

and the first time I heard that, I found it so hilarious and cute.

I still do.

If you need things for a music party visit:

www.guitarcenterpieces.com

If you need things for a sports party visit:

www.marlyssandstacey.com

Or visit us on Facebook for a real hodge podge of

things that are currently flowing thru our workshop if you

haven't found your theme yet.

See the Facebook link on the right side of this page.

We like all kinds of themes.

Even some that are a little off the wall 

are okay with us.