Rischa's Rants, Raves, and Ramblings

Bored of Blogging and iPhone Apps

I'm still alive and kicking. I almost closed this blog in favor of just having the Blogger blog. I figured since I like Blogger better and it's free, unlike this blog until yesterday, I'd just close this as my personal blog and combine the two. While procrastinating I found out Typepad now has something called a "Micro" plan that's totally free. The design will have to be limited, thus the ugly background color, but paying $80 a year for a blog that's harder to deal with  than the free one didn't make sense. The only good thing I could see from having this blog was the amount of followers I have here. I don't get as many hits as I did when I blogged daily, but I've managed to rack up over 20,000 hits without even trying. I'm guessing it's from the free Photoshop Actions I made and given away judging by the stats. Or maybe Typepad shows up better in Google searches? Who knows. Anyway, now that I can keep this one free, too, I'll just keep it. I'm a little sentimental toward it since it was my first blog and I've had it since before most people even knew what a blog was. As someone who considers themselves a creative person, though, it does drive me a little nuts that I can't mess with the design to make it pretty. Hopefully Typepad will change that one day. 

Even with all the free blog service on my other blog and now this one, too, I don't find very much interest in blogging any more. I think because everyone has a blog now and they're all so interesting I just can't seem to find my own that interesting by comparison. People are spending all KINDS of time on just one little post! I don't know how they find the time! I have made posts like that with beautiful, edited photos, photoshoped images, tutorials, well thought out posts, and etc... I just can NOT put that kind of time into something that doesn't pay. I do enjoy it when I have really interesting things to chat about, but until then I have to be honest....I probably won't be around that much. Besides, they (whoever "they" happen to be) say "quality is better than quantity", right? I'll still be around, but I won't waste your time with my boring daily details....that's all. 

Before I go I MUST post some sort of image! I have always thought that blog posts lacking in some sort of image are just so incredibly dull. So, how about checking out my apps for my iPhone. I add new ones frequently, so why not do an update. You might see an app or two you're interested in trying out!

I know. I really should get caught up in my Google Reader. That's a LOT of reading! I need to delete a few blogs off my list. These screen shots were taken last weekend before I did the big iOS5 update. I had heard bad, bad things about the update and was afraid of losing everything, so I did screen shots in case I couldn't restore the apps. Turns out I didn't need it. By the way, am I the only one that needs a tutorial every time she uses iTunes? Sheesh! I hate that software! Anywho, the icons are a bit different on some of the apps that come standard and there a few new ones, as well. I like the new update. My favorite part of the update is how it now shows messages on the homescreen. Maybe I'll post another shot of them from after the update later.

Thanks for reading and sticking around the ole blog. <3

PS. That smile was totally accidental. Joel witnessed it. I was doing the usual circle on the bread when it spattered and made the eyes. Kolby did the same wth his ketchup the weekend prior. Here is his...

What can I say? Our ketchup has a lot of character? LOL I thought it was funny. It's the little things.

New Years Resolutions 2011

I'm a few (okay, 5 or 6) days late wishing my blog readers a Happy New Year. Oh please, it's not like you were sitting around thinking, "I wish Rischa would wish me a Happy New Year!?" But I wish you one all the same.

So, Happy New Year!

Now that that's out of the way, have you made any NY resolutions? (Sorry, if I hear those words one more time I'll barf. From here forth we'll use NY instead) I just happen to have made some goals/challenges/promises/resolutions to myself. They have nothing to do with the NY, though. I had been thinking about these things for a while. One of them I started before the NY. I started a gratitude journal. I tend to look at the glass being half empty opposed to half full. So, when I saw Claudine Hellmuth mention this little iPhone App I went and downloaded it straight away. I think it was her that mentioned it on Facebook. I hope I'm not confusing who shared the link. Anywho, it has been interesting. I can see how these things could make you happier. Here are a few screenshots of my journal entries. Notice the photos and daily ratings, too.

It even has daily quotes.

Cool stuff, right? The other "resolution", if you want to call it that, is to stop being lazy with the cell phone photos and get back into REAL photography. I've forgotten a lot of what I took so much time to learn. I enjoyed it so much. Part of the fun was learning how. So I've opened a new group for Photographers who want to start over. We'll do a Photography Book Club, have challenges, share photos, and other activities yet to be determined. For now it's open to women only. Sorry, fellas. The group won't actually start up until February because I have a few other things going on in January. For instance, The Sketchbook Project deadline is looming, my Birthday and any plans surrounding it (hint for Joel), a possible trip to Naples, and recovering from the Holidays. So if you'd like to join you're certainly welcome. Right now it is only myself and a friend that I invited.

Phun With Fotos

Wish me luck! And if you're struggling with anything or making any sort of resolution I wish you the best of luck, as well.

Sending you lots of x's & o's,

Rischa

Wordless Wednesday

Okay, not totally wordless. I did want to say I'm not trying to take credit for this idea. I've seen many bloggers doing a Wordless Wednesday and have no idea where it originated. K...back to being wordless.

Pics from the yard

Just some cell shots from the yard while waiting on Sheldon to do his biz.

Introducing Sheldon

Hello blog hoppers! It's my pleasure to introduce you to our newest family member, Sheldon.

We affectionately refer to him as Sheldon Pooper. You know, like Sheldon Cooper? We won't be putting "Pooper" on his paperwork, of course, but it's sort of a nickname. Any suggestions for a middle name for him? My Mom saw him and said he's a "Longfellow", so maybe Longfellow? I don't know. We'll see. I thought Bazinga would be cute as a middle name because that's sort of a catch phrase of Sheldon Cooper's, but I don't know if many people would get that. Plus, Joel has already started calling his....umm....poop.....bazingas. lol We're an odd bunch around here. Save your breath...we're aware.

We decided to add to our family because Lacey is getting quite old and Penny needs a friend that's able to run around and play with her like Lacey used to do. So far Penny is accepting of him for the most part. She could do without him trying to steal her chew toys, but we'll work on that. She's getting better about his presence each day. Here's a video of the two of them enjoying the new toys we bought them. Sheldon REALLY loves his, as you can see in the vid. He "claims" things he loves. Like my hand, Joel's hand, our legs, all toys, and anything else he can straddle. He's ALL boy.

 

He's doing very well with his potty training. Surprisingly well, actually. We take him outside and he knows exactly what to do. We're usually only out there for about a minute total. Seriously! And he's only 8.5 weeks old! The little bazingas take a little longer to walk out. Still, though, not long at all. I have him on a tight schedule, just like we did with PenPen. Here it is in case you're in need of a schedule:

6am - Bring out to elimination area

6:10 - Breakfast in crate

6:30 - Longer Walk Play time Socialize to kitchen Crate

11am - Bring out to elimination area

11:15 - Feed in crate

11:30 - Walk

12:00 - Crate

3pm - Walk Play Crate

5pm - Bring out to elimination area

5:10 - Feed in crate

5:30 - Walk Play, kitchen time Crate

7-8pm - Bring out to elimination area Optional play and kitchen time

10-11pm - Bring out to elimination area Crate for night

I found the schedule HERE.

He's not really fond of his crate, but he's warming up to it fast. Maybe because the first night or two he slept in Mom and Dad's bed. I know, I know...we shouldn't do that. But we were just so in love with him. I quickly realized, just as I did when PenPen was that age, that Mom needs REAL sleep and that can't happen with a wiggly pup sleeping on her neck. The schedule has been great for all of us. He is actually picking up on it quicker than his Mommy. He starts stirring right around the time he's supposed to get out of his crate.

He's eating very well. I have to separate him and Penny during his breakfast, lunch, and dinner, though. Penny would wolf down his puppy food in a snap if I didn't put up the divider in the kitchen.

And before you say to me, "You should have adopted a shelter dog"....I know. We thought this would be better for Penny, though. We talked about it and thought she might be territorial with an adult dog. You'd have to know Penny. So we didn't want to adopt an adult only to have to return him. I'm positive we made the right choice. If we didn't have other fur kids we'd certainly have adopted a shelter dog.

We chose a breeder in Lakeland. Here's her web site address: www.MiniLoves.com And here is Sheldon with the breeder.

Here are a few more photos...

This one is less than 10 seconds after we left the breeder's house.

He snuggled with me in one of the blankets I made for him shortly after I plucked him out of my hair. He must have loved the blanket. He slept a lot of the way home. It was an hour and a half ride.

Here he is on the first day home enjoying more lap time with Mommy.

This was earlier this evening. They were both chewing on bully sticks. I don't usually keep these things around, but those sharp teeth of his need a little dulling. lol He's very much a chewer.

...and a few more....

I'm particularly proud of snagging this one...

Sorry some of these are sideways. I had to rush toward the end of this post as it's time for Little Man to wake up and go outside. Then we'll have our last play time for the night. Also, most of these photos are cell phone shots, so forgive the low quality.

Hugs and smooches,

Rischa

Low Carb Vanilla Almond Pancake Poppers & A Story

How about another recipe? Yes? Okay!

(Skip to bottom for recipe)

Well, first let me preface this with a little story. A story about a girl with a little too much junk in the trunk. A girl who could no longer squeeze a leg into her skinny jeans. A girl who had more badonk than Beyonce and J-Lo. A girl who....okay, you get the point. So it was time for this pancake and pizza loving girl to try a new diet. This diet is for people who can't handle sugar in ANY form. The Atkins Diet. Ugg....isn't that the one that doesn't let you have sugar? Yep! That's the one! The one the girl had put off trying until I.....errr....I mean SHE...had tried EVERY other diet under the sun.

The girl should have listened to her doctor in the first place. You see, her doctor told her many months before that she had PCOS and was probably insulin resistant and should try a low carb diet. But this girl, being the sugar addict that she was, didn't listen. She said to herself, "I can find some other diet that will let me have my wonderful, yummy, oh-so-fabulous sugar and still lose weight." But sadly, the girl was wrong. She tried and tried until she got to the point of jogging 3 miles every day and eating like a rabbit and still only maintained her weight. This made the girl sad. So finally, she called her doctor and asked for the medicine her doc had recommended so many months before and started cutting back on sugar; Sweet, wonderful, mouth watering sugar. As the months passed the girl began to drop weight slowly, but consistently. The stubborn girl realized her doctor was right and she started to feel good about herself once again. Then the girl hit a plateau. No more weight was being lost. So after a bit of denial, the girl realized it was time to get serious. She decided to purchase the book, "The New Atkins for a New You" on Amazon. The book arrived 2 days later and she devoured the pages as if it were Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese icing. One grocery shopping trip later she was ready to get started. Since that day she has begun to lose consistently again and is now fitting into her skinny jeans. No more over sized badonk for the happy little girl. The moral of the story? Go for the thing you want most. If that thing is cupcakes and doughnuts, fine. But if the thing is to look good and be healthy, you just might have to sacrifice.

Oh, what a dramatic blogger I am today, right? Ha! I promise I will eventually get to the recipe mentioned in the title. Just a little more reading first.

Keep in mind that I'm NOT very domestic, so actually baking and using recipes is a big deal around here. I can cook dinner for my family and I follow directions well. (Not physical ones....I get lost going to the store, but tutorials, recipes, etc... I have that under control) I just don't like spending time in the kitchen. So this new lifestyle has been quite a change for me. I've had lots of help from web sites, friends (thank you Christa and Candice) and books. Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, the recipe. Back to the point. This isn't just MY recipe. I had tried 2 pancake recipes that were okay, but not great. The first one tasted good, but the pancakes fell apart while making them. The second recipe had an aftertaste because of all the fake sweetener and was really thin making it hard to form any sort of shape. So I told my friends, Candice and Christa, I wanted to combine the two next time I try. Candice, who I was chatting with the other night after my second failed attempt, decided she wanted pancakes that night and combined the two recipes. She came up with a recipe that she said was good, but still thin. So I added extra meal and subtracted a bit of sweetener and found the winning pancakes!! This pancake lover couldn't be happier. Now, let me just say that this is not MY recipe alone. I think Candice did all the hard work of coming up with measurements. THANK YOU, Candice! And Christa came up with the idea to use less sweetener. Actually, her words were, "Why do you need sweetener at all when you're just going to drown the things in SF syrup afterward?" LOL So last night I got my new Pancake Popper Pan out and tried the following recipe:

• 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Whey Protein Powder (I use Top Care purchased @ Winn Dixie)
• 2 Tablespoons Unblanched Almond Meal (from local Health Food Shop, or you can make it)
• 1/2-1 Teaspoon Splenda For Baking
• 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1 Egg
• 1 Tablespoon Water
• 1/2 Teaspoon Oil
• 1/2 Teaspoon Maple Extract

Mix all ingredients, turn heat to medium and let pan preheat, butter pan, pour batter into whatever size you'd like and cook until you see the bubbles forming on top. This recipe gave me 7 poppers. I do not have the exact carb count or any nutritional information for you. I may or may not figure that up later and post about it. Hey, I told you...I'm not domestic and any time not spent cooking or even thinking about it is good to me.

If you're interested in actual poppers like I made you'll want to go to Target. The pan is around $20 or less, but you won't regret spending a little cash on it. Using this recipe with this pan makes the perfect little bite size snack or breakfast alongside a few strips of bacon. I had the remaining poppers this morning with maple bacon. 

If you're looking at this pan and wondering how to flip them, you just use a fork to do that. It's easier than I thought it would be when I bought the pan.

Don't ask me why this image is upside down. I opened it in PSE and it was right side up. I look at it in the preview screen on Typepad and it's right side up. I post it and it's upside down! GRR! Oh well, you can just stand on your head I guess. lol It's a shitty cell photo anyway, so you're not missing out on much. Same with the other photos.

If you make these let me know how yours turn out and how you like them. And again, a big thank you to Candice for coming up with and sharing her measurements! If I didn't have your recipe to go off of I'd never have come up with this one.

By the way, for those of you who can not find pre-made Almond Meal you could always make it yourself. I've done it, so I know you can do it. Here's a link with a video I found to help.

It IS Monday, right? No? Who cares!

I found a blog today while blog hopping that has something called, "Meet Me On Monday". Since I need a serious kick in the ass to start blogging again, I figured I'd use the opportunity to get me back on track. Yeah, I know it isn't Monday. It's Wednesday. But I'm nothing if not fashionably late to the party. So now here are the questions posed on her blog along with my answers...

 

1. How many TVs do you have in your home? 

We have three inside and one in the garage. I'm saving the one in the garage for when I get my studio set up in the guest bedroom.

2. What is on your bed side table? (Nightstand)

A lamp, coasters, two earplugs, a roll of toilet paper (I ran out of Kleenex), a painting my Mom gave me, and my Mac laptop. Since my bed side table is a small book shelf I also have books, my medicine, a gun (yep, don't break in here!), a sketch pad and pencils, and some jewelry. Oh, and truth be told there's probably a little bit of dust there, too. 

3. How many pair of shoes do you own?

I probably own around 25 pair, but I stick to a few favorites for when it's time to put them on. I actually wear 2 pair of tennis shoes, 2 or 3 pair of flip flops, 1 pair of Crocs, and 1 pair of heels. Most times it's the flip flops these days.

4. Can you change a flat tire?

Sure! Just as soon as someone shows me how. If anyone can do it, so can I. I just need a tutorial. I'll probably never change a flat, though. Why? Because I have a cell phone. I never leave the house without it.

5. Do you prefer sweet treats or salty treats?

If I could eat anything all day every day and not have to worry about getting fat or being unhealthy I'd be eating sweets. In reality, though, I live the Atkins lifestyle. I know that sounds kinda cheesy, but it works. I eat little to no REAL sugar. I do have sweet treats once per day, but it's made with fake sweetener.

Thanks for stopping by and have a good one. ~Rischa

Chicken (or Steak) Quesadilla a la Moi

With almost anything having to do with domestication I revolt and run the opposite direction. Cleaning? Naw...I think I'll pass. Coupon clipping? No, thank you! Tupperware parties? F*ck off! But sometimes I do put on the domestic goddess crown and whip up something yummy in the kitchen. That's one thing I inherited from my Mom and Grandmother. They can cook their asses off! So, when Kolby was going through his Taco Bell Quesadilla phase of life I figured I had better come up with a recipe similar to theirs or buy Taco Bell stock. Since I'm better in the kitchen than on Wall Street I threw together a little recipe. I always get rave reviews when I serve this one. Kolby even said tonight that I should work in a restaurant. Again, no, thanks, but I appreciate the compliment.

Enough with the yapping and horrible cell photos...here's the recipe. SO simple!

Ingredients:

• Chicken or Steak cut into bite sized (I think the non-domestically challenged folks call it diced) pieces
• Package of Fajita spice mix
• Flour Tortillas in whatever size you like
• Butter (I use the Omega 3 stuff because I'm fooling myself)
• Salsa Con Queso
• Shredded Mexican Cheese

First you'll have to cook the chicken according to whatever the Fajita spice mix packet says, with one exception. I leave out the bell peppers, onion, or any sort of healthy thing like that. We just need the good stuff....meat and cheese!  Once the meat is all cooked up and smelling like BO... (Yes, I think Fajita spices smell like BO. Don't blame me next time you're working up a sweat if you feel like having a Fajita or Quesadilla) ...set it aside and get out your favorite skillet. Warm it to medium heat and load it with butter. Who needs healthy arteries, right? Place a tortilla in the skillet to soak up that butter and cover with the shredded cheese. And I do mean COVER. I'm a big fan of cheese. Next, cover half of the tortilla with the meat. Top the meat with the Salsa Con Queso....and possibly even more shredded cheese if you're like me. Fold the non-meat side of the tortilla over the meat side. Let it sizzle and brown to your liking. I like them nice and crispy. Then flip it to brown and crisp the other side and you're done!

Now that you've read my recipe I bet you're thinking, "why did she mix all the extra opinion in with it? Now I'll have to delete all that when I copy and paste!" For those of you thinking that way (you know....logically) I'll give the directions again minus all the extra thoughts. I just can't be simple. I don't know how.

Copy/Paste Instructions:

• Cook chicken according to Fajita spice mix packet instructions leaving out bell peppers and onions
• Place tortilla in buttered skillet on medium heat
• Cover tortilla in shredded Mexican cheese
• Cover one half of cheesed up tortilla with previously cooked meat
• Spread Con Queso dip over meat
• Fold tortilla
• Brown both sides of tortilla to your liking
• Enjoy!

Yep, it's simple. Anything I make is usually simple. Otherwise I won't bother with it.

This post is dedicated to the following Facebook peeps: Candice, Sherry, Peggy, Cindy, and Katie.

The Most Random Blog Post EVER

There was only one day left of the 30 Days of Tumblr thing that I wanted to do and it was a Random day. So I guess this takes me back to blogging as usual. I would have posted the "Random" day two weeks ago, but I had a headache and migraines for about a week the day after the last post. Also, Joel was off work and there was yard work going on and I'm taking a class, and, and, and I could keep going with the excuses, but they'd be no more interesting to you than they are to me. They're of NO interest to me, by the way.

So today was a long one. I had to go into Orlando to see my Rheumy, who was a complete asshole as usual. Seriously, he's such a jerk. Joel met him for the first time today and the first thing he said to me after we walked out was how big of a douche he was to me. Joel said he wanted to say something, but he knows I have to keep seeing him until my GOOD Rheumy takes our insurance again. Then I had the pleasure of lab work. Nothing new, but never fun, either. I have to have tests every 6 weeks because of the RA meds I'm on. Anyway, after that we went grocery shopping. Then got home, realized we forgot some stuff, and went BACK to the grocery store. Then Joel grilled Bratwurst while I made fries. They weren't exactly healthy, but oh...so yummy!

I don't have much else I feel like talking about at the moment, so here are some cell photos of the fellas doing yard work. I was the supervisor. LOL Then some random stuff after that...

...and the treat for their hard work was...

 A little treat my coffee gave me a few days ago...Aww...a ♥

...and then a little treat from the sunset...
 
  

Yeah, I know. I already posted some of these on FB and Twitter.

Here's one I haven't shown. Lacey says hello blog hoppers!

...and like the caption on it says, PenPen & Dad...

...she stands this way as much as any human... 
 
  Enough photos for you? It's enough for me!

I'm off to bed. I think I fell asleep somewhere between the first photo and here, so I might as well go to bed, right?

♥xoxo♥

Rischa

PS. Look at my blog's brand new "Like" button for Facebook! Do you like me? Click it!

PPS. Sorry about the unedited photos. How lazy of me, right? At least I posted SOMETHING! Done is better than perfect. That's my new motto.

30 Days of Tumblr - Day 25 — Your day, in great detail.

Day 25 — Your day, in great detail.

Oh boy! You get to read about my oh-so-exciting day! Lucky you!

Ha! In case your sarcasm meter is broken, that was sarcasm. My day is seriously lacking in any excitement. I started this Sunday by sleeping late. I woke to the sound of my finches yelling at one another. I dragged myself out of the bed, did my lady's room business (hey, it says detailed), and promptly laid down for a few more minutes before deciding to face the day. Less than 5 minutes later I heard PenPen sniffing and whining under the door because she knew I had been up. I opened the door to greet the spoiled ones and have them lick my toes. Joel let them outside so I could get a little peace. I laid down on the couch as I STILL wasn't awake enough to make myself something to eat. I laid there for a couple of minutes until the dogs wanted back inside. After all, it's hot out there. So Joel lets them back inside and I go make myself some cheese grits. This seems to be my go-to meal when I'm dead tired. I didn't sleep a wink last night because of the head ache mentioned in my last post. I'm feeling a little better today, but the head ache persists a little bit. It's better, though, so that's something.

Hey! You there! Wake up! My day isn't over yet!

So I sit down at my desk, take my meds, and eat my meal while I go through mail to see if there's anything important. The only good emails I had were from Christa. I always look forward to her mail in the morning. She usually does her mail after I'm snoozing, so I wake up to her new mail. So after bathing, getting dressed, making coffee, making tea for the fellas, and cleaning a little bit I sat down to answer mail from Christa. She's the only one that emails me anything good any more. The rest is just junk or Facebook notifications. Why did everyone give up emailing? BTW, one of her emails was to let me know she has a new blog. Check it out and leave her some comment love to welcome her to the blogging world, why don't ya? So I started replying to her mail and got interrupted a few times. Joel called me from the store and I had to tend to the aforementioned Tea making so it wouldn't boil over. Hmm...what else. Oh, I took a photo with my phone and emailed it to Christa. It was an inside thing, so it's none of your beeswax. Then I made Kolby some lunch. He had leftovers from last night. We had BBQ'd boneless ribs and shrimp with cheesy rice and baby peas. I then came back to replying to mail. I also took a few minutes to look around at some blogs and a YouTube video or two. I then made myself a second cup of coffee and washed some colored cloths. I'm waiting on them to finish so I can put them in the dryer.

That's about all I can remember or STAND to tell you about. How friggin' dull can you get, eh? I see tomorrow is supposed to be me telling you about my week. The next day is to tell you about my month. Then the next one is to tell you about my YEAR! Holy crap?! Is there anyone out there that's THAT damn bored? No! I won't be doing those! I would fall asleep writing it and YOU all would skip it all together I bet! And I wouldn't blame you one bit!

So I guess I'll have a few random days to make up for the skipping of the boring details of my week/month/year. You are welcome. LOL

I think I'll go read for a while. Both of the fellas are playing games. Kolby's on World of Warcraft and Joel's bought a new game for the PS3.

See ya all tomorrow!

xo

Rischa