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It seems like every spring has a week in which temperatures rise making the season feel more like summer. Here on the East Coast, the next three days are going to hit the 90s. Are you ready for them? I love summer, so I won't mind too much. I can always remove layers of clothing and/or sip a tall, slurpy,  icy drink  to cool myself off. Here are a few things to be grateful for when the thermometer registers HOT: 1. The great outdoors - Relishing public parks, backyard barbecues and center-of-town window shopping.  Being outside is fun ... period. Whether you're enjoying the leafy green or walking on a city pavement, there are lots of sights to take in. 2. Music mixes - Make a CD of all you favorite  pop songs , or if you're lucky enough to have an eclectic radio station in your area, be sure to drive your car with the radio cranked up (loud for you in your car, though not at a volume to annoy a neighborhood). You never get too old for it!  ♬ ♪ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♪ 3. Swimmin...

Come inside my refrigerator.  See the  glass beverage jugs  above? I love them! Let me explain why. I use a gallon of milk each week and always, always run out on a weekend. Fetching milk is a chore I can do without. Why it feels so vexing, I don't know exactly ... perhaps because it's so repetitive, and I don't like standing in lines to buy it. Plus, far too often I have to leave a cozy Sunday night roost to go out into the rain, cold or heat to shlep it home.  So I decided to replace a task I don't like with one I don't mind. Now I order two big boxes of dry powdered milk from Walmart's online store. My order ships directly to my home free-of-charge. I mix a half gallon of milk at a time to keep in my refigerator. Price-wise, buying powdered milk is cheaper. I get an extra gallon of milk per box, which adds up to lots of savings over a year's time. I also discovered that the texture of baked goods and homemake yogurt is actually better using powdered milk...

Prints on canvas by  Splendiz Arts The slogan says, "Turn your memories into masterpieces." Indeed ... surrounding yourself with images of family and friends on gallery quality canvas is a brilliant idea! You can have just about anything you fancy printed on a canvas: a wedding photo, fine art, the Eiffel Tower, pets, pumpkins or diamonds ... whatever brings you happiness, reflects your personality and makes your house a home. Photo by Magnipic With online retailers like  Easy Canvas Prints , you upload a favorite picture, then select options for your canvas, such as size and wrap thickness. The company prints and stretches your image; and your canvas arrives, with a semi-gloss finish, ready to hang. You can elect to frame it, but it looks great unframed. There are also competitors to google and compare. Having pictures printed on canvas is often less expensive than having them framed. Work with a website you can call for help.  Customer service will walk you through the ...

Photo by M Kasahara Banana pudding is one of my favorite Southern desserts, and I won't lie: The higher the milk fat used in the recipe, the richer and better tasting the pudding is. Cream makes a heavenly banana pudding, but in the interest of staying healthy and slender, I make a few concessions. I try to retrain my tastesbuds to like lighter versions of the most decadent sweets. Most of the time, here is how I eat banana pudding: Banana Pudding Ingredients: 4 eggs, separated 1/3 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons of vanilla sugar (if you have it) 3 tablespoons flour Dash of salt 7 cups milk 2 teaspoons vanilla Cinnamon graham crackers (or the traditional Vanilla Wafers. I have also used ginger cookies) 3-4 ripe bananas Directions:  1. Beat the egg yolks and sugar together. I use an electric hand mixer and beat it right in a large saucepan, so I have one less bowl to wash. (Yes, I am THAT lazy!) 2. Save the egg whites in a separate mixing bowl for later. 3. Add the flour, cornstarch,...

Protecting your eyes is a top consideration: Just like your skin, the lens and corneas of your eyes need protection from the sun's harmful rays. Wearing sunglasses helps reduce your risks of cataracts and vision damage. 1. Always choose sunglasses that block 99% - 100% of the sun's UVB and UVA light. 2. Sunglass lenses should offer UV 400 protection -- meaning they block up to 400 nanometers (measurements in wavelengths) of  ultraviolet light .   3. With sunglasses , bigger is better, and wraparound frames offer the best eye protection against damaging rays. Select The Right Lens Hue: The coating that blocks the sun's utltraviolet light is clear. Hence, darker lenses do not necessarily offer more protection than lighter lenses .  But lens hue will alter how you perceive color. 1. Grey tints block light without affecting contrast or distorting colors. 2. For automobile drivers, grey, green and brown lenses are better. You can still distinguish between the changes...

Every year my Mother tells me not to buy her a gift because she doesn't need anything. It's a good thing I ignore her when she's wrong. She values a phone call and a thoughtful card, so I'm doing a round-up of images that would make lovely cards. A paper one is in the mail too. Happy Mother's Day, Mamma. x o x o . This silhouette looks strikingly like my Mom. That's her nose, hair and earrings, and she has a dress with a similar collar.  A sweet painting. Love the colors too. I cannot believe my luck in finding this Superman logo. Read my account of a mother/daughter interaction. My Mom is still clueless! You can find pretty images on the internet and use them in creative ways:  1. Print on good paper, fold over and make your own cards. You may have to attach a blank sheet of paper inside to write on, if your paper isn't heavy enough. 2. Print an image (set on full page) and use to line the inside bottom of a box. 3. Print on full page and use as wrapping p...

"Need help in keeping your digestive system in sync," asks a TV ad? It's a valid question. If you travel, take antibiotics, are hormonal or stressed, you might. Apparently, as we age some of us will because everything slows down. Something else to look forward to ... yikes!  Probiodics are single-cell organisms introduced into the body to support good bacteria. Already, you have bacteria living in your gut. These microorganisms help your intestines breakdown proteins and carbohydrates, moving them though your system. Ideally, you should get friendly bacteria from eating fermented food like yogurt. A balance of good and bad bacteria keeps both your digestive and immune systems healthy. However if you feel discomfort, bloated and/or irregular ... and are not getting friendly bacteria from the food you eat, it might help to take a probiotic supplement with the following strains: 1. Lactobacillus Acidophilus - Found in the small intestines; helps digest milk. 2. Lactobac...

Photo: Courtesy of The Kentucky Derby Museum The Kentucky Derby has many traditions. Bourbon is a popular drink served at the races, as well as, at parties. Many people are familiar with a mint julep , but another treat is the refreshing Bourbon Slush. Usually, I would much rather eat my calories than drink them, but this icy cocktail is worth it! Here is how to make a batch: Bourbon Slush Ingedients: 6 cups water 3 cups very fine bourbon 12 oz. lemonade from concentrate 6 oz. orange juice from concentrate 1 cup sugar 2 cups strong tea (Use 2 cups water with 4 black tea bags.) Top off with: Limon-lime carbonated soda – 7 Up or Fresca Directions: 1. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil and add 4 tea bags. Let steep for 5 minutes. Allow to cool. 2. Mix in the rest of the water and the other ingredients (except for the limon-lime soda). 3. Pour into a container and place in the freezer for 24 hours, stirring occasionally to produce a slush. 4. Scoop into Old Fashioned glasses. 5. Top w...