Thursday, July 31, 2014

Take Him Out To The Ball Game!


Dad, Reef Indy, and Cousin Belle "Tailgate" Padre Game
Dad, Reef Indy, and Cousin Belle "Tailgate"

Best Steak Fries at Petco Park - yummy and only $4.
Reef Indy went to his first baseball game today. Being of a mixed union (Mom is a Cardinals’ fan while Dad is a true blue Padre), Reef’ wardrobe was an amusing mixture of blue and red!

Shelby Miller and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, and Oscar Taveras hit a two-run homer for the St. Louis Cardinals, who beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 to avoid a three-game sweep. Reef’s Grandma was very pleased with the outcome.

***********

Reef and Opa enjoying Tony Gwynn monument. RIP Mr. Padre.
As a side note, after scrutinizing the rules posted on the Padre website, we decided to buy tickets for the grassy hill. The rules clearly stated that umbrellas were permissible during warm weather. Attempting to pass through the gates, we were interrogated by a rather rude lad in a security outfit. He stated that he did not care what the rules specified; we could not bring in the umbrella. He suggested Oma take it up with customer services.

Dad brought the umbrella back to the car. . . . not a short walk. In the interim, Oma explained the situation to customer services and he agreed that the umbrella was allowable. So poor Dad and Opa went back to the car to get the umbrella.

However, things did not go smoothly still! They were hassled going out of the park and harried again going into the park. By the time they were allowed to enter with the umbrella, poor Dad and Opa missed most of the game.

Even worst; due to the lack of shade, unfortunate Reef Indy went home with a farmer’s tan. Luckily an application of fresh aloe prevented a burn.

Moral of the story is . . . . . do not sit in the grass on sunny days???? . . . . the Padres do not care about the health of their young fans??? . . . . do not believe what you read on the Padre website??

Not really sure what the moral is, but it will be a while before I return to Petco Park. We did not even get an apology!

Reef Indy enjoying his after-game  spaghetti at Filippi's Pizza Grotto.
Reef Indy enjoying his after-game
spaghetti at Filippi's Pizza Grotto.

Quick trip to the mall to get ready for Oma & Opa's 40th.
Quick trip to the mall to get ready for Oma & Opa's 40th.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

AKVIS OilPaint Review
(#akvis)


AKVIS OilPaint is photo to painting software that creates oil paintings from photographs. The characteristic feature of the program is a unique algorithm of the artistic application of brush strokes that authentically reproduces the technique of the real brush.

The transformation happens before your eyes: the program authentically reproduces the technique of the real brush creating a work of art that looks like a handmade oil painting.

The software is available as a standalone program and as plugin for photo editors, in versions for Windows and Macintosh. The functionality of the program depends on the license type.

Oma found the software easy to learn and use. It only took about fifteen minutes for Oma to do the sample below. AKVIS OilPaint provides a stable performance, was speedy, and supports a large number of formats. The Text tool was a tad strict but overall Oma was pleased with the variety of options offered.

Photo Before


Painting After


Even if you are not a professional painter you can create your own masterpiece! Just use AKVIS OilPaint to turn a regular photo into an oil painting. The mysterious production of a painting happens right before your eyes. The program creates a work of art that looks like a handmade oil painting.


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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Rainbow Bandz Loom Kit
Review


When Oma was a youngster, weaving pot holders for your mom was the kid crafting rage My younger friends tell me that “in” thing now days is making colorful charm bracelets to share with your best buddies.

Oma must admit that after opening her Rainbow Bandz Loom Kit, she was a tad confused. Luckily there are a plethora of videos out there which provide comprehensive instructions!


What Oma loves about this “toy” is that enables children to use their imagination in their play. It is refreshing to see an activity that occupy a child’s attention that is not electronic!  Additionally, the loom is well-constructed and easy for little hands to grip.

Oma will definitely keep the Rainbow Bandz Loom Kit in mind for the next birthday party of a niece or nephew. This loom will supply countless hours of entertainment for the young innovative mind.

 

History


Rainbow Loom was created by Cheong Choon Ng, a Malaysian immigrant of Chinese descent who came to the United States in 1991 to attend Wichita State University, where he earned a graduate degree in mechanical engineering. He was employed as a crash-test engineer for Nissan Motor Company in 2010 when he conceived the idea of a toy loom for rubber-band crafting while watching his young daughters make rubber-band jewelry.

His prototype, which he called Twistz Bandz, used a wooden board, pushpins, and dental hooks. Encouraged by his family to market the product commercially, Ng invested $10,000 and found a factory in China to manufacture the parts, which he and his wife assembled in their home in June 2011. Ng renamed his product after discovering an elastic hair band on the market named Twist Band. His brother and niece came up with the name Rainbow Loom.

 

Product Description


Rainbow Bandz Loom Kit consists of a hook with a base opener, a loom, 24 C-clips, 600 latex colorful rubber bands which can make up to 28 colorful & charming bracelets, and an instruction manual. It is used to create bracelets, charms, and other interesting stuff.

The instruction manual has some pointers, tips and instructions to follow in order to come up with different desired creations – from beginner to expert level.

Rainbow Bandz kit includes:

  • 1 Super durable loom
  • 1 Hook with base opener
  • 600 silicone latex free rubber bands
  • 24 S-clips

**Non toxic, Lead and Latex Free**

Make single and wide pattern bracelets for different effects and combine multiple loom sets to make longer and wider combinations. Use short combinations to make funky rings and longer ones for crazy necklaces! 



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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Happy Birthday Mamaw!

Famous Omas (Grandmothers)


Martha Earnhardt was born today in 1930 in Concord, North Carolina.  She married Ralph Earnhardt when she was just seventeen-years-old.  Martha was present when Ralph started his racing career two years later.

Martha understood that racing was a lucrative way to support the Earnhardt family, but she later wished her children and grandchildren would pursue safer career than racing. While her husband supported the family in the car garage, Martha filled their bellies with her delicious southern cooking.

In modern times, Martha Earnhardt joined the mother of Jeff Gordon to publish the cookbook, Pit Stop to Southern Kitchen. Many of Martha's southern recipes were passed down to her by Dale Earnhardts grandmother, Effie.

Martha Earnhardt can't recall any particular dish that "The Intimidator" preferred.

"My children were raised to eat whatever was put on the table," she said. Dale Earnhardt Jr. likes her homemade vegetable soup. "I had some one day, and he was visiting me. He ate some, and he said, 'Mamaw, I need to take some of this home with me,'"

Happy Birthday Mamaw!



Ms. Earnhardt said "Secret Cake" was one of Dale Sr.'s favorite desserts.

Secret Cake 


  • 2 cups flour 
  • 2 cups sugar 
  • 2 sticks margarine 
  • 2/3 cup shortening 
  • 1 cup water 
  • 3 1/2 teaspoons cocoa 
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk 
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt 
  •  2 eggs 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla 
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda 

Mix flour and sugar. Heat margarine, shortening, water and cocoa, and let come to a boil. Let cool, and pour over sugar and flour. Mix well. Add buttermilk, salt, eggs, vanilla and baking soda. Mix together and pour into 11-by-16-by-1-inch jelly-roll pan.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Icing 


  • 1/3 cup buttermilk 
  • 1 stick margarine 
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons cocoa 
  • 1 16-ounce box confectioners' sugar 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla 
  • 1 cup chopped pecans 

Boil buttermilk, margarine and cocoa until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add sugar, vanilla and nuts. Pour over cake while hot.

Oma will have to try this recipe before Reef's First birthday in September.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Propresser Garlic Press Stainless Steel
Review



The first thing Oma noticed about the Propresser Garlic Press is its modern highly polished Stainless Steel construction. Further, when Oma held it in her hands, the feel of quality impressed. The Propresser Garlic Press is fashioned from 100% stainless steel. It won’t rust; won’t weaken at the joint; and won’t break.

It is also important to note that this product is easy to clean. Simply flip up the large capacity basket, rinse it under the faucet, and you’re done! You can enjoy the flavor and health benefits of garlic and other hard herbs (i.e. Ginger or Turmeric), without the hassle of messy cleanup!

It never occurred to Oma that you can press your garlic unpeeled!
Watch this video below to see how easy it is.





The company Orblue was conceived and created in 2013, with the main purpose of supplying innovative kitchen products. Orblue is dedicated not only to providing top quality products, but also to delivering high standard customer satisfaction through an active and close customer service.

When Quality and Convenience Count,
Nothing But Propresser Will Do!


Here are 5 Reasons You're Going to LOVE Your Propresser Garlic Press

  1. It easily minces garlic in one press! (No more sore palms or aching fingers like you get with other garlic presses)
  2. Large capacity basket! (Press good sized cloves ... even if you leave the peels on)
  3. No more stinky "garlic hands"! (Easy to use and even easier to clean so you won't have to worry about smelling like garlic cloves all day)
  4. Heavy duty, quality construction! (BUT it weighs in at a svelte 9.3 oz so ANYONE can use it effortlessly)
  5. Backed by an INSANE Double Guarantee! (Order yours now because you literally RISK NOTHING!)

And if you order today Orblue has a special bonus just for you: The FREE eBook "Home Chef"  a 70-page kitchen management book that reveals how to create your ideal kitchen, great tips if you want to initiate a Chef career and much more. It's yours FREE just for ordering the Propresser Garlic Press.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HHLNRVE/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0

 List Price: $69.97; Price: $49.97; Sale: $18.99


Website


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Fresh Fruit Vinegars by Mange
Review


Oma received two small samples of Fresh Fruit Vinegar to taste and review: Blackberry – Mûre and Red Pepper - Poivron Rouge. Both are all natural, gluten-free, Kosher, and made without preservatives or synthetic dyes! 


 Mange's Fresh fruit vinegars are a natural wholesome sauce for all the culinary need.


Blackberry vinegar


Works perfect to compliment pork and duck dishes. This deep blackberry flavor adds a great taste to any dish that just need that extra berry punch without those annoying seeds. 

Red Pepper vinegar


Never had it before? Your missing out. This great rich flavor is great for Grilled steaks salads and sandwiches. Add this flavor to all you BBQ dishes to give them a great pop.

Oma had never used Fresh Fruit Vinegars before. Mange's Fresh fruit vinegars are a natural wholesome sauce for all the culinary need. The two mentioned above were very flavorful and tangy! Oma was looking for a lighter calorie salad dressing and the Red Pepper - Poivron Rouge worked perfectly!

Product Description


Unlike infused or fruit syrup-based vinegars, Mangé’s are made using fruit that has been picked at its peak, puréed and preserved in vinegar. 

Light enough to drink from a spoon, yet strong enough to marinate a ceviche, each of Mangé’s 11 fresh fruit vinegars are ready for cooking or cocktails. 

Select one or more from a variety of current flavors ranging from Mango, Passion Fruit, Blood Orange, Raspberry, Blackberry, Cherry, Red Pepper, White Peach, Pear, Green Apple, and seasonal Fig.

 

 

Social Media


Website


Detailed recipes, ideas and gift packaging can be found on the company’s website

Twitter


Facebook


For more information on purchasing Mangé fresh fruit vinegars, call 917.880.2104 



Fresh Fruit Vinegar - Production Indiegogo Link 

 


A Short History of Vinegar


  • Has been used for 5,00 years as food, food preservation & medicine
  • Helps control diabetes and cholesterol
  • Reduces food consumption by satiation
  • Keeps hair and skin healthy
  • Help decrease food allergies
  • Has anti-aging properties
  • Our Vinegars contain pectin which reduces the risk of heart disease

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Java Factory
Review & Giveaway


Oma is really more of a tea drinker. Coffee just seems to be too harsh on her tummy. The household does not even have a coffee maker anymore! So when Oma was asked to review Java Factory’s Single Serve, Oma almost passed.


Java Factory’s Single Serve
Java Factory “Roasters” use only 100% Arabica Coffee grounds
and is inspected and certified as a premium coffee.



About Java Factory


At the factory, we carefully hand craft each of our specialty roasts with an obsessive attention to detail because we love coffee as much as you do. We labor over every flavor, note, and aroma to bring you coffees that are so smooth and flavorful you’ll want to drink them all day long.

  • Single-serve Keurig-compatible cups
  • 100% fresh roasted Arabica coffee
  • Filter system delivers more taste per cup
  • Enjoy the fun side of coffee. We had fun making it so you could have fun drinking it.

Single-Serve Filter Technology


What makes our single-serve coffee so good? Well, our 100% Arabica beans are perfectly roasted and ground for a robust, never-bitter flavor you’ll love. The real secret is the single-serve, Java Factory cup. It’s just proven to be better. In fact, an independent laboratory coffee testing found that our advanced caged filter system causes "turbulation" within the grounds, helping the coffee diffuse better throughout the cup, and enhancing the flavor.

Quality First


A great cup of coffee starts with the beans, and we have a checklist to make sure the factory is rolling out the very best cup of coffee we can. We hand-inspect the coffees before and after roasting to make sure they meet our standards. We're just as meticulous in the way we grind our beans as in the way we perform our selection process. The grinding technique is one of the most important factors that contributes to the high-quality taste of Java Factory coffee. Our roasting system ensures a smooth, full-bodied taste that’s never bitter or acidic even in the darker roasts. Each of the coffees are expertly roasted so the beans have a rich, well-balanced flavor. We scrutinize each of our single-serve cups for consistency, making sure every cup is filled precisely with the specified amount of coffee grounds to give it optimal flavor. Finally, we hand-check every completed cup. If it’s not perfect, it’s not going anywhere. You could say we’re obsessed with perfection. But, at Java Factory, we like to think that we’re just crazy about our coffee.

* * * * * * * * * * * 

Since Oma does not have a coffee maker, she reverted to her Indonesian heritage. The simplest method is to put the ground coffee in a cup, pour hot water over it and let cool while the grounds sink to the bottom.

This is a traditional Indonesian method for making a
cup of coffee and is called “Kopi Tobruk.”


Oma found the Java Factory “Roasters” were perfect for a single serving of Kopi Tobruk! The single serving packaging keep the ground beans fresh and flavorful. True to their claim, the Java Factory “Roasters” are definitely a premium coffee. Oma’s favor was the Java Factory Choconut.


One lucky “Oma Loves U!” reader is going to win a 40 count box of Java Factory coffee in assorted flavors!  (ARV $31.00)
The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S., 18+. No P.O. Boxes will be accepted. The giveaway will run through 7/15/14. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to winning email before a new winner is selected. Make sure you are properly entering for the entries you claim. Failure to do so may result in your entries removed from the giveaway form.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

HSI Professional Argan Oil
Review

Discover the Moroccan 'liquid gold'




Discover the Moroccan 'liquid gold', the product your hair needs for constant nourishment and incredible shine! The essential nutrients contained in this magic-in-a-bottle product are meant to give your hair a very healthy look, lots of shine and velvet smoothness. This is a leave-in treatment conditioner which feels really light on your hair, without building up residue or being greasy.

HSI Professional recommends the use of Argan Oil as an extra thermal protection before styling your hair with tools such as the flat iron, the hair dryer or the curling iron. It is suitable for all hair types, and you will just be sorry you have not discovered it before! It tames the frizz, it gives a lovely scent to your hair and it makes it soft and shiny. It really seems like your hair is in for a fabulous treat! 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

What Oma first noticed about this product was the nice fresh scent of the oil. Additionally, after placing a few drops on my hand and apply on my dry hair, Oma found the product easy to distribute to the dry ends. Unlike other ‘Leave-In’ Hair Treatments HSI Professional Argan Oil feels residue free, non-greasy, and ultra-light! 

Buy Now and Receive a Discount


Click for the 2 ounce bottle

Code “TBargan2” for 50% off the 2oz bottle


Click for the 4 ounce bottle

Code TBargan4 for 60% off the 4oz bottle




Connect with HSI online:


Oma's Throwback Thursday.

Back in the early 1990's Reef's Uncle Moses was busy racing in the San Diego Karting Association.  Oma joined in the fun by participating in the Annual "Powder Puff" Races.


Oma is smiling because she won the race!  You can see Reef's dad, a teenager at the time, helping in the background.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Rattlesnake in the Box

Oma's Air Conditioner broke during a heat wave.  Of course it was last weekend while Oma and Opa were watching Reef Indy.  Mom and Dad were enjoying their Honeymoon Cruise. The repair guy arrived promptly on Tuesday and goes outside to fix our unit.

I say "be careful of rattlesnakes." He comes back half a minute later and says, "You weren't kidding."






Sadly we had to kill this beauty.  This big snake was enjoying the cool of the outside condenser. He did not make any noise at all!  Look at all those pretty rattles though.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Ten Months Just Flew By!

With a name like Reef Indy, how do you celebrate your 10th month birthday



 . . . . . why chillin' at the pool of course.

 

Happy 10th Month Birthday Reef!

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Reef Indy loves Oma's Big Dogs

 

Reef Indy loves Oma's Big Dogs.  Here he is sharing his skateboard with Spike.  

Oma and Opa were taking care of Reef while Mom and Dad enjoyed their honeymoon.  Reef Indy was so happy and easy to care for.