Liars and deceivers

 

This seriously is correct for all liars and deceivers in our lives and in particular, politics.  It is almost like a soap opera.  The world has gone crazy.

Beautiful weather in Florida, but will turn colder later in the week.  I'm just hoping the forecast will change.  Hate it!

I'm still busy keeping my mind occupied with updating my blogs and creating new posts.  The listing of new posts follows.

Have a wonderful week and stay warm!!

NEW BLOG POSTS

Subtropical Gardening

Holiday Cactus Growing Guide UPDATED

Top 10 Trailing Houseplants to Grow in Hanging Pots

11 Fascinating Poinsettia Facts You Should Know

How to Grow a Meyer Lemon Tree Indoors or Outside

My thriving garden - back in the day

17 Easy Beautiful Plants That Grow in Water: No Soil, No Mess

Growing Coleus In Containers

How Long Do Seeds Last? Check This Seed Viability Chart

Want to Grow Your Own Vegetables Indoors?

Can You Reuse Potting Soil in Planters?

How Much Light Your Plants Actually Need to Survive

Low-Light Plants to Brighten Up Darker Rooms

Drought Tolerant Aloe Vera Plants Are Easy to Grow

How To Know When To Plant Vegetable & Flower Seeds Indoors!

LaBelladiva

How to Sew a Scrappy Pet Leash

Twice as Nice Zippered Pouch

DIY Bandana Bowl Covers

How to Cut Up Old Jeans for Sewing & Upcycling Projects

Yarn Project Bag 

Gina's Italian Kitchen

BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Chicken and Potato Casserole

Cinnamon Pastry

Chili Cheese Dog Casserole

Cinnamon Fruit Biscuits

Flaky Danish Kringle

Creamy Mississippi Chicken Enchiladas

Our 15 Best Chicken Casserole Recipes of All Time Are the Ultimate Comfort Food

Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls

Easy Cheesy Loaded Grits

Sausage & Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole

Sausage Cheese Puffs

Sausage Breakfast Pastries

Easy 5-Ingredient Taco Seasoning

Grilling/Smoking . . . A Collection of Recipes UPDATED

Chicken Creole

Ham-and-Swiss Quiche Cups

Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies

Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli

Beautiful park visit

 

Photo source:  Gina Alfani

I went to my doctor appointment and back to my normal self since the anxiety of the bloodwork needle is over.  Just as I feared, they put the needle in my hand because I have bad veins.  Not a pleasant thing at all.

My cousin was my ride and we went to the park to enjoy our take out meal and watch the birds, squirrels and the beautiful view of the river.  Enjoying the park views and the animals helped me get over the anxiety of that needle experience.

Photo source:  Gina Alfani

It was so awesome to experience great memories of past park visits with The Captain and Kiki and spend time with my cousin.

All these new blog posts have kept my mind occupied this week and that is one of the very enjoyable benefits of my blogs.  Hope you enjoy them too!

New blog posts follow below.  Have an awesome week everybody!

NEW BLOG POSTS

Subtropical Gardening

16 Indoor Vining Plants That Instantly Add a Tropical Touch to Your Home

The Easiest Houseplants To Grow – 8 Plants Anyone Can Keep Alive!

LaBelladiva

How to Wash a Comforter in the Washing Machine

How To Make A Blue Jean Rug

Tablet Mini Messenger Bag

Rag Rug Weaving Tutorial and Tips

The Biggest Manicure Trend For Winter 2026

Stunning Ideas For Your Fabric Scraps

DIY Mop Pads

DIY Body Scrubs

DIY Petit Four Baskets

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Our Best Jambalaya

The Health Benefits of Bananas

Chicken Chiles Rellenos Casserole

Chicken Biscuit Casserole

Potato Croquettes

Chicken and Swiss Stuffing Bake

Chicken Divan Casserole

Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole

Slow Cooker Spareribs

Slow Cooker Poblano Pork Loin

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Sausage Potato Skillet

Country Chicken and Gravy

Chimichangas

Tater Tot Casserole

Chicken Parmesan Casserole

White Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes

Smothered Pork Chops in Oven

Ritz Carlton Lemon Pound Cake

Creamy Breakfast Enchiladas

Sesame Chicken with Broccoli

Crockpot Chili

Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls

Orange Cookies

How to Make the Juiciest Burgers

Time to Freak Out

 

Today I made my doctor appointment that I have been procrastinating.  I had no choice because I need my medication refills. "Why do I procrastinate about it?" you ask . . . I am deathly afraid of needles and I have to have bloodwork done.

TIME TO FREAK OUT!!

After my early doctor appointment, my cousin and I will hit a take out food spot and head to my favorite park to enjoy the beauty of nature.  I'm lucky she loves it too!  

Going to that park is something I have not done since The Captain passed away.  We used to go there all the time, so naturally, it is where I wanted to go.  Kiki loved it too.  She was not a barking kind of dog, but she would let out little cries and look at me like if to say . . . let me get those birds and squirrels!  She was so cute when she did that.  What an awesome memory of enjoying the park with my little family.  It put a smile on my face :)

Happy Monday everybody, hope you all have an awesome week!  New blog posts follow . . .

NEW BLOG POST

LaBelladiva

7 Easy Ways to Get Wrinkles Out of Clothes

Subtropical Gardening

5 Ways to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Lawn—Without Killing the Grass

How to Grow Green Onions Indoors (and Keep Them Producing Year-Round)

How To Keep Your Bushes Blooming!

How To Compost Used Potting Soil

The 5 Best Herbs To Grow Indoors

What to Do With Amaryllis After It Blooms for More Flowers Year After Year

Fabulous Frugalista

The Frugal Habits That Never Go Out of Style

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Authentic Mexican Chile Rellenos

Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks

Baked Rice Pilaf

Buffalo Chicken Cheese Balls

Ham-and-Cheese Croquettes

Navy Bean Soup

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken Tortilla Bake

Copycat Crunchwrap Supreme

Why do they do this?

There are a few things that are really irritating me, so I need to vent.

Since seriously getting back into social media and creative stuff online, I am becoming increasingly annoyed by the software companies who drastically change programs, making them totally different.  For instance, my graphics program which we updated a few years ago, is completely different than the version I had when I first started.  

I worked hard to learn how to do all the basics and a bit beyond.  The newer version is so different that I am having to learn this program all over again.  Same goes for the video software.  It is beyond irritating.  Good thing I have time on my hands and need to keep my mind occupied.

And I'm really irritated with having to do a lot of things exclusively on the mobile phone.  When I wanted to update my profile on Instagram, I could not do it on my computer.  It could only be done on my mobile phone.  Why?

Speaking of my mobile phone, almost every time they update it, something is wrong that was not wrong before the update.  Don't they test these changes they make them?

Food delivery is also becoming irritating with the same thing.  I've recently noticed that some restaurants have special deals that you can only get if you order on your mobile phone.  I love my phone, but I'm one of those strange people who wants to use my phone as a phone.  I love my computer more.  For one thing . . . the keyboard a phone does not have.  It is a personal preference that should be respected.

OK . . . I'm done venting.

Hope you are having an awesome weekend!  Check out my new blog posts listed below . . . lots of new recipes as usual. 

NEW BLOG POSTS

Subtropical Gardening

12 Things You Should Never Compost, According to Gardening Experts

Want to Grow Peppers Inside?

Labelladiva

20 Ways to Make Your House Smell Better

Peace Love Happiness

Just Another Chapter

Shine From Within

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls

Frosting and Icing Recipes

Potato Stacks

French Onion Pot Roast

Bisquick Chicken and Dumplings

Tamale Pie

Garlic Butter Mushrooms

Chicken Marsala

Old-Fashioned Caramel Cake

Deviled Egg Dip

Pecan Sandies

Key Lime Pound Cake

Apple Fritter Cake

Fresh Apple Cake

Onion Rings Extravaganza

Chili Relleno Casserole

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole 

Leftover Ham -n- Potato Casserole

Sloppy Joe Casserole

Happy New Year

 

Cheers to a new beginning!  Prayers for all to have peace, love,  prosperity and happiness this year.

It was fun watching all the countries experience the new year and their festivities.  I started as New Zealand hit midnight.  So many spectacular fireworks, but my favorite was Australia and Rio was my second.  

That is what I did for New Years Eve.  It was a nice, relaxing day, evening and I watched the Times Square Ball come down one more year.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Subtropical Gardening

Why Houseplants are More Likely to Die in the Winter + Practical Winter Care Tips

The Complete (And Easy!) Guide to Snake Plant Care

How to Attract Birds in Winter

Get Your Christmas Cactus To Bloom Big

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Andes Mint Chocolate Cookies

Spicy Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo

Ham Ravioli Bake

Lasagna Casserole

Tiramisu Cheesecake Dessert

Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

Creamy Garlic Noodles {Homemade Pasta Roni}

Carrabba’s Champagne Chicken

New Year's Eve Recipes - A Collection

Scalloped Potatoes with Pork Chops

Hush Puppies

Fudgy Chocolate Dump Cake

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

Black Forest Dump Cake

Banana Bread Dump Cake

Easy Oreo Dump Cake

Creamy Crab Pasta

Snickerdoodle Cake

Blueberry Turnovers

Cheesecake Crowns

Black-Eyed Peas

All About The Attitude

 

Florida will be getting a glimpse of winter this week and we will see lows in the 40's for a few days.  I don't like it, but it is better than some of you guys experiencing snow.  The hope is that it will go away since I do not have a heater (and don't want one).  But I do have a lot of heavy clothes that usually works for me unless we get in the 30's.  No worries here for now, it is all about the positive attitude.

My blog focus for the next day or so is all about New Years Eve, food, traditions, etc.  My black eyed peas have already been purchased and I will start the soaking process tomorrow.  Other than that, I think a pork tenderloin sounds good and will last a few days.  No sweets this holiday week since I have blood labs due this coming month and I want the doctor to be happy.

Hoping that everyone is enduring the cold weather and bad storms in the US, not sure about the other parts of the world.  Have a good week!

NEW BLOG POSTS

Subtropical Gardening

How to Propagate Succulents (for More Free Plants!)

Jump-Start Spring by Forcing Bulbs Indoors

The #1 Reason Houseplant Leaves Turn Yellow & The Instant Fix

Fabulous Frugalista

Understanding Food Expiration Date Labels Made Simple

Peace Love Happiness

One day at a time

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Lemon Cake

Buttermilk Biscuit Ham Pot Pie

Collection of Ham Posts from Baking to Leftover Ham Recipes UPDATED

Ham & Egg Pockets

Farmhouse Chicken Cornbread Casserole

Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

Country Potato Pancakes

Skillet Lasagna

Pecan Cobbler

Better Than Starbucks Lemon Loaf Copycat Recipe

Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Crockpot Ham and Bean Soup

Air Fryer Boneless Pork Chops

Smothered Pork Chops With Mushrooms

Let them eat cake!

 

It has been a quiet, peaceful Christmas week.  Of course I had my terrible grief moments and momentarily lost it, but I pulled myself together fast.  Progress is getting over the moment quickly.  I'm happy!

Yes, I'm craving a beautiful, delicious cake.  You can tell by all the cake posts!  And I have not posted all the recipes I have found.

Doing research for my blog posts has really been enjoyable.  For most people, it would be considered work, but for me it is fun.  I have always been a geek like that, loving work and being the classic workaholic.  Not a bad way to be.  

Have a fabulous weekend!

NEW BLOG POSTS

LaBelladiva

A Lifetime of Memories Packed Away for Another Year

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Cannoli Cake Semi-Homemade

Chocolate Cheesecake

Cheesy Country Ham Grit Balls

Cake Mix Cookies

Tagliatelle Pasta (Homemade)

Honoring the cheesecake and searching for the perfect one

Root Beer Bundt Cake

Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork

Turkey Leftovers UPDATED

Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy

Mississippi Pot Roast Slow Cooker

Limoncello Cake

Lemon Ricotta Cake

Italian Cream Cheese Cake

Come-Home-to-Mama Chocolate Cake

Happy to be living in Florida!

 

We are enjoying the beautiful weather that makes us Floridians happy to be living in Florida.  Loving these open window days!  Much of the south has been experiencing very nice warm weather, however, our friends in the north are having awful weather.  The news was showing the travel difficulties at a time when everyone is going back home from the holidays.  So sorry for you guys!

My lifestyle change of no sugar didn't work so well for Christmas.  One of my Christmas gifts to myself was a pumpkin pie.  Not just one piece, but a whole pie.  Treating myself on special days helps me stay on track when I know the treat is coming soon.  But I did go a little overboard on the treat.

Facebook gave me the gift of keeping me out of my account.  Too many problems with Facebook.  When it finally comes back, I think I'm done with it.  I will learn how to use Instagram instead since I don't hear of too many problems even though they are owned by the same company.  Maybe it is a better program.

Looking forward to a new year, even though I made much progress this year.  It is nothing more than going from one day to the next, psychologically a new chapter in the book of life, a new beginning.

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday week and being grateful for all your blessings.  I know I am so grateful for all the good Lord has blessed me with . . . especially those awesome memories that still make me happy and sad and always will.  Love and miss you Captain and Kiki.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

The Best Way To Store Cookies To Keep Them Fresh

How to Make Homemade Pasta

Italian Almond Cookies (Amaretti)

Chocolate and Maraschino Cherry Shortbread Cookies

Lemony Butter Cookies

Sausage Gravy Breakfast Lasagna

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

DIY In-N-Out Burger at Home

Subtropical Gardening

7 Smart Ways to Use Old Potting Soil, According to Gardening Experts

Composting Methods That Turn Food Scraps Into Garden Gold

Great Ways To Use Coffee Grounds In The Fall

How to Propagate Fruit Trees

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

Seeds And Feeds To Attract Cardinals This Fall & Winter

Fabulous Frugalista

What Happens To Your Fridge Food When The Power Goes Out

Merry Christmas Animal Lovers and everyone else!

 

Merry Christmas!

Hope you all are having a wonderful joyous Christmas.

Here is an old Christmas video I made that never gets old:

Since I am a huge animal lover, I am always looking for others on You Tube and I found the cutest ever Merry Christmas video from a big time animal lover.  They are special and precious!  Hope you enjoy it as I have.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Christmas is sad without
The Captain and my sweet Kiki,
but I'm OK, I have awesome memories
to keep me smiling

NEW BLOG POSTS

LaBelladiva

Sew A DIY Casserole Carrier

Holiday Decorating Made Easy: Your Guide to a Beautiful and Festive Season

How to Sew a Pet Collar

Subtropical Gardening

Keep Your Chickens Healthy Over Winter

Things Everyone With An African Violet Should Know

Grow Garden Pansy Flowers for Early Blooms

Grow Vegetables Without a Greenhouse in Winter

Colorful Succulents That’ll Brighten Your Home All Winter Long

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Feast of the Seven Fishes - Shrimp Scampi

Martha's Prime Rib Roast

The Best Christmas Recipe Guide - UPDATED

Pecan Pie Dump Cake

Spicy Mexican Shrimp Pasta

Loaded Breakfast Puff Pastry

Healthy Appetizer Recipes

Naughty or Nice?

 

He's making a list and checking it twice . . . have you been naughty or nice?

I've been nice . . .

This year has flown by and I can't believe Christmas is almost here.  At least I am glad time has flown since I am closer to being "normal" and over all the sad stuff.  But I'm getting there!

The world continues to go crazy, but what else is new?

I'm just happy for all the dog people breeding and selling dogs, letting us watch them grow up on You Tube and also the horse people showing off their horses or letting us in on their day to day stuff on a horse farm.  For some strange reason, it has helped me deal with losing my Kiki girl.  I love animal people and I have grieved alongside them when they lose one of their precious animals.  I've watched some of them for years.

One of them just had a Christmas party for their horses and they dressed them up in festive attire.  They were precious!  Here is the link to the party if you enjoy festive animals having a Christmas party . . . 

 

Hope you are all having and joyous and festive holiday season! 

Listed below are new blog posts.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Subtropical Gardening

How to Care for Poinsettias Now and After the Holidays

Feeding and Attracting Cardinals to Your Feeders In The Winter

Peace Love Happiness

Coming out of the fog

LaBelladiva

Christmas Tree Decoration Ideas For A Dazzling Holiday

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Chocolate Lasagna

Italian Cream Cake

Sparkling Linzer Cookies

Peppermint Mocha Cake Balls

Pecan Cheesecake Pie

Dr Pepper Sheet Cake

No Bake Oreo Pie

Chocolate Éclair Dessert

Baklava from The Pioneer Woman

Grilling/Smoking . . . A Collection of Recipes

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

Bisquick Apple Coffee Cake

Grandma Dot's Stuffing Balls

Hummingbird Cake

Fudgy Cocoa Brownies

Alice Springs Chicken

Cattle Drive Casserole

Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes

Russian Tea Cake

Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

Cherry Cheese Danish

Slow Cooker Classic Goulash

Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie

Copycat Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

Biscuits and Gravy Casserole

Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Christmas memories

 

Happy Friday!  Seems like we just started a new week and here we are at the weekend.

There is an article I posted to LaBelladiva that took me back to exceptionally good Christmas times with JR.  It is about your first wedding Christmas ornaments and I thought about little things I haven't thought about in 20+ years.  Stuff like shopping for Christmas ornaments and remembering conversations we had while selecting them.  Priceless memories of times with JR after he's been gone over 20 years.  Seems like yesterday.  Check out the article and see what memories it brings up for you.

My posts the past couple of days have focused on recipes I would like to try since I am really bored with food.  For one thing, cooking for one sucks and I really don't like leftovers.  So I have decided to focus on meals that leftovers can go in the freezer for another time.  I found lots of them!

Hope your pre-Christmas time is joyous and memorable.  Cherish your loved ones and tell them you love them while you can.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Peace Love and Happiness

Positive anything and everything

Agree to love

LaBelladiva

Why My Favorite Christmas Ornament Will Only Get Better With Age

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Potato Puffs

Ham and Swiss Casserole

The Best Coconut Layer Cake

Slow-Cooker Crab Rangoon Dip

Quick Cannoli Dip

The Best Coconut Cream Pie

The Best Focaccia

Bacon Ranch Cream Cheese Wellington

Crispy Roasted Potatoes with Lemon and Garlic

The Best Stuffed Peppers

Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

Potatoes . . . a collection of recipes

Mamaw's Chicken and Rice Casserole

Funeral Potatoes

Potato Chip Chicken Tenders

Stromboli

Baked Tilapia

Lemon Thyme Chicken

Sausage Bread

Angel Biscuits

Caesar Chicken

Shipwreck Casserole

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Orange Rolls from scratch

Spaghetti Aglio E Olio UPDATED

Cowboy Cookie Bars

Oven Roast Beef

Slow cooker breakfast casserole

Better be good . . .

 

This week has been a pretty decent week for me.  Not for anything in particular, but I am feeling positive about everything.  That has been one of my goals and it makes me happy.

I'm feeling pretty sad about all the killing that went on all over the world this weekend.  So sad that killing people has become a sport and Rob Reiner and his wife . . . it is unbelievable that a child who I assume was very spoiled and ungrateful would kill his parents in such a vile way after all they did for him.  The media has been in a frenzy and they make me sick.  The whole experience has been horrible and it seems like it is going to be full blown madness.

My blog posts from the last day or so is listed below.  I'm really bored with food and my new focus is going to be finding new recipes that I would like to make.

Hope everyone is having an awesome week!  Better be good because . . .

New blog posts

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Johnny Marzetti Casserole

Carrot Cake Recipe Collection

How to Cook Dried Beans for Better Flavor, Creamier Texture, and Big Savings

Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Almond Joy Cookies

Snickerdoodle Cobbler 

Vanilla Red Velvet Marbled Pound Cake

Oreo Fudge

Key Lime Pie

Strawberry Shortcake Puffs

Swiss Mushroom Chicken

Stuffed Pepper Skillet

Country Chicken and Gravy

Cashew Chicken

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Slow Cooker Corn Chowder

Subtropical Gardening

How to Use Coffee Grounds to Get Gorgeous Christmas Cactus Blooms Every Year

How to Propagate Roses for an Endless Supply of Beautiful Blooms

Fruit Trees You Can Grow Indoors

LaBelladiva

Holiday Decorations I Always Buy Secondhand

Busy Weekend!

 

Since it is now early Christmas with not much longer to go, I have been busy finding interesting stuff to write about Christmas.  While I am still looking for more gift giving homemade food recipes, I am tired of looking at all those sweets.  It is torturing me since I cut out sugar from my life.  But my discipline has been excellent.  I still have those canned refrigerated cinnamon rolls in the fridge and although I think about them, I have not made any.  The recipes are tempting me to make them!

Funny thing about my neighborhood . . . we have traveling chickens and some very vocal roosters.  The hens cluck along with their babies.  Don't laugh, but I enjoy them very much.  They have been around since before Kiki passed away.  She would look at me like to say "what is that noise?"  When they are traveling through my yard talking to other chickens, I think of Kiki.  Missing her like crazy.  I'd give anything to have her and The Captain back with me.  This house is so empty without them.  The cycle of life is maddening at times, yet so wonderful at the same time.

I've got gardening on my mind.  That explains why I am starting to post more stuff on Subtropical Gardening.  Looking forward to my container gardening.  It is awesome to have desires again after none at all.  The healing process is entering another grief phase which makes me very happy.

By the way, I am enjoying some new music for me . . . French love songs.  Check them out, I love it!

Listed below are new blog posts . . . check them out!

Happy Early Christmas everybody :)

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Butter Pecan Cookies

Ree's Chicken-Fried Steak with Gravy

Homemade Spice, Seasoning and Gravy Mixes

Key Lime Cake

Easy Fudge Bites

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Air Fryer French Fries

Pie Crusts - Everything You Need To Know 

Chicken Dumpling Casserole

Seafood Mac and Cheese from Kardea Brown

LaBelladiva

Ways to Make Outdated Wood Cabinets Look More Modern

Real Touch Evergreens are the Upgrade You Didn’t Know Your Christmas Décor Needed

Subtropical Gardening

Keep Your Flowerbeds Weed Free

Holiday Cactus Growing Guide

When & How To Bring Ferns Inside For The Winter

Love Christmas Cactus? 10 More Unusual Houseplants You’ll Adore