Thursday, January 8, 2026

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

Monday, January 5, 2026

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

Sunday, January 4, 2026

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

Onion Rings Extravaganza

Chili Relleno Casserole

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Leftover Ham -n- Potato Casserole

Sloppy Joe Casserole

Thursday, January 1, 2026

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

Monday, December 29, 2025

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

Saturday, December 27, 2025

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

Friday, December 26, 2025

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.