Gina Alfani

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Mardi Gras

That Mardi Gras tree reminds me of the garbage bags full of beads I have collected from various Gasparilla parades. Oh the memories . . .

With Gasparilla festivities drawing to a close, Mardi Gras always comes to mind since it happens shortly after Gasparilla. Although I have never been to Mardi Gras, it has always interested me since it is much like Gasparilla, but even more festive.

This week I will be focusing on the food associated with Mardi Gras and New Orleans.

Have an awesome week! Check out my new blog posts . . .

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Creole-Style Red Jambalaya With Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp

Baked Penne with Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Quick and Easy Pizza Dough, PIZZA & Gina's Garlic Bread UPDATED

Chicken Noodle Soup recipes

Southern Fried Shrimp

Cajun Shrimp Casserole

Cracked Out Breakfast Bubble Up

My Florida Paradise

Subtropical Gardening

Why Your Aloe Vera Is Dying - How To Bring It Back

LaBelladiva

Patchwork Potholder Sewing Pattern with Pockets

Log Cabin Hexagon Potholder Free Sewing Pattern

Dog Collar Bandana

Fabulous Frugalista

Common Winter Habits That Are Running Up Your Heating Bill

A slow week

My food focus as been on Mardi Gras this week.

I may continue looking for more.

Not much to say.

Hope you are all having a wonderful week.

Check out my new blog posts!

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Bourbon Chicken

Shrimp Etouffee

Fried Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich

Easy Dirty Rice

New Orleans Beignets

Subtropical Gardening

Why Your Aloe Vera Is Dying - How To Bring It Back

What it Means If Your Plant Leaves Have Brown Tips

LaBelladiva

How To Make a Dress Bigger

How To Make A Rope Bowl

Fabulous Frugalista

How to Clean Baking Sheets So They Look Brand New

Friday, January 30, 2026

The Pirates Are Here!

Photo source: GasparillaPirateFest.com

Despite the unusually cold weather, Gasparilla has arrived in Tampa . . . check out my blog post Gasparilla 2026 . . . click here.

Not much to say . . . check out my new blog posts.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Best Easy Banana Bread

Lemon Garlic Parmesan Shrimp Pasta

Fish Cakes

Crab Rangoon

Carrot Cake Muffins

Stir-Fried Garlic and Sriracha Shrimp Recipe

Subtropical Gardening

Front Yard Flower Bed Ideas for a Charming Entryway

How to Store Your Garden Hose in Winter So It Doesn't Freeze or Crack

Seed Starting Mistakes You're Probably Making

LaBelladiva

How to Make A Lip Gloss Pouch

Cute Corners DIY Cosmetic Case

Fabulous Frugalista

Understanding Food Expiration Date Labels Made Simple UPDATE

Grocery Store Items with the Highest Markups

How to tell if your phone is hacked

Here’s What to Do When the Power Goes Out in Your Home

Pirate festival time!

Lately I've been gathering my jewelry supplies and the sparkly beads have encouraged my excitement to get started making jewelry again. Actually all types of crafts have been attracting my attention. It is in my nature to be creative and my hands are itching to get started again. As a result, the crafty type of articles and tutorials have been calling me and I have posted a bunch and have even more that need to be posted.

It feels so good to have desires and interests again after not wanting to be bothered with anything. Grief does that to me and it is now confined to what I call waves. They come and go quickly, not lingering like they did. I'm becoming my happy self again and that's a good thing.

Gasparilla, a Tampa pirate festival time is this weekend and that means that Mardi Gras is near. I will be focusing on these festivals this week instead of complaining about the cold weather. Ok, maybe I'll complain a little since I hate it. Rare freezing temps are threatening to put a damper on Gasparilla which is a local bummer. However, the festival goes on! I'll post about it in my blog "My Florida Paradise" which has been severely neglected, but will soon make a comeback and upgrade.

Happy Friday everybody! Check out my new blog posts . . .

NEW BLOG POSTS

Subtropical Gardening

Make Compost Tea – Fertilize Plants Naturally

How To Grow In 5 Gallon Buckets

Secrets to Getting Christmas Cactus to Bloom More Than Once a Year

Reasons To Start A Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

LaBelladiva

DIY Fur Baby Coat – how to sew a dog coat

Make your own scrungies

How to make hair scrungies

How to Make Cute Designer Scrunchies

DIY Beach Cover Tutorial

Thursday, January 29, 2026

The method of life

Going through these cold days has me hoping for an early spring, so the gardening articles have really caught my attention.

Although I still have packs and packs of seeds and jars of seeds I harvested, it is the normal thing to go through seed catalogs in the winter time. I'm sure many of you are having the same thoughts. If you are, you will enjoy the articles I have posted this week to Subtropical Gardening.

Don't have much to say except to say I'm happy, which is a major thing and I hope I can stay in this method of life.

Check out all the new blog posts this week listed below.

Stay warm!

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Espresso Cheesecake

Upside-Down Chili Pie

Beer-Battered Fish

Homemade French Bread

German Chocolate Brownies

Sourdough Bread

Glazed Donuts

Easy Chicken Stuffing Bake

Classic Beef Empanadas

Meatloaf With Brown Gravy

Copycat Olive Garden Recipes

Collection of Cheesecake Recipes

Subtropical Gardening

Houseplant Problems That Happen More in Winter

Where to Find Quality Seeds For Free or Cheap

Where to Find Cheap Seed Starting Containers

Growing Tomatoes From Seed - What You Need to Know

Top 3 Mistakes Gardeners Make Growing Tomatoes – And How To Avoid Them

LaBelladiva

Sew a Handy Travel Case – Free Sewing Pattern

How to Clean Your Silver Jewelry

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Thoughts of Rainbow Bridge

In my travels through the internet, I found a post from a crafty lady who discussed her two fur babies who went to Rainbow Bridge, how she missed them so much and wanted to find a way to memorialize them. She touched my heart and made me realize that is what I have been needing to do for my sweet Kiki and mainly for myself. I still have not come up with the project, but it was a reminder of how far I have come in my grief. While it is still and always will be painful, I can deal with it and think of her as a beautiful chapter in my life. This photo shows her sassy little personality that I miss so much.

Not much going on lately except for working on my blogs and trying to stay warm in this cold snap we are having. I have never published so many posts since I have been blogging. It had been a very long time and I didn't realize how much I missed it. Now I am making up for lost time.

Have a great week and stay warm! Hope you enjoy my new blog posts listed below.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Shrimp and Wild Rice Casserole

Lobster Ravioli Bake

Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells

Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

Fabulous Frugal Frittata

Chicken Lazone

One Pan Spanish Chicken and Rice

Boston Cream Pie

Cheesecake Brownies

Baked Chicken Fajitas

Raspberry Brownies

Easy Almond Bear Claw

Angel Hair Pasta with Spicy Shrimp

Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs

Creamy Corn Casserole

Subtropical Gardening

How To Power Up Your Raised Bed Soil Before Spring

LaBelladiva

DIY Sofa Organizer

Blue Jean Planter

Painted Rainbow Bridge Garden Bench

Fabulous Frugalista

Easy Ways to Make Your Jeans Last Much Longer

Safely Wash Dry-Clean-Only Clothes at Home

Everyday Uses for Baking Soda That Work

Appliance Maintenance

Tricks For Unclogging Your Kitchen Sink You Need To Know

Things You Should Always Wash In Cold Water

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Bad weekend

Don't have much to say. Not really a Happy Sunday. It has been a bad weekend for most of the US worrying about the upcoming winter storm. Prayers for all, hope you are being safe and staying home. I've seen the reports on the weather channels.

New blog posts follow . . .