Gina Alfani

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

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 . . .

NEW BLOG POSTS

Subtropical Gardening

How To Kill Poison Ivy Plants

Fast-Growing Houseplants for (Almost) Instant Greenery

How to Revive Hydrangeas After Frost to Ensure Lush Spring and Summer Blooms

Bulbs You Should Start Indoors Now for Colorful Blooms in Spring

Winter Pruning Tips to Give Your Trees and Shrubs a Head Start on Spring

Top 10 Plants to Grow in Dry Shade Gardens

How to Grow and Care for a Lucky Bamboo Plant

Fast-Growing Shade Trees That Will Cool Down Your Yard

Trees and Shrubs You Should Never Prune in Winter

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Cream Cheese Chicken Croissants

Peanut Butter Stuffed Chocolate Cookies

Classic Marinara Sauce

Easy Bake Taco Casserole

Orange Dreamsicle Salad

Gina's Cooking Concepts . . . Cheap Meals 101

Mexican Rice

Cheesy Shrimp and Grits

Homemade Nutter Butter Cookies

Raspberry Cake

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

To Peel Potatoes Ahead of Time, Use This Trick Your Grandmother Knew

Honey Bun Cake

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Go away winter

Are you starting to feel like the poor shaved llama?

I've had enough of this winter weather. In my part of the world, it is hot 80 degree weather one week and the next week we are 30 degree nights. Most everyone in the US will be experiencing this severe winter storm. Central Florida will get the bad weather after it has passed everyone else. We are getting the tail end of it.

So I have stocked up on water and food, anticipating no electricity and have all my heavy clothes ready to go. I hate it.

Please be careful and warm everybody! Listed below are new blog posts.

NEW BLOG POSTS

LaBelladiva

DIY Chubby Lunch Tote - Free Pattern

DIY Fabric Gift Box - Free Pattern

DIY Pleated Bag Tutorial

DIY Pretty Colored Pencil Roll

Peace, Love, Happiness

The Scent of a Memory

Fabulous Frugalista

Understanding Food Expiration Date Labels Made Simple UPDATE

Subtropical Gardening

Why Your Orchid Leaves Are Wilting, and How to Fix the Problem

Spider Plant Care UPDATED

Things You Need to Know Before Planting a Single Pepper Seed

Things Every Snake Plant Owner Needs To Know

Do This In February for Tons of Tomatoes This Summer

Top 10 Plants to Propagate That Grow From Cuttings UPDATED

Grow vegetables from kitchen scraps UPDATED

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Swiss Cheese Bread

Apple Cinnamon Roll Casserole

Banana Bread Brownies

Boston Cream Pie Cookies

White Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Amazing Breakfast Enchiladas

Perfect Omelette (with Video)

Australian Sausage Rolls

Easy à la King Biscuit Casserole

Portobello Mushroom and Cream Cheese Taquitos

Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe

Easy Philly Cheesesteak

Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Calzones

Country Scalloped Potatoes

Brown Sugar Chili Chicken

Skillet Rosemary Chicken

Snickerdoodle Bundt Cake

Easy Homemade Sloppy Joe

Frosting and Icing Recipes UPDATED

Best Lemon Desserts

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Old Songs

Music has always been a big part of my life. Old songs do take me back to a certain place and time. Of course, the memories of the time creep in. I've been hearing the song "Happy Man" by Chicago in my head over and over again. They were The Captain's favorite band and I remember the first time he played the song for me and told me since he met me, the song had new meaning for him. I will never forget that moment. And it has come back to me over and over again. It is one of those memories that brings pleasure and pain.

The good news is that the great Florida weather is back for a while, but the cold is threatening to come back next week. Maybe it is time to treat myself to a couple of days at a nice hotel at the beach.

Hope you are all having a fabulous week! New blog posts follow . . .