Category Archives: The Body

The Body

Garage-Girls Profile; Aung Munster

What do you get when you take a strong minded entity with the heart of a tortured gypsy and put pen and paper in front of her?
You get the creative written and visual work of Aung Munster. Your probably familiar with her from her writing here on Garage-Girls. She has recently launched her swag site “Outspoken Mimes” and we decided to try to get into her head, check her out…..
GG. Tell us about you, where are you from, what are you into and what do you like to do with your free time?
AM.I’m from Massachusetts. As for what I’m into: writing,art,composing. I play a couple of instruments. Creating in general,which occupies most of my time.
GG.How did you find your passion for your craft? How long have you been doing it?
AM. I don’t think passion can necessarily be sought-& in that sense,it can’t be found. I believe that it’s something that has to be within you. I’ve alway’s been into creating things. When other little girls were playing with dolls,I was concocting “magical” serums w/random household products. Lemonade,Windex,Pop Rock candy etc. & I had used a few of my mother’s vases as test tubes. I had become a mad scientist at a very early age!
GG. What do you love most about your artwork?
AM. What do I love most? Probably that it confuses people-which is actually complimentative,in my opinion. If a design or something I’ve written provokes thought/ponderings-that’s contentment to me.
GG. Do you have a sweet car or a motorcycle?
AM. I have a car-yes,but no it’s not the least bit sweet. I would love to own the Batmobile. Or even a replica.
GG. What are you most passionate about in life?
AM. Anything that stimulates my mind. Music. Art. Literature. Writing is actually my forte. Everything from lyrics,to poetry to short stories.
GG. Is there anything you would love to learn to do?
AM. I would love to learn how to play the piano. I can play “Chopsticks” & “Home Sweet Home”-but that’s the extent of it!
GG. Where would you most like to visit?
AM. Definitely Paris. I would just immerse myself in the culture-not only for that reason,but I would also love to visit Jim Morrison’s grave.
GG. What is your idea of relaxing?
AM. I have a pretty large yard that overlooks a lake,so when I need to relax I literally just spawl out in the grass. When I have time to read I usually do that out there as well. It’s very peaceful.
GG. What type of music do you normally listen to?
AM. What most would consider “alternative.” The Cure,White Stripes,The Doors,Rob Zombie. Radiohead. INXS. Just to name a few! I’m also into jazz,classical. It depends on my mood. I dig just about everything except country&rap.
GG. Do you collect anything?
AM. I do. I collect oddly shaped/colored rocks-not random rocks you would find on the ground. Some are jellybean shaped rocks that are multi-colored. Some have crystals in them. What can I say. I’m into rocks!
Thanks for letting us take a peak inside your creative mind Aung!  Check out her work at printfection/outspokenmimes
The Body

Help Prevent Cancer with Your Health

The “C” word is a word we all dread. Unfortunately, it’s a word most of us have been impacted by in one way or another. Maybe you lost someone to cancer or maybe you know someone who triumphed over cancer. It’s one of the leading causes of death, and although there are no guarantees when it comes to cancer, there are proven ways to reduce your risk. Let’s take a look at what you can do to reduce your risk.
The American Institute for Cancer Research has some great recommendations:
1. Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.
2. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.
3. Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods.
4. Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes such as beans.
5. Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed food.
6. If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks for two a day for men and one a day for women.
7. Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with sodium.
8. Don’t use supplements to protect against cancer.
While you may already know many of these tips, how many are you following?
Preventing weight gain can reduce the risk of many types of cancer. For those people who are already overweight or obese, your first course of action should be not to gain any additional weight. And when you begin an exercise program, remember that even modest losses of weight, from 5 to 10 pounds, can begin to benefit your health.
Although many people don’t realize it, all the foods in the grocery store that come in packages and are labeled “low in fat” may not be good for you. Your body isn’t meant to consume so much processed food, and just because it looks like a diet food, that doesn’t mean it is healthy food. Try to limit the amount of processed foods you consume and instead choose foods in their natural forms: berries, apples, nuts, carrots, dark leafy greens, tomatoes…  Regarding supplements, it’s healthy to take a multivitamin each day, but taking supplements in high doses can be counterproductive and may increase your risk for certain types of cancer. The best sources of nutrients come from healthy food and drink choices. Too many supplements can upset the balance of nutrients in our bodies.
While not smoking definitely can reduce your cancer—it almost goes without saying right?
But did you know that flossing regularly can reduce your risk as well? The health of your gums is related to the health of your body. Periodontal disease has been linked to some forms of cancer. So make sure you are taking care of your teeth—and gums. Dr. Mehmet Oz recently mentioned on his show that most people only brush their teeth for 38 seconds at a time, when you should spend two full minutes each day, twice a day brushing those teeth.
What tip are you going to start doing to reduce your risk of cancer?
The Body

Dogs with Avocado and Chips, oh and Beer!

Lets get grilling!
Prep: 15 minutes
Grill: 5 minutes
Start to Finish: 20 minutes
ingredients
•3 ripe Hass avocados
•1 tablespoon lime juice
•3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
•8 1/4 lb. all-beef hot dogs, grilled (directions below)
•8 hot dog buns
•1 small white onion, cut into slivers
•2 ripe plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
•1 cup crushed regular potato chips
directions
1.in bowl mash together avocados, lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper. Cover surface with plastic wrap; refrigerate.
2.Top grilled hot dogs with avocado mixture, slivered onions, tomatoes, and crushed potato chips. Makes 8 hot dogs.
3.Basic Hot Dog Grilling: With a sharp knife, make a few shallow slashes in each hot dog. On gas or charcoal grill, grill hot dogs directly over medium heat with lid closed, until lightly marked on outside and heated through-5 to 7 minutes-turning occasionally. During last minute of grilling, toast buns.
•nutrition facts
Calories633 Total Fat (g)46 Saturated Fat (g)15, Monounsaturated Fat (g)23, Polyunsaturated Fat (g)4, Cholesterol (mg)60, Sodium (mg)1741, Carbohydrate (g)37, Total Sugar (g)7, Fiber (g)5, Protein (g)19, Vitamin C (DV%)17, Calcium (DV%)9, Iron (DV%)20, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
The Body

Garage-Girls Profile; Amy Bass

All of us here at Garage-Girls are in awe of this Garage Savvy lady. Meet Amy Bass who in our opinion is the “Martha Stewart” of the cool Garage Lifestyle.  While keeping very busy being married to one of the most stand up guys in the motorcycling industry, Kevin “Teach” Bass, and raising 3 adorable little boys she also finds time to hone her craft of working with antiques and creating some of the most unique pieces of jewelry and couture household items, such as lamps, wind-chimes and ornamental decorative art we have even seen.  We recently asked Amy to share her life with us, check it out..
GG. where are you from?:
AB. Lakeville, MN
GG. what are you into?
AB. everything creative – upcycling vintage items into jewelry is what i’m most known for (hinges into bracelets, beer cans into cuffs, etc.). I have passion for rhinestones and hardware . . . LOVE metal, glass, rustic, vintage findings – love to “hunt” for objects!
GG. what do you like to do with your free time?
AB. what’s that?!
Spending time with my 3 fun boys – watching them dirt bike, 4 wheel and do anything active. I love riding any chance I get with my wonderful husband (Kevin Baas a.k.a. Teach) – just being a “normal” mom. I’m a full time freelance graphic designer and anything fun & creative is a total side gig. I’m extremely lucky to have the ability to stay home with my kids, make $ doing design and also have a creative outlet.
GG. How did you find your passion for your craft?
AB. As far as I can remember, I’ve been an extreme creative – I see things in a much different way than most people do – my love for “old” came from my mom & grandparents. They’re huge antique collectors and I remember spending summers at my grandparents antique market in the Detroit Lakes (MN) area. My grandmother got me into collecting spoons at a young age so I dedicated flatware bracelets to her – the “Millie” style. I’ve always been around vintage things and have a certain appreciation for them – such craft & beauty that we don’t see today!
GG. How long have you been doing it?
AB. Publicly, for 2 years . .  personally, my whole life
GG. What do you love most about your artwork?
AB. It’s 100% from MY brain & most items are one-of-a-kind AND AFFORDABLE! I’ve masted the idea that i can turn anything into jewelry! Very non-traditional pieces that have tons of creativity behind them . . . things that can’t be jewelry get turned into lighting, windchimes, or small flower vases.
GG. Do you have a sweet car or a motorcycle?
AB. Yes, i do!!! I have an old 1958 ironhead sportster and a sweet 1948 Dodge that is being rebuilt – hoping to get that on the road again this summer! My newest baby is an awesome 1942 knucklehead that kevin built this year – I’m dying to get on – need to master the jockey shift first!!!
GG. What are you most passionate about in life?
AB. #1. My family  . . . and helping my boys be the best boys they can be – respectful, thoughtful, fun kids!
#2. Never loosing my creative edge just b/c I’m a mom & wife.
GG. Is there anything you would love to learn to do?
AB. I’m always up for creative challenges but nothing sparks my interest right now – check back in a year and i’m sure it’ll change:)
GG. Where would you most like to visit?
AB. I lived in Germany for a few months in high school and LOVED it there . . . I’d like to do more traveling abroad but i also think there are so many undiscovered treasures right here in the good ‘ole USA! I can’t wait for our kids to be old enough to pile into a camper and just GO! I’d love to ride along the entire west coast someday.
GG. What is your idea of relaxing?
AB. Basking in the glow of our bedroom t.v. (sans kids) watching anything from Ghost Adventures to Real Housewives to Animal Planet . . . and tons of scary movies!
GG. What type of music do you normally listen to?
AB. such a wide variety!!! I love all music but I have a low tolerance for RAP . . . I’m a huge fan of .357 String Band which is usually the norm blaring on our garage. When I’m in the car with the boys it’s usually pop – which I normally am singing along to:)
GG. Do you collect anything?
AB. I have an obsession for big, huge rhinestone brooches. I’ve got old printer trays full of them that I just can’t touch – something about how beautiful they are just makes you want to sit and stare.
To see some of Amy’s beautiful creations visit her FB and other web pages page, you can even inquire about purchasing a piece, talk about a unique gift to give to someone special in your life!
The Body

Garage-Girls Movie Review; Bridesmaids

If your in need of a good laugh out loud film we highly recommend this one. With Kristen Wig as one of the main writers and characters, how can you go wrong. We hail to the new queen of comedy, and this flick!

Bridesmaids is finally a humble honest look at what female friendships and interactions are really all about. The film has every aspect of a “girls life” rolled into a 2 hour comedy. You get to experience the single girl who’s life is literally falling apart from a failed professional life, to a relationship with a guy that wants nothing more but the “benefits” to trying to indulge her best friends happiness of engagement and take on the roll of becoming the maid of honor and planning all the events while her own life is such a mess.  Bridesmaids has something for everyone to relate to, including an embarrassing situation of food poisoning that takes place at a bridal shop, oh yes every girl loves to share a good “shit story” .   If we start to share more with you we will end up giving away the whole movie, so were going to leave it at this, Bridesmaids rocks, go see the movie, we give it 5 spark plugs!

The Body

Growing up Garage-Girl; Garage-Girls Profile Millicent Wilson

Once again we have a lucky girl that is eager to share her “Garage” story with us.    Meet Millicent Wilson who enjoys nothing more than hangin’ with her Dad in the garage where she can ride the 4 wheeler and get her go-kart ready for racing. Speaking of ready for racing, in her first season this little lady ended up 7th in points with a first and third place finish out of 4 races, them boys better look out this up-coming season!   If you plan on heading to Carlisle Summer Bike Fest. this summer the weekend of July 22-24 stop by the Garage-Girls set up and meet Millicent!
GG. What do you like most about hangin’ in the Garage with your dad?
MW. I like Spending time with my Dad
GG. What is your favorite subject in school?
MW. Math
GG. Do you have a bicycle, or dirt bike, 4 wheeler or anything like that?
MW. I have a bicycle, four wheeler and go-cart
GG. Does your Dad let you help out with any tools?
MW. Not while he’s working
GG. Is there anything you would love to learn how to do?
MW. make friendship braclet’s
GG. Would you like to have a certain type of car or bike when you get older?
MW. Ford F150 4X4
GG. What is your idea of relaxing?
MW. Painting
GG. Do you have any pets?
MW. yes, 3 dogs, 2 cats and alot of chickens
GG. Do you collect anything?
MW. I collect movies and pez
The Body

pulled roast chicken sandwiches

Nothing says “bring on the good weather” better than a great Chicken sandwich
ingredients
•1  1-3/4- to 2-lb.  purchased roasted chicken
•1  medium  onion, cut in 1/4-inch slices
•1  Tbsp.  olive oil
•1/3  cup  cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
•1/2  cup  tomato sauce
•3  to 4 Tbsp.  seeded and finely chopped fresh red and/or green serrano chile peppers
•2  Tbsp.  snipped fresh thyme
•2  Tbsp.  molasses
•2  Tbsp.  water
•1/2  tsp.  salt
•6    kaiser rolls or hamburger buns, split
•Bread-and-butter pickle slices or sweet pickle slices
directions
1. Cut the meat from the chicken, discarding skin and bones. Use two forks or your fingers to pull meat into shreds.
2. In a large skillet cook onion in hot oil over medium heat about 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally to separate slices into rings. Add vinegar. Cook and stir for 1 minute more.
3. Stir in tomato sauce, serrano peppers, thyme, molasses, the water, and salt. Bring to boiling. Add the chicken, stirring gently to coat. Heat through. Serve on split rolls with pickles. Makes 6 sandwiches.
nutrition facts
•Calories 668, Total Fat (g)18, Cholesterol (mg)126, Sodium (mg)1485, Carbohydrate (g)76, Fiber (g)3, Protein (g)50, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
The Body

May is Melanoma awarness month

Did you know that Bob Marley died of Melanoma at age 36? Did you know that May is Melanoma awarness month? Do you know that one american dies from Melanoma every hour?
Melanoma is a common but serious skin cancer which, if not removed early while it is thin, spreads internally and is usually fatal. It is often ignored until too late because, in the early stages, it may look harmless and cause no discomfort. Many people don’t realize that something small on their skin can kill them if not treated promptly.
Although it is uncommon in children under 12, melanoma occurs in every age group after puberty. It is the most common cancer in the 25 to 29 age group and second most common in the 15 to 29 age group. Women under age 39 are more likely to develop melanoma than any other cancer except breast cancer. Overall, melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in males and sixth in females. The U.S. incidence of melanoma is more than double that of new HIV infections and is increasing at an epidemic rate; 114,900 new cases are predicted in 2010. Most new melanoma patients have no family history of the disease; it can strike anyone regardless of health, physical condition, or skin complexion. On the average, there is a melanoma death in the U.S. almost every hour.
The good news is that melanoma is easy to detect yourself at an early stage while it is thin and is curable by simple, painless removal in an office setting. All it takes is a ten minute monthly skin check. This site shows you how to check your skin, what to look for, and how to decrease your risk of melanoma.  Please check this site for more info, be aware!  www.skincheck.org
The Body

”MILLION PLEDGE MISSION” AIMS TO STOP 1,000,000 DRIVERS FROM TEXTING AND DRIVING

Texting and driving caused almost 400,000 injuries and deaths last year across the United States and is quickly becoming America’s fastest growing killer, but there’s a growing mission to drive those numbers down.
What started off as a wearable reminder to be text free while driving has grown into a national mission to make the roads safer for everyone. Earlier this year, a Colorado family started giving local teens a “TXTNG KILLS” thumb band to make them aware of the dangers of texting and driving. Just a few months later, national attention of the texting crisis has the Edgin family sending out over 30,000 bands per month and working with schools, community groups and police agencies across North America to collect 1,000,000 signatures on their text free driving pledge.
“Texting and driving makes you 23X more likely to crash and causes more accidents than drinking and driving”, says Robert Edgin (founder of the Million Pledge Mission), “even though it’s illegal to text and drive in most states, very little has been done to educate drivers of just how dangerous it is – until now.” The laws across the US and Canada have become increasingly strict in dealing with texting and driving and a number of drivers have been charged with vehicular homicides in recent years for deaths they caused while texting behind the wheel.
The problem, according to Edgin, is that an overwhelming number of drivers make texting a normal part of their daily commute and end up spending more time looking at their phones than they spend looking at the roads. “Texting takes your eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds at a time. At 55 mph, that’s the same as driving the length of a football field blind”, says Edgin.
The Million Pledge Mission kicked off the first week of April to educate drivers across North America of the dangers of texting and driving and collect 1,000,000 signatures from drivers who commit to be text free behind the wheel. Schools, colleges and a number of police departments and community groups are giving away “TXTNG KILLS” thumb bands to drivers who sign the pledge as a wearable reminder to stay text free while driving. Anti-texting campaigns have grown by the thousands across the nation over the past 12 months and schools are making an extra effort to promote text free driving as prom and graduation seasons (the 2 deadliest weekends of the year for teen drivers) is getting under way.
“This is a problem that every driver in the country has to deal with every time they get in their car”, says Edgin. “Most of the people who die in texting and driving accidents are just innocent people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s time for people to do the right thing and put an end to all of these preventable accidents.” You can sign the pledge online at www.millionpledgemission.com or by downloading the pledge to print and sign it.