For a while it seemed the only ones crocheting and knitting were our little old grannies, that’s so not the case anymore. Seems almost every savvy girl we hit up conversations with these days is into one of these crafts. It also helps having major chain stores like Michaels and Jo-Ann fabrics handy with all of the supplies you need. One thing we did find was most of these talented ladies were still searching for patterns that just fit into their lifestyle.  Well look no further, we found the perfect “Fit” for you.   You remember Share Ross, we have featured her here on the site, well one of her other talents is knitting and she, like many of you wanted to create fashions that fit  her lifestyle. So she came up with her own patterns and put them into this totally cool collection.  So, if your Planning your next relaxing leisurely day, you could be knitting a striped punk rock armband,or a skull knit kilt~along with other edgy items, from Share’s book “”Punk Knits:26 Hot New Designs for Anarchistic Souls and Independent Spirits”~(not your everyday knitting patterns). You can also purchase gnarly skullhead sewing needles! Think ahead! You could give your creations away as Christmas presents. Her “Punk Knits” site is definitely worth checking out.

By, Angela Arpin & Editor

ingredients

1/2  cup red wine vinegar

2  tablespoons Dijon-style mustard

1/4  teaspoon black pepper

2  cloves garlic, minced

1/2  cup olive oil

1/2  cup slivered fresh basil

8  ounces dried pasta (such as rotini, bow ties, shells, cavatelli, or penne)

2  9-ounce packages frozen cut green beans

6  medium tomatoes, cut into thin wedges

1  cup sliced pitted kalamata olives or ripe olives

2  cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves

3/4  cup (3 oz.) finely shredded Parmesan cheese

3  tablespoons snipped fresh parsley

directions

1. For dressing, in a small bowl whisk together vinegar, mustard, pepper, and garlic. Gradually whisk in oil. Stir in the slivered basil. Set dressing aside.

2. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again.

3. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan cook frozen beans according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again.

4. Toss one-third of the dressing with the cooked pasta; place pasta in the bottom of a very large salad bowl. Layer ingredients on top of the pasta in the following order: cooked green beans, tomatoes, and olives. Top with remaining dressing. Sprinkle with the basil leaves, the Parmesan cheese, and parsley. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours. To serve, toss lightly to combine. Makes 16 servings.

To Tote: Transport in an insulated cooler with ice packs.

For 8 Servings: Prepare using method above, except assemble salad in a large salad bowl.

nutrition facts

• Servings Per Recipe 16 servings Calories 173, Total Fat (g) 10, Saturated Fat (g) 2, Monounsaturated Fat (g) 6, Polyunsaturated Fat (g) 1, Cholesterol (mg) 5, Sodium (mg) 167, Carbohydrate (g) 17, Total Sugar (g) 2, Fiber (g) 3, Protein (g) 5, Vitamin A (DV%) 0, Vitamin C (DV%) 26, Calcium (DV%) 8, Iron (DV%) 7, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

If your a girl and like to ride motorcycles then chances are you know who Diva Amy is, you can’t miss her with her leopard blinged out dresser. Did you also know that Amy is the designer for the most popular cowboy hat in the country right now?

Ever since he made his appearance on the Celebrity Apprentice Bret Michaels has made Amy’s design of the white cowboy hat with black roman cross the #1 selling hat.

Television viewers everywhere got to know POISON lead singer Bret Michaels all over again when he appeared on and won this most recent season of “The Celebrity Apprentice”. Throughout the show, Bret wore three of the eight cowboy hats handmade by Diva Amy exclusively for Bret, including a white hat emblazoned with a black Roman cross, and a black hat adorned with feathers and a spark plug. During the finale, Bret passed around Diva Amy’s other hats to his team members to wear for his Snapple presentation.

“To thank Bret for wearing my hats, I’m donating 10 percent from the sale of each hat to the Bret Michaels Foundation, which in turn funds the American Diabetes Foundation, the group for which Bret was playing on ‘Celebrity Apprentice’.” Michaels also wore the white cowboy hat with black cross when he appeared on the finale of “American Idol”, and can also be seen wearing it on every bottle of Bret’s Blend Diet Snapple Trop-A-Rocka.

Diva Amy created her company, Team Diva, 12 years ago to design hats, T-shirts and accessories with rock and rollers and motorcyclists in mind. In addition to Bret, other celebrities who wear Team Diva hats include Paris Hilton, who sported the embellished cadet caps at the Sundance Film Festival last year; Ringo Starr, who bought a few cowboy hats; and Miley Cyrus, who has been seen wearing the “Bret Michaels” hat. All styles are original by Diva Amy who painstakingly applies all the nail heads, semi precious stones, Swarovski crystals, leather and other embellishments on her creations herself.

To learn more about the Bret Michaels hat, visit TeamDiva.com.

ingredients

8  6-inch bamboo skewers

1/2  cup purchased unsweetened coconut milk

2  tablespoons toasted shredded coconut

1  teaspoon brown sugar

1  teaspoon purchased green curry paste

1  teaspoon purchased red curry paste

12  ounces turkey tenderloin, cut into 1-inch strips or 12 boneless chicken tenders

1  tablespoon five-spice powder

1/4  teaspoon salt

1  tablespoon roasted peanut oil, peanut oil, or cooking oil

2  Key limes, halved crosswise

directions

1. Soak skewers in water for 30 minutes.

2. Stir together coconut milk, toasted coconut, and brown sugar in a small bowl. Divide mixture in half. Stir green curry paste into one half of the mixture; cover and refrigerate until serving time. Stir red curry paste into remaining coconut mixture; cover and refrigerate until serving time.

3. Rub turkey or chicken strips with five-spice powder and salt. Place between 2 sheets of clear plastic wrap, if desired. Using the flat end of a mallet, gently pound strips to 1/4-inch thickness.

4. Thread pounded strips lengthwise onto soaked bamboo skewers. Keep strips straight; do not weave. Brush turkey with oil.

5. Place skewers on the rack of the grill directly over medium-high heat. Grill for 8 to 10 minutes or until juices just run clear, turning once. Serve with the coconut-curry sauces and lime halves. Makes 4 appetizer servings.

Tip: To make your own five-spice powder: In a blender container combine 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 6 whole star anise, or 2 teaspoons anise seed, 1-1/2 teaspoons fennel seed, 1 to 2 whole dried chili peppers, and 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves. Cover and blend spices to a fine powder. Store in a tightly covered container for up to 2 months. Makes 1/4 cup.

nutrition facts

• Servings Per Recipe 4 appetizer servings Calories 214, Total Fat (g) 12, Saturated Fat (g) 7, Cholesterol (mg) 51, Sodium (mg) 382, Carbohydrate (g) 4, Fiber (g) 1, Protein (g) 21, Vitamin C (DV%) 10, Calcium (DV%) 3, Iron (DV%) 12, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

ingredients

Butter-flavor nonstick cooking spray

4  sheets frozen phyllo dough (about 17/13-inch rectangles), thawed

2  Tbsp. sugar

1/2  tsp. ground cardamom or cinnamon

1/3  cup low-fat lemon yogurt

3  Tbsp. lemon curd

1/3  cup whipping cream, whipped, or 1 cup frozen whipped dessert topping, thawed

3/4  cup each fresh red raspberries, blackberries, and/or blueberries

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees . Lightly coat two baking sheets with cooking spray; set aside. Unfold phyllo dough. Remove 2 sheets phyllo dough to large cutting board. Lightly coat top sheet of phyllo with cooking spray. Cover remaining phyllo dough with plastic wrap

2. In small bowl stir together sugar and cardamom. Sprinkle half sugar mixture on phyllo stack. Top with 2 more phyllo sheets. Lightly coat with cooking spray; sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture.

3. Cut phyllo sheets lengthwise in 4 equal strips, then crosswise in 4 pieces to make 161 rectangles. Transfer to prepared baking sheets. Bake rectangles 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

4. Meanwhile, for lemon filling; in medium bowl stir together lemon yogurt and lemon curd. Fold in whipped cream.

5. To assemble, place a phyllo rectangle stack on each of 5 dessert plates. (You’ll have 1 extra phyllo rectangle, in case of breakage.) Spread 1 rounded tablespoon lemon filling on each rectangle. Divide raspberries among rectangles. Top each with another phyllo rectangle, then another rounded tablespoon lemon filling. Divide blueberries among rectangles. Cover each stack with another phyllo rectangle. Serve immediately. Makes 5 servings.

NUTRITION FACTS

Calories 195, Total Fat (g) 8, Saturated Fat (g) 4, Cholesterol (mg) 32, Sodium (mg) 101, Carbohydrate (g) 22, Fiber (g) 3, Protein (g) 2, Vitamin A (DV%) 0, Vitamin C (DV%) 13, Calcium (DV%) 5, Iron (DV%) 4, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

This time of year all we want to do is be outdoors and enjoy the nice weather. Today, we know so much more about the sun and its effects on the human body, namely our skin. So there is no reason to head out for fun and not take the necessary steps to protect your health!

Always wear sunscreen when you head out. How protective it is depends on the SPF (sun protection factor). The higher the number means the fewer UVA and UVB rays are getting through that screen and penetrating your skin.

Cover your face when outside. On the beach, wear wide-brimmed hats and swimsuit cover-ups that extend down your arms and legs. The skin on the face is very delicate and can be damaged even easier than the rest of the body. For babies, completely cover them in the sun to prevent burns.

Reapply sunscreen as needed when swimming. If you are on the beach playing sports or resting, reapply sunscreen every two hours. If you are in the pool or ocean, reapply sunscreen when you get out for maximum protection. Use waterproof sunscreen when you are going to be in the water.

Stay hydrated. Skin is in its best protective mode when it is well moisturized. Part of that moisture comes from bringing in fluids to replace what we lose through sweat. Always carry bottled water with you. Cold water is absorbed better into the cells than warm water.

Protect your eyes with sunglasses. Your eyewear needs to have UVA and UVB protection so your retinas aren’t damaged by the sunlight. If you are playing sports or just lying on the beach, eyewear is needed.

If your headed out with the purpose of getting a tan here is some info about outdoor vs. indoor lotions. It is not a good Idea to use indoor lotions  outside of a tanning bed. Indoor tanning lotions usually don’t contain SPF.You will have no sun protection outdoors. Outdoor UV rays can vary daily even hourly in intensity.  It is recommended that you use a SPF lotion while tanning outdoors.Outdoor tanning lotions are not recommended for indoor use, as they can cause a film on the acrylic on a tanning bed and inhibit the tanning process.

Metabolism is the amount of energy (calories) your body burns to maintain itself. Whether you are eating, drinking, sleeping, cleaning etc… your body is constantly burning calories to keep you going.

Metabolism is affected by your body composition; the amount of muscle you have versus the amount of fat. Muscle uses more calories to maintain itself than fat. People who are more muscular (and have a lower percentage of body fat) are said to have a higher metabolism than others that are less muscular.  If you want to increase your metabolism the answer is EXERCISE….  If you’ve never exercised before, make sure you see a doctor before beginning a new exercise program (your problems with metabolism may be the result of a medical condition rather than your diet or lack of exercise). You can increase your muscle mass by doing some type of resistance work (i.e. lifting weights, using exertubes, rubberbands, dynabands, hand weights etc…). You can also decrease your level of body fat by doing some type of aerobic exercise at least 3 days a week for longer than 20 minutes. any activity such as walking, jogging, step aerobics, hi/low aerobics, biking, swimming etc. this will increase your heartrate into the target zone and keep it there for the duration of the exercise session. You also need to eat! – Do not diet, just watch the types of foods you eat. Try to eat a diet that is lower in fat (check the labels on the foods that you buy) and start adding weight training to your exercise program. Your muscle is the furnace and the fuel it burns is fat!

We see it first hand out at motorcycle events and car shows, it’s a very hot humid day and people are walking around drinking soda’s or beer. This is not a great idea and here is why….

During hot and humid days, we lose excessive amounts of water from our bodies through perspiration. It’s very easy to quickly become dehydrated,  especially if you are involved in outdoor physical activities.

This is why it is so important to stay hydrated. The best thing you can drink is water. Water is essential for the well-being of the body. Under optimal conditions, the body can survive for 60 days without food, but only 10-18 days without water. You skin is made up of about 70% water, so any loss of body water equaling 2-3% of our body weight will begin to affect performance adversely. Loss of 4-5% of body weight results in reduced carrying capacity of the blood for nutrients, as well as reduced ability to remove heat from the body.

When out walking around or doing physical activity you might want to steer away from grabbing a “thirst quencher” or “energy drink”.  Most of these are good for replenishing certain types of nutrients that are lost through perspiration during extended outdoor activities greater than 60-90 minutes. However, most of them contain high levels of simple sugar. This is not what you need on hot, humid days — or any other time, for that matter. For the same reason, you should not rely on carbonated soft drinks, alcoholic beverages or caffeinated drinks to maintain your body’s liquid levels. These fluids can have a diuretic effect, increasing fluid loss.

Water is important in nearly all of life’s chemical processes, and the production, growth and life of skin cells depends on it. Water within the cells helps make your skin look smooth, firm and tight. It is important for the functioning of our bodies’ internal organs, as well.

Don’t forget to drink water before, during and after exercise. In hot environments, active people should drink about 16 ounces of water 15 to 30 minutes prior to working out. After a workout, replenish fluids at the rate of one pint of water for every pound lost.”  Also don’t forget water has no calories. Learn the facts about staying hydrated and don’t overexert yourself outdoors in hot weather without proper hydration. Drink plenty of pure, fresh water and you’ll beat the heat and stay healthy.

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment ,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

…..Then You Are  Probably The Family Dog!