Cruisin' Companions

LANGLEY

2 year old labrator retriever mix
Hi, Langley is my name and I traveled a long way to get here. I was at an animal shelter in a different county and the nice people at Animal Friends brought me here so that I can find my forever home. I am a little timid at first, but I warm up quickly. I need a few minutes to get to know you and feel that I can trust you and then I am one friendly, silly guy who is hoping that you are the one who is going to adopt me. 

Toys look like fun, but I am not sure what to do with them. I am learning all types of new things here, like walking on a leash, how to play with other dogs, and how to be well-mannered. I still haven’t mastered them all yet, but the volunteers here think I am doing really well. They also think a home with older children would be better for me…I am sure it is because I get so excited with all of these new, wonderful things in my life. Won’t you come to Animal Friends to meet me?
The Body

Holiday Cookies

‘Tis that time of year for COOKIES!  This recipe will have everyone begging for more!
Espresso shots
ingredients
•Basic Cookie Dough
•1  tablespoon  instant espresso coffee powder
•5  ounces  semisweet chocolate, chopped
•2  tablespoons  butter
•1    egg
•1/3  cup  packed brown sugar
•1  tablespoon  coffee liqueur
•2  teaspoons  vanilla
•1/2  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
•1/4  teaspoon  ground nutmeg
•1/4  teaspoon  ground cardamom
• Chocolate Ganache
•Chocolate-covered coffee beans (optional)
directions
1. Prepare Basic Cookie Dough as directed, except add 1 tablespoon espresso coffee powder when adding the egg. If necessary, cover and chill for 30 to 60 minutes or until dough is easy to handle.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Shape dough into 36 (about 1-1/4-inch) balls. Press balls evenly onto the bottoms and up the sides of 36 ungreased 1-3/4-inch muffin cups.
3. For filling, in a small saucepan, combine chocolate and butter. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in egg, brown sugar, liqueur, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. Spoon 1 slightly rounded teaspoon of the filling into each pastry-lined muffin cup.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until filling is puffed and set and pastry is just firm. Cool in muffin cups on wire racks for 5 minutes. Carefully remove tarts from muffin cups; cool completely on racks. Spoon Chocolate Ganache over tarts. If desired, garnish with coffee beans. Makes 36 tarts.
To Store: Place tarts in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Chocolate Ganache: In a small saucepan, combine 1/3 cup whipping cream and 1 teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder. Bring to boiling. Remove from heat. Add 3 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate (do not stir). Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth.
Basic Cookie Dough Recipe: In a large bowl, combine 1/4 c. butter (softened), 1/4 c. shortening, and 2 ounces cream cheese (softened). Beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add 1 c. brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg. Beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in 1 egg and 2 tsp. vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the 2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Makes about 2-3/4 cups dough.
The Machine

Tami from Diva Customs

Tami and Jason from Diva Customs and Jason’s Garage stopped by Garage-Girls for a visit yesterday.   We think the world of them and wanted to share with you a little about them. Be sure to check them out online at Diva Customs and Jason’s Garage Inc they are located in Virginia Beach so if your cruising through be sure to stop by and tell ’em Garage-Girls sent ya!

Cruisin' Companions

Recycled Pets are Priceless!

In an effort to educate the community about the importance of adopting a shelter pet, and find qualified, permanent and loving homes for as many homeless animals as possible, Animal Friends is waiving our requested adoption donation for all pets aged 2 and up between November 26 and December 31!
Recycled Pets are Priceless is made possible in part by a grant from Doris Day and the Doris Day Animal Foundation.
What does this mean?
Animal Friends believes that too many pets in our community are waiting for a lifeline. And, too few people know how important and how meaningful it is to adopt a shelter pet. At a place like Animal Friends, where a resident can live for as long as it takes to find the perfect home, this problem is all the more overwhelming.
So now, in an effort to educate the community about the importance of adopting a shelter pet, and with a goal of finding qualified, permanent and loving homes for as many homeless animals as possible, we are putting our money where our message is: Pet adoption is truly priceless.
Animal Friends invites potential adopters to meet with an Adoption Counselor and complete an adoption application. All adoptions will be thoroughly screened and evaluated in order to ensure appropriate, loving, and lifelong matches. Then, adopters can bask not only in the selfless companionship of their family’s newest member; they can also know that this holiday season, they offered a lifeline to another homeless pet.
So please, make this the year that you consider shelter adoption. Think not just of the wonderful dogs, cats and rabbits who wait at Animal Friends. Think of the hundreds more that so desperately need a second chance to live and love.
The Machine

New Car Prices: Factor in Insurance Premiums

Seems a few of you are in the market this time of year for a new vehicle, we have received a few emails asking about final payments on new cars and we found a bunch of people are forgetting to factor in what the monthly insurance is going to cost along with the payment of the vehicle. Here are a few steps you don’t want to forget when shopping for a new car.
When in the market for a different vehicle and looking at new car prices, people should consider how much their insurance premiums could change; this factor could make a good deal seem better or that sporty dream not worth the actual price.
When getting new car prices, people should know how the insurers determine their rates. Many insurance companies use actuaries that rate cars on a wide variety of factors to determine their risk. This risk assessment is used to decide the cost of comprehensive and collision coverage by the company. They set these rates in order to minimize the insurer’s risk.
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) is the primary actuary company used. They assign each vehicle a risk number and the insurer then decides how to use that number in their policies. Though these numbers are not made available to the public, a person can get estimates from insurers to get an idea of what one vehicle may cost to insure over another.
If a person is looking for the lowest new car prices when all factors are considered, they should stay away from sport or high performance cars. These are generally more expensive to repair if in an accident. They may also attract more moving violations and automobile thieves. Cheaper, more modest vehicles cost less to repair and as such, may not be as expensive to insure.
People should also consider safety features. Automatic seat belts, airbags, anti-lock breaks, and other features can make premiums cheaper because they assist in lowering the payouts on hospital bills if in an accident. Anti-theft systems are also helpful in preventing theft. SUVs are rated as high performance and sports cars and are usually more expensive than other types of vehicles. They generally cause more damage to other cars if in a collision.
For help deciding the final number if your in the market for a new vehicle check out NewCarPrices.net this site gives prospective buyers the tools to shop for new car prices with ease and convenience by investigating performance, exploring features, and making comparisons online before stepping onto the sales floor of a car dealership – with confidence and clear purchasing goals.
The Body

AnGrY GiRL GEaR, Handmade Pick of the Day

Todays handmade pick of the day is made by the one and only Angry Girl herself!  If you have a lil’ grinch lover on your shopping list, this is the PERFECT gift!
Grinch Hoodie Jacket – Junior’s Size Medium – aNGrYGiRL Gear
The Grinch’s face is featured on the back of this jacket that is made from a licensed Dr. Seuss shirt. The hood is lined with green polka dot cotton, a design which is repeated on the sleeves. The hood, cuffs, hem, and kanga pockets are trimmed with green monster fur.
Show the world how you really feel about Christmas 😉
THIS IS A PREMADE, OOAK ITEM, READY TO SHIP.
Size: Medium
Measurements:
Underarm to Underarm: 19.5 inches across unstretched.
Length at Zipper: 20.5 inches
Width at bottom hem: 18.5 inches – The monster fur on the bottom hem DOES NOT HAVE MUCH STRETCH, so watch the measurement carefully.
Check it out online at ETSY
Cruisin' Companions

STEPH

10 Year old German shepherd
Steph was rescued from a situation where she was neglected, but this has not stopped her from wishing for a loving home in which to spend her golden years. 

Steph is a calm dog who loves to be around people. Her handlers recently took her to a Pet Assisted Therapy Visit and described her as phenomenal. She let everyone pet her and gave out kisses. Steph already knows how to sit, and lie down. She loves to play ball and will bring it back as many times as you will throw it. Steph walks great on a leash and seems to get along well with other docile dogs.

If you are a loving family or person who could provide Steph with a loving peaceful adult home where she could spend her golden years, she would be extremely grateful to you. The experience of providing a neglected pooch with the loving family she never had, is unlike anything else you will experience in life. Steph would repay your kindness with unconditional love and friendship. She will even throw in a few of her great kisses if you will let her. If you think you are the family for Steph, she is anxiously awaiting to come home with you. Meet her today at Animal Friends!
The Machine

Cycle Source names Athena “Chickie” Ransom 2010’s Motorcycling Women of the Year

We here at Garage-Girls couldn’t be happier with this years announcement for Cycle Source’s Women of the Year, our good friend Athena “Chickie” Ransom is one hell of an ambassador for women in motorcycling
Kids, Dogs and the elderly is what she says is important to her. You might think that being an attractive girl that builds choppers is enough reason to be cool but the story on Athena is much deeper than that. Athena worked her way up on the hard road as a woman in a mans game and has achieved great things as a builder, but it’s her untiring outreach through charity work that makes her such a special lady. On top of running a full time shop, traveling to appearances as a builder, attending member events as a motor maid, she always leaves room to work with Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, Veterans and Elderly organizations and animal protection agencies. She has gone to the end to promote women in motorcycling including riding along on the motorcycle cannonball this year as a team mechanic for Cris Sommer Simmons. She is the first of the group to stand up when people call for volunteers and generally the last to leave when there is work to be done. It is for all these reasons Cycle Source is proud to announce her as 2010’s Cycle SOurce readers Women of the year.  Way to Go Chickie!!!!