Tzatziki is one of my all time favorite dips. I love making it because of how quick it is to throw together for any occasion! It is a crowd pleaser because of its healthy refreshing taste. Not to mention it requires very few ingredients making it very inexpensive to make.

Tzatziki Sauce
2 cups plain Greek yogurt
1 cup diced seedless cucumber
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
Salt and pepper, to taste

1. In a medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, and dill. Stir until well combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Always best to chill before stirring! (I usually do 1-2 days)
Makes about 3 cups
Tzatziki goes beautifully with fresh vegetables, pita bread, crackers, falafel, meat/fish, or gyros. I love pairing the tzatziki with homemade pita chips or tortilla chips. The next time you have a party or cook-out to go to bring this homemade tzatziki with you. It will most definitely be a hit and a cheap one at that!!

Last year, the number of smartphones sold exceeded the number of personal computer’s (PC’s) sold! WOW. Mobile is here to stay. Currently there are two giants in the smartphone sales war – Apple and Android. Which one do you have? Personally I’m an Apple Fangirl. Some of the reasons for mobile’s success is that you can do just about everything on your smartphone that you can do on your PC – and be mobile while doing it!

Smartphone users seem to do everything on their phone from retail shopping, listening to Pandora music, checking in on Facebook as well as playing games. <a href=”http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/draw-something-free/id488628250?mt=8″>Draw Something</a> anyone? This is one of my favorite iPad/iPhone game apps. Speaking of Draw Something and Apple apps, the use of apps continues to grow exponentially. In fact, to put it in context – it took AOL 9 years to get 1 million users, it took Facebook 9 months and it took Draw Something 9 days to reach the 1 millon user mark!!!

Global Internet users will double in the next few years and most will be mobile. There is a mobile revolution. For more interesting statistics on Smartphone use and mobile growth, check out Business Insiders recent presentation on <a href=”http://www.businessinsider.com/the-future-of-mobile-deck-2012-3?op=1″>”The Future of Mobile”</a> Now back to my most recent Draw Something game! 😉

Brownies are my go to dessert. I love them. I always have a box in the house for when a chocolate craving hits and you just need something good. But brownies can be more than just chocolate in a pan. They allow you a lot of creativity and you can dress them up in any number of ways. They are the little black dress of desserts. You can dress it up, or dress it down or wear it to three different weddings, just change the accessories!

Here are some great brownies variations that you can simply add to your basic brownie mix, either in the last 10 minutes of cooking or immediately after you pull them out of the oven, and you have a whole new dessert!

•Andes Mints! Break them up and sprinkle them across the top of the brownies 2-3 minutes, before, or immediately after you pull them out of the oven. They make great swirls and then you have chocolate mint brownies
•Peanut Butter! Add a dollop or eight to the top of your brownies before you throw them in the oven. It cooks right in and tastes fabulous!
•Jam! Pick your favorite flavor – personally, I love raspberry. Again, add spoonfuls to the top of your brownies. If you want it to stand out more, add it later in the cooking process.
•Candy! Add mini marshmallows, or chocolate chips, or M&M’s. Or Rolos, or cherries, or Heath bars or coconut. Sprinkle them on top near the end of the cooking time, press them in to the batter and you will have some fancy looking brownies. Or get really creative and add graham cracker chunks and marshmallows for a brownie S’more!

So remember, get creative and have fun because it is practically impossible to mess up brownies. I hope you enjoy!

This past weekend I was visiting the Big Apple and amongst other things this great city has to offer, I took notice to all of the Graffiti painted every where. As I was taking pictures of all of the grafiti on the side of buildings, subways, street signs I couldnt help but wonder why the city and business owners haven’t painted over any of the grafiti. I always thought of the art form as vandalism, promoting local gangs marking their territory. After talking with some local New Yorkers It opened my eyes to a whole new view of the art of  Grafiti.  It did orginate in the United States back in the 60s as a way for gangs to mark their territory, as young artist started catching on it eventually turned into an art of self expression. Artists started tagging their nicknames around the city, it became an underground battle between writers to become what the graffiti world calls graffiti “masters”. In the early 70s to become known as a master, it was all about quantity which eventually turned in to quality. Ultimaley writers were creating masterpieces of art all over the city. Hugo Martinez, a sociology major at City College, realized the legitimacy that these street artists could achieve. Hugo later founded the UGA, the United Graffiti Artists, which was the first effort to get graffiti into art galleries. Hugo represented some of NYC’s greatest graffiti artists; names like Phase2, Flint 707, and Snake found their way into legit art galleries all over the world. City officials are not so pleased with the art and still to this day have created laws and policies trying to rid graffiti.  There will never be enough policy to completely get rid of graffiti entirely. As cities come up with newer and better ways to combat graffiti, writers are finding ways of getting around it.  After talking with a few store owners in during my trip to New York, I found out that more and more store owners are actually paying graffiti writers to paint their buildings. I can say some of the pieces that I came across while I was visiting were extremly detailed and very expressive. I now recognize graffiti in an art sense rather than an act of vandalism. Although not all New Yorkers condone the graffiti, It gives the city character.

You’ve got to click <a href=”http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/south/12007594149745/boy-gives-family-of-fallen-soldier-a-trip-to-disney-world/”>this</a> link and read about Brendan Haas. It’s not too long and it won’t take up too much of your time. In a world where everyone around you seems to have their face buried in a smartphone and is oblivious to the fact that there are other actual people around them, this story made me smile like a fool – and I think we could all learn a little something from it. We might not all be able to send a family on a dream vacation… but we can do little things for each other. Hold the door. Let the person with one item cut in front of you at the grocery store checkout. Say please – <em>and</em> thank you. There’s so much more, but you get the idea. Brendan Haas started early, but it’s never too late to start putting others before yourself.

Are you addicted to the Internet? Yeah, I know I am… I always have been, ever since we got our first computer, you know, dial up, back in the stone age, the 90’s. It was nuts. Us kids got maybe an hour on it a day, couldn’t use the phone when someone was on the Internet. Do you remember when you would be on the Internet and someone would pick up the phone and ruin your connection, which would case a fit because you just lost the 47 instant messages you had going on? I had many “virtual” pen pals from around the world. I even met my husband on a random Yahoo Boston chat room. (remember those??) Oh… I guess there was a reason my brother used to call me Miss Clickity Clack and her Imaginary Friends…

When I was a teen, I always had pen pals. Yes, we wrote old fashion snail mail letters, send packages, and every now and then would call each other. I adored all of my pen pals. Once the Internet came along, the anticipation of waiting for a snail mail letter, or receiving a package to come that you weren’t expecting, dwindled. Makes me a little sad. I have joined a few groups on Facebook (mainly Disney ones of course) and we have tried to bring new life to snail mail! We do monthly birthday cards, and also have a few gift exchanges throughout the year. And let me tell you, there is still NOTHING like getting a hand written card in the mail. Well, for me that is.

I try to catch myself though. I’ll say I’m going to bed to read. Next thing I know I’m on my iPad checking my Facebook messages, or on my phone checking in to some random app, saying Hey, I’m here! Or showing someone a quick video. I mean, here I am right now, blog!

My husband is a computer gamer, so sometimes I tell him I loose him to that, but there I am, sitting there chatting with someone on my iPad.

Where am I going with this blog? I’m not to sure. I don’t know that I really want the Facebooking, blog, pinning, tweeting, googleing to stop. I guess I’m just here to say, “Hi, my name is Miss Clickity Clack… and I’m an Internet addict.”

So I have lived in Peabody now for about 6 years and I drive past this lovely little place every day. Well I decided to finally stop in for dinner. I am so glad I did! It was great. I got the shrimp fra diavolo. The homemade fettuccine in this dish was scrumptious and perfectly cooked. I paired it with a glass of chianti that was qually delicious. If you are ever in Peabody, MA you need to stop in at this lovely little gem. You can visit their website at petrillosrestaurant.com

Camping is a great way to enjoy time outdoors with family and friends. It is an activity that my family and I really enjoy! If anyone is new to camping, there are many things that you may not think of pertaining to safety. This article will ensure you are well prepared for your trip as it offers many health and safety tips.
First and foremost, you want to be sure your vaccinations are up-to-date. Recommended vaccines are tetanus, pertussis, meningitis, and/or hepatitis A. The list is dependent on your medical history and destination.

Next, be sure to prepare and safely pack your food. Pack foods in tight, waterproof bags or containers and keep them in an insulated cooler. Wash hands and surfaces often and use hand sanitizer if water is not available. Separate raw foods from uncooked foods. Cook foods to proper temperature and chill foods promptly.

If you build a campfire, be sure to do so safely. Build or use a campfire pit away from overhanging tree branches. Keep a bucket of water and shovel nearby. Never leave a fire unattended and be sure it is completely extinguished before you leave.
Protect yourself against carbon monoxide poisoning. Never use fuel-burning equipment such as gas stoves, heaters, lanterns, and charcoal grills inside a tent, camper, or other enclosed shelter.

Avoid touching, feeding, or getting near wild animals as they can carry diseases. Keep foods stored in sealed containers and out of reach. Make sure the family pets are vaccinated and watch them closely to keep them away from wild animals. Also check your pets for ticks and be sure they have plenty of water, food, and shelter.

To help fight against bug bites, be sure to apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothes and exposed skin. Apply the insect repellent permethrin to clothes to help keep ticks from attaching to them. Check for ticks daily and remove them promptly. Wear long sleeves, pants and other light-colored clothing to help prevent and spot ticks more easily

Protect yourself from the sun by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen and lipscreen with at least SPF 15. Seek shade when the sun’s rays are strongest and cover up with clothing, a wide- brimmed hat, and sunglasses.
Avoid water-related illness and injury. Never swim alone. If you plan to ride in a boat, canoe, or other water vehicle, be sure to wear a life jacket . Avoid alcohol when taking part in water related activities.

Be prepared! Always expect the unexpected. Check the weather report, learn about the security of your camp location and tell family and friends of your plans. Be sure to bring along a supply kit that includes a first aid kit, compass or GPS, map, flashlight, blankets, batteries and medications.

For more helpful information, go to www.cdc.gov/family/camping

Here’s an idea for a quick and easy summer dinner or a dish to bring to a cook-out this Memorial Day weekend….Caprese Salad!! Can you say, YUM??? So light, so easy and so refreshing! This won’t fill you up or make you feel heavy, just satisfied in a healthy, delicious way.

This dish can be used as a main dish with fresh bread, a side dish with beef, or as an appetizer, any way you serve it, it is delicious.

What’s better is you can grow half of the ingredients right in your own back yard this summer or pick up the tomatoes and basil at your local farmer’s market. The key to this dish is fresh, fresh, fresh and in season. Fresh red & juicy local tomatoes (not too soft), fragrant green basil, moist fresh mozzarella cheese, and extra virgin olive oil. That simple.

Layer alternating slices of the tomatoes and mozzarella on a platter, placing a basil leaf between each layer or cut up the basil and sprinkle over the top. Drizzle olive oil on top of the salad. You can use salt and pepper to taste, if you would like, but you may find you don’t need it at all.

It’s so fresh, so simple, and so flavorful. Enjoy!!

Summer is here, and we are all preparing for the gorgeous beach weather that is right around the corner! As usual, everyone is looking for the best diet plan to join, exercise routines, and the hottest trends to get that “bod” everyone hopes for. Getting fit, feeling good, and enjoying the sun is always on our summer agenda, but do we ever consider the possible damage we are doing to our bodies exposing our skin to such strong UVA and UVB rays? So what is the best way to get that great summer glow before the season arrives, while protecting it in the summer light? Here are some easy to do tips on ways to assure your skin to reflect the best you while assuring it is protected!
-Choosing Sunscreen: Always be sure to use 15 SPF(Sun Protection Factor). Waterproof is always recommended. Sunscreen does not only protect you from a sun burn, but slows the aging process down of your skin, and prevents other skin damages such as skin cancer from growing.
-Application Tips: Apply a generous amount of sunscreen to any exposed skin a half hour prior to sun exposure. To assure maximum protection, be sure to be generous in your application! Re-apply every 2 hours; more frequently if exposed to water.
-Lip Balm: Many forget about their lips and the potential for them to also suffer from the sun exposure. Be sure to apply lip balm with at least an SPF of 15 or higher. This will also prevent burning and chapping.
-Seek Cover: It is also a good idea to have protective clothing with you as well, and to seek shade as much as possible. The less exposure, the better!
-Environmental Factors: Mid day hours,typically 12-3, are considered to be the most dangerous times for sun exposure! Higher and lower altitudes could also effect the amount of damage one may experience with out the proper protection.

Did You Know!?- Sunscreen VS. Sunblock: Biggest difference? Sunscreen absorbs UV rays before they damage your skin, where as Sunblock physically blocks UV rays from ever reaching your skin!