Yes, it’s that time for spring cleaning. When discussing spring cleaning, there are a few things that come to mind that we all easily forget. Each of these chores can easily be completed in less than 15 minutes.
1. Clean or replace those drip pans on your stove. Pull out the bottom drawer and clean underneath as well.
2. Clean out your refrigerator and freezer. Make room for freeze pops, ice creams and those summer treats you love.
3. Wipe down any small appliances you may have (unplug all appliances first). If the microwave smells, boil lemon juice.
4. Clean out your car. Take out that ice scraper and winter survival kit and replace it with an umbrella and picnic blanket.
What are some of your spring cleaning tips we can add?

This morning I was all set on blogging about a new restaurant that my husband I recently tried out, but after a discussion that I had with my bus driver, which turned into a post as my Facebook status, which turned into a rather large discussion under that post. So as much as I would love to share with you the tastey bites I had at the quant little place in Gloucester, I’m gonna save it for another time…The new subject is more important.

Bully. How many of you, at some point in time in your life, have come across the path of a bully? I know that I sure have. When I was talking to my bus driver today, he was mentioning a group of band kids that take the bus every Monday. There is one teen that was being picked on by 3 other teens. My bus driver told them to knock it off, and now has the one teen stay up the front of the bus with him, where he can keep an eye on him and the others, and he can also talk with him, as this boy seems to not have a friend in the world. He is struggling with the fact that his father is very ill and in the hospital, and then he has to go to school and deal with these kids picking on him? And their reason for picking on him? His brain. He is a very inteligent kid, and I guess they feel better about themselves by doing this.

I went on line and mentioned some of my stories of being bullied as a teen regarding my weight. I was a size 12/14, you know, the size of the beautiful Marilyn Monroe… I had developed earlier than many of the other girls, and was bullied, made fun of, picked on, because of this. One such story… I just got these beautiful new shoes. Pointy toe velvet heels. I was so excited about these. I wore them to school, and on the first day I had them on, one of the boys asked me if I was afraid that my heels would snap under the pressure of all my weight… It didn’t stop there. I was constantly bullied by the same group of boys, who, when each boy was alone, they were sweet as pie to me, but when they were together, they were toxic. Another time I was told by one of my “friends” that they would take me to their school’s prom if I lost weight…

It was a rough few years, and I struggled with my self worth for a long time. Funny, I shared these stories on my Facebook today and was told by a few people that I was the person in school they WANTED to be friends with! That they never knew this about me, because I was always so kind and happy. I guess I put on a good face in the cloud of the circumstance. I always tried to make others feel comfortable, safe, and wanted. Am I perfect? Absolutely not.

My conversation on line brought out many friends and family telling their stories of how they, or someone they know was bullied. One friend told me that he was tortured by kids because they took his last name and twisted it to make fun of his sexuality. Another who said her child was told by another child they were going to beat him until he was dead. And yet another said her daughter was made fun of because of the color of her skin, and she is only about 6 or 7 years old..

Sadly, it is not just children who bully other children. It starts when adults bully children, they learn it somewhere. And it can spill over into adulthood. There are things about ourselves we can not change. And even if we can change some of them, that is something WE must make the choice to do. One of my favorite quotes in all the world comes from one of the most unique, excentric people of all time, drag-queen Ru Paul. She says, “What other people think of you is NONE of your business.” And it’s true! But it does hurt sometimes when they put you face to face with their own hurts and angers.

So let’s take those steps to stop bullying. Stick up for those who other wise can’t or won’t do it for themselves. Be-friend the underdog. Listen. And most importantly, watch what you say. You may think you are saying something in good fun, while the person you are saying it to is struggling.

And to those who bullied me, I forgive you. If not, your hatred would eat me up as it has eaten you.

Now that it’s starting to get warmer and stay lighter, longer it’s the perfect time to get out and get active! Yankee Magazine is my favorite magazine to read, especially in the summer. In reading through it this month I came across their list for the best outdoor activities to do in Massachusetts. I couldn’t help but share with everyone. Click this link to check out more!

http://www.yankeemagazine.com/issues/2012-05/travel/best-massachusetts-2012/ma-outdoor-activities-2012

Kim Kojak’s
BEER RITA’S

1 8oz. Can Frozen Limeade or to taste
1 Can 7-up or fill empty can of limeade
1 Corona Beer
Tequila – Fill empty can of limeade
Salt
Ice

Add frozen limeade, 7-up, Corona, and Tequila into a large pitcher and mix thoroughly until well blended. Serve over ice. These are soooo good 🙂 Thanks Kim!

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<img src=”{filedir_2}gua.jpg” alt=”” height=”140″ width=”140″ />Simple Guacamole

This simple and delicious recipe for guacamole will liven up any burrito and also makes a zesty appetizer. This guacamole recipe will serve a party of 8-10.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
• 4 avocado
• 1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
• 1/4 cup onion, peeled and diced
• 1 serrano chile, seeded and diced (you can reduce this or eliminate it to adjust the heat level)
• 1/4 cup crema (or sour cream)
• 1/8 cup cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoons lime juice
• salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Mash 2 of the avocado with the back of a fork or other mashing utensil. Add in the serrano, onion and cilantro. Fold in crema and lime juice. Add salt and pepper to taste. Dice the remaining avocado into 1/4 – 1/2 inch cubes. Fold the diced avocado and tomato into the mashed avocado mixture. Serve immediately.

Maine has some of the best outdoor summer activities in all of New England. Since the summer is so short we pack each weekend full of awesomely fun stuff. However given the state of the economy we can’t always spend a lot of money. It’s a good thing fun doesn’t always have to cost a bundle. Here are a few things to do this summer that are free or nearly free.

Acadia National Park is located in Bar Harbor Maine. There you can hike granite mountains, bike through some amazing trails and take in the natural beauty of Maine’s rocky coast. Plan a weekend getaway for almost nothing. There is a nominal park entrance fee of $20.00 and a camp site is only $20.00 per night. Plus nearly 80% of all fees go directly to maintaining the park. While you are there you can participate in a Ranger-led walk and learn about the local ecosystem, drive the 20 mile loop for supurb views of the coast, bike some of the 45 miles of carriage roads, or hike through over 120 miles of historic trails. Check out their website for details. http://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/index.htm

One of the most fun group adventures I have taken is a canoe trip down the Saco River. It’s almost like a real life lazy river. With the bright July sun shining down, a slow moving current taking you down stream, and precarious looking rope swings, it’s Maine’s original water park. Kids are splashing in the shallow waters along the shore, and strangers stopping to have lunch on the same beach become quick friends. There are a few canoe rental places but the one we always go with is Saco River Canoe and Kayak. You start your morning by parking at the end location, they pick you up and bring to the start of your trip load your canoes into the water and wish you luck. There are several trips you can choose from based on how long you want to paddle. And at about 45.00 for a rental it is certainly cheaper than a water park. For details check them out http://www.sacorivercanoe.com

Perhaps an adventure filled weekend isn’t really your thing, maybe you like to relax on the beach with an umbrella drink in hand. Not to worry Maine can help you out with that too. You can enjoy some beautiful sand sculptures at the Annual Sand Sculpture Contest in Old Orchard Beach. This usually happens July 4th weekend and there are some very cool sculptures to see, plus it is totally free. Then you can walk the beach to the Brunswick and enjoy a drink on their outdoor patio while listening to a great local band.

One totally free thing you can do is walk or bike the Eastern Trail. The Eastern Trail Alliance is part of the East Coast Greenway that goes from Calais Maine to Key West Florida. On any given day rain or shine you will find people running, biking, or just casually strolling along the paths. For a list of trails and activities visit here, http://www.easterntrail.org.

Any way you choose to spend your precious few sun filled weekends is up to you. Just make sure that you have a great time because won’t last forever!

Well, thirteen women did just that! They are co-owners of a diamond necklace which they nicknamed Jewelia, in honor of the late chef Julia Child. My book group read their book, “The Necklace” by Patti Channer. The book tells the story of how wearing the necklace changed their lives, and inspired them to give the “gift” of Jewlia to raise money to support the community.

The book was written in 2009, and these women are continuing to support and inspire fundraising activities all over the world. http://www.womenofjewelia.com/past_events.html

I’d love to meet these wonderful women!

For all the moms out there today, I wish you a very warm and thoughtful day full of the love and appreciation from your daughters and sons. I’m eternally thankful for my mom and try and let her know throughout the year of my appreciation. Because, after all, you don’t need a special day once a year to let your mother know how much you care about them. While you don’t need to let them know every day, just remembering to let them know from time to time is all that’s needed. People just need to know — and hear — they are loved and appreciated.

What special token will you have planned for your mother on this wonderful day?

I was perusing BostonGlobe.com this past weekend, and saw an article all about Grilled Cheese. I LOVE cheese, so naturally I had to follow the link. Come to find out, April is National Grilled Cheese Month. I thought to myself, “wait a second, I thought it was National Organ Donation month – no wait, I think I saw that it was Earth Month?” Turns out, April wears a lot of different hats. Below is a ABC list of what people all across the national celebrate in April. See if you can fill in the blanks!

A – American Cancer Society Month<img src=”{filedir_2}nationalgardenmonth.jpg” alt=”” height=”300″ width=”300″ />
C – Celebrate Diversity Month
D – Donate Life Month
F – Frog Month
G – Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month
H – Humor Month
I – International Guitar Month
J – Jazz Appreciation Month
K – Keep America Beautiful Month
L – Lawn and Garden Month
M – Math Awareness Month
O – Older Americans Month
P – Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month
R – Rosacea Awareness Month
S – Stress Awareness Month
V – Volunteer Month
W – Women’s Health Care Month

During a recent coffee break it occurred to me what the benefits of the 3pm pick me up really are… or if they’re even considered beneficial at all. Growing up I was always told that drinking coffee would stunt my growth, and for some reason my desire to be tall at a young age kept me away from the beverage until high school. During high school and college it was more of a necessity rather than a refreshing drink of choice. I also worked as a barista in college which led to many shaky afternoons after a long morning shift.

Everything in moderation is the word these days, however while reading an article on CNN.com it appears that 6 cups of coffee a day for women can be quite healthy. More than half of the adults in the U.S are habitual coffee drinkers, according to Health.com and over 146 billion cups are consumed in the country each year. While coffee if often linked with insomnia and dehydration it also has many perks.

1. Men who are regular coffee consumers have a lower risk of advanced or lethal prostate cancer.
2. Middle-aged people who drink between 3-5 cups of coffee a day had the lowest risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease late in life, compared to less frequent drinkers.
3. Coffee contains antioxidants, and even though it contains less than fruits and vegetables, in a 2005 study at the University of Scranton coffee was found to be the #1 source of antioxidants in the U.S.
4. The aroma of roasted coffee beans triggers a relaxation response, helping to ease your stress level.

Loads of studies have been conducted regarding the effects and benefits that coffee has on the body. Something to keep in mind however is that “there’s no perfect study out there because they can’t control all the variables. The problem with a human study is everybody’s different.” (Joe A. Vinson, Ph.D.)

While the Doctor may not necessarily order you to consume 6 cups of coffee a day, studies show that it can’t hurt and may even benefit your lifestyle…drink up!

It’s that time of year again! That time of year when you go through your winter clothes, pack them up, and bring up your summer clothes! Time to put away all of your winter decorations and make room for spring and summer!  But that requires work and organizational skills…and sometimes, I just don’t feel up to the task. So today I was browsing in Better Homes and Gardens looking for some inspiration and motivation-and I certainly found it!  Check out their storage personality quiz at bhg.com/storagepersonality! Once you take it, they spit out an organizational checklist to help keep you on task and feeling creative!  Turns out I’m their definition of a “Party Planner” meaning that I’m a collector, I’m easily side tracked, and that I’m always striving to enjoy life!  I think that was their nice way of calling me unorganized!  Try it!  What storage personality are you?