2012 Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans
New Orleans knows music, and NOLA also knows how to put on a major music festival. I can't say enough about how easy everything was with JazzFest 2012, and I expect much of the same from this year's Voodoo Music + Art Experience. This event is primarily a music festival, but visitors can also enjoy local flavors of foods and art as well.
If you're planning on attending this year's Voodoo Fest (which runs from October 26 to October 28, 2012), keep your eyes peeled for wonderful, unique art on display throughout City Park. And get ready to hear some of the best music you've ever heard in your life!One thing I've learned over the years, having attended several New Orleans music festivals (including Voodoo): While it's great to go hear the headliners, sometimes the best experiences are in areas where lesser-known musicians are playing. One key example this year: Gary Clark Jr. This Texas-based guitarist is one of the best in music today, and that's not an understatement, trust me. Clark has played several major festivals in recent years, and the buzz surrounding him continues to increase with each gig. He's playing on Friday, October 26, so try to catch his set if you can.
Hopefully the heat won't be a factor for Voodoo Fest 2012, because I have to say, 100 degree temperatures at JazzFest this year...ugh. I still highly recommend drinking a ton of water before you head to City Park and during the shows. Yes, it's great to enjoy a cold adult beverage, but just be smart about it, OK?
I mentioned art, didn't I? Several artists from all over the world have created designs specifically for Voodoo Fest 2012, so be on the lookout for the unusual and the creative. This goes back to what I said earlier: Try to enjoy the music festivals as a whole. For all the information about this year's Voodoo Fest, you can check the official website. Also: Consider printing out Festival maps and lineups before you leave. Maps are often available, but they aren't always free.
Enjoy this year's Voodoo Festival -- and be sure to report back here on the great time you had. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Turn back the clock with makeup
You know that makeup can help hide your imperfections. Did you also know that using the right makeup and applying it correctly can help you look younger? All you have to do is follow some simple tips.
First, you must use the right foundation. The right foundation is one that contains ingredients that will help increase collagen such as peptides and vitamin C to help fade age spots. You also want to use a moisturizer on your face.
Apply eye liner correctly. This means you shouldn’t apply it all around your eyes. If you do this, you will help to make your eyes look smaller. What you should do is apply eye liner to your top lashes and to the corners of your inner eye area.
Don’t wear dark lipstick. As we age, our lips will lose some of their plumpness. Dark lipstick will emphasize this fact. Go for more neutral and medium shades of lipstick.
Go easy on the blush. Yes, you may look paler and duller now that you are older. However, the solution is not to add hot pink color to your cheeks. The solution is to turn to warm and rosy blush shades and apply them correctly. They should be applied to the apples of one’s cheeks and then blended upward toward their temples. This will help give one color and add a fuller look to their face.
Check the color of your concealer. Is it white looking? If it is, it is the wrong shade. If a concealer is too light it can cause you to look washed out and make your skin look ashy. You concealer should only be a shade lighter than your own skin, no more.
If you follow these simple steps, your makeup will match your skin tone and you will look younger in minutes.
Rumors of upcoming episodes of ‘General Hospital’
It is going to be a big and sad week on “General Hospital” starting on October 22, 2012. The show will begin with the death of Jason. Will we see his body? Will he fall into the harbor? That is something viewers do not know yet.
Viewers do know that the actor, who plays Jason Morgan, Steve Burton, has chosen to leave the show and pursue other things. He also wanted to spend more time with his family. This could mean that the character will stay dead for a while. If the body is not found, the character could show up again. The character could even be played by a new actor. As fans of this show know, if one dies by falling into the harbor, the person may resurface at any given moment.
The rumors do state that those who love Jason will grieve. This grief will push Michael into wanting a more active role in his father’s business. It will also vow Sam into making sure her baby has no role with the mob.
Halloween approaches in Port Charles. Halloween brings Anna two offers for a date. It also prompts a Halloween party on the Haunted Starr. Michael asks Starr to attend the party with him.
Lulu and Dante consider the idea of adopting a child. During this time, Dante’s mother, Olivia, has another vision. This vision is once again about Heather. Will people pay attention to her this time? For some reason, the people around her aren’t taking her visions seriously, even though most of them are coming true.
What will occur on Halloween? Will the truth come about Duke? The truth is that he is truly Duke. Yet, he is hiding many secrets, many evil ones.
Can the television ease your cat?
You have to go to work? You have to run errands. It is certain that there are times that kitty will be alone in the house. Will turning on the television set or the radio help ease kitty’s loneliness? Will the noise help or calm her?
When you are at home watching the television, your cat seems to adore it. Kitty does her dance to certain music. She will watch when she sees someone dance on the television set, when someone is chasing a ball like during a football game or when she sees another animal on the screen.
These are moments when you are sure kitty likes the television. She even seems to adore some of the music you listen to on the radio. These are all reasons why you think she may like to listen to the same things when you are gone from the house. In fact, it seems reasonable to think these sounds would occupy her mind and make her feel less lonely.
Now stop and think about some of the sudden noises that may appear on that television or radio. There are alerts including those timed ones in which both the radio and the television will suddenly begin blaring an alarm for 30 seconds. This is their way to test their emergency system. Sometimes there will be commercials that will show ambulances.
There are gun shots in various programs. These same noises can be heard in some music today. All of this can be noises that may suddenly show up on a television or radio. If you are not there to monitor the sound level, these noises could frighten your cat. These are reasons why the television or radio may not be good things to play while your cat is alone.
Is there an alternative? You could play a CD and place it on repeat. It could be a CD of relaxing sounds or music that you have previously listened to and know is sound safe. You can even upload a CD onto a digital device if this is easier for you to play.
Tennis ball uses
I have been on a kick to craft with items I find within the house. I especially enjoy finding new uses for things, such as nail polish, baby oil, and even tennis balls. Your kids can get involved in this activity, which is a great way to teach children about recycling.
Here are a few things you can do with your next set of tennis balls:
1. Chair and desk protectors. My daughter's old school used to require that eight tennis balls be brought in each year. Turns out you can cut an X pattern in the tennis balls and put them on the ends of chair and desk legs. This prevents noises that distract from the daily lessons and offers protection for the floor from scratches.
2. As a pen holder. Cut one slit in the end of the tennis ball. You can then keep it on your desk to hold pens, pencils, paper clips, toothpicks, or any other small stationary item.
3. A goofy character. My kids just wanted to make use of their markers and turn the tennis balls into funny characters. I say purchase a bottle and let your kids have fun. They can turn the balls into Smurfs or Angry Birds. Whatever makes them happy.
4. As a way to give a financial gift. Have an upcoming birthday to attend? Consider hiding money inside a tennis ball and wrapping it up as a gift. Everyone will laugh when the figure out that you weren't just gifting an old tennis ball.
5. A homemade massager. Place three tennis balls inside an old tube sock. Tie a knot in the sock at the open end to prevent the balls from falling out. Use the item to massage a person's back.
Homemade cucumber salad
I used to only make cucumber salad during the hot summer months however, I recently discovered just how many health benefits cucumbers have. Now I make it all year long. It actually tastes great along side almost anything your having for lunch.
Surprisingly, cucumbers are high in potassium, vitamin C and vitamin K. They also contain magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin A, fiber, vitamin B, calcium and zinc. I love that this vegetable also contains a good amount of water. When I give it to my kids I know that they will not only enjoy the taste, but they'll be getting some much needed nutrition.
To make your own cucumber salad you'll need the following ingredients:
- Cucumbers
- Onions
- Garlic
- Green peppers
- Oil
- Vinegar
- Water
- Oregano
- Parsley
Follow these steps to make the homemade cucumber salad:
Step 1:
Cut up two cucumbers, 1 small onion, 1 small green pepper, and 2 cloves of garlic. Toss them in a salad bowl.
Step 2:
Make your dressing in a separate bowl. Combine ½ cup olive oil, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of water.
Step 3:
Mix in 1 tablespoon of oregano and 1 tablespoon of parsley.
Step 4:
Pour the dressing over the cucumber mixture and toss together.
Step 5:
Cover the salad bowl with plastic wrap and set it in the refrigerator until your ready to serve it to your family.
Tip:
If you don't have time to make your own salad dressing you can use a bottle of store Italian dressing. I do this when I'm in a pinch, although I really prefer making my dressing from scratch.
It's never too early to start homeschooling
I'd like to say that I started my daughter's education when she was only five months old. I don't think homeschooling just includes grades kindergarten through twelfth grade. It begins the second you start educating your children at whatever age that may be.
One of the first things I did with my daughter was purchase a book that only had one object on each page. For example, one page would have a ball on it while the page opposite it had a picture of a puppy dog. I'd show my daughter the pictures one at a time and point to them. Then I'd help her point to them. It wasn't long before she could point to the correct object herself. This was long before she could even verbally form words.
If you are interested in homeschooling your child before he or she enters the designated school age, here are a few things you can do. Introduce items one at a time. It is important that you keep learning simply. Sometimes an educational DVD will help because most children today are visual learners. I use to borrow these types of DVDs from our local library.
Preschool educational programs are also abundant online. Places like Time4Learning and ABC Mouse can entice children to begin learning at a much earlier age. They have engaging characters and are full of colors that kids are drawn to.
Don't forget to use the resources around you to educate your children as well. I loved to take my girls to the local zoo when they were younger to help them learn about animals and even leaves. Seeing the animals in person made it easier for them to understand what they were learning about. Aquariums are great for teaching younger children about aquatic animals.
Woman says "Save deer: Move deer crossing signs off the highway!"
A woman recently called into a local North Dakota radio station with a serious complaint. Having experienced three car accidents involving deer which appeared right after she passed a Deer Crossing sign, she felt that these signs should be moved off the highway. Later she adds that deer should be urged to cross in safer areas with lower traffic, like school zones.
Find your next great deal at Knoji
This past week I discovered a website that allows users to post all of the great deals they find on the web. This may include stores that are currently offering free shipping to their customers, or stores that have a limited promotional discount. Some deals are small, while others are unbelievable. All are verified before they are allowed to make their appearance on the site.
The website is called Knoji and it offers more than just a slew full of excellent deals that are bound to save you a boat load of money. It also offers users a chance to share any deals they discover while browsing the web. When these deals are posted, other users can take advantage of them. When that happens, the user who posted the deal earns money. How awesome is it that you can make money while helping other individuals save money.
Here are a few of the great deals you can find on the website right now, but keep in mind that new discounts are posted daily: 15 percent off a night's stay at the Red Roof Inn, 50 percent off at Target, save $7 off a Yves Rocher order of $30, save $10 off orders over $69 at Oriental Trading Post, 20 percent off your entire purchase at Bath & Body Works and get $15 off your first order of glasses at GlassesUSA.
Knoji also has other features, such as a forum for keeping up with the latest deals both on the web and in stores, coupons you can print out and reviews of online stores. I can spend an entire day on this site and not get bored.
Free car shaped soap
One staple that no house can do without is soap. It is one of my favorite items to purchase because there is almost always a coupon out for name brand soaps that allows me to stock up on it without paying full price. Recently, I discovered that Zest, one of the better smelling soaps on the market, is giving away a free bar of soap this week.
Zest is calling their giveaway the Zest Bathvroom Giveaway. This is because the bar of soap they are giving away is in the shape of a car. This may be just what you need to get your reluctant sons to take a bath. Of course, the men in your house may like it just as much.This is how the Zest soap giveaway works. You need to head to their Facebook page and click the “like” button. Do this at noon because the first 200 people each day at noon Eastern Time are going to be the ones to receive the free special edition forms of soap.
Once you get to the form, you'll need to fill out first name, e-mail address and zip code. Then Zest has a secret question that you must answer, but don't worry because it is very easy. There are two boxes that you can either check or leave unchecked.
I leave them unchecked so that I don't receive any extra e-mails, but if you enjoy the products Zest manufactures then you may want to check the boxes. Finally, you'll need to type in the special words in the box so that the company knows you are human and not a robot.