IT'S TUESDAY...
TAKING THIS WEEK ONE STEP AT A TIME :)
HOPE YOUR WEEK IS GOING WELL! THERE ARE SOME PRIZES TO WIN TODAY!!! CHECK IT OUT BELOW AND CHECK OUT THE FUN LIFESTYLE NEWS AND HOLLYWOOD DIRT TOO! BTW, I'VE POSTED SOME FUN HALLOWEEN RECIPE IDEAS BELOW ..... IT IS TOMORROW AFTER ALL!
PRIZES:
TICKETS TO THE FRESNO FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT SHOW!
VIP Admissions for FOUR. Valid November 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. Fresno Fairgrounds. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
LISTEN DURING THE SOFT ROCK CAFE @ NOON FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!
LIFESTYLE FUN:
This name won't fit on a license to kill.
A British cocktail waitress legally changed her name to one featuring the monikers of 14 different Bond girls, British media reported.
The former Emma-Louise Hodges, 28, is now "Miss Pussy Galore Honey Ryder Solitaire Plenty O'Toole May Day Xenia Onatopp Holly Goodhead Tiffany Case Kissy Suzuki Mary Goodnight Jinx Johnson Octopussy Domino Moneypenny".
"I've always thought how great it would be to be a Bond girl, and now I am," the comely brunette, who said she'll go by "Miss Moneypenny" for short, told London's The Sun.
PARENTS - SHOULD YOU INVESTIGATE YOUR NANNY?
LiveJournal.com
After lots of press of nannies going off the deep end and committing horrible crimes against children, professionals urge you to dig deeper.....
Don’t skimp on background checks when it comes to your children’s safety, urges Thomas Ruskin, President of CMP protective and investigative group.
Ruskin’s firm specializes in investigating new employees — including nannies.
His tips:1. Hire a professional private investigator
Skip Internet deals boasting $99 background checks. “What they do is check databases and not actually criminal histories,” Ruskin said. Use a firm that can look up criminal records, DMV records, verify someone’s social security number and check out immigration history if they’re from outside the country.
2. Don’t rely on references
Nannies won’t give you the number of someone they don’t want you to call. “You have to be sort of moronic to give a reference that’s going to [be negative],” Ruskin said.
3. Consider a Nanny Cam
The hidden cameras are becoming more common for parents who want to keep an eye on their kids — and their nannies — from their work computers.
4. Tell your nanny you’re running a background check
Oftentimes, potential nannies back out before they’re hired when they learn you’re running a check — consider this a red flag, Ruskin said.
5. Consider a quality control check
It’s extreme, but a private investigator will follow your nanny or potential nanny to see exactly what he or she is doing with your children. Keep in mind, while a routine criminal background check costs about $100 and takes less than a day, this type of investigation can run up to $2500 and requires more time.
6. Work with a nanny agency
Agencies usually run their own background checks, but be sure to get an actual copy of the report. Nannies with something to hide typically avoid agencies.
HOLLYWOOD DIRT:
NASHVILLE, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Country music star Taylor Swift is to serve as co-host of the "Grammy Nominations Concert Live!" alongside rapper-actor LL Cool J, CBS said.
Luke Bryan has been added to the lineup of performers for the 1-hour special, joining previously announced act Maroon 5.
The show, which will feature the announcement of nominations in several categories as well as performances by past Grammy Award winners and/or nominees, will take place live for the first time at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 5.
AFP PHOTO/Thorvaldur Orn Kristmunds
Could her highness Lady Gaga be tickled by something as earthly as having a fern named after her?
Scientists in Costa Rica hope so.
A new species of the plant was identified recently on a slope -- one, oddly, called the Hill of Death -- south of the capital San Jose.
And researchers who found it, from Duke University decided to name it Gaga Germanotta, the newspaper La Nacion reported Thursday. The second part's a tribute to the pop singer's real name, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.
Lady Gaga is to perform in Costa Rica November 3 -- her first concert in Central America -- and the plant-naming is supposed to be a way to welcome her.
Kathleen Pryer, part of the fern research team, said the singer is being honored for her commitment to "equality, respect for diversity and personal freedom."
FUN HALLOWEEN RECIPES:
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Ingredients
- Two 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar
- 3 tablespoons minced onions
- 2 tablespoons prepared salsa (your favorite kind will do)
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon minced jalapeno (without seeds, unless you want it spicy, then include the seeds)
- 12 Doritos, original flavor, crushed
- 1 nice-looking stem of a bell pepper (reserve the pepper for another use)
- Black bean chips, crackers or crudite, for serving
Directions
Before serving, roll the cheese ball in the crushed Doritos. Arrange the cheese ball on a plate, and press the bell pepper stem into the top - it should like a mini pumpkin stem.
You can serve the pumpkin as-is, or break off pieces of black bean chips to form a Jack-o'-lantern face. The chip pieces should adhere to the pumpkin cheese ball if you gently press them onto it, but you can also stick them on using a very small dab of the cheese ball mixture on the back of the black bean chip features; this will act like glue. Serve the cheese ball with black bean chips, crackers or crudites.
One look at the mound of green frosting and candy décor on these witch cupcakes and you’ll likely think, "I'll eat you, my pretty!"
MY FAVE!!!
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 5 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup brewed espresso, at room temperature
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 2 large eggs whites, at room temperature
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup whole natural almonds, lightly toasted and chopped reserving, 16 whole almonds
- 3 ounces dark chocolate
- Two 7-ounce bags sweetened coconut
- Special equipment: 2 canoe or Twinkie pans
Directions
Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the sugar and butter until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly add the eggs and vanilla extract. Combine the buttermilk and espresso. Alternate adding the dry and wet ingredients. Start and end with the dry. Remove the bowl from the mixer and scrape down the mixture into the pans, filling the pans to just over half. Place the pans in the oven and bake, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack to room temperature, when they can be popped out of the molds.
In a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, begin making the fluff by whipping the corn syrup and egg whites on medium speed, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to high and whip until the eggs are fluffy and firm, an additional 3 to 4 minutes. To the bowl add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla and whip on low speed until fully incorporated, about 1 minute. Remove the bowl from the mixer and with a spatula fold in the chopped almonds. Set aside.
Melt the chocolate and keep warm. Place the coconut in a small bowl. Set aside. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of the marshmallow fluff on top of the baked Twinkie. With a small offset spatula, evenly coat each Twinkie. Generously press the coconut all over the Twinkie except for the bottom. Really pack on as much as will stick. Place the finished Twinkies on a tray. Set aside and keep at room temperature.
Dip the reserved whole toasted almonds in the warm melted chocolate, and with a fork, lift the nuts allowing the excess chocolate to drip back in the bowl. Place the chocolate dipped almonds on a lined baking pan. Chill until firm and can be lifted off the paper, 15 to 20 minutes.
Place one almond on top of each Twinkie. Heaven!
