Thursday, June 30, 2011

Monte Carlo - The Must See Summer Movie!!!


This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Monte Carlo for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.


One of the best things about summer is all of the movies that get released during the summer blockbuster movie season and this summer seems to have a lot of great movies hitting theaters. One of the movies I am most excited to see is the new Monte Carlo movie staring the actress Selena Gomez which hits theaters tomorrow so I plan on going out and seeing it right away!


This movie is about 3 young women and one of them accidentally inherits some money. They plan a dream vacation to Paris where they go on a fabulous adventure together and they discover who they really are. This movie has a great story line and is classified as a romantic comedy. You can check out the for more information. I think once you see the movie's trailer you will want to add it to your movie MUST SEE list too!


If you are looking to purchase your tickets before the movie's release date you can check out Fandango because they will be selling tickets starting on June 29th, 2011. I would like to invite you to check out the Monte Carlo movies fan page over on Facebook and make sure you like/follow them over there so you are kept up-to-date about all of the movie's news. In addition, you will be able to interact with all of the movie's fans too!


So, grab a few of your girlfriend's and plan a girls night out and go see the new movie called Monte Carlo! The summer blockbuster movie season is finally here and I am looking forward to seeing this movie as soon as it hits theaters on July 1st!


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Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated by the advertiser to write this post. We were provided with the subject matter to write about but our thoughts, opinions and words are 100% our own. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy for additional information. All information contained on this blog is copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Finally Found Some Time To Craft This Weekend!

I have been so busy with work the past few weeks that I haven't had much time to craft so this weekend I was determined to take some time off of work and to get into my scrapbooking room. I was able to get 4 complete scrapbook layouts finished!

The layout above I did earlier today and I tried a new technique which was using white puffy paint to outline that flower and then I loaded on a slew of glitter. Wow...that flower show has some glittery bling power now...too bad that doesn't show up in the photo.

The pictures our of my 2 year old grand daughter but were taken when she was just 1 month old. I can't believe how time flies! I have been making a scrapbook for her and it is just about full so I will be giving the first scrapbook to her soon. I plan on making many scrapbooks for her over her lifetime as I love capturing these moments and preserving them for future generations.

Finally...I got back into my scrapbooking room and it felt great!

Shelly

8 Ways You Can Volunteer And Get Involved In Your Community

When it comes to getting involved in your local community and doing some volunteer work, there are many things that you can do. I feel it's important to figure out how much time you can donate and what really interests you, before signing up for the volunteer work.

Here are 8 ideas you might want to consider.

1. The Local Library - Contact your neighborhood public library and offer to come in and read books to children. Our library is always looking for a few good volunteers.

2. Community Clean Up Days - Twice a year we help to organize a neighborhood clean-up day. Call your local center to see about a program in your area.

3. Meals On Wheels Programs - Does your area have a local Meals On Wheels Program? If so, call in and offer your help. There are thousands of seniors who need hot and healthy meals delivered to them on a daily or weekly basis.

4. Habitat For Humanity - This is a well-known national program that you can get involved in. You don't need to be a professional carpenter, painter or plumber. Call them up and get involved.

5. The American Red Cross and Salvation Army - If you have a local chapter in your area, they are always looking for a few good volunteers to do a variety of tasks.

6. Public Parks and Recreations Department - Do you enjoy spending time outdoors? If so, this would be a great group to get involved in. Contact your local agency and see what is available and where they need some help.

7. Cancer Treatment Centers - If you are handy with a sewing machine and enjoy sewing, contact your local cancer treatment centers or physician's offices who treat cancer patients. You could spend a few afternoons sewing up some chemo caps (hats) and donate them to your local centers. Cancer patients really appreciate them.

8. Local Hospitals - The majority of hospitals across the nation have some type of volunteer program. Hospitals need volunteers to help transport patients around the hospital, to bring deliveries of balloons and flowers to the patient's rooms, deliver the newspaper and other helpful...but small tasks.

As a busy mother and wife, I still enjoy finding the time to get out into my community and doing some volunteer work. I feel it's important to give back and to pay it forward.

Shelly Hill has been volunteering in her local community with various organizations for the past 20 years. Shelly recommends that you find something that interests you and to get involved with a local group once a month. You can visit Shelly online at http://www.workathomebusinessoptions.com/ or you can visit Shelly's recipe blog at http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com/ for some free family-friendly recipes.

Monte Carlo The New Hot Summer Blockbuster Movie



This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Monte Carlo for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.



Now that summer is here I really look forward to seeing all of the hot summer blockbuster movies and the movie that is at the top of my list to see this summer is the new Monte Carlo movie starring the beautiful actress Selena Gomez.



The Monte Carlo movie hits local theaters on Friday, July 1st, 2011 and I plan on purchasing my tickets to go see the movie from Fandango on June 29th, 2011 when you can purchase early-release tickets. After all...standing in line at our local theater is not one of my favorite things to do so purchase your tickets from Fandango!



This movie is about a girl named Grace (played by Selena Gomez), her step-sister and her best friend. Grace accidentally inherits some money and they go on a dream vacation to Paris, France for an adventure. While they are having fun on their dream vacation they discover who they really are. You can check out the to get a good idea of what the movie is really about. I am really excited to go out and see it because I love romantic comedies!



Please follow the Monte Carlo Facebook fan page so you can be kept up to date on the movie's news, happenings and interact with the movie's fans! In my opinion, this is one of the MUST SEE movies of the summer! So grab a few friends and plan a night out and go and see it!



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Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated by the advertiser to write this post. We were provided with the subject matter to write about but our thoughts, opinions and words are 100% our own. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy for additional information. All information contained on this blog is copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Plan A Girl's Night Out With Your Girlfriends To See The New Monte Carlo Movie!


This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Monte Carlo for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.


I am really excited about the new Monte Carlo movie that starts the beautiful Selena Gomez that is hitting theaters on Friday, July 1st, 2011 because I absolutely love romantic comedies and this one looks interesting and fun...a perfect movie for a girl's night out!


I spent some time earlier today watching the and I must admit, I was laughing and enjoying the trailer so much that I am really excited about going out to see this movie with my friends Renee, Jenelle and Kathy once it hits our local theaters! Every summer we plan a girl's night out during the months of June, July and August so this is the perfect movie for us to enjoy.


What is super nice is that we don't have to stand in any lines to purchase our tickets because starting on June 29th, 2011 we can purchase early-release tickets from Fandango which is just fabulous since I hate standing in long lines at our theaters.


I would like to invite you to check out Monte Carlo over on Facebook and make sure you follow/like them over there so you can be kept up to date with all of the Monte Carlo movie news! Grab your girlfriend's and plan a girl's night out and go out and see the fabulous movie called Monte Carlo.


Visit Sponsor's Site



Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated by the advertiser to write this post. We were provided with the subject matter to write about but our thoughts, opinions and words are 100% our own. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy for additional information. All information contained on this blog is copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Six Natural Nutrients That Can Reduce PMS Symptoms

Why Are Women Given Anti-Depressants To Relieve PMS?

Six Natural Nutrients That Can Reduce PMS Symptoms

Nearly 10 years ago, the FDA approved the anti-depressant prescription drug Zoloft for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and one expert believes that’s 10 years too long, especially when natural alternatives have been proven to reduce PMS symptoms without drugs.

“It seems almost alien to me why someone would take a drug to relieve PMS when the drug’s list of potential side effects – drowsiness, nausea, headache, loss of appetite, anxiety, panic attacks, hostility, aggressiveness, restlessness and depression – are almost an identical match for the symptoms of the ailment they’re trying to relieve,” said Michael Mooney, Director of Research and Education at natural health company SuperNutrition Life Extension Research (http://www.supernutritionusa.com/).

“There is a solid base of research that has shown that women can reduce PMS without taking a prescription drug. In fact, there are six simple, safe nutrients the body uses all the time that have been shown to reduce PMS discomfort – but they need to be taken in adequate potencies. These nutrients don’t have a list of side effects that sound worse than the PMS itself.”

Mooney cited six natural nutrients that have been shown to relieve PMS:

· Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) – According to a study of 630 women published in the British Journal of Clinical Practice, 100 mg to 150 mg of supplemental vitamin B6 reduced PMS in about 66 percent of the women, while 160 mg to 200 mg of vitamin B6 reduced PMS in about 79 percent of the women.

· Vitamin D – The Archives of Internal Medicine published a study in 2005 which concluded that women with a higher median vitamin D intake of 706 IU per day had significantly less (or no) PMS than subjects who got a median of the least amount of vitamin D, 112 IU per day. So it’s not just about getting some vitamin D, but rather getting a potent dose.

· Chaste tree berry (Vitex) – This extract has been shown to reduce PMS, based on a randomized placebo-controlled 3-month study of premenstrual syndrome in 170 women (average age 36) which was published in the British Medical Journal. The results showed that 20 mg of chaste berry extract reduced PMS about 28% better than placebo. The women noted significant reductions in irritability, mood disturbances, anger, headache, and breast fullness compared to the placebo group.

· Calcium carbonate – The Journal of General Internal Medicine published the results of a study that concluded that calcium carbonate could reduce pain and water retention before and during a woman’s cycle. This randomized placebo-controlled study of 78 women showed a 58 percent better reduction in PMS with 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate than with placebo during the luteal and menstrual phases of the reproductive cycle.

· Magnesium – Two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies published in the Journal of Women’s Health showed that magnesium at 360 mg per day reduced headaches and pain, and at 200 mg reduced weight gain, fluid retention, swelling of extremities, breast tenderness and abdominal bloating.

· Vitamin E – The Journal of Reproductive Medicine published a study that showed vitamin E reduced 15 categories of PMS symptoms. This randomized, placebo-controlled study confirmed a previous study that showed all major categories of PMS symptoms are improved with a daily supplementation of 400 IU of vitamin E." In all 15 categories of symptoms, vitamin E supplemented women reported 27-42 percent reduction in severity.

“The effects of these nutrients start the first month and generally reach maximum PMS reduction levels by month three,” Mooney added. “Women deserve to share the fruits of modern nutritional science and be informed that they can reduce their PMS discomfort without relying on drugs with all their dangerous side effects, but instead, by using nutrients that are natural to the body in the proven effective potencies.”


About Michael Mooney

Michael Mooney is the Director of Research and Education for SuperNutrition Life Extension Research (http://www.supernutritionusa.com/). He is the author of the optimal health handbook, Built to Survive. He is a scientific advisor for medical researchers and has appeared as a nutritional expert on both radio and TV health-oriented talk shows. He is a nutritional consultant to athletes and nutritional doctors.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Speeding Down The Highway With My New Wheels!

Check out the wee ones new wheels! The wee one got a new car for her second Birthday and she absolutely loves it! That is one hot sport's car that the wee one has and I think it's probably hotter than my car! LOL

The car can be made to "go" by her (there is a gas pedal and brake) but the car can also be made to "go" thanks to the remote control (radio control) that comes with it. She absolutely loves this new car and does pretty good at driving it around herself. It is great for indoor and outdoor use and so far...she hasn't wrecked it yet!
I took these two photos earlier today down at my daughters house when we were down there helping the wee one learn how to drive her new car. Pappy volunteered to teach her to drive when she turns 16 so more power to him since teenagers make me too nervous in the car. Maybe next year for her Birthday we will get her a speed boat!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Delicious Jalapeno Pepper Lemonade Recipe

During the late summer months and early fall months we love to make some homemade lemonade that has been infused with the spicy kick of Jalapeno peppers. We always wait until this time of the season to make it as we grow a garden in our backyard and that is when our Jalapeno peppers are harvested and at their best! Here is how we make our Jalapeno Lemonade.

Ingredients:

6-7 fresh lemons
1 large Jalapeno pepper
2 to 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
cold water
*optional: one additional lemon for garnishing glasses

Directions:

While handling Jalapeno peppers you want to wear a pair of plastic gloves to protect your hands from oil which can burn sensitive skin. Next, wash your Jalapeno under cool running water to remove any debris. Place the pepper on a cutting board and remove it's stem, seeds and membranes. Cut the pepper into thin strips, measuring no more than an 1/8" wide. Next, place 2 1/2 cups of warm water into a 2 quart saucepan along with the Jalapeno pepper strips and granulated sugar. Bring the mixture up to a boil and then turn the heat down to low and simmer for 8-10 minutes until it looks like syrup. Turn off the heat and let it cool to room temperature.

While your syrup is cooling, squeeze the juice from 6-7 large fresh lemons into your beverage pitcher. Once your syrup is cool use a strainer to strain the liquid into your beverage pitcher. Discard the strips of pepper into the trash. Add cold tap water to your pitcher until it's full. Place it into the refrigerator and chill for 3 to 4 hours before serving.

If desired, take an additional lemon and cut it into wedges and use one wedge per glass for garnishing.

Gossiping About Friends or Ex-Friends is NOT Cool!

I think having friendships with other women is an important part of who we are as individuals. A good friend will be there for you through thick and thin and often times that friend will put you before themselves. I know this to be true because I have been Best Friends with my friend Renee since we were both 5 years old and to this day... We are still best friends and see each other every week! Renee has been there for me for the past 38 years and I have been there for her. As I sit here and type this...I really realize how much the two of us have been through together. It is nice knowing that I can depend on her to be there for me and she can depend on me to be there for her.

Over the decades as I have made new friends or lost old friends one thing that has always irked me off was the fact that some women like to sit around and "gossip" about their current friends and/or ex-friends. You know...I really don't care for gossip unless it is good gossip about a friend and the reason I despise gossip so much as I have been the victim of gossip way too many times that I care to count. It is a shame that "other" people usually believe the gossiper instead of going to the person that is being gossiped about and asking them for their side of the story. You know the old saying...There are always two sides to every coin and there is always two sides to the story that is being spread around as gossip.

What I found over the years and as I have matured is that the person who is sitting around spreading the gossip is usually the person who has the "major" issue and not the person he/she is gossiping about.

One thing is for sure...gossip ALWAYS gets back to the person who was being gossiped about and when it gets back to them...it makes them angry and then after the anger wears off they get very hurt.

It is really a shame that some women/men don't have better things to do with their time than to sit around and spread gossip about another person...especially when that gossip is untrue.

Those are my thoughts today! ~ Shelly

Walgreen's Private Label Products are a Good Choice for Saving Money


This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.


120x30_WalgrensTransparentLogoWith the costs of food and products going through the roof, my family is always looking for ways to cut costs and save money. I have found that using private label products like the One Daily For Women High Potency Multivitamin/Multimineral Tablets by Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products are a great value and great quality as well.


I have used the One Daily For Women High Potency Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplement Tablets from Walgreens many times and I am pleased with the performance and with the knowledge that I am supplementing my diet in a positive manner. So many foods these days have a lot more additives and a lot less healthy benefits so supplementing my diet is a great way to make sure that I am doing I am can to stay healthy. Along with proper diet and more greens, using a private label vitamin such as this one is a great choice.


Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products are a great value, allowing families and individuals to save money without sacrificing quality or trust. With the rising cost of health care, saving money on over-the-counter medications and vitamins can really benefit a family’s budget. In addition to being an exceptional value, Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products are 100% guaranteed and are Walgreen's pharmacist recommended. Even though they are a private label brand, most contain the same active ingredients as other national brands. To learn more, you can visit http://www.walgreens.com/walgreensbrand. They also have the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™ that provides health and wellness services.


To celebrate their private label products, several bloggers are holding giveaways on their sites where you can enter to win a Walgreens Gift Card. Come by and you can enter to win. Advertisement


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Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated by the advertiser to write this post. We were provided with the subject matter to write about but our thoughts, opinions and words are 100% our own. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy for additional information. All information contained on this blog is copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Happy 2nd Birthday To The Wee One!

Wow..time flies and I can't believe it's time for another wordless wednesday! (for me...almost wordless). This week I am featuring a photo of my mother who is 63 years old and looks dang good for her age and a photo of my grand daughter who just turned 2 years old in May!

Friday, June 10, 2011

What Are The BRAT and CRAM Gastrointestinal Upset Diets?

* Image Courtesy of FreeImages.com * 

What Are The BRAT and CRAM Gastrointestinal Upset Diets? The BRAT and CRAM gastrointestinal diets are often recommended by physicians for gastroenteritis and/or severe diarrhea.

The BRAT Acronym stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast.

The CRAM Acronym stands for Cereals, Rice and Milk.

When a person is suffering from severe dehydration caused by diarrhea and/or vomiting, it is essential to replace the loss of body fluids. Years ago, doctor's recommended the BRAT diet for several days until the gastroenteritis subsided, but now that diet has been replaced with the CRAM diet because it contains more protein and fat content than the BRAT diet.

Symptoms of dehydration include but are not limited to: dry mouth, lack of urination, dark urine, headache, rapid heart rate, dry skin, skin flushing, fatigue, fever, chills, extreme thirst and muscle spasms.

It is also important to start oral re-hydration therapy as soon as vomiting subsides and the patient can tolerate the intake of fluids. It is highly recommended that the patient start with caffeine-free soft drinks, low acidic juices and soup broths to help replace the fluid loss. These beverages are usually recommended for 24-48 hours.

Here is a suggested list of food and beverages to try:

plain oatmeal
rice cereals
toast
cream of wheat
pudding
gelatins (jello)
chicken or beef broth
gingerale
caffeine-free cola
water
Italian ice's
popsicles (fruit juice or rootbeer flavors)
bananas
plain rice
applesauce
yogurts

If your symptoms persist for more than 24 hours or if they are accompanied by abdominal pain, blood in your emesis, blood in your stools or a fever over 101 degrees, it is time for you to call your Physician or visit your local hospital or health clinic.

Article Written by: Shelly H. It can NOT be reproduced or published without her permission. All rights reserved.

The Nextbook Next3 Touchscreen Tablet Giveaway on One Savvy Mom!

With my birthday coming up at the end of the month I have been researching various tablets as I really want one so that when I am sick or on the road traveling I will be able to do my online work with a great tablet. With that said...I found a really cool giveaway that is being hosted on One Savvy Mom's blog for The Nextbook Next3 Touchscreen Tablet.

I have read her review on this tablet 4 times and I really think this might be the one for me so I have been entering her fabulous giveaway trying to win one! I invite you to check out the One Savvy Mom blog and enter her giveaway too! The giveaway ends on June 16th, 2001 so hurry on over and enter today!

Shelly

Thursday, June 9, 2011

The Wee One's Dora the Explorer Birthday Cake!

Today I wanted to share a photo of the wee one's Birthday cake that a friend of my daughter's made for the wee one's second birthday party that we held last month.

I think she did a fabulous job making this cake...especially since she is just learning how to make children's birthday cakes! The base is two sheet cakes...one vanilla and one chocolate and both were topped in buttercream frosting. On top of that she did the Dora the Explorer design. How cute is that? Totally cute I tell ya!

Happy Birthday to our wee one!!!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

My Thoughts On The Casey Anthony Trial

For the past few years I have been closely following the drama that is Casey Anthony unfold on TV and various media outlets because I am a first-time grandmother to a precious little 2 year old girl.

My daughter is about the same age as Casey Anthony and my grand daughter is about the same age that Caylee Anthony was when she met an unfortunate demise that I believe happened at her mother's hands.

When I first heard that this precious little girl was missing I was sick and I mean physically sick as I just can't imagine not being with my grand daughter nor not seeing her ever again. As this drama unfolded over the months I grew to be really angry at Casey Anthony as everything pointed to her guilt and I felt she was very disrespectful to her parents.

I can remember sitting for hours in front of my TV every evening to watch Jane Mitchell and Nancy Grace on HLN and following the story as it unfolded and every night I would cry and my heart would just break for this little precious girl and her grandparents. What a terrible tragedy for all of them to have to experience. Just terrible! When I watched the jailhouse interviews I would get absolutely "furious" with Casey Anthony who seemed to ONLY be concerned about herself, her needs and her situation while her daughter was "missing!"

Now that the trial has started I watch the coverage every day as well as following Tweeters on Twitter who are in the courtroom and tweeting about the trial. It is a shame that this drama has to continue to go on and people continue to be hurt by a woman who apparently lived in a "different fantasy" world than the rest of us who live in the "real" world.

I have already drawn my conclusions up on this matter and I feel that the woman is guilty and obviously a habitual liar who doesn't know the "truth" about anything even if the "truth" slapped her in the face.

My heart just breaks and aches for George, Cindy and Lee Anthony and everything that they have endured the past few years. Just terrible!!! I do hope the jury finds this woman guilty of killing her child because I haven't seen or heard anything that sounds believable come out of Casey's mouth and she didn't act like a grieving mother at all. blah!!!

Well folks...those are my thoughts for today, hopefully this trial will be over soon so the Anthony family can begin the healing process.

Monday, June 6, 2011

The Wee One Had A Birthday!!! Happy #2 Birthday!

Oh my gosh...I can't believe how quickly time flies! It seems just like yesterday that the wee one was born! A little over 2 years ago our daughter gave birth to our first grandchild...a beautiful previous little baby girl who is the apple of our eyes!

My hubby and I just adore our wee one aka the Grand-Toddler and we spend as much time as we can with her. The end of May marked a special time for all of us as the wee one had a Birthday and turned 2 years old!

We had a large outdoor party and barbecue at one of our local parks and had close to 70 guests in attendance. The weather was beautiful and it was the perfect day for a birthday party!

The party was done in pinks and whites with a Dora theme since Dora happens to be one of her favorite TV shows. The Grand-Toddler had a great time and loved everything she got...espcially if it was Dora theme'd or Princess theme'd!

Happy Birthday to our wee one!

Laughing at the Bachelor is My Favorite!

I appreciate the guest post, Jewel Rodgers

My favorite reality television show in the world has to be The Bachelor. I cant help but love all of the different guys that they find who are willing to get on national television and look for love, along with all of the different women who are also willing to get on and often embarrass themselves. This show is filled with drama, romance, and best of all scandal. Women are so vindictive, and this is why the Bachelor is better than the Bachelorette. The women are always drinking, fighting, and them making complete fools of themselves on every single episode.

With this show yo! u always get those moments where someone does something so silly, you end up feeling embarrassed for them. Its almost like your watching the show with one eye because you can't really believe that they did that. There are so many different cat fights, slip ups, and caddy remark, you don't want to miss a single episode. If for some reason I am not going to be home to make the show I can just record it with my http://www.cabletelevision.net/. I always love seeing how much I want him to pick one person over another at the end, when in reality I don't know either of them. This show is full of laughs!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Bananas: The Healthy Snack Alternative


Why are bananas so good for you?

Bananas are high in potassium and low in sodium making them the ideal healthy fruit. Bananas are great for reducing depression, achieving bone and intestinal health, and for regulating high blood pressure.

How to Purchase Bananas

When shopping for bananas at your local grocery store or farmers market, you will notice that they usually have green or yellow peels. The bananas with green peels are not quite ripe but the bananas with yellow peels are ripe and ready to eat. If you are looking to eat your fruit within 1-3 days, buy the yellow ones. If you are looking to eat your fruit in 3-5 days, then you will want to purchase the green ones.

Storing Bananas
Bananas are fragile and need to be stored properly. If you have purchased your bananas in a cellophane bag over-wrap, you need to remove the wrap as soon as possible. You will want to avoid storing them in the refrigerator, as this helps to speed up the ripening process. I hang my bananas from a wooden banana tree to keep them from getting bruised.

You can easily freeze bananas, as they will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Here are 2 ways that you can freeze them.

1. Freeze them with the peels on and in a zipper close bag.

2. Remove them from their peels and sprinkle them with a little lemon juice to keep them from browning, then place them in a zipper close bag.

You can do a lot with bananas, besides just using them for a healthy snack. Here are 2 of my favorite recipes.

Banana Mango Smoothie
1 c. cubed peeled ripe mango
3/4 c. sliced ripe banana
2/3 c. milk
1 tsp. honey
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine all of the above ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.

Banana Bread
1 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
pinch of salt
1 c. shortening
2 eggs, well beaten
1/2 c. sour milk
3 bananas, mashed

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until blended. Pour mixture into a lightly greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in Pennsylvania who enjoys cooking and baking. You can visit Shelly's popular foodie blog called Shakin 'N Bakin in the Kitchen at http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com/ for free menu ideas, cooking tips and recipes.