Disney Princess Warriors

From Disney blog:

I totally love this. Yeah Disney Princess Warriors. 

Comic Con 2011 Warrior Disney Princesses

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 06:14 PM PDT

An adult spin on Disney childhood tales at the 2011 Comic Con… All photos by Mike Rollerson on Flickr

ARIEL from "The Little Mermaid"

AURORA from "Sleeping Beauty"

MEGARA from "Hercules"

ALICE from "Alice in Wonderland"

ESMERALDA from "Hunchback of Notre Dame"

MULAN from "Mulan"

SNOW WHITE from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"

BELLE from "Beauty and the Beast"

 

Sent from my iMickey! 8(; - )
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From sparkpeople:

This is so true. 

Healthy Fitness Horoscopes

Your Fitness Future is in the Stars!
  -- By Leanne Beattie, Health & Fitness Writer
When it comes to sticking with a consistent exercise program, you might not reach your goals if you're following a plan that goes against your true nature and personality. For example, if you're outgoing, solo workouts might not hold your interest, while a spontaneous personality won't jibe with scheduled fitness classes. If you're struggling to make exercise a habit, reach for the stars! Check out these healthy fitness horoscopes that will give you pointers based on your astrological sign. 

Aries: March 21 – April 20
As an Aries, you are as the one who gets things started. Want to take a kickboxing class but your gym doesn't offer one? Take the initiative and talk to the owner of the club. Or better yet, get the training and become an instructor yourself. You love to get things moving, and there's no better way of making sure you get what you want than by doing it yourself. As a fire sign, you want inspiring and imaginative ideas. You tend to get bored easily, so mix up your fitness routineevery few weeks to keep it fresh. Trying new activities will keep you interested, so when Pilates gets tiresome, switch to one-on-one at the local basketball court or start swimming. You'll keep your muscles guessing and see serious results! 

Taurus: April 21 – May 21
The physical, sensual side of life is very important to the Taurus. You love to feel connected to your body and enjoy the perks in life, including good food and good wine. Be careful not to enjoy them too much, or you might have to spend more time in the gym than you'd like. After a hard workout, reward yourself with a massage or a soak in a hot tub. You love the feel of fine fabrics, so stay away from polyester or other scratchy materials. You might have the reputation for beingstubborn, but that's a good thing—you won't give up until you reach your fitness goals. It might take you a while to find an exercise routine that you like, but when you do, don't mess with it as long as it works for you. You are an earth sign, so don't force yourself to work out at a gym if you'd rather beoutside. Go hiking, swimming or skating, and connect with the great outdoors as much as possible. 

Gemini: May 22 – June 23
As a Gemini, you put a lot of value into careful thinking. Unfortunately, this means you have a hard time shutting off your thoughts and relaxing. The next time you're mind is racing, slow down with a yoga class. If you're not seeing the fitness results you'd like, satisfy your analytical side by keeping a fitness journal to assess your exercise habits. Log your workouts on a calendar to see how much exercise you're getting. Fewer than three sessions a week means you need to take action. You're interested in so many things, so it won't be hard to find a new sport or activity to shake out the doldrums. 

Cancer: June 24 – July 23
Home and family are very important to the Cancer sign. Setting up a workout room at home, with a jump rope, treadmill and dumbbells, is a great way to blend fitness and family. And it allows you to exercise whenever you get the urge—no driving required! As a water sign, getting back to the beach is the dream vacation for you. If you can't take a tropical holiday, visit your local swimming pool and plunge in. You're a natural in the water, so try snorkeling, water-skiing or cliff diving if you're feeling extra adventurous. At the very least, soak in the hot tub as often as possible. 

Leo: July 24 – August 22
Leos are natural-born leaders who are at the center of the universe—at least in their own minds! Use your charisma to organize an office volleyball team or sign up for a 5K charity run and collect pledges. You'll thrive as you train for the big event and your magnetism will draw lots of donors (and fellow trainees) to your cause. You pride yourself on being an individual and may prefer to exercise solo instead of being part of a fitness class. As you don't like to feel pressured, keeping a regular fitness schedule may be a bit stressful to you. Ease up on yourself and work toward meeting your own personal goals instead of feeling like you have to go along with the crowd. 

Virgo: August 23 – September 22
Virgos are the analysts of the Zodiac. Because you like to look at the big picture and see what's involved, you are great at taking a big goal and breaking it down into manageable steps. Instead of concentrating on a losing 30 pounds, focus on losing one or two pounds a week, one week at a time. You're a pro at deciphering information and deciding whether it's useful or not, so take the time to read through the stack of fitness magazines next to your bed and devise your own workout routine. You can't handle chaos, so you need to have an organized fitness plan. You're more likely to stick to plans made in advance, so spend Sunday evenings with your calendar and plot out your fitness routine for the week. 

Libra: September 23 – October 23
Because Libras need balance, you start to feel edgy andanxious when one part of life is taking over. Instead of trying to juggle too much, scale things back to ensure you have plenty of time for both work and fitness. You have the innate ability to look at a complex situation and simplify it—why not share your knowledge with a newbie at the gym who is struggling to figure out how to use the machines? Even though like to have your own way, try to be more patient the next time you're waiting for a treadmill. Life is too short to get stressed out at the gym! You know the importance of combining strength training with cardio work, but don't forget to shake things up a bit sometimes by trying new activities. A judo or boxing class might be just enough to boost your fitness to the next level. 

Scorpio: October 24 – November 22
As a Scorpio, you tend to feel guilty about not being perfect. It pains you to realize your body is not the ideal that you think it should be. Cut yourself some slack and give up on the pursuit of perfection. Find satisfaction in knowing that you are working hard to achieve you fitness goals and you're getting healthier—even if you never lose those last five pounds. Be true to yourself. If you know that your fitness plan isn't as good as it should be, do something proactive instead of beating yourself up. Remember that self-love is the first step toward happiness and you deserve the best in life. By learning to accept your shortcomings instead of berating yourself, you may find it easier to reach your goals. 

Sagittarius: November 23 – December 21
If you're a Sagittarius, you get satisfaction by doing. You want to experience things and aren't satisfied to sit on the sidelines and watch someone else have all the fun. You needfreedom to move (no tight spandex for you!). An organized exercise class will make you feel fenced in, so try an activity you can do on your own. Power walking is ideal for you, and counting your steps with a pedometer will give you a real sense of accomplishment. You love to broaden your horizons, so consider taking a walking tour across Europe or taking yoga classes in India to help you find more meaning in your life. There's more to you beneath the surface than you show to others. Open up and drop the mysterious persona. Say "hi" to everyone you meet when you're out for a walk—you might just find an exercise buddy along the way! 

Capricorn: December 22 – January 20
As a Capricorn, you want to stand out as an individual. Stick to your fitness plan by doing what works for you and listening to your body. You leap at the chance to be the first to try something new. Just make sure you get instructions before trying new pieces of equipment or exercises so that you don't hurt yourself. You hate to have boundaries, so you are naturally drawn to the extreme side of life. Cliff diving and rock climbing would give you a rush! You can't do these every day, but you can mimic this excitement with a high-intensityrunning program. The natural high you get after a good run will satisfy your adventurous side until you can take part in another extreme activity. 

Aquarius: January 21 – February 19
If you are an Aquarius, you thrive in social settings. Being alone stifles your creativity and brings you down, so take advantage of your friendly nature and join a fitness class. In your mind, the more the merrier! You have a very open mindwhen it comes to new ideas. This means you're often the first one in your circle of friends to try a new fitness activity. You adopt the latest trends and equipment into your program, even when others are reluctant to change. You have a strongsocial conscience, so why not combine your fitness goals with charity work? Sign up for a 5K or 10K run for charity, or swing a hammer to build a home for a less fortunate family. You can get fit and feel good at the same time. 

Pisces: February 20 – March 20
The Pisces sign is naturally drawn to arts like music anddance. This opens up lots of fun fitness possibilities. Why not take salsa lessons with your partner or hip hop dance classes with a group of your friends? Nothing compares to an evening of dancing—it's fun and burns tons of calories! Even if it takes you a while to pick up the steps, you'll have so much fun that it won't matter. You sometimes feel frustrated with the limitations of the human body—you don't like to be told you can't do something! Push your fitness to the limit by learning new, exciting skills like downhill skiing, tennis or golf. You believe that there's more to the world than what you see with your naked eyes. Your heart is genuinely filled with love and appreciation. Tune in to your mystical side by taking yoga and meditation classes, which will help you to focus on and express your deep gratitude. 

Sent from my iMickey! 8(; - )
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Mini Smores Cones

From Life as a Mom blog:

You only need three ingredients: mini cones, chocolate chips, and either marshmallows or marshmallow creme.

Please note that marshmallow creme contains egg whites, so if your family is dealing with an egg allergy, go for the real deal. I only had four or five marshmallows left so we saved those for FishChick2 and made the rest with marshmallow creme. They have some fine differences, but both are delicious.

I tested these in the toaster oven's broil setting (400 °F) as well as in my oven's broiler and the oven's 400°F setting. I prefer the toaster oven. I could see how brown they were getting without opening the door. Use what you got and make it work for you.

Recipe: Mini Smores Cones

Ingredients

• 1 box mini ice cream cones, about 1 to 2 inches in height
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 package marshmallows or 1 jar marshmallow creme

Instructions

1. Preheat the toaster oven to its broiler setting (about 400°F) or the regular oven to 400°F.
2. Lay out the cones on a broiler safe baking dish.
3. Fill the cones halfway with chocolate chips.
4. Insert a marshmallow into each cone or fill the cone with marshmallow creme. If using creme, allow a small amount to mound over the top of the cone.
5. Bake the cones in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes depending on how toasty you like them. Bake the cones in the toaster oven for 2 to 3 minutes or until toasty.
6. Remove the cones from the oven carefully and serve.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 10 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 12

If you're worried about the cones tumbling on the tray, you can try this Alton-Brownesque suggestion from my husband:

Cover a rimmed cookie sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil. The higher the sides of the tray, the better. Cut holes in the foil so that you can poke the cones through the foil and the foil will keep them from toppling.

If you con't like your marshmallows toasted — apparently some people don't — you can tuck the marshmallow into the cone, dip it in melted chocolate, and roll it in sprinkles or chopped nuts. How cute is this?!

Props to my very clever husband for thinking up that one. Well, I added the sprinkles bit.

Sent from my iMickey! 8(; - )
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From Coupon Contessa blog:

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

This is one of my favorite homemade products.

It is so simple and inexpensive to make.

Items that you will need:
1 Cup Borax (estimated cost is 25 cents)
1 Cup Baking Soda (estimated cost 33 cents)
Large Mixing Bowl

Directions:
Mix equal parts Borax and Baking Soda in a large mixing bowl.
Mix until well combined.

This recipe will yield 14 uses.
**Use TWO Tablespoons per load.

The cost to make this product is approximately 58 cents. Divide that by the number of uses (14) to get the cost per load/use.

4 cents per load! Yes, that is correct 4 cents per load.

Compare that to the dishwasher detergent that you are currently using and see the money that you will be saving your family in a year.

 

Sent from my iMickey! 8(; - )
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