Patriotic Dipped Oreo Cookies

These are the perfect treats for Independence Day. After all of the good grilled food, finish off with something sweet and enjoy these great Independence Day themed Oreo cookies!

Ingredients

-24 Oreos

-4 oz White Melting Candy

-2 oz Red Melting Candy

-2 oz Blue Melting Candy

Instructions

• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Melt white candy by heating in microwave for 30 seconds, then stirring and repeating until melted and smooth.
• Dip each cookie in white chocolate and flip to coat. Remove from chocolate allowing excess to drip off and place on lined sheet.
• Allow to set for 15 minutes.
• You can take a knife and shave any excess off of cookies to keep nice shape.
• Melt red candy by heating in microwave for 30 seconds, then stirring and repeating until melted and smooth.
• Dip each cookie in red chocolate to coat one end. Allow excess to drip off and place back on lined sheet.
• Allow to set for 15 minutes.
• Melt blue candy by heating in microwave for 30 seconds, then stirring and repeating until melted and smooth.
• Dip each cookie in blue chocolate to coat opposite end. Allow excess to drip off and place back on lined sheet.
• Allow to set for 15 minutes.

Blog Credit: Patriotic Dipped Oreo Cookies

Fun Friday: Rainy Day Projects

Since Tropical Storm Andrea is heading our way, and many if us will be stuck in the house. I found some great DIY projects you can do with the kids or you can do solo.

Tape painting: 

Here is how we did it: – bought a big canvas and sprayed it metalic gold (2 layers) – added a pattern using washi / masking tape – painted the shapes using different colors acrylic paint – gently remove the tape

Kid Fun Project: 

Supplies Used:

Old Cookie Sheet with edges cut off (if you want it to be magnetic…or you could just used an old picture frame.)

Fabric to cover the backing

Mini Clothes Pins (I found mine at a local fabric store, Pacific Fabrics)

Colored Cardstock

Boxes are made out of a Jiffy Cornbread Box cut in half

Hot Glue Gun

Heavy Duty Magnets

If it were up to me, Tacos or some other form of Mexican food would be listed for every night of the week.

Sadly my husband doesn’t agree and appreciates a bit more variety!

So, I sat down and began writing down about 30 meal ideas.

They are color coded in a way that works best for me:

GREEN: Meat Dishes

TAN: Other/Misc.

WHITE: Crock Pot Meals

BLUE: Mexican & Italian Dishes

YELLOW: Easy & Quick

The goal is to not have too many of the same color each week. And to rotate through the stack of recipes before you start using them again.

(However, Tacos will still be eaten weekly in our household! 

Once a week… I can sit down and plan the meals for the menu.

On the back I’ve written all the ingredients needed to make each meal.

This way, when I go to make my shopping list…It’s pretty quick and painless.

Content Credit: http://sarahpotterphotography.com/diy-menu-board

Fun Friday: Summer

Today is just a great day! First and foremost its Friday and it is my favorite time of the year! Summer time!  The perfect way to spend summer is by the pool, listening to great music and eating yummy food. This blog covers 2 out of 3 , great music and awesome recipes!

Summertime Tortellini Pasta Salad

19 oz. bag cheese filled tortellini (I prefer the tri-colored)
Small Container Grape or Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half
4 oz. can sliced black olives
1/2 large yellow bell pepper, diced
1/3 c. red onion, diced
1 c. Zesty Italian Dressing
3/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced
Cook cheese tortellini according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled through.

Roasted Shrimp & Broccoli

1. Heat the oven to 425.
2. On a large cookie sheet, toss together 2 pounds of broccoli cut up into florets (but not teensy tiny florets, I like a little stem attached), 2 Tbs olive oil, 1 teaspoon whole coriander seeds (or 1/2 tsp. ground), 1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds (or 1/2 tsp. ground), 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper and 1/8th tsp hot chili powder. Spread into a single layer and pop into the oven for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, toss together one pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined, with 2 Tbs olive oil, lemon zest from one lemon, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper (I just eyeball the salt and pepper) in a bowl. When the broccoli’s been in the oven 10 minutes, add the shrimp to the broccoli and toss (carefully.)

3. Roast another 10 minutes, tossing once halfway through, until the broccoli is “tender and golden around the edges.”

And that’s your dinner!
I served it in a big bowl of rice and squeezed some lemon on top. It was a big hit.

Recipe: http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2008/11/the_best_brocco.html

Tomato-Watermelon Salad with Feta and Toasted Almonds

Ingredients

• 8cups1 1/4-inch chunks seedless watermelon (about 6 pounds)
• 3poundsripe tomatoes (preferably heirloom) in assorted colors, cored, cut into 1 1/4-inch chunks (about 6 cups)
• 1teaspoon(or more) fleur de sel or coarse kosher salt
• 5tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 1/2tablespoonsred wine vinegar
• 3tablespoonschopped assorted fresh herbs (such as dill, basil, and mint)
• 6cupsfresh arugula leaves or small watercress sprigs
• 1cupcrumbled feta cheese (about 5 ounces)
• 1/2cupsliced almonds, lightly toasted

Preparation

• Combine melon and tomatoes in large bowl. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon fleur de sel and toss to blend; let stand 15 minutes. Add 4 tablespoons oil, vinegar, and herbs to melon mixture. Season to taste with pepper and more salt, if desired.
• Toss arugula in medium bowl with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Divide arugula among plates. Top with melon salad; sprinkle with feta cheese and toasted almonds and serve.

Read More http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2006/08/tomato_watermelon_salad_with_feta_and_toasted_almonds#ixzz1yXM67z8s

-Denea Duran

10 tips to stay motivated

If you're like me then you're probably kicking yourself now that summer is right around the corner. I really wanted to have a beach body but it has been a task getting motivated to go to the gym. If I'm not going to a Zumba class then, let's be honest, I really don't want to be there. Here are some tips that have kept me motivated (and, believe it or not, really good at going to the gym! ).

This also helps with motivation to conquer the treadmill! 

1. Make it a Routine: The nature of a routine is that after a while it becomes mechanical, or just something you do, which eliminates the need for daily internal pep talks. Maybe that's what Nike meant when they said, "Just Do It."

2. Set Goals: For runners training for a marathon, a regular exercise routine is essential to success, and is therefore motivating. This can be true for more moderate goals, such as running a mile or increasing the amount of weight you're lifting from five to eight pounds.

3. Reward Yourself: You are your own teacher, so give yourself a gold star for a job well done (or a well-deserved pedicure?).

4. Make it Fun: Exercise doesn't have to be boring. Spice up your treadmill experience by making a playlist of your favorite music, or by downloading a personal training session online. Or forget the gym and turn up the music and let loose in your own living room.

5. Switch It Up: A sure way to lose motivation is to do the same exact thing everyday. Keep it interesting - take a belly dancing class, a martial arts course or just take a nice long walk to a new area of town.

6. Keep Going: Push through those off weeks when nothing seems to be going your way. Go easy on yourself, but don't give up entirely, even if that means taking a 15-minute walk or going to the gym and sitting in the sauna for 20 minutes; just stay in the game.

7. Be Positive: Focus on feeling good and the high that comes from an intense, sweaty workout. Don't concentrate on how much it hurts, how tired you are or how much you would rather be lying on the beach with a frozen drink.

8. Visualize Success: Take a few minutes before your workout and see yourself enjoying the exercise; visualize it coming naturally and easily to you. Top Olympic athletes practice this technique regularly with great success.

9. Feed Your Soul: Exercise not only your body, but also your mind. Yoga is a great way to engage both - it can stabilize your mood, and even improve your endurance. Or get outside and take a walk, touch the leaves and breath in the fresh air.

10. Know the Benefits: Remember that exercise gives you energy; it strengthens your bones, muscles and joints; it lowers risk of heart disease, colon cancer and type 2 diabetes, and helps control blood pressure, prevent weight gain and fend off depression and anxiety. In short, exercise makes you feel good and on the inside and out. Remembering that should make it easy to stay motivated.


Content Credit: http://www.healthywomen.org/content/blog-entry/exercise-10-ways-stay-motivated

-Denea Duran

Spring Ahead

Since spring is in full effect, it is now time to start thinking about how you will welcome the warm weather in your home. Here is a list of ideas to get a start on your cleaning.

Around The House:
•Schedule a family garage clean-out. Create efficient storage for sporting goods, camping equipment, recreational vehicles, and garden tools. You'll have the jump on summer fun!
•Inspect, clean and repair outdoor furniture.
•Tour house exterior and grounds. Make a list of any needed seasonal maintenance.
•Inspect the roof for winter damage: leaks, missing or broken shingles or tiles. Arrange for any needed repairs early; roofing contractors can be hard to find during summer's construction season.
•Use a sunny Saturday to scrape, prime and paint peeling spots on trim or woodwork. You'll protect wood against Summer's heat and moisture--and prevent a more difficult paint job come fall.
•Clear away any remaining dead foliage and weeds from beds and lawn. New growth will be protected from damage or disease.

•Begin major Spring landscaping projects. Spring's the time to put in shrubs and trees, but check with your local extension office for specific planting recommendations for your area.

The Inside Story:
•Changing seasons, changing clothes. Hold a family wardrobe check as you bring out warm-weather clothing. Sort winter clothing for discards and donations before you store.

•Hold a garage sale! Declutter house and garage to turn trash into cash. Build your yard sale savvy here.
•Pick a weekend and enlist the family for Spring cleaning. Many hands make light work! Reward the team with dinner at a pizza parlor.
•Wash windows inside and out.
•While at the window area, check drapes and window treatments. Vacuum any dust; send dirtier drapes to the cleaners.
•Move furniture and vacuum beneath it.
•Arrange for a spring inspection of cooling systems. Don't wait for the first hot day! Air conditioning firms will give better service when they're not busy.
•When the weather warms, deactivate heat system humidifiers. Check the system manual for instructions on how to power down for the summer.
•Drain sediment from hot water heaters.

Cleaning that SERVPRO handles:

• Air Ducts and HVAC
• Carpet, Upholstery, Drapes and Blinds
• Ceilings,Walls and Hard Floors
• Deodorization

Call us SERVPRO of Cayce/West Columbia & Lexington 803-755-9774


-Denea Duran

Picture Credit: Google Image

Content Credit: http://organizedhome.com/seasonal-spin/spring-cleaning-chore-checklist

Fun Fridays!

 Let me formally Introduce myself. My name is Denea Duran and I am a native from San Francisco (the bay area), California. So with that being said WELCOME SANDY TO CALIFORNIA!

 I am a college graduate with a degree in Mass Communication with a concentration in Broadcast! I am the oldest of four siblings and I am very active in my community which is now the Columbia area. Growing up I wanted to be what everyone in California aspires to be a MODEL or ACTRESS……. But then I snapped into reality that I am only 5’2! I realized my calling was Journalism when I was the only child in the neighborhood that would rather watch CNN than Cartoons.

I am honored to be apart of SERVPRO, which has made me feel like family just in the two days that I have been in the office. I will continue to keep the tradition with FUN FRIDAYS....

5 Fun Facts About Denea:

I love ZUMBA! Not the best dancer but when the music turns on no one can stop me. LoL

I typically like to try things that I am not good at (Surfing, Snowboarding and Singing)

I love to bake and make up new random recipes! I will share on later BLOGS!

Obsessed with romantic novels. Currently I am reading “The Vow”

People that know me knows I laugh at random moments…. I’m the kind of person that when it is completely silent will giggle at something that happened an hour ago!

Have a great Friday!

 -Denea Duran

Fun Friday: Meet Your New Social Media Representative!

Let me formally Introduce myself. My name is Denea Duran and I am a native from San Francisco (the bay area), California. So with that being said-- WELCOME, SANDY, TO CALIFORNIA!

I am a college graduate with a degree in Mass Communication with a concentration in Broadcast! I am the oldest of four siblings and I am very active in my community, which is now the Columbia area. Growing up, I wanted to be what everyone in California aspires to be-- a MODEL or ACTRESS……. But then it snapped into reality that I am only 5’2! I realized my calling was Journalism when I was the only child in the neighborhood that would rather watch CNN than cartoons.

I am honored to be apart of SERVPRO, which has made me feel like family just in the two days that I have been in the office. I will continue to keep the tradition with FUN FRIDAYS....

5 Fun Facts About Denea:

I love ZUMBA! Not the best dancer but when the music turns on no one can stop me. LoL

I typically like to try things that I am not good at (Surfing, Snowboarding and Singing)

I love to bake and make up new random recipes! I will share on later BLOGS!

Obsessed with romantic novels. Currently I am reading “The Vow”

People that know me know I laugh at random moments…. I’m the kind of person that when it is completely silent will giggle at something that happened an hour ago!

Have a great Friday!

 -Denea Duran