Farmer’s Almanac

Oh Spring, Spring! Wherefore art thou Spring? We miss you so! To see the children ride their bikes or to smell the fresh flowers popping up from the ground. It’s the small things that we miss the most with all this snow on the ground. So let us all pray the writers of this year’s Farmer’s Almanac are wrong! According to the 2010 Farmer’s Almanac, two heavy winter storm are predicted for February. They were pretty accurate with their first prediction, but I hope they are wrong for the remainder of the winter. To check out the whole story go to http://www.farmersalmanac.com/weather/a/when-will-the-snow-end  (Thank you Stephanie for the link!).

Open Discussion: iPad Tablet

Apple is describing their new iPad Tablet as “our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price.” That unbelievable price they are speaking of rages from $499 - $829. Is the iPad worth the money? Is it just an extra large iTouch?


Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Useless Fact of the Day

Cattle are the only mammals that __________backwards.


Take a guess…

Must Visit: National Parks

Now that school is winding down, it is time for you moms out there to start thinking about summer vacation.  Are you looking for something different?  Something that will have the kids staring in amazement?  Something affordable?  The United States is full of beautiful places to visit. Many of them are located in our National Parks. My husband has been lucky enough to travel to most of them. Here are our top five list of must see National Parks.

Ranking at #5 is Sequoia-Kings Canyon, located in Three Rivers, California. Sequoia-Kings Canyon is not only home to majestic mountains and deep canyons, but it is also the home to the world’s largest trees. The giant sequoia named General Sherman, stands tall at a whopping 275 feet! According to my husband, a large branch that broke off from the General Sherman a few years back was larger than any standing tree east of the Mississippi.

Coming in at #4 is Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone, the nation’s first national park, is located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Yellowstone is probably most recognized for its famous geyser, Old Faithful. Besides the many geysers and hot springs, there are great hiking trails, camping sites, and fishing spots. Just watch out for the bears, wolves, elk, and buffalo!

Bryce Canyon, located in Utah, brings us to the #3 spot. It is hard to explain the uniqueness of Bryce Canyon. So here is a short blurb from the National Park Service. “Words confound when no comparable exist. A cave without a ceiling? A forest of stone? Even 'canyon' is misleading since Bryce is carved by freeze-thaw cycles, not a river. Yet, 'world's largest pothole' is neither adequate nor flattering. Tour this Website, and you’ll be enticed to visit Bryce in person. Once here, perhaps you'll agree with those who say, ‘Bryce is a Bryce!’”

Yosemite National Park, located in California, comes in at #2. “Yosemite National Park, one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.”

Finally that brings us to #1…….The Grand Canyon, located in Arizona. Since I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, I know that I can not do it justice. I’ve seen my husband’s pictures and they are amazing. The Grand Canyon is 18 miles wide and one mile deep. The Colorado River runs through the canyon for 277 miles. From the stories that I’ve heard, I suggest taking a lot of water if you are planning on hiking to the bottom!

Perhaps National Parks aren't your thing.  No worries!  Come back and read part two and three of Summer Vacations where we will explore the best Amusement Parks and Beaches to visit.  What is your family's favorite summer vacation spot?    

Grab a Latte, Put up Your Feet, and Join the Discusssion!    

Written By: Kelly Malinowski

Author of Between the Lines

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Recipe Corner: Quick and Easy Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

As seen on allrecipes.com…. By: Phoebe


"Flavorful recipe for this farm raised fish that is easy and done in minutes! The fish is broiled with a creamy cheese coating for an impressive flavor and texture."


Do you have a quick and easy recipe you would like to recommend? Shoot me an email at betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com  and I can post it for all to enjoy!

Useless Fact of the Day

The _______________ is the most shoplifted book in the world.

Take a guess….

Happy Birthday!

I just wanted to wish the most wonderful mom (that would be my mom :) a very Happy Birthday! We Love You!!!

Recipe Corner: Baked French Toast

My mother-in-law made this for us once and it was absolutely delicious. Since all the preparations are done the night before, it still makes for an easy morning. Enjoy!

Do you have a mouthwatering recipe you would like to recommend? Shoot me an email at betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com  and I can post it for all to enjoy!

Useless Facts

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = ?????


Take a guess….

Great TV You May Have Missed

With the hundreds of channels now available on cable TV, it is hard to know what to watch. Most of us tend to stick to the main network channels when it comes to Primetime Television, but could we be missing a new favorite? USA, Syfy, the CW, and FX may not be network channels, but they have produced some great series. Psych, one of my favorite shows, plays on USA at 10:00, Wednesday nights. The writers of Psych have created a show that mixes comedy with drama. Shawn, the main character of Psych, is a police consultant whose keen observation skills lead the police to believe he is psychic. Eureka, another household favorite plays on the Syfy channel during the summer. Like Psych, Eureka is a comedy/drama that will have you laughing out loud. Eureka takes place in a fictional town created by geniuses to protect America’s most valuable scientific advancements. With so much dangerous knowledge located in a single town, Sheriff Carter must find a way to keep things in order. Other cable shows you may have missed include Warehouse 13 (Syfy), Royal Pains(USA), Castle(NBC...ok, not cable, but a really great show), and The Tudors (HBO).


Of course there are also many shows on the network channels. Some favorites in our house include NCIS, Chuck, House, 24, Grey’s Anatomy, The Big Bang Theory, and Modern Family. What shows are your favorite? What have we been missing?


Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Asian Lettuce Wraps

All the recipes I’ve posted so far have been ones that I love to make and eat. However, I came across this interesting recipe on Allrecipes.com and thought I would share. If anyone decides to try it before me, please let me know how it turns out!  :)

Do you have a mouthwatering recipe you would like to recommend? Shoot me an email at betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com  and I can post it for all to enjoy!

Picture Perfect

How Cute is Hailey chatting it up on her Banana Phone? This picture was taken at the Rainforest Café in Downtown Disney. Hailey was using her phone to try to tell the animals to be quiet!

A Gaming Family

Gone are the days when video games were geared towards just the boys. My husband, of course, still owns some of the traditional shoot’em up games, but the majority of the games we own are family friendly. The Nintendo Wii has revolutionized the way we play video games. No longer are we confined to playing with just a few fingers. Wii has introduced us to a whole body gaming experience. Among my family’s favorites are Wii Resort, Wii Fit, Boom Blocks, and Dance Dance Revolution. Not only are these games fun (especially with a little added competition), but they also have the added exercise element that helps keep our family active. If you like to have game night with your friends, Kabooki would be a great game for you. Kabooki, a fun team game, is made by the creators of Cranium and shares many of the same categories.


If you have a PlayStation, Buzz is another great game to play with friends and family. Buzz is a trivia game that uses wireless controllers (included in the game package) to answer the questions. The numerous categories and humorous characters keep the game interesting and fun. Plus, if you ever do get through all the questions, you can simply download new categories from the PlayStation online store. Another family favorite for the PlayStation is Rock Band. Although Rock Band doesn’t seem like it would appeal to the female population as much as the male population, we love it. Rock Band is another PlayStation game that you can download new songs from the online PlayStation store. Adding country songs has definitely made it more appealing to my girls and I.


What gaming system and games are popular in your house? Do you love the competition or just the fun of it?


Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Frozen Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

My sister and I loved to eat frozen cookie dough growing up. We would make it exactly like the recipe said except we would leave out the egg. For any of you who love cookie dough ice cream, this is definitely a recipe you will want to try.

Do you have a mouthwatering recipe you would like to recommend? Shoot me an email at betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com and I can post it for all to enjoy!

Quote of the Day

“Love creates an “us” without destroying a “me”.”   Leo Buscaglia

Unusual Vacation Destinations

Yesterday the internet was flooded by articles, stories, and ads all relating to Valentine’s Day. They all focused on romantic getaways, movies, poems, and gifts. But while I was reading, I came across a story unlike the rest. Instead of focusing on the romantic, this article was focused on the unromantic. Some of the unusual vacation destinations in the article, like visiting the Oprah store, were just silly. Of course you wouldn’t be tempted to take your significant other on a vacation to a store. But many of the other choices, although bizarre, were fascinating(but of course, not romantic).


Of all the unromantic destinations Bing travel came up with, an overnight stay in a prison would definitely be on the top of my list of places not to go. Why anyone would like to know how it feels to be in prison for a night is beyond me, but if you have the inkling you should visit Karosta Prison in Liepaja, Latvia. One place that I may like to visit (not sleep, just visit) would be the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden. Although I’ve seen the pictures, I still can’t imagine what it would be like to walk into a building completely sculpted out of ice (besides cold). Another cold destination that would be anything but romantic, but pretty amazing to see, would be Antarctica. Did you know that you can take a cruise to Antarctica? I certainly didn’t know this was possible. It probably isn’t a popular cruise considering how dangerous the waters are on the trip down and how dangerous the weather is once you reach your destination.

Other unusual vacation spots include a Hello Kitty theme park and swimming with the sharks. If you would like to check out the rest of the destinations from Bing Travel check out their article at http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=Unromantic+for+Everyone%3a+Overnight+in+a+Prison .

Recipe Corner: Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips

This tasty treat is easy to make and fun eat! Eat it as an appetizer or snack. Enjoy!!!
Do you have a mouthwatering recipe you would like to recommend? Shoot me an email at betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com  and I can post it for all to enjoy!

Useless Fact of the Day

The average tastebud lives ______before it dies and is replaced by a new one.

Take a guess...

Happy Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day has continuously changed over the years. Named after a one or more Christian martyrs, Saint Valentine’s Day is celebrated February 14 in honor of our love and devotion to others. During the 15th century, Valentine’s Day was a day to confess your love to your potential spouse. Many believe that Chaucer started this tradition with his text, Parliament of Foules. And from there, Valentine’s Day began to grow. In the 18th century, giving Valentine cards gained popularity. However, at this time cards were usually handmade and had a poem defining the giver’s love. By the 19th century, Valentine cards had become so popular, they began to mass produce them in factories. This, in my opinion, stole the intimacy of Valentine’s Day. No longer was it necessary to find a way to express how you feel. Now someone would tell you how you felt on paper. During the 20th century, the flower and candy industry began marketing Valentine gifts. What better way to tell your sweetie you love them than with roses and chocolates? The diamond industry found the answer to that question as they started marketing Valentine jewelry in the 1980’s.

What is your favorite/worst Valentine’s Day memory? Are gifts necessary on Valentine’s Day?

Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Quote of the Day

“My heart to you is given: Oh, do give yours to me; we’ll lock them up together, and throw away the key.” Frederick Saunders

Poetry Corner: Eternal Love

Our love is eternal
Here on Earth and into Heaven.
My heart I willingly give,
My life I will surrender.

I trust in you to keep
Me safe right by your side.
I pray you will remember
To me you can confide.

I vow to protect your heart
Keep you sane and treat you right,
Have faith that you will always be
My friend, my love, my life.

(first poem I wrote for my husband, 9 years ago today.  Happy V-Day!)