ATTN: Everyone that travels from point A to point B – we want to tell you about one of our favorite smartphone GPS apps available today. Waze is available as a free download for iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, and Windows Mobile phones.

My fellow commuters are no longer the enemy. The Waze website says, “Nothing can beat real people working together towards a common goal: to outsmart traffic.” And, as I discovered, by being of service to others (reporting construction or accidents) and showing gratitude instead of resenting other drivers, the result is a calmer drive and good road-Karma.

On Sunday, a fellow Wazer tipped me off about a radar traffic cop hiding in a bush. We gave each other a digital high-five — two anonymous strangers, united in beating an evil speed trap!

The combo of humans and machines:

Waze isn’t your typical traffic and navigation app. Instead, it’s an app based upon “contributing to the ‘common good’ out there on the road.” It provides navigation as well other obstacles with fellow users in real-time on road hazards, traffic conditions, speeding traps, weather conditions and even gas prices. That feature makes Waze potentially more effective and helpful than your standard navigation app or basic GPS.

Here’s how it works: Users report traffic jams and accidents to the smartphone app, which helps it to re-route you to a faster path. “It’s like a personal heads-up from a few million of your friends on the road. Waze’s 3D Touch shortcuts provide access to popular features like address search, location sharing and turn-by-turn navigation based on your work and home address on file.

As you use Waze: you will earn points for your driving and for the reports you submit, and the more you do the higher your score will be. From there you can advance to higher “Levels” within Waze based on your overall activity, all the way up to “Waze Royalty” complete with a crown on top of your icon to show you are among the top 1% of high scorers in your area.

Customize how you appear: yes, you get to be a little rolling Waze icon. Although, you need to use the app for 100 miles of driving before you can set your “mood” – until then you are a newbie or “baby Wazer” as they note.

Send friends & family a link: via SMS or e-mail to a live map showing your real-time driving and estimated arrival time using the “Share Drive” feature in the app. Or, if you want someone to meet you somewhere, there is a “Send a Location” option, too.

Gas stations and noted prices: are displayed on maps in your area, and you can set it to show a preferred gas station, if you have one, as well as the type of gasoline you need (such as regular, premium or diesel).

So Waze, for now, will continue to be not just a daily thing, but practically an every ride thing. If I’m driving more than a half a mile from my house, I’m as certain to open Waze as I am to put on my seatbelt.

This is fitting because both habits, I’ve realized, are a kind of insurance: I put on my seatbelt to know I’m protected in an accident. I put on Waze to know — or at least believe — that I’m not going to drive even a minute longer than I have to.

I do have one suggestion to developers: Wazers score points for tip-offs and traffic reports, but these points should translate into real-world prizes like gas discounts or free coffee. I’ve earned 3,000 points in my first week. I should get a facial.

The app is localized in: English, Afrikaans, Arabic, Bokmål, Norwegian, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, Galician, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malay, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Simplified Chinese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Traditional Chinese and Turkish.

Here are a few of our favorite ideas we want to share with you:

• Party Poppin’ Popcorn- This treat is SO EASY to make and everyone LOVES it! Pop microwave white popcorn in the bag. Spread out on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and drizzle with white chocolate or white candy melts.

• Easy Ranch Cheese Ball – You might be tempted to just buy a cheeseball at the store, but this one is so simple and delicious it’s really worth just making it yourself! Everyone who has tasted this asks for the recipe – they’re always surprised when we tell them how easy it was. Click here to be taken to Mama’s Kuntry Kitchen for the ingredients and directions.

• Yummy Avocado Bruschetta– This is so easy to make and sure to please a hungry crowd. It combines all the flavors you love about your favorite guacamole – creamy avocado, spicy onion, savory tomato, garlic, lime and cilantro – all served as a unique appetizer. Click here to be taken to Mama’s Kuntry Kitchen for the recipe.

• Party hat cookies! We love these white chocolate dipped Oreos topped with a gold fondant star & an ice cream cone party hat. The fondant is sprayed gold with edible food coloring mist, then dusted with edible pearl gold dust. The hat is a ice cream cone tip that was sprayed with pearl white edible mist and also brushed with edible gold dust. We topped it with a snowflake sprinkle that is dusted gold.

Brighten up your house and prepare for New Years by creating decorations and projects full of gold, glitter and sparkle. Take a look at these easy ideas that you can throw together quickly with minimal effort.

• Glitter Champagne Bottles/Glasses- If you love glitter then you will want to make your Champagne bottles extra sparkly by applying spray adhesive then sprinkle glitter over adhesive. Repeat spraying the adhesive and sprinkling the glitter all around the bottle until it’s completely covered in glitter.
• Sequin Backdrop- If you have a circle puncher then this is really easy to do! Just punch out of gold wrapping paper and glue, tape or tie up the circles to craft paper or gold wrapping paper, or even silver wrapping paper
• Balloon Wall– Such an easy idea, just tape up gold and silver balloons.
• Thumbtack Gold Candles- Grab your candles around the house and place gold round
  thumb tacks in the candle to make your own golden sparkle candle.
• Glitter Bowtie Pasta Garland- Spray paint bow-tie pasta then tie together with gold string to make an easy garland.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

‘Tis the season to be YUMMY!  We are going to fill you in on our favorite DIY edible gifts that will leave your lucky gift recipients begging you for more! These are a far cry from the fruitcake that you receive every year from your Great Aunt Myra!

If you’re caught up in the holiday shopping frenzy this time of year, it can be easy to forget that some of the best presents are those you make yourself. This year, consider whipping up edible goodies straight from your kitchen to give as your holiday gifts. Not only will you have the satisfaction of knowing you made it yourself, but you’ll also avoid the long lines at the mall and save yourself a ton of money.

Depending on your skill level and the amount of time you have to spare, you can make a large batch of the same thing for each person or make several smaller customized batches to better suit a variety of tastes. But whatever you decide to make, be sure to set aside ample time for preparation and packaging. If needed, give yourself one afternoon to cook and another to wrap it all up.

The biggest thing to remember about DIY edible gifts is that presentation matters but, it doesn’t have to be elaborate. Whether it’s a little piece of ribbon around a mason jar, a handwritten label on a glass bottle, or a carefully wrapped care package everyone is guaranteed to appreciate the time, effort, and deliciousness you put into an edible present.
Below are a few easy edible gift ideas for the holiday host or hostess, they can all be whipped up in a few short minutes and are easily tote-able from place to place.

Chocolate Chow Mein Clusters

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
• 1/2 cup chow mein noodles
• 1/2 cup salted peanuts

Time to Whip it up!

1. In a microwave, melt chocolate and butterscotch chips, stir until smooth. Stir in chow mein noodles and peanuts until well coated.
2. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set. Yield: 8 clusters.

Savory Roasted Rosemary Almonds

Ingredients

Ingredients:

• 2 cups raw almonds
• 4 large sprigs fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Time to Whip it up!

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cover the baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine all spices in a bowl and add the olive oil and almonds, tossing to coat the almonds completely.
2. Spread the almonds on the parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Wa-lah! Holiday gift giving made easy!

Enjoy!

In our hectic day-to-day lives, there’s something to be said for a cost-busting healthy meal that costs under $10! The fundamentals of how to prepare a $10 meal are careful planning and strategic shopping. Its not just the dinner entree that eats up the budget,  it’s all those non-essential treats that wind up in your basket when you don’t make a list. The key to economical cooking is “make a list and stick to it”.  Who will miss “luxury meals” when you are whipping up these finger-licking good meals in your kitchen.

Its 5:00 p.m., and you are just leaving the office. What are you going to do about dinner? You rush to the supermarket and should be able to check out in the express line. But you’re so hungry that you buy a bag of chips, some cookies and a candy bar and nibble on them while prowling the aisles pushing your cart You arrive home and see you bought items you already had and forgot the items you needed. Yes you just cursed but you certainly are not alone, This scenario is played out by millions every day.

NO FAIL, NO STRESS MASTER PLAN

The weeks Master plan:

Planning and shopping are the cornerstones to trimming the fat out of your food bills. It’s impossible to keep within a food budget if you are shopping small lists on a regular basis and impulse buying. The first step is to get into a frugal frame of mind. You are out to save money on your food budget, but not feel deprived

Next, look at the week, and what activities are planned for your family. How many nights will you actually be home? Are there any guests invited for any meals?  Is there a sporting event on television that everyone will want to see? How about the kids and their events.

All the signs of winter are here and all I can image for dinner is a bowl of soup to warm my soul. When going to the store is out of the question apply the third step by shopping in your own pantry. You probably have most of the ingredients for a hearty soup stock. Here’s how to navigate the process of stock making.   All those parsley stalks, carrot and onion peelings, scraps and bones become valuable assets.  Wah lah! You have soup stock by just adding water! Freeze some of your stock in the ice cube tray and plastic bags then freeze the bags flat on a baking sheet, then stack them.

Finger-Licking Good Black Bean Soup

 Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 medium yellow onions, roughly chopped
• 4 large garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
• 2 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
• 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 5 cups low sodium chicken broth (I like Swanson)
• 3/4 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1-3/4 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• Handful chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pan. Add the onions, garlic cloves and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Do not brown.
• Add the black beans, chicken broth, oregano, coriander, cumin, cayenne pepper and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer gently for about 15 minutes.
• Purée the soup using a hand-held immersion blender until very smooth and creamy. (Alternatively, you can use a standard blender to puree the soup in batches; see note.) Stir in the lime juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and top each bowl with a dollop of sour cream and freshly chopped cilantro.
• Wake-up the soup by squeezing fresh lime juice, tablespoon of sour cream and chucks of avocado on top to give it that finger-licking good finish.

Live Life Delicoiusly!

Ahhh, truck stops! The lure of fast food can be strong. The toll on your bank account though, and your stomach, isn’t always worth it. In some cases, the food and its price might cause heartburn! One question you might be asking yourself is “How will I stay healthy while out on the road?” The hunger pains have set in after a long stretch of driving and the only thing you can think of is how fast you can get through the fast food line. Does this sound all too familiar? Well, FEAR NOT! We have some good news for you: being good isn’t as hard as you think. A variety of resources and tips are available to help our ROAD WARRIORS make better choices in an effort to maintain an overall healthier lifestyle.

Hustle past the pastries and chips and go straight to the produce and refrigerator case. More often than not, you can buy and cook food to eat in your truck that is far less expensive than any meal you could ever hope to buy in a restaurant.

Let’s pick 5 items form the produce and refrigerator area that you can whip up in no time. 

One basic item you can make almost anything in is a crock-pot! Remove the glass insert, and it becomes an oven! Line the bottom with foil and you can make biscuits, cornbread, cookies, and well..the list goes on and on. With the glass insert in you can make stews, soups, lasagna, roasts, or just put some water in it to heat up a can of food.

EGGS

1.) Egg and cheese omelet

2.) Freeze dried eggs

3.) Egg sandwich (Bacon Lettuce Tomato Egg)

4.) Egg Salad

5.) Ham Steak and eggs

MILK

1.) French toast (milk and egg mix in bowl with cinnamon)

2.) macaroni and cheese

3.) Cereal

4.) Oatmeal (fruit goes great)

5.) Baby Bottle

BREAD

1.) Tuna Sandwich

2.) Toast

3.) Grilled Cheese

4.) Pizza

5.) Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwich

FRUIT

1.) Fruit salad

2.) Chocolate covered fruit (warm in crock pot)

3.) Smoothie

4.) Banana Peanut butter sandwich

5.) Fruit Juice (Mango, Orange, Apple)

CHICKEN

1.) Crock pot chicken

2.) Chicken soup

3.) Chicken Salad

4.) Chicken Wrap

5.) Grilled chicken on a bed of lettuce

POTATO

1.) Sweet potato

2.) Potato salad

3.) Loaded potato

4.) Garlic Parmesan in crock pot

5.) Potato skin, wedges, gratin

Live Life Deliciously!

Let’s face it! The art of being a happy host is far and beyond the call of duty. You want to WOW your guest, and have them thinking you’re a superhero host! I know it’s easier said then done, here are some tips for throwing a party without wanting to throw yourself over a ledge:

PANIC LESS, PLAY MORE, AND GET YOUR PARTY ON

Panic Less:

Expect that something will go wrong—> and be ok with it

When you Host a party, whatever happens, just got with it, because more often than not, the thing you thought was such a disaster could turn out to be the party’s defining moment in a SUPERHERO way. Just because it’s not exactly what you envision doesn’t mean its the end of the world. Take baby steps if you are new to entertaining. Surround yourself with people who love you and are rooting for you.

Play More:

Focus on your strengths and don’t think you have to be an expert in all things party. I say, pick one thing you’re great at and ROCK with it! Ask yourself “ What makes me feel confident? What do people say you are great at?” If you feel like you implement the same ideas all the time but your guest continue to complement you on the ideas – KEEP DOING IT. They are complementing you hoping that you will continue to do it. Since you have conquered those ideas, try ONE new idea each party. This will keep the stress level at a minimum and you will PANIC LESS.

PARTY ON:

I’m sure by now you are ready to hear some ideas that you can implement in your HOST SUPERHERO task! The idea is to have that ”WOW” moment that your guest will always remember. Think outside the box and “Party On” with these simple ideas:

POTLUCK PLAN—> Everyone helps pull a potluck together, even kids. Bring in a chalkboard that says “TO DO” so no one gets away with being a slacker. Email the guests to ensure that everyone takes on a dish and is assigned a role to help out. (ex: uncle Bob is bringing the green beans and taking out the trash) You get to sample everyone else’s handiwork and there’s just something about everyone sharing the duties that goes well with the generous, selfless feeling of Thanksgiving.

BEAUTIFUL BUFFET—> Pay attention to detail like you would a dinner table. Creating a buffet allows you to create a gorgeous, abundant display. Grab empty wine bottles and fill with ivy or other trailing plants.

BOWLING PIN TURKEY—> How to keep the kids busy while you are in the kitchen. You can get bowling pins online, thrift stores, and garage sales. Instruct kids to trace their hands onto contraction paper and cut out design. These can be glued to the back of the pin for the tail.

INFUSED WATER—> A refreshing alternative to sugar-laden juice, infused water looks amazing in clear glassvessels. All you need to do is cut up slices of your favorite fruits or herbs, toss in a large drink dispenser, fill to the top with cold water, and let sit for two hours. About 10 minutes before guest arrive, top each one with ice.