pear gorgonzola vinaigrette dressing

• 3/4 cup walnut halves , toasted (about 3 ounces)
• 1 (15 ounce) can s&w california sun pears in light syrup , drained, reserving 1/4 of the syrup
• 2 teaspoons honey mustard or 2 teaspoons mustard , sweetened with honey to taste
• 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 8 cups baby spinach or 8 cups other tender salad greens
• 3/4 cup crumbled gorgonzola (about 3 ounces) or 3/4 cup other blue cheese (about 3 ounces)

Directions:

1. 1
   To make pear vinaigrette, combine reserved pear syrup, honey mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper to taste.
2. 2
   Whisk in olive oil.
3. 3
   Just before serving, gently toss together the toasted walnuts, drained pears, pear vinaigrette, spinach and Gorgonzola.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/spinach-pear-salad-with-gorgonzola-walnuts-and-pear-vinaigrette-176432#ixzz1kVk45u88

Zooey Deschanel Saves Her Pennies

By Mike Krumboltz | Yahoo! Finance – 6 hours ago

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Hollywood stars are known for their spendthrift ways. Tinseltown is littered with celebrities who spent first and saved later (or not at all). Occasionally, though, somebody bucks the trend -- somebody like Zooey Deschanel.

Zooey Deschanel

The actress/singer recently split from her husband, Death Cab for Cutie lead singer Ben Gibbard. Deschanel's lawyer filed her financial information with the courts. And we have to say, Deschanel may be the most sensible celebrity ever. Credit card debt? Zero. Investments? Substantial. Charitable donations? Generous.

Here's a rough look at how the finances break out:

Salary from TV show "New Girl" -- $95,000 per month
Dining-out expenses -- $500 per month
Clothing expenses -- $2,000 per month
Laundry/cleaning expenses -- $600 per month
Cell phone and email expenses --- $300 per month
Charitable donations -- $1,500 per month
Credit card debt -- $0

OK, so she's not exactly living like a pauper. Anybody who spends $2,000 a month on clothes clearly isn't afraid to skip the sale rack. And how does one drop $600 per month on dry cleaning? But, on the whole, Deschanel is a pretty smart cookie, financially speaking. She has over $1.5 million in the bank, and about $1.6 million in stocks and other investments. She also owns property worth close to $700,000.

Sorry about the marriage, Zooey. But at least you're saving your cash. Remember when the divorce papers from Britney Spears leaked back in 2007? Monthly salary: $737,000. Amount saved per month: Zero.

Whimsical baby dream photo's

If you haven't heard or seen it yet you should check out the below blog. This woman has amazing baby photo's made with blankets and of course her sleeping baby. She made a book from these beautiful images. A must see!

http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com/

10 Things You Should Stop Paying for in 2012

Kristin Colella
Tuesday, January 3, 2012

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More from

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Looking to tighten your belt in 2012? You can start by using coupons, searching for discounts or simply buying lower-cost versions of the items you typically purchase. But if you're looking for truly big savings, consider entirely cutting out the products and services you really don't need.

"There are lots of things that you can eliminate from your life altogether, and you can do it without sacrificing convenience and quality of living," Andrew Schrage, co-owner of Money Crashers Personal Finance, tells MainStreet.

Indeed, from those daily coffee shop runs to your landline phones, there are many items you can certainly live without this year if you're looking to build up your savings.

[See also: Most Commonly Broken New Year's Resolutions and How to Keep Them]

Here are 10 things to consider cutting from your budget in 2012 so your new year isn't filled with new debt.

Coffee Shop Visits

We know, it's hard to resist those morning coffee shop runs, but even buying just one cup every day can make a dent in your wallet. A small coffee from my local Starbucks (12-oz.) costs $1.75, which equals $12.25 a week if you buy one cup a day or almost $25 if you buy two cups a day.

A cheaper alternative would be to brew your own. You can buy Folgers ground coffee at Wal-Mart for about $10, and that brews about 270 6-oz. cups (or 135 12-oz. cups). The expense of filters is minimal, too. For instance, you can buy a 200-pack of filters by Original Gourmet Food Co. Coffee Pro for about $2 at Wal-Mart.

Incandescent Light Bulbs

You've heard that it's "greener" to switch to energy-efficient light bulbs and that it could save you money on your electric bill in the long run, so if you haven't done so already, what are you waiting for? Although it will cost you a few more dollars up front, replacing just one traditional incandescent bulb with a bulb that qualifies for the government's Energy Star program will save $40 or more over the lifetime of the bulb, and changing five bulbs will save $200 or more over the lifetime of the bulb, according to the Energy Star website. What's more, Energy Star-qualified light bulbs last at least six times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

Disposable Water Bottles

Whether you're heading out to the gym or packing your lunch for work, it's easy to just throw a disposable water bottle in your bag for whenever you get thirsty. But those bottles can really add up, even if you buy them in bulk (a 12-pack of half-liter Poland Spring bottles cost $3.99 at my local grocery store, which only lasts me about a week).

To save money, skip the disposable bottles and buy a reusable Brita water bottle for $9.99, which will purify any tap water you add to it. You'll just need to change the filter every two months, which costs $7.99. That means your costs for the first two months are about $18, and after that you'll only be paying $7.99 every two months for as much water as you'd like to drink.

[See also: Top 5 Credit Score Myths]

Baggage Fees

These days checking a bag for a flight can cost a pretty penny, with Continental, Delta and American Airlines charging $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second checked bag on domestic flights. If you fly often, avoid the fee by packing your things in a carry-on, or consider sharing a checked bag—and splitting the fee—with a family member or friend you might be traveling with.

You could also choose to fly with an airline that does not charge for checked bags. For instance, Southwest will accept the first two checked bags for free, as long as they're not more than 50 pounds and 62 linear inches in size (combined length, width and height) each.

Subscriptions You Don't Use

Is your coffee table cluttered with magazines and newspapers you don't get around to reading? While we're certainly not advocating cutting out any reading materials you rely on, it's worth canceling subscriptions to publications that you really don't read, or that you could easily read for free online. For instance, a subscription to the print edition of The New York Times cost $5.85 per week for daily delivery, and a one-year subscription to Men's Health costs $19.90 plus $4.97 for delivery, but you can read articles from both publications online for no cost.

Baby Food

You want the best for your little one, but those jars of baby food can get pricey. An equally healthy and more affordable option is to make your own baby food. Here's an easy recipe courtesy of Leslie Banister, chef for the website Food on the Table. All you'll need are veggies, water and a blender or food processor. This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients:

1 cup of fresh vegetables

Water

Directions:

-Cut vegetables into small pieces (1-inch cubes).

-Place veggies into a steamer basket with just enough water visible through the steamer basket.

-Steam until tender

-Do not reserve any leftover water to use for thinning out the carrots if your baby is under eight months old, as nitrates may seep into the cooking water.

-Place steamed vegetables into a blender or food processor.

-Add purified water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency.

Credit Score Fees

If you're looking to be more financially sound in the new year, it's a good idea to check your credit score. But while some companies will charge you a fee, others offer free versions—you just have to know where to look. Here are three websites where you could get your score for no charge.

CreditKarma.com: To get your free score, you must create a free account on CreditKarma.com. Doing so requires you to enter your Social Security number and answer some questions about the accounts appearing on your credit report—such as which lender is associated with your auto loan—to verify your identity.

Quizzle.com: You can get a free copy of your Experian credit report and accompanying score on credit monitoring site Quizzle.com. To do so, you must create a free account on the site. Although you won't have to enter your Social Security number, you will have to answer some questions about your credit history to verify your identity.

CreditSesame.com: You can also get a free version of your Experian score on CreditSesame.com, which you can obtain by providing your Social Security number and answering some personal questions to verify your identity. Credit Sesame also has a free iPhone app that will provide a free score as well as monthly updates on your score's status.

Cable

You don't have to shell out hundreds of dollars every year to watch your favorite shows. This year, consider canceling your cable and taking advantage of several free and low-cost entertainment services. The website Hulu, for instance, lets you watch a variety of hit shows for free such as Glee, The Office and Modern Family, plus movies and documentaries. Or for $7.99 a month, you can take advantage of Hulu Plus, which gives you access to all of the selections on regular Hulu, plus more shows and movies.

You can also watch many shows for free on the network's website, or pay $7.99 for Netflix, which provides access to unlimited movies and TV episodes.

Landline Phones

If you think about it, that landline phone really isn't necessary if you're trying to cut costs. You could make calls on your cellphone, or take advantage of free calling services. For instance, Skype provides free calls to other Skype users and free video calling (in which you talk face-to-face with live video).

You can also take advantage of Google Voice, which lets you place free calls to the U.S. and Canada and charges low-cost rates to other locations, including 10 cents per minute to France and Germany.

Schrage also suggests replacing your landline phone with the magicJack, a device that lets you make calls over the Internet. The magicJack plugs into your computer's USB port, and has a standard phone jack into which you can plug a standard phone. The device costs $39.95 the first year plus $6.95 for shipping and handling, and after that you'll only have to pay a $19.95 annual renewal fee

NEW BLOG

OK dont panic!! I am keeping this blog. But last night I couldn't sleep and I came up with an idea for a new blog. To document my journey for this year 2012 to be awesome. I've kinda just been sitting on my butt letting life pass me by and maybe this will help me to motivate myself to get out there and live life. Make things happen. And i'm letting anyone and everyone who wants to participate in this journey even if just sitting on the sidelines and reading, to join.

http://www.theroadlesstraveledlullabye38.blogspot.com/

thats my second blog. Check it out. Maybe all of you can help motivate me. Heres to 2012. Let it be WAY better than 2o11.

Im turning 26 this year and i feel like the last couple of years ive been sitting around waiting for my life to start. Well i realized tonight its already started. This is my life. What am i waiting for?
I have no life relatively speaking. I have no friends. Ok i have friends but i never see them. And while its neither one of us's faults, i could make more of an effort. I guess im just scared. Ive had several best friends throughout the years and they have either left me standing alone or have betrayed me in some way. Or they dont see me as their equal best friend... They r my best friend but i am not their best friend. Im just a good friend that comes around every once in awhile.
Well today is a new day. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I hope. I plan to change all that. I plan to be aggressive with my life. Be proactive. Live my life. Lets hope i dont fail myself...

My horoscope for 2012... I'm a little frightened by this

Year 2012 Overview

Your quest for radical self-love and self-knowledge continues in 2012. Never has the impetus to know yourself, own your core values (even if it means going against the grain) and possess your truth been more essential. No longer can you deny all that is rare and sensational about you. This is truly your breakout year in which your myriad talents will shine!

And get ready to work your horns off this year, Ram. Although your ruling planet, Mars, will spend the first quarter retrograde in Virgo, it will also push you to focus and finish like never before. The devil is definitely in the details this year. Mars retrogrades less frequently than the other planets, but when it does, you surely feel like someone has slammed on the brakes! But don't panic. Rather, consider this a chance to finally catch up on every loose end and unfinished project that's piled up over the past few years.

With Uranus upping the ante in your stars for another round, the status quo of pre-2010 has been left in the dust forever. And by June, the planet of change, Uranus, makes its way towards an exact square with the planet of death and rebirth, Pluto. The changes you experienced in 2011 were simply the tip of the iceberg! With the onslaught of intense cardinal energies barreling toward a standoff this summer, the potential for one-way change this year is deep and unmistakable. Of course, change can be exhilarating if you release your grip on the past and the specific demands of ego. Getting your own way is practically your divine birthright, but this year you'll have to trust that life sometimes brings you what you need at the expense of what you want.

The eclipse patterns of 2012 continue to speed up change in the realms of teaching, education, publishing and travel. If you have any issues with siblings or other close relatives, this could also come into play during the next 12 months as a result of this year's eclipses. On the upside, however, Jupiter will continue to boost your finances until it moves into Gemini in June. November's total solar eclipse in Scorpio in your eighth house of life force, sex and resourcefulness promises to bring sexy back. This eclipse pattern will also reveal any latent interests in psychology or metaphysics, and could also bring money issues to the forefront.

websites to check out for 2012

http://www.self.com/fooddiet/2010/03/20-superfoods-slideshow?mbid=synd_yshop#slide=11

earbuds... just getting to be a fan here's an article on them

The Best Headphones For Your Workout

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By Bari Lieberman, Self.com

When it comes to purchasing workout gear there are three things to look for: comfort, performance and durability. And finding the perfect headphones are just as important as wearing the right sneakers. Polk Audio UltraFit 500 Sports Headphones According to the American Council on Exercise, “important factors to consider when selecting headphones include fit, acoustics, portability, compatibility with your music player and if they stay on while you are exercising.” Another important factor is the material of earbud covering: I’ve found earbuds that have a rubberized covering instead of the flimsy material which always seems to disintegrate after sweaty workouts. With lots of different headphones on the market, here’s what you need to know to find the perfect style for your workout:

More from Self: How to Burn 100 Calories Without Trying Anti-aging Superfoods Running A lot of runners gravitate towards over-the-ear style headphones like the UltraFit collection from Polk Audio (Starting at $40; Yahoo! Shopping) and Yurbuds’s Ironman Endure ($29.99, yurbud.com). This style helps keep the ear buds in place. However, sometimes I’ll pick up a bouncing sound. The Sennheiser sport neckband headphones ($59.99, sennheiserusa.com) received rave reviews on fit, durability and ease of wear on a few running discussion boards I occasionally read for advice. My current running headphones of choice are the flat, blinged-out jazz buds earbuds (meaning they are placed over, not in, the ear canal) from BodyRock Sport ($16,bodyrocksport.com).

H2O Audio’s Surge Pro Courtesy H20 Audio Swimming Listening to your playlist underwater is possible. While you’ll have to find a water-proof covering for you music device, there are plenty of headphones designed for water aerobics, swimming ortriathlons. H2O Audio’s Surge Pro headphones(Starting at $52; Yahoo! Shopping), are designed to handle submersion up to 12 feet (or just an extra sweaty workout). These headphones use a canal bud style meaning the earbuds go directly into the ear canal. While this style tends to produce exactly sound quality, you have to be extra careful with volume levels. Another waterproof option,FINIS: SwimMP3, a waterproof MP3 player which transfer sound through patented bone-conduction sound transfer technology… meaning no ear buds at all ($159.99, finisinc.com)

Zippearz Nouveau Ear Buds zippearz.com Pro Pick Tony Horton of P90X loves the sound quality and comfort level of Zippearz Nouveau Ear Buds (he talks about them on his curated Opensky shop). It's the first ear bud style to offer bass and treble controls (so you can play DJ mid-workout!) and comes with three different sized ear gels as well as an adjustable ear loop to make a customized fit. To help combat hearing loss, the 60/60 rule is a popular mantra to follow: Don't listen to music above 60 percent of max volume and limit music-listening sessions to 60 minutes. Look for noise-cancelling headphones--they block outside noises so you don't have to crank up the volume as much to hear your music.