Skip to main content

Keep Your Head Up - It's Time For A Game at The Virtual Girls Night Out!

Ann Again and again the original Virtual Girls Night Out

Last weekend I was in the Napa Valley, sipping wine in the warm sunshine and enjoying every second of that glorious place.  Have you been?  Entering this weekend I am in the sunshine, yes.  But warm?  Nope.  Not at all.  The last few mornings I've been scrapping ice of the car windows and shaking my head when I read the temperature of 21 degrees.  Huh?  What's up Portland?!  How's the weather where you are?  Let's get going with our Virtual Girls Night Out and never mind the weather.

To participate In The Virtual GNO:  Enjoy this post! ;-> For our weekly Friday night blog party all you need to make this party complete is a beverage of your choice (cocktail recipe below for inspiration) and your fuzzy slippers! If you choose to participate with the meme and/or game leave your blog link for guests to visit you! I started this blog party in 2008 and bloggers have been virtually partying ever since.  Visit your fellow party guests - say "Happy VGNO!!!"  Share the blog game/meme/question on your site to play along.


Time For Some Tunes!

 (Latest favorite :->)

Ben Howard  "Keep Your Head Up"


Time For A Cocktail!

Ann Again and again Friday Night Party -- Virtual GNO


Ingredients




t
8 whole cardamom pods
2 stick(s) cinnamon
12 whole cloves
4 cup(s) dry red wine
2 can(s) (6-ounces) frozen cranberry concentrate
2 2/3 cup(s) water
1/2 cup(s) mild honey, or to taste
1 cup(s) crème de cassis
1 orange, sliced into thin crecents
Directions
Make spice packet: Pinch open cardamom pods to release seeds and place them on a piece of cheesecloth or paper coffee filter. Add cinnamon and cloves and tie with string to make a pouch.
Heat the punch: Pour wine, cranberry concentrate, water, and honey into a 6-quart saucepan or crockpot. Submerse spice packet in the liquid and heat (don't boil). Let punch steep for at least 15 minutes or up to 4 hours.
To serve: Remove and discard spice pouch. Add crème de cassis and divide punch among cups. Float orange slices in cups. Serve warm.


Yes please!  Cheers!


Time For a Party Game!

Since we have special celebrations upon us that focus on food, time for:

Thanksgiving Me A Stomach Ache!
  • Name a food you didn't like as a child at Thanksgiving but like to eat now:
  • Have you ever claimed to be allergic to a food just to get out of eating it?  If so, what was it?
  • Baked goodies are a staple for holiday dining however not all of us have the gift. Have you tried to make a holiday dessert only to discover you forgot and/or added too much of an ingredient?  Do tell!

Answer 1 or all 3 of these questions on your blog, or leave a comment below  :->


Friday Night Party ----- Virtual GNO

Thank you for visiting and joining in our weekly Friday night party, the Virtual Girls Night Out.  Cheers!


Popular posts from this blog

Miss Poodle Perm, That's Me!

Jill of Scary Mommy is doing a linky post about school pictures. You know the ones, possibly you didn't smile a sweet smile, just the smirk of panic. Or you didn't know it was picture day because you had been out sick for a week and you show up in your most comfortable shirt and bed-head. (Yep. That happened to me. The smile was good though!) Well, my scanner isn't working or else I would post a particular picture from Freshman year. Since I don't have a visual, here's the story: I remember my first day of High School. Actually what I remember is the picture taken of me leaving for my first day of High School. I'm wearing a brave smile, but the hair, the hair , my hair style was a nightmare. My two best friends and I were going to be attending a High School out of our district. That was stressful enough. To add to this new-ness we wanted new looks as well. K. was going to sport the Argyle and Alligator shirt look. W. was going for 'All Monogram
Read more here»

This Is Quite The Blog Party! Add Your Blog To Turn It Up Tuesday!

Ever dream of having a day when you receive breakfast in bed, not one lick of housework is done - by you! - and the weather matches the mood of the day, which is 'lovely'.  Well, I had such a day on Mother's Day and I am so grateful to my family.  ( Could we do it again soon?  I vote 'yes! ')  How was your weekend?  Do tell.  I'm so happy to be a guest host for the blog hop Turn It Up Tuesday.  Add your blog link and meet some terrific Bloggers! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Happy Mother's Day!!!! What did you moms out there do today? We'd love to hear it! Share it here on Turn It Up Tuesday! Welcome to the 34th week of Turn It Up Tuesday! Thanks so much to everyone that joins us each week and makes this blog hop the best that it could be! As you may know, Turn It Up Tuesdays is all about being happy, excited, energetic...and having fun! Link up your favorite posts and meet some awesome b
Read more here»

My Questions Answered By Chef Pati Jinich - Video

Rob and I have been focusing on finding foods and spices that will help us take some weight off.  I've been slightly obsessed with staying on my exercise track (on week 8 now :->) and hope to get rid of this jiggly belly that has become wa-a-a-ay too comfortable on my body.  The older you get the harder it is to lose weight.  What I would say to my 40 year old self - 'See that pouch starting?  Do your crunches and planks now!  7 years from now it's going to get ugly !' I've found that spices cumin, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes and turmeric are noted to increase metabolism.  ( Yes please !)  After a good workout coconut water is more beneficial in regulating your electrolytes, and lower in calories, than sports drinks.  It also contains more potassium than other drinks which is an important component in helping to build muscle which, in turn, helps you burn more calories. And my most surprising discovery - eating avocados help burn belly fat! I&#
Read more here»