Archive for the ‘Entertainment’ Category
Frugal Christmas Menu Ideas
Nowadays many families are trying spend wisely over the holiday season, which is a bit tricky this time of year. There are several ways that you can save money on your holiday dinner, and still have a welcoming Christmas menu for all to enjoy. These cost cutting tips will help you stretch your food dollars without feeling like you are being deprived.
It isn’t always easy trying to stick with a holiday budget. If pressed for time, you might be tempted to splurge on foods for your Christmas menu that are out of your price range. To avoid time crunch spending, you definitely need to plan ahead, and begin shopping for non perishables several weeks in advance. Look for boxed and canned items, as well as items that can be frozen right after Thanksgiving.
If you are shopping at your local supermarket, then you might want to consider looking around for deals at other stores nearby. Over the holidays, it might be worth the extra drive if you can save money on foods that you need for your Christmas menu. The gas that you use won’t go to waste when you can shop for foods at a discount store your local grocer, and you should be able to buy most, if not all, of the foods that you need for your meal.
While this may also be one of the more obvious tips that you receive this holiday season, remember that making the foods that you want on your Christmas menu yourself will be more budget friendly than buying prepared foods from the grocers or delis in your area.
While it is much easier to pick up a prepared tray of cold cuts and cheeses, preparing the tray yourself will save money, and you will have some leftovers for a family snack, later. If you are pressed for time during Christmas, then you can always call in the family for help. Kids are especially good at decorating cookies, and Mom and Dad can share the prep work in the kitchen.
If you are like many families your kids probably have you up early Christmas morning. How about switching your Christmas menu to a home cooked breakfast. Your family will love having french toast, bacon and juice after opening the gifts and breakfast foods are typically cheaper than other foods. To make things even simpler, find breakfast casserole recipes that you can prepare and refrigerate the night before and just bake the next morning.
For families who have a buffet style dinner, the option of turning a turkey tenderloin and a ham into a sandwich buffet would be a big hit. Turn it into a pot luck for a less costly with guests bringing a dish to pass for a nice variety. You will want to make sure that you pre-plan the Christmas menu, so that you know who is bringing a dish to pass and get an idea of who is bringing what. That way you are sure to have a nice variety of food.
If you are intent on having a traditional Christmas dinner, making all of your foods yourself should really help stretch your budget, and your family will love having homemade foods and treats on the Christmas menu.
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Tags: budget Christmas, cheap Christmas, cheap Christmas ideas, Christmas, Christmas menu, family, frugal Christmas, frugal holidays, frugal living, holidays, Home, home and family, save money
LJ’s Big Movie
GUARDIANS OF EVIL (L.J.s Biker Movie Idea)
I have been writing for years I have a few Biker book, Movie and even Biker Cartoon ideas. Because I have to be careful about posting them on-line so they do not get stolen I haven’t posted any. This is a very small part and just the beginning of a story I have been working on. It takes place in a world where the Government and the Police have become completely Corrupt. All the Motorcycle Clubs had been framed and blamed by the police for all the Crime and problems to cover and shift everyone’s attention from what our Government had been up to. When everything had fallen apart and America had fallen into the hands of the corrupt and Criminals where now running everything, There was no one left to turn to. The Bikers the world had been told to fear, Who had been shown as the ones who where evil, Decided it was time to turn the tables and they started the Motorcycle Club GUARDIANS OF EVIL in order to start to bring Justice back to the world. The idea of the character of Kyle is something along the lines of a mix of Dartanian in the three Musketeers and Bruce Wayne from Batman . He will become one of them, But first he must learn, And the Adventure Begins!!!
GUARDIANS OF EVIL
Scene 1
The Sky was dark and cloudy and a slight mist of rain started to fall on Kyle Star Jr’s face mixing with the tears that fell freely from his dark brown eyes, How appropriate though Kyle as he looked over the freshly dug hole that his fathers casket had been lowered into just hours before. With no raincoat or umbrella He was soon soaked and his shoulder length brown hair clung to his face. Everyone else had left long ago, his and his fathers, Friends Family and Fans had Hugged him and said things to Kyle to comfort him but they where like ghosts to him an he felt and heard nothing of what they said. Kyle looked around the cemetery and saw there where still three News vans there waiting. He knew they would want to talk to him, After all he was the son of the worlds greatest Motorcycle racer and at 6′ 160 lbs he was the spitting image of his now late Father. He knew now that his Father was gone all everyone wanted to know was if He would be taking his Fathers place on the Race Track! Let them wait though Kyle, as he could not bear to leave his Fathers graveside yet. He knew that when he left the graveside the life he had once known would be gone forever. His father had been everything to him. His best Friend, his Mentor and his Hero. Kyle had never known his Mother an now at just 18 years old he found himself alone and on his own. The whole World had seen his Father die on the racetrack that day as he raced that one last time. He was far ahead in the lead and no others in the race where even close to him when He suddenly “lost control” of his motorcycle Crashing into the wall at close to 200 Miles an hour. Kyle had ran to help his Father but there was nothing he or anyone could do, A legend was gone Kyle Star Sr had died instantly!
Kyle Jr Heard a voice whisper his name bringing him out of his dream like state. He looked up to see the Reporters face; he had seen her many times before on TV. She was not just any reporter but some well known big shot. She had interviewed Kyle’s Father more then once over the many years of his racing career, but at this moment she was just another Ghost to Kyle. “What do you want?” he asked her Kyle I’m sorry to bother you at this very sad time She said. But the world wants to know what you are going to do next after your father’s accident, Will you take his place? Will you race? Kyle’s faced turned red his eyes grew wide with tears, he looked different even his voice seemed to change as he looked at her and said. The crash was NO Accident My Father was Murdered and I Know who is responsible! As Kyle looked straight into the Camera he spoke words that he would live to regret, “I will be coming for you!” Turning and looking at the reporter Kyle shouted “How’s that for an exclusive” Then he turned and walked away as the sky opened up and the rain started to come down hard!
Scene 2
The Taxi Pulled up in front of the bar and Kyle threw a handful of cash at the driver not even Bothering to count it. It had been six Months since his fathers Funeral and the man who stepped out of the Cab looked very little like the Man who had cried for hours by his Fathers graveside. Kyle now looked mean and rough a short beard on his face and his uncombed hair was covered by a Black dew-rag. The suit he had worn at his fathers funeral was now replaced with a t-shirt, leather vest, Blue jeans and work Boots. Kyle looked at the run down looking bar on the corner called “The Hoggs Penn” A clever play on The old Harley Nic Name, He though to himself. He saw about 20 Bikes parked out front, Most of them where Harley’s But he could see a few other Brands mixed in with the pack. This is it he though my fathers Killer is inside and soon one of us will be dead. He could hear the song Welcome to the Jungle By Guns an Roses blasting from the Juke box inside as he walked up to the door, opened it an walked inside. There was a large dirty looking Biker working the door in a cut off T-shirt with some Bike shops name on it. The Guys arms where Huge and covered in Tattoos. You got some ID there boy? He asked Kyle. How’s this? Kyle asked as he Placed a one Hundred dollar Bill on the table next to the Man. Looks good to me he said with a Smile as he put the cash in his pocket. Have fun JR he laughed as Kyle looked around the loud Smokey bar. The walls where covered in Biker posters and Hundreds of different stickers from Bike Shops, other Bars and Club Support stickers. The place was packed with many large Bikers; some had patches on their back showing they belonged to one club or another. There where five really great looking girls in very tight skimpy outfits Dancing on the Bar, on a different night in a different time I might have really enjoyed this place he though, as the first smile in a long time crossed his face. The smile only lasted a second as some drunk walked into him growling “watch where I’m walking boy” as he went past walking to the back of the bar heading towards the bathroom.
Kyle started thinking maybe I’m in over my head here as he saw most of these Bikers where much larger then him. One large Biker standing by the corner of the bar really stood out to Kyle, The guy had to be at least 6′ft 10in tall and over 300 lbs all of it muscle, he was wearing a long Black leather trench coat that went to about an inch from the floor, He had long golden blond hair that made him standout even more in a dark bar. Kyle felt as if this man was trying to warn him with his eyes. Kyle suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder and was spun around, he felt the wind get knocked out of him as he was punched in the gut harder then he had thought possible. Four large Bikers grabbed him and pulled him towards two large doors in the back of the Bar. One of the Men kicked open the doors that lead to an alley out back. They dragged Kyle threw the doors and then tossed him to the ground. As he looked up he saw a large muscular Bald Black man about 6ft 2inches tall, wearing a black leather vest way to small for him. He had no shirt on underneath showing the world just how many muscles he had, lighting a cigar. He smiled at Kyle and then kicked him hard in his gut knocking the wind out of him once more. Boy you are about to learn a very valuable life lesson, unfortunately you isn’t going to live long enough for it to do you no good! Boy you never tell your enemy you are coming for him! An you go an do it on National TV. What was you thinking? Yeah said Kyle while trying to catch his breath. I realized that was probably not a good idea about two seconds after I did it. Kyle got a very serious look on his face as he said; I’m here to kill you Bob! You know that Right? Kyle stood up and pulled out a gun with the speed of an old west gun fighter. Badass Bob huh? How bad you feel right now with a Gun pointed at your head? Actually Boy I feel just fine! A split second later before Kyle could pull the trigger he found himself back on the ground with a large throbbing bump on the back of his head, one of Bob’s men had hit him hard with a crowbar. Kyle felt himself slowly passing out and the world going black around him, He could see Bob and his men standing over him smiling, they all had Guns in their hands. This is it Kyle though to himself now I die and my Fathers killer goes free! Just don’t seem right, where is the Justice in this world? Just Before the world went completely black and Kyle passed out, He could have sworn he saw a streak of Gold pass overhead and heard the sounds of someone fighting!
Scene 3
As Kyle awoke he could feel a throbbing in his head, He could feel a large bump with his hand on the back of his head where he had been hit. He was laying on a couch in a room that was very bright. As he rolled over to look around the room he spoke the words “Where am I”. He was Surprised when he got the answer, Your still alive, So I would not worry about anything more right now! As Kyle looked to see who had spoken the words, he could see it was the large Golden haired man he had thought was warning him at the Bar. As Kyle looked around the room he could see there where other people in the room with them, They all looked like hardcore Bikers and on one of the walls he could see a banner hanging, on it where the words GUARDIANS OF EVIL MC
L.J. James AmericanBikerX.com. This is just the beginning I hope, I’m looking to see if there is any Studio’s, Publishers excreta…. looking to fund this project!!! About the Author: LJ represents the Mortal Skulls Motorcycle Club He has helped this Collection Agency for years.
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Tags: biker story, guardians of evil, harley stories
Wine Refrigerators - Five Tips To Help You Choose
With the ever increasing interest in wine, more and more people are seeking the best accessories to go along with their wine collections. State of the art “wine centers” are becoming integral aspects of stylish home decor, as wine lovers move beyond functional to an emphasis on presentation.
Wine refrigerators are quickly becoming the preferred storage method for wine collectors. There are multiple styles and sizes available, and at price points from less than $100 to several thousand dollars. Let’s look at a few key questions to ask before you make your purchase.
What Size Is Best?
One thing to consider is how quickly you’ll outgrow the storage capacity of a small unit. Our first wine refrigerator was a six bottle unit, which we still own. But, we quickly outgrew its storage capacity when we discovered a few great wine finds on our U.S. wine trail excursions. So our advice is, when in doubt, buy a unit that’s a little bigger.
What About Storing Reds And Whites Together?
Feel free to store both your red and white wines, but be aware there are storage temperature differences between the two. In essence, reds are normally stored at higher temperature than whites. If you enjoy and store both red and white wine, consider buying a wine refrigerator with dual zone temperature controls. This will ensure your wine is stored at the proper temperature.
What Storage Features Should I Look For?
One feature we really enjoy in our wine refrigerator are the slide out shelves. Slide out shelving makes access and viewing much easier for us and our guests. Another factor are the size of wine bottles you’ll store. Some wineries are bottling their wine in magnum style bottles, which are slightly larger than standard wine bottles. You’ll want to make sure your refrigerator can handle both.
What About Temperature And Humidity?
Keeping your wine in proper temperature and humidity conditions is the primary reason to own a wine refrigerator. Ideal temperature for wine storage is 55 degrees, and humidity levels should range between 50 and 70 percent to prevent dried out corks. If you’re planning to put your refrigerator in the garage, for example, be sure to choose a unit that’s well insulated and won’t be affected by fluctuating temperatures.
Anything Else To Consider?
Expect to pay about $100 for a small six bottle model, and well over $1000 for a unit holding 50+ bottles. If you’re storing your refrigerator in a secluded place in your home, choose function over style. Conversely, if your wine refrigerator will occupy a more prominent place, make sure the unit is quiet enough to live with. Finally, remember that proper wine storage is crucial to enjoying your wine to its fullest potential. Storage at proper temperature keeps a wine fresh, and allows you to enjoy the full bouquet of flavor.
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Tags: capacity, variable temp wine storage, wine collection, wine refrigerator
Gambling On Thoroughbred Horse Racing
Thoroughbred horse racing is one of the oldest types of horse racing and is enjoyed on almost every continent around the world. One thing that makes Thoroughbred horse racing so exciting is that the spectators and horse racing fans can place wagers on the races in hopes of winning some extra money. What many people do not realize is that there are many different methods available in which horse racing fans can place wagers on Thoroughbred horse races.
The old fashioned method of placing wagers on Thoroughbred horse racing is to go in person to the race track where the event is to take place and place bets at the ticket window. There are pros and cons to betting in this way on Thoroughbred horse racing.
When you place your bets in person on Thoroughbred horse races, you have the advantage of being able to look at the horses for yourself and evaluate how likely you think a given horse is to win the race; all before you place a bet. Another great thing is that you can be in the stands during the race. As any Thoroughbred horse racing fan can tell you, this is very exciting.
One disadvantage that is associated with this form of wagering is that most people around the world are not within close proximity to a live horseracing track and cannot use this method of wagering. This is why there are many other forms of Thoroughbred betting available to horse racing enthusiasts.
Another form of wagering that is commonly used by horse racing fans is the Internet. One of the reasons why this form of wagering is so popular is that there are many advantages associated with this form of wagering. One of the obvious advantages associated with this particular form of wagering is that gamblers can place a wager from any location in which there is a connection to the Internet.
There is one other important advantage to betting on Thoroughbred horse races over the world wide web: you can find all of the statistics you need to make a well informed bet on Thoroughbred horse racing. You can look up the horse’s speed, finish times, win percentage and other statistics, as well as learn about the horse’s jockey and their trainers.
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Tags: betting on horses, thoroughbred horse racing, winning money
