Watermelon taken to a whole new level!

Did you know Japan has square watermelons? - They stack better. How about a Heart-shaped? This is the latest twist on Japan's love affair with the juicy green fruit.

A Japanese farmer and his wife cultivated the heart-shaped watermelon. It took this couple three years to perfect the shape "It was an act of love for the couple where they wanted the fruit of their labor to symbolize their feelings for each other." according to the weird Asia news (Hmm, I wonder what shape will the watermelon take if they were to get divorced?). The lovely watermelons sold for 15,750 yen ea - that works out to a whooping $160 per melon!   

... It's been a while

Hello everyone! it's been a while. Sorry for being away for so long. I will do my best to keep up with the blog and talk about random things!

With that said, I will leave you with this:

This is for star wars fans - Do you know how how the name "R2D2" came about?

When George Lucas was mixing the American Graffiti soundtrack, he numbered the reels of film starting with an R and numbered the dialog starting with  a D. Sound designer Walter Murch asked George for Reel 2, Dialog 2 by saying "R2D2". George liked the way that sounded so much he integrated that into another project he was working on (star wars).

6 Inches of Bliss

The Dogzilla that ate my sub!

Today, I came home from work with a delicious chicken parmigiana sub. My dogs were so happy to see me but I think it was all about the sub and not me. I can't blame them, the sub  smelled delish!

I set the sub on the table to cool for a bit and walked for a few minutes. On my back to the kitchen I hear my dog gagging as she was trying to swallow a 6" sub!!!!!  Ohh, she was in trouble and she knew it. I was assed out. She really scored on this one!

The Wonders of Vinegar!

White distilled vinegar is a popular household cleanser, effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, due to its level of acidity. No harsh chemicals. You’ll also be glad to know that it is environmentally friendly and very economical. I love cleaning with vinegar it also leaves a sweet smell through out the house!  

Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.

Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar.

Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so, then run hot water down the drain.

Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.

Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.

Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator with a half-and-half solution of water and white distilled vinegar.

Avoid the bad smell when you heat up a newly cleaned oven by using a sponge soaked in diluted white distilled vinegar for the final rinse.

To clean a grease splattered oven door window, saturate it with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Keep the door open for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping with a sponge.

Remove soap buildup and odors from the dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.

To prevent good glassware from getting etched by minerals, wash then spray with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Give the glasses a hot water rinse before letting them dry or drying them with a towel.

For cloudy glassware, soak paper towels or a cloth in full-strength white distilled vinegar and wrap around the inside and outside of the glass. Let sit awhile before rinsing clean.

Get rid of lime deposits in a tea kettle by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the water and letting it sit overnight. If more drastic action is needed, boil full-strength white distilled vinegar in the kettle a few minutes, let cool and rinse with plain water.

Remove stains from coffee and teacups by scrubbing them gently with equal parts of salt (or baking soda) and white distilled vinegar. Rinse clean.

Discourage ants by spraying undiluted white distilled vinegar outside doorways and windowsills, around appliances and wherever you find the pests coming in.

Get rid of fruit flies by setting out a small dish of undiluted white distilled vinegar.

Clean the wheel of a can opener using white distilled vinegar and an old toothbrush.

Remove the smell of spoiled food from a refrigerator by first rinsing the area with soap and water. Spray surfaces with full-strength white distilled vinegar and wipe them down with a damp cloth or sponge. Fill some containers with baking soda and place inside. Close the door and leave for a few days.

To make cleaning the grill easier, spray a solution of half water and half white distilled vinegar on the cooking surface.

To remove a label, decal, or price tag, cover with a cloth soaked in white distilled vinegar. Leave the cloth on overnight and the label should slide off.

Renew sponges and dishrags by placing them in just enough water to cover them. Then add 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar. Let them soak overnight.

Kill germs all around the bathroom with a spray of full-strength white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Spray shower doors with full-strength white distilled vinegar after you’ve squeegeed the glass, or before you step in and turn on the water. It will help release the hard water deposits so they don’t remain on the glass.

These are only few uses of vinegar, I will be posting more in the future!

Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steaks

I made philly cheese steaks for the first time yesterday and they came out delicious! This cheese steak recipe is not only very tasty, but it is very easy to make using a slow cooker. Enjoy!


Ingredients

2 pounds beef tri tip steak
1 cup beef stock
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
1 large green pepper, sliced
8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms (optional)
12 slices white American cheese
6 French or Italian sandwich rolls, split

Directions

Place beef in the slow cooker crock. Pour beef stock, vinegar, and Worcestershire over beef (add some onion and a garlic clove to broth). Cook on Low until beef is cooked to medium, 3-4 hours. Remove cooked beef from broth and set aside. Reserve broth.

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook mushrooms in oil until they begin to soften; add onion and green pepper. Cook and stir until vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.
Slice beef thinly. Divide beef and vegetables evenly among the rolls. Top each sandwich with 2 slices cheese; wrap in foil.
Place sandwiches in preheated oven and heat until cheese is melted; about 10 minutes. Serve hot sandwiches with reserved beef broth, if desired.

8 Free Blockbuster Express DVD Rentals

These coupon codes work like a charm! I can honestly say these are the real deal. If you are renting more than one movie, do it one at a time to take advantage of the free rental

http://www.blockbusterexpress.com/ - These codes expire July 29, and are valid on the $1 dvd rentals:

76KBDJ2
59NCRP8
88SVEM8
36MMMT9
83RBPW2
54JDAB9
95TGAF3
94BCRD6

Free Dog Sleeping Bag | Pet Maxi

UPDATE: That's rough. Free dog sleeping bag was a scam. Sorry everyone.