Flower names and meanings

Have you ever wondered what so many of the beautiful flowers names mean or represent? I found a list of some for you to enjoy! these are from the flowerstore.com


Flower Meanings
Buttercup: represents cheerfulness
Carnation: are a sign of love, red represents longing, and striped carnations represent a refusal of love.
Daisy: are sweet and represent innocence.
Hyacinth: are a true sign of regret and apology
Iris: represent hope, faith, and courage, and are perfect for people going through a hard time!
Lily: is a sign of protection and purity, also majesty.
Orchid: represents love, beauty, and refinement.
Rose: are love, and often used with baby breath
Tulip: is a sign of love as well as charity.


The Signs of the Rainbow
Red: love, passion, impulsiveness
Orange: confidence, kinship, enthusiasm
Yellow: joy, friendship, new beginnings, and jealousy
Green: health, stability, resilience
Blue: pride, success, admiration
Lavender: refinement, femininity
Pink: youth, sweetness, innocence
White: purity, peace, respect

Work, Kids, Family and Fun: Starting A New Career?

Work, Kids, Family and Fun: Starting A New Career?: Have you decided to start a new career? Whether you've lost a job, going back to work, or deciding to change paths during these hard economi...

Starting A New Career?

Have you decided to start a new career? Whether you've lost a job, going back to work, or deciding to change paths during these hard economical times, there are alternatives to seeking employment. Most importantly don't ever give up just keep moving forward towards your new goal, even if the road is rough and the journey is long.

First, prioritize what is most important to least and start small with your goals. Make a list of all your best and qualified skills, update your resume, get online and start searching for areas of work in which you qualify through job listings like careerbuilder.com or jobdig.com etc., reply to job ads and send resume with a cover letter to each job you apply, asking friends and family for job leads, check the classifieds, go to private employment agency, go to job fairs, mail to random employers, apply in person to places of interest, go back to school for further education or start your own business.

My story is about my husband, Don  who lost his job after 10 years to a company that got sold and changed ownership. It was devastating and one of the most stressing times of our lives, but together we found strength and hope. It took a few weeks and hard determination, but together by hitting the internet, friends, job recruiters, ads, and updating resumes my husband found another job. The job wasn't the ideal job, since he had to commute to another city two hours away and stayed in a hotel two nights a week, but it paid the bills until we could find another job closer.

We prayed and six months later, God blessed us with love, strength, hope, and finally another job! But, unfortunately it was still an hour away, though it was better in benefits for health insurance and more income. I feel blessed to  have him find work since he is the bread winner in the family of five, and there is still so many people searching for work in this slow recession.

The bottom line is don't let fear stop you from trying or doing anything that can help improve your life! If one path comes to and end, there are others to choose from and eventually new doors will open for us. Learning from all our good and bad experiences in life will only help build character and sharpen our life skills. Also, going back to school can help us learn a new trade or add more skills in your vocation and possibly increase your chances in a tough work economy.

Another avenue to explore, could be opening a self employed business in an area of your expertise. Take all your knowledge and skills and put them to excellent use towards earning an income should it be by a trade, consulting, cleaning, selling goods, or handyman.  The sky is the limit! So, don't let your age, education, fear, or any other obstacle prevent you from taking charge of your life and changing it to make your lifestyle better. I hope this article has give some encouragement, ideas, and hope for new beginnings!

~Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.
Samuel Smiles~

Panda Express Orange Chicken Recipe!

Recipe-Make it at home (Panda Express Orange Chicken)

Serves 6

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken , chopped into bite sized pieces
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• white pepper
• oil (for frying)
• 1/2 cup cornstarch , plus
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon gingerroot , minced
• 1 teaspoon garlic , minced
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed hot red chili pepper
• 1/4 cup green onion , chopped
• 1 tablespoon rice wine
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

Orange Sauce for Stir Fry

• 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tablespoons water
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 5 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 orange, zest of

Directions:

1. Place chicken pieces in large bowl.
2. Stir in egg, salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon oil and mix well.
3. Stir cornstarch and flour together.
4. Mix flour mixture and egg mixture.
5. Add chicken pieces, stirring to coat.
6. Heat oil for deep-frying in wok or deep-fryer to 375 degrees.
7. Add chicken, small batches at a time, and fry 3 to 4 minutes or until golden crisp.
8. (Do not overcook chicken).
9. Remove chicken from oil with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels; set aside.
10. Clean wok and heat 15 seconds over high heat.
11. Add 1 tablespoon oil.
12. Add ginger and garlic and stir-fry until fragrant; about 10 seconds.
13. Add and stir-fry crushed chiles and green onions.
14. Add rice wine and stir 3 seconds.
15. Add Orange Sauce and bring to boil.
16. Add cooked chicken, stirring until well mixed.
17. Stir water into remaining 1 tablespoon cornstarch until smooth and add to chicken.
18. Heat until sauce is thickned.
19. Stir in sesame oil and orange zest if desired.
20. Serve over jasmine rice

Great decorating ideas for REdecorating your rooms!

Tired of the same old stuff every day, year after year, that is decorating your rooms? Well, I have a few ideas that may bring some new perks into your rooms that need a new face lift!

1. Try changing the lighting...go buy a new lamp to put on a end table.
2. Start using "nature" and go outside and see what beautiful stones, pinecones, nuts, shells, dried flowers, and put these in vases and jars.
3.Family pics and heirlooms can be put into frames and put on shelves to display.
4. Get a new throw rug with color to liven up a room.
5.Paint a room a new color...or add a new paint border to make a room come alive.
6. Add a new floral centerpiece or wall wreath to capture a focal point.
7. Buy some new colorful throw pillows for your couch and add some splash to your furniture.
8. Change up the shelves with new displays..like a collection of some sort, or things your kids made!
9. Get rid of clutter, throw out old magazines, and add new interesting gardening, family, or travel magazines or books.
10. Get some new ideas or objects from garage sales, flea markets, craft stores, many of these places carry unique novelty containers or decor to display.

These are just a few ideas for you to try and liven up your rooms! Be creative and don't be afraid to add new themes or accents to your home for a change. A change can be good! and uplifting for you and your family, plus you will get many compliments on your new redecorating ideas! Hope these ideas get you motivated to try new things and help save you money too!

Nine good ideas for kicking the winter blues!

1. Exercise  Getting exercise isn’t only for maintaining your weight and staying healthy, because it also relieves stresses of life. It also the effects of a good workout can last for several hours after you hit the showers. Most people have more energy throughout the day, and your metabolism with stay elevated. 
2. Healthy Diet We need to avoid refined and processed foods (like white breads, rice, and sugar). Most of these foods cause your body to loose energy and can cause depression,lack of concentration, and mood swings. Eat more fruits and veggies and wholegrains and get your daily 8 cups of water. 
   
3. Get Some Sun
   Sun provides us with Vitamin D, and can help improve your mood. Try leaving your curtains and blinds open for the sunlight to come in, it will improve your mood.
   
4. Avoid Binge Drinking
   Beer and wine may seem like a good thing to do, but in the winter we tend to stay inside and our moods become more depressed like. Alcohol is a depressant so moderate drinking is a good idea.
   
5. Treat Yourself
   Plan a weekned trip, special day, or party to have something to look forward to and keep your mood up. Most times having somthing to look forward to keeps you excited and improves your mood.
   
6. Relax!
   Life is busy! Work, class, family, friends, appointments, meetings are just a few things that take over, so take time for you! Try to spend a few minutes each day doing nothing! Read a book or magazine, sleep in on the weekend, go to bed early, try some meditations, or take in a movie. There are yoga classes for mental and body exercises like meditation and positive thinking can help keep depression at bay.
   
7. Enjoy the Season
   Try to enjoy some of the weather, and see what it has to offer! Some people take up a winter sport like ice skating, snowboarding, hockey, or even sledding! Staying active will boost your energy. Try to see winter in a positive light, with all the fun activities that it has to offer, will keep your spirits high.
   
8. Social Support
   Friends, family, mentors, co-workers, and neighbors are people you can turn to for some pick-me-up times. Something as simple as a phone call, a chat over coffee, or a nice email or letter can brighten your mood.
   
9. Take some naps and catch up  Try to aim for 7-8 hours each night, and try to keep your bedtime and waking time consistent. That way, your sleeping patterns can normalize and you’ll have more energy. Though, don't oversleep, because it will actually make you more tired and lathargic. Also, don’t forget naps! A short 10-30 minute afternoon nap may be all you need to re-energize midday.

Tasty Buttery Pretzels

Buttery Soft Pretzels Recipe

Prep Time:
2 Hrs

Cook Time:
10 Min

Ready In:
2 Hrs 20 Min

Ingredients

• 4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 4 cups hot water
• 1/4 cup kosher salt, for topping
• Directions
  1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into a dough. If the mixture is dry, add one or two tablespoons of water. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water.
  4. When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is all shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
  5. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, until browned. -allrecipes.com

Tips for working moms

The following 12 tips can help working parents juggle all the responsibilities that come with work and parenting children.

• Establish a routine.

A daily routine is essential for working parents. Children do much better when they know what is going to happen next. What is your daily routine? Create a daily schedule for activities.
Include what time you will get up, be out the door, have supper, etc. This will help your children to function better under the circumstances and help you get everything you need to get done throughout the day.

• Include family time in your routine.

The routine must include family time. This is a time for spending time with each other and reconnecting after a long day. It is essential to a healthy family.

• Reliable childcare is a must.

Things will be much easier on you if you know you have childcare you can trust. If your children must have care throughout the day, ease your mind by getting reliable care.

• Refuse to bring work home.

This is hard for some people to do. Classify work time as time in the office, and home time as time with your family. This will keep the two totally separated and be very helpful to you.

• Schedule doctor’s appointments on your days off.

With children come endless doctor’s appointments. To avoid time off from work, schedule appointments on your days off. There are many clinics that are catering to working parents by being open for business during the weekend. Take advantage of these.

• Have a good support system.

Your mom, dad, friends, etc. can help make up a support system that will be very beneficial for working parents. If you are running late, who will pick up the kids? Make sure you have your support system on standby for times that you may need them.

Let your boss know that you have a family.

If you don’ t know your boss on a personal level, explain to him that you have a family and that things often get difficult as a working parent. Bosses are usually in the same situation and are willing help you work through some issues.

• Make your children’s needs a priority.

While working is important, there is no job more important that parenting. Be sure that you are making you children’s needs priority.

• Keep a positive attitude about your job.

A positive attitude can go along ways in parenting your children and completing your daily duties at work. Don’t let a negative attitude ruin your chances for a promotion. Keep a positive attitude regardless of how things are going for you.

• Share responsibilities with your spouse.

This is an important suggestion that can make being a working parent much easier. Realize that if both you and your spouse work, the responsibility of the children must be shared. From feeding to bathing, share it all.

• Opt for take out!

Don’t feel that you have to go home after a long days of work and slave over a meal for your family to be happy. Many times, they will settle for take-out. Choose a night of the week to go for pizza and enjoy each other’s company instead of cooking a big meal.

• Find some alone time to sit back and unwind.

After the day is finished, there must still be time for you. Include a small area of time in your daily schedule to spend reading and relaxing from a long hard day. This can help reenergize your mind and prepare you for the next day.
Being a working parent isn’t easy. Its like having two full time jobs. Use the tips listed above to help you be both the best employee and parent that you can possibly be.-lovingourchild.com