Monday, October 31, 2011
National Candy Apple Day - October 31st
Candy Apple Recipe
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter, for parchment paper
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring, (optional)
- 6 medium apples, or 12 lady apples
Directions
1. Line
a baking sheet with parchment paper; butter parchment, and set aside. In a
medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, 3/4 cup water, corn syrup, and
food coloring, if using. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to
medium-high. Insert candy thermometer and continue to boil until temperature
reaches between 300 degrees and 310 degrees (hard crack stage), about 20
minutes.
2. Meanwhile,
insert a wooden stick into the top of each apple, pushing about halfway
through; set aside. When mixture reaches temperature, immediately remove from
heat. Working quickly, dip apples in sugar mixture until completely coated.
Transfer to prepared baking sheet; allow to cool.
Recipe
from http://www.marthastewart.com/338890/candy-apples
Don’t forget to check out the latest free swag. Get yours while supplies last.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Lucky Starbucks Gift Card Recipients
Congratulations
to the six lucky recipients of the Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway!
Rhonda Shaw, NY
Catherine Aldana, FL
Rachel Wyatt, CA
Malia Palea, HI
Tracy Brumfield, IN
Abigail Castro, WA
If
you didn’t get a gift card, watch for the “Target Gift Card Giveaway” starting next month!
New and Improved
The new Our Banana Moments main website is
finally up and running! Please visit to grab free swag, discount shopping,
coupons, and blog posts ranging from recipes to healthcare topics. Enjoy!
http://ourbananamoments.com
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Free and Easy
There is
nothing better than getting free loot!
Many blogs and websites offer free giveaways. Unfortunately, the giveaways generally require you to jump
through flaming hoops and perform other feats of clickery before you can claim
your free booty. Color me lazy,
but, I miss plenty of free treasures just because there are too many “do this
and then click here” directions.
This one banana just wants the free stuff. Our Banana Moments has changed the drama to getting free
swag. With us, just complete your
shopping cart, check out and your item will be sent to you – too easy. You should not have to work so hard
to get free giveaways and now you do not have too.
Go ahead, click here and see how easy it is to get something free!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Free Starbucks Gift Card
- Get the new Starbucks Braille Fall Leaves gift card. The Fall 2011 card is all about the brilliant colors of autumn’s changing leaves. Given that October is also National Disability Awareness Month, Starbucks has taken the opportunity to release their first Starbucks Card with Braille lettering so that all can share.
Starbucks Coffee Gift Card
Available: 5
Get yours while supplies last!
Get yours while supplies last!
The Money Pit
My favorite banana likes projects, as do I. There is
nothing wrong with projects; in fact, Our Banana Moments is my colossal
project. The good thing about
projects is that despite the occasional hair-raising brushes with irritation,
we love the gratification of the “I made it myself” feeling. His grace’s latest project is restoring
a BMW that he was able to get for an unbelievably low price. Unfortunately, this project has hit a
nightmare of a snag otherwise known as the money pit. This could also be thought of as the make-up on the
unbelievably low price. Why is it so hard to get something for nothing? You
might be wondering, why am I writing about the beloved project? Well, just as much as he shares the
excitement of “I made it myself”, he is equally generous when it comes to sharing
the frustration of the money pit, which I am now passing on to you in the form
of this post. Enjoy!
Our Banana Moments has a new email address –
followthebanana@ourbananamoments.com
Monday, October 17, 2011
Free Swag
 |
| Banology |
Get yours while supplies last!
Butler GUM
Butlerweave
Dental Floss
Travel Sized Mint
Waxed Floss
Size: 2 x 12 Yards of Floss
Available: 8
 | |
| Click the pic to get yours |
Scrubbing Bubbles
Toilet
Cleaning Gel
Everything Included
one dispenser, six gel
discs
Available: 12
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| Click the pic to get yours |
Friday, October 14, 2011
Never fear when Phoenix Jones is near.
Wow, just when I had given up hope on humankind in favor of bananas, up springs an
authentic superhero. It would seem
that Seattle has its very own self-proclaimed superhero. Phoenix Jones, legally known as Benjamin John Francis Fodor, 23, comes complete with
superhero costume and mask. I
wonder if he has seen the recently box office super hero releases such as The
Green Lantern, The Green Hornet, or Captain America? Has he overdosed on these movies and can no longer separate
reality from fiction? No matter
the case, he was arrested after pepper spraying club goers. Although charges have not been filled,
this begs the question, is Seattle the new Gotham?
Hmmm if I were a superhero, who would I be? Cat Woman hands
down if it would be possible to find enough material to make me a costume that
would fit. Would I need special powers or just plenty of pepper spray? If you could be a superhero, who would you be?
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Bruises and Contusions
Bruises and Contusions by Nurse’s
Notes
A bruise is
an injury of the tissue under the skin that causes an area of discolored skin. Another word for bruise is contusion.
Bruises often result from an injury
such as a fall or blow. Small blood vessels bleed into the tissues under the
skin and cause the skin to change colors.
There are things that may make you
bruise more easily, such as medicines or supplements, a lack of certain vitamins,
or a blood-clotting problem. Older adults
bruise more easily because their blood vessels are more fragile and their
skin thins with age.
Reduce the risk of bruising by
wearing protective padding When playing contact sports or engaging in
activities that increase your risk of trauma.
Symptoms
·
pain
·
swelling
·
discolored skin
·
Some bruises may cause only a
little tenderness, but deep bruises of muscles can make it very painful to move.
Bruises are usually purple at first and then slowly fade over a couple of weeks to various shades of
brown, yellow, and green.
Treatment
Most bruises need no special
treatment. The body will repair the bruised area and the skin will return to a
normal color.
·
Put a cool damp washcloth, ice
pack, or package of frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth on the bruise for 15
to 20 minutes at a time (longer might cause frostbite), 4 to 8 times a day for
1 to 2 days after the injury.
·
Lightly wrap the bruised area
with an elastic bandage (Ace® wrap) if it is swollen.
·
Keep the injured area propped
up above the level of the heart as much as possible to help decrease the pain
and swelling.
·
When the swelling has stopped,
usually after the second day, a warm washcloth or heating pad set on the lowest
setting may help the bruise heal faster.
·
Do not massage the bruised area.
·
Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or
over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®)
or naproxen (Aleve®, Naprosyn®) may help decrease your pain. You should not
take ibuprofen or naproxen if you have a history of bleeding in your stomach.
See your health care provider if:
- You have unusually large or painful bruises — particularly if your bruises seem to develop for no known reasons.
- You bruise easily and you are experiencing abnormal bleeding elsewhere, such as from your nose or gums, or you notice blood in your eyes, stool or urine.
- You have no history of bruising, but suddenly experience bruises.
Banana Peanut Butter Cream Tart
I found this easy to make and yummy to eat recipe at JIF Recipes
1 Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crust (from 15-oz box), softened as directed on box
6 tablespoons LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened
1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups 1/4-inch slices firm ripe bananas (about 2 medium)
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup Fisher® Party Peanuts, finely chopped
DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 450°F. Unroll pie crust; place in ungreased 9- or 9 1/2-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Press crust firmly against bottom and side of pan; fold excess crust over and gently press into side of pan to make double thickness. Prick bottom of crust with fork several times. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 25 minutes.
In medium bowl, beat butter, cream cheese, peanut butter and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth and creamy. Spread peanut butter filling in tart shell, building up side 1 inch and leaving shallow indentation in center of filling. Fill indentation with bananas; gently press into filling.
In small bowl, beat whipping cream on high speed until soft peaks form (do not overbeat). Spread whipped cream over filling and bananas. Sprinkle peanuts around edge of tart. Refrigerate 1 hour or until chilled. Store covered in refrigerator.
For more recipes go to Kitchen Bananas
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Pneumonia - Nurse's Notes
What is Pneumonia by Nurse's Notes
What Is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is
an infection and inflammation of the lungs.
Do I have pneumonia?
Common
symptoms of pneumonia include one or more of the following:
o
Fever and chills
o
Cough
o
Shortness of breath
o
Chest pain, especially when you take a breath
o
Coughing up mucus, sometimes blood stained
o
Muscle aches
o
Not all pneumonias cause a high fever. The only symptom may be
several days or weeks of dry cough, often with extreme tiredness. In the case
of older adults, the only sign of pneumonia may be confusion or a decrease in
physical activity.
How did I get pneumonia?
Pneumonia
occurs when the lungs are exposed to germs not usually present in the lungs.
Your lungs may have become infected because:
· You were exposed to a
large amount of a virus or bacteria.
· Your immune system is
compromised because you were already ill, for example, with the flu.
· You have another illness,
such as diabetes, chronic bronchitis, or cancer. A chronic illness can make it
easier for you to get all kinds of infections. This is why so many older adults
develop pneumonia.
· You breathed in
(aspirated) stomach contents. Aspiration pneumonia occurs when gastrointestinal
problems cause stomach contents to back up into the esophagus and trachea. From
there, they are breathed into the lungs. The bacteria that normally live in the
mouth can cause pneumonia if breathed into the lungs.
· You have recently had
surgery, especially if you had general anesthesia.
What are ways to treat pneumonia?
✓
If you smoke, stop.
If someone else in your household smokes, ask them to smoke out side.
✓
If you were given a prescription for antibiotics, be sure to get
it filled right away. Follow the directions exactly. Take the medicine until it is completely gone. Do not stop taking
it just because you feel better
✓
Rest until you no longer have a fever, chest pain, or shortness
of breath.
✓
Coughing helps to clear the airways of mucus and will help
relieve chest congestion and make it easier to breathe. Use cough medicine only
if your provider recommends that you take it to help you get some rest.
✓
It is very important to breathe deeply several times an hour
when you have pneumonia. If you do not breathe deeply, the lower parts of your
lungs can collapse like an inner tube with a slow leak. When the lungs
collapse, your pneumonia can get worse.
✓
Drink plenty of liquids.
✓
Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory
medicine such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) or naproxen ( Aleve®, Naprosyn®)
may help decrease your pain (avoid taking ibuprofen or naproxen if you have a history of bleeding in your stomach).
✓
Do not mix narcotic pain medications (such as Tylenol with
codeine) with alcohol, driving, or participate in any other activities that you
need to be clear-headed and alert for.
✓
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or
sneezing and then throw it away in the nearest waste receptacle.
What if my symptoms worsen?
Seek emergency medical attention if:
o
Your cough is getting worse instead of better.
o
You have increased trouble breathing.
o
You have a fever higher than 101.5° F (38.6° C) orally.
o
You start to have chills, nausea, vomiting, or muscle aches.
o
You have any symptoms that worry you.
Can I avoid pneumonia?
To help yourself avoid catching pneumonia, do the following:
- Keep your immunizations up to date.
- Get a pneumonia vaccine (Pneumovax) if you have a chronic illness or are 65 years of age or older.
- Get a flu shot every year in the fall.
- Wash your hands often with warm water and soap for at least 15 seconds, especially during cold and flu season. You can also carry an alcohol-based hand cleaner with you to clean your hands when soap and water are not available.
- Do not smoke.
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