Sunday, December 3, 2023

December is Here!

 This year is flying by.

I had to start the monthly blog with a new favorite because the 60s music is wonderful.


also https://youtu.be/tUytXfH47mI looks great

Mostly I have been visiting older content so not much new stuff to recommend.
Adi Goren channel has some playlists done outdoors in different countries which are wonderful.

So for the Holidays, I bought a Toshiba microwave-air fryer combo.
It has been fun discovering new ways to make stuff but I still use our large conventional oven because our son eats huge amounts.  I do love how the air fryer cooks canned vegetables.

For the first time in my life, I cooked chicken thighs and loved the results.
I have to wonder what took me this long to try this cheaper cut?
(probably I never used them because my mom never did.)

For Christmas Eve, I made a standing rib roast for the first time and it was GREAT!!
(an old dog can learn new tricks)
so we got another for New Years Eve.

Also I mastered my grandmother's rugelach recipe using pre-made refrigerated pie dough.

Just hope the country wakes up in 2024.
I cannot believe any thinking and feeling human could vote for this monster:
Thank goodness for hemp gummies that get me through these chaotic times.
Just discovered a great calming  tea:
Twinings Adaptogens Calm (Fig and vanilla).


Friday, November 3, 2023

Happy November and Black Friday Deals

 Nothing really new so far this month.
I do not need another tracfone bundle till November 2024.

Just keeping eyes opened for Black Friday Streaming deals.

Black Friday Good Morning America deal as of 11/20 for 99cents a month for a year!
(can still add Disney plus with ads for 2 bucks a month which was delayed on ROKU last year)

Hope Peacock Premium makes a good offer.
The guys love the wrestling.
and they did!
Peacock's Black Friday Deal
Peacock has announced its Black Friday offer, presenting an irresistible deal for streaming enthusiasts. Subscribers can now get Peacock for only $1.99 per month for 12 months using the code BIGDEAL, or opt for a one-year subscription at $19.99 with the code YEARLONG. Visit the Peacock Black Friday Page

Lost interest in an annual deal for Paramount Plus so may just do a free trial or one month if and when there is new content.  However, there is a $1.99 a month Black Friday deal so we may cave.

I did buy a Toshiba 6 in 1 combo microwave airfryer from Walmart for just $81.

My favorite vids this month:
from We Keep Moving


80s Dance WO with Kelly

Friday, October 27, 2023

4K Video Downloader

 The 4K Video Downloader quickly and easily downloads youtube video files just by pasting the url of the video.  You can choose the file format and file size.  I, usually, choose MP4 and just 360 frame height, preferring smaller files.

This website offers the 4K Downloader program: 

https://www.4kdownload.com/-bzs8q/video-downloader?r=free_license


My downloaded files are found in a folder called 4KVideo but there is also an option to change the destination folder.  I stream workout video files with motivating music downloaded from youtube to exercise without an interruption from an ad.  An ad can really ruin a workout or even cause an injury.  Seriously, I have almost fallen off my bungy rebounder when an ad abruptly interrupts.  

Best of all, the files will stream to a TV connected to a ROKU device also without ads unlike the ROKU youtube app.

I can use the ROKU media player to stream a file directly from my laptop hard drive or my mobile phone using the Web Video Caster browser.

There is also the option to download the program directly to an android device so the video file can be downloaded directly on to the device or even an mounted sd card.


There are other 4K products which I have not tried.

Cannot even think of a bad thing to say about the 4K Video Downloader except that the android version is a bit trickier to execute.

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

October Already!

 Where did the summer go?
Lately there have been many great Music only routines added to youtube.
I will try to list my favorites as I try them this month.

2 Nia instructors have been adding new content:
Jill on Healthier Together

Adi on Healing Dance

Free Nia Dance Breaks  


Also new routines on We Love Dance


Love the music on this channel

great chair routines:
Kay B Musicfitness


also Just Move w Daisy Saunders

Zumba Fitness with Amy especially the two chair routines

All I can say is WOW



As far as CBD gummies, the best tasting as well as effective has been from BlueBird.

Sunday, September 3, 2023

September and CBD Journey

My CBD journey continues into its 12th month and I am starting to prefer certain companies after trying various samples and sales.  I am actually returning to my earlier favorites (Lumi and Moonwlkr).
For me, Sativa strains for energy are better for daytime and Indica strains for calmness are better for sleep.
I have not found any of the fancier full spectrum CBD gummies designed for night time rising to the top for sleep.  In fact, any full spectrum CBD gummy or Indica D8 or D9 work as well.
(Note: I am still using most half doses or 1/2 a gummy but am increasing to a full dose at night)

For Delta 9, Lumi seems to offer some excellent choices and Frosty Hemp is a close second.
(Lumi made the first gummy I tried Microdose)

For Delta 8, I think I may return to Moonwlkr for its superior taste and packaging after trying IndaCloud and Mystic Labs.  IndaCloud would be number one if packaged differently.
Jury is out for HHC and Delta 10 but I have too much product to use before *Best By Dates* to add more to my shelves at this time.

With the new 2023 Farm Bill, there will be an explosion of new products.
(Ironically, I can thank trump for signing the 2018 Farm Bill which made Hemp legal!)

So I found some really good music only vids on 
Tip:
The Web Video Caster app enables the casting of youtube vids without ads!!!

New discoveries:
Jill Nia Dance Fitness on

and some good music and low impact moves

I also plan to visit

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

August Indictment Month

 Hopefully, the newest indictments against trump will be the beginning of the end of MAGA,
I am tired of the Liar and his Deplorables destroying our country and cheating me out of enjoying my Golden Years.

One of the few things I look forward to everyday is eating.
I have been cooking alot and most dishes have been delicious but I still look for decent take-out food options.  Unfortunately, most orders have seemed over-priced with mediocre quality. Yesterday, a place ruined a deli sandwich with very stale rye bread and dried out overcooked roast beef.  The sandwich could have been assembled at home with enough supermarket deli ingredients to make several sandwiches for the same price and much better quality.
Luckily, our son is not fussy and is a human garbage disposal.

Right now our home is surrounded by streets under construction (new water pipes and paving) so driving to pick up food is a hassle.  Also, I cannot enjoy walking outdoors in spite of the amazing weather.
(OK enough complaining for one day).

An old dog has learned a new trick!
I really do not like using a telephone so never got into video calling until our older son in CA wanted to show us his new home he is renting.  Anywho he gave us a tour on Google Meet (AKA: DUO) and it worked really well, especially on my Fire tablet to which I had added the Google store app. Son usually uses FaceTime but Google Meet was better for me since I do not own an Apple device to initiate a call.
I swear I enjoyed this communication as much as a real live visit which may never happen again.
Our son has severe anxiety issues because of Covid fear.
He works remotely and has all food, etc delivered curbside.

I buy a Tracfone bundle when I see a good deal on QVC or HSN.
The best deals are usually around the holidays.
The service days, voice, text and data all rollover and accumulate.
Deactivated phones still work great on WiFi like a mini-tablet for podcasts, social media, email, etc.
I have put sd cards in some and had added workout files to them which I can easily stream to a ROKU with the Web Video Caster app.  I also use the fones as ROKU and FIOS TV remotes.
 Google Meet and Google Voice work fine on my tracfone smartphones through WiFi, even the deactivated ones. 
My husband uses his deactivated fones for horserace betting and groceries.
We are both using our laptops less and less.

Sunday, July 2, 2023

July Already

WOW 2023 is half over already!
Sadly, I am feeling less optimistic about our country this July 4th.
The division and hate thanks to trump and his cult really is ruining the American experiment.
Thankfully, my neighborhood is nicely diverse and listening to all of the outdoor BBQs yesterday was a pleasure.   Glad the air quality improved enough for these outdoor events.  Hearing laughter, children and music made me feel a bit more hopeful.  It was quite surreal to see the Hasidim Jews walking to their Rebbe's home for the Sabbath sundown.

Anywho, I have changed my media choices for workouts this month and like the change.
ROKU works much better (less buffering) with Web Video Caster files and web streams using a Smart phone.  I have collected several deactivated Tracfones since I get a new one each year with a bundle and have an SD card in each of them with files I wanted to back up.  I will not be buying anymore Flash Drives for backups since sd cards on smart phones work so well.  Temu sells sd cards pretty cheap and the Kodak brand seems to work well.
Speaking of Temu, I love making a fresh cup of coffee with this gadget:



So my quality of life has been improved in spite of the Deplorables.
I do have a gay son in this dog fight but I cannot imagine how painful it is for all of the targeted minorities who are losing their right to pursue happiness.  I have enjoyed the new Threads app because it gives a louder voice to the silent majority.

Healthwise, I have found resistant carbs a great way to become more regular and help me lose a few pounds.  Best part is I can have my beloved bread and pasta!
I freeze bread then toast it and make alot of pasta to chill in fridge for at least 24 hours. 
My family actually prefers reheated pasta. 

Youtube Channels to explore:

(great music for chair exercising)

Monday, June 12, 2023

JUNE! oops

 June is busting out all over (except on my blog.)

Nothing much has changed except being boarded up in the house for a few days because of wild fires in Canada.  Also I cannot imagine what the collapse of I-95 may mean.  Then there is the growing threat of violence from the Deplorables because their cult leader may not be above the law.

Buyer Beware!
For me in my tiny world, I noticed lots of scams on Facebook.  So far I have been lucky as far as online CBD vendors but I see lots of scam ads that Facebook really should reject.  HSN *warehouse* had an obvious one for Dyson purifiers.  Bed Bath and Beyond *warehouse* had a suspicious bedding clearance.
Besides taking advantage of CBD offers online, I am addicted to Temu.  Temu sells many of the products seen on Amazon for much less and has had very good customer support so far.
Thanks to Temu, I started using ground coffee in reusable coffee pods and filters instead of the more expensive pre-made Keurig pods. The coffee tastes better besides being much cheaper and more environmentally friendly.  Scroll down for an even better gadget.

Workout-wise,  I am using youtube more and more.
I did order a cheap usb dvd player/burner from Temu which worked fine but doubt I will use it much.

Eating-wise, I am enjoying my home cooking much more than inconsistent. less healthy, and over-priced take-out.

So the days (and months) go flying by while I have no desire to go anywhere and do enjoy many of my memories. I worry less about most things thanks to CBD.


I found these coffee filters on Temu that make great coffee right in a cup or mug.
(Water can be heated even by a Keurig if I use just the small cup choice)
They are easy to use and clean.



Monday, May 1, 2023

May Day is Anniversary Day

 47 years ago I married my soul mate.

Even though our 60+ meal was free today at Mambo, the waitress still had the staff serenade us while delivering a free dessert.  The food was very good and their menu has plenty of items to try at reasonable prices in the future.


Happy we found another local place for both take-out and 60+ meal vouchers.
May workouts will begin as April ended with Patreon workouts.

Other free Nia channel to investigate:
https://www.youtube.com/@bethgiles8557/videos

Thanks to Temu,  I have finally bought disposable pods and filters for our Keurig.
Much better tasting coffee than the pre-made pods plus much cheaper.

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Hello April!

 March was great!
My overall mood has been good.
Sleep improved which means more energy and less brain fog.
Besides working out every morning, I have walked after meals when weather permitted.

Best of all:
trump was actually indicted on my 74th birthday!
(I waited till April Fool's Day was over before posting this LOL)

this was a really good full body workout:

here is anther good utube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@RoanokeCountyParks/videos

This video made me join Patreon to see the rest.
(of course I chose the cheapest $1 a month but will increase the amount if I feel I am using it)
KC Sunshine Band Keoni
Patreon enables the once a week LIVE workouts and a list of these routines.
I really like his music and moves.


It took 4 months but ROKU devices now play the Basic Disney + with ads.
However, there is not enough content for me to bother subscribing for the additional $2 a month through Hulu.

My husband has found a way to pry me out of the house.
Our current favorite restaurant for take-out now honors free eat-in meal vouchers thanks to funding from the Union County 60+ Social program.  The food quality at the Garden is better than most other restaurants and more reasonably priced, even without vouchers.

I am still cooking alot, keeping it simple and tasty.
I made chicken Fajita better than every restaurant where I have tried it.
I butterflied the chicken and pounded it so it was even in thickness.
Seasoned it with salt, pepper, paprika, and cumin on the bottom then McCormick's Mesquite and olive oil on top. Baked the chicken on a sprayed sheet pan at 350 for 30 minutes surrounded by strips of bell pepper and onion also drizzled with olive oil.
 Our side was toasted orzo with bell peppers, onions, beef broth, cumin and Taco seasoning instead of rice (topped with shredded cheese when done).  I kept adding beef broth till the orzo was tender.

Slowly but surely, my favorite daytime gummy has been IndaCloud's Delta 8 Blue Razz which is described as sativa.  Just 1/4 of a gummy puts me in a great mood inside (mentally) and outside (physically), relieves pain, and gives me energy.
There was a sale through Facebook offering 40% off and free shipping:

There is still an ongoing evaluation to decide which gummy (or gel tab) is best for sleep but I think Full Spectrum with a 5:1 ratio of CBD/THC without melatonin works the best to avoid several hours of being awake during the night. IndaCloud Indica Delta 8 may be a good alternative.
(The Frosty Indica Berry Swirl Gummy designed for sleep tasted terrible and did nothing positive for me.  The company offered me a replacement so am getting another Sativa Orange Cream D9 pack which worked almost as well as the above IndaCloud Sativa D8 during the day.)

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Hello March!

 March is a favorite month of mine and during most of March I plan to be visiting NSD (Never Stop Dancing) which is a new current favorite because of its music only and movements.  Once I have exhausted its free youtube vids, I may subscribe to the online private youtube site if NSD keeps me muving.
https://www.youtube.com/@NeverStopDancing
https://www.neverstopdancing.co.nz/online

I also plan to try the vids on @RozHZumba
https://www.youtube.com/@RozHZumba
and
and

still enjoying  

Looking forward to longer days and the end of winter even though it has been comparatively mild.


I have taken advantage of various deals on Hemp gummies found on facebook and finally have chosen my favorite daytime gummy:
Indacloud Delta 8 Blue Razz which has more of a sativa effect (energized instead of drowsy).
There are 50 mg for each of the 10 gummies  and just 1/4 of one gummy works great for me so one packet has 40 doses for me.
A special deal advertised on Facebook with 40% off and free shipping cost~$18

(I also have their Watermelon Rush with more of a indica effect which I use at night)

The month is ending and lots of good stuff happened on my birthday:
a late package arrived
a cousin contacted me with whom I was trying to reconnect
and best of all
trump is INDICTED
(he will now have to behave or face jail time)

Friday, February 10, 2023

Life Style Changes

 My life style has greatly changed during the past decade.
About the only constant that has remained is my daily workout.
However, I do not workout at a higher intensity anymore.

We retired early and enjoyed frequent trips to Atlantic City but have not gone there at all since Covid struck and actually started going less even before Covid.
We used to eat out frequently and now hardly at all.
My desire to eat out even dwindled before Covid.
I really do  not like going anywhere in a car or bus anymore, not even to a local store.  My casino is now playing free slot machine games online and my favorite restaurant is my own home cooking.

We have not seen our older son for a few years and will probably not see him again since he has moved to CA and none of us fly anymore.
(actually he stopped visiting NJ when still in NYC 10 months before moving to CA after adopting a dog).

Much of our traveling had been connected to special meals like casino buffets.
However, I have plenty of fond memories and know that traveling to Atlantic City, eating out, or going anywhere else cannot compare with these memories because so much has changed.  I am just glad we actively enjoyed traveling during much better times and created endless memories.

other youtube channel suggestions:

Just an update on my improved health thanks to CBD gummies:
Less pain and less anxiety
More sleep and energy
Much happier and optimistic which affects my physical health more than food and exercise choices.

There are folks on Facebook constantly attacking the legalization of CBD, just as there are those who oppose the civil rights and the pursuit of happiness of others. Those people thrive on lies and negativity.
They want everyone to be miserable because they are miserable.

I realize now that my prime was before menopause which started in my 40's and caused chronic hot flashes and malaise.
My life was full of stress and being a *People Pleaser*.
Fortunately, now I am able to focus on myself more with many of my stress triggers gone.
CBD helped me to break the cycle of poor sleep and worrying.



Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Happy February!

 WOW......
another month gone but hopefully not forgotten.
This morning I saw a coating of snow for the first time this winter.

The last few days of January, I had strange pains that I believe may have been my first ever symptomatic urinary tract infection.  Fortunately, it improved each day and seems done.

January was a gold mine for finding free youtube workouts.
I have made donations to a couple of youtube instructors and doubt I will be doing any other monthly subscriptions since I have enough to do for the rest of my life.

My mood, pain, and sleep thanks to CBD gummies are much improved.
I believe my best choice for both is full spectrum CBD.
I still only need 1/2 of a gummy with 25 mg CBD and 5 mg of Delta 9.
*Moonwlkr* has had the best flavors so far and often has special sales.
The special night time *Just Live* formulas do not seem to offer better sleep and they do not have full spectrum gummies.

Most of my day is spent in the kitchen trying to make easy but creative meals.  Ironically, we have eaten out much of our lives but I started to prefer eating at home even before Covid.  
Right now we have a ton of spare ribs to eat over the next few days because of a special sale.

The rest of the day, all of the cheap streaming apps I started around Black Friday are keeping us occupied.  As mad as I was that the new Basic Disney Plus with ads through HULU does not play on any ROKU platforms, it has made my tech phobic husband a Pro using a mobile with Chromecast. 
I should have added the ROKU friendly Disney without ads before December 8th for just a buck a month more but did not know then that this new Disney basic plan was not going to work on any ROKU.  Anywho, getting HULU and Disney Plus for the same $4 a month as the previous year is a fine deal.
This disagreement between Disney and ROKU will lose them both customers and sponsors.  (I decided to stop our cheap Basic Disney add-on because we do not like using Chromecast and have preferred content on other streaming channels).

After just missing the Showtime American Gigolo series before it disappeared, I barely caught the Beast movie on its last day on Peacock.   Some streaming platforms do not keep content long enough which is bad for folks like me who prefer to binge.

I have been trying another online vendor for products often seen on Amazon for much more money.  I have received 4 free deliveries so far and everything was well packed.  I especially like their inexpensive barefoot water shoes for bouncing on the rebounder.
Temu


Sheet pan garlic butter Shrimp, broccoli, and Ramen noodles



For a few hours on 2/7, vk.com and the vk app were down.
I was amazed at how calm I was about possibly losing all my VK content.
(I am so happy I discovered cbd gummies.)


Sunday, January 1, 2023

Happy New Year!

 My resolution will be to not allow myself to dwell on negative thoughts.
There is no point of getting stressed about stuff I cannot change.
Hopefully, my gummies will continue to help.
My favorite vendors for taste, price, and customer support have been Moonwlkr, Just Live, and more recently FiveCBD.

Off to a good start since catching our latest mouse visitor (and hopefully, our last).

I am loving my new cookware, especially the large Blue Diamond pan for sheet pan dinners and the huge crisper basket.
Here is the Hoisin Chicken sheet pan dinner I made:



I pre-cooked the angel hair but otherwise, the whole dinner was made on the one pan.  I love sheet pan dinners with chicken breasts and can add any sauce in the last 10-15 minutes like BBQ, Teriyaki, etc.

There are so many free youtube walking and dance routines that I doubt I will be subbing much in the future.

Keoni and friends Fitness Heroes new you tube channel:

Fitness Heroes Beach Party

Another nice Beach Walk with Nicole:

Also a whole series of fit & hungry 60s music only walks:


A new channel posted old Heavy Hands videos with Dr, Schwartz 


Zumba music only outdoors!!!
I may have found a new favorite youtube channel

Last but not least found this month: