August 14, 2016 - National Creamsicle Day and Loads of 80's FUN!

Elisa's Daily Scoop

Creamsicle Frappaccino??

HI THERE - I'M SOOOO HOT!!

In the temperature sense folks.  It's crazy hot and humid this weekend and today is supposed to hit a high of 96 degrees - and that is with the additional heat of the humidity!

Yesterday, the heat index was up as high at 113 degrees!  I have to admit, I don't much like air conditioning, but, there is no substitute for comfort during these dog days of August.

I cannot agree more with this quote.  I have been keeping my hair up in a pony tail and a baseball cap.  Why bother styling my hair when I'm going to die with it hitting the back of my neck and just watch as it frizzes with such weather.

Anyway, enough complaining.  

Yesterday, my little Kelsey spent the day with her dad and Gianna was feeling under the weather so she stayed home.  I thought it might do her some good to get out briefly to have a nice cool drink, so we headed to Starbucks in the morning for some iced tea.  

Folks (here I go again) inside Starbucks was too cold with the a/c on full blast and as we opted to sit outside, under the umbrellas, it was not only difficult to breathe from the lack of air, but then the bees proceeded to harass us as we tried to just sit and relax.

We headed home and just relaxed for the rest of the day.  Well, one of us did anyway - I won't mention who enjoyed a stress-free day of lounging around, while the other (A-hem), was doing laundry and more house organizing.  lol.

Today, we decided to make the most of the very ripe bananas and it was Gianna's idea that we use them for some home-made banana bread.

I'll be doing the Sunday thing - that is, the Sunday "Italian" thing and making a delicious tomato sauce for an early afternoon dinner of pasta!  Yum.  Some traditions cannot be stopped!

Isn't there something very peaceful and grounding about Sundays? It really is a day to recharge and reflect for me.  

This is been one helluva year of ups and downs, lots of turmoil and change and tremendous challenges.  But, I have to say, it's also been a year of growth.

In many ways, I've never felt happier and more in touch with myself and extremely blessed.

I've learned to be calmer, more self-sufficient and taken inventory of my priorities and feel that I'm right where I'm supposed to be and the universe and God are in control.  

One of the toughest things over the past year has been that I have not been able to travel as much.  That has not been easy, but you know, everything in life is temporary, when things are difficult, so I'm extremely optimistic that my traveling will pick up soon enough!!

So, on that note, let me tell you that today is National Creamsicle Day!!!

I mean, nothing can make me smile more than the taste of vanilla ice cream mixed with orange ice - the ORIGINAL creamsicle.  

But where did it originate?
This frozen dessert was invented in Oakland, California by eleven year old, Frank Eppperson in 1905.

He was mixing a white powdered flavoring for soda and water out on the porch, which he left overnight on the porch, with the stirring stick in the cup.

That night, temperatures reached a record low, and the next morning, the boy discovered the drink had frozen to the stick, inspiring the idea of a fruit-flavored 'Popsicle'

Credit: popsicle.ca

​In 1924 Epperson applied for a patent for his "frozen confectionery" which he called "the Epsicle ice pop" and later renamed it Popsicle, allegedly at the insistence of his children.

Epperson sold the rights to the Popsicle to the Joe Lowe Company of New York in 1925 and in 1989, Good Humor, a subsidiary of Unilever, bought the rights.

"Frozen dessert on a stick" later gave way to the creamsicle, vanilla ice cream covered by a layer of flavored ice. 

So whatever your favorite flavor -  orange, blue raspberry, lime, grape, cherry or blueberry - today is the day to enjoy it!!!

But if you are more a "drink" sort of person, did you know that Starbucks has a "secret menu" and this includes an Orange Creamsicle Frappaccino??

ORANGE CREAMSICLE FRAPPACCINO AT STARBUCKS (c) starbuckssecretmenu.net

That's right! And I found the recipe in case your local Starbucks barista is not sure how to make it:

Here’s the full recipe: (for a tall, adjust for other sizes)

* Milk (of your choice) to the 1st line
* Orange Mango or Valencia Orange Refresher Juice to the 2nd line
* Add classic syrup (2 pumps tall, 3 pumps grande, 4 pumps venti)
* Add creme base (2 pumps tall, 3 pumps grande, 4 pumps venti)
* Top with whipped cream (optional)

​VOILA!!!

I know what I'm ordering today!!!

-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 2 DAYS

Blast from the Past!!

Hello Hello.

What a super fun day and nothing short of an awesome night we had!

The day started with taking Dominic to his class, and while he was there, instead of hanging out and watching yesterday I had an appointment to go get my lashes done...

For the first time ever - I went to the lash salon! 
The idea of long lashes has also been intriguing and I absolutely suck at falsies - they are such a pain to glue on. 
The only thing was that the idea of laying there still for almost 2 hours with my eyes closed sounded a bit miserable.
Well luckily by chance I wound up with the best girl in the house who can do a full set in an hour tops!

So I went in, figured out what I wanted, laid down and shut my eyes. The rest was a bit funny...

I felt like a complete SPAZ!
I couldn't shut-up, it was torture for me to lay still and I was at constant war with my eyes who insisted they wanted and needed to be open.
Gosh I'm bad at relaxing!
After inquiring, the technician had shared with me that most clients fall asleep while they are there getting beautified - oh but not me. No way!
I rambled and rambled on and really really wanted to open my eyes. I also fought talking with my hands - which I suppose I always do - doesn't matter if I'm talking to you in person, on the phone, or anywhere for that matter. So while I was chatting it up with the lash tech, I literally had to hold my arms down so I wouldn't be moving so darn much. Ahhh being Italian! 

And then when she said she was done and that I could finally open my eyes, it was like the end of a jail sentence! Okaaaaay maybe it wasn't THAT bad.

I think it was pretty worth it...I finally have long lashes - even if they aren't technically mine ;)

The thing that I didn't realize about the first 48 hours is that you can't wear any make-up... And as you know we were heading up to LA to see a Rockin' 80's concert - without make-up...this was gonna be a first!

But first it was time to go shoe shopping...

Cosette decided to come along to the shoe store, we went over to DSW and in the midst of shopping we found a few outrageous shoes that certainly gave us a few giggles along the way.

Eventually finding Dave a couple of new pairs that he was happy with (this guy is HARD on his shoes) and  finding me a few pairs of cute flats...I know better than to walk around Rome in heels!!

Blisters on top of Blisters in Roma

It was time to move on, go home and get ready for our 80's night!

​But first we were hungry, and luckily our next stop was to EAT. Mangia Mangia

We opted to have dinner at Ramen Hood, over at the Grand Central Market before heading over to the Microsoft Theatre at LA LIVE to rock the night away!

From the moment we arrived at our seats Cosette had a smile that spanned from ear to ear. She was so über excited and already having a fantastic time!
She exclaimed "I LOVE THIS" "I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!" "THIS IS AWESOME" "THIS IS GREAT, I LOVE THIS" so many times that I lost count. I've been taking my little girl to concerts for years and years and not once has she expressed herself in such delight! It made me so happy that she was literally beyond thrilled and enjoyed this concert sooooo much!

We all enjoyed it! There was hardly a moment that we were sitting in our seats instead of dancing and bopping around to the tunes of my youth!

The night was led by MTV's Downtown Julie Brown as band after band came out and played hit after hit.

We danced the night away to The Human League, Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey, Marc Almond of Soft Cell, Berlin, Missing Persons, A Flock of Seagulls, Men Without Hats, The Original When in Rome UK, Modern English, Dramarama & Animotion...

It was a fabulous evening that was super super cool because the 80's RULE!

Now it's time for me to run on over to the nail salon - time for my mani/pedi. Also gonna hit up a few stores, and take the kiddos to the movies later tonight. And of course since it's Sunday, we'll all be sitting around the table to share a big pasta dinner!

I hope you guys are having as much fun this weekend as we are!

Catch ya tomorrow,
-T