Saturday, December 27, 2014

6 Ways To Beat The Fall Blues

beating the fall blues
Unpopular opinion: fall is not my favorite season. I love pumpkin desserts and Halloween as much as the next Lovely, but I just can't help it: I'm a true summer baby. (Can I just reminisce for a moment on beach trips, barbecuing, sundresses and watermelon? Gone too soon.)

While others are excited about leaves changing colors, I'm dreading the chillier temperatures and shorter days. And it's no wonder: in college, my school's counseling center told me I likely had seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. Whether it's a serious mental health issue for you or not, it's not uncommon to feel a little bit sluggish, or even depressed, once the dreary weather sets in. Read on for some ways to boost to your mood...

1. Exercise

Exercise

Kind of a no-brainer, but exercise is always important and releases serotonin, a "feel good" chemical. While it's still pretty warm in my area, I already feel a dip in my energy levels thanks to earlier and earlier sunsets. Even if it's late night walk with my pup, by the time we get back I'm feeling reinvigorated.

2. Eat Healthy 

Eat Healthy

Another no-brainer, but as much as I love those aforementioned pumpkin desserts, they are definitely not the best thing for me to eat when I'm down. The sugar and carbs may gave me a short-lived mood boost, complex carbs (including fresh fruit and veggies) make a bigger impact. So instead of grabbing a slice of apple pie, maybe grab an actual apple. Fresh food is best!

3. Sleep Soundly But Wake Up Early 

Sleep Soundly But Wake Up Early

To stay healthy and refreshed, 7-8 hours of sleep is key. It can be a challenge, especially while in school, but it's important to stay as consistent as possible when it comes to your sleeping routine. The easiest way for me to do that is having a set wakeup time (now a lot easier thanks to a job), so I can have plenty of time to get things done in the morning. Another added benefit of waking up early...

4. Enjoy The Sunshine

Enjoy The Sunshine

Sunlight exposure boosts our vitamin D levels and our moods! But if you're waking up around 11 in the morning with the sun setting just six hours later, getting enough natural light is difficult. It's hard, but I'm doing my best to wake up at 7 am, so I can enjoy all 11 hours of light, even if it's just sitting near the window. (Speciality lamps help with light exposure as light therapy, but there's nothing like the real thing.)

5. Fall In Love With Fall 

Fall In Love With Fall

Or at least try to. I grew up without seasons (which contributes to my depressive cycles in the fall and wintertime), so I've never really done any traditional fall activities. This year I'm working on that in a positive way, chipping away at my fall bucket list — I even went apple picking for the first time! Fall can't be thatbad.

6. Bundle Up, Cuddle and Reach Out 

I may need to buy a plaid blanket to use for wedding pictures...... and for our house cause I love them so much..... omg though I need to......

Whether it's a physical connection or a digital one due to distance, experiencing intense sadness or even depression shouldn't be as isolating as it already is. Now is the time to rely on family and friends to express your feelings, reflect on the good and bad and just get some warm and fuzzy feelings going. If you think you need to,don't hesitate to contact a mental health professional either.

Create This Cute Winter Wonderland Nail Design

Introducing 'Percy the Penguin'! It's cute right?

Spend the day in Winter Wonderland by creating this sweet snowflake nail design.

Create Holiday Tree Tinsel Nail Design

Accented with the personality of a precious penguin, winter has never been so heartwarming. Follow these easy and creative steps to show off the cutest characters of this winter season.

Step One: Paint all nails blue. I used Midnight by Sally Girl.

Step Two: Apply a coat of sparkle polish. I used Starburst by Sally Girl.

Step Three: Paint two circles, forming the body of penguin on one finger.

Step Four: While the penguin is drying, create snowflakes on each nail with your thin tip polish. I used Strip Rite in white.

Step Five: Create snow dots as desired. I used Stripe Rite polish in white.

Step Six: Using your fine tip brush, draw the penguin’s stomach and the brim and tip of the hat.

Step Seven: Create the body of the hat, I used Sally Girl “Dorothy’s Slippers.”

Step Nine: Create the penguin’s feet and beak. I used Sally Girl’s “Tangerine Orange.”

Step Ten: Finish off your perfect penguin by adding eyeballs. I used Stripe Rite in black.

Loved this look? Try more holiday inspired nail designs this season!

[nggallery id=937]

Goodness... this pose. and grooms suit.

Creative wedding photo ideas//or an engagement pose if your wedding dress is too full for the sleek effect

34 Nourishing Protein Shake Recipes

One common way to build lean muscle is to drink protein shakes. They are a fast and easy meal replacement that can provide everything you need in one glass in terms of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, and protein. One problem with most protein shakes is that they don’t taste very good. These protein shake recipes show you how to make delicious protein shakes that you’ll look forward to drinking. This will result in you making them more often, improving your chances of success with your dieting and muscle-gaining strategy.

The best homemade protein shakes for after workout snacks, refueling and meal replacement…

1. French Toast Protein Shake

Here’s a great way to start your morning with the familiar taste of French toast, but with a lot more protein added and less of the bad stuff. She’s starting it off with fat free cottage cheese, which will provide texture, and plenty of protein on its own. If that wasn’t enough though it also has a scoop of vanilla protein powder which will likely also contain amino acids and other nutritious elements. Cinnamon and nutmeg combine to provide the classic taste of French Toast, and of course the vanilla flavor from the protein powder helps too.

butterscotch applepie protein shakes
Photo: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

2. Butterscotch Apple Pie Protein Shake

If apple pie is your thing, this protein shake has you covered with an added twist of butterscotch added to it. This is a great beverage to indulge in if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth without ruining your dieting efforts. These look so good you might not want to drink them, but we think you will. They contain a few different sources of protein, including yogurt, almond milk, and a banana, and for good measure they’ve included a good portion of vanilla flavored protein powder. Not all protein is created equally, so it’s good to include different foods that all contain it so you are getting a rounded dose of protein in one shake.

3. Mocha Breakfast Protein Shake

Here’s one way to have your morning coffee in a much healthier way, with the delicious taste of mocha combined with the benefits you’ll receive from a high-protein start to the day. Greek yogurt adds to the protein content, but we’d recommend adding the optional scoop of protein powder to really make sure that you’re getting the protein you need from this. This is especially true if you lift weights in the morning, as it will help you recover from your workout and feel less fatigued throughout the day. There will be a strong taste of coffee because you are adding ground coffee or espresso powder right to it.4. Blueberry Cheesecake Protein Shake

You won’t find cheesecake on many diet programs unless there is a free day when you can eat whatever you want. That’s why this protein shake is so special because it provides the flavor of a dessert along with the nutritional benefits of added protein and other good things for you. Real blueberries means you’re getting plenty of antioxidants, and since this isn’t an actual cheesecake you’ll get the benefits of those antioxidants since they won’t be battling through a bunch of sugar, butter, and cream cheese. A scoop of vanilla protein powder insures you’ll get the protein you need.

5. Dark Chocolate Peppermint Protein Shake

If you’re a fan of Thin Mint cookies or Andes Mints, you’ll want to try this dark chocolate peppermint protein shake because it combines the irresistible taste of chocolate with the cooling effect of peppermint. They’ve really gone gourmet with this protein shake, and they’re using Designer Whey Gourmet Chocolate Protein Powder to give it plenty of protein but still have it taste good. They’re also recommending a high quality cocoa powder, which will boost the chocolate taste drastically, and make you feel like you’re really cheating on your diet, though you won’t be.

6. Pina Colada Protein Shake

If you like pina coladas this is one protein shake you can get caught in the rain with. It provides the combination of pineapple and coconut along with plenty of protein so that you can feel energized and let your muscles heal if you are doing a strength training program. Actual pineapple gives it its pineapple flavor, and coconut milk as well as coconut extract give it the taste of coconuts. Vanilla protein powder gets the call as the main protein source, and is a popular choice because it blends up well with other ingredients without being overpowering.

blueberry maple protein shake
Photo: Minimalist Baker

7. Blueberry Maple Protein Shake

This protein shake advertises that it is like having a pancake in a class. That’s because it uses maple flavoring along with blueberries just like you find in blueberry pancakes with syrup on them. Frozen blueberries are a great item to keep stocked in your freezer because they come in handy in so many recipes. They’ll provide antioxidants, and the maple flavor comes from maple extract so you’ll get the flavor of maple syrup without the added sugar. There’s even flaxseed meal used here so you will be getting omega-3s as well as added protein.

8. Chocolate Avocado Protein Shake

The avocado in this chocolate protein shake will make it extra smooth and creamy, while adding healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats to your diet. It also adds potassium and fiber to help your entire system. The chocolate flavor comes from chocolate protein powder, so it may not have as much of a chocolate taste as if you were using real chocolate. If you wanted to add some chocolate to it, be sure to use dark chocolate so you can avoid the dairy and sugar in milk chocolate and get the antioxidants of dark chocolate.

9. Peach Pie Protein Shake

Get the flavor of peach pie in liquid form with this protein shake that has real fruit added for extra nutrients and vitamins. Frozen peaches are used, which means you won’t have to add ice to this shake to make it cold. It also means you’ll be getting real food instead of an artificially flavored protein shake. Almond milk and vanilla protein powder provide all the protein you’ll need, and help to round this out as a great nutritional offering for anyone that is trying to be fit, healthy, and have enough energy to fuel them through a busy day.

10. Vanilla Cream Protein Shake

Vanilla is the name of the game with this protein shake, and it comes in many different forms so it will definitely be the dominating flavor instead of just a spectator. The use of vanilla yogurt, vanilla extract, and vanilla protein powder means you’ll taste the vanilla and pretty much nothing else, so make sure this is a flavor you enjoy before embarking on this shake. It also works as a nice base to any other kind of shake you want to make, for example, adding any other ingredient with a more powerful flavor will immediately change the dynamic.

11. Caramel Apple Pie Protein Shake

When you add caramel to apple pie you definitely enhance the flavor, and this caramel apple pie protein shake has flavor to spare. Like many of her shakes she gets things going with a serving of fat free cottage cheese, and then adds in a scoop of vanilla protein powder. Add to that the essential apple pie spices and caramel extract for caramel flavor without the added sugar and calories of actual caramel, and you’re onto something here. A dash of cinnamon will have you believing you’re really eating apple pie with caramel if you close your eyes and imagine.

banana bread protein shake recipe
Photo: Best Cleanse Recipes

12. Banana Bread Protein Shake

Nothing quite beats the smell of banana bread baking in the oven, and you can capture that essence with this protein shake which uses plenty of bananas along with the same sort of spices and seasonings in banana bread so it gets the flavor just right. Bran flakes mean that you’ll be getting added fiber, which is always helpful when you’re trying to lose weight and look your best. There’s cinnamon and vanilla extract, as well as added vanilla flavor from the vanilla protein powder. Banana bread has never been this healthy and this can help you build a lean figure.

13. Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake

This protein shake is perhaps best consumed during the fall season, but it can also be used year round as a way to get your protein fix. This is a fun one because you get to use your choice of milk, and they say you can use regular milk or opt for soy or almond milk if you want to change things up. Vanilla protein powder gets used here, and that’s something you can rely on anytime you want to make your own protein shake creation, since it will boost the amount of protein without getting in the way of the flavor of the other ingredients.

14. Peanut Butter Cup Protein Shake

This peanut butter cup protein shake is like eating a peanut butter cup, only you get to drink it and also it contains plenty more protein, making it actually good for you. They’re using peanut flour here, something you may have to seek out the next time you’re out shopping. When combined with chocolate protein powder you are going to get the taste of a peanut butter cup without using peanut butter or actual chocolate. Take them up on the idea of the optional chia seeds, as you’ll get added protein and omega-3s, making this an even healthier beverage any time of the day.

15. Mango Banana Protein Shake

Bananas are a great addition to any shake because they thicken it up while adding fiber and potassium as well as plenty of flavor. Mango is a more exotic fruit that you probably didn’t think would ever be used in a protein shake. But the real surprise ingredient is mung beans, which are used to give this the protein it needs to be called a protein shake. If you want, you can also add a scoop of vanilla protein powder to it to increase the protein content even more. Three bananas are in this as well for plenty of fiber and potassium and added flavor.

16. Juicy Pear Protein Smoothie

Get the fruity flavor of pear in this protein smoothie made from actual pears. Why is this important? Because so many commercial protein shakes include artificial flavors to get them to taste better, which doesn’t really coincide with healthier eating. By using natural, wholesome ingredients you end up with a better finished product. There is protein from protein powder, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, egg whites, flaxseed, and pistachios. That’s a lot of protein in just one glass.

peanut butter and jelly protein shake
Photo: Dashing Dish

17. Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Shake

If you been missing the taste of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich because it’s not allowed on your diet program this is the shake to go with. The jelly she’s using is sugar free, or no sugar added, so you won’t be adding a lot in the way of carbohydrates. And since you aren’t eating any bread with this PB&J you will naturally be getting fewer calories and carbs. She’s using PB2 for the peanut butter flavor, which is a powdered form of peanut butter that provides the benefits of peanut butter with far fewer calories from fat.

18. Red Velvet Protein Shake

If you love the taste of red velvet cake, but can’t have it because of the diet you’re on or because you’re just trying to eat better, this is a great compromise. It will provide you with the taste you love without damaging any of your plans. Chocolate protein powder provides all the protein you’ll need, plus there’s cottage cheese and skim milk adding even more protein, as well as calcium. Low-free cream cheese gives the taste of the cream cheese frosting. They’ve even taken the extra step of adding red food coloring so you’ll feel like you’re eating red velvet cake, even though you aren’t.

19. Healthy Double Chocolate Malt

The only thing better than a chocolate malt is a double chocolate malt, and this protein-packed concoction will have you wondering if you are really eating healthy. But don’t worry because they’ve provided the numbers on this one and you’ll stay well within the parameters of most healthy eating guides. The two forms of chocolate are chocolate almond milk and cocoa, and there’s also malted milk powder to give it the classic taste of a malted. The use of bananas is a common one, as its a great way to thicken things up, smooth things out, and add plenty of nutrition at the same time.

20. Chocolate “Protein” Milkshake

This protein shake drinks just like a milkshake, but contains plenty of protein so that you can drink it before or after a workout to help your muscles develop. They’ve added quite a bit of tofu to this, but you won’t be able to taste it with the other ingredients that are included, like cocoa powder and vanilla extract. Tofu has the knack for taking on the flavor of what it’s served with, and in this case after you get done blending it all up you’ll only feel like you’re drinking a classic chocolate milkshake, even though it’s loaded with protein.

21. Orange Date Coconut Smoothie

Here’s a smoothie that you won’t soon forget because it is full of delicious foods that also provide plenty of health benefits. It’s a nite fruity break from chocolate protein shakes, and there’s a lot going on in just one glass. You’ll get the requisite amount of protein thanks to Greek yogurt and whey protein. The orange gives it the Vitamin C it’s famous for, and the date works to give it fiber as well as a unique flavor that is hardly ever added to protein shakes. They were thinking outside the box on this one, and even included coconut milk and coconut water for good measure.

banana split protein shake
Photo: Dashing Dish

22. Banana Split Protein Shake

This protein shake really embraces the idea of making it tastes as good as possible, even just like a desert. Rather than killing your diet with a trip to Dairy Queen for a banana split Blizzard why not make this protein shake instead. It contains banana of course, as well as pineapples and strawberries so you’re getting the classic ingredients of a banana split, without the need of a spoon. Cocoa powder gives it a chocolatey taste, and vanilla protein powder helps give it the vanilla ice cream flavor for full effect.

23. Honey and Walnut Spiced Protein Shake

This is one protein shake that defies the laws of protein shakes in general. We had yet to see a protein shake that was made with honey and walnuts as its main selling feature, and it works. It gets the assistance of vanilla protein powder to make it a bona fide protein shake, and the honey gives it extra nutrition, as do the walnuts with their healthy fats. Cottage cheese is used, which gives it even more protein, but what it really does is serves as a thickening agent to make this feel like a rich dessert rather than a protein shake.

24. Lemon Meringue Protein Shake

If you love lemon meringue pie, this lemon meringue protein shake is really going to be something special. It takes the flavor of lemon meringue pie and puts it in shake form so you get a tart yet refreshing drink and plenty of protein at the same time. Sugar-free lemon pudding mix is the secret ingredient here, making sure that you won’t be short on lemon flavor, and giving it a thickness that you’d expect from a pie. There’s fresh lemon juice used as well, so you will be getting natural lemon flavor and Vitamin C along with it.

25. Lime, Ginger and Coconut Smoothie

Here’s a great smoothie to try when you are tired of the typical chocolate and vanilla varieties. It combines the citrus taste of lime with the spiciness of ginger and coconut to smooth things out. They’ve included avocado in this as well, which if you’ve never tried blending an avocado into a smoothie you simply must try it. It smooths it out, helping it live up to the name smoothie, but it also boosts up the nutrition giving you more protein, potassium, and fiber than you would have had otherwise.

26. Mango Strawberry Protein Shake

Mangos and strawberries go together great, but they are not a flavor combination that you see too often in terms of protein shakes. You’ll be getting antioxidants from the strawberry and mango, as well as the fiber and potassium from a banana. There is protein powder used so you won’t be short on protein, and there’s almond milk used as the liquid to blend it all up in. Between the protein powder and the almond milk you’ll have the protein you need, but they also combine to make a nice thick shake.

homemade espresso protein shake
Photo: Cook Eat Paleo

27. Espresso Protein Shake

This protein shake combines your morning coffee with your desire to get fit and healthy. They’re using cashew milk, something you might have to get from your local health food shop, or opt for almond milk instead. They’ve added brewed espresso to this, and they also point out that you can use any other strong coffee to get similar results. The caffeine from the coffee will give you the same jolt, but the added protein from the protein powder will help sustain that energy with no crash later.

28. Charissa’s Favourite Superfood Smoothie

There are basically two types of protein shakes out there, ones that use protein powder to provide the protein, and others that rely on superfoods high in protein to deliver the goods. She’s gone the superfood route on this one, but has also helped them out with a scoop of protein powder. The superfoods she’s using are blueberries, strawberries, avocados, flaxseed, spinach, chia seeds, and if that wasn’t enough she’s using a scoop of greens as well. This is a big nutrient shot to your system.

29. Chunky Monkey Breakfast Shake

This protein shake is meant to be a healthy start to your day, and includes ingredients you typically find in Chunky Monkey ice cream. This includes banana as well as chocolate, and they’ve decided not to include any protein powder, although a scoop of chocolate protein powder could easily be added. The other ingredients are all so healthy, you can mix this up whenever you feel like a monkey, or at least a chunky monkey start to your day.

30. Chocolate & Pear Protein Shake

Chocolate and pear is an interesting combination, one that you don’t often see when it comes to protein shakes. It’s always good to keep your taste buds guessing as to what’s next, and happy when they realize that eating right doesn’t have to taste bad. What’s interesting is that she’s managed to sneak some spinach into this shake, adding greatly to the number of nutrients it contains, without messing up the delicious flavor. The pear and chocolate outdo the taste of the spinach, so you’re getting all of the value without the famous spinach flavor.

31. Dark Chocolate Protein Shake

Dark chocolate has many benefits, and perhaps most importantly is loaded with plenty of antioxidants. In this protein shake recipe she’s started it with cottage cheese, and for the milk she’s going with almond milk. She’s recommending that you use chocolate protein powder to enhance this with, and adding cocoa powder to it so that you have real chocolate flavor and not the strange tasting chocolate that accompanies most protein powders. She’s even included a raw organic egg for good measure.

blueberry smoothie
Photo: The Healthy Foodie

32. Blueberry Pancake Batter Smoothie

Here is a smoothie that gives you plenty of protein while tasting like blueberry pancake batter. If you always find yourself licking the spoon after mixing up a batch of blueberry pancakes, this is going to be right up your alley. It contains coconut water, one of the trendier items going around health food circles, as well as cottage cheese and Greek yogurt for a good amount of protein. If you were to add protein powder to this one vanilla would be the best flavor to use to keep the right taste going on.

33. Chocolate Hazelnut Coffee Protein Shake

This protein shake blends the addicting taste of coffee with chocolate and hazelnut to provide a unique protein shake experience. Be sure to use cold coffee in this one so that it blends up right. She’s saying you can use whey protein powder as an optional ingredient, and if you’re after a bona fide protein shake then you’d have to add the extra protein because there might not be enough protein filled ingredients in this to call it a protein shake without the help of protein powder, if you’re trying to build muscle.

34. A Dozen More Protein Shakes

You can find 12 more protein shake ideas at the Dashing Dish website. The great part is once you learn how to make a base protein shake bass you can doctor it up with a few simple ingredients and have a totally different tasting shake than before. It also gives you the know-how to try experimenting with your own shakes using the ingredients you prefer. That’s because you’re sure to get enough protein from a combination of protein powder and cottage cheese. Some of the offerings include Peanut Butter Maple, Superman-Ice Cream, Oatmeal Cookie, Cookies and Cream, and Strawberry Cheesecake.

P.S. Take a look at the 5 veggies that boost female metabolism and burn off lower belly fat.

TODAYS LOOK - TODAYS WE LIVED A THOUSAND YEARS, ALL WE HAVE IS NOW


Todays look – Todays we lived a thousand years, all we have is now - Linda Hallberg

Jag har använt/I've used

NYX HD eyeshadow base

Too faced glamour dust Glampire

Too faced glamour dust Blue Angel

Isadora twist up metallic eye pen Icy lilacs

MUS Cake eyeliner black

NYX wonderpencil

NYX Doll eyes long lash mascara

Depend lösögonfransar nr8

Strass från något random nagelhjul

Läppar/lips

Lumene natural code lip gloss Soft papaya

Kinder/cheeks

MAC Mineralize sheer sheen Silver Aura

NARS Blush Orgasm

MUS MS Smog

Hårsmycke/Headpiece

From Lindex

Hide-Away Power Outlet For The Kitchen Makes Organization Even Easier

Now this is cool, though there are some limitations I read about with this item. With this convenient pop-up power strip, you will need to plug it into something, and if you don’t have a power outlet inside of the base of your cabinet where you want this installed, you will need to get one installed.

Amazon model shown below:

hide-away-power-station_

Despite this model of hide-away power stations costs $34 USD at Mockett, there is one off Amazon that is almost the same price (considering that you pay shipping with Mockett, and nothing with the Amazon model for $50.99 USD. So, I’d probably have th recommend the Amazon one for sure. You can see the Amazon model at the very bottom with pictures.

Mockett model shown below:

Source: Mockett.com

And to secondly mention, even though this thing apparently has a water proof gasket, and the UL listing, they are still a non-GFI outlet and so this is not up to code to be used in the Kitchen. As most kitchen outlets near a water source with GFI, is deadly, if you would ask me personally. You just can’t pass any sort of electrical inspection with one of these things installed. So in this case you can only use things like these as “retrofits”.

Despite all of that, I think it’s very cool.

I tried to find this specific product on the website of the creator but failed to find it. I even tried the model number shown in this image. Anyways there are other similar products to find on the website. Just so you know, the name of the creator is Doug Mockett which is also the name of his company.

If you scroll to the bottom, I have found an alternative to this solution from Amazon, check it out below..

 

Below, is the “Hide-a-Power Three Outlet Station“, which only costs $50.99 USD. It’s a three outlet station that brings more power and organization to your tabletop or desktop than any other space-consuming power bar that would take up half your desk space, or half your floor space. Just rest your feet now.. it’s okay. Use that space for one of those foot massagers or something. This device has three outlets ready for you to use once pulled out, and will fit any 3″ grommet hole. It requires a 12″ amount of clearance under your work surface, and needs a 125v 12a maximum power source. It just requires you as a handy man or your husband to install it.

hide away power outlet

Baby Shower Idea For Boys

Baby Shower Idea For Boys

Christian Louboutin Lover

Christian Louboutin Lover

Cherry-Chocolate Layered Dessert

We didn't think it was possible to layer happiness and heaven, but then we made this easy recipe. Try our Cherry-Chocolate Layered Dessert this holiday.

what you need

1
pkg.  (9 oz.) chocolate wafer cookies, finely crushed (about 2-1/4 cups crumbs)
1/2
cup  butter, melted
1-1/2
cups  boiling water
2
pkg.  (3 oz. each) JELL-O Cherry Flavor Gelatin
1
pkg.  (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2-1/2
cups  thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided
2
oz.  (1/2 of 4-oz. pkg.) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, shaved into curls
2-1/4
cups  fresh dark sweet cherries, pitted
1
tsp.  powdered sugar

make it

HEAT oven to 350ºF.

MIX cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan. Bake 12 to 15 min. or until firm. Cool.

MEANWHILE, add boiling water to gelatin mixes in small bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Whisk cream cheese in large bowl until blended. Gradually whisk in gelatin. Refrigerate 30 min. or until chilled.

WHISK 1 cup COOL WHIP into gelatin mixture; pour over crust. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm.

SPREAD remaining COOL WHIP over dessert; top with chocolate curls and cherries. Garnish with sifted powdered sugar just before serving.

kraft kitchens tips

SIZE WISE
This colorful cherry-chocolate dessert is a great treat to share with friends and family. One pan makes enough for 16 servings.
HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CURLS
Warm chocolate by microwaving it on HIGH for a few seconds or just until you can smudge the chocolate with your thumb. Hold the chocolate piece steadily, then draw a vegetable peeler slowly over the flat bottom of the chocolate piece, allowing a thin layer of chocolate to curl as it is peeled off the bottom to make long, delicate curls.
FOR EASY REMOVAL OF DESSERT FROM PAN
Line empty pan with parchment or foil, with ends of paper extending over sides. Use to prepare dessert as directed. When ready to serve, use parchment handles to lift cooled dessert from pan before cutting into pieces.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

29 Surreal Places In America You Need To Visit Before You Die

1. Mendenhall Glacier Caves, Alaska

Mendenhall Glacier Caves, Alaska
AER Wilmington DE / Flickr: 25949441@N02 / Creative Commons

AER Wilmington DE / Flickr: 25949441@N02 / Creative Commons

Sergey Yechikov / shutterstock.com

 

In Mendenhall Valley of Juneau stands this 12-mile glacier that is home to some incredibly surreal ice caves. If you follow the West Glacier trail, you can get a chance to see these whimsical ice clouds for yourself.

2. Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Manamana / shutterstock.com

Francesco R. Iacomino / shutterstock.com

Flickr: merlune / Creative Commons

 

Located near Page, Ariz., this brilliant slot canyon is split into two different sections, commonly referred to as “The Crack” and “The Corkscrew.” The natural canvas of color and unique structure is an Instgrammer’s dream.

3. Oneonta Gorge, Oregon

Oneonta Gorge, Oregon
zschnepf / shutterstock.com

zschnepf / shutterstock.com

Flickr: gorgejeff / Creative Commons

 

The Oneonta Gorge is in the Columbia River Gorge with a unique set of aquatic and woodland plants. The ferns and moss make the walls look like a fairy tale, and visitors can walk through the creek on a warm summer day.

4. Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington

Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington
RuthChoi / shutterstock.com

karamysh / shutterstock.com

Jaime Pharr / shutterstock.com

 

Located in Washington state, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the tulip fields between April 1–30 to see these gorgeous flowers in bloom. The festival is designed as a driving tour since there is no one designated “site.”

5. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado
Mavrick / shutterstock.com

Dr. Alan Lipkin / shutterstock.com

Flickr: usdagov / Creative Commons

 

This wilderness area is located in the Elk Mountains of central Colorado and has over 100 miles of trails. The closest city in reach is Aspen and the entire area spans over 181,000 acres.

6. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Varina and Jay Patel / shutterstock.com

Nagel Photography / shutterstock.com

Flickr: sathishcj / Creative Commons

 

This isolated island of bliss sits roughly 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by clear waters and an abundance of sea life. The area is only accessible by boat or seaplane, so leave your phone at home and enjoy a day off the grid.

7. Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park, Utah
fabernova / shutterstock.com

Steven Castro / shutterstock.com

Flickr: gregfoster / Creative Commons

 

Located near Springdale, Utah, this incredible 146,000-acre park is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts. A prominent feature is the Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles long and a half-mile deep. Other spots to visit while you’re here is “The Subway”(pictured on the left) and “The Narrows” (pictured on the right).

8. Watkins Glen State Park, New York

Watkins Glen State Park, New York
Flickr: dr_bullschmidt / Creative Commons

alexsvirid / shutterstock.com

Adam Lohr / shutterstock.com

 

We all know Niagara Falls is a sight to see, but located south of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region lies a lesser-known fantasy-like area called Rainbow Bridge and Falls. It will make you feel like you’re in Lord of the Rings.

9. Yosemite Valley, California

Yosemite Valley, California
Flickr: robsettantasei / Creative Commons

Peter O'Toole / shutterstock.com

Flickr: grimeshome / Creative Commons

 

This 8-mile glacial valley is covered in pine and surrounded by granite summits like Half Dome and El Capitan. The California beauty is a hot spot for tourists and photographers and it also offers scenic trails for hikers.

10. Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming
Flickr: projekction / Creative Commons

Lorcel / shutterstock.com

Anne Elliott / Flickr: 71833159@N00 / Creative Commons

 

This natural pool of rainbow-like colors is the largest hot spring in the U.S. and the third largest in the world. It’s located in Yellowstone National Park, which also has other great sights to see such as Morning Glory PoolOld Faithful, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

11. Haiku Stairs of Oahu, Hawaii

Haiku Stairs of Oahu, Hawaii
Flickr: uosuaq / Creative Commons

Flickr: kevin1024 / Creative Commons

Flickr: syntheticaperture / Creative Commons

 

This “Stairway to Heaven” is a steep hiking trail that is technically closed to the public, but many people continue to climb despite the “No Trespassing” signs. Sometimes breaking the law is worth it, right?

12. Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
Flickr: pumpkincanada / Creative Commons

Doug Meek / shutterstock.com

Flickr: unkwot / Creative Commons

 

In this National Park beneath the rocky land lies more than 119 known caves, formed from limestone and sulfuric acid. Visitors can take the natural entrance (pictured on the right) or ride down the elevator 750 feet below ground.

13. Whitaker Point, Arkansas

Whitaker Point, Arkansas
Flickr: texas_tongs / Creative Commons

Bernie Jungkind / CJRW of Little Rock / buffaloriver.com

Flickr: naturegal / Creative Commons

 

In the heart of the Buffalo River country lies this incredible crag, a popular spot for proposals, scenic photographs, and pretty killer views. The best time to snap a pic is at 6:15 a.m. (as pictured above on the left).

14. Hamilton Pool, Texas

Hamilton Pool, Texas
Flickr: dawilson / Creative Commons

Flickr: dawilson / Creative Commons

Flickr: dawilson / Creative Commons

 

Located just outside of Austin, this natural pool is a popular spot for tourists and residents in the summer. Hamilton Pool was created when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion thousands of years ago.

15. Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
Flickr: paxson_woelber / Creative Commons

Flickr: hig_37 / Creative Commons

Flickr: fkehren / Creative Commons

 

Named after its horseshoe-like shape, this famous meander is located just outside Page, Ariz., and offers a wicked view of the Colorado River.

16. Northern Lights, Alaska

Northern Lights, Alaska
Flickr: gsfc / Creative Commons

Flickr: arctic_troy / Creative Commons

Flickr: bjgraf / Creative Commons

 

The Northern Lights is one of the most beautiful wonders of the world, and a trip to Alaska will give you a front-row seat. The best places to see the lights are in Fairbanks and Anchorage from about September–April 20.

17. Bryce Canyon, Utah

Bryce Canyon, Utah
Luca Galuzzi / commons.wikimedia.org

Flickr: markusnl / Creative Commons

Anna Morgan / shutterstock.com

 

This collection of large natural amphitheaters is famous for its hoodoos, geological structures formed by frost weather and stream erosion. The orange, red, and white rocks are a beautiful sight and only roughly 50 miles from Zion National Park.

18. Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada

Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
Topseller / shutterstock.com

Curtis / shutterstock.com

George Lamson / shutterstock.com

 

Bordering California and Nevada, this freshwater lake is the largest alpine lake in North America. The clear waters and surrounding trees make it an ideal vacation spot.

19. Smoky Mountains, North Carolina/Tennessee

Smoky Mountains, North Carolina/Tennessee
Flickr: mikerhicks / Creative Commons

Flickr: gaensler / Creative Commons

Flickr: fkehren / Creative Commons

 

A subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, the Smokies are a mountain range along the North Carolina–Tennessee border. It’s the most visited national park in the U.S., with 9 million-plus visitors per year.

20. Niagara Falls, New York

Niagara Falls, New York
Chawalit S / shutterstock.com

Eugene Moerman / shutterstock.com

Elena Elisseeva / shutterstock.com

 

Located along the United States–Canada border is the famous Niagara Falls, a popular spot for tourists.

21. The Wave, Arizona

The Wave, Arizona
Flickr: thaths / Creative Commons

Frank Kovalchek / Flickr: 72213316@N00 / Creative Commons

Flickr: james_gordon_losangeles / Creative Commons

 

Located in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness near the Arizona-Utah border lies The Wave, a sandstone rock formation that looks look a painting. The sight is known for its vibrant colors and the trackless hike to reach it.

22. Sequoia National Park, California

Sequoia National Park, California

Galyna Andrushko / shutterstock.com

Jim Bahn / en.wikipedia.org

 

Sequoia National Park is known for its giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman Tree, one of the largest in the world. It stands at 275 feet tall and is believed to be roughly 2,500 years old.

23. Thor’s Well, Oregon

Thor's Well, Oregon
Flickr: by_photo / Creative Commons

Thomas Shahan / Flickr: 49580580@N02 / Creative Commons

Flickr: bengrewell / Creative Commons

 

Along Cape Perpetua lies Thor’s Well, a saltwater fountain driven by the power of the ocean tide. The best time to see it in action is an hour before high tide to an hour after high tide. While it’s a beautiful sight, it’s also highly dangerous and visitors should proceed with caution.

24. Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Dapixstudio / shutterstock.com

Flickr: mtsn / Creative Commons

Flickr: naturegal / Creative Commons

 

The red and orange rocky mountains bring in nearly 1 million visitors per year to the Badlands National Park. Native Americans used this area for hunting grounds for roughly 11,000 years.

25. Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia
Jeffrey T. Kreulen / shutterstock.com

meanmachine77 / shutterstock.com

Irina Mos / shutterstock.com

 

The oldest city in the state of Georgia, Savannah has a charming personality and fairy tale-like array of Spanish moss trees.

26. Palouse Falls, Washington

Palouse Falls, Washington
Flickr: darekfarmer / Creative Commons

Flickr: shankarrk / Creative Commons

Flickr: rampix / Creative Commons

 

Located in Washington state, this enchanting scene almost came to an end in 1984 when the Franklin County Public Utility District proposed to build a dam to allow hydroelectric power generation. Ratepayers decided to preserve the falls.

27. Glacier National Park, Montana

Glacier National Park, Montana
Flickr: emilyrachelhildebrand / Creative Commons

Julie Lubick / shutterstock.com

mlorenz / shutterstock.com

 

Glacier National Park is located near Kalispell, Mont., and borders parts of Canada. The park encompasses more than 1,000,000 acres and attracts roughly 2 million people per year.

28. Nā Pali Coast State Park, Hawaii

Nā Pali Coast State Park, Hawaii
Sarah Fields Photography / shutterstock.com

Flickr: jginsbu / Creative Commons

Jose Gil / shutterstock.com

 

The Na Pali Coast is inaccessible by car but can be seen over land by helicopter or hiking. The Kalalau Trail provides the only land access, but there are also caves you can explore along the coast.

29. Devils Tower, Wyoming

Devils Tower, Wyoming
Flickr: davidkingham / Creative Commons

Flickr: sacred_destinations / Creative Commons

Flickr: wespeck / Creative Commons

 

Devils Tower is a giant igneous intrusion that rises 5,000-plus feet above sea level. According to Native American folklore, a few girls went out to play and were discovered by several bears who began to chase them. The girls tried to escape by climbing a rock and praying to the Great Spirit to save them, and their prayers were answered when the rock rose from the ground toward the heavens and away from danger. When the girls reached the sky, they were turned into the star constellations. There are also several othertheories and stories regarding the Devils Tower.