Farewell but not Good-Bye

I  am writing this to let you my dear readers know that I have moved my blog to WordPress. After much thought and consideration I have decided that Word Press offers me more and Blogger limits me severely.
Thanks to the handy import button on WordPress I was able to import all my blogger type goodies to WordPress.
http://mmommymusings.wordpress.com/

Until next time...

Baby or Bust 2012 an update

Last year about this time I wrote a post about a friend and her Prince Charming who were trying to raise funds for a donor egg. Well, fast forward to 2013 and I am happy to report that Melissa and Cory are going to be parents!! That's right they will be the happy parents of a baby boy later this year.
I just wanted to thank all of you for your prayers for them and ask that you keep them in your prayers as the pregnancy progresses.

Brace Yourself

Okay so for the good news. I saw the orthopedic doctor on Monday for the knee I injured last month. The MRI shows no tears and major damage. What I do have is some knee instability so I have to wear a hinged brace for a little while.
I have some tips for everyone about braces,wraps and the like.
The first is to make sure that you pay close attention when being fitted with your wrap, brace or cast. This is so you can know how to put on your brace, wrap etc. If you aren't sure ask. Trust me when I say the doctor/nurse or whoever is taking care of you will not be unhappy if you ask questions.
Second tip is that wraps, braces etc  can chafe and rub so powder sprinkled on wherever the brace, wrap etc is going to be can make you a whole lot more comfortable especially in the summer when it gets hot. I used medicated powder like Gold Bond that also helps prevent itching and helps control sweating.
I'm sure that most people have seen the sleeves for leg or knee braces that fit under them to prevent chaffing . They're a great idea but at $30 for one most people aren't going go running out and buying a dozen of them to have on hand. A cheaper solution is capri tights. I was able to find some for $4 a pair recently.
Third tip is to gently wash your brace, wrap by hand. I know the label claims you can machine wash them but trust me on this. A few minutes of gently hand-washing your brace in mild suds will help to prolong the life of said brace and help prevent fraying of the Velcro pieces. Never machine dry your brace, wrap etc.
I know that noone actually wants to wear a brace but let's make the best of it when we do. A few weeks of wearing a brace will soon be a distant memory.
Until next time...

Update

Youngest daughter's surgery went fine. She will be recovering at home for a day or two. Thanks

Menu Plan Monday -The Rachael Ray and AllFoods Edition

I admit that this week's menu ideas were cue dramatic music...borrowed! Oh horror of horrors you mean you didn't come up with the recipes on your own? Sadly nope I did not. I have to give credit to two great magazines that I got in Friday's mail, Everyday with Rachael Ray and a small sample issue of All Foods that was sent with the Everyday magazine.
I usually just flip thru my magazines and toss them. For some reason I didn't do that this time but instead decided to actually read them this time. I am so glad that I did. Both magazines had some great recipes for easy dinner menu starters.

I have provided links to recipes that I used for each of the nightly menu if they were available.


Sunday
Stir-Fry Beef and Veggies (I use the Sweet-Sour Stir-Fry Sauce on the right side. Stir Fry Sauce)
Steamed Jasmine Rice

Monday
Corned Beef Melts with Sweet and Sour Onions and Wilted Cabbage
Note: I baked a corned beef brisket in the oven myself when I was unable to find deli sliced corned beef available locally. Also instead of the breads she suggested I used Pepperridge Farm Simply Oatmeal Bread.

Tuesday
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork on Slider Buns
Homemade Coleslaw - My coleslaw dressing recipe comes from my 1970 Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook.

Wednesday
Quick Chicken Soup with Pasta 
If we do not go to church. Depends on how everyone is feeling that afternoon.

Thursday
Broccoli Ham Ring


Friday
Meatloaf (I use ground turkey instead of beef in mine. Even though is says the fish sauce is optional do add a few drops if you can find it.)
Spring Blend Veggies

Saturday
Fish Fillets
French Fries
Mexicorn


Breakfasts are cereal, English muffins, waffles and eggs.
Lunches are sandwiches, salads, macaroni and cheese with hot dogs and leftovers

I am so glad these are easy to do recipes and menus. This afternoon our five year old son took a fall and so he and I went to the local children's hospital to get him looked at. Thankfully he is fine and he has to take it easy for a few days.
Youngest dear daughter has outpatient surgery to remove an ear tube this week so she'll be out of school for a day or two. I got her frozen lemonades, ice pops, pudding and Jello to eat after her surgery.
If you remember my last post I mentioned needing to see a specialist for my knee. Well, I did and I have to probably have surgery on it. I will know something definite on the 22nd after my consult with the knee surgeon and my MRI.
If you folks could keep us in your prayers we'd appreciate it tons. Thanks a million !!

Until next time...

Cookie Jar Filler

Okay so it's been a little while since I posted. Sorry but things happened that were not planned but it's all good now. Well almost, I stepped off the curb wrong Monday and managed to tear the cartilage in my right knee . So after a trip to my doctor who was awesome enough to see me the same day (Tuesday), an Ace wrap, home care instructions, crutches and a referral to the orthopedic clinic I am slowly on the mend.
I did make cookies for the kids' school snack and dear husband liked them as well. If they are a hit with everyone than I figured why keep them just for ourselves. These cookies are super easy, soft and tasty.
Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies
1 box cake mix ( 18.9 oz sized box)
2 eggs
1/2 cup Butter Flavored Crisco
1 can frosting
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl mix all ingredients together on low speed until combined into a dough. On greased cookie sheets drop by teaspoons spacing evenly. Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes or until edges are brown.
Let the cookies cool completely before the next step. You need them cooled or else the frosting will melt.
Now that you have let cookies cool completely, take a cookie, spread about a tablespoon of frosting on the bottom of it and top with a cookie that is bottom side down.
I got about two dozen cookies. You'll need to store these in the fridge due to the frosting but they are so soft the coldness doesn't effect the softness of them.
The best thing is that you aren't just limited to one flavor combination . I used Funfetti Cake mix and Chocolate Frosting since that is what I happened to have on hand. You could do spice cake mix with cream cheese frosting, orange cake mix with vanilla frosting, the possibilities are literally endless.

Until next time...

This is a test, this is only a test

This is a test readers to verify that this here blog is actually written by a real living person. Okay I was going to be sarcastic and say that Stan from Disney's Dog With a Blog does my writing but I hear his fees are outrageous. If you've never seen the show , watch it. It's super cute and Stan is hilarious.

http://www.blogdash.com/full_profile/?claim_code=762b9290445f55f7014138a238b42c15

Until next time..

The Perfect Invitation

In today digitized society there is nothing like the feel of getting a lovely invitation or handwritten letter in the mail. The joy of reading news from a dear friend or finding out that your favorite cousin is getting married is incomparable.

Some people are content to type a quick letter on their computer and print it out. For those people however who would rather use specialized invitations, there is Wallace Paper Company in Knoxville.

When I asked the owner, Sharon Deaver, what inspired her to open Wallace Paper Company she said, "Beautiful stationery and invitations have always fascinated me. I used to look through my grandmother's scrapbook of invitations for hours. It's always been something I wanted to do!" She and her Scottish Terrier, Alice, are always ready to help folks find the perfect paper product for any occasion.

This wonderful shop opened on September 15, 2012 in The Shops at Western Plaza. Wallace Paper Company carries a wide variety of stationery, gift wrap, candles and other wonderful things. They also offer printing services both in-house and for larger orders they work with custom album companies to provide letterpress, engraved and thermography invitations.

They have a fairly quick turn around depending on exactly what you would like to order. If you have fifty invitations or less the usual turnaround is a few days. Custom albums can take a little bit longer. Plan on approximately 3 weeks for invitations or announcements. Talk to Sharon Deaver at Wallace Paper Company now and get your orders placed before the end of the year rush. For those blushing June brides, plan on some extra time for wedding invitations.

Some of the great names Wallace Paper Company carries include Karen Adams Designs, Cavallini & Company, Rifle Paper Company, Haute Papier, Smock Paper, Designer's Fine Press, Tech Candy (makers of stylish and functional iPhone cases), Archipelago & Illume Candles and many others.

Wallace Paper Company is online at wallacepaperco.com on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wallace-Paper-Company/135209683284107 Twitter (@wallacepaperco) and Pinterest (wallacepaperco). Si "Like" them, "pin" them and follow them on Twitter.

So the next time you need birthday party, baby or bridal shower, or wedding invitations call Sharon Deaver at Wallace Paper Company. She will be glad to help you create that perfect invitation.

The 2013 Dogwood Arts Home and Garden Show

If you happen to be near or live in the Knoxville area do I have a great thing for you to do tomorrow. The 35th Annual Dogwood Arts Home and Garden Show is being held at the Knoxville Convention Center. With over 200 exhibits I am pretty certain that there will be something for everyone who attends.

  Dogwood Arts is setting the stage for a spectacular House & Garden Show with features sure to inspire everyone! This year’s show, selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for 2013, will take place tomorrow Sunday, February 17 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The 2013 House and Garden Show, presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel, will feature more than 200 exhibits sure to spark the imaginations of home and garden enthusiasts. Attendees can lose themselves in the Grand Gardens, a showcase of more than 10,000 square feet of landscapes constructed by the region’s top designers, and find themselves inspired by interior designers showcasing innovations for the home. The Flower Markets will offer virtually everything colorful and green that can brighten a garden. Artists will have artwork on the show floor to bring personality to your home and garden. The How-To Stage will present eleven shows throughout the weekend. The House and Garden Show is definitely the ticket to spring!

Dogwood Arts is excited to showcase: the Green Living Pavilion, a Cooking School, the third annual fundraising raffle, and artists!

• The Green Pavilion is a sustainability initiative that emphasizes energy efficiency and conservation. Green Living vendors will educate attendees about new energy-efficient technologies, products and services, while providing resources focused on greener and cleaner homes, gardens, and overall lifestyles
• A Cooking School, sponsored by locally-owned-and-operated, Avanti Savoia, will be providing thirteen cooking demonstrations focused on home-made Italian cuisine, throughout the weekend
• The third annual fundraising raffle will give visitors 18 years and older the opportunity to win one of five amazing prize packages including:
  
  
  • Enter for a chance to win $2,500 to customize your own furniture from the HGTV HOME Design Studio at Bassett. Donated by Scripps Networks Interactive.
  • Cook like Food Network chefs with $750 worth of kitchen products from Kohl’s. Donated by Scripps Networks Interactive.
  • Building materials for a 15′ x 60′ patio to include a fire-pit – valued at $7,500. Donated by ACME Block & Brick.
  • Two (2) Telescope Casual Momentum Deep-Seat Arm Chairs; One (1) Telescope Casual Solid Surface Coffee Table; and One (1) Big Green Egg, Nest, and Mates – all valued at $4,450. Donated by Prism Pool and Backyard.
  • Invisible Fence Silver Package to include a control panel with one (1) surge protector, one (1) computer collar, one (1) power cap battery plan, professional installation for up to a half-acre, and two (2) training sessions from a certified trainer – value: $1,099. Donated by Invisible Fence.
• Artists – furniture makers, custom tile makers, faux painters, fine art painters, and more!

Celebrity speakers will be on-hand throughout the weekend on the Entertainment Stage as they educate and entertain audiences. Among others, Matt Muenster, host of DIY Network’s Bath Crashers will present “Bathroom Design for 2013 & Beyond!”; Leigh Anne Lomax from Cheekwood Botanical Garden in Nashville will present “Cheekwood’s Dynamic Dogwoods: Building an Exemplary Collection”; and Alison Victoria, host of DIY Network’s Kitchen Crashers will present “Alison’s Five Best Kitchen Tips.”

Participating artists include: Alex Smith, Art by Nick, Cadman & Cummins Studios, Charles Pinckney Designs, Jill Stone Studio, Michelle Monet Creations, The Clay Horse, and Tufa Garden Art.

Participating Landscape Designers include: Ecoscapes, Forever Green, Landscape Outfitters, Mark W. Fuhrman Complete Landscape Services, Petey’s Landscaping, Pleasant Hill Nursery, Proscapes, Reno Land Design, Stuart Row Landscapes, The Lawn Butler, and Willow Ridge Garden Center & Landscaping.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (over 65), and $5 for youth (6-12 years old). Children under 5 are admitted free. Tickets purchased at any local ORNL Federal Credit Union will receive $1 off the ticket price from January 28 through February 14. All proceeds benefit Dogwood Arts.

For more information on the House & Garden Show, visit www.dogwoodhouseandgarden.com

Dogwood Arts is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote and celebrate our region’s arts, culture, and natural beauty. The Dogwood Arts House & Garden Show is a major fundraising event that supports this mission and the Festival in April. ORNL Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of the Festival. For more information, visit www.dogwoodarts.com or call [865] 637.4561.

How-To Stage Entertainment Schedule

Sunday, February 17

Alison Victoria, Host of DIY Network’s “Kitchen Crashers”

11:30 am :: Erin’s Meadow presents “Herbal Housecleaning: Create a Naturally Clean and Fragrant Home” 
1:30 pm :: Alison Victoria, host of DIY Network’s Kitchen Crashers presents “Alison’s Five Best Kitchen Tips”

Cooking School Schedule

Sunday, February 17
11:00 am :: Tagliatelle Zafferano con aglio, olio e arrosto pepperoni rossi
1:00 pm :: Pattone di Linguine Nero di Seppia con frutti di mare
3:00 pm :: Pappardelle Pasta alla “3 P’s”

Sponsored by:

I got a chance to volunteer there this afternoon and got a chance to peek at some the exhibits. Trust me when I say it is well worth the cost of the ticket price. I plan to take photos tomorrow. They have some great ideas and if you're a train buff please stop and check out Mark Fuhrman's incredible train display. There are plenty of goodies and door prizes that being given away. I got a nice reusable shopping bag, a mini flashlight, chip bag clip that has a magnet on back and for hubby a nice sturdy coffee mug for his hot cocoa.

So be sure to check out the 35th Annual  Dogwood Arts Home and Garden Show at the Knoxville Convention Center. It's located at

701 Henley Street

Knoxville, TN 37902

(865) 522-5669

http://www.knoxvilleconventioncenter.com/

Until next time...

Better Bacon

We all love bacon. I mean how can you NOT like bacon. It's chocked fully of smoky salty porky goodness. Plus it has become a staple in things like cupcakes, sandwiches, vodkas and even chocolate bars. Just about every state now has a bacon festival of some kind or another.
 Now recently I started experimenting with bacon to see how I could make it better. After some testing and very willing taste testers I came up with Better Bacon. Better Bacon is a sweet slightly smoky bacon that is the best bacon ever for grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches. Plus it's super easy to do and since it's done in the oven your stove top is free for you to use.
I would recommend using a good brand name bacon for Better Bacon. There are some store brands out there that are really great but you want to buy a bacon with a good balance of meat and fat. Too much fat and the bacon starts to shrink. Too much meat and the bacon will start curling up. Not what we want

Better Bacon
1 (16 oz) package thick sliced hickory smoked bacon
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Preheat oven to 375. In a roasting pan with a rack place bacon strips in a single layer.
2. In heated oven cook bacon for 12 minutes. Drain bacon grease and place in a coffee cup that has been rinsed out with very hot water and dried. (This bacon grease is great for frying eggs, potatoes and using in  greasing cast iron skillets for cornbread.Another great use is a big spoonful in green beans).
3. Drizzle the maple syrup evenly all over the bacon and sprinkle with the brown sugar. Place back in oven and cook for about 3 minutes more. You want the edges of your bacon to just start turning a nice golden brown color.
4. Remove from oven and let rest for a few minutes. This resting period lets the maple syrup and bacon infuse into the bacon.

Now go enjoy your Better Bacon...

Until next time

A Little Support

Sorry it has been a few days but I had to break down and buy a new system. My old desktop had started to get the "whine of death" which meant it was a matter of time before it was a goner. Now I have a new system to use so I now have no excuses for not writing.
For starters the winners in our EarthFare prize giveaway have been selected by Random Number Picker and the winners were Victoria and Amy Lauren. Congrats ladies, your goodies are on their ways to you.
I had originally intended to spotlight a few local businesses in this blog but something happened in the shopping plaza where they are located that made me change my mind.
No the plaza did not catch fire but sadly two of the businesses there were robbed Friday evening. I had gotten a chance to talk for a few minutes to the receptionist at one and was looking forward to talking to the owners once they had moved to their new location in the plaza.
Most of the shops located here are small privately owned local businesses. Yes, there are a few larger "chain" type store but even they are fairly small compared to their more urban cousins. There are a variety of stores and I will do a blog telling you all about them (except for one who really wasn't interested ).
In 2012 on Small Business Saturday $5.5 billion dollars was spent in ONE day!! I'm not the best at math but if we all spent that much on small businesses each Saturday for an entire year that is a slew of money being put back into the local economy. Okay so I did the math and the grand total is $286 billion dollars. Just think what that would mean to your local economy.
The owners didn't have to talk to me about their businesses but they DID. They took time out of their schedules to tell about themselves and their businesses. If they can do that for me then shouldn't we support them in the same way by patronizing them? These people are your neighbors, friends and sometimes even family.
Your local Chamber of Commerce can direct you to the locally owned businesses in your neighborhood and town. Let people know about a locally owned business if you really love it. Word of mouth advertising goes a long way even in today's digitalized social media society.
Until next time...

All About... Me!!

Okay so this post is going to be all about me. I figure you all might want to know a little about me. I figured 'Twenty Questions" type format would be fun to do. I am not going to be telling you where I live or my real name. Oh and as lady you won't be knowing to my age and weight.So let's begin..

1)What are your past times?I  like to read, bake, travel, do crossword puzzles, write and collect antique books (pre 1920)

2)What are some of your favorite bands? My music tastes varies but I do have a few bands that I do like - Depeche Mode, The Cure, Duran-Duran,early U2 and surprise surprise-Rammstein! Yep, I am Rammstein fan. I have never seen them in concert but I would love to.

3) What are some of your favorite songs? Rosenrot (Rammstein), Red Hill Mining Town (U2), A Little Respect (Erasure), It's A Sin (Pet Shop Boys), Sex on Fire(Kings of Leon), The Love Cats (The Cure), Rush (Depeche Mode)

4)Who are some of your favorite authors? Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allen Poe, Anne Rice, Louisa May Alcott

5)What are some of your favorite books? A Woman of Independent Means, Little Women, Little Men, anything by Beverly Lewis and the Love Comes Softly series by Janette Oke

6)Have you ever traveled outside the US? Yes, on two occasions. Once when I was small we went to Victoria, British Columbia and again when I was in high school I went Quebec and Montreal.

7)What are your favorite movies? Queen of the Damned, Imitation of Life (1957 Lana Turner version), Them!, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Peyton Place

8)Should married people have friends of the opposite sex? Yes! The reason is that you can ask them if you need an opinion on say what gift to give your spouse or if you need a second opinion on a matter (not major matters just minor ones). Besides sometimes friends of the opposite sex can help you see things in a way you might have missed.

9) Do you consider yourself religious? Yes but not to the point of piety. I look at religion this way. Yes I am a believer but I will not go forcing my views on people if they don't want me to. If someone wants to talk to me then I will answer whatever questions they might have .

10) Can you cook and what dishes are you best at? Somewhat. I can make a mean 3 cheese macaroni (which I often bring to potluck dinners)a pretty wicked omelet,  slow roasted chicken and according to my kids I make decent cookies.Oh our youth group keeps asking when I plan to make more gluten free peanut butter cookies for them.

11) What states have you lived in? LA, GA,MS,WA, VA and TN

12) What is the most unusual job you ever had? I work temporarily at a video store in the Christmas room. Trust me Santa does not make his toys here . We just told kids that so they would turn around and walk the other way

13) Do you have any siblings? Yes, one of each both younger.

14)Do you have any nieces/nephews? Four nieces

15) Are your parents still living? Yes and they celebrated 40 years of marriage back in August

16)How many of your grandparents are still living? I am blessed to have both my paternal grandparents still living and my maternal grandmother. My maternal grandfather passed away in 2010.

17)What is on your bucket list? Travel to Europe, learn to play cello, learn German and Italian, learn to snow ski and go on a cruise

18)Pet Peeves? Long lines, mean people,

19) Favorite foods? Oriental rice crackers, wasabi peas, Southwestern jarlsberg dip, French food, Chinese food

20) Favorite TV shows? Criminal Minds, Numb3rs, Rocko's Modern Life, Tom & Jerry

Turning dreams into Reality

I got a chance today to stop in at Law's Interior & Design Studios in the Shops at Western Plaza in Knoxville. There I got to talk with Helen Frazier who is the Project Manager for Law's.
 Law's Interior & Design Studio has two locations, nearly forty employees and almost 45,000 square feet of warehouse and showroom space. Nearly 12,000 of the square footage is their showroom which is treat to visit.
Law's retails furniture from companies such as classically inspired Hickory Chair based in Hickory, North Carolina to the modern modern feel of Baier Furniture. They also have hutches, tables and artwork such as painting available for purchase.
Helen explained they work with contractors for new builds and remodels as well. So if you are in need of a design team to take your home interior design ideas and make them a reality call the team at Law's Interiors & Design
Visit their website to see a photo gallery of the great design work they do.

Until next time...

Feed me...Part 1 of the Menu Planning Journey

I was recently looking at article online and it gave a week worth of dinner menus. That was a great idea since it gave complete shopping list along with the menu. After a closer look I realized that there was no way that any normal family would eat these dishes. Plus it required you to have on hand things that a lot of us simply don’t have like walnut oil,  dry sherry (I thought sherry was wet since it is a liquid. Dry sherry is made with lighter grapes than regular sherry) and other odd things
So I decided as a project to search thru all my vintage cookbooks, magazines and the internet to create a menu for the month of February that would meet the following requirements; (1) It must have dishes that we would actually eat plus a new side or main course each day for variety (2) Anyone could make the dishes on the menu without having to have a degree from the Cordon Bleu cooking school (3) The cost per day broke down like this -breakfast would cost $5.00, lunch would cost $5.00 and dinner would cost $10.00 and last but not least (4) It had to feed my family of six for under $600.
 I am now armed with my goals as far as my menu plan for the month of February. I will be doing research and figuring the costs of each meal. My goal is to each Sunday evening to post the upcoming week’s menu with a cost breakdown. I hope by doing this I can give my readers ideas for planning their own menus for the week saving them time and money.
Until next time…

The Human Condition-Part 1 of 3

This is part 1 of a 3 part blog series. The posting will not be back-to-back as I will be doing more research on this topic
The blog you are about to read is not just for ladies but men also. Ladies you need to share this with your husbands and boyfriends because they can help in ways we ladies can’t. Not that we ladies can’t help it’s just that in this case men can help without raising suspicions.
Today I am going to write about a topic that might make some of my readers uncomfortable. After reading an article on human trafficking and the very few calls that the hotline in Tennessee received I decide this was a topic that I wanted to write about.
If you’re like me my first thought was “There is no way people are being trafficked. I mean it’s 2013 people!”. The sad reality is that human trafficking is huge business in America. In fact it is so huge that it surpasses the sales of illegal arms at $32 billion dollars in revenue annually. Over fifty percent of the revenue coming from industrialized countries. The illicit trade of small arms averages a billion dollars a year.
To give you a number to compare this to, Bill Gates is worth $65 billion dollars.
Over  293,000 American children each year are trafficked yearly in the United States for sexual purposes. Forty percent of all human trafficking cases opened for investigation between January 2008 and June 2010 were for the sexual trafficking of a child. There are other forms of trafficking or as the FBI website called them “modern-day slaves”. These people are often beaten, starved, and forced to work as prostitutes or to take grueling jobs as migrant, domestic, restaurant, or factory workers with little or no pay. When we go to work we expect certain things like getting paid, lunch breaks, some type of benefits and a safe work environment. Sadly this is not the case with the people who are trafficked. They endured daily beatings, starvation, lack of basic human comforts and worse. A lot of these people who are smuggled into the United States do not speak English which is a “benefit” to their captors but a hindrance to them.
 I wan to focus on the sex trafficking trade especially with children.
As a mom I cannot even comprehend what would even drive someone to even entertain the thought of having sex with a child. I mean the mere thought is reprehensible and revolting.
Most of the young women who are smuggled into the United States are from Central America and Asian countries. Not all victims are from those countries though. Victims from the United States are also involved especially girls who are runaways or come from dysfunctional homes.
Not all the victims are women and young girls. However, there are an increasing number of young males being forced into the commercial sex industry as well.
How do these people end up being trafficked? What do the traffickers do to these people? What is the average age of a person (especially of a female) being forced into sex trafficking. What happens when these people are “found” by the authorities? What happens to the traffickers IE what is the usual protocol to catch them and their punishments? What happens to the victims afterwards? Most importantly what can we do as citizens to help combat this problem
There are many ways that a person especially a woman can be ensnared in the sex trafficking trade. Some women are simply kidnapped and sold to a trafficker who in turns sells her to a pimp. Others are offered offers of legitimate and legal work as shop assistants or waitresses. Some are given offers of marriage, an education and a chance at a better life. Some are sold into trafficking by boyfriends, neighbors, friends and even their own parents.
Also pimps lure vulnerable young women by pretending to be their best friend/protector/boyfriend /Prince Charming all in one. However once these women are “caught”, the pimps are anything but a Prince Charming.
The victims are often passed along thru various “trade routes” winding up further and further from their home countries. An example would be Daryna from the Ukraine may be sold to a Gazanfer who is a trafficker in Turkey, who then passes her on to Phailin who is a trafficker in Thailand. Along the way she becomes confused and disoriented. Along the way her passport and documents are taken from her and she is told she is in the country illegally causing her to be even more dependent on her captors.
Often these victims are often kept in captivity and also trapped into debt bondage. Victims also report being charged additional fines or fees while under bondage, requiring them to work longer to pay off their debts.
Traffickers also use the threat of hurting the victim’s family and/or children if they do not cooperate. They also physically tortured, starved, locked into closets, drugged and raped into submission.
Some women are drugged so they do not escape and are forced to “serve” up to thirty men a day.
"Children exploited through prostitution report they typically are given a quota by their trafficker/pimp of 10 to 15 buyers per night. Utilizing a conservative estimate, a domestic minor sex trafficking victim would be raped by 6,000 buyers during the course of her victimization through prostitution. "
Prostituted Children, Shared Hope International, May 2009, page 20.
So what happens when the victim is found?
One is to arrest and deport the victim. Seriously like this will freaking help!! Why is this even considered as an option? The reason is that prosecutors don't want to take on the difficult challenge of prosecuting a trafficker when they can win the easier charges of prosecuting the victim for prostitution, document fraud, or immigration & labor violations.
Second is to jail the offender. Good in theory but not in thought. Often governments offer protection to the victim and allow them to temporarily stay in the country, on the condition that they testify against their traffickers.
In the U.S., the TVPA (Trafficking Victim’s Protection Act) allows for the provision of temporary visas (T-visas) to victims of human trafficking, with a possibility of permanent residency.  However, they only offer 5,000 of these each year, regardless of how many human trafficking cases come forth.  In 2010 only 213 T visas were granted.  The 2010 TIP Report claims that testimony against the trafficker, conviction of the trafficker, or formal denunciation of the trafficker is not required in order to be eligible for a T visa. However, the report immediately follows this by stating “however, such support counts in an applicant’s favor.” In other words, chances are victims will not get a T visa unless they are willing to testify.  This reveals the TVPA to be about prosecution, though they claim to focus on victim protection. So unless the victims are willing to testify they are not offered asylum in the U.S.
Okay so the “bad guy “ gets arrested and everyone is happy right? Not so fast folks. Basically these jerks get a slap on the wrist if anything. A man in Austria , guilty of human trafficking, bodily harm, rape, forced abortion, forgery, and damage to property received only 8 years in prison, though two victims had enough courage to come forward. EIGHT years people is all he got!! Depending on the country is how many years the trafficker will serve in prison:  2-15 years (Czech Republic) to “up to 10 years” (Austria, Korea) to 13-23 years (Colombia) to 12-25 years (Australia) to a maximum of life imprisonment (Nigeria).
http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2011/164221.htm explains how each country is measured as far as tier levels much better than I ever could.
 What happens to the victims afterwards? These victims are going to need numerous things like psychological and social services, temporary employment, legal services, safe houses, and protection during the prosecution of their traffickers. They are also going to need basic things like clothing, personal items, education and medical care. These are things that help the victim go from “abused” to “triumphant”.
 What can we do to help combat this problem? The easiest is to contact our Senators and Congressional Representatives. Let them know that we need tougher laws against human trafficking of any sort. Also support local law enforcement in their fight against this problem.  Be a responsible consumer, there are many companies who work with victims of the sex trafficking industry to give them better lives. Last but not least educate yourself on this problem and share what you learn. Like the old saying goes “Knowledge is power” and the more knowledge we have the more powerful we can be.
(The facts and figures used in this posting came from numerous websites including newspapers, televisions. governmental websites. A complete list will be available upon request after the third blog is posted. This will be an extensive list)
Until next time…

Friendly Reminder...

Just a friendly reminder the Earth Fare prize giveaway is less than a week away. I will be lettting the nifty random number generator pick two winners on Friday February 1st, 2013. You can't win if you read and comment.
The blog posting to comment on is http://mmommymusings.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-adventure-in-wellness-and-my-first.html . Good luck....

Until next time...

Delicious (Měiwèi) No Matter How You say it

I don't eat out too often but when I do there are some restaurants that are simply incredible. There is one local place that is absolutely amazing. That special place is Hibachi Grill.
When you first walk in you are greeted by one of their friendly staff who quickly and happily will seat you. Large parties are not a problem as I have been there with a party of nine before and they were very accommodating.
After you are seated, your server will come and take your drink order. They do not serve alcohol but they do serve various sodas, iced teas and hot tea in its own teapot.
Now it's off to the buffet area! Trust me , they do not disappoint when it comes to great food here. They have a vast array of wonderful dishes in different cuisine.
Let me give you a highlight of a few the wonderful dishes you can find here.
Our first dish is the hibachi style dishes. You can select ingredient to be cooked to perfection right in front of your eyes. You can choose from chicken, beef, shrimp, eggs and a selection of fresh vegetables that is stir-fried with your choice of sauces including teriyaki and hibachi sauce.
Fresh prime rib awaits you to slice off and enjoy . Next to that sits a beautiful sweetly glazed ham decorated with pineapple. If those two choices aren’t what you are looking for, there is also pizza and pork tenderloin awaiting you. The prime rib is some of the best you’ll have the pleasure of eating. Tender and easily sliced is the best way to describe it
 One of my husband’s favorite dishes is cheesy clams. These are clams with cream sauce that are broiled with grated cheese on top of them. Their wonderful sweet pocketbook rolls that simply beg for honey butter to be spread on top of them. You can also find their unique potatoes skin here. I haven’t quite figured what is in them but I can tell you there is onion, sour cream, loads of crispy bacon and cheese. These would be awesome with hot wings for a Super Bowl party .
 A great fresh salad bar also adds to the deliciousness of the food here. You can find fresh salad ingredients along cold seafood such as shrimp, octopus and oysters. Various sauces are also here such surachi sauce, ketchup and various salad dressings
Now there are the standard Chinese dishes like Mei-Fun, Steamed Dumplings, General Tso’s Chicken, Lo-Mein, Egg Rolls, Wonton Soup and others here. The difference is the quality of the food here. The staff here takes great pride in serving delicious and fresh food to their customers. Food is replaced quickly and often here so you are always guaranteed fresh and hot food to enjoy.
Now it’s time for dessert.. Here we have various flavors of ice cream as well as different types of cakes, cookies, puddings, Jell-O’s, fresh fruit and their special peanut. Yes these are special peanut that have salt and seasoning to them. I could eat these peanuts by the pound and never tire of them. I plan to stop by again and offer to buy just a pound of peanut from there since they are that good.
If you are looking for a great place to grab a quick lunch or have a friendly relaxed date than Hibachi Grill is the place for you. They also have take out as well.
This charming restaurant is located at 9645 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee,  37922 where the old Ryan's Buffet used to be at. It is across the street from Michaels and Babies R Us . The phone number is :(865)357-3555 and their fax number is :(865)357-8088
If you decide to eat here be sure to let them know that Mmommy Musings sent you.     
 (I couldn't take photos since my camera decided that it wasn't going to work for me. Sorry everyone.Check out their website for some great photos) 
 After my great meal, I ventured into few of the local stores nearby including Smart Toys and Books, Coachman Clothiers, Gentry Furriers among others. I will be telling you about these great places as time allows me to.
 Until next time... 

Warming up for Valentine's Day

Cupcakes are HOT! These tasty little treats have taken the world by storm. In fact , cupcakes are so popular the have inspired games (Cupcake Frenzy, Cupcake Maker and millions of others), various perfumes from people like Jessica Simpson and companies like Vitabath as well as a television shows like Cupcake Wars, The Cupcake Girls and DC Cupcakes.
However , not all cupcakes are the same. I got a chance to learn this when I visited I Cities Cupcakes in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Cities Cupcake is a locally owned bakery in the heart of the Bearden district. Located next door to Abloom florist , they are easily spotted by the giant fabric stuffed cupcake in front of their store.

Walking in the door the first thing I noticed was the menu boards explaining the various cupcake offering and specialty goods they have available. The first board describes their Top Ten Cities Flavors. These flavors are always available for pick up. The second board described their monthly flavors. Each month, Cities Cupcake offer four specialty flavors. The last board described their specialty items they carry

 Each of their cupcakes are named after a city hence the name Cities Cupcake. Each city has a special unique feature that is highlighted by the cupcake that represents it. For example there is a cupcake called the “Dubliner” which is described in their brochure  like this “Irish mouths are smiling with a bite into our Bailey’s Irish Cream Dublin Cupcake. The cupcake is made with real Bailey's in both the brownie and the espresso butter-cream frosting. Dunked in chocolate sprinkles and crowned with a chocolate covered espresso bean, the Dublin Cupcake is a sophisticated flavor trip.” Trust me, when the Dubliner comes on the monthly flavor board, I am definitely going to try one. I will let you know how great it tastes !!
After studying the various flavors of cupcakes I decided to try three ; two from the Top Ten Cities Flavors, Knoxville and Cincinnati and one from the January flavor selection called Half Moon Bay Cupcake. I also got one called New Orleans from the Top Ten Cities Flavors.
The Knoxville is a moist orange cupcake topped with sweet vanilla butter cream sprinkled with bright orange sugar sprinkles.

 Now I have had your standard orange cupcakes before but they were no comparison. Sadly most orange cupcakes out there have little to no orange flavoring to them. The Knoxville has a nice sweet orange flavor that is not so overpowering that is distracts from enjoying the cupcake.
 The butter cream frosting is a sweet creamy frosting that balances nicely with the orange taste of the cupcake itself. This butter-cream frosting was smooth and creamy unlike some butter cream frosting that develop a firm hard crust to them. The bright orange sugar sprinkles are a fun touch to the cupcake .
The actual cupcake was my favorite part of this cupcake, This cake is good enough to eat without frosting! I can imagine some of these in a mini cupcake size unfrosted served with coffee at a brunch.
The next one I tried was the Half Moon Bay. This is a lightly spiced pumpkin cupcake with sweet cream cheese frosting and a dollop of orange marmalade. Now, I’ll be honest and tell you all I am not a pumpkin fan. I decided to take a chance on the Half Moon Bay and I am glad that I did so. 
The Half Moon Bay has a taste similar to an old-fashioned spice cake. I could taste a hint of clove and cinnamon in the cake. These would be great no matter what month is it.One of these and some hot cocoa...

 The sweet cream cheese frosting was surprisingly not as sweet as I expected. I was expecting a super sweet cream cheese frosting akin to what you would find on the frosting aisle of the . Thankfully this was far from the frosting topping the Half Moon Bay cupcake. Instead a overly sweet frosting, the Half Moon Bay has a nice and gently sweetened cream cheese frosting , Surprisingly the orange marmalade on top added a nice balance to the frosting.
Chocolate…That’s right the next cupcake I tried was a Cincinnati. This is a German chocolate cupcake with the traditional coconut-pecan frosting.
 The Cincinnati’s cupcake was a lighter version of the heavy traditional chocolate cake that is used for German chocolate cake. A nice hint of vanilla helped to bring out the chocolate favor of this cupcake.

I have always loved the frosting for German chocolate cake and this frosting did not disappoint! This was a wonderful frosting with toasted pecan and loads of coconut in it. If I could, I would order a batch of the Cincinnati’s frosting to eat straight out of the container.
 And by the way if you ever are having a craving for just the frosting, Cities Cupcakes sells “Frosting Shots”. Yep, you read correctly. These are little shot glasses filled with the Cities Cupcakes signature frostings. Imagine the frosting from the Dubliner or the Johnson City which is made with Dr. Enuff  (which is a lemon-lime energy boosting soda) as a treat for yourself.

All great things have to come to end and my last cupcake was the New Orleans. This is a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting and for a fun touch little funfetti dots on top.

 The cupcake was a very moist traditional red velvet cake. This was definitely a super moist cake that is far superior to the cardboard boxed mix from the grocery.
Depending on where you are come from is what determines what type of frosting your red velvet cake will have. Where I come from in Virginia we use a cooked frosting made with flour, sugar, milk, shortening and vanilla. Probably not the healthiest thing to eat but hey red velvet cake was served at special occasions like birthdays, receptions and church dinners not everyday
When I moved down here I learned that cream cheese frosting is frosting of choice. I admit it took me a while to get used to the cream cheese frosting school of thought.
 The cream cheese frosting on the New Orleans was the perfect balance for the red velvet cupcake.  This was a very smooth and creamy frosting with the right amount of sweetness to it. The funfetti dots were a nice crunchy sweet added bonus to the New Orleans’ overall  flavor.
 Cities Cupcakes are incredibly amazing. The owner , Linda Hurst, truly loves creating delicious cupcakes and her passion shines through in each of her flavors of cupcakes she offers.
In case you’re wondering , yes they do offer gluten-free cupcakes . They also would be more than happy to talk to you about helping you plan what the best cupcake would best suit you.
 The next time you are in the Knoxville area make it a point to swing by Cities Cupcakes in Bearden. Their hours are:
Tuesday-Friday:
10:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday:
10:00 am - 4:00pm
Sunday-Monday:
Closed
Be sure to checkout their website : https://www.citiescupcake.com/index.html . Where you can learn all about their cupcakes, specialty items and follow them on Twitter as well as like them on Facebook.
The photos of the half cupcakes are from the Cities Cupcake's website since they are so good that I ate them before I got a chance to photograph them. I will take a photo of every thing I review from now on.
 
Until next time…

From the store windows

To the store front

To the giant cupcake in front of Cities Cupcake screams
"Cupcake" everywhere you look

A Pretty Sweet Tooth

I have a very busy day yesterday between church dinner, rewriting a few articles for publication and life in general. I just wanted to let you all know I have had a chance to review some great things recently and am so looking forward to sharing my thoughts on these products.
 For all of you who have a sweet tooth, you'll definitely will want to make it a point to read today's blog. I'll be reviewing a local bakery that is becoming quite popular for their cupcakes.
I feel pretty,
Oh, so pretty,
I feel pretty and witty and bright! 
  On Friday's blog I'll be doing the first of three reviews on some great products that will help you smell and feel pretty. Hey guys don't think that this post isn't for you. Oh no, since Valentine's Day is just around the corner these would make great gifts for the special lady in your life

Until next time...

It's Time for a Party

Good Tuesday morning everyone! Today I'll be joining a Link-Up party at The Time-Warp Wife  Look for my post as number 6.
I am also at Tots and Me Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up as well.

Be sure to visit both these great blogs.

Until next time..