Tracy's World

More of Tracys Amazon Gold Box Deals

March 24th, 2010

Tracy Matlack

Amazon is a great place to shop because they sell just about everything except the kitchen sink. Actually, they do sell kitchen sinks! Check my blog and you will find amazing deals offered by Amazon. Their Gold Box Deals are divided into four different sections.

1. Deal of the Day - This is one item offered each day at a heavily discounted price. You never know what it is going to be, but you can be sure that it is always a good deal.

2. Lightning Deals – This is great because it offers one item with an expiration time. When the time is up, they move to a new item. This continues throughout the day and here again, you will find deep discounts.

3. Best Deals - Here you will find all kinds of items from various categories that are on sale. You can sort the items by percent off, price and newest items added to the list.

4. Quick Picks – This area shows deals based on things that must be purchased within the hour. New items are added every day.

American Idol Bowersox Rocks!

March 23rd, 2010

Tracy Matlack

She is on a roll! Crystal Bowersox rocked the house once again on American Idol. Tonight was Billboard No. 1 Hits night and Crystal is definitely a No. 1 Hit. Performing her rendition of Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee” Crystal proved she is a star and Randy Jackson couldn’t agree more. “That’s what is called being a star! And a dope singer! Right there!” enthuses Randy. “I’m so happy now!”

Simon Cowell wouldn’t change anything, which is major praise coming from him. Up until now, this was a karaoke competition. Simon’s heard Pink sing this song and thought her version was the best one, but Crystal’s was just as good. He’s seen Crystal progress over the past few weeks. She’s doing her own thing and not being gimmicky. She took a song and nailed it.

Miley Cyrus was the mentor this week and she immediately praised Crystal Bowersox’s “different” take on Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee.” She did encourage Crystal to take a few more risks at the end of the song. “There were some times when she hit those high notes that it sounded gospel,” Cyrus said.

Crystal is a natural. The music pours from her soul as she grabs the audience into her performances. She feels what she sings and makes each song her own. Crystal is definitely the one to watch.

Make sure to continue watching Crystal Bowersox. She says that she has big plans for next week. I can’t wait to find out and I am sure we all will be blown away.

Bring Alex Lambert Back to American Idol!

March 20th, 2010

Tracy Matlack

American Idol just isn’t the same without <>Alex Lambert. I can’t say enough about this young man and his talent. His unique voice, humble character and sweet smile make for a perfect musical package, guaranteed to make any teenage girl swoon. What an unfortunate loss for the viewers of American Idol. I surely miss looking forward to watching him each week.

After reading other blogs about Alex, I have learned that the song responsible for his downfall, “Trouble“, was not his first choice. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Alex said, “I had another song in mind: “Let Me Love You” by Mario. It’s an R&B song, but I was going to change it up and make it my own. But it was a song a lot of people didn’t know so I went with my second choice because one of the producers was telling me, “If you do this song, you’ll get more votes.” But obviously I didn’t get enough. I wish I would’ve done the other song. I wish I didn’t listen to the producer. But I still feel like, vocally, the song I sang, I didn’t think it was bad enough for me to go home, but it is what it is.”

I think the song “Trouble” was a perfect fit for Alex’s voice, and the adult demographic would say it was a brilliant interpretation. However, what voting 14 year old would know who Ray LaMontagne is or be familiar with any of his music? “Let Me Love You” would have been a hit with viewers, because it is current and the younger crowd is very familiar with Mario and his contemporary genre.

Alex was interviewed on the Ellen DeGeneres show and sang his version of “Let Me Love You.” The response from the younger generation was tremendous. I have to believe that Alex Lambert would still be a contender for the top three if he would have stuck with his initial choice of songs.

Lambert fans have definitely taken action on behalf of their beloved Alex. A “Bring Alex Lambert Back” petition has been circulating on the internet which has almost 18,000 signatures demanding that Alex be reinstated on the show. With the season’s lowered ratings and the lack of talent in over half of the remaining contestants, could the Idol producers possibly realize the error of their ways? I can’t help but wonder, will American Idol producers listen to the almost 18,000 fans and bring Lambert back? Let’s hope so!

Watch Alex Lambert’s interview with Ellen DeGeneres and his rendition of “Let Me Love You” by Mario.

Alex wrote a song for Ellen DeGeneres, listen to it here.

Guide For Transitioning To A Healthier Diet

March 19th, 2010

Tracy Matlack

I was reading through one of my Yoga newsletters and came across this article by Brendan Brazier. He gives great ideas on how to transition into healthy eating.

At this point, most of us know what foods are healthy. The challenge is no longer in finding the best health-promoting foods, but rather conveniently incorporating them into the diet on a daily basis without overextending our time budget. What then is the best route to take when aiming to integrate more healthy foods into the diet by replacing the less-healthy options?

A common approach when transitioning to a new way of eating is to eliminate certain non-health promoting foods. However, the most effective way to seamlessly adopt a new eating plan is to include more health-promoting foods as opposed to eliminating the less healthy. This is a practical solution that works on a physiological level as well as a psychological one.

Physically, this approach is ideal in that it allows time for the body to detoxify itself. Healthier foods generally have more fiber, more chlorophyll and are often enzyme rich. These three components of healthy food will, however, take the body a bit of time to adapt to. By slowly adding foods that are rich in these nutrients, the body will grow used to them and actually begin to expect and even desire them over time.

Psychologically, adopting this “inclusion” approach is a sound strategy. Mentally knowing that you can still eat some of the foods you’re trying to wean yourself off of in the early stages of the new diet is a comfort to most. Simply starting a program that is less restrictive (and therefore not as daunting) will have a greater chance of being embraced and will eventually becoming routine.

One of the most effective ways to begin making the transition is to incorporate key cleansing foods in a form that is appealing. Whole food smoothies are the best way to do this. Blended with one’s choice of fresh fruit, they can accommodate most everyone. As mentioned, the key active ingredients for transitional purposes are fiber, chlorophyll and enzymes. As with any nutrient, fiber is best obtained from a whole food source. Both soluble and insoluble sources of fiber are important. Hemp, flax, greens and vegetables are a superior source. Whole grains are also a reasonable choice and sprouted are the best. Chlorophyll rich foods are the green ones — the darker the better. From basic lettuce to more exotic algae such as chlorella, spirulina and even phytoplankton, they are tremendously healthy.

Enzymes are prevalent in raw food.Simply by incorporating more raw foods (such as fruit and vegetables) into your diet will ensure that your enzyme needs are covered. However, stress and the over consumption of refined foods can cause enzyme production to sharply decline. But the addition of fresh raw fruit is a good first step.

Other good whole food sources to add to a smoothie include coconut water, which is extremely rich in electrolytes, and a seed called Salba that is high in protein and essential fatty acids, including omega-3.

About Brendan:
Brendan Brazier is a professional Ironman triathlete, two-time Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion and bestselling author on performance nutrition. He is also the creator of the award-winning VEGA line of whole food products.

Brendan’s latest book, The Thrive Diet (Penguin, 2007), includes 100 balanced, plant-based, whole food recipes.

Hot Spots for Spring Break 2010

March 19th, 2010

Tracy Matlack

Spring break is fast approaching, do you know where you are going? Below are a few destinations you may want to consider if you are still wondering what beach to play on this year.

South Padre Island
Home of the “Two Nation Vacation,” South Padre Island, Texas is located on the tip of the longest barrier island in the United States. It is rated as one of the “Top Ten Beaches” in the world, making it one of the hottest Spring Break destinations. South Padre offers lots of beach side activities each year during Spring Break. The fact that it is only 30 minutes away from Mexico is why it is called the Two Nation Vacation.”

You will find windsurfing, sailing and a host of other water sports on Laguna Madre Bay to the west. You can relax on the white sandy beach on the Gulf of Mexico to the east. You can explore the Padre Island National Seashore to the north. And last but not least, you can be in Mexico in a matter of minutes.

Panama City Beach
Panama City has long been a popular destination for spring break. Located on the Florida panhandle, Panama City Beach has over 27 miles of dazzlingly-white beaches and emerald green waters. Don’t expect to do any surfing because the Gulf of Mexico water is pretty flat. But, you can rent jet skies, sailboats and you can para sail from one of the vendors just off beach property. See some oddities at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum, float the lazy river at Shipwreck Island Water Park or get lost in the Grand Maze at Coconut Creek. You can take a sightseeing trip, an air boat ride or a helicopter tour – there are so many things to do in Panama City.

South Beach
South Beach is an up and coming spring break location. When the sun goes down, the neon lights go on and South Beach heats up.

This historic Art Deco District of is well known for it’s chic sidewalk cafes, and trendy restaurants. A favorite destination of those escaping New York in winter, South Beach, has always been popular with models, movie stars, and musicians. During the day enjoy Miami’s beautiful sun drenched beaches. You can lie peacefully in the sun, and work on your tan until the sun sets, then you can hit the clubs! This city never sleeps! South Beach is famously filled with energy, nightlife options, celebrity sightings and beautiful people. If these are the things that would best take you away from your current situation, providing you with the kind of vacation you need to calm you down and loosen you up, there’s no place like South Beach.

Cancun
Cancun is an astonishingly gorgeous paradise that has grown in popularity to become the top international spring break destination. Some people are happy to do nothing more during spring break than enjoy the phenomenal beaches and water, soaking up the sun after a long winter, frequenting beach side bars and pool-side parties.

Others may choose to take a day trip to the ancient Mayan ruins at Tulum or the Temple of Kukulcan at Chichen Itza, or take a cruise from Cancun to the waters off of Cozumel. The Great Mesoamerican Reef also offers exceptional snorkeling opportunities for those who don’t want to go too deep. In Puerto Morelos (23 miles south of Cancœn) this reef hugs the coastline for 9 miles. It is second largest coral reef in the world. Go snorkeling or scuba diving and explore the largest dive site in the Western Hemisphere.

Negril
Kick back and enjoy the best and longest stretch of Jamaica’s famous Seven-Mile beach and experience the very chic and slightly playful side of Negril. View the many waterfalls that give it that unspoiled island feeling. This is why spring breakers come back to Negril again and again.

Negril is a clothing optional beach dotted with small beachfront hotels, thatched roof bars and restaurants overlooking the water. Once you have arrived at your hotel, you can relax on the beach, or go on an island adventure climbing one of the many waterfalls or jumping from the 45 foot cliffs at the Pickled Parrot. Water sports activities abound. If you are into sailing, you can go windsurfing, Sunfish sailing, or take a daylong sailing trip to Bloody Bay where you’ll enjoy basking in the sun, snorkeling, and partying on your own private beach! Ocean Kayaking and Jungle River Rafting worth exploring!

St. Patrick’s Day Why Do We Wear Green?

March 17th, 2010 Tracy Matlack

Top O’ the mornin’ to ya all! Are you wearin your green? What is all the green about and who started it?

At the age of sixteen, Patrick was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken captive to Ireland as a slave. He had a dream and in that dream he was told by God to flee from captivity and take off for the coast where he would board a ship and return to Britain. He did this and quickly joined the Church in Auxerre in Gual. It was here that he studied to be a priest.

In 432, Patrick said that he was called back to Ireland to save the Irish. Patrick was successful in this endeavor. Irish folklore tells that one of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) to the Irish people. St. Patrick died on March 17, 461 after nearly thirty years of teaching and spreading “God’s word”. Patrick has been known as the principal champion of Irish Christianity and is held in esteem in the Irish Church.

The colors of the Republic of Ireland are green, white and orange. The green represents the Catholic side of Ireland and St. Patrick, the Catholic who converted many Irishmen to Christianity. The orange represents the protestants who were called “Orangemen”, as in King William the Orange.The clashes in Ireland between the Catholics and Protestants are often clashes of the green and the orange. Ironically, the white color in the middle of their flag is supposed to signify the peace between the two colors.

In 1798 there was a rebellion in hopes of making a political statement Irish soldiers wore full green uniforms on 17 March in hopes of catching attention with their unusual fashion gimmick. The phrase “the wearing of the green”, meaning to wear a shamrock on one’s clothing, derives from the song “ of the Green.”

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was actually held in the United States Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army. Each year, nearly three million people line the 1.5-mile parade route to watch the procession, which takes more than five hours. Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Savannah also celebrate the day with parades involving between 10,000 and 20,000 participants.

So why do we get pinched if we don’t wear green? Actually this in an American tradition which has nothing to do really with Ireland or St. Patrick’s Day.It’s thought that the pinching started in the early 1700s, about the time that awareness of St. Patrick’s as a holiday came into being. They thought if you wore green, it made you invisible to the Leprechauns, which was good because they would pinch anyone they could see. So the pinching is to warn and remind you about the Leprechauns.

So, wear your green and keep safe from the Leprechauns and here are a few words of Irish wisdom for you.

American Idol Siobhan Magnus Rocks!

March 17th, 2010 Tracy Matlack

Tonight was Rolling Stones night on American Idol. The top twelve sang and I have to say it was all kind of boring. It doesn’t seem like this year’s talent is above bar. You would think that this far into the competition the contestants would be kicking it into high gear, but I just wasn’t feeling it tonight However, through my disappointment, two stars were brilliant, Siobhan and Crystal.

Siobhan Magnus rocked the stage with “Paint It Black”. She came out in a gorgeous black dress, black combat boots and a hot new hairstyle. She looked like a star. She was dramatic and soft then rocked it with vocals that reminded me of Adam Lambert. Those high notes, wow! Kara stated, “I’m having flashbacks of Adam Lambert. It was the standout performance of the night.”

This year’s singer to beat closed the show. Crystal Bowersox with her bluesy vocals and acoustic guitar sang “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” It wasn’t her best performance, but Crystal was at ease on stage and her personality was coming through. Simon commented that Siobhan outperformed Crystal with her dramatic flair.

In my opinion, these two will be battling head to head throughout the season. What did you think of Tuesday night’s performances? Who killed it? Who blew it? What was your favorite? Who should go home? Leave your comments below.

This was tonight’s set up list:
Michael Lynche: “Miss You”
Didi Benami: “Play With Fire”
Casey James: “It’s All Over Now”
Lacey Brown: “Ruby Tuesday”
Andrew Garcia: “Gimme Shelter”
Katie Stevens: “Wild Horses”
Tim Urban: “Under My Thumb”
Siobhan Magnus: “Paint It Black”
Lee Dewyze: “Beast of Burden”
Paige Miles: “Honky Tonk Women”
Aaron Kelly: “Angie”

Live, Laugh and Love

March 16th, 2010 Tracy Matlack

Today is my birthday. Birthdays have always been a great joy to me. I don’t care how old I am, the years just don’t matter. I believe it’s what’s in your heart that keeps you any age you want to be. I choose to remain about 27. Old enough to have a little wisdom under my belt, but still innocent enough to be non-judgmental and remain optimistic. Free spirited enough to dance along the ocean’s tide, and curious enough to want to explore. I want to live, laugh, and love.

Adventure, that is my thing these days. I want new experiences, great music, flavorful food, and I desire to meet interesting people and enjoy their company. Today is my 44th birthday and I feel like I am starting over again. I have new goals, new visions and new hopes. I am finding that the dreams once buried deep inside are sprouting towards the light and are beginning to come true. Life is good.

One of my dreams is to travel to far away lands and experience the cultures in every possible way. I have even promised my boyfriend Mark I would taste the delicacies in every locale we visit, even if I don’t find them appealing. Mark bought me a beautiful book by National Geographic called “Food Journeys of a Lifetime” and we have created a list of the must-see places we plan to journey to.

We are going to eat tapas in Cordoba, calamari in Athens, and pistachios in Tehran. We will drink Foster’s Lager in Sydney, wine in Santiago and fresh coffee in Medellin. We want to walk the beaches and absorb the sunsets all over the world. Yes, we have high aspirations, and I have no doubt we will fulfill our dreams.

My first blog post was titled, “A New Lease on Life” and that pretty sums up where I am today. In it I said, “We must travel through life with open minds, soaking up all that is around us and allow ourselves to live the life that is before us with excitement and expectation.” That is exactly what I plan to do. I will live each day to the fullest and share my joy with all those who cross my path.

Good Luck Diamond And Peridot Four Leaf Clover Pendant Necklace

March 14th, 2010 Tracy Matlack

Good Luck Diamond And Peridot Four Leaf Clover Pendant NecklaceFor thousands of years, people have looked to the four-leaf clover, diamond, peridot and topaz for good fortune. Now all four symbols have come together in this sparkling good luck pendant necklace, a fine jewelry design exclusively from The Bradford Exchange. You’ll keep love, luck and happiness close to your heart wherever you go!

This four-leaf clover pendant is exquisitely handcrafted in solid sterling silver and adorned with two charms. The first is a lucky four-leaf clover featuring more than 1.5 carats of dazzling green peridot gemstones that surround a luminous, white topaz. Its partner is a radiant heart charm, plated in 24K gold and kissed with a shimmering solitaire diamond. Plus, this treasure is engraved with a sweet sentiment. Keep good luck with you every day, and it makes a charming Irish jewelry gift. High demand is expected. Order now!

Beware The Sleestak

March 13th, 2010 Tracy Matlack

If you are around my age, you’ll remember the series that came on Saturday mornings called “The Land of the Lost.” If so, a smile is probably spreading across your face as you remember all the characters; Rick, Will and Holly Marshall, Cha-Ka the Pakuni, and of course the Sleestak. The Sleestak were the green, scaly skinned reptile-like creatures that were always harassing the Marshall family.

With that in mind, I would like to introduce you to a dear friend of mine, Carlos Caballo. The following is a humorous anecdote about a day in his life. I just had to share with you and hope that it makes you laugh like it did me.

BEWARE THE SLEESTAK

Just got back from Georgia with my washer and dryer machines. Sounds
like a normal trip, right? Oh, no-things got weird from the very
beginning. Stopped in Shalimar on the way, was filling the Ranger with
Dinosaur Jizz, when this drunk dude comes wobbling up on his bicycle andruns it into the side of my truck! I stepped around, ready to kick some ass, but the dude’s ass has already been kicked. Seriously. Here’s a wrecked bicycle and an even more wrecked guy with a black eye, a busted nose and a fat lip. Somebody had beat me to it.

Call me soft, but I just cain’t kick a man when he’s already down. So I
said something to the effect of “Why don’t you watch whar the hell yer
goin”? and he opened one eye and said, “I was going to Crestview”.
Now, Shalimar is a long way from Crestview, so against my better
judgement, I threw his bike in the back of my truck and gave him a ride
up to CrestTucky. I had to go that way anyhow to get to Georgia.

Damn,it was an interesting study of the human condition. This guy wasn’t “a little bit eccentric” and he wasn’t “local color”- Oh No, he was a specimen of the FULL-BLOWN BURNT-OUT NORTH FLORIDA SLEESTAK.

His Daddy was some kind of War Hero, pilot in the Hair Force, and he
(the Sleestak) was your typical Miltary Brat. He was entertaining, but by the time I dropped him off in Crestview, I was gladto be shot of him. BEWARE THE SLEESTAK- Don’t give them rides, that’s my advice.

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More of Tracys Amazon Gold Box Deals

American Idol Bowersox Rocks!

Bring Alex Lambert Back to American Idol!

Guide For Transitioning To A Healthier Diet

Hot Spots for Spring Break 2010

St. Patrick’s Day Why Do We Wear Green?

American Idol Siobhan Magnus Rocks!

Live, Laugh and Love

Good Luck Diamond And Peridot Four Leaf Clover Pendant Necklace

Beware The Sleestak

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