With everyone traveling during summer vacation, and being outdoors more in general, a great app to have handy is First Aid by American Red Cross. A free app that provides quick step-by-step instructions for almost all types of emergency scenarios. It covers minor and major incidents, and natural disasters.

From the American Red Cross:

Accidents happen. The official American Red Cross First Aid app puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hand. Get the app and be prepared for what life brings. With videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to know first aid.

Features:
• Simple step-by-step instructions guide you through everyday first aid scenarios.
• Fully integrated with 9-1-1 so you can call EMS from the app at any time.
• Videos and animations make learning first aid fun and easy.
• Safety tips for everything, from severe winter weather to hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes help you prepare for emergencies.
• Preloaded content means you have instant access to all safety information at anytime, even without reception or an Internet connection.
• Interactive quizzes allow you to earn badges that you can share with your friends and show off your lifesaving knowledge.

Get this free app on your smartphone today. Hopefully you only have to use it for the minor injuries.

I love a Mojito in the summer. So light and refreshing. But did you know that you can make variations of Mojitos? Okay, I heard that smart remark, let’s just play along here!

This Peach Mojito recipe was in my Southern Living magazine:

Peach Mojito

• 2 large peaches (about 1 lb.), unpeeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup superfine sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
• 1/2 cup firmly packed fresh mint leaves
• 4 cups club soda, chilled
• 2 cups white rum
• Garnishes: fresh mint sprigs, peach wedges

1. Process first 3 ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. (Yield should be about 2 cups.)
2. Muddle mint leaves against bottom and sides of a glass pitcher to release flavors. (Leaves will be bruised and torn.) Add club soda, rum, and peach mixture; stir to combine. Serve immediately over ice.

I also found this Watermelon Mojito Recipe on Food Network:

Watermelon Mojito

Muddle 2 watermelon chunks with the juice of 1 lime and 2 teaspoons sugar in each glass. Stir in a handful of mint leaves, then add 2 ounces white rum and ice. Top with ginger ale; garnish with more mint.

Doesn’t that cool you off? So refreshing! What is your favorite summertime drink? Leave me a comment or recipe in the comment section.

I shared with you that a few months ago I finally got the idea to turn my built-in desk in the guest bedroom into my vanity area. I feel like a movie star every morning now when I get ready. I also love having a makeup mirror. So much so, I actually have three.

Originally I purchased the Ott-Lite Natural Daylight Makeup Mirror, which is dual sided, with one side having a 5x magnification. Most people would be fine with the 5x magnification, unless you have to wear reading glasses, which I do. I have a wall mounted 10x magnification mirror in my bathroom, which is what my weak old eyes are used to, for seeing really, really close up. Hey, I don’t want to see all my flaws, but what I really don’t want is someone else seeing something that I don’t know exists!

Back to the story. I purchased the Ott-Lite makeup mirror for $50. The built in desk is in a dark area of the room, so I knew I needed a lighted makeup mirror that provided natural light. I looked at a lot of makeup mirrors before choosing the Ott-Lite, and chose it after doing a side-by-side comparison in the store, and realizing that it really did have the best lighting.

Even though I loved the Ott-Lite, I really was missing my 10x magnification viewing, and found myself putting on my makeup, and then going to the bathroom to double check everything with my 10x wall mounted mirror. Not wanting to leave holes in the bathroom by putting the wall mount in the vanity area, I decided to look for a 10x mirror on a stand.

So for another $20, I ordered this Jerdon Nickel Finish Table Top Mirror. It has a 10x magnification mirror and was a great choice.

So now I can keep the Ott-Lite on normal view, and occasionally glance over to the 10x mirror to make sure I didn’t miss anything, or to find that my eyeliner is crooked, or there is mascara on my nose, or a million other little oopsies I find.

I have previously posted about etsy vendors that sell a bracelet similar to the Chan Luu bracelet. Those bracelets are made with seed beads. I still love them, but my new favorite bracelet is just a stretch bracelet made of seed beads. I love to pair these cute seed bead bracelets with my watch.

I originally bought the two sets above from ATLanyards. Once I opened the package, I realized that the turquoise seed beads are a little larger, as depicted in the above photograph. I really liked that size, so I wrote the vendor and asked if they could point out more that size on their site. They did, and I ordered more from the color selection below:

You cannot beat the price. The most expensive were the larger seed beads, and you get NINE bracelets for $11.

The smaller seed beads above were TWELVE bracelets for $8, and even in that set you get three of the larger seed beads. Now that I have both sizes, I’m glad I do, and I usually wear a few of each together.

I wrote Ali and Timmy at AT Lanyards and asked if I could have a discount code for my precious readers. If you use the coupon code “10PERCENT” when you place your order you will get . . . you guessed it . . . ten percent off your order. Aren’t they nice?

The other great thing is they have five sizes to choose from. Most stretch bracelets just come in one size, and let’s face it, we are not all one size. Be sure and specify the size you want on checkout.

Size X-SMALL- individual strands measure 6″ (children’s size)
Size SMALL- individual strands measure 6 1/2″ (children’s size)
Size MEDIUM- individual strands measure 7 1/4″
Size LARGE- individual strands measure 8″
Size X-LARGE- individual strands measure 8 1/2″

I really tried to take a picture of my hand to show you how cute these are paired with a watch, but it really loses something when you see it on my pale, freckled hand. Then I realized I had a hand model. I have this “hand” for my rings and bracelets, and the bracelets look so much better on “her” than me. Above are the larger seed bead bracelets.

These are the smaller seed bead bracelets.

And here they are together.

I think they will last me forever. The stretch cord seems to be very well made. I have lots of fun mixing them with my watches, outfits, and other bracelets.

I hope if you order these you love them as much as I do. They have lots of other variations of colors to choose from. And they don’t just sell bracelets, so check out our website of the week: ATLanyards.