Time to use Popsicle Sticks: Helpful Household Tips

 

 

Popsicle sticks become quite abundant, especially as the weather begins to change for the better, and instead of throwing them all out, wash them with soap and begin using them all around your house!  For example, the best way to label potted plants before they sprout is to use a popsicle stick.  Simply write what you planted on the stick and place it in the pot.  You can use popsicle sticks to reinforce the back of picture frames.  The back of frames begin to sag or loose strength with time, so tape a few wooden sticks to the back to strengthen the frame and make the picture look great!  Don’t forget about arts and crafts.  Save some popsicle sticks and let your kids glue them together on a rainy day.  See who can be the most creative with their designs, and speaking of arts and crafts, lets your children construct their own toy boat or canoe.  All you need is a little glue, a few devoured popsicles and a giant imagination.  These are just a few.  Do you know of any other interesting uses?  Let us know!

At Ryan Motors, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

What Goes on at the NFL Scouting Combine?

The NFL Combine is officially over which means ESPN will be busy for the next couple of days breaking down what they saw.  What did we see?  Well, it is no mystery that Manti Teo did not show the speed scouts were looking for.  The national spotlight may have been on another player if it wasn’t for Teo’s “girlfriend debacle.”  But besides one player, the combine featured a host of the best football players around the country.  What exactly goes into the combine?  We thought you might ask, so we took a glance at the combine website and found what every player is required to do:

40-yard dash
The 40-yard dash is the marquee event at the combine. It's kind of like the 100-meters at the Olympics: It's all about speed, explosion and watching skilled athletes run great times. These athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40-yard intervals. What the scouts are looking for is an explosion from a static start.

Bench press
The bench press is a test of strength -- 225 pounds, as many reps as the athlete can get. What the NFL scouts are also looking for is endurance. Anybody can do a max one time, but what the bench press tells the pro scouts is how often the athlete frequented his college weight room for the last 3-5 years.

Vertical jump
The vertical jump is all about lower-body explosion and power. The athlete stands flat-footed and they measure his reach. It is important to accurately measure the reach, because the differential between the reach and the flag the athlete touches is his vertical jump measurement.

Broad jump
The broad jump is like being in gym class back in junior high school. Basically, it is testing an athlete's lower-body explosion and lower-body strength. The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then he explodes out as far as he can. It tests explosion and balance, because he has to land without moving.

3 cone drill
The 3 cone drill tests an athlete's ability to change directions at a high speed. Three cones in an L-shape. He starts from the starting line, goes 5 yards to the first cone and back. Then, he turns, runs around the second cone, runs a weave around the third cone, which is the high point of the L, changes directions, comes back around that second cone and finishes.

Shuttle run
The short shuttle is the first of the cone drills. It is known as the 5-10-5. What it tests is the athlete's lateral quickness and explosion in short areas. The athlete starts in the three-point stance, explodse out 5 yards to his right, touches the line, goes back 10 yards to his left, left hand touches the line, pivot, and he turns 5 more yards and finishes.

Each position also has specific drills they must complete.

This information was found at the following site.

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Why is One Dollar Called a “Buck”?

Gather round fine people of North Dakota and take in this interesting history lesson.  One dollar is often referred to as a “buck”.  Why is this?  What does a “buck” have to do with a lone dollar?  The origin is actually quite simple.  When the Europeans initially claimed what was Florida and Louisiana in the early 17^th century, a lone deer hide, preferably one of a buck, was worth the equivalent of $1.  So, if you killed a deer, skinned it, and brought it to your local trading post, it would most likely be worth about $1.  Eventually, the phrase translated into an equal way to express $1.  When you were trying to evaluate how much a new rifle, dresser or shovel would cost, settlers could determine just how many deer hides they would need for a fair trade.  The next time your friend asks you for a “buck”, be sure to have them specify if they would like some deer or a dollar.

Have a good day!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion. 

Unusual Rubber Band Uses: Helpful Household Tips

Rubber bands are great.  They can stretch, hold items in place and act as a stylish wrist band.  What else can they be used for?  What are some great, but unusual uses?  Try these on for size:

·       Spoon Slide Reducer- Sick of having your spoon slide into your bowl?  Put a rubber band about half way up the handle and it will never be covered in food again!

·       Stick Your Cutting Board- Make sure your cutting board stays in place by adding a rubber band to each side.

·       Reshape a Broom- Extend the life of your broom by wrapping a few rubber bands around the bristles. 

·       Measure Liquids- Place a rubber band around jars and cans to show how much liquid is left.  This should come in handy when it is time to go to the grocery store.

·       Paint Saver- If you like to paint then this is great for you!  Instead of wiping your brush on the side of the can, and eventually making a mess, put a rubber band across the middle of the can.  Wipe the brush on the rubber band to keep the paint in the can!

There are even more uses on this Readers’ Digest site where the information was found!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Quick Dinner Recipe: Stovetop Lasagna

 

 

Lasagna is great, but making it from scratch can be costly, difficult and a major time killer.  We found the solution.  For dinner this week try this lasagna.  It will be fresh, delicious and is sure to taste better than anything pre-packaged.

Ingredients:

• Kosher salt
• 7 lasagna noodles (about 4 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 1 pound ground meatloaf mix, such as beef, pork and veal
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3 cups baby spinach
• 1/3 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 6 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil

Directions:

1.       Preheat the broiler. Fill a wide pot with 3 inches of salted water and bring to a boil. Add the noodles and cook until al dente, about 11 minutes, then drain, transfer to a cutting board and halve crosswise.

 

2.       Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat and cook, stirring, until browned. Add the tomato sauce and red pepper flakes and simmer 5 minutes. Add the spinach and stir until it wilts, then add the ricotta and bring to a low simmer. Season with salt and remove from the heat. Toss the mozzarella and 4 tablespoons parmesan in a bowl.

 

3.       Cover the bottom of an 8-inch-square baking dish with a layer of slightly overlapping lasagna noodles. Top with half of the meat sauce and half of the cheese mixture. Repeat with another layer of noodles and the remaining meat sauce and cheese mixture. Cover with the remaining noodles and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons parmesan. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and broil until golden and bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes. Top with the basil.

This recipe was found on the following site.

Enjoy!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Baseball is Finally Here!

 

It is finally on the horizon.  The web-gems, massive shots into the upper deck, stolen bases, plays at the plate and 100+ mph fastballs are just over a month away.  All players have officially reported to spring training at their designated warm locations and have begun practicing for the upcoming season.  In fact, spring training games are scheduled to begin this Thursday in Florida.  No matter where you are from, or what team you cheer for, baseball season holds a special place in each of our hearts.  America’s pastime always brings the best out in people.  For one, it is usually accompanied by warm summer evenings with friends and family, but it also brings fond memories of when you played the game.  Let’s not forget that for a majority of parents who coach, spring training means it is time to break out your kid’s glove, bat and cleats.  Growing up a baseball player, the second it was over freezing, I would be outside with my brother playing catch.  The other night we were speaking on the phone about how many times we have thrown a ball back and forth…it has to be millions.  Only baseball players understand the pain, hard work, intensity and pure joy of America’s oldest game.  We hope that this spring brings you happiness, warm weather and a lot of wins for your favorite team!

Play Ball!!!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.      

Unusual Hairdryer Uses: Helpful Household Tips

 

The hairdryer.  What a great invention.  It can produce both cold and warm air at different speeds and it is easy to pack in a suitcase or a drawer.  A hairdryer may be a woman’s best friend, but the tables could be turning as you can put your man to work around the house!

·       Duster- Sick of dusting?  Run the hairdryer on cool and a low velocity to remove dust from hard to reach places.

·       De-wrinkler- If your new, plastic shower curtain or table cloth is full of wrinkles then hold your hairdryer 12 inches away on a warm setting and let the wrinkles fade away.

·       Cake Master- Icing on cupcakes and general cakes can be perfected with a hair dryer.  If you need to harden the icing try blowing cool air on the confection, if you are craving a brighter finish then go the warm route!

·       Crayon Eraser- Can you really blame the kids for drawing everywhere?  Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to write all over the walls?  Simply blow warm air on the wax until it melts, then wipe away with a wet sponge.

This information was found on the following site.

Have a good day!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.



Burrito Night: Quick Dinners

 

Burritos are delicious, but many people often struggle finding a great recipe.  We found one!  This recipe is delicious and only takes about half an hour to complete!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• ick-up the flavor
• 1 envelope taco seasoning
• 1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
• 6 flour tortillas (12 inches), warmed
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
• 4 teaspoons canola oil
• Sour cream and salsa

Directions:

• In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in taco seasoning. In a small saucepan, cook refried beans over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.
• Spoon about 1/3 cup of beans off-center on each tortilla; top with 1/4 cup beef mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Fold sides and ends of tortilla over filling and roll up.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown burritos in oil on all sides. Serve with sour cream and salsa. Yield: 6 servings.

Enjoy!

This recipe was found at the following site.

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Football is Over!! What is There to Do?!?!

 

Yes, football season is over and that usually means you will have hours and hours of extra time on your hands.  Sunday afternoons that used to be filled with intense television viewing are now vacant.  What should you do?  At first, football withdrawal may set in as you find yourself trying to run over your family members if they are beating you to the shower or if they take the last serving of potatoes at dinner.  It is ok; we are going to help you through this.  Look around your community and home to find some other ways to get competition back in your life.  Go to local high school sports matches, play some board games with your family (try and stay composed throughout), go sledding before the snow melts, break out the ice skates or simply challenge your friends to a pushup contest.  We understand that the end of the football season can be a sad time of the year, but don’t let it get you down.  March Madness is approaching as well as baseball season!  Have a great day!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion. 



Quick Dinners: Honey Mustard Chicken and Carrots

The dinner recipe for this week features delicious chicken, healthy carrots and sweet honey mustard.  This meal is quick, easy and a natural crowd pleaser.

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons butter or margarine

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1/2 cup apple juice

2 cups ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots

2 tablespoons sweet honey mustard

3 tablespoons coarsely chopped honey-roasted peanuts

Directions:

1.      In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 5 to 8 minutes, turning once, until chicken is browned on both sides.

2.      Add apple juice. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook 5 minutes. Add carrots; cover and cook 5 to 10 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F) and carrots are crisp-tender.

3.      With slotted spoon, remove chicken and carrots from skillet; place on serving platter and cover to keep warm. Stir mustard into liquid in skillet. Spoon mustard sauce over chicken and carrots; sprinkle with peanuts.

Enjoy!

This recipe was found at the following site.

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Top 5 Super Bowl Ads

The National media’s focus the day after the Super Bowl used to direct its gaze into a breakdown of the big game, but it has since shifted into an in-depth analysis of the various million dollar ads that grace our television sets.  Super Bowl commercial spots can cost upwards of $4 million dollars for only 30 seconds, as you are almost guaranteed to reach over 100 million people.  So, which commercial claimed top prize?  Here is our top 5:

5.) Paul Harvey, The Farmer In All of Us: Maybe we are a bit biased, but this commercial really hit home.  It was powerful, moving and tugged at the heart strings of every hard working American.  Plus, we cannot forget that it did a great job branding RAM.

4.) Hyundai, Football Team: This commercial was funny and catchy.  The kids really sold this ad as they were lifting massive weights, wrestling bears and welding in factories before eventually beating the neighborhood bullies in a game of football.

3.) Tide, Montana Stain: Tide hit this ad on the head as they showed fame and fortune from an accidental stain and still managed to display the struggle between the two teams, along with the classic love-hate stereotype of a married couple.

2.) Doritos, Goat: Doritos never fails to impress with their ads.  They receive laughs throughout as a Dorito lover buys a cute goat, but fails to realize that his new pet puts his favorite snack in jeapordy.  Goat vs. Man and his chips= Goat victory.

1.) Oreo, Library Fight: What a creative concept!  A busy library erupts in a brawl as people fight over what they like best about Oreos, the cookie or the cream.  But there is a catch…they whisper the whole time!  Even when the fire department and cops show up, they whisper into their loud speakers!  Instant success.  Hats off to Oreo!   

Which commercial was your favorite?

Listed below is a link to the Oreo commercial:                    

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufu5sqJh24Q

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.     

Pick Your Super Bowl Champion

The biggest sports game of the year is on the horizon and experts have been buzzing with their predictions.  How do you choose?  Obviously these are the two best teams in the game, so picking the winner is no easy task.  We thought we would find some other ways to find who the victor will be…like animal predictions!  Here some predictions animals have made about the upcoming game:

·       Puppies on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: They were give 2 bowls to eat out of, and they chose the Baltimore Ravens.

·       Frankie the Saki Monkey: Was told to choose team logos on an Ipad and went with the 49ers.

·       Tamba, the Fort Worth Warthog: When given the option between two treat filled footballs and he went with the 49ers.

·       Maryland Zoo Chimps- They tore up the Ravens banner, which apparently means they choose Baltimore.

·       Emma the Sea Otter: Tosses toys in team labeled buckets she believes will win.  49ers it is.

These are just a few, but the website where this information was gathered concluded that the San Francisco 49ers will be the champions this year.

Who do you think will reign supreme?

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.