After a great vacation to Hawaii five years ago, my wife and I decided to move to the pacific island. We decided there is no better place to be – we loved the warm weather and great views.
After moving to the island we found that there were several things that were different about living in Hawaii than on the mainland. Such differences include choices in clothing, language and family rites of passage. However, my favorite difference; almost everyone in Hawaii owns a truck.
We love celebrating the Kentucky Derby, and one critical component has to be enjoying a Mint Julep which is the drink you’ll see everywhere during Derby weekend.
Here’s a great recipe:
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Bulleit Rye
2 oz. Stirrings Simple Syrup
Fresh mint leaves
Preparation: Muddle mint leaves, Stirrings Simple Syrup and crushed ice in rocks glass. Add Bulleit Rye and fill glass with ice. Pour into cocktail shaker, shake vigorously and serve in rocks glass with fresh mint garnish.
Of course, a big part of Derby weekend is betting on the race, and the folks at Bulleit teamed up with professional handicapper Tony Gold to give us six tips on picking a Derby winner:
1. Peaking performance: The most important rule of all is to find the horse that will peak in the Derby meaning, look for horses who improved with each race with either a strong first, second or third finish after a long layoff, with more room to improve. You can eliminate half the field simply by doing this.
2. Age factor: If the horse is two years old and hasn’t raced, the chances of it winning are slim. These are not fully mature horses and getting to a mile and a quarter requires much conditioning.
3. Time comparison: Log resulting times from each horse’s last prep race with the rest of the board.
4. Prep race outcomes: Look at what prep races historically produce the most winners.
5. Jockey experience: Consider the jockey’s skill set from previous races. The derby is a large field and a good experienced jockey can position a horse well early and avoid trouble, which can make or a break a horse’s chances.
6. Tactical speed: A Derby winner will jump early and can be found somewhere from mid-field to the second or third place by halfway around the course.
Of course, your girlfriend might do better just picking based on a cool name, but that’s what makes this race so much fun. Enjoy!
When you look at this photo, you can’t help but think about partying on Cinco de Mayo. If you love partying like we do, you definitely love this holiday, and this drink can definitely add to the festivities.
The CoronaRita is a fun twist on the Cinco de Mayo standard, the Margarita, so it will definitely get some attention. Here’s the recipe:
• 6 parts Corona or Corona Light
• 1 part Tequila
• 2 parts Margaritaville® Margarita Mix
• 1 part Triple Sec
• 1 Lime Wedge
Method: In a cocktail shaker, pour the first three ingredients (please do not pour beer in the shaker). Shake vigorously until ice cold. Strain into tall glass with 1/3 ice. Top with Corona beer.
So check it out and have a fun and safe Cinco de Mayo!
Restoring a classic car such as a 1970 Datsun 240z or a 1966 Pontiac GTO is a pipe dream for many men. I guess I should not limit it to men, for some women having a muscle car is right up their alley. If you are so lucky to have an old junk car cross your path, restoring it could be a great way to save money while having the classic car that catches the attention of everyone who passes it.
Unless you are an experienced mechanic, a project like this can tie up finances that you may not have. For this reason, those who have this dream often never achieve it. Tackling such a project can be overwhelming to someone with minimal knowledge. This does not mean it is impossible.
A GUIDE TO RESTORING A CLASSIC ON A BUDGET
You first need to find your car if you haven’t already. It is a good idea to look for one that has been partially restored, especially if you lack experience. This will cut down on your cost as well as your labor. Talk to other car enthusiasts, as they may have a lead on a good deal or have the connections to get you on your way. Also be sure to check the web, as you can find a lot of great deals through online resources.
Once you have found your car you need to know what parts you’ll need. You’ll need a number of parts, but you should be able salvage some of the parts already on your car. Know what your budget is and break it down according to your needs.
Look into salvage centers in your area to see if they have a vehicle that includes parts that may be interchangeable. Again, utilize the internet. There are websites dedicated to similar projects and there may be people selling the exact parts you need.
The best way to restore your car on a dime is to do the work yourself. This will require a number of tools, the owner’s manual and experience. If you are lacking in experience it is important to seek out the advice of professionals. For the parts that you are unable to locate, using resources such as The Local Book (yellow pages) will help you find auto repair to fit your needs.
I recently ran into some car trouble that could have been fixed by myself with an appropriate amount of time. However, time is something that I didn’t have. Using The Local Book, I was able to find an Middletown auto repair shop that got me up and running without breaking the bank or causing unnecessary headaches during the process.
Body work is a big part of restoration, as the final outcome is more about how the car looks than how it drives. Most car enthusiasts rarely take these vehicles out and when they do it is all about the show. This doesn’t mean that you want to focus solely on the body; it just means that is equally as important as the internal workings of the car.
Do as much of this work as you can, but don’t try to paint yourself. Put money aside for this job. Prime it yourself to save money, but leave the paint job to a professional.
Remember, that this is a project that should not be rushed. Take your time to find the best sources to save you money on parts, repair and painting. Do as much of the work as possible, and visit forums to get advice when you are stuck.
Sometimes in today’s hectic world, finding the time to catch up on movie watching can be rather difficult. However, with the appropriate model of smartphone, you can watch movies anywhere you go. Certain smartphones have design features that make them better options for movie watching. When comparing the different models, screen size and resolution were important considerations as well as the processor built into the device.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note is a mammoth smartphone almost bordering on tablet status. The screen display measures 5.3 inches and is in high definition. Given its size, it makes it a bit awkward to carry in your pocket like other smartphones. However, the Note is only of the best for watching a movie while on the go.
The HTC One X is another smartphone that will work well for movie watching. The phone has a sleek design and moves quickly. The 4.7 inch screen, while smaller then the Galaxy Note, is still larger than other smartphones. Some report that the battery may not keep its charge as long as hoped.
Another smartphone that can work well for playing back movies is Sony’s Xperia S. This particular phone comes with solid hardware and is highly recommended for users who love their multimedia. The high definition screen measures 4.3 inches. Again, like the One X, the battery life with this phone is average but the other features outweigh this drawback.
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is another option when looking for a phone to watch movies on. With Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, the Nexus handles movie playback well. Its screen measures 4.65 inches which provides a generous viewing screen.