We had many good years of cooking with our old stove. We knew we needed a new one, so it was time to go shopping.
We found one that we liked and opted to spend the extra money for the built-in air fryer.
We realized that we didn't have air fryer baskets and trays for oven use.
So it was shopping again for an oven air fryer basket. We found this set on Amazon, and it has worked out well.
The set consists of two baskets and trays. The large one is 15.3" x 11", and the smaller one is 13.4" x 9.6".
The baskets are raised, this allow for 360-degree air circulation without the need to flip your food. The set is made of stainless steel, dishwasher safe, and easy to clean.
The set also comes with 60 sheets of parchment paper, 30 for each tray size.
Oven Air Fryer Vs. Countertop Air Fryer:
There are some differences between oven air fryers and countertop air fryers. They both use the same technology by rapidly circulating hot air to crisp the food.
With the oven air fryer, there is a larger cooking space, so you will need more time to cook. I've noticed the food is not as crispy because the air circulation isn't as concentrated. What I do like is that the oven air fryer's larger capacity lets you cook more food in the oven than on the countertop. I also found that the oven air fryers use more energy than the countertop air fryers.
We currently have a Ninja Foodi Grill Air Fryer and still use it because it cooks faster, and the food comes out crisper. The oven air fryer saves us some counter space; we only take it out for quick cooking.
If you need oven air fryer baskets and trays, I can recommend this set.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
This is the fourth of a seven part series of my various stores on Zazzle.
The store that I'm reviewing here is MazePuzzles. I already had a Birthday category in my CherylsArt store on Zazzle; however, I knew that I wanted to make a variety of maze puzzle themes, so I went with creating a store for just this theme. Another thing that sets this store apart from my CherylsArt store, is that I used very little of my own artwork in designing these maze puzzles. I created most of these puzzle designs from designs on Canva, of which I subscribe to.
In my MazePuzzles store, I show the Collections first on the landing page; these are sorted alphabetically by theme, followed by product type. A design theme collection is the perfect place to look if you're planning a themed birthday party. There you will find all the different products for that particular theme.
The roduct type collection is the perfect place to look if you know you just want a birthday card, or want to see all the different designs in one easy to look at place.
Here are how the product categories are arranged in my MazePuzzles store.
Birthday Maze Greeting Cards:
It's great seeing all the different maze puzzles pictured in one easy to view location. It can help you decide which maze puzzle you want to go with. The maze puzzles not only include different animals and such, the puzzle themselves range from pretty easy to somewhat harder.
The Monkey and Bananas maze can be considered easy or hard, depending on whether the overlapping vines might offer just some added fun or confusion!
Here is another option for inviting your guests. The invitations differ from the greeting cards, as there was enough room to add the party details to the front of the cards.
Birthday Maze Notepads can be a fun addition to a maze puzzle themed birthday party. All the kids can work a puzzle while they're waiting for cake to be served, or in between game playing, etc. The notepads are 5.5 inches by 6 inches and there are 40 sheets per pad, making it easy for kids to try again should their sheet get messed up. A larger, 8.5 by 11 inch option is available, but the purchasers would need to edit their selection to get the whole design to fit within the printing area.
The maze puzzles are offered on the 7 inch square paper plates. The square can also be ordered on 9 inch. There are also round plates offered in the same sizes as the square plates, and also a round 7 inch bowl.
Birthday Maze Postcards:
The postcards can be used instead of greeting cards or invitations, to invite the guests. It can save on paper usage and possibly postage.
Birthday Maze Napkins:
The maze theme is printed on paper napkins. All of the items in this store are easy to personalize using the provided template forms.
Maze Puzzle Paper Cups:
The maze puzzle design is just printed on one side of the paper cups. Having hosted birthday parties before at an art store, I could just imagine young kids turning their cups all around to view the maze puzzle from alternate sides, and then you know what might happen next. Anyway, I decided to go with the one sided view!
The yard signs are a fun way to show guests where the party is. These signs are printed on lightweight, weather resistant, corrugated plastic, that is 4 mm thick. They are listed to last for 6-9 months for outdoor use, depending on weather conditions. They come in a choice of shapes, including circle, house, helmet, and arrow. Various sizes are offered for the different shapes. You may need to edit to get the design to fit into whichever shape and or size that you select.
Do you have a favorite design so far? There are actually eight different maze puzzle designs in all. You'll have to visit the store to see them all.
Did you think of any other product that you might desire for a maze themed birthday party? Let me know in a comment below. Thank you.
Cheryl Paton
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
This lyric video is one I wrote and produced, titled "Your Destiny, Your Way." At its core, it's simple: chase your dreams, love Mom.
I created this piece with my sons in mind, but truly, it's for sons and daughters alike. I just naturally wrote it from a son's perspective because that's the life I've lived as a mother.
And while this message comes straight from my heart and my own experiences, I write knowing that this isn't just my story. It belongs to so many of us. The way we love our children, the way we hope for them, the way we quietly stand behind them wanting them to build a life that feels like their own, that's something most mothers understand without needing it explained.
I wrote this for all of my sons. But if I'm being honest, there is one in particular who is out there chasing his dreams in a big, bold way. This song leans toward him. It's inspired by him, and it's for him.
That said, I already know this won't be the only one. I have ideas for each of my kids, what I want to say, how I want to say it, and how I want them to feel when they hear my words. This is just one piece in something much bigger I'll create over time.
At the end of this post, I'll include the full message I shared alongside the video, because it ties everything together.
How I Wrote These Lyrics
I don't often have songs come together this quickly.
Actually, that's not entirely true, but it is rare.
Most of the time, I think deeply about the story I'm trying to tell. I map out where it's going, how I'll move into the chorus, what I want the bridge to say, and how it all ties together in a meaningful way. I'm very intentional when I write.
But this one, it just poured out of me.
The idea came to me on the night of April 30, 2026. As with most of my inspiration, it hit me while I was sitting in my room watching TV. And then suddenly, there it was, that feeling of I need to write this right now.
So I did.
I started writing that night, and before I knew it, the lyrics were there. Not forced, not overthought, just flowing. The story unfolded as I wrote it, rather than me trying to guide it into place.
I finished the entire project the next day, on May 1, 2026, and published it that same day.
From start to finish, I would say I spent about 18 hours on it.
And I'll be honest, once I start something like this, I can't stop. I have to see it through. I feel this deep pull to get it out of me and into the world. It's not pressure exactly, but it is a kind of urgency. Like something inside me is asking not to be held onto.
And I've learned to listen to that.
The Lines That Mattered Most to Me
There are so many personal meanings woven into these lyrics, but there are a few lines that I really wanted to land.
"Dance in darkness, cry in lights."
Interestingly, I originally wrote this the other way around.
But it didn't sit right.
It's easy to celebrate in the light and hide in the dark. That's the natural way most of us move through the world. But I wanted to flip that.
Dance in your quiet moments. Celebrate your wins without needing an audience. Let those moments belong to you.
And when it comes to the harder parts, don't be afraid to let them be seen. Not everything, not your whole story laid bare, but enough to be real. Enough to show that the path wasn't effortless.
There's strength in that kind of honesty.
"You can't buy any chances; they already belong inside you."
This one was important to me.
There's this idea that opportunity can sometimes be bought with money, influence, or connections. And yes, those things can open doors in certain ways.
But your real chances, the ones that matter, those are not for sale.
They come from within you, your drive, your courage, your willingness to take a step forward when you don't know how it will turn out.
You don't purchase that. You become that.
"The pressure to be someone you were never meant to be has been broken. Take the pieces to build your dreams."
This line comes from something I've seen over time and reflected on in my own generation.
There was a lot of pressure to follow certain paths, to choose what was considered stable, traditional, and expected.
And sometimes, people didn't take the wrong path, but they took a path that wasn't truly theirs.
That pressure can come from others or from within ourselves.
But what I see now, especially in my children's generation, is something different. There's more freedom, more openness, more willingness to build a life from the inside out.
And that's what this line is about, letting go of that pressure and stepping into something that actually fits who you are.
“Everyone of us knows our own way, but we fight it desperately, too scared to step outside of how we’re seen.”
This lyric is exactly what it says.
Most of us, if not all of us, feel a calling at some point in our lives. There’s something inside of us that knows the direction we want to go, even if we don’t fully understand it yet.
But stepping outside of how others see us can get in our way.
Whether we realize it or not, we allow those outside perceptions to shape our choices. We hesitate, we second-guess, we adjust ourselves to fit an image that was never truly ours to begin with.
And in doing that, we can slowly drift away from what we already knew deep down.
Final Thoughts
I wrote these lyrics on April 30 and completed the production on May 1, 2026.
What inspired me most was watching my four sons grow into their own lives, each one building something different, something uniquely theirs.
It also made me reflect on my own youth, growing up in the 1970s and early 1980s, when the path forward often felt more defined and less flexible. There was a pull toward tradition that did not always leave room for something unconventional.
But the world has changed.
And while those pressures still exist, I've seen a shift, a beautiful one, toward creating a life that starts from within.
This message is for all my children.
But especially for the one who is out there right now, chasing something big.
I want him, and all of them, to know this.
I'm right behind you. Every step of the way.
The old rules only stay alive if we keep believing in them.
So don't.
Create your own way.
To my sons,
Chase your dreams.
Be brave.
Plan well, work smart,
**Subscribe For A Free Short Guide on How to Convert Your Poems Into Lyrics***
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Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Great Lakes Awareness Day is celebrated on the Monday of the first full week in May—May 4th in 2026—to honor and protect the five massive, interconnected freshwater lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario). It focuses on water conservation, ecosystem health, and raising awareness about environmental threats like pollution and invasive species.
Having lived on one the the Great Lakes (Lake Ontario in New York State), and remembering how pollution was an issue in the 1950s, this Awareness Day really ‘speaks’ to me.
To briefly review, there are five (5) Great Lakes. The best way to remember the names is by the acronym HOMES.
H - Huron
O - Ontario
M - Michigan
E - Erie
S - Superior
Why Are These Lakes Called GREAT Lakes?
The difference between regular lakes and the Great Lakes is basically their immense size in area and volume of water, which together contain 21% of the world’s surface freshwater. They are like massive ‘inland’ seas and, as such, react to weather and other phenomena similar to the world’s oceans.
The Five Great Lakes
*Lake Huron
Lake Huron shares borders with the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. State of Michigan. It has the longest shoreline (3,827 miles) of all the Great Lakes and boasts over 30,000 islands, including the popular tourist location Mackinac Island. It connects with Lake Erie by way of the St. Clair River.
*Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is the Great Lake I am most familiar with, having grown up nearby and enjoyed many summers filled with swimming and shoretime activities (frozen custard stand, picnic areas and camping along the St. Lawrence Seaway.
This lake is known as the most eastern of the Great Lakes. It is also the deepest, and the smallest (by surface area) and acts as a crucial shipping link via the St. Lawrence River. Lake Ontario is also well known for its abundant trout and salmon fishing and for the popular 1,000 Islands on the Ontario, Canada side of the lake located along the St. Lawrence Seaway as it exits Lake Ontario.
*Lake Michigan
It is the only Great Lake that is fully in the United States, not sharing borders with Canada as the other four lakes do. Ports along its shoreline include Chicago, Milwaukee, and Green Bay.
Lake Michigan is known for its many beaches; in fact, it is sometimes refered to as the 'third coast' (after the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. The soft, off-white sand of these beaches are known as "singing sands'', when you walk on it, which is caused by the high quartz content. It also has the largest freshwater sand dune system in the world!
*Lake Erie
It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes. It also copes with significant pollution, causing toxic algae. At times it has been referred to as the 'dead' lake. The Clean Water Act of 1972 and stricter regulations have brought about a great deal of improvement in the quality of the lake water.
*Lake Superior
This is the largest freshwater lake in the world (by surface area), and the third largest by volume.
Lake Superior is fed by more than 200 rivers. There is a steep gradient (25 feet) with rapids between Superior's outlet at the St. Marys River and Lake Huron. Therefore, ships bypass the rapids and the height problem by using the Soo Locks (an interesting story in its own right).
Other Ways to Explore and Enjoy the Five Great Lakes
National Museum of the Great Lakes
There is a museum dedicated to the continuing history of the Great Lakes located on the Maumee River which flows into Lake Erie just outside of Toledo, Ohio. It is definitely a museum well worth visiting for anyone interested in the fascinating stories involving the Great Lakes.
Great Lakes Tours
There are Great Lakes Tours, which two of my friends have taken in the past couple years and found to be a fascinating experience. These tours range from 8 to 15 days and include many and diverse packages to choose from. There are tours which include all five lakes and Niagara Falls, tours for Seniors, Guided-Group Cruises, and Self-Guided Tours. These scenic small-ship cruises also can include Viking Cruises, and Fall Foliage Tours. Click here to explore tours which may interest you.
Lake Effect Weather
One last mention of things related to the Great Lakes, which anyone who has ever lived on or near one definitely has experienced, is the amazing effect weather has on nearby communities. No such city is better known than Buffalo, NY, located at the eastern end of Lake Erie where it flows into the Niagara River. These winter storms, known as Lake Effect Storms, have hit Buffalo with snowfalls measured in FEET instead of inches.
Summary
So, set aside the beginning of May to celebrate Great Lakes Awareness Day by enjoying reading about or experiencing in person one or more of the five Great Lakes. It is a crucial, industrial inland waterway connecting Canada and the U.S., plus the sites of many fascinating places to visit or tour.
*This review of the five Great Lakes and their Awareness Day holiday was written by Wednesday Elf.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
We have a lot of power outages in our area, mostly due to severe
weather. I have always lived here and with the exception of 2 years,
my husband has always lived in this area. We are very familiar with
tornado weather and what to expect. It has simply always been a part
of our lives and we take the normal necessary precautions. Some of our
neighbors who moved here from other regions of the United States, are often
totally unprepared. They are very frightened by the sirens, warnings,
wind damage, occasional tornado touchdowns, and power
outages.
However, it seems that every region of the United States has some natural
disaster concerns. From snow storms, ice storms, hurricanes to
earthquakes and tornadoes, we all have reason to need a stand-alone power
generator for our homes.
For many years, we had a portable generator. We had a transfer switch installed to isolate our power from the grid, but it still required us to go outside
in the weather to move the switch, hook the generator up and start it. Still, it provided power to our home for
hours, or even days, when the area was without city provided power. It
is just part of the storm season as well as our occasional harsh winter
weather.
Three years ago, we decided to invest in a Generac generator that comes on
automatically when the power goes out. In my opinion, it is
the best home improvement we have ever made. It required having
an electrician to install it and a gas line had to be run to the generator,
but it has been totally worth it. We no longer have to go out in the
wind and rain to hook up, manually add gas, and start the portable generator.
We discussed the size of generator we wanted and decided for one big enough
to run the air conditioner, the lights and the appliances in our home.
The larger size cost more, but it will run everything for days.
Some may not feel the need for all of their appliances or the air conditioner to run and could choose
a smaller Generac generator, but our temperatures range up to over 100
degrees during the summer. When you combine the heat with the humidity
that accompanies thunderstorms and tornadoes, it is unbearable and hard to
breathe at times. Thus, the air conditioner is not something we want to do without. Plus, I want to still be able to cook our food, even boil water if needed, and we have two refrigerators. Therefore, the extra cost for a larger generator was
worth it to us.
When the power goes out, the generator comes on to provide power to our
home without us having to do anything to start it!
This unit comes with the Generac 200 amp SER transfer switch. It is still necessary to hire a local electrician to install it, as well as the gas line and a concrete pad for the generator to sit on. We chose a Generac authorized electrician that continues to handle any warranty repairs (we have had none), as well as an annual inspection which includes changing the oil in the generator. The annual inspection in our area costs $300 each year, but otherwise there is no additional monthly or annual cost or fees for the generator.
Having power to our home during power outages is huge! After a storm, there is almost always outdoor cleanup or repair required. Something as common as having hot water for a shower, becomes a real blessing.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
This is the third of a seven part series of my various stores on Zazzle. I'm going through them alphabetically.
When I went into private practice as a literacy tutor for adults, I looked around for various teaching tools that weren't geared towards kids. There was very little to choose from. I used to design worksheets for students, including word search puzzles and more, to help my students have something they could do to help reinforce their newly learned skills.
I had made a few basic flash card for learning basic words, for those that were more at the beginning level. After I left that, and started creating art and the like on Zazzle, I got the idea to design flash cards for reading, that were geared towards adult learners.
I included a photo or artwork on one side and customizable text on the reverse side.
Here are the categories in my Custom Flash Cards store on Zazzle.
Adjectives Reading Flashcards:
Adjectives are words that are used to describe a noun, a thing, such as a fuzzy peach.
The Alphabet Cards are not flashcards, but are tutorial cards for the alphabet. It shows directional arrows on the letters, to help students to master the writing of each letter. The majority of students that I worked with already new the alphabet, but those who are true beginners can appreciate a tutorial that is geared for adult learners.
The Animal Reading Flashcards category features a variety of animals, from wildlife to domestic animals.
DIY Flashcards:
The DIY Flashcards category features basic instructions on one side of the flashcard, and a placeholder for the purchaser to upload their photo on the reverse side.
Floral Reading Flashcards:
The Floral Reading Flashcards features a variety of flowers, including a surprise of the word MOM spelled out with flowers. I do not have a Holiday category at this point, but that might be a good idea to do.
Food Reading Flashcards:
This category features a variety of food items including fruit, vegetables, a couple of entrees including pizza, and desserts.
This category features common insects in the United States. If you have a request for an insect that is unique to your area, do let me know in a comment below.
Love Cards:
The Love Cards are not flashcards, but offer a couple of options to students that want to express their love to someone, with something that is personal to them.
This category is automatically assigned by Zazzle, if a specialized category isn't already picked upon designing of the new product. This category is normally empty.
Number Flashcards:
These number flashcards feature artwork of an item that has something that can be counted, along with the numerical number and the word for that number, on one side, and just the word for the number on the reverse side. The text can be easily customized should the tutor want to use these flashcards for a different purpose.
Personalized Family Flashcards:
The Personalized Family Flashcards are to help the student recognize words that can describe a family member. The purchaser is to upload a different photo from the student, so that these cards can be personal to them. Any of these cards can be personalized with different text, and for relatives and or friends that haven't been already specifically made; i.e. any flashcard with a female photo on it can be used to make a card for an aunt.
Places Reading Flashcards:
This category represents common places, like a ball field; a well known place, like the Eiffel Tower.
Transportation Reading Flashcards:
These flashcards features different types of transportation, and even a drawing of a space shuttle for those who are interested in space.
Verbs Reading Flashcards:
Verbs describe a type of action, such as this flashcard for hand washing.
I had an adult student ask me to go over the various words that could be found on restrooms. I had never paid much attention to them before, but did do a search of this special request. On one restroom for women, the word used was Sheilas. Not at all what most people may expect when they're out an about and want to use the appropriate restroom for them.
So there you have it. If you know anybody who can benefit from these cards, whether they be tutors or learners, do pass this blog along to them. Thank you.
Cheryl Paton
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
When you are away on holidays you really don't want to get bogged down in a
heavy novel that requires your total attention. So instead of going deep
into a book, you get a book that you can put down easily and take up again
without too much trouble.
It's a sweet little read, that will certainly make anyone smile at the antics
that are happening between the local bookstore owner and the driving force at
the local animal shelter.
Jeanine Lauren has crafted a well told and sweet story. Second chances
and sweet romance fill this novel and will keep you smiling and enjoying a
well written, easy to read book.
Sarah and Simon are both single again parents to a daughter each. Both
are afraid to take that next step from friendship to something more.
Riley and Sally are best friends and the daughters of the aforementioned
adults. Needless to say, the girls have a plan.
Then there is Lance (the bookshop owner) and Raven (operator of the Animal
Shelter). Who doesn't love it when two kindred spirits find each
other? It takes time and some lovely adopted kittens to bring all of
these people together. But it works and each of the couples manages to
find a way to make things work.
This is a heart warming story that makes you smile at the antics that seem to
be happening all around.
I'm sure this is a book that everyone will enjoy for some light hearted
reading with a warmth that just makes you happy that you picked up this book.
I received an advance review copy for free from Booksirens.com and I am
leaving this review voluntarily.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
We love making burgers on our charcoal grill. I have never cared for a thick burger; I try to press my burger to make it thinner. My daughter and grandsons got me this Sasquash Burger Press, and now it is so much easier to make burgers the way I like them.
Smash burgers have taken over diners, food trucks, and backyard grills. Who knew that smash burgers would become so popular? I just like my burgers thin.
Fran picked up some burgers at our local grocery store, and we had the family over for some smash burgers.
I started by firing up the charcoal in my Weber charcoal chimney. Read my post on how easy it is to use a Charcoal Chimney Starter.
I placed my Lodge Cast Iron Griddle on the grill and pressed the burgers with the burger press. After flipping them once, I placed the burgers on the grill grates and finished them over the hot charcoal. The results were amazing, crispy edges, juicy inside, and great taste.
You can also make smash burgers on any griddle, cast-iron skillet, or any skillet on your stovetop.
I love my Sasquash Burger Press; it is made in the USA in Nashville, TN, and you can find it on Amazon.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
.jpg "Your Destiny, Your Way - A Message For Our Children")
