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Showing posts from November, 2011

Oh Nuts!

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The holidays are upon us so it’s time to break out the good eats! We tend to have more nuts around during this time of year for either snacking or incorporating into various recipes. Recently, I had the chance to try some raw macadamia nuts and raw, shelled pistachios from Oh Nuts ! Oh yum! These are great to snack on all by themselves so it was becoming difficult setting some aside for something else delicious. Let’s start with the macadamias. Macs are full of fat – good mono-unsaturated fats – which translate in lots of energy. They also contain ample amounts potassium, calcium and protein. So while it’s probably not wise to eats these non-stop on a daily basis, consuming some now and again, is very good for you. Better for you than buttur n ol (say it like Paula Deen). My original plan with the macs was to make some raw vegan cookies. Mm, that failed (note to self: do not over-process nuts!). But…not all was lost, my friends. Instead, it became decadent, sweet nut butter. Swe

Giveaway: Shabby Apple

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Hey hey hey! How was Thanksgiving? Ours was nice, low key and turkey-free. :) Now, the chaos begins as Christmas isn't too far away. I love Christmas and I love to shop but shopping during the holidays and fighting the crowds isn't my idea of a good time. Maybe some of you aren't fans either and prefer to (and smartly) shop early, which I should do, or online. Perhaps you're in need of something special just for YOU. Shabby Apple , an online boutique of women's dresses, has some great specials going on as you may have seen posted in my sidebar. If you love shopping online, check out some of the deals going on. Now the giveaway news! Shabby Apple is generously offering one reader their  Francine skirt ! Love! Shabby Apple has so many women's dresses...and skirts...and accesories to choose from, it's actually hard to choose! Even maternity and little girls'. But the Francine pencil skirt , made from canvas twill, is versatile yet classic with

Thoughtful Thursday

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If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. --Meister Eckhart Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow. --Edward Sandford Martin For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, for love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends. --Ralph Waldo Emerson Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence. --Erma Bombeck Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings. --J. Robert Moskin For flowers that bloom about our feet; For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet; For song of bird, and hum of bee; For all things fair we hear or see, Father in heaven, we t

Fall in the PNW

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Hey-ho everyone! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, can you believe it? Where has this year gone?! Want to wish little Baby A a happy birthday tomorrow! She's one. Aww! Par for course, it's definitely Thanksgiving time here in the Pacific Northwest because since Monday it's been a soggy mess. Pretty much every Thanksgiving (maybe the same elsewhere?) the storms set in. And it seems in an instant there are now more leaves on the ground than on the trees. Just last week, there were still a ton yet to fall. Show's over, I guess. If you're traveling, please be safe! So to remember those crisp beautiful fall days we had just not too long ago, here are a few pics: reminds me of Charlie Brown for some reason YS2 was a little nervous about this swing, in due time he will be racing to it Got a funny story to share. Sam and YS2 worked on a fun project recently where they made bird food suets. We have a store-bought one, which you know, has funky ingredients. Anyway, a

Profile: Cymax Stores

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Cymax Stores, Inc. – have you heard of them? No? Well, let me introduce you. I hadn’t heard of them until recently either, which is rather surprising because they’ve actually been around for nearly eight years. This Canadian (Vancouver, BC) company was founded in 2004 by Arash Fasihi and they primarily sold TV stands and other entertainment furniture. Later that same year, they started their own website and began selling online. Today, they have 120+ online specialty stores that sell everything from small kitchen appliances to home décor to furniture for your office and home ( Wikipedia ). Of course, they still offer TV stands and entertainment furniture but now so much more. And with specialty stores, you’re more likely to get good quality merchandise, customer service and warranties. They ship anywhere in the US and Canada. You can order by phone and obviously, you can order online. With your order they ensure your privacy and security, which is so important these days, so there’s

Winners: Kroeger Herbs

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Hello Friends! Happy Thanksgiving week! I have loads to talk about but I'm challenged with a lot of work so posts will be slowly but surely coming along. Hmm, maybe even my garden post I keep meaning to share (ugh, so late with that one and I keep saying I'm going to post it...just need to download pics). Not sure if you've noticed but in my sidebar I've been posting daily specials from ShabbyApple.com  to check out and take advantage of. There will be another sale tomorrow on a specific item (can't reveal what it is yet!) and then on Wednesday, the 23rd, there will be one last one. And from what I understand, it's not to be missed! I have no idea what it is yet but you'll see for yourselves on Wednesday. Just an FYI, I am an affiliate of ShabbyApple.com so if you go through my site, I have the opportunity to earn a small commission, however, I won't get all pushy about it. There will be a link in my sidebar with the occasional blip from me but mostly,

Thoughtful Thursday

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Do not regret growing older, it is a privilege denied to many...embrace the lines on your face, they are the maps of your journey. Love the laughter lines for the memories that created them; appreciate your frown lines, since the struggle that formed them helped you find your strength. Respect your body, with all its scars, they are testament to your survival, and may mark you as a mother. Be kind to yourself, you made it this far, enjoy the rest of the days you are blessed with, and for goodness sake, please don't waste that time resenting your body's imperfections, a perfect corpse has not lived, only existed. Embrace life, and celebrate its marks on your physical form, let the beauty in your heart shine through, you're too beautiful not to! [ source ]

Product Review: Inspirin

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Recently, I had the chance to try a new product (to me) called Inspirin by Versativa . Its main purpose is to help ease pain and stress in your body. For me personally, it’s an afternoon pick-me-up. Read on and you'll understand why. Inspirin is a superfood in and of itself but it consists of the following super foods:      *Essential oil of black cumin seed -- the compounds of the seeds boost production of bone marrow, natural interferon, and immune cells, all of which help in fighting against diseases and viruses.      *D-Ribose -- a naturally occurring five-carbon sugar, made by the body to combine a number of important compounds such as DNA and RNA but also ATP, the “energy currency” of the cells. ATP is critical to health and maintaining normal energy-dependent body functions.      *Malic acid -- most commonly found in fruits and veggies, this natural substance is important for the energy producing cycle that usually takes place in the human mitochondria present in cell

Thoughtful Thursday

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Kroeger Herbs: Review + Giveaway

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Hey friends! Survive the weekend? Love that we've gained an hour, don't you? It was so nice waking up a bit more refreshed Sunday morning. Falling back isn't too bad, it still messes up schedules especially with little ones but it's the spring forward time change that's a doozy. I just wish the whole time change hoopla was done away with. Moving on... Stay with me as I share a couple of reviews for you + a giveaway at the end. Yay! My good pals at Kroeger Herb sent me a couple of their new products to sample. No problem! They have awesome products – you really should check them out if you haven't yet. Schizandra . Are you familiar with this fruit or have you been hearing the name lately? It’s gaining in recognition for its medicinal properties. The shrub, also known as the magnolia vine, produces berries that are harvested and dried. In traditional Chinese medicine, schizandra is used to help with sleep disorders, depression, anxiety (and other mood disor