January 31, 2010

January Giveaways...

The Winner of this January Giveaway from my awesome "List of Followers" is:


Congrats , Teresa~Hope you enjoy the goodies!
(email me your address)

 I will be choosing one more winner for January on Wednesday...so...
add your name to my follower list and you'll have a chance to win too!

Teresa is having a ~fabulous Pink Party~ right now with lots of fun & prizes ~
Stop by and pay her a visit!
You just might win something too!



January 27, 2010

Baby Steps to Eating Organic!

I told you all that my New Years Resolution is to eat as close to Organic as possible!  I am doing well and you can too. You just have to decide to make a change...one step at a time.

Dieting is not the only answer...it may help you to lose weight but it won't necessarily make you "healthier"...  When you realize the real pleasure in food comes in the first couple bites, and it diminishes thereafter, that’s a kind of reminder to focus on the experience, enjoy those first bites, and as you get into the 20th bite, you’re talking calories and not pleasure. I think there’s a lot of wisdom in that.  And you MUST eat "real food"!  Real food is alive...and it is suppose to eventually die or rot! As author Michael Pollan says, " If a "food choice" has ingredients listed that a 3rd grader cannot pronounce...don't eat it!"

I realize that..."organic" can be more expensive...but did you know that as a society ..."The less we spend on food, i.e. cheap fast food and inexpensive processed food, the more we spend on health care!  Where would you rather have your money go?

Take a small step today to better health for you and your family!

Here is a place to begin...the bread you eat...



We eat  Ezekiel 4:9® Bread, made from freshly sprouted organically grown grains, it is naturally flavorful and bursting with nutrients. Rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and natural fiber with no added fat.  It is made by a company called Food for Life.  It is found in the refrigerated/frozen section of most grocery stores.

 Ezekiel Bread is REAL bread...
Just look at these ingredients:

INGREDIENTS: Organic Sprouted Whole Wheat, Filtered Water, Organic Malted Barley, Organic Sprouted Whole Millet, Organic Sprouted Whole Barley, Organic Sprouted Whole Lentils, Organic Sprouted Whole Soybeans, Organic Sprouted Whole Spelt, Fresh Yeast, Sea Salt.

It is hearty and delicious and for those counting...one slice has 80 calories and only 0.5 grams of fat! 




Give it a try!




January 25, 2010

My Date Night Bonus...(not what you might think)

One of our favorite ~Date Nights~ is going out for Sushi...and then off to Border's for coffee and browsing.
We grab a few of our favorite magazines and books... find a table at the cafe to call home for the next hour or two... and then sit, chat, share, laugh, people watch and sip coffee!  It's fun!

This past Saturday all of their calendars were on sale for $4.00...and look at the one I found. 
It was the last one too!

There is a complete sewing project for every three days...complete with color photos, patterns and instructions!

The projects are really great too...they are up-to-date, quick, fun, doable crafts! 


 
 I look forward to sharing some of them with you in the future!

January 23, 2010

My "Saturday Finds"...

As my sister Diane's blog title says...

Here are some of my...

 "Saturday Finds"     (click to visit her)

...a la Goodwill!





January 21, 2010

~Hello Yellow~

 *
"Yellow wakes me up in the morning. Yellow gets me on the bike every day. 
Yellow is the reason I am here." -- Lance Armstrong
*
Yellow can be used to enhance your concentration and imagination.
*
We use yellow legal pads for business and schoolwork.
Wonder why they are yellow?
* 
Yellow makes me happy!
It is a comforting color.  *  Very warm and homey.
 Here is some of the y~e~l~l~o~w in my Sunny Cottage!
(click on photo to enlarge)

How does yellow make you feel?



January 19, 2010

~ViNtAgE Valentine~



 These re-production vintage cards gave me inspiration...
to create this Valentine Banner..
Glitter, glue, lace & ribbon...
and vintage buttons too...
..all adorn this fun & festive garland.





 It is 4 1/2 feet long...and each section is 8" X 11"
 It is available in my etsy shop ... if you are interested!







January 16, 2010

A hat for a Princess..




"Oh Mom...you know I'm too old for that...
too grown to wear a Princess hat!
This birthday I am turning twenty..
the gifts and cake are really plenty!"



"I know", I said "but a mom can try...
to stop the years from flying by..."
A kiss, a hug an urging smile...
"Could you wear it for just a little while?"


"Ummm...no"
I tried...

Happy Birthday...Princess Grace!


Anyone in need of a Birthday Princess hat...never used!



January 15, 2010

Add the Pickle and the Lettuce...


What do you get when you take Family, Food, Fun, Balloons and a Giant Red Robin?


It can only mean one thing.

My husband's 55th Birthday...yep born in 1955!


All the kids came to celebrate their dad's special day!

If you look closely there is even an extra daughter in the mix...Sara (seated next to my husband)
She's just a bit too short to be in the McKillion clan!

And thanks to Red Robin you can get any of their burgers...
or "design your own" and have it "Lettuce Wrapped" .
I got the garden burger...sans the cheese, add a grilled pineapple ring...yum!



 Hubby got the Blackened Bayou Burger...



...well it was his birthday!

Stay Cozy, Carrie


January 13, 2010

Un Coquelet...Cornish Game Hen



DID YOU KNOW?
The Cornish game hen, though it may sound a fancy name, merely refers to young chickens.
The Cornish game hen has become more popular as the result of Connecticut farmers Jacques and Alphonsine Markowsky's breeding practices in the 1950s. They bred the Cornish hen with the rock hen, resulting in a chicken that is mostly white meat, something many people prefer.
They don’t have a gamey taste and many consider them lighter in taste than more mature chickens.
And you can find organic game hens too like these Tyson hens.
Place Cornish Game Hen halves in a 9 X 12 baking pan (1 per person)

Wash and cut  potatoes in half leaving skin on. (1 per person)
Place potatoes around the hens.

Now make this sweet sauce by mixing these ingredients in a food processor:

1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
2 tbsp. rosemary
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tbsp teryaki sauce
1/2 cup orange juice
1 cup chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp. cornstarch

After throughly mixing, pour over the entire dish.
Cover with foil.
Marinate in the fridge for at least one hour (if possible)

Bake with foil for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Remove Foil and bake for another 20 mins. basting several times.

Cook your favorite veggie to complete the dish.

Qui a bon gout!  (Tasty)



For those calculating their Weight Watcher Points:
The Cornish Game Hen (with skin)  7 points
1 Med. Baked Potato (with peel)   3 points
1 cup green beans   0 points




January 12, 2010

Scone-appetit!


Into a bowl they go:
2 cups  whole wheat flour (organic is best)
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Lightly whisk to blend.

Cut in only 2 tbsp. butter
With a pastry blender or your fingertips!
Until the mix looks like coarse crumbs.

Stir in 1 cup fresh chopped cranberries or dried...
and 1 cup chopped walnuts.

Add 1/2 cup non-fat milk and mix until moistened.

Pour onto a floured surface, knead gently.
Pat into two 1/2 inch thick rounds.
Cur each round into 8 wedges .

Bake on lightly sprayed cookie sheet.
Sprinkle with sugar if desired.
Bake 15-18 mins.

These wonderful scones satisfy a sweet tooth without a lot of calories or fat!
For you Weight Watcher Gals...they are only 3 points each!
And using Organic ingredients is even better!

Pop one in the toaster for a quick snack!


This little glass jar is a darling & simple "cranberry craft"
Add a ribbon with some cinnamon sticks.
Paint the lid and add a wooden ball for accent!

Make your scones half size, fill it up and give as a gift!



Go here for some other Tuesday Recipes!
And here too!


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