I have a couple of new items in my Etsy shop. The piece featured at top is my latest print, Mountain. It's available in two sizes, including 11 x 14 inches. I'm running a special promotion this week where you can buy the new print at 20% off the orignal price.
Blue Mountains is a 8" x 8" painting on maple panel I recently finished. You may have noticed that I use a lot of blue in my art, which happens to be my favorite color. Speaking as an Etsy seller and former shopowner, red actually sells better. But, oh well. I've got to be true to my creative self. If it was only about sales, then I would be including owls and mustaches in my art, too. Some of Picasso's most famous works came from his Blue Period (1901-04). Then again, his blue paintings didn't sell very well.
Many of you may remember that I worked on an installation for Prana, the clothing company, earlier this fall. This month, they revamped a space in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and I was asked to recreate one of my original designs for their wall. This line drawing of a creek was painted at home and then shipped across country. It was so exciting to see the final result. The photo above was sent to me within hours of installing the work.
I have been looking into pattern blocks and looking for the activity cards when I tumbled on these free printable ones from prekinders. Just what I was looking for!
I am printing as we speak and the laminator will be in heavy use in a few minutes. Pattern blocks are great for early math learning, and really fun. They are also a great learning activity to keep younger kids busy while teaching one on one with another kid.
Summary: Our best memories often revolved around food. And so do our best stories! We've put together a heart-warming and mouth-watering collection of stories that will make you laugh, make you cry, and inspire you inside and outside the kitchen. Whether you are reading about funny cooking disasters, holiday traditions, life lessons, or revealing personal anecdotes, you’ll want to try the special recipes inside the book and you’ll be inspired to spend some quality time with family and friends… in the kitchen!
I love Chicken Soup for the Soul, have I mentioned that? I’ve read other books with personal stories but they just aren’t the same.
CSS: Food & Love is a celebration of food, family and friends and even includes a few recipes!
The stories are separated into chapters based on subject matter as follows:
Learning to Cook
Just Like Mom’s
Table for Two
Comfort Food
Little Helpers
In Memory Of…
A Bite of Fun
The Taste of Tradition
Life Lessons in the Kitchen
Always Room for Dessert
I counted 23 recipes although I may be off by one or two. The thing is, they are recipes I want to try. They sound really delicious and I can’t wait to try many of them.
I actually did try one.. Potato Croquettes (pg 276) and they were really good! I think I made them a bit big and I changed it up a bit as I usually do (I’m a Creative Cook) but I will definitely make them again.
The stories themselves were great as well. I enjoyed all of them. It’s amazing what an impact something as everyday as food can have on our lives.
I have been getting excited about homeschool lately and have been busy trying to get things set up for this coming school year. What fun! I have been perusing homeschool blogs, big family organizational blogs, crock pot blogs, and all the blogs with free printables for homeschoolers. I have been to the city to go to teacher supply warehouses, haunting used curriculum swap sites, and laminating as fast as I can print! Today I got my big metal magnet board up! The photo is from the blog I saw it on called Nic and Kate. It is a big oil drip pan from Walmart that cost around $12!! My kids love it!
I am also working on my calendar board or morning board. I will have photos and links for the printables for that soon! I am getting ready to contact paper my maps of the world and the US....What fun! If you are using the My Father's World curriculum like we are then you might want to know that I have found that MFW curriculum swap has some great deals on all used My Father's World curriculum and anything used by the curriculum. I also have been using Homeschool classifieds for a while and like that site as well. Half.com has great prices on new and used books, workbooks, and textbooks and is worth checking out. I like to go to a full price book store and peruse the books then copy down what I liked and look for it here. Happy planning! What are you doing to get ready for the coming school year?
Trillium Lake, located at the foot of Mt. Hood, is indeed as beautiful as locals say. The water shimmers at dusk, and the view of the majestic peak is hard to beat. Shortly after arriving to the campground, our crew of three adults and four kids headed out onto a two mile hike. Along the lake's edge is a picturesque trail that leads you through meadow, marsh, and forest. It was like a Disney film as we were greeted by a host of dragonflies, butterflies, and little creatures along the way.
Our stay at the lake was short but magical. The girls and their friends swam in the frigid water. We fished for trout (no luck this time around). And we indulged in the latest campfire fad- S'moreos! Very rich, but oh so tasty. Good thing a 6.5 mile trek was planned for the next day.
Near Trillium Lake is Laurel Hill, considered the most treacherous stretch of the Oregon Trail. Early settlers who traveled 2000 miles to Oregon discovered that traversing the wilderness to the south of Mt. Hood was faster than traveling through the Gorge to the north.
Part of this historical route is still accessible by foot, so we thought it would be a fun adventure for the kids to hike it. The first part of the trail heads up a very steep hill- hard to imagine how wagons navigated such a narrow and sloped path. The trail eventually connects to the original Mt. Hood Highway built in 1923. In the photo above, there is an arrow that points to the stone bridge wall that still stands today.
After the hike, we had time to spare for some huckleberry milkshakes in Government Camp and a quick visit to the infamous Timberline Lodge. Many of you movie buffs may recall that Timberline Lodge was in the 1980 classic, The Shining. Only the outside of the building was actually filmed, but the interior of the 1930's lodge is just as impressive. All of the original features and furnishings were handcrafted, and some of the decor was even made from recycled materials. The hooked rugs, for example, were made from recycled uniforms and blankets.
Timberline Lodge is an amazing building, but Mt. Hood steals the show. The views of the mountain and from the mountain are spectacular. Although Mt. Hood is not the tallest peak in the Cascade Range, it is the most popular summit. I just recently learned that it is the second most climbed mountain in the world (Mt. Fuji being number one).
I'm not itching to climb to the top of Mt. Hood anytime soon, but the mountain does constantly draw me in. Even when I paint a mountain from my imagination, it ends up looking like Mt. Hood. There's something about it that keeps me intrigued and inspired, and I'm always looking forward to coming back.
I just did a Fit Moms for Life Review and now I’m able to giveaway one copy to a resident of US/CAN! From My Review:
Summary: Dustin Maher, America’s Trainer to Moms has a goal to reach 1 million moms by the end of 2015. His book Fit Moms for Life: How to Have Endless Energy to Outplay Your Kids is only one part of that goal. According to Dustin: “My message to moms is simple: Putting yourself first is the least selfish thing you can do. My question is: Who is taking care of YOU?” … Overall I think it’s the best book on fitness I’ve read (although as I’ve said, I’ve not read that many) and I plan to use it to help me start being more healthy. First things first, I need to do my before stats and goal setting.
Enter using the rafflecopter form below. You only have to do the first entry to win but the more you do, the better your chances of winning. Please consider supporting the sponsors at least. It may take a few moments to load. Click on Do It for more instructions and then after you do it, click Enter.
Make sure you read instructions carefully. If you have any questions or problems, leave a comment or email me callista83 AT cogeco DOT ca. A copy of the giveaway rules are below and on the rafflecopter form. Entering the giveaway means you have read and agree to the rules.
Giveaway open US/CAN 18+. Giveaway open until August 21, 2012 @ 11:59 PM EST. Odds of winning depend on number of valid entries received. Duplicate (accidental or not) entries will be deleted before a winner is picked and winner's entries WILL BE verified. Winners will be selected using rafflecopter's random.org on Aug 22, 2012 and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 2 days to claim their prize or their prize is forfeit and another winner will be chosen. Contest Void Where Prohibited. This giveaway is not associated, nor sponsored by Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. We hereby release Facebook of any liability.
Summary: Dustin Maher, America’s Trainer to Moms has a goal to reach 1 million moms by the end of 2015. His book Fit Moms for Life: How to Have Endless Energy to Outplay Your Kids is only one part of that goal. According to Dustin: “My message to moms is simple: Putting yourself first is the least selfish thing you can do. My question is: Who is taking care of YOU?”
I don’t read much about fitness because it usually just makes me feel bad about how much I don’t exercise and how much overweight I am instead of inspiring me to make a change.
I put off reading the book because I felt intimidated by all the photos of skinny women I saw when I flipped through the book. But when I actually sat down to read it, I saw that those skinny women USED to be big, some as big as me and that they made a real change. There was no lost 70lbs in 6 weeks. They were normal amounts in normal amounts of time. Plus it included tips from the moms and an explanation of how they got where they are.
Also the book isn’t a strict guideline of do this do that. It helps you develop the system that is right for you. I really appreciate the goal setting section that has you see where you are first. Dustin mentions how many moms, while happy about their weight loss, didn’t know their exact measurements to begin with (weight, inches, how much exercise they could do) so they didn’t have a specific comparison of how much they’ve improved.
Dustin has us not just weighing ourselves but taking photographs (with tips on how to do so), inches around measurements for many body parts, not just the big three and an explanation of the difference between waist and abdomen (I’d always wondered!) Then he has us do different exercises and marking down how many reps we can do, even if it’s only one. He even has us do a mental and emotional look at ourselves before we get started.
The book includes a very helpful section on eating healthy (better than I’ve seen in other books.) Why is it so good? Because it doesn’t advocate changing our eating habits drastically all at once and recognizes the need for treats. There are even a few recipes.
Another thing that makes this book different is the chapter on Making it Work. Knowing we need to eat healthy is one thing, but it’s a lot harder to implement.
Another great section is the Fit Mom, Fit Family one. If you are the only one in the family trying to be healthier, it’s harder. But the family isn’t always receptive to changing their habits. The book has some tips on changing your kids over which look really helpful. I just wish there was more tips on talking to your significant other.
The Appendices have a section to document your goals as stated above which is nice.
Overall I think it’s the best book on fitness I’ve read (although as I’ve said, I’ve not read that many) and I plan to use it to help me start being more healthy. First things first, I need to do my before stats and goal setting.
If you sign up for the mailing list, you can get access to a free chapter and the Table of Contents.
If the book intrigues you, you may want to check out the video about it. It’s a bit long at over 8 minutes but the first 1:40 minutes is video of real women who have lost weight so you can skip that if you just want information on the book.
Summer is still here, but for a lot of us we are starting to think about the coming school year, planning curriculum if we homeschool, thinking about supplies, schedules, etc... While I have been checking out other homeschool blogs for good ideas I came across this great free "Fruit of the Spirit Devotional" from Raising Arrows. It is for young kids and is a fun way for kiddos to learn more about godly character.
Like this fruit of the spirit daily check list. What a fun way to "catch them doing good"!
and this cool basket of fruit to make and add to as you study each trait. Each day you color and cut out the fruit marked with the trait you are learning about and paste it into the basket. FUN!
Hope you are inspired for the coming year and looking forward to all the fun coming your way as you keep the learning up. I will be posting more back to homeschool links and organization tips soon! Have a great freebie to share? Let us know about it!
Love makes a good impression. This dare was actually a few days ago but it is one that really stood out. You can and should find the whole dare here at K love under Dare day 9. It is something simple that makes a big difference. When you treat your spouse well you are treating yourself well and a simple cheerful greeting is such a pleasant and simple gesture. Wouldn't you like to be greeted cheerfully when your spouse sees you. A simple kind greeting says "I love you, you make me smile". It can make all the difference between.an evening of tired grumpy conversation based on whose day was worse or a chance to appreciate each other and feel joy. I can't promise they will always respond in kind, but your heart notices the difference and joy in the little things is a much better state of being than choosing to stay tired and grumpy.
This one hit home because it is very doable and I could improve in this. When Josh gets home I probably usually look tired. Pretty easy to just make the effort to smile and show them we are excited to see them. I love my husband and I may have had a rough day but it will improve both our days if I can choose to make the effort to show him that I love him and am happy to see him. I hope this little tidbit can encourage you today :)
When the clouds are low at the Oregon coast, it's hard to tell where the water ends and the land and sky begin. There's a timelessness here that draws you in, or maybe it's the lull of the sea.
I appreciate that all Oregon beaches are public, but my favorite spots along the coast tend to be those that are less populated. While the kids are playing chase with the tide, I like to casually stroll along the shore and collect little bits of shell, driftwood, and rock.
The brush tray of my easel is home to my collection of rocks. They are a reminder of the many beautiful places I've seen. Yesterday, I was inspired to paint on a few of the rocks.
The handpainted rocks will be available in my Etsy shop soon. Meanwhile, I would love for you to check out an interview I did for fellow artist and blogger, Ana Pina. It's the most thorough interview I've done. Wanna know what makes me cry? Just grab your cup of jo and click here to start reading.
How would you like a chance to win this awesome book for a child you know?
Enter using the rafflecopter form below. You only have to do the first entry to win but the more you do, the better your chances of winning. Please consider supporting the sponsors at least. It may take a few moments to load. Click on Do It for more instructions and then after you do it, click Enter.
Make sure you read instructions carefully. If you have any questions or problems, leave a comment or email me callista83 AT cogeco DOT ca. A copy of the giveaway rules are below and on the rafflecopter form. Entering the giveaway means you have read and agree to the rules.
Giveaway open US/CAN 18+. Giveaway open until July 31, 2012 @ 11:59 PM EST. Odds of winning depend on number of valid entries received. Duplicate (accidental or not) entries will be deleted before a winner is picked and winner's entries WILL BE verified. Winners will be selected using rafflecopter's random.org on Aug 1, 2012 and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 2 days to claim their prize or their prize is forfeit and another winner will be chosen. Contest Void Where Prohibited. This giveaway is not associated, nor sponsored by Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. We hereby release Facebook of any liability.
Summary: Marc Kielburger, co-founder of Free the Children and Me to We has written his first children’s book based on his first overseas trip to Thailand when he was young and he shares the story of a special birthday celebration that changed his life.
First let me just say, this is not just another book about life in another country. This true story explains to children what poverty is and how one person can make a difference, no matter how big the problem may seem.
The story is amazing and the illustrations by Marisa Antonello and Victoria Laidley are bright, fun and detailed. It starts with a young Marc talking to his mentor when he is asked what kind of person he wants to be. He isn’t sure but knows he wants to help people and his mentor sends him to a poor town in Thailand where he learns a lesson and has a memorable time.
I read this story to my girls ages six and five and we had to keep stopping to explain words (but that’s a good thing, it means they are learning!) I also explained the difference between fiction and nonfiction (I’d mentioned it before but you have to say things a few times before children really absorb it.) After the book I asked if they understood the book and we went over the parts they weren’t clear on. This is how I recommend reading nonfiction with your young child.
About the Author: Today, Marc Kielburger and his brother Craig dedicate their lives to Free the Children which is now the world’s largest network of children helping children through education. Marc also co-founded Me to We, an innovative social enterprise that provides people better choices for a better world, donating half of its net profit to Free the Children. Marc has written six books, including a New York Times bestseller, Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World.
For every Me to We book purchased, a notebook will be donated to a child in a developing country.
*I received a copy of this book for review purposes.
I was craving egg rolls, but not the greasy, pork filled kind you can buy. I wanted a lighter egg roll with a little ground turkey, and tons of vegetables. So I thought I would make my own. But I wanted them crispy but not fried and I definitely did not want to turn on my oven while it was 95 degrees outside! My husband suggested it might be possible to grill them . It worked beautifully!
Crispy Healthy Egg Rolls
Ingredients
2 cups cabbage ( about 1 small head)
2 medium carrots
3 green onions
1/2 lb organic ground turkey
( you can omit this and add some mushrooms in it's place if you want them vegetarian)
2-3 cloves of garlic
1 inch piece of ginger peeled and chopped fine
!/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 Tablespoon of cornstarch
1 pkg egg roll wrappers
olive oil
Directions
Prep all your veggies quickly and easily by throwing it all in the food processor and pulsing it till everything i chopped to your liking. I usually cut the cabbage in smaller wedges and the carrots into a few chunks to break it down to keep from having large chunks left. Saute your turkey and crumble it up with a spatula while cooking. Now drain the fat and set it aside. Throw all the veggies into a pan to saute in a small Tbl of olive oil. While they are cooking mix the soy sauce with the cornstarch to get it to coat the veggies nicely. Now toss it into the cooking veggies. Once the veggies are cooked turn off the stove and add in the turkey and mix up. Important to note that you need to let the mixture cool down before you start rolling the egg rolls. I failed to do this and mine split in a few places where the hot filling weakened the wrapper.
Fill the egg rolls with a few tablespoons of filling and start rolling.
You can follow the guide on the back of the egg roll package for rolling directions.
Now you start rolling.
I lay them on a cookie sheet as I roll so I can easily transport them to the grill and so they are not touching as they will stick together if they are.
.
Oil the tops lightly with a pastry brush
Now place them oiled side down and lightly oil the unoiled side.
Just grill a few minutes and when it looks golden and crispy flip them!
You will be rewarded with a batch of crispy delicious egg rolls that are only a fraction of the calorie load that restraint ones are! Let me know if you try it! They were a big hit. We scarfed them all up in no time flat!
Nine blogs have gotten together to bring you a chance to win $25 cash via Paypal. Open worldwide to anyone 18+ with a Paypal account and it’s SUPER EASY to enter!
Only three methods of entry but be sure to come back every day as two of those entries can be done daily!
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How would you like a chance to win this awesome book for a child you know?
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