Food, Inc

Zone 9 Garden

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It's time to start planning and planting indoor vegetable seedlings for my kitchen garden - since I live in Zone 9. Yay!!

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Did You Know?
A well-planned vegetable garden can turn a $50 investment in seeds and fertilizer into $1250 worth of groceries, according to a cost-analysis study by the Burpee seed company.

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Above table courtesy of veggieharvest.com

Friday's Photos - Empathy

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The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy.

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UNICEF is asking that everyone donate $1 by midnight on Tuesday to help raise 46 million needed for Haitian Relief.

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Hope For Haiti Now - Benefit Concert

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UNICEF
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Reminder: Benefit Concert Friday Jan. 22@8pm ET/PT - Hope for Haiti Now

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A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief - 100+ celebrities - broadcast worldwide. The Hope for Haiti fundraiser was organized by actor George Clooney and will feature Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys and many others. .

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Homemade Lip Scrub/Exfoliate

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Recipe and Instructions
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Take approximately 2 tablespoons of plain table sugar in a small bowl. Add honey, one teaspoon at a time, until it reaches a nice, thick, sticky, consistency. I also add a few drops of Olive Oil, but this is optional. Take a bit of the mixture, and start gently rubbing it on your clean lips (I like to use my toothbrush to exfoliate). Rinse off and follow up with lip balm.

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The Benefits

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Exfoliated lips are less prone to chapping.

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Visible wrinkles around the mouth are less noticeable.
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Lip stick stays on better.
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No harsh chemicals.
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Environmentally friendly.
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KISSING!! Soft lips are better for kissing.
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Ingredients
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Sugar - acts as the abrasive and it dissolves so you don't need to worry about "grit" getting in your mouth.
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Honey - has anti-bacterial properties, is usually non-allergenic, and tastes good.

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Olive Oil - Moisturizes, protects, soothes, is tasteless in the scrub, and is non-toxic and generally non-allergenic. It won't clog your pores around the mouth either.
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Lip Balm - A good lip balm applied right after exfoliating will nourish and moisturize the newly exposed skin.

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(Images Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

"The Green Drink"

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Have I ever mentioned that my kids love "The Green Drink." I make it for them each morning before school. It's quick and easy and soooo nutritious!! I do vary the ingredients now in then based on what in season and I add a little fruit juice to make it more palatable. If you haven't ever tried one of these concoctions - you don't know what your missing. I don't own a Juicer (although I really should look into getting one) - I just mix it up in a blender.

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Basic recipe for mixing up a Green Drink.

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2 apples, cored

2 big handfuls of spinach

1/2 cup of chopped parsley

1 celery stick, chopped

1 thumbnail length of ginger root

1 lemon - juice only (use peel slice for zest)

1 medium cucumber

(I also add various different fruit juices)
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Yummmm!!!

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All Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images

Happy New Year 2010!!

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I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!!

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All of our decorations are safely packed away - except for the beautiful little holiday clock my mom gave me. It's still chiming out Christmas tunes on the hour. The sound it makes is delicate and sweet and I can't seem to give up those lovely tunes just yet. The pine needles have been vacuumed up for the last time - all ten million of them - and I've made my resolutions. I always love making them each year - even though by the end of January most are history. This time of year has a powerful effect on me and gives me such optimism and a much needed burst of energy!!

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Happy New Year 2010!!

Tis the Season - ♥

A bell's not a bell until you ring it,

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A song's not a song until you sing it,

Love in your heart wasn't put there to stay,

Love isn't love until you give it away.

Oscar Hammerstein II ~

I hope everyone is lighting their fireplaces, baking some cookies, taking a drive to look at the Christmas lights and enjoying this holiday season ♥ !!

Quote - Dr. P.M. Forni (Author of Choosing Civility)

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"The quality of our lives is about treating each other well in every situation. We are all the trustees of one another's happiness and well-being in life."

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Dr. P.M. Forni ~

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(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

The Holiday Season - On Your Mark

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I once read somewhere that women are the ones who "do" the Holiday Season. Let's face it, that is a pretty accurate statement, even with the most helpful husband or partner. The decorating, the shopping, the cooking, the cleaning - before and after - the wrapping, Christmas cards and photos - all organized and executed primarily by women. And it's a tall order too! While most of us enjoy the fruits of this labor, it can be a bit overwhelming to say the least. It's no wonder that in early November I find myself feeling excited and somewhat nerve racked at the thought of what's coming. So... I will take a few deep breaths... and...ready...set...go!!
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Some Of The Things On My To-Do Before Thanksgiving
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Have the carpets and couches cleaned.
Wash walls and touch up paint where needed throughout house.
Clean oven (not looking forward to this).
Order free-range turkey from local farmer.
Buy all clothes needed for myself and kids for the upcoming holidays.
Take a family photo for Xmas card and send it to the printer.
Make Thanksgiving menu for 12.
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That's it for now. How does your list look?
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(Photos Courtesy of Jupter Images)