The Candy Show Season 3 w/ Mi'Kmaq Nation

Gelly Roll Pen GIVEAWAY - #GellyRoll30

International OPEN Summer GIVEAWAY 2014,Coastal Scents Makeup Palettes ,...

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Paradise or Oblivion

MAC Makeup Giveaway 2014 (Open)

I Breathe... I'm Hungry...: Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots

I Breathe... I'm Hungry...: Cheesy Cauliflower Tater Tots: So officially my week of low carb posts is over.  But I'll be posting low carb recipes for awhile since I got inspired and just kept cook...

A Turtle's Life for Me: Freezer Meals on the Cheap

A Turtle's Life for Me: Freezer Meals on the Cheap

Teresa Tronier Photography: Butter in Your Food Storage

Teresa Tronier Photography: Butter in Your Food Storage

George Clooney Arrested: Post-Jail Interview | Video - ABC News

George Clooney Arrested: Post-Jail Interview | Video - ABC News

Melancon Funeral Home ~ Locally & Family Owned: Obituaries

Melancon Funeral Home ~ Locally & Family Owned: Obituaries

When your day starts off as one huge Lemon....

I knew that today was not going to be exactly what I wanted it to be when I awoke from a horrible nightmare and thought my eldest son was standing next to me...

But you know it's a dream because your waking up to your child when they were much younger standing next to you...caught in a dream within a dream moment...and than you can't reach him right away so you stress...but not to much because you know if it was something really bad you'd get a call....you also realize you've perhaps watched one to many horror flicks with your 21 year old son this past summer months!

The brakes in the car go out while your youngest son was driving it...yet he responded exactly as a person is suppose to and got the car back home and parked safe...cuts short plans made for the weekend....oh well...at least I'm in the country and not stuck in the city limits....

Than your youngest son comes and says mom can you look at my throat it hurts...oh my...strep...just what he needed....yes definitely cuts into any plans made for the weekend...but at least he is home and not stuck somewhere while sick with strep sucks it can be treated.

Pop a small glass of chilled Hpnotic out for Mom, walk down to the mail box and Christmas in a bottle arrives in August...the parrot is dancing to Stevie Wonder....Kal El has the moves down tonight and is lost in his own world of dancing and music while he sings his appreciation over his pasta in his dinner plate with verts on the side and a piece of apple along with wild black berries from the back yard....

Suddenly the world is no longer a huge lemon, but has turned into a wonderful tall glass of Lemonade...Genies are released as you open the cap and take the first tentative whiff...sighs of pure joy come from deep within you and you think "Finally...someone understood what it is a woman wants to smell like"...I'm in Love with a Mistress of the Scented world...this tiny bottle is a Magical Dream turned into reality. That dark, dank, gloomy cloud that has been floating around my brain cells are lifted and the sun has arisen within my grey mater. Just think...I haven't even spritzed any on myself yet.

So with trepidation I give a small spritz on my wrist....just because something smells so blissful in a bottle....any Lady can tell you it can turn into Cat Piss when mixed with the wrong body chemistry....."ohhhhhhhhh" is the only sound that escapes from my lips....the youngest son comes into the room and states he can smell that even with his stuffed up nose when I offer up my wrist for him to take a sniff and he gives his approval.

"Not bad at all Mom" is the highest of compliments from that young man....and he just gave that rating to me, his mother! We mothers know how even more rare that is from some sons. More Magic happening from just one whiff!

As I sit and take another Blissful sniff...images begin to float around in my head and I feel the urge to paint in color...for the first time in a long time I don't have to force it, it is coming on it's own. I am drawing something beautiful and happy. Magical things really do come in small packages....Thank You Mandy. More than you can ever understand or realize, you've helped me rediscover my muse once more.

"Haute Claire"... I can smell notes of galbanum, clary sage, oh yesssss....this makes me want to dance.... I catch a hint of lime, orange, honeysuckle, Ylang Ylang is in the mix and vanilla. While I will be missing out on Joshua's fun activities in Detroit with the fundraiser I no longer mind...I'll be lost with my paints and a canvass......and my Muse, welcome home dragon, it's been a long time since I last saw you.......now let's hit that drawing board.

Responding to Sister T's end of the year Blog...

The biggest problem today is that the designers have forgotten that REAL females want to look and smell like a REAL FEMALE!

I don't want to look unisex in the boardroom to be taken seriously...come on this is not the 1960s anymore, I am Woman I want to Smell like one. If your Male Ego can not stand to lose on the Playground.

Who cares?

I'm not going to pander to it to make you feel better. Man Up and get over it dude. I can make the Bacon, Bring it home and cook it too....I'm not saying your not useful and I don't appreciate your being a Man. But come on to many Boys parading as Men out in the World give the Real Men bad names.

I want to be appreciated as a Woman, I want to look like one, smell like one. I don't want to smell like a piece of candy or fruit so that your idea of a little girl who swoons over your every word fantasy is met. I'm not twenty any more. I am a grown woman with thoughts of my own, with strengths and scars of a life lived stands before you.

I want a scent that can stand with me in strength, in soft moments, in quiet moments and let me still shout at the world moments. I want a scent that announces a Woman and not a girl has entered the room, you better sit up and take notice.

I'm not about to fight like a bitch in heat to get your attention dude, the little girls do that. If you want something like this, you better have the balls to approach me. And trust me, there are Real Men who will and do.

I am not a gay man trying to look like a straight woman, I don't want to smell like one. I don't want a politically correct scent...I'm not a fashion model trying to look like a human skeleton so that the clothes have no shape as they move down the runway. I don't want that image brought up when you get a whiff of me. I am not Paris Hilton or those other Hollywood types of Females that you have been pandering too.

I have parts that jiggle and wriggle, I have breasts that are REAL, nothing plastic here, I am no Barbie Doll. I don't want to smell like one.

So for the upcoming year of 2011...Can you Designers of the Fragrance get your heads out of your rumps, and Design a Mans Scent for those of our Brothers that will make me stop in my tracks and say HELLO...and can you design a few scents that the moment I open the bottle just a whiff of it will announce "Here cometh a Real Female" .....

Check out T's Blog that inspired my thoughts....

scentlesssensibilities.blogspot.com

I wish I may, I wish I might Wednesday...

Most of the time we think of wishes as things to wish we had this come into our lives...

But for the month of September we are being asked, What do we wish to be rid of????

Opening up my life Hope Chest and let us take a look...

Procrastination is sitting right on top...so let me open up the window and drop kick that puppy right out of my life!!!

I wish to be rid of Procrastination, a very bad habit indeed...

http://jamieridlerstudios.ca/

Fun Recipes...

* MISSISSIPPI SIN DIP*

1-lb roll spicy sausage or fresh made spicy sausage
2 pkgs cream cheese, softened
1 8 oz sour cream
1 8 oz pkg of shredded white cheddar cheese
1 small can green chillies
1 loaf French bread or 2-round Hawaiian breads
1 bag of Frito Scoops

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Hollow out bread and reserve the bread that was removed.
Crumble and cook Sausage until done.
In a large bowl combine all ingredients, softened cream cheese,
sour cream,
shredded cheese, sausage, chillies.

Pour mixture into the hollowed out bread; cover completely
with aluminum foil.
Place on baking sheet and bake in a 350°F degree oven until
mixture is melted and bread is crisp (about 30-45 minutes).

Remove foil and bake additional 5-10 minutes to brown
top.

Toast the bread chunks that were left over to make them a
little crispy to dip. Place chips around the bread on dish and
serve.

*Fruit Salad*

7 ounces Greek yogurt (recommended: Fage Total)
1/3 cup good bottled lemon curd
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups sliced strawberries (1 pint)
1 cup raspberries (1/2 pint)
1 cup blueberries (1/2 pint)
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons limoncello liqueur
1 banana, slicedFresh mint springs

~*For the lemon yogurt topping, whisk together the yogurt, lemon curd, honey, and vanilla and set aside at room temperature.

~*For the fruit salad, carefully toss together the strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, sugar, and limoncello. Allow them to stand at room temperature for about 5 minutes to let the berries macerate with the sugar and liqueur. Gently fold the banana into the mixture.

~*Serve bowls of fruit with a dollop of lemon yogurt on top. Top each with a sprinkle of fresh chiffonnade of mint.

~*Lemon Simple Syrup*

1 cup sugar
1 cups water
1 lemon, zested and juiced

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, water, lemon zest, and lemon juice over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool, about 20 minutes.

Yield: 1 3/4 cups

Support your local business and Farmers!

No matter where you live in the world, the only way to help the economy grow, is to support
the local business. If you do not support the local shops, farmers and Artist who will?
The crafts people in that area need to make a living, the business people can not grow and hire local workers if there is no support of the business. The farmers can not sustain their farms and continue to grow healthy foods if Big Corporations are allowed to take over and push them out...so go support the local Farmers, buy from Farmers Markets, take the time to hunt down stores that buy local produce and support local companies...

Share fun and easy recipes in season from your area!

When on vacation take the time to shop the local markets, talk to the people who live in the area and go meet the crafts people and farmers in person...the power is in our hands on how our hard earned money is spent...so shop wisely and shop local to where you happen to be at...:0)

BACON WRAPPED STUFFED JALAPENOS

1 pound raw Jalapenos
1 package 8 oz. cream cheese
1 bag of shredded jalapeno jack cheese
1 1/2 pound of Bacon
toothpicks (soaked in water for about 30 minutes, to
prevent burning)

Cut jalapenos in half, coring and removing seeds.
Bring a pot of water to boil, add a little salt, and boil
jalapenos for a couple of minutes until soft, but still a
little firm.
This step will reduce a little bit of the heat from the
peppers.

Next, put cream cheese and shredded cheese in a bowl and
mix well.
After straining & cooling the jalapeno halves, stuff
with cheese mixture (about a tablespoonful) then wrap a slice
of bacon around the pepper, securing the bacon with a toothpick.

These may be grilled on the BBQ pit or baked at 375°F
until cheese has melted and bacon is crisp and brown.

Makes 30 peppers.

Summertime Chicken & Goat Cheese Cups

No stick cooking spray

12 count muffin tin

1lb chicken, cubed

1 package refrigerated pie crust

1 pint fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries or blackberries)

8 ounces goat fresh goat cheese

4-5 mint leaves

Heat a medium sauté pan over medium heat.

Add chicken and cook until cooked through (165 degree internal temperature)

Meanwhile unroll pie crusts and lay flat.

Slice into four equal portions.

Slice middle pieces into threes.

Spray tin with no stick cooking spray.

Lay pie crust pieces in the tin cups.

Layer with about 2 tbsp of chicken, a couple of berries and about 3 tsp goat cheese.

Bake at 375 for about 10-12 minutes.

Chop mint and garnish cups with mint.

Serve warm or cold.

Courtesy of:

Cindy Krzykwa

Forest Hills Foods

www.foresthillsfoods.com

Stuffed Zucchini Serves 4
2 medium zucchini (about 8 inches) ¾ lb. 90% Meijer lean ground beef 1 small onion, chopped ½ c. large fresh mushrooms, quartered ½ cup chopped red bell pepper ½ cup chopped green bell pepper 1 cup 2% shredded Mexican four cheese blend, divided Salt and pepper to taste
1. Cut zucchini in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp, leaving a ½ inch shell. Finely chop pulp.
2. In a skillet, cook beef, zucchini pulp, onion, mushrooms and peppers over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.
3. Remove from the heat. Add ½ cup cheese, salt and pepper; mix well.
4. Spoon into the zucchini shells. Place in greased 11x8 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until zucchini is tender.

Tomato and Provolone Sandwiches
Serves 4

1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
¼ cup Meijer low-fat mayonnaise
2 tbsp. chopped fresh tarragon or basil or 1 tsp. dried
1 tbsp. lemon juice
¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper
Pinch of salt
8 slices Meijer whole-grain bread
4 slices provolone cheese (about 4 oz.)
2 large or 3 medium tomatoes (about 1-1/2 lbs.), sliced ½-inch thick

1. Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler.
2. Mash garlic on a cutting board with the side of a chef's knife or a spoon until a paste forms. Transfer to a small bowl and combine with mayonnaise, tarragon (or basil), lemon juice, pepper and salt.
3. Place bread on a large baking sheet and broil until lightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn the bread over and divide cheese among 4 of the pieces. Continue broiling until the cheese is melted, 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Assemble sandwiches with tomato and the garlic-herb mayo. Top with the melted cheese bread.
Source: Eating Well

Corn and Basil Cakes

Serves 5 (2 cakes each)

½ cup white whole-wheat flour (such as King Arthur)
½ cup Meijer low-fat milk
2 large eggs
2 tbsps. Meijer canola oil
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp ground pepper
2 cups fresh corn kernels (about 2 large ears or frozen)
½ cup chopped fresh basil

1. Whisk flour, milk, eggs, 1 tbsp. oil, baking powder, salt and pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Stir in corn and basil.
2. Brush a large nonstick skillet lightly with some of the remaining 1 tbsp. oil; heat over medium heat until hot (but not smoking). Cook 4 cakes at a time, using about ¼ cup batter for each, making them about 3 inches wide. Cook until the edges are dry, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown on the other side, 1 to 3 minutes more. Repeat with the remaining oil and batter, making 10 cakes total. Reduce the heat as necessary to prevent burning.
Serve Corn Cakes as a side dish with barbecued chicken or pork chops and a green salad.
Source: Eating Well

For more information on our local farmers and what homegrown products are in the store now, go to www.meijermealbox.com and click on "local growers." At Meijer Mealbox you'll also find seasonal recipes and meal plans.

Sour Cherry Fizz & Blueberry Lemonade:

Water
Handful of fresh tart cherries
Sugar

To make a simple syrup, combine above ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Strain liquid, cool. In a 20 oz. glass filled with ice, combine 2 oz. of simple syrup with soda water. Garnish with fresh tart cherries.

To make blueberry lemonade, substitute blueberries in simple syrup recipe. After syrup has cooled, replace soda water with lemonade.

By the Green Well Gastro Pub, 924 Cherry Street SE.

Every Day Matters sketches

"Every Day Matters" sketches from the EDM's list, not in order...
mainly because well to be honest...
I've never been the kind of girl who follows the straight line from A to Z...
I let others who can...
do that...
I tend to wander wherever the winds blows me....
I am perfectly happy to be that kind of female...:0)