Foodie Fun!

I think that if I had the time - my second blog would be a foodie blog! I follow a couple - my latest discovery is The Gracious Pantry who is a gal named Tiffany on a weight-loss journey - blogging under Clean Eating Recipes here:

http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating-pumpkin-spice-latte/

I made this delicious latte for myself yesterday and it was DELISH!!!!

Clean Eating Pumpkin Spice Latte(Makes 2 lattes)
Ingredients4 tbsp. ground coffee (decaf, if you want to be really clean!)

1 tbsp. pumpkin spice (no sugar added, just the spice mix)

2-1/2 cups water2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk OR…2 cups regular milk + 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tbsp. pure maple syrup

Directions
NOTE: I made this using a French press. So it was easy to get these specific measurements. If you use a coffee maker, you’ll need to adjust the amounts of all the ingredients based on the amount of coffee you use. You can double or triple or….
Step 1 – Combine the coffee and the pumpkin spice and brew as usual with the specified amount of water.
Step 2 – Pour the maple syrup in the bottom of your cup and pour half of the hot coffee over that.
Step 3 – Add 1 cup of milk and stir.
Step 4 – Repeat steps 2-3 for the second serving.
Sip and Enjoy!

Even if you are not into "clean eating" this is a nice site! Check it out!

My Two Favorite Things - Together on One Site!

Hi All! I just discovered a blog/website that combines my 2 favorite scrapping things - Close To My Heart Products and Challenges! I am a bit of a competitive person you know! haha!! So I like the inspiration in online challenges and the chance to win! So check out my choice for the 'website of the week'!


http://heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com/

Website of the Week: Scrapping Everyday Miracles

I have always thought that spring brings the feeling of renewal and a sense of wonder at all the miracles of nature. And Scrapping Everyday Miracles is a blog that combines it all with scrapbooking!!!
This is the 'mission statement' from their blog:
We are an inspiration challenge blog... we want to encourage you to look at what God is doing in your life and scrap about it. He has blessed us with such wonderful talents and should glorify Him with them....

They are running a great contest - pop over to
http://scrappingeverydaymiracles.blogspot.com/
And check them out!!!

Okay, I sell stamps but...

Alright, I sell stamps and they are great but you've got to check these out - talk about stinkin' cute!!!! Paper Smooches is the name and I don't know too much about them yet as I just "found" them on Friday but the DT has some fantastic work on the blog! They are running a contest right now - all you need to do is post a comment on their blog and/or thier facebook page. Go see for yourself!! http://www.papersmoochesstamps.com/

Friday Faves

Hey all! I am in WINDY, WINDY Saskatchewan today visiting friends. We are going to check out the underground tunnels and learn some area history today so I am sure you'll see that on upcoming fave posts! But until then - here it is!

My new fave website is www.delish.ca.
Awesome spot for recipes - seach by ingredient, title, etc. There are coupons and blogs and all sorts of fun stuff! I have actually made it my new home page!!

I am totally jazzed about our new Close To My Heart Summer Catalogue - it has SO MANY neat things - it will be live to customers May 1st so check it out over at closetomyheart.com then or stay tuned here for a live link!! We have some very neat new items!!!




I have also been cheating on Easter candy and baking the last few days (sigh!) but I am tracking all the calories I am burning with my new heart rate monitor - what a great tool!! I totally recommend one to anyone even half serious about exercise!!! I have the black one and it is a great watch too.



Have a Great Weekend!!! Don't get blown away!

Friday Favorites

Where does the time go?!?!? I am having trouble keeping up with the Website Wednesdays so I am combining it with the Friday Favorites - so here goes!!!!

A big shout out to That Scrappy Girl!!!!
Check out the "hanging with my peeps" card at their site - love it!!
http://thatscrappygirl.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-is-near.html

I also received my prize from them for the December Sketch contest - AWESOME!!!! Thanks Mimi!!!!

You have to check this book out - I am not quite done it but I know that I am going to read it again right away - very thought-provoking!!!



I have not been 100% good on my clean eating diet but I am not doing too bad - feels good to get back into the workout grove - if you like aerobic/workout DVD's you can always turn to Kathy Smith and she will never let you down!!! Check her out!!!



Have a great EASTER!!!! Hope you enjoy and are inspired by this card from Jeanette Lynton.

friday and wednesday all rolled into one!

My new fave challenge site is scrappingthemusic.blogspot.com so check out my first entry for their challenge:

WebSite Wednesday

Okay, baby Sophia is 2 months old as of Monday so I am on the "lose the baby weight" highway. I am working out with a trainer 3 times a week - now I just have to eat clean!! That is my biggest challenge! But I am trying to find websites that are going to help motivate me. Here is one - check it out for yourself and tell me what works best for you in the weight loss arena!

http://www.shape.com/

I missed Friday faves as we were gone to my neices carnival - and they DON'T HAVE INTERNET!!!! GASP!

Website Fun!

I don't know if You-Tube counts as a website but, Close To My Heart ran a contest for the funniest videos that demostrate why clear stamps are better. Here are thethree finalists for you to check out!
In no particular order, the finalists were:

“Stamp WOW! Clear Stamps (Sham Wow parody)” by Senior Executive Manager Tresa Black, Spokane, Washington
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp424x13WIc

“Stamp Olympics!!!” by Consultant Melanie Harmsma, Edmonton, Alberta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6VgLmhwsVc


“Clear Stamp Fairy Tale” by Director Lori Leng, Hendersonville, North Carolina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmVvzgKHckE

The winner was the Stamp WOW! clip but I (of course) loved the Stamp Olympics one!

Enjoy!

Website Wednesday

So, I wanted to make some more 'boy-ish' valentines for Noah to take to school and decided to use some Bella Blvd. paper from my Scrapbook Circle kit called "robot love" but I didn't have a stamp set or font that 'worked' so I went looking online.

And I found a real treasure! Check out www.1001freefonts.com

Fonts are arranged by catagory which makes searches like mine really easy! Downloading is a breeze too. I clicked on the dowload option, chose "open" and then "allow". I double clicked on the font and then chose "install". When I opened up my word processing program, there was the font in my font choices! Easy-peasy! Here is the valentine that I made with the font "Homemade Robot".

Wedensday Website of the Week

I think this company's philosophy is awesome! With a 6 year old (who is going on 16) and three young nieces, I am sure going to be shopping here!!!!! I love the name and (BONUS!) they are CANADIAN!!!

Check it out!


www.sofiabella.ca

I cut and pasted some of the info from the site - which is worth reading, even if you don't check them out...

"Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you are born to stand out?"
-What a Girl Wants (2003) - Ian Wallace

Welcome to Sofiabella.ca, a site created for my daughter and for yours as an alternative to the other clothing options out there that seem to want our girls to believe that all they can aspire to be are princesses, divas, heartbreakers or flirts. I want to provide apparel that allows young girls to exude confidence and adopt a "can do" attitude. I believe that our daughters should be encouraged to express their individuality, to celebrate who they are and to unabashedly stand out from the crowd. I personally source out all of our products and only select items that offer great quality and value. And of course, they must be fashionable yet age appropriate.

I also want to acknowledge and to reach out to all the other moms out there who are doing the best they can to help their pre-teen daughters become confident and capable young women. It is no easy task. My hat is off to you all.

I firmly believe that within each of us there is a light that is meant to shine bright, that every child is born blessed with unique talents and abilities, inherently gifted with something of value and worth to contribute to this world and that our potential is limitless.

Unfortunately, pop culture and the media are sending today’s youth quite a different message. The abundance of provocative clothing options coupled with the ubiquitous, sexually charged advertising specifically targeted to impressionable pre-teen girls, suggest that physical beauty and overt sexuality are paramount and hold greater value than substance, ability or accomplishment.

This is not the message I want for my daughter, Sofia or for any young girl. Inspired by the words “you must be the change you wish to see in the world”, I felt compelled to rail against the absurdity and resolved to create a more hopeful alternative. And thus Sofiabella.ca was created as a one-stop destination for trendy apparel coveted by girls and approved my mom.

Sofiabella.ca offers quality, fun, stylish and age-appropriate clothing for tween girls AND promotes positive messages for them to send out to the world with what they wear:

“I have value and self-worth”
“I believe in myself”
“I can accomplish anything”

It is my hope that Sofiabella.ca can play a small role in empowering young girls to dream big and live loud, to inspire them to aspire to greatness and to encourage each girl to allow the light within to shine bright

Website of the Week Wednesday

Hey!! Saw a review of this product on my new fav show (the Mom Show on Discovery Health). It is really neat!! Talk about a unique piece of artwork!!

www.dna11.com