In Defense of Food

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. Well, if you watched Oprah today Michael Pollan was one of her guests. He spoke about his new book, Food Rules, which is available this month. The book I will discuss is In Defense of Food. His whole book can be summed up with the first seven words..."Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

His whole book discusses how we as a society need to get back to the basics of food. Eating the "right" foods is key. Easier said than done you say, right. Not really. Some of his points are to eat foods your great grandmother would recognize (not the Go-gurts that the local supermarket sells). Eat foods with ingredients that a 3rd grader could pronounce. In our Western diet has been more concerned with nutrients instead of food and therefore we have become less healthy. We need to focus on consuming whole foods and staying away from refined foods, emphasize quality over quantity, and eating simple foods instead of complex. Easy, right? Of course.

The book can bog you down with science talk and for most people it can get extreme, but believe me, he has some fabulous points that everyone should take to heart. If everyone read this book and practiced just a few of his "rules" I think that peoples health would improve.

Well, In Defense of Food can be ordered through Amazon.com along with his most recent book, Food Rules. I am sure there will be a bundle discount if you purchase 2 or more of his books.

Happy Reading.

11 Books and Counting...

I finished my eleventh book today. I was going to pick one of the books I have read and review it, but I thought I would make a list of the 11 books and if someone wants a review or my opinion on a specific book I will do that.
This list is in the order I read the books (11 is the book I just finished)...
1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - Sherman Alexie
2. Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life - Amy Krouse Rosenthal
3. In Defense of Food - Michael Pollan
4. Twilight - Stephanie Meyer
5. New Moon - Stephanie Meyer
6. Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer
7. Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer
8. The Last Song - Nicholas Sparks
9. Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
10. Witch and Wizard - James Patterson
11. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

If I do not receive a request by Sunday (24 January 2010), then I will start at the top and work my way down.

Happy Reading.

Book Bargains...

Ok, I had a last minute change of blog topic. I thought instead of diving right in with a book review I would give you a few hints for shopping for books.
*This week Barnes & Noble is having their teacher appreciate days, save 25%.
*www.paperbackswap.com is a fabulous web site where you post books you no long want and people can request your books. You only pay to send your book via media mail. You earn credits books being requested from you and then you can use those credits to "buy" books.
*www.half.com, pretty much like ebay, but you can sometimes find good deals on books, but the postage can kill ya.
*My personal favorite, yard sale and garage sales. I love them. They are a great resource to buy books on the cheap, typically .25-$1 (depending on if the book is paperback or hard cover). I have been able to stock my classroom library using these sales.
*Some libraries have "Friends of the Library" sales a few times a year and you can get bags of books for a few dollars.

So, sometimes it pays to be a frugal shopper. Remember to check the wear and tear on a book, the smell (some people are smokers or have pets), highlighting, and possibly scribbles on the covers (especially in childrens books). There are deals to be had out there. Be patient and the book you are looking for may be out there at a cheaper price than the $14.99 book store price.

Happy Reading

New Year New Blog...

I thought I would change up my blogging topic. I havent been biten by the crafting bug lately, but I have been engrossed in books. So, my thought was to blog about the books I have read and am currently reading. This is just an idea so I am not sure how well it will take. My thoughts are since I have so many hobbies I wanted to share my love of them with anyone willing to take a peek.
Be prepared because since September I have read 10 books...mostly (90%) fiction, a variety of genres, and meant for different audiences. Please bare in mind that I am not an English professor so my take on the books are from a purely bibliophile (I just love to read) point of view.
So, sit back and read my blog and hopefully I will inspire you to pick up one of these incredible books and enjoy them as much as I have...for the most part.
Next blog will be a list of all 10 books including the authors, and possibly a book cover included.

I'm back...

Yea!!! I have been dying to post. I do feel like a slacker, but I have been working. Obviously I am starting with a few Halloween cards that I made this year.

This stamp never gets old for me. I am not sure where I bought it, but the side of the stamp reads www.savvystamps.com. All the embellishments were found in various locations in my scrap area. The paper was a Target purchase for the dollar spot. The ribbon and bling were probably from Michael's.

Now that Jay gave me a brief lesson on how to post on my new computer I am hoping to resume my blog posts about 3 times a week. The past week has been hectic since Jay had surgery. He is feeling better now and hasn't taken a pain pill since 4AM (I hid the bottle to gradually ween him off the powerful and addictive meds). My mom arrives Thursday for a 3 week stay and I cannot wait. Next week I have off work so she and I can play and I can cook for Thanksgiving.

Thank you to everyone who has been patient and will bare with me until I really get into the swing of things. I hope everyone had a super Sunday and their Monday is marvelous.

Whatelse????

Ok, just when I started getting my crafting mojo back and had a few cards to post, now my computer is broken. I do want to show you the 6 Halloween cards I have made in the past few weeks, but now I will have to figure out how to post pictures from my laptop and since Jay leaves for Seattle tomorrow, Tuesday, I may have to wait until the weekend to post artwork. Be patient...artwork is coming.
Well, I hope everyone has a marvelous Monday!!!

Ooops!!!

May 21st?? Really? It has been THAT long? I apologize to my 5 fans...=)

Please do not think I have been sitting around eating BonBons (I wish) and watching soap operas. The summer brought construction projects to the house, a few traveling adventures, working out daily, spending quality nap time with my baby girl, Maddie (11-2 was our nap time...no we did not sleep that entire time. Maddie did, not me), gardening, baking (zucchini bread with fresh from my garden zucchini), working on power point presentations for work, making a few Christmas gifts, and basically, whatever I darn well wanted to do...=)

Well, I am going to make you a promise. I promise I will resume my blogging next week. I need this weekend to get my crafting energies flowing (they have been pretty stagnant lately) and I also need to work on a few things. Mainly Halloween cards.

Please be patient with me while I get back into the flow of blogging. =)

Easter basket

Well, here was my April artwork for my aunt's event calendar. The egg stamp set is from Close To My Heart called Eastertime, the butterflies are a Martha Stewart punch, and the basket is punch I bought years and years ago. I just randomly snipped my green cardstock to make the grass. The bottom of the calendar has a bunny in the basket with its feet hanging out...too cute.
My goal this weekend is to be a crafting maniac. I want to make loads of cards. I have a ton of ideas floating around in my head from various magazine, blogs, and websites and I cannot wait to try them out.
Oh, I think my next post might show my new venture into living green. We have a very small garden. I planted carrots, red and yellow peppers, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, butternut squash...I cannot forget my two herb herb garden of basil and parsley. I even used some basil tonight with dinner. It is amazing how much better it tastes when you grow it yourself. I am just starting out, but having a blast with it. Watching it grow by leaps and bounds it so much fun.
Have a fantastic Friday...=) Also, please have a safe Memorial Day Weekend. Remember those who fought (fight) for our country.

March on in...

Ok, even though I have a little bit of Irish in my ancestry my March layout is pretty weak. I used stickles to outline the shamrock. I also used a shamrock button to highlight the actual date (although you cannot see...just imagine).
I hope every mother had a wonderful mother's day. I wish I could have celebrated it with my mom, but I know she could feel my love and good thoughts with her ALLLLLL day long.
I hope you had a marvelous Monday and that tomorrow brings a terrific Tuesday to all.

Happy Valentine's Day...

Ok, here is February for my aunt's calendar. The reason for the fish is that my uncle LOVES to fish and thought it would be cute. The fish stamps are from Stampin' Up and the heart stamps are from Verve. I used liquid glass to enhance the bubbles. Yes, I know it is blurry, but if you drink a glass of wine, margarita, martini, bottle of beer, it will be clear. I was actually in a hurry to get the pictures taken to mail out the gift, so please cut me a little slack.
I hope all is well with everyone and I hope y'all had a wonderful Wednesday.

Event Calendar...

I know. I know. I know. I have been a bad blogger. The only excuse I have is that I just didn't feel like doing anything. Plain and simple.
For Christmas 2008, I made my mom an event calendar from Close To My Heart. I decorated each month and added only a few special dates (my birthday, her birthday, my wedding anniversary, etc.). She loved it and I guess my aunt saw and wanted one. So for the past 3 weeks I have been working on it. In the coming days I will post the months I created for my aunt. I never took pictures of my moms calendar. I should have. My hind sight is 20:20.
Ok, so for January I used a Close To My Heart stamp set called All Decked Out. This stamp set is full of imagination. You get to create your own snowman, the type of scarf, hat, face, number of snow balls, etc. For my snowman I stamped the hat and scarf on a piece of paper that was highly textured (and I just stumbled upon it) and cut them out. I used silver stickles to highlight the snow flurries at the bottom of the snowman and orange stickles for his nose.
Even though you cannot see it, I decorate the entire month. I put snowflakes all over. I also stamped Happy New Year! from the Say it in Style stamp set also from Close To My Heart. I think this is my favorite decorated month. I love the way the stickles adds the perfect amount of sparkle.

Miss Me?

Well, I have been busy. This past weekend I worked on organizing my scrapbook area. As we all know that can be a chore in and of itself and can actually suck up your entire weekend. Let's just say that after a trip to Michael's I think I am set with the furniture and a sorta organized area. I do have a lot more space to work. So, would you like to see it? Yep, I thought so. I want to wait to figure out how to post two pictures. Jaaaaaayyyyyyyy! =0
On that note I am going to head to my craft table and finish up making my Easter cards. I am keeping it small and simple. I hope you had a wonderful Wednesday and have a tremendous Thursday.

Welcome Spring...

Are these colors spring or what? I love this. It is such a simple card. Ok, so I had a recipe to follow, but I don't mind. I used ALL Close To My Heart supplies and the stamp set is From Me To You. I made this for Jay's aunts birthday.
Ok, I have a question for you...where did March go? Wasn't it just yesterday that it was St. Patrick's Day? WOW!!! I cannot believe that in just a few shorts day (one) it will be April.
I am going to try to work on some Easter cards this week, but I am not sure if I will find the time. I have been working out like a mad woman. Four days a week and on Sunday. I don't stay at the gym for too long, but by the time I get home and make dinner, I am exhausted. I am also working on some Christmas (yes, I said Christmas) gifts.
Well, I hope everyone had a marvelous Monday and their Tuesday is terrific. =)

Happy Belated St. Patrick's Day!

Ooops! In all the chaos to get Maddie's treat bags done I forgot to post my St. Patrick's Day card. Well, actually one of them since I forgot to photograph the other one.
This card was very simple, but it took me longer than it should have and also didn't turn out the way I wanted. I used stickles on the clovers and ticket punched the sentiment. Sorry I am in a rush this evening, but Jay and I have been busy working on a project that needs to be done by the 30th and so we are scampering around to get it all done.
Have a marvelous Monday and a terrific Tuesday!

Happy Birthday Maddie!!!

Our little girl turned 2 today. They grow up so fast, don't they? =) Well, since Jay and I don't have children we dote on our puppy child. I made these little treat bags for the neighbor dogs. So you think I have too much time on my hands? Well, let me tell you what was entailed with the treat bags...homemade doggie treats that were cut out in the shape of dog bones. I used my nestibilities to make the tag and a Close To My Heart alphabet stamp set called Doodle Alphabet. Ya think that's it? Nope. I have a little dog bone punch that I used so I could tie the string. And the piece of resistance...I made doggie shrinky dinks. I colored the dog to match Maddie(a gray spot on her left eye and the right ear). I don't know how good your vision is, but if you look in the lower left hand corner of the tag you can see the shrinky dink.
Was all that work worth it? Absolutely. I had a blast making all of it. It combined 2 of my hobbies, baking and crafting. The neighbors probably think I am CooCoo for Cocoa Puffs, but the fact that Maddie loves her treats makes it all worth it.
I hope everyone had a terrific Tuesday and Lucky St. Patrick's Day.

Monkey Madness...

Look at these little guys. Are they not adorable or what? I just have a thing for monkeys. They always make me smile and these little cuties are no exception. The monkeys, leaves, and branch are from Stampendous stamp set called Changito Dos. Let's see, what did I do to this card...I cut the monkeys out and put googlie eyes on them...=) Gotta love googlie eyes. The branch is stamped, but I actually stamped and cut out larger leaves to attach to the branch. The inside sentiment is "i'm bananas about you!" Ut oh! I didn't use the banana stamp. Oh well. I used a dauber to add the brown background. The only thing that was a pain was cutting out the monkey boys.
Today I will be making Maddie's treat cards. Maddie turns 2 on Tuesday and I am going to make homemade doggie treats for the neighborhood doggies and attach a card with the recipe on the back. Do I have too much time on my hands? Not really, but I thought this would be cute, fun, and creative. Don't worry, I will post a picture of the finished cards, treats, and total package, but you gotta promise not to laugh!!! =0
Have a super Saturday and a superb Sunday.

Fluttering By

Well, I LOVE this butterfly. I am not an expert on glittering, but I did my best. I would love advice and suggestions on how to make it better. This stamp set is from Close To My Heart March Stamp of the Month, Butterfly Wings and I love it. I am not jazzed about the sentiment (what you can see of it) and this card is nothing like I pictured it in my head. I think I rushed to get it done and I am disappointed in that.
I think the reason is that I have had a few things on my mind lately. Starting back to work with new everything (computer system, teachers, administration, and students), we had a stabbing incident on campus Friday at lunch, I am trying to do something for Maddie's 2nd birthday, and trying to get use to getting up so darn early. I am slowly finding my groove and I think by the time spring break comes along I will be rolling...ha ha ha.
Well, sorry this posting is a day late, but better late than never. I hope everyone had a terrific Tuesday. =)

Signs of Spring...

Ok, here it is. So, it is a day late, but at least I got it out there. Please understand that the next post will be Thursday and not Wednesday.
Ok, for this card I used a cuttlebug embossing folder, Stylized Flowers. The sentiment comes from Close To My Heart March Stamp of the Month, Butterfly Wings. You should see the gorgeous butterflies in that set...WOW! The butterflies are from a Marth Stewart punch and I glittered the whole thing. Ok, maybe everyone knew about this, but I put my butterflies through my Xyron to get adhesive on the entire butterfly. Then I glittered them. Nice coverage, little to no drying time, and no sticky mess.
I hope everyone had a tremendous Tuesday and that Wednesday is wonderful. Take care...=)

Egads!!!

Where did Monday go? I am so sorry I did not have a chance to post any artwork. By the time I got home from work, I ran Maddie, graded 30 labs, met Jay for dinner, took Maddie to the vet for her rabies shot, home, shower, grade another 70 labs with Jay's help, relax watching The Bachelor (ok, so I slept through 80% of it, but I did see the very very very end), went to bed but still watched After the Rose Ceremony. Very interesting. Today...I promise. It is on my To Do list. Have a terrific Tuesday.

WOW!!

What was I drinking when I took this picture? I definitely need to revamp my "photo studio". Anyway. I thought this little guy was adorable so I ordered him a few months ago. He is from Imaginese. My lovely nestibilities were used for the scallop and plain circles. Spots and Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder was also used. A few of the Spots were filled in with my holiday red stickles. I thought my ribbon was the perfect color fit for this card.
I hate to cut this short, but I am pooped. Jay has been away all week so I have been taking Maddie to doggie day care early in the morning, getting to work 30mins later than I like, working all day, hitting the gym once work lets out, and then I pick up Maddie. She is an exhausted as I am, but the difference is she sleeps the entire time she is home. Ok, so she gets up to eat and potty, but that is about it. Today I had to do two of my most dispised house chores...taking out the trash AND the dishes, oh, I won't mention that I picked up Maddie's potty in the backyard (ok, so I didn't have a bad so I moved it from the grass to the gravel so Jay could take care of replacing the bag...is that bad? I just wanted to make sure it was cleaned just in case the gardners came on Friday). UGH!!!!! Tomorrow I am going to take a day off from the gym so I can run some crafting errands after work.
I hope everyone had a wistful Wednesday. I don't think I have ever used the word "wistful" before in my entire life. I hope I used it correctly.