#AskAwayFriday #17

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying your day. 

I'm sure many of us are still relaxing and enjoying family.  

(Thank goodness for scheduled postings!)

So here we are with another week of #AAF!  For those of you that are unfamiliar with #AskAwayFriday, this is a weekly series created by the lovely RHOCC queen, Ms. Penny AND the fabulous mom Amber, of The Bold Fab Mom! It's a great way to meet new bloggers, make some new local and long distance friends, by getting to know them better with 10-questions.  Pick a partner next week and join in!  Head over to Penny or Amber for the dirt on the know-how.

My very chic & beautiful partner this week is, Tia of...

Tia's questions, my answers:

1. What's the one beauty secret you think everyone should use? Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen. Can't express that enough :)

2. You got married on the Cayman Islands. How did you choose a destination wedding? Good question, haha.  We were doing a vacation as a family, and I think we just decided it would be a good time.  Wish it was more of a romantic answer for you, haha! 

3. What do you think about all of the Jersey reality shows? LOVE - HATE relationship.  Of course the only NJ one I watch is RHONJ, (and all the other housewives, but Atlanta is getting on my nerves).  I've never gotten into the Jerseylicious or other NJ shows.  

4. You grew up vegetarian off and on…How do you become a RAW eater? How "do" I? By eating all raw greens, vegetables and fruits.  If you meant, how "did" I?  I slowly realized how I was eating and what I was eating. I feel much healthier and clean nowadays. 

5. I've seen The Beauty Detox on several talk shows. What's the best tip in that book? It's really one big tip, eat healthy.  The book tells you how and why, and it all makes perfect sense.  It's definitely personal for each individual.  

6. Show us some of your favorite jewelry pieces. A few of my faves. 

1. My 50th "fabulous at 50" Tiffany heart. My friend came from Florida to spend time in NY for our 50th's, and I surprised her with a trip to Tiffany's! 

2. My eternity wedding band

3. My watch, wedding gift on our cruise from the hubster

4. My go-to necklace with t-shirt & jeans or a dress up! 

7. What's one beauty product you absolutely would NOT recommend? I would recommend NOT buying expensive products, because you think they work better.  There are products in the CVS, Rite-Aid, etc., that work just as good, if not better, as a jar of $150 Creme De La Mer.

8. I'll be 30 in February. What is one piece of advice you have for me as I leave my twenties? It's just a number, don't think of the number. Ever. Never ever.  :)   

9. What song makes you want to dance no matter what? No particular one, any song with a loud beat can get me moving around the house when no one is home/watching.  (Don't tell anyone.) 

10. When was the last time you laughed until you cried? What was so funny? This one stands out; I have a button start/shut-off car, and when my friend and I got out of the car, I heard the fan running. She's trying to convince me it's normal.  Somehow I knew it wasn't, I knew my car and the sounds.  Well, wouldn't you know I was right.  We came out from seeing a 2-hour movie, got into the car, and realized it was STILL RUNNING!  We about peed ourselves!  

That was fun Tia, thanks!  Now head over to the Chic Mom, and check her answers to my questions! 

Holiday cheers xo,

Thanksgiving

sky

cape may, nj

birds

ocean city, nj

clouds

west virginia

RAW Stacks Recipe!

I know it's the day 'before' Thanksgiving, and I should have had this food idea posted earlier (for those friends of mine in Malibu), but time has gotten away from me this week. So, hopefully some of you are still making your grocery lists and will be able to add this to your holiday menu.  If not, maybe an add-on to your leftovers over the weekend.


Timbale Stacks!

How delicious does this look!  Oh my goodness, I loved this dish.  

Quinoa, Squash, Avocado

I took this recipe from my favorite RAW book, The Beauty Detox Foods. I did change it up a bit, only because I didn't have all the ingredients.  My red cabbage went bad (not a good aroma), so I replaced that with mushrooms. It wasn't a mistake, I'll tell you that. I didn't have any micro greens either, but I think it looks just as pretty :) and appetizing! 

Ingredients

2 cups butternut squash, cubed

2 tsp coconut oil

1/2 Tbs dried rosemary, crushed

Sea salt, to taste

Ground black pepper, to taste

1 cup quinoa, soaked overnight and rinsed well 

2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

1 1/2 Tbs lime juice

2 1/2 Tbs minced fresh parsley

1 tsp minced fresh basil

1/4 cup finely minced purple cabbage

1 large or 2 small avocados , diced
Microgreens or clover sprout, to top

Directions
Preheat oven to 375F and grease a baking sheet with coconut oil.  Toss the cubed squash with the coconut oil, rosemary and sea salt and black pepper.  Bake 20 minutes, then stir and bake 20 more.

Meanwhile, cook the quinoa in the vegetable broth for about 12 minutes, or until soft and fluffy. Add to mixing bowl and mix in lime juice, parsley, basil and cabbage.  (In my case, I sautéed mushrooms in veggie broth.) You can season with sea salt if you so desire.

Assemble the timbales, in a ramekin or any dish you'd like.  Even a cup if you don't have a small dish.  I used a small pyrex dish, worked just as well.  Grease your dish with coconut oil (small amount), and layer, squash, avocado, and then quinoa.  Press down, then turn over. Top with sprouts.  Voila!
Happy Hump Day! 

The skin your in, naturally!

Did you know you may very well have all the skin care products you need, right at your fingertips, in your kitchen or pantry? Try these natural ingredients and their benefits to your skin. 

The cucumber is soothing as an eye pad for puffiness, and healing as a mask. I've used it, it works. 

The papaya is exfoliating, containing enzymes.  I use papaya mask once a week.  It's a popular peel.

  

The egg, be sure it's organic :) but the whites are good for toning and tightening. Yes, I've tried this.  Your skin does feel great afterward.  I just wish I was relaxing as someone else brushed it on.  Ahhh.

Potatoes are excellent for oily skin.  They also reduce puffiness around the eyes.  So if your out of cucumbers… :) You can process them to a paste or thin slices and press to your face. 

Yogurt is an excellent mild, cleansing astringent. I know people who have used this, and they love it! 

Honey is very hydrating to the skin, toning and tightening.  Mix this with the next ingredient for a great moisturizing mask! 

Oatmeal is used on the face and body as a mask.  It's soothing on skin, great for eczema also! 

Herbs such as teas, chamomile, peppermint are used and mask or compresses.  Very soothing to skin. I've used tea bags on sunburn…works to take the sting out.  Have you ever tried that? 

My favorite smoothie additive, rich in vitamins and oils, for dry/sensitive skin. Whip this baby up into a smooth dip and slap it on! You'll love it!

Leaving each ingredient on 7-12 minutes, and rinsing gently with warm water (not hot), will give your skin the soft glow you've been looking for.  For an extra, mild exfoliation use a soft wash cloth to remove.  Do not scrub, press lightly.  Follow up with your favorite serum, and/or moisturizer.  

Have you used any of these natural ingredients? 

Would love for you to share for other blogettes to read! 

You Are My Sunshine...

"You are my Sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are gray, you'll never know dear, how much I love you, please don't take, my sunshine, away!" 

This is what my sister sings to her baby girl, so sweet.  Today I am sharing with you a gift I have made for my sister.  A sign made for her daughter's room.  I am so excited to have made this for my lil'sis.  It is my first very first attempt at one, and I think it came out pretty good.

Let me know what you think!

I collected all my materials.

Started painting sections.  The base light purple, and sections

of yellow for the 'sunshine'.  I had measured all the lines for my 1" and 2" letters.  

Painting and sticking on letters. As I went along,

I realized that I hadn't really done a great job with spacing for

each character.  I would place a word, move it more to the left or right, 

up or down, just a hair.  Although tedious work, still fun for the final project.  

I put dark purple on top, called Pacific Iris.  The canvas took 3-coats.  

With all the layers, I was afraid peeling the letters would be difficult.

It actually worked out fine. I even had help from a bored college kid :)  

Ta-Dah!

I am very happy with my finished project!  I wasn't sure about all the mixed up, angled letters, but I do like the final result once the letters were off, and I did minor touch ups. 

It will look perfect in 'our' little girls room :) 

I think she'll like it :)

#AskAwayFriday, #16!

Our favorite time of the week, where we get to learn more about each other. Thanks to Amber at The Bold Fab Mom, and Penny at RHOCC for creating this series, we get to make new friends and keep up with our current ones.  Thank you ladies, as always XO

"I" am lucky enough to share my #AAF this week, with the lovely Ms. Beth from Structure in and Unstructured Life, finding calm amongst the chaos (sounds like my life story in two words, unstructured & chaos). What can I say :)  This, is the lovely Beth~

Please remember to go over to Beth's blog and see her answers to my questions.

And here, are her fun questions for me.   

1. You have kids that are no longer little ones. What's your favorite and least favorite things about the ages your kids are now? That they have their own lives! Haha, not enough family time.

2. I see you practice RAW eating. What's one food you can't resist straying from your healthy habits for? Twizzlers! Or Fritos.  

3. Your Christmas tree - real or artificial? Artificial.  I'll have a real one again some day, when I have a smaller tree.  Love the pine aroma.  

4. Since it's Ask Away Friday, what does a typical Friday in your life look like? DIY day! It's time to stray away from the stress of what I'm posting next, staying up until 1:00-2:00am. Getting projects done, for my blog or around the house. 

5. You get to plan the perfect day - what does it include? A morning massage and facial (I need them too), an afternoon w

6. Are you a Black Friday shopper? NO!  Yuck, phewy, uh-uh, no-way-jose!  On-line for me, always.

7. What's your favorite Christmas tradition from childhood? Sitting at the top of the stairway waiting for my dad to come back home with my Grammy.  I remember the excitement.  Not that I have that now of course.  A tradition I started with my son, is at midnight we open our gifts, stay up later and sleep in. Then have breakfast for brunch! 

8. You've written about skin care on your blog. I have to confess - I'm terrible about taking care of mine! What skin care tips can you offer for a pressed-for-time and too-tired-at-night mama? :) In the morning, everyday of the year, SUNSCREEN! If nothing else, sunscreen.  In the evening, cleanse and moisturize for your type of skin.
  

9. If you had to pick one cause you are most passionate about, what would it be? Being a voice for helpless animals.  It breaks my heart to see sweet animals sad or abused or discarded.  They need a voice.  

10. I write about finding calm amidst the chaos of life. What's your best advice for centering yourself when life gets crazy? Wow, I may be the last person to ask this advice of, due to my past few weeks, haha!  I would have to say, to take a step back and focus.  We can all get a little nuts-O when thing get out of our control, don't burn your bridge with 'yourself'. 
That was fun, right?  Now click here, to see Beth's answers to my questions!  Show her some love, xo
This is also your chance to meet some new blogettes, and join our link-up every Friday.  Grab a partner and do-si-do! 

The Skin I'm In?

Hylunia.  That's my secret.

I've been getting lots of wonderful, ego boosting comments from my blogettes.  Thank you to my girls :) With each kind word, it keeps me on top of myself.  Remembering more often to wash my face and neck, especially before bed, don't' skimp. Exfoliate. Moisturize. Everyone is asking me what my secret is. How I stay so 'youthful' looking, toot-toot goes my horn! Well, it could be a little bit of the gene-pool, my daily eating habits, bad habits I quit many, many years ago (smoking & sun bathing). Many things factor in.

We all need to appreciate what we have (need to practice what I preach), and take preventative steps as much as we can, no matter our age. Hey, there are days I look into that mirror and say, "What the heck happened last night, who messed me up in my sleep!!?!!" Don't we all have those mirror blahs, and our perfect days?  Maybe it's the lighting, maybe how happy or not, we are that day.

How we look, is based on how we feel.  Do you believe that?  I do.

My products? Hylunia skin care products.  It's a natural, vegan product. All the products are 100% free of parabens, phosphates and fragrance, as well as cruelty free. I've been using it for nearly 4-years.  Since then, I've never had the urge to switch to anything else.

I am loyal to Hylunia, and Hylunia is loyal to me. (Do I sound like a commercial or what!)

These are my everyday go-to products:

Healing & Restoring Cream I have very dry skin, especially in Winter.  Ever since I started using this, my skin is much better.  I don't have that dry itch throughout the day.  I usually apply at night before bed as well, right before I put the jammies on to watch TV or blog. In the Summer, I apply once daily.

Colloidal Silver Spray is thee best!  I spritz it on all day, carrying a little guy in my pocket.  It's healing and refreshing.  I feel dry a lot, driving, working around the house, etc.  Perfect for plane travel.  

These are my two big guns I use faithfully! 

Ultimate Anti-Oxidant Treatment OMG peeps!  Anti-oxidants, anti-inflammtories!  This moisturizers my skin the best.  It has improved my skin tone, redness and fine lines.  I still have some, but hey, I'm  aged like a very extra fine wine! 

Beyond Complex C Okay blogettes, this is a must have for all!  A little goes a long way, I promise.  All these products last me a long time.  It really helps with my lip lines, no lie.  

This is the ultimate vitamin C serum.  This helps with redness due to rosacea also. 

Intensive Repair Eye Cream Not everyone believes in eye cream.  I didn't really.  I believed that we all need a good moisturizer, and it works all over.  That's true, I'm not going to try to sell you.  The skin around the eye area is sensitive, so I like to give it a bit more of a delicate treatment.  This is my personal choice due to it's eight peptide ingredients.  There is also a Princess Forumla for dark circles.  I've used them both and they've worked great for me.  

I'm 52, and I feel pretty good with what I have, and the Skin I'm In. 

Five skin tips to protect the skin your in through the Winter!
1. Switch to a creamy cleanser in dryer months. Avoid luffa sponges and wash cloths during the winter. Using your hands won't strip your skin of natural oils. You need those extra oils for the dry air.  2. Moisturize immediately after a shower or bath. Use a heavier cream base to avoid itchy, dry skin.  3. Exfoliate twice a week. This helps to hydrate and maintain the pH balance of all skin types. Use a natural exfoliant, not the hard luffas or seed facial scrubs.  I use the Natural Fruit Acid. 4. Toner, I do use it throughout the day.  Spritzing here and there.  I have a little purse size to carry in my pocket.  Perfecto! I actually use the Colloidal Silver Or Rose Water.  5. Use a serum if your skin still feels dry after applying moisturizer. They penetrate deeper. The one I use is high in Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid.  Be sure to go to the Hylunia web page.  There is so much good information for you to read about the products you could be putting on your skin.  Before you purchase, contact me here.  I could offer you reduced pricing.  Don't let the pricing scare you, haha! There are trial size kits as well, if you don't want to purchase the full size from the start.   Dry/Mature/Sun Damaged Normal/Combo  Ance Oily Rosacea Psoriasis/Eczema Anti-Aging That's the Skin I'm In
What kind of skin are you in?

Starting a Conscious week with 3-words & 3-photos

Hey peeps, here we are on Tuesday, feels like Monday to me.  Of course I am a little behind this morning.  Blah, blah, blah. Gotta' love me, right ;-)

We had some great company over the weekend, visiting from California.  I didn't want them to leave.  So it was a fun pleasure to get thrown off track.  I even got to give all the girls facials! (Wouldn't you come for a freebie? )

We did some eating out…train riding…and football gaming in Philly!

Their visit was too short.  So now we need to head to Malibu! 

I shared my green smoothies, and inspired my girl "T", to purchase my favorite RAW eating book, 

The Beauty Detox Foods.

I'll be posting many recipes over the next two weeks.
My girlie visitors are asking for some Thanksgiving meatless dishes.
My kind of girls! xo

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On to my Conscious Box!  Again, a winner.  

Floating Soap Marshmallow Collection, what a great concept for stocking stuffers! A lathering soap that grows when wet, then let it dry and shrink back to size for the next time. www.actzstore.com

Yogavive Apple Chips, chocolate.  I don't think I can try them.  I'm not a big chocolate flavored gal.  Especially apples.  I'm someone in the house will eat them! If you like this, try it www.yogavive.com

The Source Coffee Company.  I'll take that! Since 1964 the Montecinos Sierra family has been farming this great bean, chocolate (no), hazelnut, bitters with a full creamy body.  www.thesourcecoffee.com

Mighty Leaf Tea Coffee by morning, Tea by night.  That's me! (Although "T" and I don't mind the midnight coffee!) 

Glorious Grains This is delicious! A small pack of multiple grains.  Really, really good. www.naturenates.com 

Ivre de Fleurs Boolg Orange & Juniper Lip Balm. Works! I like it, smooth. 

www.ivredefleurs.com

Relax-All MRM Metabolic Response Modifiers.  I'm afraid to just take a pill.  It is to support relaxation & calmness to muscles, and aid is a better night's sleep.  (not evaluated by FDA) But, they are vegetarian. No dairy, eggs, peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, gluten or yeast. 

www.mrm-usa.com 

REBOOT Combat Oxidative Stress.  Cool packaging, you just squeeze the bottom into the top, and it is to promote elimination of free radicals (you know, pollution, smoke, etc.) It's to use during and after exercise and sports.  For healthy weight maintenance. After excess food or drink indulgence. During travel by air. After exposure to sun. Read up, check them out. 

www.rebootizerusa.com

Sunology Natural Sunscreen 50-SPF 80-minute water resistant/broad spectrum FInd out more:

www.sunolgoy.com 

Harmony Acres Soap Co. L-O-V-E the pleasant smell of this Patchouli Earth bar soap. Made in NC.

www.getsmelly.com (love that web name)

Postography! This sounds awesome.  Postcards on recycled paper are mailed to anyone you's like to snail mail to.  With each 20-cards sent, a tree is planted.  Love that idea. 

www.postography.com  

I like being introduced to new things that are healthy and RAW. Ultimately, it is my (or your) choice to use these products. Love the Conscious Box idea, check it out.  You might like it. 

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Furthermore…three words…three pictures! 

  flowers

The latest bunch the hubster brought home. 
role model

A child. My son. From birth. Innocent and honest.   We, as adults, can learn their values. We, as adults, can let them lose their values. 
shoes

Wedding shoes, made of cupcakes.  Made these for my niece's bridal shower.  

Matches the shoes I bought her for her wedding day.   

Blog Stalking Sundays, #24!

I have some cuties for you today!  So happy I stumbled upon these lovely's to share the shout-out!

Without further delay, check out who will be hanging around all week on my blog...drumroll…

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Nikki. So cute, and I am loving her blog. Simple and elegant.  Her crocheting is absolutely adorable! You can learn all about Nikki, here. You must check out her shop, so frigging adorable!  I know there are some new mommies and mommies to be out there, you'll love what she has.

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Next up!

Kristi, from Finding Ninee. Warm and inviting.  You want to stay there until you've read everything in it's entirety.  She is a lovely person, I can tell.  I especially adore her post from last Thursday.  Show some love, head over.

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My last lovely, for today! Jami.  Blog owner of Corgi Ears and Notebook Dreams.  After stalking her blog, I understand the title of her blog, and I love it!  Too cute.   Corgi Ears and Notebook Dreams

Happy Monday blogettes!!