#AskAwayFriday, #26 with The Green Eyed Lady!

I can't believe it's the end of January 2014. Where does time go? I'll tell you…it brings in nasty cold weather and the nasty flu, followed by a nasty cold with no voice…it brings chaos with frozen pipes and clean ups and anxiety. THAT'S where my time has been. I know I may have mentioned this in my last post, but it doesn't seem to end. So for any blogettes experiencing the same, I'm with ya' sister.

Now on to the fun part of Thursday evening for Friday fun!  I am so excited to pair up with Carissa, The Green Eyed Lady, Lovely Lady!  I can't not sing that song, when I mention her blog.  Love it. By the way, the more I stalk her blog, the more I like her. I'm excited to be introduced to the Tacky Box, to share with my nephew.  She has a sweet family, and an adorable little Emma Renee. What a lovely name.  Check out her story.
For those of you new to #AAF, its a fun way to link-up and get to know your current blogettes more, and invite new peeps into your blogosphere.  Thanks to Penny at RHOCC, and Amber of TheBoldFabMom, we get to do this weekly! So join in the fun.   Here are my answers to Carissa's questions.  Be sure to check out her answers to mine, here.  1. How are you dealing with the weather? Ugh, not very well!  Dealing with frozen pipes that burst, the flu and now a cold. I am officially over winter, so why doesn't it just go away?  2. What is your favorite social media site and why? Probably Twitter (and Instagram)…they are quick and easier to keep up on day to day things.  (When I'm paying attention, ha!)  3. Its your turn to plan date night, what do you plan? Oh I'm such an easy date.  I like to stroll through small towns, try a new hip place to eat, walk, a lot.   4. What is your favorite thing about blogging? Meeting new bloggesses.  It's always nice to see who lives near you. As well as distant peeps, learning where they are from and keeping in touch.  5. I see you eat Raw, what is your favorite Raw recipe? I love it all really, the more veggies the better.  I have to say I really favor the Tuna Fishless though.  

6. Even though I am from Cleveland (Go Browns), Pittsburgh holds a special place in my heart because its where I got engaged, and spent my first wedding anniversary…what part of PA do you live in and where would you take me if I came to visit?  I am from the scenic, classy, historic Bucks County.  Since Pitt is nearly 7-hours driving for me, I'd take you to my hometown of Lambertville (NJ), for the artsy slow pace lifestyle, then to the ever so lovely New Hope (PA), the eclectic side of the bridge that divides the two states.  On a Spring or Summer day, you can't beat people watching, strolling through shoppes, eating outside…it's so wonderful!   7. I see you said that you are a Jersey Girl…how often do you make it back? As often as possible. Since I'm 10-minutes from that bridge that divides PA/NJ, I get there often.  Love it!  I take peeks at my grandmothers house, to see what they've done to it, drive by my home where I grew up…then visit my wonderful Aunt Eleanor who is 94!  Isn't she a beauty? She is 91 in that photo.

8. I love jewelry/accessories like you…what is your favorite piece of jewelry to shop for?  Statement pieces would sum it up, I love a fancy necklace with a simple T! (Wish I had a pic of me!) 9. You have a day to yourself…how do you spend it? Relaxing at a destination Spa, all morning/day/early evening, doing Yoga and eating healthy!   Then straight to bed, after my chauffeur drops me off at home :-) 10. Tell me 3 facts about yourself that you don't normally share on your blog (whatever you feel comfortable with)? Wow, ok let me think about this…do I go lame, or serious?  1. I love going to the movies, and popcorn is a must no matter if I just ate (lame) 2. I find it hard to 'forgive' when it's hard to 'forget' (serious, might require therapy for that one, ha!) 3. I am a car snob. I lease, so I can have a new one every three years. (lame!!)
There you hav'em folks!  Now head over to Carissa, The Green Eyed Lady Blog!  

#AskAwayFriday #25, with Mrs. Tee!

Hey, hey peeps!  Another go-around for the #Ask Away Friday fun, and this week I'm lucky enough to be partnered with Mrs. Tee!  Visit her blog by clicking below, and follow her life full of love and laughter.

For those of you who are new to #AskAwayFriday, join in! It's a way to meet new bloggers and learn more about your current bloggerettes! Thanks to RHOCC and BoldFabMom, we get to do this weekly.

Check out these questions to me by Mrs. Tee, then go to her blog and check out her answers to mine!

I absolutely love the story of how and why you named your Blog Effie Girl...What is 1 piece of advice or lessons your grandmother taught you that you carry with you still? 

Unfortunately I was 6 when she passed away, so there isn't much I remember aside from little memories. A funny one is her parakeet, Dopey. He'd pick spaghetti from her plate, drink her beer, and talk on the phone calling people a b****.  The lesson could be, "don't let your parakeet talk on the phone", haha.

What is your favorite thing to do on a chilly day?

Sit with a gigantic cup of tea and read.

If you could do anything at all but it had to be an adventure what would you do?

I'd live in Paris for 6-months, just taking it all in.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

My (other) grandmother. Always so beautiful and sweet. 

She lived to be 99. Warm loving memories.

Name 4 TV Shows, Books or Movies you simply couldn't be without.

Guilty pleasures, Nashville, Parenthood, Love Actually, Housewives reality shows.

I know you love DIY.  What is your favorite DIY Project to date (include a post link if you have one)?

So far, this one.

Have you ever had a DIY project gone wrong?  If so, share the story and results :D

Trying to get the hang of photo transfer onto canvas. For some reason, I can't get the hang of it, but I'm continuing to try.  Anyone know the way to get best results?

Random: Is your car a catch all for your daily routines or is it fresh off the lot clean? Share a picture of your trunk (no clean up permitted!)

It's pretty clean. Okay, this isn't my car, but it is the same model and make. Although mine is black, it is exactly like this, clean. 

You have a day all to yourself, no cost limits, how do you spend it?

I'm pretty simple and a cheap date…if not with a friend or hubster I like strolling around a small town, browsing shoppes. Or a summer day outside gardening with the dogs. If it's bitter cold and snowing like now, inside with movies and popcorn. Or as I am this week and the next, playing everyday with my beautiful niece...

Signature Question: Are you a part of Team Tea or the Coffee Crew?

Tea, love different teas. Although I do have my cup of coffee each day.

Cheers to Friday, loves,

New Year, New You!

Happy New Year!  

I know, I know, I'm a bit late.  As the old saying goes, "better late, than never". 

Well, the holidays got me backed up for a couple of weeks.  All the decorating and wrapping, then the visits and cooking and baking.  Not to mention the clean up!  Oh, you all know what I'm talking about.  So I'll stop making excuses.  I'm finally posting this and I'll get on with it!

With the New Year, comes new resolutions and changes for many of us.  Some will fall through the cracks, not being able to fit more time into our busy schedules.  Like anything we want to change of ourselves, we need to focus and make the time.  Easier said than done, right?  Yes.

In this post I'm mainly talking about, 'dieting'. Eww, right?  A love-hate relationship. No one likes to, or should play the yo-yo game with diet plans. It doesn't do your body good. Personally, I think it makes things worse and takes you back to a tougher place. I've seen it happen time and again, with many friends and family.

Let's take the word ''diet' out altogether.  Let's just 'eat healthy'.  That definitely sounds easier to me. 

Although I've been lucky enough to be on the thinner side all my life, I've still had to watch what I eat. With age comes pounds, and they get harder to shed. No matter what you weigh, any additional pounds are annoying and not wanted. Agreed? 

If you've followed me enough, you'll know I am pro-RAW eating.  I'm not perfect, I fall off the wagon. A lot.  Especially around the holidays like many of us, the cookies, some healthy some not so healthy.  My pumpkin pie, not sure I can change it to the RAW side.  That's one great-grandmother recipe I'm not messing with :)  So, as much as I'm RAW 80% of the time, I am moving slowly toward the 100%.  I may never get there, but I will get closer to 95%.  I just know it's better for my health.

How do I know? My body tells me. I feel it.  I see it, in my skin.  The bloating face and tummy vs. not bloating. We all get it.  I like my martini now and then, and a glass of wine.  I had a bit too much over the holidays and 'I see it'.  I don't like it.  Since this past Sunday, I have gone smoothie-city!  With the help of:

Blender Babes They hold your hand (Tarashaun is wonderful), and help you live a Lifestyle, not a 'diet'. Right now they have a great green smoothie challenge & juice detox for you to follow.  Check out the Babes.

The Beauty Detox Foods This book helps you slowly go to the RAW side.  The recipes are delish!

Forks Over Knives More yummy recipes. I need to live by this book more, I've rarely used it.

Check them all out, to see which is best for you. Starting slow is key, to any change in your life. Taking the steps at your pace to healthier eating will bring you healthy results.  Try it.  You can have your junk day, or weekend.  Or do a healthy day, every other day, or every two days.  Remember~ your choices, your schedule, your results.

Let it be known, I am not receiving any compensation for these mentions. I'm sharing my personal experience of eating RAW and doing green smoothies every day, seeing/feeling my own personal results. I'm sharing those that have helped me stay on my healthy track.  Plus, there is so much FREE information on these sites as well, information on healthy eating for a healthier you. 

In the new year, make healthier choices in all areas of your life.

Since putting this together, there have been many things happening in my daily life.  I have a lot going on.  Fixing up a house to move my mother here from Florida; trying to find the time to go pack her up and move her here to PA.  Dealing with houses that have frozen/broken pipes that have flooded. The New Year has started off with a bang!  I've neglected my bloggesses and visiting their blog spaces, but will get back to it as often as I can.  I'll be posting as much as I can, still trying to find my niche, haha, but please be patient as I 'get my act together to try and remain positive' through it all.  

#AskAwayFriday, #23 with Sonya K!

Happy 2014!

Here we go!  I'm back in the game.  It seems strange to me that there were only four weeks in December. Anyone else? I've only skipped one #AAF since October 4th, awesome.  For those of you who don't know what the #AskAwayFriday is all about, it's a way to get to know new bloggers, learn more about our current blogger buddies, and have some fun!  So let's get started.

This week I am partnering up with Ms. Sonya K! She's a SAHM that loves shopping, and loves shopping for you! Everyday she has some great deals to share. I'm excited to be her partner this week, so check out my answers to her questions below.  Be sure to go to Sonya's blog to see her answers to my questions!  

1. How long have you been eating a raw diet? It's been a while, I can't recall an exact date. I eased into it, as anyone should. 

2. What initially made you interested in trying a raw diet? I was a vegetarian on and off for many years, from a young age.  Within the past few years, I leaned more toward veggie-head, but I still wasn't feeling all that healthy, even with all my running.  I felt sluggish and bloated too often. Eating veggie though, can be fattening if you don't watch what how you cook. So when I stumbled upon the RAW way of eating, I was instantly attracted.    

3. I thought a raw diet was when you don't use heat when preparing your meals, but I see that you do use heat when preparing your meals. Do you find most people misunderstand what a raw diet actually is? Sorry to confuse anyone. I LOVE to cook, so that gets me in trouble, haha!  Although, you can cook your food, just certain ones for a short period of time.  For me, sometimes just to heat it rather than a microwave. I use water to sauté or caramelize, rather than any oils.  I only use coconut oil when I do use an oil, but it is very fattening and should be used in moderation.  Getting back to the question, haha, it is a process to go completely 100% RAW.  I fall off the wagon, as many of my posts of have  mentioned.  I will be totally RAW…soon :)

4. I want to be more of a DIY type person and repurpose furniture, but I'm afraid of messing up. How long have you been tackling DIY projects? If you could see the projects I have yet to finish, or even start! I love the idea but get so many going in my head at once, buy all the materials, then get overwhelmed.  Then, life gets in the way.  I'll get there…come SPRING.  Haha.  

5. Have you ever messed up so badly while doing a DIY project that you had to give up on it? If so, what happened? YES!! So frustrating.  I haven't given up, I'm taking a breather to try again later. 

6. What has been the DIY project that you are most proud of completing? OMG, haha, just completing all of them! Actually, I am proud of this one, for my niece.  

7. What was the last MP3 song or album you bought? Emeli Sande. I've worn it out. 

8. What was the best movie you watched in 2013? Hhmm, tough one.  I'm soooo bad at remembering names of movies.  The one I really enjoyed, in every aspect, was Enough Said.  Starring the late James Gandolfini (so sad and I just love him!) and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. Love it! You should watch.

9. Hot Chocolate or Apple Cider? Not a big fan of either, enjoy my tea. If I had to pick one, definitely a big fattening hot chocolate with whipped cream, vegan of course :)

10. What is your favorite room in your house? My kitchen!  I love the art of creating food and my smoothies, and I just love my kitchen, hah! :) It's changed a little from this photo.  A different chandelier and green window treatments, some minor things but that's the cooking station! 

Another great session, with another great blogger!  Thanks Sonya. 

Cheers,