Saturday, May 18, 2013

Strawberry & Pear Tartlets


Use filo shells, {12 minis from World Market} cut a handful of strawberries and 1/2 a pear and fill shells. In a saucepan mix 1 1/2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of corn starch and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Stir until brought to boil and add strawberry Jell-O, once dissolved spoon into the filo cups. The remaining Jell-O mix can be poured onto remaining fruit. Put in fridge until set.


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Oprah's Maui Farm

Oprah
 
I recently read in the Daily Mail, that Oprah has been growing organic produce on her 780 acres in Maui.
 
She trademarked 'Oprah's Organics' for bath soaps, sunscreen, massage oils, hair products, as well as organic salad dressings, frozen vegetables, soups, beverages and snack dips.
 
Oprah
 
One of Oprah's biggest accomplishments is her philanthropy. Apparently, between 2004 and 2010 she ranked among the 50 most generous Americans, and according to Forbes, her lifetime giving is estimated at $400million.
 
 Courtesy of O, The Oprah Magazine
 
When she isn't in Maui she is at her estate in Montecito, California. Although she also has properties in New Jersey, Colorado, Georgia, Chicago and Antigua, as well as a private jet to travel between them all.

Get $15 off Modcloth

Get $15 off your Modcloth order if you're a newbie.
 
Click here.
 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

It's Okay to be Happy with a Calm Life.

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It's okay to be happy with a calm life.
 

Monday, May 13, 2013

Strawberry Pie, Lemonade and a Picnic by the Pond

Summer is so near, I can feel it.
 
Today, I made a Strawberry Pie.
 
 
I found a recipe on Pinterest
 
Strawberry Pie Recipe:
 
Mine made 2 pies 8-12 servings. 
 
***
3 Tablespoons of cornstarch (I used Laura Lynn)

1 1/2 cups sugar (I used brown sugar)

1 1/2 cups water

3 oz box strawberry Jell-O
  
2 cups sliced strawberries (I used a punnet for each shell casing. Much healthier)

Pre-bake a 10" pie shell (I baked 2 pre-made ones...10-15 mins on 400)
***

Line bottom with the sliced strawberries

Combine cornstarch, sugar and water in small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add the Jell-O and stir until dissolved. Pour over the strawberries and refrigerate until set.
***
 

We had a picnic! Fresh lemonade with lemon slices and some mango juice.










 
My fiance hand picked the flowers for me. Sweet.
 
We've been staying in a Tennessee mountain cabin on 81/2 acres, it's day's like this one that makes me appreciate the simple life.
 
I'm linking up with


Dollywood

 
Yesterday, we went on a day trip to Dollywood. It's near the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee.
 
 
It's a really nice theme park, and is organized into little 'villages'.
 
 
The Sweet Shoppe, is so adorable inside. Then we went through the museum and the 50's town called Jukebox Junction.
 
 
 
 
After that we went on the river rapids ride and got soaked. Then onto the 'railroad' town called The Village.
 
 
 
It smelt just like a real old fashioned railroad town. Then we went into the 'Country Fair' town.
 
 
 

 
We rode on the Ferris wheel. I may not have looked down that much! I am a little timid with heights.
 
Then we walked through the 'Craftsman Valley'.
 
 
Dolly Parton's Grandaddy was a Preacher.
 
 
Strict moral code for teacher's in 1901. I am all about good old fashioned morals.
 
 
'Timber Canyon'
 
 
We didn't do any rollercoasters as we had a 2 hour drive back, but one day we'll come back {maybe with pre-teens/teens} and ride on the rollercoasters.
 
Here's a map of the park:
 
 
Areas of the park
 
Dollywood is organized into ten themed areas. The Showstreet, Rivertown Junction, Craftsmen’s Valley, Village, Country Fair, Timber Canyon, and Jukebox Junction areas reflect the historical eras and culture of east Tennessee, while the Dreamland Forest and Adventures in Imagination areas explore Dolly Parton’s life and imagination. Many attractions focus on the history and culture of the Southern Appalachian region.

Dollywood features a full-size steam train, one of the park’s signature attractions.
 
 Showstreet – Attractions include The Showstreet Palace Theatre, Friendship Gardens, The Celebrity Theatre, and The Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame.

Rivertown Junction – Attractions include The Tennessee Mountain Home, The Back Porch Theatre, and the Smoky Mountain River Rampage whitewater rafting ride.

Craftsmen’s Valley – Attractions include The Dollywood Grist Mill, The Valley Theatre, Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, Wings of America Theatre, Robert F. Thomas Chapel, Calico Falls Schoolhouse, the Tennessee Tornado coaster, Blazing Fury coaster, Daredevil Falls flume ride, and craft exhibits.
 
The Village – Attractions include The Dollywood Express steam train, Heartsong, a Carousel, and the Magic Laughmaker.

The Country Fair – Rides include The Dizzy Disk, the Amazing Flying Elephants, Lemon Twist, Shooting Star, Sky Rider, Veggietales Sideshow Spin Kid’s Rollercoaster, Waltzing Swinger, Piggy Parade, Busy Bees, Lucky Ducky, Dolly’s Demolition Derby, The Scrambler, and the Wonder Wheel.
 
Timber Canyon – Attractions include the Mystery Mine coaster, Timber Tower, the Thunderhead coaster, and Lumberjack Lifts.
Jukebox Junction – Attractions include the Rockin’ Roadway car ride and The Pines Theatre.

Dreamland Forest – Attractions include the Dreamland Forest interactive play area and the Mountain Slidewinder water-toboggan ride.
 
Adventures in Imagination – Attractions include “White Lightning” simulator ride and the “Chasing Rainbows” Dolly Parton museum.

Wilderness Pass – Attractions include the River Battle water ride(this is great), the SkyZip upcharge attraction, and the upcoming Adventure Mountain rope course.

Description's from here.
 

Friday, May 10, 2013

SUYL: 7 Tips to Enjoying What You Do

Today, I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner for the SUYL tips for finding jobs.
 
I am one of those few people who loves what they do for a living.
 
I studied Interior Design for 5 years, and had two degrees by the time I was twenty-four.
 
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It has been a few years since my college graduation, and I have been a busy bee ever since.
 
I've worked in showrooms, for model homes, builders and on my own online magazine.
 
I'm a typical Gemini, with a got to get 'er done personality.
 
So here's what I've stumbled upon learnt along the way:
 
1.
 
Always start.
 
Sounds silly, but the first step to ever achieving anything is to stop talking about it and just start.
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2.
 
Be mindful, thoughtful and always keep trying.
 
Always be mindful to be punctual and thoughtful to 'do' what you said you'd get done. It shows integrity. If all else fails. Try again!
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3.
 
What...the what?
 
If you really can't do something, then don't. Ask for help. We can't all be perfect at everything all the time.
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4.
 
Change it up.
 
Look and feel the part. Be comfortable with who you are, and let it show. Times when your feeling bad and don't care to dress up...smile. Or get a treat, like a latte before or after work.
 
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5.
 
Breaks.
 
Taking breaks, for a walk outside...away from that fluorescent light can refresh the mind. I don't know about you...but I have light sensitivity and can get headaches, nausea, or dizzy if I don't have enough natural light.
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6.
 
Be entrepreneurial.
 
Do more than what's asked. Step out the box. Start a side business, or read about how you can improve. Some of my favorite's are The Business of Bliss  and How to Profit from Doing What You Love by Victoria Magazine and The Boss of You by Lauren Bacon and Emira Mears.
 
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7.
 
Keep updated.
 
No matter our age, we can always learn something new. Take a class, keep up with social media and don't post something you wouldn't want your grandmother reading. Keep opinions/thoughts to yourself unless their nice...or your doing one of Kelly's coffee mornings. :)
 
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To be honest though.
 
I am not a morning person, so any job that requires me to be there early...isn't going to get their money's worth. That's why I've chosen to be entrepreneurial and make money doing what I love.
 
Luckily, for me I found a job where I show people around model homes, design flyer's, make preliminary design changes, help homeowners select materials and colors for their new homes...and up to a month ago, I did most of the work on the weekends. I always kept on top of it all...so when my fiance got transferred 2,500 miles away, they graciously kept me on.
 
I now do the plans, come up with schemes and do the paperwork online...for 25-30 hours a week.It's nice to be able to enjoy what I do...
 
Well, I'm looking forward to all your suggestions...hope you too, are doing what you love...and have figured out a way to be paid for it!
 

Mother Day Weekend 2013

Mother's Day in America is this Sunday, May 12th.
 
My mother gets well wishes twice a year, as she gets to celebrate the English Mother's Day {with my little sister} as well the American one {with me}.

I saw this video of the TODAY show cast talking about their mom's.
  
 
Recently, my fiance and I had a leaving party before moving cross country. Before we left, we asked for family pictures, of us growing up. My mom has most of mine, that I look at every time I go visit as she has them all put together into albums, but my dad is quite the sentimental one and has lot's of photos and video that I wanted to get copies of.
 
 While collecting photos, my fiance found a few of himself and later asked his mom for ones of him growing up he could look through. He diligently scanned them all in...one by one and I am working on putting together a coffee table book, for us of our family photos and history.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Kiki as a little one:

 
My mom, Julie's baby shower. Yes it was the late 1980's.
 
 
Kiki's crib
 
 
Julie and Kiki
 

Kiki, playing outside

 
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Cory as a little one:
 

 Cory's mom, Cindy pregnant

 
Cindy and Cory
 
 
Cindy and Cory at school
 
 
Cory, walking along
 
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All grown up:
 
 
Cindy, Kiki, Julie
 
 
Cory {what's he looking at?}, Cindy, Julie
 
 
So, to my mom, Julie...
 
and Cory's mom Cindy...
 
and all the other mom's.
 
Happy Mother's Day 2013.
 
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