Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Teacher's Gifts
I have been really busy with school and Tanner, but here are a few things I made for teacher's gifts. I am still doing the tumblers on request. And I've created some cool keychains with my cousin Angela. Contact me if you are interested in creating your own.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
More items to check out!
Here are some more items. These are just examples. She can do just about anything in any color. It is the neatest thing. Contact me for details. :)
Thursday, April 23, 2015
My New Side Business
I have partnered up with my cousin Angela who has Logo Express in Commerce. I am her Blairsville connection for sublimation items. Sublimation is the neatest thing! It allows Angela and her partners to create unique items that are truly customizable. She can put anything on a keychain, bag tag, car tag, cell phone cover, and all kinds of other things. Here are a few examples:
Contact me for pricing. We can come up with a unique design just for you!
Elderberry Syrup
I've had a few requests on my recipe for elderberry syrup. This is something we actually do take daily in our house. As soon as school starts, Tanner gets a dose in a shot glass every morning. It's about a fourth of a shot glass or maybe a little more. I don't measure and you can't really get too much. If I start getting a cold or something, I will start taking it as well. Sambucol is the brand name of elderberry syrup you can get at the store. It has been proven in trials to be effective against several strains of the flu. You can read the article here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11399518.
Our experience has shown it to work pretty good. A few years ago, 2 days before Christmas, we were down at Daddy's. That night Tanner came down with a fever and I knew it didn't look good. I was worried about him being sick during Christmas. I ran to CVS and got some vitamin C and Tylenol. The next morning he was right as rain with no ill effects. Meanwhile, by the time we got home, I had full blown flu and was in the bed for 3 days. It was a miserable Christmas for me. I took what little Sambucol I had on hand and did the best I could. So I know it protected Tanner, even though he hadn't had a dose in a few days.
This summer, I took a medicinal herbalism class as part of my master's program in Nutrition. I study online through New York Chiropractic College. I learned to make all sorts of yummy and some not so yummy concoctions like syrups, tinctures, and salves. I have this year made our own elderberry syrup out of dried elderberries and other ingredients. I must say it tastes much better than the store bought kind and I can customize it if I need to. I buy my herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs. They have a good selection and the prices are reasonable. They have yummy spice and tea blends as well. Click the links to see the products at Mountain Rose Herbs.
Elderberry Syrup
2 cups of water
1/2 cup of dried Elderberries
1 tsp of Cinnamon
1/2 tsp of Cloves
1 TB of fresh grated Ginger
1-2 pods of Star Anise (optional)
1 cup of raw local Honey
Combine water, elderberries, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and star anise pods (if using) in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer gently until the syrup is reduced. Cool until just slightly warm and then strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer. Carefully press all the goodness out of the berries. Pour into a pint jar and add the honey, stirring to combine. It makes about a pint of syrup. Store in the refrigerator. Take a spoonful a day for immune support. At the onset of a cold or the flu, take a spoonful 3 times a day for immune support.
This is not a cure for the flu and should not replace seeing a doctor. I do not intend to diagnose or treat any disease. I hope this is enough legal nonsense to cover myself. :)
To see another post on Elderberry syrup, check out Wellness Mama: http://wellnessmama.com/1888/elderberry-syrup/. She has lots of other articles about natural living.
Our experience has shown it to work pretty good. A few years ago, 2 days before Christmas, we were down at Daddy's. That night Tanner came down with a fever and I knew it didn't look good. I was worried about him being sick during Christmas. I ran to CVS and got some vitamin C and Tylenol. The next morning he was right as rain with no ill effects. Meanwhile, by the time we got home, I had full blown flu and was in the bed for 3 days. It was a miserable Christmas for me. I took what little Sambucol I had on hand and did the best I could. So I know it protected Tanner, even though he hadn't had a dose in a few days.
This summer, I took a medicinal herbalism class as part of my master's program in Nutrition. I study online through New York Chiropractic College. I learned to make all sorts of yummy and some not so yummy concoctions like syrups, tinctures, and salves. I have this year made our own elderberry syrup out of dried elderberries and other ingredients. I must say it tastes much better than the store bought kind and I can customize it if I need to. I buy my herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs. They have a good selection and the prices are reasonable. They have yummy spice and tea blends as well. Click the links to see the products at Mountain Rose Herbs.
Elderberry Syrup
2 cups of water
1/2 cup of dried Elderberries
1 tsp of Cinnamon
1/2 tsp of Cloves
1 TB of fresh grated Ginger
1-2 pods of Star Anise (optional)
1 cup of raw local Honey
Combine water, elderberries, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and star anise pods (if using) in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer gently until the syrup is reduced. Cool until just slightly warm and then strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer. Carefully press all the goodness out of the berries. Pour into a pint jar and add the honey, stirring to combine. It makes about a pint of syrup. Store in the refrigerator. Take a spoonful a day for immune support. At the onset of a cold or the flu, take a spoonful 3 times a day for immune support.
This is not a cure for the flu and should not replace seeing a doctor. I do not intend to diagnose or treat any disease. I hope this is enough legal nonsense to cover myself. :)
To see another post on Elderberry syrup, check out Wellness Mama: http://wellnessmama.com/1888/elderberry-syrup/. She has lots of other articles about natural living.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Chocolate Cobbler
By popular demand (well mostly for my friend Leigh Ann) I am writing out my recipe for Chocolate Cobbler. Totally not on my eating plan...although I did have a small small serving and I will say it's fabulous...even if I made up the recipe myself. I had pinned several recipes on Pinterest...but I didn't like any of them. I've been making cobbler for years in dutch ovens over campfires and those recipes just didn't sound right. So I made my own. And it worked out great. I'm sorry there's no wonderful pictures of the process. I guess I could take a picture of what's left! But anyway, here's how you do it.
Here's what you need:
For the cobbler part:
1 cup of milk
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of self rising flour
1 stick of butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla
For the chocolate part:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
In an 8 inch iron skillet, melt the stick of butter. Combine the rest of ingredients and pour over the melted butter. DO NOT STIR!
In a separate bowl, stir together the chocolate ingredients. Sprinkle the mixture over the cobbler mixture. DO NOT STIR!
Pour 1 cup of boiling/very hot water over the top. DO NOT STIR!
I know it sounds weird but that's the cool thing about cobblers...the crust always rises to the top!
Bake at 350 for about 30 to 45 minutes. I really don't know how long I cooked it because I checked it at 30 minutes and it wasn't done. Just make sure the crust is brown.
Let it get mostly cool so the chocolate will kinda set up. When it's hot, the fudge is all runny.
Serve with vanilla ice cream! YUM YUM.
Here's what you need:
For the cobbler part:
1 cup of milk
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of self rising flour
1 stick of butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla
For the chocolate part:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
In an 8 inch iron skillet, melt the stick of butter. Combine the rest of ingredients and pour over the melted butter. DO NOT STIR!
In a separate bowl, stir together the chocolate ingredients. Sprinkle the mixture over the cobbler mixture. DO NOT STIR!
Pour 1 cup of boiling/very hot water over the top. DO NOT STIR!
I know it sounds weird but that's the cool thing about cobblers...the crust always rises to the top!
Bake at 350 for about 30 to 45 minutes. I really don't know how long I cooked it because I checked it at 30 minutes and it wasn't done. Just make sure the crust is brown.
Let it get mostly cool so the chocolate will kinda set up. When it's hot, the fudge is all runny.
Serve with vanilla ice cream! YUM YUM.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Juicing...the only way I can eat more veggies!
Many of my friends have asked lots of questions about juicing and the benefits of it. I thought I would outline the information here in one post with links to some of the websites I visit. It is impossible to put all of it one post, but I hope to give enough information to get you started. You don't even have to have a health condition to enjoy the benefits...in fact, it just might prevent one. I'm not an expert by any means but all I can tell you is what works for me. I believe God has made our body a self-healing machine...but you have to feed it the right kind of fuel to make the machine work. Juicing helps me do that. It's not the only answer but it's a part of my new eating plan. I can definitely tell when I don't have my juice...I take my juicer everywhere that I can. It even went to the beach with me! And on a camping trip where I convinced my buddy Melissa to get her own juicer.
I'll start with a few of the most common questions I am asked:
Why do you juice? That one's easy...I hate veggies. Plain and simple. My new diet requires a reduction in meat protein and an increase in fruits and veggies. So I decided right away since I didn't like eating my veggies, I would drink them. Sometimes really fast but I drink them. And you can juice anything...I mean anything. Ever read the ingredients on a V8 can? You can do all that yourself with a juicer.
Where did you get your juicer? I actually got mine for Christmas several years ago from my mother. She got it at Walmart. It's a Black and Decker $30 model. I've used it practically every day since Christmas and so far it's holding up fine. Someday I might upgrade to a bigger one, but this one is working just fine so far.
What do you juice? Read on further for a few of my favorites, but as fat as things I have tried: carrots, apples, grapes, cherries, cucumber, Kale, celery, romaine lettuce, lemons, limes, oranges, ginger, pineapple.
What did you not like? Romaine lettuce. It was not good. But if I try it again, I'll just do less of it. You can mask flavors with other things that you like better. I always put it over ice...the colder it is, the better it is.
What do you do with the pulp? That depends. If it doesn't have citrus in it, Chris feeds it to his worms. Sometimes we feed it to the chickens. Other times it goes in the compost pile. I even put it down the garbage disposal. Or just throw it away. Mostly it goes to the worms or chickens. I just read you can feed it to your dog...wonder how Daisy would like that?
How often do you juice? At the least, every morning. Yep...every morning. I started getting up 10 minutes early to do it. I put it in a cup and drink it on the way to work. I make sure everything is washed and ready to go in the fridge. I have a bowl that I keep it all in and take it out every morning. I usually have to wash my apple but everything else is ready to go. I'll do a green one at night or on the weekends. Usually when I have not ate many veggies that day...or when I have time.
You can read volumes of information on the internet about juicing. Most claim that the nutrients are easy to digest without the fiber which makes for better utilization of the vitamins and minerals. There are juice fasts which help rid the body of toxins...I would be careful of those without consultation with a doctor familiar with juicing. I have not done any of that. I do know that I could not eat all of the veggies that I drink in a juice. It's just too much. But it's easy to drink. I would caution that a diet of just juice is not good for you...you need fiber or you get stopped up if you know what I mean.
The important thing is to buy the best quality fruits and veggies you can and go organic when possible. I always buy organic carrots and usually organic apples. Everything else is organic when I can find it/afford it.
One of my favorite websites is New Nostalgia. Amy is a breast cancer survivor. One of the helps to her was juicing and smoothies. She has lots of information on her website and stories of her health journey. Her doctors marveled at her low levels of sickness and how well her wounds healed from surgery. She has a wonderful story. Check out her website: New Nostalgia She has sections on both healthy eating and juicing.
There are a few other websites that have recipes as well. And you don't have to have a recipe. Just juice what you like. But here are a few sites to get you started:
The Zesty Cook
Juicer Recipes
Doctor Yourself.com
Jack Lalanne This is the website for his juicer, but it has juicing tips as well.
Now for my two favorite recipes! This is the basic recipe but I alter it depending on what I have and what's on sale in the produce section.
Morning Juice
1 apple (I like gala, pink lady or honey crisp)
1 handful of baby carrots (organic)
1 handful of grapes
1 handful of cherries (optional)
1 orange (optional)
a few chunks of pineapple (optional)
Green Juice
1 green apple (usually granny smith)
1 small cucumber
1-2 stalks of kale
1/2 lime
1/2 stalk celery (optional)
1 inch of ginger root (optional)
There are several things I want to try...one of the students at the college loves beet and carrot juice...still trying to get the nerve up for that one. I also just read about carrot/zucchini juice. I sure have enough of that this year.
If I can't juice, I do buy juices in the store. Naked brand has several in the refrigerator section. You can even get them at the Racetrac stores. They are perfect for when I can't make my own. My favorites are the Red Machine and the Green Machine.
Thanks for reading! Try something new and let me know how you like it.
***UPDATE***7-23-12
My trusty Black and Decker juicer just died. Out of the blue. No warning...it just stopped working right in the middle of my Saturday morning juicefest. :(
SOOO...I am eagerly awaiting my shipment of my new Jack Lalanne juice from Amazon.com. Wal-mart was out of them so I ordered it online.
I'm glad I had the B&D one though...now I know how much I will actually use it...it's just not up to the daily workout I was giving it. I knew it was a matter of time.
Meanwhile...Naked juice will have to do. I've got several Green Machine juices to last me until my new juicer arrives. It's just not the same!
I'll start with a few of the most common questions I am asked:
Why do you juice? That one's easy...I hate veggies. Plain and simple. My new diet requires a reduction in meat protein and an increase in fruits and veggies. So I decided right away since I didn't like eating my veggies, I would drink them. Sometimes really fast but I drink them. And you can juice anything...I mean anything. Ever read the ingredients on a V8 can? You can do all that yourself with a juicer.
Where did you get your juicer? I actually got mine for Christmas several years ago from my mother. She got it at Walmart. It's a Black and Decker $30 model. I've used it practically every day since Christmas and so far it's holding up fine. Someday I might upgrade to a bigger one, but this one is working just fine so far.
What do you juice? Read on further for a few of my favorites, but as fat as things I have tried: carrots, apples, grapes, cherries, cucumber, Kale, celery, romaine lettuce, lemons, limes, oranges, ginger, pineapple.
What did you not like? Romaine lettuce. It was not good. But if I try it again, I'll just do less of it. You can mask flavors with other things that you like better. I always put it over ice...the colder it is, the better it is.
What do you do with the pulp? That depends. If it doesn't have citrus in it, Chris feeds it to his worms. Sometimes we feed it to the chickens. Other times it goes in the compost pile. I even put it down the garbage disposal. Or just throw it away. Mostly it goes to the worms or chickens. I just read you can feed it to your dog...wonder how Daisy would like that?
How often do you juice? At the least, every morning. Yep...every morning. I started getting up 10 minutes early to do it. I put it in a cup and drink it on the way to work. I make sure everything is washed and ready to go in the fridge. I have a bowl that I keep it all in and take it out every morning. I usually have to wash my apple but everything else is ready to go. I'll do a green one at night or on the weekends. Usually when I have not ate many veggies that day...or when I have time.
You can read volumes of information on the internet about juicing. Most claim that the nutrients are easy to digest without the fiber which makes for better utilization of the vitamins and minerals. There are juice fasts which help rid the body of toxins...I would be careful of those without consultation with a doctor familiar with juicing. I have not done any of that. I do know that I could not eat all of the veggies that I drink in a juice. It's just too much. But it's easy to drink. I would caution that a diet of just juice is not good for you...you need fiber or you get stopped up if you know what I mean.
The important thing is to buy the best quality fruits and veggies you can and go organic when possible. I always buy organic carrots and usually organic apples. Everything else is organic when I can find it/afford it.
One of my favorite websites is New Nostalgia. Amy is a breast cancer survivor. One of the helps to her was juicing and smoothies. She has lots of information on her website and stories of her health journey. Her doctors marveled at her low levels of sickness and how well her wounds healed from surgery. She has a wonderful story. Check out her website: New Nostalgia She has sections on both healthy eating and juicing.
There are a few other websites that have recipes as well. And you don't have to have a recipe. Just juice what you like. But here are a few sites to get you started:
The Zesty Cook
Juicer Recipes
Doctor Yourself.com
Jack Lalanne This is the website for his juicer, but it has juicing tips as well.
Now for my two favorite recipes! This is the basic recipe but I alter it depending on what I have and what's on sale in the produce section.
Morning Juice
1 apple (I like gala, pink lady or honey crisp)
1 handful of baby carrots (organic)
1 handful of grapes
1 handful of cherries (optional)
1 orange (optional)
a few chunks of pineapple (optional)
Green Juice
1 green apple (usually granny smith)
1 small cucumber
1-2 stalks of kale
1/2 lime
1/2 stalk celery (optional)
1 inch of ginger root (optional)
There are several things I want to try...one of the students at the college loves beet and carrot juice...still trying to get the nerve up for that one. I also just read about carrot/zucchini juice. I sure have enough of that this year.
If I can't juice, I do buy juices in the store. Naked brand has several in the refrigerator section. You can even get them at the Racetrac stores. They are perfect for when I can't make my own. My favorites are the Red Machine and the Green Machine.
Thanks for reading! Try something new and let me know how you like it.
***UPDATE***7-23-12
My trusty Black and Decker juicer just died. Out of the blue. No warning...it just stopped working right in the middle of my Saturday morning juicefest. :(
SOOO...I am eagerly awaiting my shipment of my new Jack Lalanne juice from Amazon.com. Wal-mart was out of them so I ordered it online.
I'm glad I had the B&D one though...now I know how much I will actually use it...it's just not up to the daily workout I was giving it. I knew it was a matter of time.
Meanwhile...Naked juice will have to do. I've got several Green Machine juices to last me until my new juicer arrives. It's just not the same!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
I'm Taking Over :)
Yep...taking over the blog to write about me and whatever I want to write about. Of course I can't leave Tanner out...he's a big part of my life...and there will be goats and chickens mentioned. And the garden and even Chris. Whatever is going on and whatever I'm thinking about.
A big part of this blog will be my journey with PKD. Right now there's not much I can do about it...but I have discovered that my diet plays a big part in reducing the pain caused by the cysts. I haven't had major pains yet but what little pains I have had have been reduced by some simple changes in my diet. I have drastically reduced salt, cut back on sugar, and am only eating meat once a day. That means more beans and such for protein. Luckily I'm a good Southern girl and I love beans and cornbread. So I will chronicle my journey toward healthy eating and a healthier lifestyle. The whole family is coming along for the ride.
Along the way, I am learning to customize my blog and add cool things. So come along and see what I come up with. :)
Anita
A big part of this blog will be my journey with PKD. Right now there's not much I can do about it...but I have discovered that my diet plays a big part in reducing the pain caused by the cysts. I haven't had major pains yet but what little pains I have had have been reduced by some simple changes in my diet. I have drastically reduced salt, cut back on sugar, and am only eating meat once a day. That means more beans and such for protein. Luckily I'm a good Southern girl and I love beans and cornbread. So I will chronicle my journey toward healthy eating and a healthier lifestyle. The whole family is coming along for the ride.
Along the way, I am learning to customize my blog and add cool things. So come along and see what I come up with. :)
Anita
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