{Friendship Friday} Grandmother

My first post on a Connection chain for you. For myself, I have created these stipulations: 1) must include at least one web link to something, and 2) must include a real human being. That's it on rules for now! lol Maybe I will get more creative on future Friday posts.

* I was looking for a unique container to use for an auction donation to the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp Speakeasy Gala in a second hand store. (Rare for me btw...not my usual M.O.)

+Link over+

* Although I did not find one...I became distracted by the book section and discovered an ideals magazine. Anyone know about these? Here's a brief description:

Ideals Magazine has ceased publication. Ideals enriched life with inspiring stories, beautiful poetry, and touching reader contributions. Each issue of Ideals Magazine offered page after page of spectacular full-color photographs, wonderful drawings and paintings, as well as heartwarming scenes of seasonal celebration. Ideals is published in 6 seasonal issues: Easter, Mother's Day, Country, Friendship, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Did you notice in the "seasons" that there is a Friendship one? That's one I found. :)

+Link over+

* I bought it! Why? Sentimental I suppose...my Grandmother (paternal) had a subscription to these. When visiting her, I loved looking at the pictures and reading the poetry, etc. Just simple and heartwarming as the description says, even reading as a young child.

Although Grandmother is no longer here, the Connection with her is not broken. :) 

{WASP Wednesday} 40 Baton

Someone is turning 40! (at work and I won't name names...ahem... Kaleen)

I whipped up a little "baton" to pass since I was first runner. It is a cardboard tube covered with scrapbook paper using tape. I left some paper over the ends and tucked in.side for a more finished look.

I added some goodies to make it through the year. "Take one & call me in the morning!" I will tell her :).

I simply tied the chocolate in tulle and pushed them in the tube. (NO candy was harmed, trust me hehe.) I left the ends a little long so they would look frilly out each end.

Super fun and super easy!

Linked up on homework blog. Go check out the other goodies!

{Muster Mondays} Dairy Free

Well, this is good timing for my New Blogging adventure--I must go "dairy-free" as well as avoid wheat, gluten, and eggs.
Hmm....sounds very similar to Vegan. But I will add a splash of meat so don't get too excited there ;).

My dilemma will be those "grab something quick" or "I don't feel like cooking" modes. You know, t-i-m-e. And I've had 40 years to hone my OtHeR way of thinking, ack ack.

So I'm heading it off at the pass! (yeah, we'll see)
I've made a semi-menu list for Monday - Wednesday (work outside-of-home) days.

Breakfast Smoothies sound like a doable part of the plan - like this one I found on my Whole Foods app.

Get Over It Green Protein Shake

2 cups organic chopped fresh greens such as spinach or kale, thick stems removed
1 mango, peeled and cubed
1 cup original or unsweetened ricemilk
1 banana
3 tablespoons WF Organic Vanilla Soy Protein Powder

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

I'll use this as a guide for my mornings. Had my first one this morning, SPINACH and all...it was delicious!

Well that's it for now....If you have a fave dairy-free "smoothie" that you want to share with me, please do! (in the comment section you know :) ).

[Back to Blogging]

Hi there! I'm gonna try this blogging again.  :)

I've had some time to think about it...ok, LOTS of time obviously since my last post was last summer. But I want to share things with you...

I chose the following guidelines based on my general activities...maybe it will be easier, hm.

So this is what I'm proposing for myself:

{Muster Mondays} - this is where I may share a recipe, a meal plan, a food comment...OR, an organizational action/thought, or a preparedness action. Whatever it has taken me to "muster" for the week.

{WASP Wednesdays} - What?! you may ask...well, these posts will be rAnDoM. Maybe you'll see crafting..maybe about gardening...maybe about politics (NO..just kidding bout that)...Humor will probably fall on this post day. :)

{Friendship Fridays} - these posts are not about friends, but about relationships. The F's just worked good together...:). You might see thoughts on my people relationships or recommendation of a "link" in my life. Literally, probably a recommendation through a link. A connection.

SO, with that said, let's set a deadline to start...maybe like MONDAY, MARCH 19. Fingers crossed! I can do it! eek.

[food]: raspberries

Every summer we get fresh raspberries (among others) from the neighbors who operate a berry stand. As it is very nice to have connections sometimes, it has also become a creative challenge.

I will admit--I waste more berries than eat. And I have a problem. :)

I think I still have gallon bags of frozen berries from two+ years ago. That's not right! So this year I am looking for ideas--easy ideas--to use this fresh flat of berries before they go bad.

So far...I have made a batch of muffins, a small batch of scones, and added them to a Betty Crocker lemon cake mix. That didn't put much of a dent in it! I will also take some to work and SHARE! I'm loving that idea!

Anyone else want to lend an idea hand? Please feel free! Thanks for the comments.

[photo test]

Testing 1, 2



I May have figured it out!! Yay.

Photo again in a different way. link Yeehaw. LOL.

[endurance] : results

In an earlier post, I introduced you to Yassine Diboun - a long distance runner.

He has crossed the finish line of the 100-MILE endurance run in San Diego, in support of Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp.

Guess what!? See this craziness--> HE TOOK SECOND PLACE! (together with another runner, you gotta go read about it HERE!)I'm. in. awe.

Such a giving person. He surpassed his goal and raised over $3000 for the Camp.

THANK YOU YASSINE!