11/26/10

New Promotion for Snowboards & Snowboarding Gear by Tightboards

Being from Canada and later living in the Pacific NW, Snowboarding is a very popular winter sport, although I've never braved to attempt it. However for those who do have that daring nature, snowboarding offers an intense cardio workout and can burn up to 450 calories per hour. For those who are agile, this is a great way to lose those extra pounds while enjoying the release of 'feel good' endorphins outdoors.

Other benefits of snowboarding is that you will work ALL your major muscle groups, will improve flexibility and balance. In short, snowboarding is a fantastic overall cardiovascular and strengthening workout as well as loads and loads of fun. If you have your doubts, just go to a ski hill and watch the huge grins of those who are doing it.

I'm endorsing Tightboards for their wide selection of snowboards, snowboarding gear, skateboards etc. Check them out via the banners below!


Snow wake skate


2011 Snowboards

11/20/10

Herb & Serve

Since moving to Florida 7 weeks ago, there are 2 things that I can say that I definitely appreciate having throughout all year round - and that were not available to me in the Pacific NW and those are: Farmer's Markets and growing my own herbs!

Here are some herbs that I am growing in my lanai:


 The appearance of CULANTRO rich in calcium, iron, carotene, and riboflavin and its harvested leaves are widely used as a food flavoring and seasoning herb for meat and many other foods. Its medicinal value include its use as a tea for flu, diabetes, constipation, and fevers. One of its most popular use is in chutneys as an appetite stimulant. The name fitweed is derived from its supposedly anti-convulsant property.

ARUGULA has a distinct, peppery bite. It is an is an aromatic salad green.Like most greens, it is low in calories and high in Vitamin A & C.  Because it is so potent on its own, it is often mixed with milder greens to produce a nice balanced salad.  It can also be sautéed in olive oil. You can substitute most any green for arugula, but the closest matches are Belgian endive, escarole, and dandelion greens.In Roman times Arugula was grown for both it's leaves and the seed. The seed was used for flavoring oils. On another interesting note, Rocket or Arugula seed has been used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac concoctions dating back to the first century, AD. [NOT why I bought it.......but I'll keep that little tidbit in mind...:-)]

 I LOVE LOVE LOVE BASIL. I've tried several kinds and so far, love them all! I don't need a reason or a meal to go to the plant and pick a leaf and chew it. Basil is a member of the Mint family, and like most other mints, is mainly used in medicine for its digestive and anti-gas properties. Herbalists also recommend it for stomach cramps, vomiting, constipation, headaches, and anxiety. Basil is a culinary herb prominently featured in Italian cuisine, and also plays a major role in the Southeast Asian cuisines of Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Depending on the species and cultivar, the leaves may taste somewhat like anise, with a strong, pungent, often sweet smell.

THAI BASIL: It has a more assertive taste than many other sweet basils. The herb has small leaves, purple stems and a subtle licorice or mint flavor. Thai basil, which has an anise flavor, is used as a condiment in Thai and Vietnamese dishes. It is also a frequently used ingredient in Thai red curry.

BOXWOOD BASIL: I've never tried this before now,but enjoy its distinctive flavor. It was originally bred in France for a highly flavorful pesto base. Here is a sandwich idea with basil: Tomato, avocado, red oinion, feta cheese, lettuce leaf, basil, and Italian dressing in pita bread. Yummy!

MINT: is known to have originated in Asia and the Mediterranean region. In many cultures, mint symbolised hospitality and was offered as a sign of welcome and friendship to guests as they arrived. In the Middle East mint tea is still served to guests on their arrival, whilst in ancient Greece, the leaves of mint were rubbed onto the dining table, which was a sign of their warm greeting.
Mint was also often used as an air freshener and was placed in the rooms of houses, synagogues and temples to clear and freshen the air and rid the smell of unpleasant odours from the room. The Greeks and the Romans used mint as a perfume and a bath scent, as well as using it in medicine and in cooking.

The Nutritional Value of Mint: It contains a number of vitamins and minerals, which are vital to maintain a healthy body. Mint is rich in Vitamins A and C and also contains smaller amounts of Vitamin B2. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant and may help to decrease the risk of certain cancers such as colon and rectal cancer. Although mint may be consumed in small quantities, the vital nutrients obtained are still beneficial to one's health.

Mint also contains a wide range of essential minerals such as manganese, copper, iron, potassium and calcium.
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One of the ways I enjoy fresh herbs is to make a vinaigrette or marinade them in olive oil or other healthy Omega 3 oils. I've found this great Marinade Maker that makes this process much easier than what I've attempted on my own before. And....there are 20 recipes that are included with it. Just add oil and vinegar to premeasured markings on carafe and a handful of freshly harvested  herbs for garden-fresh vinaigrettes and marinades. Serve them tableside in the detachable carafe. Stainless steel blade, use-anywhere convenience (batteries included).
Aerogarden Herb'n Serve Vinaigrette & Marinade Maker




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11/17/10

Layer Up!


Wickers.com COUPON 10% OFF all orders

Skiers Rejoice! Wickers Cold Weather Clothing's Got You Covered! If you're a skier or know any hardcore skiers, you understand the reason people love being up on those slopes--the thrill of breathing in cool, fresh air and catching a little adrenaline rush coming down a double diamond! BUT, in order to devote a whole day to waste-high fresh powder, you gotta have the right gear! That's where Wickers comes in.


Ice skaters, snowmobilers, ice fishing junkies, and year round runners know the necessity of staying warm and dry in the frigid winter weather. Wickers carries an impressive line of moisture wicking garments that have been tested tough by the most intense cold weather athletes. Ask any winter weather sports addict and they'll tell you the same thing your Mother used to tell you about staying warm: LAYER UP!




Wearing layers of thinner materials creates little pockets of warmth all over your body, insulating your natural body heat. Start with a lightweight moisture wicking T-shirt, then add the light-weight Long Sleeved Crew Neck. Don't forget to layer up on the bottom too! Wickers Softsilk Thermal Underwear are a skiers favorite! Finally, protect your nose and ears with the Wickers Midweight Balaclava. Now you've got your first layer from head to toe! Add a few more layers and you're ready to hit the Slopes!


Wickers.com 10% OFF all orders

11/10/10

Find A Charity You Can Trust

It's that time of year when we begin to contemplate how we wish to be charitable at Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you are like my husband and I in that we deeply care and are compassionate but we want the money we donate to be used responsibly, with integrity and to actually get to the very needs that we have chosen to contribute to. Many, many, many needs tug at all our hearts in various ways and for various reasons, but we can only contribute to a certain extent.


So how can we obtain this certainty of efficiency and responsibility in organizations?


Charity Navigator, America's premier independent charity evaluator, works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of over 5,500 of America's largest charities.




View the highest and lowest rates charities, read about many Top Ten Lists such as


The Ten Top Notch Charities


The Ten Best Charities Everyone's Heard Of


Ten Charities Expanding In A Hurry


I really appreciated Tips For Holiday Giving Guide


Be a 3-D giver: There are three components that a wise donor must consider before selecting a charity.




1.Check the charity’s financial performance: Financially healthy organizations – those that are both financially efficient and sustainable - have greater flexibility and freedom to pursue their goals. Charity Navigator’s ratings provide this information.


2.Review the charity’s commitment to accountability and transparency: Generally speaking, charities that follow good governance practices are less likely to engage in unethical or irresponsible activities so, the risk that charities would misuse donations should be lower than for charities that don't adopt such practices. Donors can view data regarding accountability and transparency for more than 1,000 charities (and growing each month) on the Charity Navigator website.


3.Assess the charity’s results (whether the charity can show evidence that it makes a meaningful difference for people and communities who receive services): Learn about a charity’s accomplishments, goals and challenges by reviewing its website and/or talking with staff. You should be able to ascertain the quality and depth of the charity’s results as well as its capacity to continue to get these results. In the not-too-distant future, Charity Navigator plans to include results information for each of the charity’s it rates.


Follow up on disaster donations: Millions of Americans reached into their pockets this year already and gave generously in response to the Haiti earthquake, Chile earthquake, Gulf oil spill and the Pakistan floods. If you gave, now is the time to follow up on that gift. Contact the charity that you supported and find out what the organization has been able to accomplish. As we enter the more expensive and time-consuming reconstruction phase of recovery from these disasters, inquire about the projects the charity is currently tackling. If you find merit in their continued endeavors, make an additional donation.


Find inspiration through social media, but be careful when donating: Social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs enable charities and their supporters to deliver heartfelt appeals to our computers and phones. While these services can increase awareness of a charity and its cause, you should not give based on emotional appeals of these vehicles. You must take at least a few minutes of your time to investigate the groups behind such pleas for help, to ensure that it comes from a legitimate charity. And if you aren’t 100% sure who and what is behind the appeal, then you should visit either Charity Navigator or the charity’s own website to make your online donation.


Give without strings attached: Funders of all types increasingly give gifts that are targeted to specific programs or services. While it is understandable that givers want to fund projects that have a tangible, heartwarming end result, this hamstrings charities. First, it makes it difficult for a charity to change direction mid-project should it finds a more effective course. Second, charities have to scramble to find the funds to cover their day-to-day costs, such as the electric bill. So, while it isn’t particularly exciting to give towards a charity’s general operating funds, it is crucial if you want your favorite charity to be successful.


I exhort you do your due diligence as suggested by Charity Navigator but also to pray and ask God's direction and wisdom.


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Our Giving Should Reflect God’s Agenda


Proverbs 19:17 — “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.”


Luke 19:8 — “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ ”


Acts 10:2-4 — “[Cornelius] and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, ‘Cornelius!’ Cornelius stared at him in fear. ‘What is it, Lord?’ he asked. The angel answered, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God ...’ ”


Galatians 2:9-10 — “James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”


James 1:27 — “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”


Matthew 25:34-40 — “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ”


Luke 8:1-3 — “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who ... were helping to support them out of their own means.”


1 Corinthians 9:14 — “In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.”


Philippians 4:15-17 — “Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.”


Romans 12:13 — “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”