Electronics Bargains

I now call my own father Papa. I have simply reached that stage in life where (because of a variety of nephews and nieces) Dad is no longer dad, but Papa. You know when you hear couples call each other "Mama" or "Daddy" and then about 25 years later they start calling each other "Granny", "Nona" or "Papa"? I don't want my spouse calling me GRANNY?! "Mama" can be kind of endearing, but still, I am not real big on that one either. Anyway, PAPA recommends these sites for deals on computers and electronics.

http://www.techbargains.com/ He complains that this one plugs Dell way too much, but it still has good deals.

http://www.dealnews.com/

Oh! And here's Papa...and Nona.

Muffin Recipe

Laura Steen sends this recipe from her sister Jill. The recipe comes from http://www.slashfood.com/. I would LOVE to bake them, but I don't own a muffin pan, or is it muffin tin? Either way, I don't own one. I could buy one, or you could get me one for Christmas. But it honestly would only get used once a year, if that. I can't eat a dozen muffins! Nor do I bake for the public, friends or family. That's Carla's job. But if you do bake them and you live inside the Perimeter, call me and I will come and eat one with you. I'll bring coffee. No, that's too much trouble. Just make it strong. I take cream.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

3/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil2 eggs

3/4 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup water

1 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (I use mini ones)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease muffin tins or line with paper liners. Mix sugar, oil, eggs in a large bowl (you can use a stand mixer here, if you have one). Add pumpkin and water. In different bowl mix together the dry ingredients. Add to wet mixture in batches to incorporate fully. Mix in chocolate chips*. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.

*If you aren't a fan of chocolate, you can replace the chips with chopped nuts for a different flavor. (This woman must BE nuts! Are you kidding me? Not like chocolate? Substitute nuts or raisins or, even worse, dates or the like, for chocolate? No way.)

My Favorite Epiphyte

I love spanish moss. I took these photos on Little Saint Simons. The article was taken from the Naturalists at Cumberland Island's Blog. I love it too. http://www.cumberland.wordpress.com/

Spanish moss is one of the most noticed and misunderstood plants on Cumberland. Over the years, I have heard a number of unusual descriptions and interpretations of the ’strange stuff’ that hangs from the trees. I remember a commercial photo shoot on the Island a few years ago, when one of the fashion models thought a set designer had “put that stuff in the trees” to enhance the photos. More recently, a visitor said “the stuff in the trees” reminded him of women’s under garments and a walk through Victoria’s Secrets.
Just the origin of the plants name sparks the imagination as it may have been compared to the long gray beards of early spanish explorers. The truth is, spanish moss is neither spanish nor is it a moss. Instead it’s a native sub-tropical air plant or epiphyte that draws nourishment from moisture in the air, as opposed to a parasite that would feed directly on the host tree it is attached to. Some people are confused over this because they have seen trees killed by spanish moss. This is due usually to large amounts of moss shading out the trees leaves rather than feeding on the tree itself; but this is seldom seen on Cumberland where frequent windy conditions prune back the buildup of moss on most trees. On the other hand, spanish moss acts like a sponge during wet weather adding a great deal of weight to a tree. If strong winds occur many limbs can be broken off, leaving the tree susceptible to insect damage. But the reservoir of water held by this odd looking plant will benefit the surrounding forest as it is released slowly through evaporation, nourishing other moisture loving plants. Wind and air quality play a key role in the distribution and survival of spanish moss. Although it flowers and produces seeds, the plant spreads mostly by pieces that have been separated by the wind. This air plant is also an indicator of air quality because it will not grow in a polluted environment. Spanish moss hanging from a live oak, it’s main host tree, is the classic picture of the deep south. This time of year especially, with our brilliant red and golden autumn sunsets, the moss stands out in the forest, back lit by a warm quality of light that can stir the imagination, but for some reason it just doesn’t remind me of Victoria’s Secrets.

Southwest Georgia

I got to do this a few years ago and it was so much fun. It was around Christmas and all the little towns like Americus and Plains were all decorated in lights. They served hot cocoa and popcorn on the train. The Policy Analyst insider scoop is that the State may be cutting their budget significantly, so you may want to do this while it is still in operation, or at least bring your own popcorn! If you are in the Southwest Georgia area, I recommend checking out the Rylander Theater (http://www.rylander.org/) in Americus and seeing a show. Then, ride the SAM Shortline.It goes through Plains and to Archery, the boyhood home of Jimmy Carter. I loved the train ride because you really feel like you are back in time. The train goes through cotton fields, you rarely see a car and it stops in the middle of nowhere in Archery. The train stops in Plains and there are a few little antique and gift shops. It is neat to see the old South preserved like that and to have a tiny view into the boyhood of an American president. www.samshortline.com

Dining- OTP

I left the City, to go to the Country and on my way back into the City, discovered the Houndstooth Grill & Tavern. It is located in Braselton, GA. It is at the Chateau Elan exit. If coming North, take a Left...South, take a Right. Chateau Elan will be on your left. I think it is 1.8 miles from the exit to a red light where a shopping center will be on your right. Take a right at this light and an immediate right into the shopping center and you will see the Houndstooth Grill and Tavern. They have a special menu for Sunday Brunch that is served until 3:00. They have a crab cake appetizer on the menu and grouper fingers. They serve a daily quiche, a large variety of salads, seafood, steaks, sandwiches, pasta, and chicken prepared just about any way you can image. Here is a description of their stuffed grouper: Fresh Grouper Filet Filled with Shrimp, Crabmeat, Broccoli and Monterey Jack Cheese. Topped with a Shrimp Reduction Sauce and Served with Three Grain Rice and Marinated Grilled Asparagus.

They have about six desserts on the menu also. I had a HUGE spinach and mushroom omelet that looked like this:

It was served with a chilled fruit cup, a mini bran muffin and a small bowl of really yummy cheese grits for $8.95. 770.967.2225

So if you are Christmas shopping at the Commerce Outlet Mall, going to Chateau Elan, the Mayfield Dairy, my parent's house, or just north on I-85, don't go to Cracker Barrell!! Go here instead. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, outside dining

Christmas Cookies

Not So Easy But Oh So Good And Fun Sugar Cookies

Disclaimer: These are harder than they look.

Ingredients:

Publix Sugar Cookie Dough (1 or 2 Rolls)

Mini Chocolate Chips (I like Dark Chocolate if you can get it)

1 small package of cinnamon red hots or is it hearts? They are hot and heart shaped-ish.

1 package of mini pretzel twists (I recommend Snyder's of Hanover)

Cut the cookies according to sugar cookie package directions ...Use a sharp knife!

Once you lay out the cookies on your greased cookie sheet, pinch them about 2/3 of the way down to make the Reindeer shaped face.

Carefully break the mini pretzel twists in half to make antlers and press into the top of the cookie. This is completely trial and error. You will mess up and you will eat a lot of pretzels in the baking of these cookies, or at least I did. If so, be sure to eat a fingerful of chocolate chips alongside the pretzels, they are better this way, trust me. Bake according to package instructions. Remove and cool for a few minutes, then add chocolate chips and red hots. There is a science to adding the chips at the perfect time, not to melt but to adhere to the cookie. Good luck with that.

Blog Updated

This is Aunt Grace...for whom I was named and my favorite aunt. She never married. I am nothing like her, so don't even think it! She died in 1994. She always rolled her hair all around in what they called a "Rat"...whatever that is. She made ambrosia. I hated it. I always felt like I was supposed to be spitting something out, but it was just coconut. Blech. She was funny and so active. She worked in "The Mill" so Granny Davis could go to college. She took care of her mother until she died and then took care of her bedridden brother who had stomach cancer. I remember about 1998 or so my Dad was eating a fried apple pie over at my Grandmother's and he asked who made it and my Grandmother said, "Aunt Grace". I watched to see if he'd spit it out, but he didn't. I know four years in the freezer is not all that bad, but just something about it struck me as odd. She was great. She was a servant and selfless. She gave up a chance to marry( his name was Garrett) to take care her mother and always put others first. So, I guess that means she is first in all things in the Kingdom and is wearing a crown of many, many jewels. To read more about the family and life as me check out http://jgracedavis.blogspot.com/

Books- Kaye Gibbons

She is one of my all time favorites! I first read Ellen Foster in high school, read a few more in college and then a few years ago started reading everything she has ever written. I kind of get them all confused because I read a lot of them all at once, getting them from the East Point Library about two years ago. I think this is the full list of what she has written and pulled some reviews to help identify them. They are all so good, except for her latest one. Gibbons is from North Carolina and was born in 1960. Wikipedia describes her as suffering from bipolar disorder. One of the characters in Sights Unseen suffers from this disorder. The book certainly takes you there and you feel a bit like you are going a little insane yourself. They are set in the South and about characters you feel you already know. She makes me want to write about my life experiences in the South and the characters I grew up with. She reminds me of Harper Lee.

Ellen Foster (1987) This one is the most popular, it's on the Oprah book club list and was made into a television movie. Review: "The voice of this resourceful child is mesmerizing because we are right inside her head. The words are always flawlessly right....Thus does Gibbons persuade us, as few writers can, that even a terrible childhood can be a state of grace." The New Republic

A Cure for Dreams (1992) Synopsis: A story that traces the bonds between four generations of resourceful Southern women through stories passed from one generation to another.

Charms for the Easy Life (1993)

I think this one was made into a movie as well. Publisher Comments: In the verdant backwoods of North Carolina, in a sad and singular era, the Birches are unique among women of their time-living gloriously rich it decidedly offbeat lives in a private world abandoned by men. And though misery often heats a path to their door, headstrong Sophia and her brilliant daughter Margaret possess charms to ward off loneliness and despair-thanks to the uncompromising strength, uncommon wisdom, and muscular love of a remarkable matriarch and self-taught healer who calls herself Charlie Kate.

A Virtuous Woman (1997) This one also made the Oprah book club; The Publisher comments state, "When Blinking Jack Stokes met Ruby Pitt Woodrow, she was twenty and he was forty. She was the carefully raised daughter of Carolina gentry and he was a skinny tenant farmer who had never owned anything in his life. She was newly widowed after a disastrous marriage to a brutal drifter. He had never asked a woman to do more than help him hitch a mule. They didn't fall in love so much as they simply found each other and held on for dear life. On The Occasion Of My Last Afternoon: A Novel (1998)- set in 1842 in the South, is about racial tolerance and strong women

On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon (1998) From School Library Journal YA-In 1900, Emma Garnet Tate Lowell tells her life story, beginning when she was 12 in antebellum Virginia. Her father, who used brutality and fear to intimidate family, slaves, and servants, killed a slave in a fit of anger. The plantation household was managed by Clarice, a free black woman of courage and loyalty. Emma Garnet's younger sister Maureen was both dutiful and eager to learn the graces that attracted a suitable husband. Independent of spirit, disdainful of housewifely skills, intelligent and opinionated, Emma Garnet determined to escape from Seven Oaks. Details of her reminiscences are sketchy at times, but she met and married Quincy Lowell of the Boston Lowells, a surgeon and everything her father was not. Her mother unselfishly urged her daughter to take Clarice with her to help them get settled in Raleigh, where Quincy planned to set up his medical practice. Clarice never returned, but devoted herself to the Lowells and their three daughters. Emma Garnet tells her story with unflinching honesty, revealing a complex character who changed from a self-absorbed and indulged child to a loving wife and mother. She eventually opened her home to wounded Confederate soldiers and found new purpose and meaning in her life by helping others. YAs will find Emma Garnet, Maureen, Clarice, and Quincy to be fascinating and endearing characters whose flaws as well as strengths are revealed as the story unfolds. The author's picture of life in the Civil War South is vivid and unsentimental, and her characters are drawn with clarity and sympathy.Molly Connally, Kings Park Library, Fairfax County, VA

Divining Women (2004) - Publisher Comments:
In her darkest yet most redeeming novel, Gibbons scorches us with a firestorm of despair — and then resurrects love and hope from its very ashes.
Autumn 1918: Rumors of peace are spreading across America, but spreading even faster are the first cases of Spanish influenza, whispering of the epidemic to come. Maureen Ross, well past a safe childbearing age, is experiencing a difficult pregnancy. Her husband, Troop — cold and careless of her condition — is an emotional cripple who has battered her spirit throughout their marriage. As Maureen's time grows near, she becomes convinced she will die in childbirth. Into this loveless ménage arrives Mary Oliver, Troop's niece. The sheltered child of a well-to-do, freethinking Washington family, Mary comes to help Maureen in the last weeks of her confinement. Horrified by Troop's bullying, she soon discovers that her true duty is to protect her aunt.
As the influenza spreads and the death toll grows, Troop's spiteful behaviors worsen. Tormenting his wife, taunting her for her "low birth," hiding her mother's letters, Troop terrorizes the household. But when Mary fights back, he begins to go over the edge, and Maureen rallies, releasing a stunning thunderstorm of confrontation and, ultimately, finding spiritual renewal.

Sights Unseen (2005) - "is the author at her most passionate and heartfelt best — an unforgettable tale of unconditional love, and of a family's desperate search for normalcy in the midst of madness. It is a novel of rare poignancy, wit and evocative power — the story of tragic, emotionally devastated Maggie, 'the Barnes woman with all the problems, and daughter Hattie, a child struggling to rind a place for herself in her damaged mother's heart'". This one is my personal favorite.

The Life All Around Me by Ellen Foster (2005)- Carla, who is an expert on all things, didn't like this one at all. I bought her the autographed hard back edition for her birthday that year. We were both disappointed. I don't think I ever finished it. I trust my sister in all things.

Kitchenware

I bought these at the Williams Sonoma Outlet in Dawsonville a few years ago and I love them! I use them for everything...that once a year baking I do, that once a month egg beating for Saturday morning omelets, and my daily salad. Yes, I eat it right out of the mixing bowl, it's the perfect size. I don't always have room on the top rack and have, on occasion, put them on the bottom rack and they came out intact. I know these have been around for ages but, the nonslip base is an ingenious invention and the contoured lip makes pouring so much less messy, don't buy bowls without it.

"Essential equipment for cooking and baking, our lightweight melamine bowls are an asset in any kitchen. Each has a nonslip rubber ring on its base to help hold the bowl securely in place. A handle and contoured lip allow you to neatly pour batter into a baking pan or onto a griddle. And because the bowls won't react with acidic foods, they're ideal for preparing marinades". Top-rack dishwasher safe. 2, 3, and 4-qt. cap.; 9 1/2", 11" and 12 1/4" diam. Set of three. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Perfume

Misty Harris Holcomb (Hey you!) wears this perfume and I love it! I have been out of a fragrance for awhile (a lot out there make me sneeze) and have been waiting to find the perfect one. I keep coming back to this one. Stila Cosmetics describes it like this: "The lovely Creme Bouquet fragrance is warm and sweet, with a delicate blend of vanilla, pink lilac, and lily of the valley. Each glass bottle is decorated with hand-pressed, dried flowers that represent the floral elements inside. You're guaranteed to come out smelling sweet". 1.7 oz. $50.00 www.sephora.com

www.stilacosmetics.com

Kashi Cereals and Snacks

These are my favorites. I love these cereals. The cookies are good and good for you and not made with enriched flour, but a blend of things like wheat, oats, rye, barley, long grain brown rice, buckwheat and sesame seeds. They are sweetened with evaporated cane juice instead of sugar. I like these oatmeal dark chocolate chip ones the best. The cereals have 50g of whole grains, are low in fat, a good source of fiber...are filling and yummy. This company also produces a variety of "chewy" and "crunch" and "roll" bars that are a great on the go snack and are a good source of protein and are lower in sugar and carbs that most on-the-go bars. UPDATE: Don't eat these. I am learning that these are just big ole bowls of carbs. Stick with the Kashi Go Lean cereals and avoid the shredded wheat as it is not high enough in fiber and not your friend.

http://www.kashi.com/

Music

Words cannot describe. This CD is amazing and takes me places. It is my soundtrack of life that I wish I could constantly play in the background of my day. I envy her ability to express her love of the Father in such an intimate way. She also has another CD titled Raw Sessions that is amazing too. You can purchase this one on iTunes or the link below. (P.S. This site is having a Going out of Business Sale and have it and many others on sale now for $7.98 including shipping.)http://www.independentbands.com/cd/isacouvertier/inthewaiting.html

http://www.isamusiconline.com/

Reusable Bottles

I like these. I saw them all over Europe (they are made in Switzerland) and surprisingly found one for 1Euro in the Second Hand store in Zutphen. I washed it! and it is as good as new. (Once you've been to Africa, you are forever ruined on stuff like that.) We all need to be good stewards and not use excess plastic water bottles and certainly need to purchase something that we can refill and use often. I like this one in particular because it is aluminium, seals tightly, is very light weight and keeps cool water cool. Mine has a screw cap like the one below. It is surprisingly handy for carrying because you can slip your finger through it. Odd I know, I just always seem to have my arms full? http://www.sigg.com/ or http://www.rei.com/

Weekend Getaway

I want to do a full story on the whole Northeast Georgia Mountains wineries, but it has been two years since I have last been there. I hope to go one weekend soon while the leaves are at their peak and I can take the Volvo and my Patagonia and blend with everyone else. I did the full tour several years ago when the wineries were first being established there and we were hoping to work on legislation to make the State more wine production friendly...oh well. I did my part. They are actually quite fun. I have not been to Napa, but did tour a few wineries in the Willamette Valley of Oregon and can assure you that it does not hold a candle. However, they are an hour north of Atlanta and I will take what I can get. Plus, there are Outlet Malls on the way there. Three of my favorites include:

Wolf Mountain was one of the original wineries built in Dahlonega. They offer a Sunday Brunch and have a Cafe on site. Tastings are $10.00. Frogtown Cellars offers tastings, special dinners about once a month and have a Panini Bar open on the weekends. Three Sisters is a must visit because of the views at sunset and their white wines are not bad at all. Search their websites for Special Events and Directions.
I have yet to find a great place to stay, but will make it a priority on my next visit. http://www.wolfmountainvineyards.com/ http://www.threesistersvineyards.com/ http://www.frogtownwine.com/

Shoes- Comfort

Brenda Mayes says that high heels ruined her feet- all those years, being a principal click clacking down the halls of the prestigious Hart County Comprehensive High School, my alma mater. Well, that is not going to happen to me! When I am not click clacking down the marble halls of the Gold Dome, I covet comfortable shoes. I love my one pair of Cole Haan loafers, my Saucony running shoes and my summer Reefs, but in the winter, I prefer these, mine are grey. Every North Georgia College graduate owns a pair.They are made in Germany by Stegmann
Established in 1888 by Karl Stegmann, the company is now in its fourth and fifth generation respectively of family ownership. Today Stegmann is one of the few remaining manufacturers of felt and kindred articles in Germany. Stegmann's wool products are distributed in USA, Canada, Austria, Italy, Norway, Finland, Japan and Switzerland.
The all natural materials reduce stress and provide more comfort.
The Woolflex Clog stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter due to the natural felt upper.
The Woolflex presents an anatomically correct contoured polyurethane, which absorbs shock and provides support to the foot for comfort fit.
The seamless 100% pure wool felt upper wicks moisture from the foot.

You can find them here: http://www.vermontgear.com/

Kids Toys

Don't tell Carson, but I just got him this for Christmas. It's David. And he talks! He quotes Psalms!

http://www.one2believe.com/ has a whole line of "Faith Inspired" Toys for Kids. I found this one at Marshalls for 25% off of the $3.00 Clearance price! They are wonderful learning tools and a good alternative to some of the scarry boy toys out there. Their lines can also be found at Target and Wal-Mart. And Samson's kinda hot.

Books- Story of the World

Nomads, Moses, Jesus, Caesar, Ancient Rome, Ancient China, I can barely keep up with this day, much less this century, and certainly not centuries before our own! My sister, Carla, introduced me to this amazing series of books. She uses them as part of her history curriculum in homeschooling her lovely children. It is a series of books entitled, Story of the World- in four volumes. The author writes in a very narrative format that is easy for all ages to understand and is very factual and entertaining. I want to read them all, as all those years of history class now seem to run together and the time table of events becomes more and more blurry. "Told in the straightforward, engaging style that has become Susan Wise Bauer's trademark, The Story of the World covers the sweep of human history from ancient times until the present. Africa, China, Europe, the Americas — find out what happened around the world in the centuries before our own. This read-aloud series is designed for parents to share with elementary-school children, or for older readers to enjoy alone. Introduce your child to the marvelous story of the world's civilizations".

Here is her biography. She fascinates me. Her books are factual, entertaining, easy reads. I recommend them to everyone. It will enlighten your next dinner party conversation immensely, trust me. Purchase at http://www.amazon.com/.

Publications
Susan's most recent book for Norton, The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome (2007) is the first in a four-volume series providing a narrative world history. Her previous book, The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had (2003), is a guide to reading the classic works of fiction, poetry, history, autobiography, and drama. Norton also published The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (with co-author Jessie Wise); originally published in 1999, this bestselling guide to education in the classical tradition was revised and updated in 2004. Susan has written a four-volume world history series for children, The Story of the World, for Peace Hill Press. Volume 1, Ancient Times, was published in 2002 (revised edition 2006); Volume 2, The Middle Ages, in 2003 (revised edition 2007); and Volume 3, Early Modern Times, in 2004. The final volume, The Modern Age, was published in 2006. Susan is also a contributing editor to Books & Culture and a frequent contributor to Christianity Today.
Education
Susan's parents taught her at home for most of elementary and middle school, and all of high school; she entered college at seventeen as a Presidential Scholar and National Merit finalist, and finished her B.A. in five semesters with a major in English, a minor in Greek and a summer spent studying twentieth century theology as a Visiting Student at Oxford. She went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, where she added Hebrew and Aramaic to her languages. In 1994, she also completed the M.A. in English language and literature at the College of William and Mary in Virginia; her concentrations were in translation theory, seventeenth-century devotional poetry, and Psalm paraphrase in the Tudor period. Since 1994, Susan has taught writing and American literature at William & Mary, where she also received her Ph.D. in American Studies, with a major field in the history of American religion.
Personal
Susan was born in 1968, grew up in Virginia, and was educated at home by pioneering parents, back when home education was still unheard of. She learned Latin at age ten, worked as a professional musician while still in high school, and wrote three (unpublished!) novels before she turned sixteen. Since then, she has toured with a travelling drama group; galloped racehorses at a Virginia racetrack for spending money; taught horseback riding; worked in ghostwriting and newspaper ad sales; learned enough Korean to teach a Korean four-year-old Sunday school; and served as librarian and reading tutor for the Rita Welsh Adult Literacy Center in Williamsburg. Susan and her husband now live in rural Virginia, where Peter serves as the minister of a nondenominational church. They have three sons and a daughter.

Facial Products

Jill Fike, who has the most gorgeous face of anyone I know, recommends Obagi. I used her regimen one night while staying with her and was mostly impressed that the face wash took of my eye makeup. I then used one of the treatments to lighten a sunspot on my temple and noticed it lighten overnight! So I really wanted to try it for myself. I have been wanting for some time to find something that works for me, that I can begin using now while I am "young" to keep the only face I will have looking lovely and protect it from the sun damaging UV rays that keep my nose pink all summer long. I have noticed that my dermatologist sells it and asked a dermatologist who I got stuck sitting beside one night at dinner at Little St Simon's Island, about it. Basically, it is more or less a 6 step process including a 1. a face wash 2. a toner 3. this stuff called Clear that is Rx only 4. an Exfoderm 5. Retin-A (Rx only) 6. a really good SPF sunscreen. My set also came with an eye cream which I really wanted to try.

Here's the skinny. I think the full set is about $400, but would last you at least 6 months I would assume. But we all know that I don't have $400, so this is how I do it. During my annual visit to the dermatologist I asked for a Rx for Retin-A. I also left with a handful of samples of it. Also know that Retin-A has a generic form! Most dermatologist recommend Retin-A for all general lightening, brightening, and tightening. Acne is really not the issue these days. My concerns are mostly sunspots and getting older and want to take really good care of my face. So I wanted a regimen that would tighten and lighten and protect. The stuff called Clear is one of the Rx items. I am sure there is a very good medical reason why you need it in combination with the Obagi system. However, I have heard (via Jill) that prolonged usage is not good for elasticity issues. So I just cut that out. The dermatologist I got stuck sitting next to at LSSI said that she just puts most all her patients on Retin-A alone and that essentially ALL her patients are on it, from young teens with acne issues, to 30 something over obsessive women. She recommends that alone, with a good face wash, moisturizer and sunscreen. This is the most economical route. However, I wanted to give Obagi a try. I rationalized that after purchasing a "good" face wash, moisturizer and sunscreen that you can wear every day, it would be about $40, so I decided to splurge and get the Obagi set minus the Rx items on Ebay. I got all the steps minus Rx ones of course and the eye cream for $150. It is a lot of money for me, but I can make it last a very, very long time and I am curious to see how the combination of products works. The eye cream alone sells for around $40 and with allergy issues and dark circles, I like to have it. The sunscreen is also more effective than that you could get at the drugstore and contains 9% zinc oxide, so it is very good at protecting your pretty face from the damaging sun. The sunscreen retails for about $40. I had previously purchased a sunscreen (made by SkinCeuticals) recommended by my dermatologist, via Ebay. I have used it practically every day and it has lasted me a very long time. It is almost impossible to find a really good one that you can wear all day, every day. You don't want to walk around all shiny and smelling like coconuts. The Neutrogena SPF 15 at the drugstore just doesn't contain the zinc oxide necessary to be a really effective sunscreen. So I feel like my purchase was justified, as I will make it last all year (I hope) and the products are some of the best on the market. The company promises firmer, more smooth resilient skin and more even color tones. You can visit their site at http://www.obagi.com/ Also, to read more, do a Google search for Obagi Reviews.

Food- Tuna

I know you may think this is me grappling for something to add, but no, this really is a favorite! I love this tuna. And I meant this exact kind, in the gold can. Shelley Merrick likes it too. It is so so good. I usually have it over a salad or I will slightly brown each side in a skillet over the stove with a tiny bit of olive oil and serve it over a bed of sauteed spinach, then add a few tomatoes or sauteed mushrooms. It is also really good with a tiny covering (like 1/2 a tbsp) of Wasabi Mayonnaise from Trader Joe's. The 1/2 a tbsp is not because of the hot wasabi, it is because it has 12 grams of fat in a tbsp. And as most things are, it's great between two slices of multi grain bread- toasted.

The Pioneer Woman

Thank you Angelique!!!! This site is amazing! I love it! When you see it, you will quit coming to my site and spend all day on here...It has recipes, really good practical photography tips, short stories and a home and garden section that is set up similar to my "favorite things". The photo tips are very useful and will help you get the most out of your camera, no matter what kind you have, and those features you never use. This woman, Dee, writes about her life and you can go back and read from Chapter 1, telling all about how she met met her "Marlboro Man", (total disclaimer here on what you might read, I hear it's pretty juicy) but here is an excerpt from the first chapter:

The Night I Met Marlboro ManSep. 6, 2007
As our eleventh anniversary approaches, I find myself reflecting on the circumstances that brought Marlboro Man and me together. So grab a Diet Dr. Pepper, hang on to your hat, and come along for the ride!
Forget this, I thought, as I lay sprawled on the bed in which I grew up. Home from L.A. on a self-imposed pit stop, I was drowning in a papery sea of LSAT study guides, marked-up drafts of my resume, printouts of available Chicago apartments, and a JCrew catalog, from which I’d just ordered a $495 wool gabardine winter coat in olive, not chocolate, because I’m a redhead. And, fuzzy wool gloves and a matching scarf in charcoal, just to mix things up and because Chicago, in all its big-city splendor, is butt-cold in the wintertime. I’d been at it all week—studying, searching, editing, shopping and ordering—and I was worn smooth out, my eyes watery from reading, my middle finger pruney from licking and flipping through pages, my socks dingy and rank from being on my feet for two days straight. I needed a break.

So now I know you are just dying to read it! Me too! She makes me want to sit down and write volumes about my own life...just another reason why I need to quit taking change from "my new apple macbook pro so I no longer have to use the ancient State of Georgia work only laptop" mason jar. But with $1,876.83 to go, it just seems so far from ever becoming reality. Hmmm. And to find out why the Basset hound...you will just have to go there and read about him, his name is Charlie. The blog style stories are really an inspiration and I can't wait to get creative and see what happens. You will spend all day here! She pretty much has put her whole life up here with photos and audio clips and everything you could ever want to know...or see...or hear. But it is all such a great idea!!

http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/

Here she tells a little of her story...

Howdy. I’m Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman. Welcome to my frontier!
I’m a thirty-something ranch wife, mother of four, moderately-agoraphobic middle child who grew up on a golf course in the city. I attended college in Los Angeles and wore black pumps to work every day. I ate sushi and treated myself to pedicures on a semi-regular basis. I even kissed James Garner in an elevator once. Then, on a brief trip to my hometown, I met and fell in love with a rugged cattle rancher. Now I live in the middle of nowhere on a working cattle ranch. My days are spent wrangling children, chipping dried manure from boots, washing jeans, and frying calf nuts. I have no idea how I got here…but you know what? I love it. Don’t tell anyone.
I hope you enjoy my website, ThePioneerWoman.com. Here, I write about my decade-long transition from spoiled city girl to domestic country wife. I post photos of cows, horses, and my four weird children, and frequently include shots of cowboys wearing chaps. In my Photography section, I include Photography and Photoshop tutorials. In my Cooking section, I post step-by-step photos of all the cowboy-friendly dishes I’ve taught myself to cook through the years, and in Home & Garden, I chronicle the start-to-finish remodeling project of an old guest house on our ranch.
I post frequent audio clips of my children mispronouncing simple words and of me doing Ethel Merman impersonations. I also share delightful audio clips of different styles of burps as well as photos of my son picking his nose.


So I am completely inspired and would love to do something like this. I promise no nose picking photos or belching...no wait, I can't promise no belching...but no snot...it makes me gag. Seriously, I can't do that baby snot sucker upper thingy on a baby without gagging. But this is not about me...it's about The Pioneer Woman. So go check this out. Thanks again Angelique. I love it!

Digital Photography- Editing

Photoshop and Picnik are two great sites for photo editing online. The sites offer a lot of free online features for basic photo editing, soften edges, enhance color, add text and some pretty neat artistic features too. You can subscribe to Picnik for an annual fee of $24.99. The free features are enough for me for now. They feature users daily and their pictures are pretty amazing. I can't seem to find out how they do all that, most of those features must be in the Picnik Premium membership. However, there is still a lot you can do. Go play around... http://www.picnik.com/ Oh! and here is a pic of Gracie...isn't she lovely?

Here I added text, brightened the sky, and added a little glow to Gracies cheeks.

I really prefer the Photoshop site a little better, because it is just more user friendly and seems to work better with my ancient "work only" laptop. http://www.photoshop.com/ It is quicker and gives you a preview of each editing technique as applied to your selected photo, even before you chose it. So you don't spend all day waiting on the pictures to upload or clicking on a random feature just to see what it will look like, it gives you a preview beforehand. You can't do a whole lot with the photoshop site, but you can play around with color and saturation.

Bedding

Carla and crew gave me this blanket for Christmas last year. I wish I could carry it everywhere I go. Actually, I did there for a while and if going on a road trip it will most likely accompany me. Last winter it made the nightly trek from my bed to the sofa, back to my bed at night. I have since looked for these in other places, only to find that this one is the best. I even tested out ones they sell at the spa at the Ritz Carlton, and I still say these are better. They stretch and could not be any softer and are just the right amount of weight and have that silky trim and are just heavenly. I noticed the blue one is half off right now?! You can get a decent replica at any TJ Maxx or Marshalls for $14.99. I did finally break down and buy a cheaper version for the sofa so as not to wear mine out. I have the white one, and want to keep it that way. In recreating the Westin Heavenly bed, it says to "sandwich" your blanket in between two sheets and then add the down comforter on top. It does help keep the blanket in place better and will perserve it a little longer I hope. They can be found in the Shabby Chic section at Target. They currently retail for $49.99.

Cocktails in Inman Park

Jill and Alan Travis throw the best parties ever, hands down. Even Jill's "ladies only come and look at jewelry and don't feel obligated to buy" party was a hit. They always have a signature drink, like those mojitos one year. Even when they just have the girls over to watch/make hilarious commentary about The Bachelor/Bachelorette, a great time is had by all and they seriously always roll out the red carpet. The sectional sofa and DV-R capabilities make yelling at the TV so much more fun, and Jill has a built in rewinder in her husband Alan, whose commentary is the most thought provoking of all. They pour the good wine for their guests, even if we are just having pizza and that just is only a tiny part of why they are so amazing. Speaking of amazing, Jill made these awesome cocktails at her jewelry party. She went around the room asking guests if they wanted her signature drink, to which everyone replied, "what's in it?" That was certainly my response, I don't do tequila, or bourbon, or any whisky for that matter and am just cautious when being offered a drink at 4:45pm. To each person she patiently replied, "let me just let you try it". Time and time again I watched as she got the same reply, "Mmmmmm, this is good". Then, we watched her to make it! She got three cold beers out of the fridge and added to a little concoction she had brewing in a large pitcher in the kitchen sink. Here's the recipe for the drink named, Hop, Skip and Go Naked...don't really wanna know how the name was derived, but would like to think the Hop is the Beer, the Skip is the Limeade and the Nekkid part is the vodka.

1 Can Minute Made Limeade (you can get the off brand, but it's like a dollar so just get the good stuff)

Fill that Can with Vodka and pour into gallon pitcher, stir

Add 3 beer (Jill used Miller Lite- don't use the good stuff), stir some more

The beer adds a little froth and effervescance to the drink. It is cool, crisp and refreshing and not too high in alcohol content. One recipe even suggested adding Sprite, but I think it would make it much too sweet. I guess you could add club soda, but that might water down the limeade. Serve over ice. I garnished with lime.

Handmade Gifts-Etsy

I can't believe I have not remembered to post this one. It is one of my favorite sites for handmade gifts. Whether you just want an idea or are in need of a unique gift, Etsy is the place to go. Sellers from around the world post their handmade items for you to purchase directly from them. They have just about anything you can think of, pottery, jewelry, notecards, baby blankets and onesies, comfy sweaters and scarves, handbags and glass, just to name a few. You can find lots of vintage items too. It is a great place to find an idea and make it yourself. And because they are posted by the artists themselves you can often get a great price. You even have the option to "shop local" if supporting local artisans is important to you. I love getting items from local artists for my faraway friends who want a piece of Georgia to cherish. And who wouldn't? http://www.etsy.com/

This ring ($120) is made in Athens, Georgia:

They offer handmade soaps from Saint Simons Island. Or check out this banana chocolate chip loaf ($8) and these mint oreo truffles($9) made in Marietta!

The choices are endless and the goods are great!

There are over 2 million items for sale, by over 200,000 sellers worldwide. You can even search for items by color. Here is a tiny sample of items you can find:

Ivory Acrylic Rose Necklace ($31)









Italian Wool Scarf ($50)











Earrings ($17)

Clutch ($27)