Product Recall- Travel Press

Remember when I recommended the Bodum Travel Press? Well I take all that back. I completely recommend a French Press and those that travel well, such as a stainless steel one. But this plastic one is no good. Around the press is a piece of rubber that is supposed to act as a suction and prevent grounds from coming through. Well it ain't so. It does not work. Also, the cup creaks and pops when you pour in hot water and I just know that one day the pop will be followed by a crack and that's not good.

Eau de Toilette

I love most all things L'Occitane. On my recent trip home from Africa, I stopped in the duty free shop in Johannesburg and was mesmerized by all the cosmetics and sweet fragrances and stayed in there for hours. I hope the security guy didn't notice my kneeling down in the middle of the aisle, hoisting up my Lycra capris and using the Display lotions to moisturize my poor, dirty, dry legs. I found another fragrance for my arms, and then Dior for my face, of course. Then I used this L'Occitane Honey and Lemon Eau de Toilette on my pillow. Yes, it smelled like burning trash and so I covered all that up with Honey and Lemon and it then smelled like a sweet honeycomb and it smelled soooooo good. I snuggled with it close all 16 hours home and fell in love with this sweet, warm smell of Honey and Lemon. Retail $46. P.S. My birthday was August 1st.

Cosmetics- Eyeliner

Christine gave me this for my birthday one year. It is my favorite and I have found nothing that quite compares. No pencil liner can compare to this liquid version. The tiny brush takes some practice, but once you get it down you will never go back. This creamy liner brushes on deep, smoky, eye-defining color. It is long-wearing and waterproof, sorta. Surely nothing is truly water-proof. I always wonder how they define that. Basically I assume it means it won't run if you cry your eyes out at work one day. But if you decide to go swimming on your lunch hour, you may look like a raccoon when you get out of the water and need to remove and reapply. The whole water-proof thing confuses me, but I love the way this goes on and the deep, defining color.

It can be smudged while still wet for a smokier effect. It is easily removed with eye make-up remover or my favorite, Vaseline.

Travel Necessities

I took these to Mozambique and found them to be one of the most handle little things ever. On my way there I had a layover in Johannesburg and stayed in a little Inn with no washcloths or towels. I was not overly surprised, it was $50 a night and would I really want to use washcloths at a low end hostel anyway? The answer is no. So I pulled out my handy, thick, soft durable little disposable washcloth. I hung it out to dry and it dried quickly and I was able to use it again the next day. Some even come with soap already in them so all you need is water. And if the soap is gentle enough for a babies-well you know- then surely it is okay for me. Carla found these and told me they were good. Laura uses them too. Both use them on their babies and thrifty Laura cuts hers in half because she claims they are just too big for Owen's little-well you know, but I recommend them for everyone.

You know how you go to visit someone overnight and they let you use the guest bathroom and the towels are always white and fluffy and new and monogrammed and you wind up spending about an hour over the sink with hand soap and hot water trying to scrub clean the fancy Supima cotton washcloth that you just used to take off your make-up and it is now covered in black mascara stains!!!? No? OK, well maybe it is just me. But from now on I am putting some of these in all my over-night bags so that I am never without one. And you can invite me over and I will not ruin your towels.

just for fun!

These are so much fun. I did this one for Catherine who is turning 12 while I am gone! They are called Wordles and you just enter a group of words or any text and it randomly places the words in a colorful array, like this one.



You can "scramble" the words for a variety of colors, fonts and arrangements. Make yours here.

Luggage

Here is a great bag at a great deal! I have been on the lookout for something like this for awhile. I have borrowed Mom & Dad's yardsale bag (see Luggage entry below) for every major trip over the last few years. Now I have my own.

This bag retails for $169.95, but is on sale for $50.99 with Free Shipping.

They have it in Plaid and Polka Dot patterns. I got the Polka Dots. The 2010 version of this bag retails for $289.95 and appears to be almost identical other than color patterns. You can get it HERE

"Pack your Burton Wheelie Double Deck for your European snowboarding vacation. This 70-liter bag holds enough to travel comfortably for a week or two. Burton's new KLIPH space-saving handle system means the Double Deck's telescoping handle doesn't take up any precious cargo room. This system also lets your clothes lay flat in the bag to keep them wrinkle-free, so you'll look put-together when you meet that Austrian hottie. Skate wheels make this bag easy to roll through customs, and an attachment strap lets you put your backpack on your Double Deck for easy transporting. This bag features shoe storage and toiletry kit to help you stay organized".

Product Description- Two weeks. Four Countries. One bag, no problem.

Product Features:
IXIOM Wheel System
EVATPU Back PanelsLighter, Faster, Stronger
Comfort Cush Telescoping Handle
Volume-Enhancing CRAM Zones
Hideaway SnakeStack External Backpack Attachment

Product Details:
Product Dimensions: 30 x 15 x 16 inches ; 12 pounds
Shipping Weight: 12 pounds

(apologies for the one-armed mannequin)

Recipes- Curried Rice Salad & Pimento Cheese

These recipes came from Mama Deane's Ladies Luncheon. These are easy and delicious. Just add a bowl of fresh fruit, a plate of sliced tomatoes (don't forget the salt and pepper shaker) and a pitcher of sweet tea, with lemon wedges and voila! a Ladies Luncheon. Add men if desired.

Curried Rice Salad

Near East Rice Pilaf Mix(Deane uses Chicken Flavored, I prefer Original)

A few green onions, sliced thin

1/2 green (or red) pepper, seeded and chopped

1/3 cup lite mayo

12 pimiento stuffed olives, sliced

2 6oz jars marinated artichoke hearts

3/4 tsp curry (or more!)

Cook rice as directed, cool in large bowl. Add green onions, pepper and olives. Drain artichoke hearts, reserving marinade and cut in half. Combine artichokes with rice and toss with dressing of reserved liquid and mayo. Chill.

Virginia is for Lovers Smokin' Hot Pimento Cheese Sandwiches

Here is Mama Deane's non-edited version of my request for the recipe. I love non-edited recipes (see Granny McCarley's Sweet Potato Pie)

okey-dokey: I put into a bowl some of that Three/Four Cheese shredded mix that comes in a bag... a whole 8 oz bag Then I add some extra shredded sharp cheddar cheese....about a cupThen I start putting in Cayenne Pepper and Onion Salt, basically to taste....probably a half of a Tablespoon of each. If it is too pungent, add more cheese. Then I add quite a bit of Hellmann's mayonnaise. Maybe 2 full cups.Then I dice up some Red Roasted Peppers......they come in a jar and can be found in the section with pickles, etc. About 1/4-1/2 cup depending upon your taste.This whole recipe depends upon your taste. These are the ingredients, you just have to fool around with it until you get it the way you like it. It is good on crackers or bread. Glad you like it. I fix it every time my Ladies group comes.They're all coming again this week for some crazy healing, deliverance and breaking off of some generational sins. We just have a grand time when we get together. You didn't really get to see those prissy little southern wimmin in action. They can really go at it!

Precious.

International Travel

Booking international travel on your own can be tricky. I have often used travel agents to book flights when traveling outside the U.S. from country to country. Agents can be helpful, but it is nice to see your options firsthand and make the choices yourself, and you save money in booking fees. Discount airfare sites like Expedia and Orbitz don't offer you the ability to search internationally, once outside the U.S. While traveling to Europe, I wanted to be able to search flights from London to various European countries. In the past, I used Ryan Air to book those flights. Ryan Air is still a good place to go if you want to fly within Europe.

http://www.ryanair.com/

Yet, outside of Europe, these flights can be almost impossible to find. You have to know which airlines fly out of which countries and go directly to their sites. In the case of intra Africa airlines, the sites are not user friendly and not always in English. When trying to book flights to Mozambique, the Mozambican Airlines site kept telling me there were no flights available, but it was simply that I was not searching within the few days each week that there are flights out each week, but the site never displayed a flight schedule and I was searching the wrong days of the week. Also, sadly, I had major trust issues with these international airlines and was very uncertain about paying thousands of dollars and entering credit card information on their sites. Also, prices are often in the local currency and require you to do the math. www.vayama.com is a California based site that allows you to search and book international travel. With Vayama you no longer need to book your flights through an agent and can do it all yourself. Airfares are offered on 100-plus airlines flying between the USA and over 190 countries. It has an interactive map that shows you where you are flying, displays flight schedules, 3-D seat maps and offers pricing in US dollars. It is safe and very user friendly.

Magazine

You are gonna love this magazine and their website is pretty helpful too. Clean Eating is all about eating food in its most natural state possible. This means avoiding over processed, refined foods, like sugar and flour, staying away from saturated and trans fats, and fried foods. It is not a diet, but a lifestyle. The site has recipes, menus and shopping lists! I love shopping lists. They just help give me ideas of new things to add to my diet and keep me from walking aimlessly up and down the aisles. With clean eating you will find you really no longer spend much time in the aisles in the middle of the store, but hit the ends, for produce, lean meats, seafood and dairy. According to the site, Clean Eating Magazine is like "having your own dietitian, cookbook and instruction manual rolled into one beautiful magazine". I recently subscribed to Vegetarian Times, not that any of you were considering that one, but just in case you were, don't bother, I was disappointed. Check this one out instead. www.cleaneatingmag.com

Thanks for the recommendation Laura.

Makeup Sets

I love these things! I love just looking at them and love how colorful they are. I always wanted one of these kits when I was little, but was too tough to admit that I liked girly things. Then when I actually started to wear makeup when I became all grown up, there was no way I would choose my color palette from a box of $4.99 assorted powders in plastic cups. But things changed. One holiday I was in the Wal-Mart in Hartwell exploring the Christmas clearance and found a purple tin box displaying colorful green, blue and tangerine eye shadows, blushes and lip gloss and had to have it! It was 75% off making my total investment come to $2.49. That was probably about 4 years ago and I still use this box! We all know good makeup is not cheap. And I intend to make mine last. I am not about to waste my fine collection of Bobbi Brown and Dior on trips to Target or the public library or to produce shop in the stinky Wayfield Foods. So that's when I whip out my little tin box from Wal-Mart and live a little. I love dipping my finger in the tiny little plastic circles filled with cheap shiny lip gloss. I love having 20 different colors to choose from and mix them all together, creating my very best rendition of "smokey eyes". The lady at the checkout counter has yet to compliment my plump lips, but I know the day is coming...If you see one of these kits in your local Wal-Mart you must get one and don't spend over $5.00, otherwise it takes the fun out of it. And get one for me, I am almost out of the safari green eye shadow.

Lipbalm

Years ago, before 9/11 and the economic downturn, when Delta was thriving, they partnered with L'Occitane in creating their international flight overnight bags- those ones with the earplugs and cheap socks. These were full of lush, yummy French created lavender scented creams, lotions and lipbalm. At the time, I was told the lipbalm was a Delta/L'Occitane only creation and could not be purchased at the L'Occitane store at Lenox Mall. It is now available, but can be hard to find and retails for $10. The consistency is a little different than typical chapstick and goes on smooth, not thick and glides on the lips. I have not been able to find an alternative, until now. Carla discovered this Blistex brand of lipbalm, Silk & Shine. It comes in the same type tube container like the coveted l'Occitane balm and is similar in consistency, much cheaper and offers sun protection, SPF 15. Retail Price $2.99

Cosmetics

Laura Steen claims this Mineral Veil finishing powder by Bare Escentuals is "the best". When we were together last, we made a special stop into the Ulta Cosmetic store for a free sample and I agree.

What it is: A luminous 100% pure bareMinerals finishing powder for the face.

What it is formulated to do: For the ultimate, translucent "finishing touch" to your makeup, Mineral Veil melts into your skin, infusing it with softness and light, giving the look you see with a soft focus camera lens. Buff on Mineral Veil over bareMinerals Foundation to lend extra staying power.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:- Parabens- Sulfates- Synthetic Fragrances- Synthetic Dyes- Petro-Chemicals- Phthalates

What else you need to know: Completely sheer and ideal for all skin tones, Mineral Veil gently absorbs oil and minimizes the appearance of lines and pores without the buildup of pressed or loose powders that contain parabens, waxes, dyes and binders.

Where to get: www.sephora.com or www.ulta.com

Luggage

I am a huge fan of rolling duffel bags. I have a simple black cylinder shaped Pullman rolling duffel that has been all over the world (similar to the one seen here). It just has one long single zipper outside and a zippered pocket inside. I prefer the simple, single zippered bag. For me, all the extra pockets don't necessarily make for more storage, they only produce a more rigid, zipper strewn bag.
You want as much space as possible and all those various little pockets take up space and only create more places in which to lose things. Theft can be a real issue in some international airports and having one zipper makes locking up your bag much simpler. Also, other belts, clips and ties on the bag can cause problems on the baggage conveyor belts and can cost you extra time and money at the airport, having the bag wrapped in cellophane. I recommend sticking with the most simple, basic rolling duffel you can find. I have a similar duffel without wheels, but once full, it kills my shoulder and thus has rarely left the attic. They come in various lengths. I can, when in the fetal position, almost crawl inside mine and zip myself up. Not that I have tried it...
To find a bag, I recommend searching http://www.pricegrabber.com/ for rolling duffel bags. I have also seen basic ones in the luggage section of T.J. Maxx for $39.99. Mom and Dad got my Pullman, in perfect condition for $10 at a yardsale while in an upscale neighborhood in Whistler, B.C. The cost savings was well worth whatever Canadian germs I may have picked up, and I assume they all fell off somewhere underneath the pile of the other 300 bags on top of it somewhere over the Atlantic. It's not Louis Vuitton, but it really is the best way to go.

If compartmentalizing is an issue, try packing cubes or even Ziplock bags. I have a trio of these cubes made by Eagle Creek and they are very functional. I use them to separate undergarments and bathing suits while on my trip and for storing dirty laundry on the way back.

Also, every boring gently used black bag needs a fun and easily identifiable luggage tag. If you have ever had luggage lost you won't forget to mark legibly with your visiting address. I have these in pink.

Fragrance

I like this fragrance. Everything, everything makes me sneeze. But this doesn't. It is "tropical, light and breezy". And cheap. It comes in this glass bottle body mist, body lotion, hand lotion and shower gel. You can even find it at most Gap Outlets for 30-50% off.

Pic-a-nic Baskets

Our hot-as-blue-blazes Georgia weather can limit our days for a picnic, but these are worth the investment and make you want to go on a picnic! I guarantee that if you buy one, you will be looking for soft grass and a shade tree to dine under. Sure, paper products and Dixie cups make clean up so much easier, but adding this to your picnic or concert at Chastain Park, makes it so much more charming and fun! And to me, makes the food more enjoyable. I am always looking for an excuse to take mine wherever I go. You can find them most anywhere and can spend as little or as much as you want to invest. Most of these charming wicker baskets contain wine glasses, a bottle opener, plates, cloth napkins, a table cloth and utensil service for four. Also, you will want to remember to pack wet wipes for temporary dishwashing until you get home. I just can taste the Stilton, Brie, and Pinot now...

Carla's Book List

My sister is the most prolific reader I know. I asked her for a summer book list and this is what she gave me. Some of them are historical fiction and they can all be found in the Young Adult section. I am on my way to the library now.

Travel Press

You will never go back to your mediocre drip coffee maker after having a cup of coffee from a French press. By not using a paper filter you get all the good quality oils that are otherwise absorbed. The press also requires coarse grounds which give you better aroma and flavor. I love this travel size press. It is double walled and keeps coffee hot. Also, by using hot water from a kettle, your coffee is automatically much hotter than from your ordinary coffee maker. The virtually unbreakable 14 oz carafe travels well and fits in your cupholder. Mine goes wherever I go. This is a cheap model and I am sure there are better ones out there. But for good coffee in the middle of nowhere (or where electricity is scarce) you don't want to leave home without it.

Retail: $9.99

Dishwasher safe

Cotton Tees

I stumbled upon these Brooks Brothers Cotton Tees and have found them to be wonderful. They come in packs of three and come in this v-neck that I like a whole lot. They are made of thick combed Pima cotton, and wash well. I buy them in a Boys Size and they come in a Pack of 3 for $24.95. The sleeves are slightly capped making them much more flattering than most tees. Whether around the house, paired with your favorite jeans or under your choice cashmere, you will love these cotton tees.

Destination College Park/East Point

Apologies to Misty and others for neglecting this site over the past month!!I can never create a following if I don't continue to keep it coming! So sorry. This entry is way overdue.

Want a great place for brunch or lunch or even raw vegan cuisine? Outdoor dining? Or a nice dinner without parking hassles or reservations? Come to College Park/East Point.

The Brake Pad restaurant, believe it or not, was a selling point in my choosing to move to East Point. It has this great small town feel. I have to admit that the chef who was there when I first moved there is no longer there and the specials are not near as good as they once were. I had crab cakes there one time that were the best I have ever had in my whole life! Despite his absence, I still find this place to be a great spot for lunch. They have tater tots on the menu! You can sit outside (but the train will ride by and interrupt your conversation). Put pennies on the railroad track. The menu consists of a variety of burgers, fish tacos that they often change up a little with different flavors of chipolte and other sauces, quesadillas (which I don't recommend), yummy sandwiches on 9 grain bread, and very good salads. I recommend the arugula and goat cheese salad with blackened tilapia. They have a full bar and daily drink specials. They serve Sunday brunch. But for brunch I recommend Thumbs Up Diner.

There are a couple of Thumbs Up Diner's in the Atlanta area, and they always rank within the top 10 brunch spots in Atlanta. One is located in downtown East Point. Don't blink, but downtown East Point should not be too hard to find. Just take Hwy 166 off of 85S and take the East Point exit. Go right and look for it along Main Street on your left. Remember, they are cash only!

There is a wonderful live food restaurant just off the square, Lovin' it Live. Nothing is cooked, all raw, all vegan, all good, all expensive. I recommend calling ahead. They prepare everything fresh so it can be quite a wait. I like the nutloaf and the brownie, made from dates and carob. Oh! and these "chicken nuggets" that are portabello mushrooms rolled in some combination of nuts. However, the atmosphere is not all that. Therefore, check out the online menu, place your order over the phone and then take it a little further down the street to Barrett Park off Rugby Ave. in College Park and enjoy! College Park is the home of Woodward Academy. Rugby Avenue is one of the more prominent streets, pretty homes, a wide street with sidewalks, magnolias, and dogwoods. They also have tennis courts there. Open tennis courts in Fulton County can be hard to find! It is a great little private spot for an easy picnic. http://www.lovingitlive.com/

Also on the square in downtown East Point is an Oz Pizza where you can buy good yummy fattening pizza by the slice with spinach & feta on it (my choice) and the East Point Corner Tavern. I had to admit it, but I love this place! It is dark and smokey and stinky and punky and tattooy and freaky. But they have trivia on Tuesday nights! Rebecca, Betsy and I discovered this place by accident. We actually ran in there to avoid a downpour one 4th of July. They were having trivia night, so we signed up. The trio of attorneys, an engineer and the Policy Analyst actually WON! 1st place. So we got a little hooked and would frequent it on Tuesday's. Betsy brought her other really smart friends and we always placed each time we played, so we got a little hooked. The food is good. They have fried artichokes! They have a diverse menu of warm, tasty dishes. We like to sit out on the back patio away from the dark and smoke. It is a little shady and you will see all sorts out and about here, playing pool and saddled up to the bar. I kinda stick out in my cashmere sweater set, but it is worth the stares.

College Park restaurants include Noodle and The Pecan. Noodle is an Asian restaurant, with good food, generous portions and good prices. They have yummy mojitos and outdoor dining, but you also have to deal with the loud train every so often. The Pecan is a little more upscale, white table cloth dining. I have yet to go but hear the shrimp and grits are, "to die for".

For more upscale dining in College Park, I prefer The Feed Store. The Feed Store has a comfortable atmosphere and unique menu. The wine list is small but should have something you like and offers a diverse price range. The menu varies weekly. The wait staff is not the best ever, but being able to park up front, walk right in and have a nice candle lit meal within 6 miles of downtown Atlanta is worth whatever little patience you may have to exercise with the waitress. They have appetizers like Pimento Cheese stuffed Fried Green Tomatoes with homemade Chow Chow, and offer quail and lamb as entree options.

If this is not your style, swing by The Feed Store for a cocktail and take in the artwork, and the architecture and then walk down the street to Fina. Fina is one of the Atlanta areas best kept secrets.

This little bistro is owned by a Frenchman named Jay. He also is in the wine distribution business if you are in need. The offer Peroni on tap and a nice little selection of wines. They also have a cheap corkage fee if you want to bring your own. The wait staff is very, very good. Ask for Kay. This is delicious homemade Italian. It is warm, earthly and you feel as if you are in Italy as you sit in their bistro style chairs, exposed brick walls and eat hearty delicious Italian dishes. They have delicious homemade gnocchi, sweet Italian sausages, amazing lasagna, salmon and oh! the best caprese ever. They also have good bread, served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, but don't get too full on that. Save room for the delicious appetizers and entrees. If you are bringing a group, I would call and make a reservation, just to be kind and let them know and to reserve a space, as it is a small restaurant. Also, if you are bringing a small group, request the circular booth near the bar. It is cozy. I love, love, love this restaurant. They have jazz on Wednesday and Friday. And one time I forgot my gloves and they called me at home to tell me! You can't beat it.

Greek Yogurt

This yogurt is the best you can buy. It comes in 0, 2 and 5%. It is triple strained so it is not watery like American yogurt. It is unbelievably thick and rich and creamy. It is not bitter or tangy like most plain yogurts. The possibilities are endless, whether adding fruit, honey, agave nectar, cinnamon or cucumber & dill. Fage (pronounced fa-yeh) has about half the carbs of regular yogurt, but more surprisingly it has more protein than your average yogurt. All Total Fage products are great. I also recommend their Feta cheese!

Monogrammed Towels

I love all things monogrammed. My father was supposedly named Carl Stanley Davis because my grandfather thought that CSD when written in cursive flowed well and he liked those initials. So I guess Papa Davis liked monogramming too.

Neiman Marcus has the Ralph Lauren "Lawton" towel on sale. This also includes the monogrammed bath mat that retails for $28.50 for $16.49 and shipping is FREE. Monogrammed hand towels are $10 and those really great large "body sheets" are $16.49 and make perfect beach companions. Enter coupon code NMSHIP for free shipping.

Sweetener

I really like this. It is debated whether this is a good alternative to sweetners. Some say yes and some say no. I say it has to be better than Pure Sugar and certainly better that artifical sweetners. So I say go for it. I use it all the time and I think it's a good thing. When cooking with this alternative lower the oven temperature 25 degrees and use about 25% less than the recipe calls for, 3/4c. instead of 1c.

The agave (uh-gah-vay) plant has long been cultivated in hilly, semi-arid soils of Mexico. Its fleshy leaves cover the pineapple-shaped heart of the plant, which contains a sweet sticky juice. Ancient Mexicans considered the plant to be sacred. They believed the liquid from this plant purified the body and soul. When the Spaniards arrived, they took the juices from the agave and fermented them, leading to the drink we now call tequila.

But there is a more interesting use for this historic plant. Agave syrup (or nectar) is about 90% fructose. Only recently has it come in use as a sweetener. It has a low glycemic level and is a delicious and safe alternative to table sugar. Unlike the crystalline form of fructose, which is refined primarily from corn, agave syrup is fructose in its natural form. This nectar does not contain processing chemicals. Even better, because fructose is sweeter than table sugar, less is needed in your recipes. It can be most useful for people who are diabetic, have insulin resistance, or are simply watching their carbohydrate intake.

Billy Reid once again

Well, what'd ya know? I head over to Garden & Gun to find that article below on historic trees and lo and behold I see an article entitled Faulkner-esque Fashions and sure enough, Billy Reid is featured here! I found him first! This is getting a bit out of hand. But here you go, G&G's review of MY favorite designer:

What Ralph Lauren did for New England, Billy Reid is doing for the South. The award-winning designer is back on the radar with an exclusive line of clothing and accessories called Billy Reid. Pieces range from luxurious custom-fit tuxedos and handmade shoes and accessories to sportswear and premium denim, with a women’s collection causing a stir as well.
Customers can get a firsthand glimpse of the lifestyle inspired by his clothing at any one of his retail stores, each decorated to evoke the classic American South. Reid’s studio and flagship store, Pickett Place, is located in Florence, Alabama, but other boutiques can be found in Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, Nashville, and Charleston, South Carolina. Reid visits each store regularly and gives customers the opportunity for a custom suit fitting with the designer himself.

Trees with Pedigrees

Garden & Gun Magazine has twice now stalked me and taken my creative ideas as their own. Now I am doing the same, but giving them full credit for introducing me to this amazing program.

Through its Historic Tree Program, American Forests, the country’s oldest national conservation group, will ship you the offspring of some of our most famous trees. Want a direct descendant of South Carolina’s mammoth Angel Oak, widely considered the oldest living thing east of the Mississippi? Or perhaps you’d like a Gettysburg honey locust, progeny of a tree that stood mere yards away from a guy named Lincoln while he gave a pretty memorable speech in 1863. Elvis fan? Look out your window at a Southern magnolia from Graceland’s front lawn. All the trees are grown from either seeds or cuttings of the original and arrive as one- to three-foot saplings, ready to plant—and ready to become a part of your own legacy. Neat, huh?

http://www.historictrees.org/store.html

Cosmetics

Laura Steen recommends this:

Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Where can I get it: Most anywhere, including: Sephora, Ulta or Amazon.com

What it is: Smashbox makeup artists use this product to create a perfect canvas for foundation application.

What it is formulated to do: The silky blend of vitamins and antioxidants smoothes and perfects skin, while the unique formula helps to inhibit the destruction of collagen, and fills in fine lines and pores for a flawless finish.

What else you need to know: Use after moisturizer and before foundation for complexion perfection. This skin-soothing blend of antioxidants, which can be worn alone or under foundation, works overtime to fill in fine lines and even out skin texture.

Whoopie Pies

These are some of my all time favorite things ever! Joyce O'Bannon gave me a dozen one year for my birthday and I kept them under my bed and ate one every day for almost two weeks! I was about 10 then and calories didn't count. Never mind the frosting is made with eggs and I was risking poisoning myself. But I knew they would not last a minute out in the common space of the refrigerator and I was willing to take my chances. Christine found this article , it makes my mouth water just to read about them. I assume Joyce's were made from that old Amish recipe. They were so moist they would stick to the roof of your mouth and physically could not be eaten without a glass of milk nearby. Whoopie! certainly fits my reaction to this oh so yummy dessert.

Din Bin Salad

This is a very refreshing salad, so easy to make, and so good for you. I can hardly wait for tomato season. Put some of all of this in a bowl and eat it! I would measure out the olive oil though if I were you. 3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil has about 24 grams of fat! So go easy on it. Celery is known for its benefits to the brain and Apple Cider Vinegar aids in digestion, contains potassium and calcium, can clear up your skin, great for joint pain and stiffness and more! I added the spinach on my own, I always seem to have some on hand and find it just too good for you not to use every chance I get, so I simply add a small handful for good measure.

Hearts of Romaine

Spinach (if desired)

Feta

Tomatoes

Cucumber- diced

Celery- sliced

Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Kosher Salt (if desired)