Snail Mail Valentines for a Good Cause

I was over at fredflare.com/blog reading about their super fun Valentine idea. They are asking folks to make a valentine and send it to them. They are going to sell the cards and donate the proceeds to Elder Craftsmen,an organization based in NYC that brings craft workshops to local senior citizens. (I wish we had something local like this but since we don't, I'm sending my valentine to them.)

Here are the details...(more info at fredflare)

1) MAKE A VALENTINE You can make it out of anything… Construction paper, collage, paint, crayon, a print of a photo you took, write a poem, make a mix tape, whatever ya feel like! Just make it fun and from the heart and easy to send. Be sure to include a matching envelope. Have fun with that also!
2) SEND YOUR VALENTINE + ENVELOPE TO FF BEFORE JAN 15TH Ya can just pop both in another envelope and send it regular mail to SNAIL MAIL VALENTINES c/o fredflare.com, 300F Kingsland Av, Brooklyn NY 11222. Hurry! Your valentine MUST be postmarked no later than Thurs, Jan 15th to participate. That’s only 10 days away. DON’T flake on me, peeps!
3) YOUR VALENTINE WILL DEBUT ON FF THE LAST WEEK OF JANUARY All valentines will be sold online and in our new Brooklyn store for the super friendly price of ONLY $4 EACH and ALL the proceeds from the sales of these valentines will go directly to Elder Craftsmen!

Doesn't this sound like fun! Won't you join me in using your crafty skills for a good cause?!?!

Dom Perignon

According to "The Little Blue Book" (www.littlebooks.org) Pierre Perignon was born in France in 1639. He took the vows of a Benedictine monk at an abbey that produced a variety of wines.

Pierre soon became an expert on wine. Maybe because he was blind he used his extraordinary sense of smell and taste to tell which grapes came from which vineyards. He worked with mixing wines so that the qualities of each added to the qualities of the others. In particular, he studied the grapes from a region of Champagne. When he was 60 years old, he succeeded in producing what we now call "champagne".

Years after Pierre died, the wine company that bought the monastery vineyards gave the name "Dom Perignon" to its finest vintage. On New Year's Eve, many will without realizing it, celebrate the memory of this monk and wine expert.

*"Dom" was a title sometimes given to monks and other religious leaders.

How About A Year-Long Project?

An interesting concept. Pick a project that takes you all year to complete. Wouldn't you feel a great sense of accomplishment come the end of December? For some great ideas go to:
http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/
I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet--I have a day or two--but I'd like to see if I could stick to a project that long! Let us know if you are going to try it and what project you're going to try...

2008 A Year To Remember


Looking back at 2008, it was really a year to remember. From natural disasters, elections, the economy, war-- to the Olympics, a lot happened! Check out this website to get the year to remember in pictures...

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/12/the_year_2008_in_photographs_p.html

A Christmas Prayer

Now that Christmas is officially over I have to reflect on just how blessed I am. My whole family was together--my children and grandchildren and my son's girlfriend. We had our traditional Christmas dinner and opened gifts together on Sunday. Then on Christmas Eve my siblings, nieces, nephews and parents were together. On Christmas Day my husband's family was all together. We are all in good health, have jobs and homes. Life is exceptionally good.

Unfortunately it is not that way for everyone. My prayers go out to all who are experiencing heartache and hopelessness this year. Here's a musical video "A Christmas Prayer". It's my wish too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FibFdAWrgUQ

A Week of Worthy Advent Activities

As we count down the days left to Christmas it's good to stop and reflect on what we have really done to get ready. (Besides the shopping, the wrapping, the baking,etc.) Woman's Day magazine (womansday.com) has a list of things we can do to make our final days to Christmas really count.

Sunday--Give something away.

We all have some things we are using that someone else could. I have a winter coat hanging in a closet that I know could keep someone else warm.

Monday--Shop consciously.

I know Walmart has great prices but can we buy US not China-made? Buy fair-trade coffee and chocolate. Think green and help our planet.

Tuesday--Read for inspiration.

Find an e-newsletter for an organization whose mission you admire. (Have you got one you could share with us?)

Wednesday--Click for good.

Do your online shopping at charity malls such as igive.com and buyforcharity.com. I must admit I was not aware of these...

Thursday--Spread the word.

Your children can check out Kind News Online(kindnews.org) which teaches kids about animal welfare. Tell your hairstylist about Cut It Out (cutitout.org), a program that helps salon staff identify domestic abuse victims or check out some happy news we all could use (happynews.com)

Friday--Be a silent Samaritan

Shovel the snow for a neighbor while they are gone. Leave treats or Gathered From the Garden products (anonymously) for a friend, do a kind act for someone without getting credit for it.

Saturday--Support local programs.

Put some money in the red kettles, donate to Toys for Tots, buy a little something at the grocery store for the food shelf.

It's easy this time of year to get a little stressed (if you ask my husband he would probably say a "little"? when he describes me...). I think doing something good each day will help me stay focused on what Christmas should really be about. Are you in?

Creating Family Rituals
For years, stockings have hung by our fireplace. First we had stockings for our children. As they grew up and some started families of their own we added stockings for our grandchildren. This year I decided that the mantel was just too small for so many stockings. I sent an email telling everyone I planned to only put up the stockings for the grandchildren.

Two of my three children laughed it off and pretended to be upset. The youngest (who is nearing 30) made a comment about getting rid of the stockings for the other two but keeping hers. I heard in that comment a little undercurrant of sadness that a family ritual was about to end.
Delicious Living Magazine (deliciouslivingmag.com) has an article about creating your own family rituals. They can be symbolic activities or just everyday routines shared by family or friends. According to research done by the American Psychological Asso., rituals and routines are linked with marital satisfaction,health,academic achievement and stronger family relationships.

The article also lists tips for creating your own rituals.
*Rituals don't have to be time consuming to be meaningful.
*The ritual shouldn't overshadow the spirit of the event.
*Include kids in the planning. (No matter how old!)
*Consult older family members about their childhood traditions and see if you can recreate them
*Adopt new holiday customs.

For more ideas check out Jennifer Trainer Thompson's book, The Joy of Family Traditions (Celestial Arts,2008) She offers more than 400 ideas for creating family rituals. Or check out joyoffamilytraditions.com

So our stocking tradition will continue --only in a smaller sense. My daughter will have to start her own traditions as she gets married and has her own family. Until then, I've decided to surprise her and keep her stocking up one more year. We'll ease her into giving up that one tradition! (We have other rituals that our family will continue.)

Thought for the week
At this time of the year we all rush around to get our last minute festive season errands done, and our levels of irritation seem to increase proportionately with the amount of things that we need to get accomplished.

Since our lives and needs are important to us, we tend to think that they are far more important than those of others and we forget that others have needs too.

So when you join the hustle and bustle of this festive season, take a deep breath and count to ten every time you are about to lose your cool. Keep in mind that the person next to you is also looking for that perfect gift, making their money stretch, getting everything done, and would also rather be at home having a quiet and relaxing afternoon or evening.

To help make your Holiday shopping easier, check out gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com You're sure to find something for everyone on your list. No crowds, no parking worries!

Gratitude Website

Since this is the week we think about all we should be thankful for, here is a website for you to check out. http://www.gogratitude.com/masterkey/

Chocolate Cake in a Mug

Thanks to HowAboutOrange for finding this cool recipe on Haydee's Chocolate Journal from the Traverse City Record. So this is now a fourth-hand shared recipe! TCR says:Why is this a dangerous cake recipe? Because chocolate cake is now less than 5 minutes away!

Dangerous Chocolate Cake-in-a-Mug
1 coffee mug (microwave-safe)
4 T. cake flour (plain, not self-rising)
4 T. sugar
2 T. cocoa
1 egg
3 T. milk
3 T. oil
Splash of vanilla
3 T. chocolate chips, optional
Add dry ingredients to the mug; mix well with a fork. Add egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in milk, oil, and vanilla, and mix well. Add chips, if using.
Put mug in the microwave, and cook for three minutes at 1,000 watts. Cake will rise over the top of the mug -- do not be alarmed. When finished, carefully remove mug from microwave and allow to cool a little. Tip onto a small plate prior to serving, if desired. Yields one generous serving or two "more virtuous" servings.

Your own chocolate cake in 3 minutes. What could be better than that!?!

National Family Caregivers Month

President Bush declared November 2008 as National Family Caregivers month. We would like to extend our well wishes and Thanks to all those that take care of our loved ones. Whether they are being taken care of in their own home, in special care facilities or hospitals, the wonderful folks that take care of them hold a very dear place in our hearts.
Caregivers can be husbands & fathers, wives and mothers, sons, daughters and nurses and nursing assistance and the list goes on. You need to pamper yourself and take care of yourself too! We know how special you are, but do you? Don't ever think that what you do is 'just a job' as it is way more than that. You are the ones with the loving touch, the simple smile and more, that make our loved ones know they are being cared for when we can't be there. Each day you need to take a few moments and smell the roses!
When was the last time you had a relaxing bath? Where you filled the tub with really warm or very hot water and just sat there and soaked, undisturbed? With candle light? and soft music? Close your eyes and cover your face with a dampened cloth and just sit back and relax. Stay as long as you like and tune out the world. You deserve it. Don't have time for a bath? How about a foot soak and a little foot massage?
Gathered From the Garden has some great products to pamper yourself or to give to caregivers to show your appreciation. Check out our website: gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com for more ideas.

I Like Your Hair...

I finally got a haircut that I have been trying to describe to many different stylists! I'm gone to a myriad of stylists over the past year--a trendy salon, one who does hair in her home, a cut and run place in the mall, a beauty school...and each time I leave with a different cut but not the one I was after.
But today on a whim, I stopped at another cut and run place at the mall. I got right in, described the cut I wanted and miracle of miracles--I got THE cut!! All for a very reasonable price and it didn't even take very long. Needless to say, I got this stylist's card and will be back to see her again.
I can't believe how happy a haircut can make me! I am looking forward to going to work tomorrow just because I think I look pretty good! (Yes, I'm a little vain.) It makes me wish I could pay for a good haircut for someone in need. Do you suppose there are any support organizations that deal with hair?
If you need some help with your hair; ideas for a cut or color, hair products, advice etc. check out www.hairfinder.com You'll find everything you've always wanted to know about hair. Maybe it will inspire you to get a new cut that will make you look and feel wonderful!

Celebrations

We have just finished celebrating Halloween. I was in Walmart and Target today and the Christmas decorations have already replaced the orange and black. As we look ahead to celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas here's another reason to celebrate.

In her book Living Juicy, SARK says we should "learn to celebrate ourselves. Each of us is outrageously wonderful and delightfully imperfect." We are pretty much untrained to be "self-celebrators". We are often told not to get a big head or be selfish. We forget how we celebrated little things when we were children. (It was a big deal to find a little frog or celebrate rain by stomping in puddles!)

Have you ever stopped to celebrate yourself? Baked a cake in your own honor? I think sometimes as women we got so caught up in celebrating others we never think to "celebrate ourselves". We are so caught up in looking good, achieving more that we don't think about being imperfect as being delightful! So I think we need to stop and plan a celebration!!

I think I am going to write a little tribute to myself in my journal. No one else has to read it but just writing it for myself with validate that I am outrageously wonderful! What are you going to do to celebrate YOU?

"The Shack"

I just finished reading a good book called "The Shack"written by Wm.Paul Young. It's about a man who has an "encounter" with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit after a horrible tragedy in his life. While I am not usually big on discussions of religion--to me it is more of a private issue--I would like to recommend this book to you.
Reading it will definitely give you some food for thought and maybe even change your life and your relationships with others. It started out a little bit slow but once you get into the book you will enjoy it's beautiful imagery and prose. Famous people like Wynonna Judd and Michael W. Smith have written recommendations for the book.
For more information you can go to www.theshackbook.com

Chiropractor of the Year

I am so very proud to let you all know that my sister Mary has been chosen to be the MN Chiropractor of the Year!! Our family surprised her at the award ceremony by showing up to help celebrate. I can't think of a more deserving doctor than Mary! If you want to read some great articles written by her, check out www.docminser.com

The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood

Ever since I saw an Ophrah episode about the Fistula Foundation I have been a supporter. If you haven't heard of fistula go to ( http://www.fistulafoundation.org/). It will break your heart to see how it affects young mothers in Africa because of poverty and lack of medical care for laboring women.

The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (http://www.whiteribbonalliance.org)is/ an organization that builds alliances, influences policies and harnesses resources to save the lives of women and newborns all around the world. The white ribbon is dedicated to the memory of all women who have died in pregnancy and childbirth. Worldwide, every minute of every day, a woman dies of pregnancy-related complications. Most of these deaths could be prevented.

The Fistula Foundation is a member of the White Ribbon Alliance. Hopefully they will be able to work together to raise awareness of the tragic deaths of women that happen every day and underscore policies and investments to help save lives.

My youngest sister just had a baby girl. Lucky her to have all of the medical resources she needed for a safe pregnancy and healthy delivery. She had access to prenatal care and obstetric care to help ensure a safe delivery and to deal with any complications that could have arisen. In many parts of the world access to prenatal care and emergency obstetric care is often unavailable.

This is not like a disease that we are still searching to cure. We know what can save the lives of mothers and children. They need the ability to make wise choices about their reproductive lives and access to medical assistance to make safe pregnancy and delivery possible. (On a global scale there is a shortage of 4 million health workers.) We need to create the political will to do something now about this terrible problem.
Please take the time to check out the websites listed above. Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General says "Health should not be seen as a blesssing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for."

Good Neighbors

I am still trying to do each of the Monday postings taken from everymondaymatters.com. Monday 36 was about being a good neighbor. We've lived in this neighborhood for 13 years. The only neighbors we really know are the family next door. In this neighborhood it seems like no one is ever outside. So we don't get to know or greet anyone. This seems really sad, doesn't it?

So here are some good tips for getting to know your neighbors taken from the mondaymatters website:

"Does your mailman know your neighbors better than you do? It’s not enough to just drive by and wave to neighbors from your car window. To get to know your neighbors, you need to have personal interaction with them. But these days, people spend more time indoors watching TV and surfing the Internet than they do outside playing catch, taking walks, and talking to their neighbors. Change that pattern…

*People spend less than 15 minutes per day doing outside chores and gardening compared to over 3 hours watching TV or movies and surfing on the Internet.
*The average American person or family has friends over for dinner about 45% less often than people (they?) did in the 70s.
*The increased number of fenced backyards, coupled with the disappearance of front porches and verandas, has privatized residences more than ever.

TAKE ACTION TODAY
*Meet a neighbor you’ve never met before. Simply knock on the door and introduce yourself. *Take over something you’ve baked or grown in your garden, or invite them to your house for a *beverage or a snack.
*Make yourself more available to your neighbors.
*Mow your front lawn, wash your car, go for a walk, or play with your children outside. Or, if you see neighbors doing the same, go out and visit.
*Plan a neighborhood yard sale or a block party.
*Write a quarterly neighborhood newsletter.

Remember, you have to be a good neighbor to have a good neighbor. "

We do have someone who printed a neighborhood directory and put it in our mailbox--anonymously--so we can't even thank them. A block party would be fun but since it's October already we will have to wait until next spring or summer. So it looks like I will have to try some of the other tips. What is your neighborhood like? Do you have any other tips for us?

Support for Great Women

I called my sister today to see how she was doing. She is in the middle of a huge project (ourvsn.com website launch). She said it has been stressful but that she really appreciated the support I've given her. I told her we needed to support all the women we knew that are working hard.
Later today I was in a gift shop and saw a sign about women with a clever saying:

"Here's to great women.

We need to know them.

We need to be them.

We need to raise them."

I know many great women in my family. I know many great women in the education field that I am in. I know many great women as friends. As a mother I can say that I have raised two very great women. As a grandmother I can say that I see my two granddaughters being raised to become great women.

There are days when I really don't see myself as being a great woman. Daily stresses at work, in my small business, in my personal and spiritual life seem to point in the other direction. That's why I think it is important to have a network of great women that can mentor you, pray for you and lift you up when you are down. I'd like to say a huge THANKS to all the great women in my life! Some of them I need to thank personally. What about you? Who are the "great women" in your life? Have you thanked them lately?

New Website Published By My Two Sisters!

My two sisters, Dr. Annie Becker and Dr. Mary Minser have collaborated on an amazing project! They have launched a new website called OurVSN.

"OurVSN.com is a social network bringing families together to promote shared caregiving and aging independently. Unpaid caregivers and their families in a virtual support network can track the personal health of every member. OurVSN offers a simple way of tracking health for oneself and loved ones. Because families are better informed, they are more likely to assist in caregiving activities."

Our family has been using this website for some time. I have aging parents and siblings that live in other states. It has been a great way for all of us to keep track of mom and dad's health no matter where we live. My parents are pretty computer illiterate yet they can use the simple commands of Our VSN to fill in data about their blood pressure, how they feel each day and activities they participated in. This data can be specialized for each family member.
If you have family members that you would like to keep in touch with, I highly recommend using this site. It is free and very user-friendly! Go to OurVSN.com or check out PRWeb.com for more information.

Start the Day Right!

Now that summer is over and I am back in the classroom I have to get up at the crack of dawn. (I have a 35 minute commute and have to be at school by 7:30. I usually get there earlier.) My mornings have gone much smoother since I started using these tips...
*Eat breakfast. A healthy breakfast regulates blood sugar levels and gets your body ready for the stresses of the day. Choose a combination of protein and fruit rather than caffeine and carbs.
*Listen to Music. Hearing a few tunes first thing in the morning can energize, refresh, soothe or get you motivated. Research suggests that music can reduce stress and improve your overall health.
*Stretch in the shower. Stretching helps relieve tension and gets your muscles ready for another day. An added benefit is not water loosens mucles for a better stretch.
*Take a walk. Walking first thing in the morning can help you feel good all day. Walking can help you sleep better at night, helps control blood pressure, lower weight and stress and can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
*Practice yoga. Yoga uses a variety of stress management techniques. A 10-15 minute routine can center you for the day ahead.
*Prepare ahead of time. This is especially important if you have kids. Don't leave everything until morning. Pack lunches, even your own, decide what to wear, coordinate bathroom schedules the night before. You'll have more time in the morning to eat breakfast and leave the house much more relaxed.

Teach an Old Dog How to Twitter?

I have been trying to come up with some creative ways to promote my small business--Gathered From The Garden. One way someone suggested was to use Twitter. So I signed up and am now "Tweeting". I have a few followers and I am following only 3. When I look at some of the other "Tweeters" they have hundreds of followers and they are following hundreds!How do they do this?
So I thought I was being pretty techie. Then I found out that you can't just Twitter. You can Twirl, Twellow, you can Twittersearch. There are Twitterpacks and widgets that you can add. It's enough to make my old head spin.
And if that isn't enough, I could be using Plurk, StumbleUpon,Digg,You Tube, Slideshare, Friend Feed, My Space and Facebook. I've probably missed some others. There aren't enough hours in the day to keep up with all of this, blog,work a regular job, eat, sleep,make products and maybe relax a little! So which of these are really worthwhile using?
A little help from those in the know would really be appreciated. I can't be the only "mature" person to feel a little out of the loop. Can you help? Post your recommendations or opinions PLEASE!! Maybe it would be possible to teach an old dog to do more than just Twitter!!

Missed Opportunity
I was catching up on my reading today. I had the August issue of Redbook magazine and I came across an article about change. It suggested going to first30days.com if you needed tips to help you get through any life change.
It sounded interesting so I did check it out. I found out that today was a day to pray for change... Ever wonder what would happen if everyone in the world joined hands and said a prayer for peace at exactly the same time? We can only imagine, but it would have to generate some seriously positive energy!The closest we may ever come to this type of worldwide prayer is the Earthdance Global Peace Festival. This year, participants were supposed to unite in their annual Prayer for Peace at 4PM Pacific Daylight time. In an effort to promote peace and humanitarianism, Earthdance events ranging from living room gatherings to huge concerts were going to take place in 60 countries.
This sounds so great. But alas, I didn't read it until way after 4pm Pacific time. I sure would have liked to have hosted some type of prayer gathering. I am going to mark it on my 2009 calendar and hope that it takes place next Sept.13th! And instead of the gathering, I'll just say my own prayers for peace. Join me?

A Beautiful Mind

Looking after the health of your mind is an important part of your road to balance and well-being. Maintaining mental health is extremely important. Here are some ways to make your mind beautiful to match your beautiful body.
Improve your diet: What you eat and drink can protect against feelings of anxiety and depression. Cut back on refined sugar, white flour and alcohol.
Maintain friendships: Just listening and talking to friends who are feeling down can make a huge difference-for you and for them. With email and cell phones you have no excuse not to!Exercise: The effects of exercise on mood are immediate. Whether it is a workout in the gym or a simple walk or bike ride, exercise is uplifting and a can be a great social activity.
Rest: Sleep is essential to our health. Sleeping is the time when the body can renew and rebuild its physical and mental energy. If you have problems relaxing and falling asleep, perhaps our Sleep Well Blend (essential oils) can help you find your peace.
Laugh: A good laugh does amazing things for the mind and soul. Cry: It's good to let everything out of your system and to release pent up feelings. Most of the time, we feel much better after we have allowed ourselves to cry.
Take a bath: The mental health benefits of a comforting bath are well known. Allow yourself to escape in a soothing aroma infused bath. It will help you reset and re-energize. Try our Stress Relief Blend in your ritual and experience the power of the bath.
Make time for you: Make time for your hobbies and interests. Scheduling time for yourself is sometimes hard, but it will increase a positive attitude and self image. Remember, work isn't everything!
As I head back to my classroom, I’ll try to remember that!

Go Ahead, Save a Tree
Delicious Living magazine says that in 2008, each office worker living in a Western Country will use more than 10,000 sheets of paper. Doesn't that seem incredible? That's about 1.2 trees per person, per year. Maybe that doesn't seem like much but think how long it takes a tree to mature!
The magazine also lists some tips for us to cut down on our paper usage. Here are a few of them:
*Print only when necessary.
*Use 100 percent recycled paper when possible.
*End the flow of junk mail by registering on greendimes.com or catalogchoice.org
*Learn which paper-product companies use sustainable practices at nrdc.org/land/forests/gtissue.asp
What do you do with used wrapping paper, cereal boxes and magazines? I reuse wrapping paper whenever I can (much to the chagrin of my family). We recycle cereal boxes and other cardboard. Our library has magazine drop boxes. You can drop off your magazines and pick up ones that others have left. This is great for me. I love to look at magazines! This way I don't have to subscribe to a ton yet I can read lots!
Here at Gathered From The Garden we are trying to cut down on our paper use too. We get many cardboard boxes. We reuse them to pack bigger orders. Like most of you, we are trying to be ever earth friendly.

Monday Mornings


Check out this website : everymondaymatters.com It will give you a list of something to think about or work on for the 52 Mondays in a year. Since today is Monday I decided to give it a try. This is the 32nd Monday of the year so the topic for today is Safe Driving-Slowing Down. Here are a couple of statistics they list on their website:

The #1 killer of people ages 4 to 37 is car accidents
75% of drivers admit to driving over the speed limit
Over 43,000 people die in car accidents each year, and 2.7 million are injured.

I am usually pretty good about following the speed limit when I drive around in town. When I am driving country roads on my commute I tend to have a little heavier foot. I am going to really try to slow down and use my cruise control more.

On Monday's website they tell us that "You can’t get a speeding ticket if you don’t speed. It costs you nothing to slow down, and you might even save money on gas and brakes. Also, you set a good example for other motorists and for anyone who is in the car with you. The accident you prevent or the life you save just may be your own."

Be Your Own "Safe Driving" Diva! Slow down, obey posted speed limits and leave early to allow yourself more time. With all that extra time you can check out Gathered's new aromatherapy blends on our website: gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

Words of Inspiration from JKRowling

I have to admit I did read all of the Harry Potter books and have seen all of the movies made so far. I really enjoyed them but I know of some who didn't or some who had no desire to attempt them. Even if you aren't a Harry Potter fan, you should read the commencement address JK Rowling gave to Harvard Grads last spring. To find the address she gave go to: www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2008/06.05/99-rowlingspeech.html
Along with giving some of her writing background she has some pretty good advice for grads that also applies to most of us. This is my favorite quote from her speech "As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters. "
Gathered has added some new aromatherapy blends to our website. Check them out at gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

Cupcake in the Microwave?

This just seems too cool! A cupcake made in the microwave. I haven't actually tried it but it looks great. Here is the recipe. For more info go to widowspeak.livejournal.com


Microwave Rum Cake in a Mug Recipe

Glaze first:1/4 cup rum (dark Bicardi in this case)

3 Tbsp. butter

1-2 Tbsp., or 1/8th cup if you can manage it,

sugar (turbinado raw cane sugar here)

In a pyrex measuring cup, heat this mixture in microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between each cycle. You're looking to achieve a uniform slightly translucent simple syrup mixture here. Just keep mixing and heating until it is homogeneous solution in consistency. (Do NOT take your eyes off the microwave for this. You WILL have boil-overs if you do not take great care here.)

Once that has been achieved, set aside and get to the cake part.

Cake:1 cup yellow cake mix

1/4 cup Bicardi rum (clear)

1 egg

a couple pats of butter

In a microwave-safe heavy-duty mug or bowl NO LESS THAN 16-oz in capacity, combine cake mix and rum until well blended. Add in the egg and mix again until well blended. Cut pats of butter into cubes and fold into batter. Place mug in microwave and cook for 4-minutes at 70% power. (Worry not, it *is* supposed to puff up like that. Trust me.) After that, zap it on high for another 50 seconds.

Remove from microwave and let sit for 1 minute.Turn out onto plate.
Carefully.Poke holes in cake with bamboo skewer or fork. Gently spoon 1/2 the glaze onto cake. Let sit for at least 1 minute to let the glaze soak in. Or, douse the whole cake in the glaze and immediately DECIMATE FOR INSTANT NOM.

Nuts are optional. Enjoy. :)

How To Stay Young
I found this article in an old newspaper clipping. There is no author listed. I think it has great ideas for any age...

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this in mind if you are one of the grouches.)
3. Keep learning: learn more about your computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let your brain get idle.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath or cry. If you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with him/her.
6. The tear happen: endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life is yourself. LIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love: whether it's family,pets,keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home should be your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. It if is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

New Hope For Beating Breast Cancer

I was at my sister-in-law's house on Sat. and I saw half a dozen pink roses on her table. She explained they were from her daughters in honor of the anniversary of her breast cancer surgery. She has remained cancer-free for seven years now so it is indeed worth celebrating!

Coincidentally, I was reading the Sept./Oct. issue of AARP magazine. (aarpmagazine.org). There is an article about new research findings and breast cancer. It lists how to lower the odds of your getting this illness. Here are some things to try:

Lose weight--a Harvard study suggests that losing weight and keeping it off after menopause will cut your breast cancer rate by 57%.

Exercise--it also reduces your risk and it's never too late to start.

Love those fruits and veggies--Survivors who exercise and eat five servings of these a day are less likely to have a recurrence than those who don't.

Dim the lights--(this one is really news to me) Women who live in brightly lit cities at night are 73% more likely to get breast cancer. So keeping your bedroom dark might protect your health.

Get those mammograms!--Mammography offers survival benefits even to women in their 80's. Men should also report any lumps to their doctor.

Speak up--ask your doctor about all your options and seek a second opinion if necessary.

AARP Magazine says that 89% of women with breast cancer will survive without a recurrence for at least five years. That's a good percent but I'm thinking it should be better. Pass this info along to the women in your life and for more info check out the article in the AARP Magazine.

If you've read our blog or checked out our website (gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com) you know that pink is our favorite color!

Bonjour!

Jerry and I just spent the most awesome week in Paris. We saw most of the tourist sites, ate French cheese and pastries and of course had some wine. We observed many differences and similarities in the French people and Americans. The French lifestyle is marked by frequent family gatherings, an appreciation of life's small celebrations, a love of good food, wine and healthy living. (They do however, smoke a lot.) Being that we are in the beauty and skin care business we had to check out some French beauty tips for you.

French Skin Care
Compared to the average American woman, the French view investing in their appearance as an absolute necessity, not an optional luxury. They're more inclined to pamper themselves. Their biggest focus is on developing a beautiful, glowing complexion. French women take pride in their skin, whether that means getting regular facials or buying the best moisturizer their budget allows. (I think this in part to combat the effects of their smoking.) They use sunscreen religiously. Fighting cellulite is a big deal for French women—much more so than for Americans. Any Parisian drugstore is stocked with various creams, lotions and other products meant to minimize cellulite. The French are known for preferring a natural face over a "done" one. While French women do wear makeup, they do so in a way that isn't necessarily obvious. So while you might start with foundation (to give a flawless-skin finish), you'd go easy on the blush, dab on some mascara and a light lip gloss. We rarely saw eyeliner/shadow at all in Paris. At night, they might favor a little bolder look but still less is more.
The French in major cities (Paris, Nice, etc) tend to be much thinner than their American counterparts in major US cities because they walk everywhere. We felt like we had walked miles and miles each day. Using the metro requires many staircases and lots of walking to get to your train! The French utilize portion control, and don't snack. We never went hungry at any café or restaurant we ate at but we didn’t need a doggie bag when we left either. We never saw a sign to “super-size” anything!

*****So-- to look as fabulous as some of the French women we saw, we recommend using Gathered’s Facial Moisturizer, Toner and Clay/Dead Sea Masks to give your skin a beautiful, glowing complexion. Don’t smoke, use sunscreen, go easy on the make-up and snacks. Add some extra steps to your daily rountine. Check out our products: gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

People Are People...

I just got back from a fabulous trip to Paris. We visited all of the tourist spots and explored some side streets on our own. The food was delicious--from crepes to pastries and of course wine! We especially enjoyed being able to sit at a sidewalk cafe and people watch for hours.

In the course of a week we met many people. Some were native Parisians, some visitors like us and a wonderful American who had moved to Paris 20 years ago. He helped us navigate the menu at a cafe one afternoon along with giving us tips about Paris. We saw young professionals, the elderly and families with small children.

Although their language is different I think people in Paris are basically the same as Americans. For the most part they were friendly and we had people stop on the street willing to help us find our way. One waiter at our hotel was very up on current events in the U.S. Interest in the Olympics was evident. We saw the French enjoying each other's company, hurrying off to work in the morning, shopping, touring Paris on their "holiday" and worshiping in the churches we visited. Such common threads woven in the pattern of daily lives.

We truly enjoyed seeing another culture and learning from it. While there are things about the French we didn't agree with (seems like everyone there smokes) we could still appreciate the differences and similarities. It just doesn't seem so important in the grand scheme of things to let those differences and similarities keep us from enjoying each other. Why can't people in the world recognize that?

I had such a great time. I hope that I can travel abroad again to see more of the world. It does make you appreciate home so much more. Have you traveled abroad? What were your experiences?

Gathered From the Garden products made it to France too. We took some along with us to be sure we could pamper ourselves after a long day of sightseeing. Our foot products were especially appreciated after a long day of walking. Check out our website: gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

Tired of the Evening News?

If you are like me, sometimes you just get tired of all of the bad news on tv, radio and the newspapers. I found a site that helps to combat that. It features only "happy news" and hence their site: happynews.com

It's refreshing to just read about news that is uplifting. Check out their website and see what good things are happening today. By the way, have you done some giving today? See Monday's post...

Be Your Own "Giving" Goddess

On a website promoting women's businesses I read an article about giving. There is a movement called "29 Gifts". The idea is simple. Give something away every day for 29 days. The author's premise was that if you give-- you will also receive. You can sign up to join other givers at 29gifts.org

Here is a quote from the website on why you should give:

"Why? Because to see the world change, we have to do something to change the world. Plus, the best way to attract abundance into your life is to be in a perpetual state of giving and gratitude. Be an important part of the global giving movement that inspires more generosity on our planet."

I have already signed up to commit to giving for the next 29 days. I don't think it will be that hard to think of something to give someone. I'm kind of excited to see what I can come up with and where it takes me! What do you think? Are you going to give it a try? You don't need to sign up (although they are trying to get 2000 people commited to this by the end of July). Let us know if you sign up and share any stories of your giving with us. If you need some good gift ideas to give others check out gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

Just Some Personal Musings...
My son Jon from FL was here this week along with my daughter Rana from CO. Jon was scheduled to go to Afghanistan the first part of August so this was to be a trip to see family before he left. As it turns out he doesn't have to go with the mobile group of Marines. He may have to go in Sept. but that would be for a short duration probably to much safer Kabul. We realize the power of prayer and thank God! We had a great visit because that Afghanistan trip wasn't hanging over our heads!!
Even though my children are all grown it still is so incredible to have our whole family together again. Seeing everyone including my grandchildren and son-in-law around our kitchen table is overwhelming joy! Everyone should be so lucky.
Jon and Rana have gone back to their lives in FL and CO. Thank goodness for cell phones and email. (I haven't picked up texting yet!) I sure miss both of them but it's wonderful to stay in touch. I can't wait until they are "home" again.

"Hug Now, Don't Save It"

This is a quote from an article on David Pollay's blog. (davidpollay.typepad.com) He writes an inspirational article every Monday morning. On this particular Monday he wrote about the importance of hugging and telling those important people in our lives that we love them. He says you never know if it will be the last chance you get.

I wish I had read this and thought about it earlier. I was at a graduation party for a niece on Sat. My parents were there along with a lot of other friends and relatives. What a great time it would have been for me to do some hugging. I'll have to really keep this in mind. (It really hit home as I found out that a colleague of mine lost her mother over the weekend.)

So, don't wait! Take an inventory of the important people in your life. Who do you love, but have not told recently?Choose at least one of these important people and tell them how much they mean to you, and how much you love them. And if it’s possible to see them in person this week, make sure to give them a hug; it could be one of the most important things you will ever do.

Along with a hug, how about a little something from Gathered From The Garden to show your love? Check out our website for great products. gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

Just Plain Silly !
I'm still on the theme of aging...I read this on another blog and I thought it was hilarious! (and of course I had to try it!) 11 year olds say that the skin on your elbow is called a WEENUS (yeah, I know) and that it is a true indication of one's age. Oh, really? Well, if you straighten your arm and pull the fattest piece of that skin away from the body, the speed in which it retracts tells you RIGHT THERE if you are old. If I pull mine out, I have to kind of push it back, because it doesn't snap back very easily. It is slow going. So apparently I failed the young WEENUS test. I am officially old.
I suppose someone could do some research and come up with a formula to determine how fast your weenus should flatten out. Doesn't that sound like a gov't contract just waiting to go out...Anyway, give it a try. If nothing else, just learning a new word has been worth it!

BMI Index
Knowing your BMI is important, because the number indicates whether or not your weight is a threat to your health. The higher the BMI, the more health risks that you incur.
While it is generally accurate, the BMI can read too high for athletes or others with large, heavy muscles. Likewise, it can exaggerate low readings for frail older people who have lost muscle mass. The calculation is the same for both men and women.
If you go to aarp.org/health you can find a BMI index that you can do online. It only takes a few seconds and asks for only two bits of information. It will then give you a range to see where your BMI falls.
I have been power-walking and doing a tiny bit of running each morning to try to get more fit. I was very surprised at how winded I became after a very, very short time of running. I've been at it for a few weeks and I can run a little further. At this point in my life, I am much happier with the power-walking! Have any of you changed your exercise program as you have aged?
You don't have to even leave your chair to go to our website to find great products! Check out gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com. or our blog at gatheredgarden.blogspot.com

Advice For the Young (or Young-at-Heart)

One thing that birthdays tend to make you do is some reflecting. Looking back at the past I know I can't change it but I can learn from it as I look to the future. The June 17 issue of Woman's Day magazine has an interesting article. It gives some advice that might have helped us navigate our youth "If only I knew then..."

Be kind instead of right. This is a great gift for yourself and others.
Wear sunscreen every day. You never think you are going to be that old woman with sunspots--guess again!
Don't be in such a rush. I can't believe time has gone by so quickly! How did I get to be this old? It snuck up on me! I really do need to stop and smell the roses!
If it isn't in your wallet, don't spend it. Use those credit cards wisely!
Love yourself first. Woman are often taught to always put others first. That's easy to do as a wife, mother, sister, (any of the hats you wear). It's really important to treat yourself the way you treat others. I didn't learn this lesson until I was older. It would have saved some heartache if I had learned it earlier.
Don't let anyone make you feel unequal. Being equals with friends or your spouse is the foundation of a good relationship.

These are just some of the pearls of wisdom found in the article. Do you have other advice for those young people reading my blog? Or maybe you young'uns have some advice for us! We'd love to hear from you.
Maybe another bit of advice would be to pamper yourself more. You've heard L'Oreal say "you are worth it". Here at Gathered From The Garden we believe that too. Check out our website for some awesome products to help put You first! gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

A Conscious Aging-Plan

Ah, yes, the sands of time keep falling through that hour-glass! Can you tell I just had another birthday? Time to reflect on the aging process and look ahead to another year.

Tracy Gaudet, M.D. is the author of several books, including Body, Soul and Baby and Consciously Female. She has put together a "Conscious-Aging Plan". Her plan includes these 5 steps:

1. Know your preconceptions. What's your image of an older woman? 10 years older than you? 20 years older? 30 years? What are your greatest fears about your own aging. Take time to explore these...I think my greatest fear is not being able to take care of myself.

2. Do a reality check. Think about the older people that you know and love to be around. What is it about them that you admire? Do you know anyone in their 80's or 90's that is still full of vitality, has a sharp mind and is filled with joy?

3.Visualize your future. Imagine yourself at age 90 vital and glowing--someone that others would like to be around. What does it feel like? What do you look like? How do you feel? Imagine yourself to be the oldest person around that young people gravitate to. Give yourself permission to think of this possibility as reality!

4. Make a list. Think about how many years are between you and 90. How much do you have to ask of your body? What changes could you make in your life that would support your body as it ages? Make a list of these changes.

5. Start now. Look at your list and choose one thing you'd like to work on. Think of it as a baby step that will start you in this direction and go for it! I think I need to work at keeping my mind sharp--more crossword puzzles or maybe learning a new craft. My memory is not as sharp as I'd like it to be.

I don't love the fact that my body is aging but I am ok with it. I feel I am a much more interesting and smarter person now than when I was younger. I've had a lot of life experiences to draw from and I love the fact that I have become a grandmother! I guess embracing aging will make the years ahead possibly my healthiest, most vital and joyous yet.

One of the things that also gives me joy is making and using products from Gathered From The Garden. Check out our website: gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

Your Real Beauty

For years I envied my tall, blond, thin sister-in-law. I was always a little on the plump side, average height and a brunette. My self-esteem was low all through high school and the beginning years of college. The media didn't help, suggesting that to be popular and well-liked you had to look like Twiggy. (Boy, am I dating myself!)
Although I am happy with my shape today, I think the media still presents an unrealistic standard for physical beauty. Statements related to negative body images are still one of the first things you hear from female adolescents. Fortunately, two new media programs are making positive steps toward helping females accept their bodies in a positive, realistic way.
One is the "Dove Campaign" website (campaignforrealbeauty.com)that mothers and young daughters can use to discuss body image. There are articles and activities just for girls. There are also articles for Moms and Mentors. The other program is a new Lifetime TV show, "How to Look Good Naked".(lifetimetv.com) This show spotlights positive ways for women to view their body images.
I think a goal for us women is to help each other enhance and project our unique personal beauty, regardless of our body shape and size. We can improve our body image through the use of fashion and skin care tips and healthy lifestyles. Letting younger girls see us enjoying who we are instead of complaining about our bodies would be a great example for them! I also think they need to see us practicing healthy lifestyles too. What are your thoughts on this?

Hand, Foot and Skin Care
If you love to dabble in the kitchen here's a great site for you: makeyourowncosmetics.com You'll find lots of really fun recipes for hand, foot and skin care that you can make on your own. Lots of them use ingredients you probably already have on hand.
The one featured there right now is for a Foot Spa using milk, sugar, water and your favorite lotion. (We are sure it's Gathered's Goat Milk and Honey Lotion!) Head on over and see what beauty recipes you can use to feel like a goddess! Let us know if you try some and which ones are your favorite.

Are You Ready for an Adventure?

On the news this week were two dramatic rescues of women who had been hiking in the mts. and became lost. One was in the US and the other was an American woman in the Alps. In both instances the women were resourceful enough to attract attention to get rescued. I'd say they had very adventurous spirits.
I have never been very adventurous. I kind of like the safe and known. But sometimes I think I might be missing out on some very interesting activities. SARK says that adventuring is developed by practice. The more adventures you embark on , the more adventures will begin to seek you out. She says that adventures can by tiny or large, they can be expensive or free. She also says that we are creatures of habit (I know I am) and that we should make a habit of adventures.
So this summer one of my goals is to start breaking out of my safe routines and look for adventure. I probably will look for small ones to start. I will be going to Paris is August and I'm pretty sure that will be a LARGE adventure for me!!! What adventures have you been on? Have you made adventure a habit in your life?
I plan on taking some great Gathered From the Garden products along on my adventures. Check out our website for some products to take with you too! gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

10 Ways To Brighten the Day

For us here in MN I think summer has finally arrived! We had an exceptionally cool and rainy spring that has lasted into June. But hurrah--today's high should be about 80 degrees! So with all of the sunshine today it got me thinking of how to brighten your day and that of others. Here are some ideas:

1. Smile. (at everyone and just because- if no one else is around!)
2. Start your day with a workout or some kind of exercise or stretches.
3. Enjoy time with your family.
4. Call a friend. (It's really better than email)
5. Get outside! Swing in your hammock, garden, bike, go for a walk.
6. Help someone in need. (turn on the news and you will see plenty of others that could use some help! Prayers help those in need too.)
7. Play like you did when you were a child. When was the last time you played hopscotch, hula-hoop, or scooped up sand in the sandbox?
8. Laugh out loud. Tell a good joke. Read the comics.
9. Praise someone. It will make two people happy!
10. Wear bright colors--reflect the glorious colors of nature in summer.

I'm sure you can add to the list. Let us know what other ways we can brighten our day. I could have added "read a blog"...or check out Gathered From The Garden's website. Buying and using any of our wonderful products will surely brighten your day! gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

Could You Live To Be 100?

My mom just celebrated her 77th birthday. She was commenting on the fact that she outlived her mother. We got to talking about longevity in my family. My dad's mother lived to be 94. Could we make it to 100?
I read on the AARP website about a fellow who is studying people who live to be 100. He went to Costa Rica and interviewed a wonderful old woman. You can read about his visit with her and watch a short video. It is quite inspiring! (aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/living-healthy-to-100.html)
He lists several factors that these people have in common. Some are: they have a sense of purpose, they have a focus on family, they eat fewer calories, they have kept hard at work all of their lives, they maintain social networks and they are genuinely likeable people. This particular woman had visitors stop by her house everyday and she was thrilled to see them.
The list doesn't seem complicated or difficult to do. (maybe the fewer calories part...). I'd like to think that reaching 100 is attainable. I'd only want to live that long if I was in relatively good health like the woman in the interview and if I still had people visiting me everyday! She lives by herself but her 80-year-old son does bike over everyday to check on her. :)
What about you? Would you like to live that long? Are you doing any of the things of the list to increase your chances? I think being a 100-year-0ld "goddess" would be awesome!
Speaking of awesome--check out Gathered From The Garden's website for some awesome products for the goddess in you! gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

Girls Just Gotta Have Fun

Ladies you need to check out this site: HairMixer.com!

The site has hundreds of celebrity photos where you can magically insert your own image into the face portal section. Supposedly you can use the feature to see what hairstyles look good with your coloring and face, but more importantly it’s just plain fun! I haven't figured out yet how to post pictures of me using hairmixer so you'll have to go there and fool around with your own picture. Let us know which celebrity style was your favorite.

For more fun go to www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com where you won't find celebrity styles but products that will make you feel like a celebrity!

Memory Like an Elephant?

A very good friend of mine was telling me about her elderly mother and how forgetful she is. She couldn't remember the name of "that thing that cuts grass" (a lawnmower). My friend was worried that her mother was becoming senile, getting Alzheimers or having side effects of her medication.
As I listened to her tell about her mother I couldn't help think of all of the times I had trouble remembering names, dates etc. For me it's only a temporary lapse (something to do with menopause perhaps?) but it still makes me a little nervous when it happens.
I was reading the March 2008 issue of Prevention magazine. In it they listed several factors that we can control which have been shown to slow "mental decline". (I don't like the sound of those two words.) I've listed some of them here.
*Eat more brain food. Blueberries are especially good to improve short-term memory. Cut saturated fat and eat more fruits, veggies and fatty fish such as salmon.
*Sleep 8 hours every night. Your brain uses the "downtime" to sort and store information. Sleep can also strengthen memory recall.
*Do something new every week. Tackling unfamiliar tasks boosts short-term memory and builds up the part of the brain that encodes info.
*Breathe deeply. Processing new information when we are stressed is tough.
*Make a list of tasks. (I do this all the time--don't always get to everything on the list though.) Sometimes we ask our brain to retain too much information.
*Take it one task at a time. (I am very guilty of multi-tasking!) Trying to do too much at once leads to forgetfulness. A mature brain tends to experience "moments of rest". These pauses are what causes us to draw a blank.
These seem like easy things that I can start doing right away. I guess we have to exercise our brains just like our bodies. It's a little scary when those "senior moments" happen and I would like to keep my mind as sharp as I can. For more good information check out the March issue or go to Prevention.com
One thing I never forget is how good Gathered From the Garden products feel on my skin! Check out our website: gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

Call Your Mom

Just a simple thought today as we look towards May. Call your mom. You'll feel great and mom will feel even better. She is probably still the one who knows you best. She is still the one who probably has the smartest advice. In the cycle of life there will come a time when you want to call her and cannot. So look around--where's the phone? Go ahead, call your mom.

While you're at it you might want to hint around for some gift ideas for her for Mother's Day. Gathered From The Garden can help you treat yourself and your mom with luxurious goodies. We can help you feel oh so indulged! gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

Just like Jerry Seinfeld
Some times you just have to do what Jerry Seinfeld did...talk about nothing. So here I am basically blogging about nothing! Anyway, read on. I think these facts are fun.

1. Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S.Treasury.
2. Men can read smaller print than women can.
3. Women can hear better than men.
4. Coca-Cola was originally green.
5. It is impossible to lick your elbow.
6. The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour : 61,000
7. 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 (1-9 forward and backward)
8. If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle.
9. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle.
10. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
11. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of their birthplace.
12. Bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers were all invented by women.
13. Honey is the only food that doesn't spoil.
14. Father’s Day has more collect calls than any other day of the year.
15. “Good Night and Sleep Tight” - In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by Ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the Bed firmer to sleep on.
16. “Honeymoon” - It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a Month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law With all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their Calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as 'the honeymoon'.
17. “GOLF” – Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden. Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden'...and thus the word GOLF entered Into the English language.

FINALLY~~ At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!

Any silly or fun facts to add to our list? Send us a comment with yours...

You're Never Too Young

This past weekend my two granddaughters ran in their first 1 K race. The older one was very excited to be running. The younger one was too until they got to the race and saw some costumed characters. She was afraid of them and absolutely did not want to be part of the race anymore.

We let her watch the older runners take off. When her age group came up, her mother picked her up and convinced her to just walk behind her older sister and cheer the runners on. That was fine as long as mom held her. So they walked and cheered and about half way through the race, Karalyn turned to her mother and said, "I'm doing it!!" She managed to get to the finish line (although mom had to carry her the WHOLE way--poor mom!) where she received her medal.

This got me to thinking about how many opportunities we pass up because we are afraid. We can be afraid of risk, of failure, of embarrassment etc. But if we would just dive in we might be surprised like Karalyn to find that "we are doing it". I know there are a couple of things I would like to try but fear has held me back. I am going to try to do one of them this week. Hopefully I'll be smiling and saying "I'm doing it!". There's the old saying, nothing ventured, nothing gained...

In case you are out running in races and marathons this Spring, Gathered has some great "Sore Muscle Relief" Lotion to help with those aches and pains. Check out our website: gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

On another note, I apologize for not having indented paragraphs. If anyone has some advice for me on how to do this in my posts--please comment!!

The Big Give

Have you been watching Oprah's "Big Give" tv show? Each week a group of contestants has a mission--give big to someone. There are rules and twists to what they have to accomplish each week and those that don't, get eliminated. It's been interesting watching partly because of their creativity and partly because they do get to work with big amounts of money.

Watching the show got me to thinking about how us ordinary people can give big. We don't have tons of money to spend. We don't have a fancy new vehicle to drive around while we figure it out like those on Ophrah's show. But I think we all have the opportunity to give everyday if we just look around. Here are ways to give right now--they aren't big in terms of money but they could make a big impact on someone' life.

1. Hold the door for someone.

2. Donate blood.

3. Give a compliment.

4. Help a fellow traveler with her luggage.

5. Raise money for a cause you believe in.

6. When you see trash, pick it up.

7. Pass on good news.

8. Tell someone you love them.

9. Give up your seat.

10. Send a thank-you card to someone who has shown you a kindness.

11. Smile at a stranger

12.Say a prayer for someone who's hurting.

13. Teach your children about giving.

14. Praise someone who has done well.

15. Kick bad habits, like smoking, that can harm others.

16. Pamper someone with a gift from Gathered FromThe Garden .gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

What would you add to this list? Let us know so we can keep the giving-going!

Quick Sticky Buns
I found this great little recipe in an old issue of RealSimple magazine(Nov.2007) It's for Quick Sticky Buns. It uses only 5 ingredients to make a straight-from-the -oven pastry: butter, a banana, pecans, brown sugar and a tube of refrigerated buttermilk biscuits. There's nothing better than quick AND tasty!! Go to realsimple.com/myfakeitrecipe. I'm thinking it would be a fun one to try with my little granddaughers.
For another quick trick, try Gathered From The Garden's Petite Perfumes! They are sweet little roll-ons of great fragrances. You can tuck them into your purse or pocket. Go to gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com to check these out.