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