Funky

Something funky has been going on with the blog for about two weeks that is why I had not posted. But I have lots of post coming up in the next few weeks so please keep checking back.

Best
Ally

Wonderful Ice Tea

I love Ice Tea and that my friend is an understatement.
Saying that I am addicted to Ice Tea is much more realistic. Now here comes the problem being on a budget and being VERY picky about my ice tea I have been trying everything to find a way to quench my addiction while keeping my budget in check. Well I have finally done it. Celestial Seasonings has come out with a Cool Brew Iced Tea and it is fantastic. What I love most is that it is easy to make, costs less than Starbucks and taste great. The website shows a bunch of flavored ice tea but I bought the plain black tea which is what I am addicted to.


Give it a try and let me know what you think!!

Taken direct from the website
Cool Brew Iced Teas Brews in Cool Water in
Just 5 Minutes! In today’s busy world, fast so often means unhealthy. Thankfully, Celestial Seasonings Cool Brew Iced Teas offer healthy refreshment that won’t break your stride. These delicious combinations of succulent fruits and the finest black, green and herbal teas brew in cool water in just 5 minutes – with no boiling required!
Like all Celestial Seasonings products, Cool Brew Iced Teas are made with only 100% natural ingredients and are free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. All you taste is the goodness that comes from the highest quality teas, herbs, fruits and flavors.
Because Cool Brew Iced Teas brew in cool water with no boiling required, you can enjoy a tall glass of freshly brewed iced tea almost anywhere! Cool Brew tea bags are great to keep in your:
• Pantry – to brew up a glass or pitcher any time
• Car – to take the edge off your commute
• Desk – for a workday pick-me-up
• Gym Locker – to revive after your workout
• Beach Bag – for a surfside treat
• Purse – to give restaurant water a boost of flavor
Try all four flavors of Cool Brew – They're a fast, healthy and delicious way to drink in the flavors of summer!

Reaching a Goal

Saturday I officially received word that I completed my BA in business administration. I turned 40 last July, got out of debt and bought a condo.

The goal was to have also have finished school before my birthday but life once again caused me to put off my classes. I lost my uncle rather suddenly and my mom was diagnosed with skin cancer causing me to push off a semester. Being with family was more important than dividing my focus.

Life interfered with my education a lot. I was known as a professional student by my family and my friends. Year after year class after class I pushed forward in pursuit of reaching my goals. Life it seemed had other plans for me and dictated the speed that reaching my goal would take.

Looking back I realize that the old saying is true that what you do on the road to completing your goals is really as important as reaching the goal itself. My mom is now cancer free, my major changed many times over the years but in the end I accomplished what I set out to do.

Reaching a goal no matter how small or how far past the deadline is still a goal reached.

Swap and Sell

Image taken from SARAH MCINERNEY article
Swap till your fashion footprint drops


Do you have things that do not fit anymore, or are no longer your style or you just never use? Well go through your house gather them up, put a price tag on them and if needed a description of what it is.

Once you have all your items assembled think about your friends, which ones have stuff you love? That is how you make a great list of guest to invite to a Swap and Sell.

Next pick a date and send out the invites (I suggest using evite). What you want to do is something like this.

You have been proven yourself to be a person with great taste as such you are invited to a Swap and Sell party. However there are some conditions that need to be met to get in to the actual party.

1) Please invite at least one other person and let them know the conditions to coming.

2) A minimum of 10 items is needed to gain entry to the Swap and Sell.

3) To prevent cranky behavior you are asked to bring a food or beverage item.

Now you as hostess just need to get your ten items, turn on some great music, put out the plates for the food and some serving utensils and get ready to let everyone shop. Take any items you have left to a near by charity for donation.

McLaren's Original Scottish Shortbread

This past weekend I discovered McLaren's Original Scottish Shortbread while attending the Calabasas Farmers Market. Their booth is tucked away just like a hidden gem in the back corner of the market. McLaren's Original Scottish Shortbread while a wonderful name rich in heritage does not do this company justice. They are so much more than a Shortbread company. Not only do they make wonderful shortbreads which melt i

n your mouth but their line of products goes on to include scone mixes, jams, marmalades, cookies and curds. I was lucky enough to try and than buy a jar each of the lemon and the lime curds. Both were wonderful. They were creamy and not at all overly tart or overly sweet. I found on their website that they also have an orange curd which I will be adding to my next order. One great thing about this company is that they do not use preservatives. Each jar of curds has a use by date to remind you to toss them before they become too old. Next I tried some of their jams. I fell in love with a winter blend and hope to order some in the next couple of days. I did not come across the cookies but I saw on their website that they carry an Original Hot Ginger Lassies which I will also have to order.Now th

e best part of this company is not all the great food that they make. It is the people behind the brand Andrea and Tim. They are both warm and friendly and love to educate people about their products. While some might say the products are a bit pricy I say that I would rather pay a little more for a product that I love and support a company that cares about what they put in their products than by a lower priced boring mass produced item.

All the photos where taken from the McLaren's Original Scottish Shortbread website.

Well On My Way 2 41 by 41

So here is the update on how I am doing on meeting my 41 things by the time I am 41.

I have run for a spot on HOA for my condo I am just waiting to hear if I get it. Very odd as we fill out some paperwork and just sit and wait.

Paint more- I went out and updated my paints and I am ready to go.

I went to a farmers markets this weekend and it reminded me why I love them so much. The above photo is taken from the City of Calabasas site. While this is a small market it has 2 wonderful places with Greek food. A little French lady who sells some wonderful looking items. A fair about of flower vendors and vegetable vendors. I also came across a wonderful lemon curd place with yummy shortbread. I will post more on them tomorrow. There was also a few bakeries stalls and a tamale stall.

The market is open ever Sat. rain or shine from 8 to 1. There are a few public lots that you can park in. The lot I used I paid $2.00 for. SUCH A DEAL!!!

Lastly my wonderful niece and I have started to plan a do friendly trip up the coast (we think).

41 Things 2 Do Before I Turn 41

So I turned forty this year and I had a lot of things that I wanted to accomplish and I did most of them. As New Years draws near I have begun to think of what I would like to accomplish this year.While I have a list of life goals last year I also added to this list 40 things to do before I turn 40. I had so much fun doing this last year that I have decided to do it again this year. Now these are not supposed to be big lofty goals. Instead these are things that you want to do that will enhance or make your life more enjoyable.

So here it goes 41 things to do before I turn 41.
Wake up NY day in my own home

Visit Portland Or. At least once this year

Read a book that is considered a classic

Take trip either to Spain, Alaska or Victoria

Take a trip with my niece

Enroll in a cooking class

Take a Pilates class

Start to take Yoga classes again

Finish my book

Buy a table for my outside area

Laser

Go to the Hollywood Bowl

Kayak, canoe or go on a roll boat

Have two game nights with friends

Plant my outside area

Download all my music to my iphone

Clean my car

Run for spot on HOA

Volunteer at least 3 times

Go bowling

Paint more
Take more photographs


Go to the beach more often

Go to more farmers markets
See old friends

See to kill a mocking bird

Susan Boyle

This holiday season I was given an unexpected gift by a friend, the Susan Boyle CD “I dreamed a dream”. At first I was a bit taken aback as I am not a reality TV show watcher and had not really followed the story. I knew who Susan Boyle was but it stopped there. My friend handed over the CD and said "give it a listen I think you will really enjoy it."

I have to admit I was moved by the CD and pleasantly surprised. I found the CD to be diverse enough to listen to the whole CD all at once. For me a person who is easily bored I often cannot listen to a whole CD without getting restless. Not in this case. I actually listened to the whole CD and than went back to listen to some of the songs again.

Of all the songs on the CD I believe Wild Horses is my favorite. But it really is hard to choose just one song from this wonderful collection.

So give the CD a try and enjoy.

Saint Honore Boulangerie

So right now it is finals week for my last class before I get my BA degree. FINALLY!! But I have a lot going on and as such feel a bit dragged down and tried. When I am down and looking to get away I always think of Portland OR.

Portland is home to me. It is full of people and places that I love. One such place is this little bakery called Saint Honore` where you can get a great meal, people watch and find some inner piece. Before I get to the wonderful food I want to share their story with you, which comes direct from their website.

Saint Honoré: Our Patron Saint of Bakers
St. Honoré Boulangerie is named for the patron saint of bakers, Saint Honoré. As tradition goes, a young man named Honoré became the Bishop of Amiens in 554. During his service a number of miraculous events occurred, which spared farmers, millers, and bakers from natural disasters. Residents of France connected the miracles with Bishop Honoré and in 1204 a Parisian baker built a chapel to commemorate him. Today, the chapel is no longer standing, but the name, Saint Honoré, is etched in a gate leading to Faubourg and Rue Saint Honoré in the heart of Paris.
One of my favorite items is their fruit tart, which of course they do not have a photo of. But I do love their Almond Croissant which is so flaky and buttery that it melts in your mouth. Now while the place is a bakery but please do not let

that fool you they have some wonderful food. Their menu includes salads, Vol au Vent, Quiches, Soups, Panini's, Croissant sandwiches and Croque Monsieur. Most of the sandwiches and hot items come with a wonderful fresh mixed green salad.
All photos take from the Saint Honoré site.

NEVER-HOME MAKER

Never-home maker is the kind of brilliant sites that just makes your day a little lighter. I find myself coming back to the site over and over again because it is like opening a new present each time I do.

The site has so much variety to it that I am always excited to see what is new. Ashley and Stephen who are a young married couple who live in Upstate NY created the site. Ashley actually had another successful site dedicated to vegan and vegetarian recipes. This site allows them to really spread their wings and share their knowledge. They do so in a light friendly manner that makes you come back for more. But do not take my word for it, here is what they say you should expect from their site.

(neverhome)maker will feature the following in no particular order:
· Recipes and cooking/baking methods.
· DIY Projects that can be done for dimes (for REAL on the cheap!).
· Random photos from life out & about. Hiking. Dancing. Shopping. Etc.
· Ramblings of 20-somethings regarding life, love, and whatever else we're thinking.
· Entertaining/party ideas and various other HOW-TOs.
· Some sort of Man-Corner. Stephen's hoping to brew his own beer this winter.

So check out the site you will not be disappointed.