What's On Sale For August?

Can you believe that it's August already? The months are flying by and it's time again for me to post what's on sale for the month. Did you know that August is the second month of the year for the biannual white sale event? It's also a good time to snap up school supplies. Not only do sales beckon, as retailers try to get a leg up on one another, but the selection will be generally better than in the last minute September school sales.

Here's what you'll find on sale:
"White sale" merchandise -- sheets, pillowcases and related accessories
Outdoor furniture
Fresh produce
School supplies
Pre-season fall fashions
Swimsuit and other summer-wear "steals"

Do You Fancy Vintage Clothing?

If you fancy wearing vintage clothing keep in mind that this is one instance where impulse is OK because every item is one of a kind. If you don't buy it at the time you see it, it may not be available later. If you change your mind about your impulse purchase, the item can be sold back to the store, put on eBay, or re-donated back to the thrift store.

When you spot an item you love check for these types of damage before you make that purchase:

Mold and mildew
Moth damage
Wear, tear, fading, and deterioration
Stains and odors
Loss of shape, sagging, stretching
Lost Buttons (an easy fix)

Finding vintage clothes that fit you perfectly is not always possible, but if you find something you like and it is too big for you, it may not be a lost cause. Larger sizes can usually be taken in and tailored easily depending on the fragility of the garment and its construction. Smaller sizes are another matter and rarely have a seam allowance large enough for sizing up.

When looking for vintage costume jewelry check the following when you spot a temptation:

Condition
Just because it's old doesn't mean it should be beat up. Don't pay a high price if a piece is missing beads or rhinestones, has cloudy rhinestones, is chipped, scratched, or broken in any way.

Quality
A heavy weight, smooth plating, sparkling stones, and pronged setting mean that the piece is high quality, even if its costume.

Perspective
Is the piece you are considering really something you will wear? Sometimes the history and rarity makes an item so fabulous you just have to have it; but if it doesn’t match your style and personality, it’s not worth purchasing. It will sit in the bottom of a jewelry drawer and that's counter-productive to your budget and style. If it's not wearable then pass it up unless you are certain you can use it for a gift to someone who will treasure and wear it.

As I'm sure you know, sizes are not consistent throughout every decade. You may have heard that size 6 is now a 10 or 12 by today's standards. Since the sizes on labels of vintage clothes have no correlation to the sizes of today's clothing, it is important to try things on or measure them before purchasing.

Enjoy your Vintage shopping trips and create a unique style all your own!

The Scent Of Victorian Lace Cookies...mmmmm

You will love these delicate little cookies. They are easy and quick to make and are a wonderful afternoon treat with your tea or coffee.
Ingredients:

1 cup of flour
1 cup of chopped nuts
1/2 cup of corn syrup
1/2 cup of shortening
2/3 cup of brown sugar, packed

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375ºF. Boil syrup, sugar and shortening over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Gradually stir in flour and nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls about 3 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes, before removing from sheet. May be rolled into cylindrical shape while still warm. If cooled too much, return to oven for a minute. This makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Carrots In Folk Medicine

Did you know that carrots were one of the first vegetables used for medicinal purposes? Carrots are rich in vitamins A, B, C and E, and are one of the best sources of beta-carotene. They also contain high levels of calcium. Many believe carrots are good for liver energy.

Eaten daily, raw carrots can help relieve eye and skin disorders. They can also help with glandular problems, and they may help regulate menstrual cycles.

Carrot soup is good for diarrhea. It slows the bowel while it regulates bacterial growth.

Drinking carrot juice each day can energize and cleanse the body. It can help boost the immune system and may help relieve effects of fatigue and stress.

Dried carrot powder can help with headaches and joint problems.

Carrots are an antitoxin.

Carrot juice contains a large amount of beta carotene. Beta carotene increases the elasticity of the blood vessels and reduces the levels of bad cholesterol. It also alkalizes bloodstream and removes deposits from blood vessels.

Are you ready to eat your carrots? Try this recipe! Roasting vegetables are my favorite way to eat them.

Roasted Baby Carrots Recipe
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs of 5 inch long baby carrots, carefully washed, greens cropped to 1 inch above top of carrot
1 red onion, peeled, cut into 8 wedges
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp fresh chopped rosemary, or 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary
Garlic powder
Salt and pepper
1 Preheat oven to 400°F. Gently toss together the carrots, red onion, rosemary to coat with the olive oil. Lay out on a rimmed baking pan. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
2 Roast for 30 to 40 minutes on middle rack or bottom rack, until well browned.
Serves 4.

Cherry Peach Cobbler Recipe

This recipe was posted on the Diabetic Living site and it looks to me like a perfect summer dessert recipe! I've also posted the test kitchen tip, as well as the nutrition facts so that everyone can enjoy! I hope you're having a wonderful summer season!

Ingredients:
1 pound peaches, halved, pitted, and sliced, or one 16-ounce package frozen unsweetened peach slices, thawed*
1 pound dark sweet cherries, pitted, or one 16-ounce package frozen dark sweet cherries, thawed*
1/4 cup cold water
4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute** equivalent to 2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 tablespoons fat-free milk
1 teaspoon sugar or sugar substitute** equivalent to 1 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Frozen fat-free whipped dessert topping, thawed (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange sliced peaches and cherries in a 10-inch quiche dish. In a small bowl, combine the water and the 4 teaspoons flour; pour over fruit.

2. For cobbler dough: In a medium bowl, combine the 3/4 cup flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, and the baking powder. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture; add egg and milk all at once. Stir just until moistened.

3. Drop dough by spoonfuls into 8 to 10 mounds on top of the fruit. In a small bowl, stir together 1 teaspoon sugar and the cinnamon; sprinkle over the dough.

4. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the topping comes out clean and fruit mixture is bubbly on edges. Cool slightly on a wire rack. Serve warm. If desired, serve with dessert topping. Makes 8 (about 3/4-cup) servings.

Test Kitchen Tip: If using frozen fruit, thaw it completely but do not drain the fruit before adding to the quiche dish.

Sugar Substitutes: Choose from Splenda® Granular or Sweet 'N Low® bulk or packets. Follow package directions to use product amounts equivalent to 2 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon sugar.
Nutrition facts per serving with substitute: 142 cal., 25 carbo. Carb choices: 1.5.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Servings: 8 (about 3/4-cup) servings
Calories 142
Total Fat (g) 4
Saturated Fat (g) 2
Cholesterol (mg) 34
Sodium (mg) 77
Carbohydrate (g) 25
Fiber (g) 2
Protein (g) 3
Diabetic Exchanges
Starch (d.e.) .5
Fruit (d.e.) 1
Fat (d.e.) 1

Removing Blueberry Stains

This week I have received 2 positive comments on this post I put up months ago. Since it's berry season, I thought it was worth a rerun since it could be of help to someone else with berry stains...

If you are like me and love blueberries, you might want to give it a try the next time you find yourself with a stain.

The claim is:
To remove blueberry stains from clothes drench the stain with vinegar then pour boiling water over the stain. The stain will disappear before your eyes!

If you try this, let me know if it works!! It will be another notch in vinegar's belt so to speak.

Tips For Tea

The following tips are not only beautiful but they're quick and easy as well! Incorporate a few of them in to your next tea time and enjoy!

Take an ordinary vegetable peeler (hold it vertically) to a washed, unpeeled cucumber cutting it lengthwise. Make long straight slices 1/4" through the skin, following the shape of the cucumber, about every 3/8" leaving some unpeeled green skin in between. Slice very thin horizontally to create a lovely pinwheel effect for dainty finger sandwiches.

Add elegance to your iced tea by gently rubbing the rim of the glasses with lemon juice and then pressing the rim lightly into white sugar. Instant beauty!

Fresh grapes look lovely when spritzed with water and sprinkled with a fine misting of white sugar. (To create a fine mist I put sugar in a teaball and shake over fruits, cookies, cakes, whatever you'd like to dust with sugar.)

Invitations are a wonderful way to make even a casual tea into something to be remembered. Make your own by using white paper doilies, your best handwriting and a lovely floral envelope.

Include someone you'd like to get to know better to one of your casual teas. Chances are you'll both relax in the company of your friends and you won't have to worry about playing hostess all by yourself- or preparing a 7 course meal! This is a great stress reducer.

Weather permitting, take the party outside. On a beautiful day nothing compares to the fresh air. If you have flowers blooming and you've got a quiet place nestled under a tree you don't have to be concerned about cleaning your home to perfection. An added bonus!

Make Your Own Puff Paint

If you are entertaining children for the summer and like to do crafts with them, here is a recipe for puff paint you can make yourself! I'm sure you already have the ingredients on hand, so mix them up and have some fun!

Ingredients:
Flour
Water
Salt
Food coloring

1) Mix equal amounts of flour, salt and water in a bowl

2) Pour into four or more small cups and color with food colorings of your choice

3) Pour into squeeze bottles (such as ketchup or mustard bottles) or you can use paint brushes as well. This is for use on paper, it would not last on tshirts etc.

The paint will dry raised and shiny!

Vanilla Frozen Yogurt

What's better than frozen yogurt on a hot summer's day? It's a dieter's friend, cousin of the high calorie ice cream. If you add 1/2 cup of berries, peaches, or other favorite fruit on to your frozen yogurt, you have added another serving of fruit to your day!

2 cups fat free Greek yogurt
1 cup full fat Greek yogurt
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Combine the yogurts, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl, stirring until the sugar is dissolved and the vanilla beans are well distributed. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of an ice cream maker. Run the ice cream maker according to it's directions.

You can enjoy immediately or transfer the frozen yogurt to a covered container and store it in the freezer.

Guilt Free Cooking!

Like many of you, I love recipe books and collect them. I can sit and read them as well as any novel and be lost in them for hours. It was no exception this week when I received my new Taste Of Home Guilt Free Cooking Cookbook in the post. I have been unable to put it down!

I have had to alter the way I eat and prepare foods since my cardiac issue in February, and this book is going to help me achieve my goal of losing even more weight on my road to wellness. The enthusiasm I had lost for cooking and baking has returned upon viewing the recipes in this book! I can't wait to dive in to the healthy meals and share them with my friends and family. If you are in need of low sodium, sugar restricted, low fat recipes, check in to this cookbook! I know you will not be disappointed!

Click on this post to go to Amazon.com for more information on this cookbook.

Celtic Astrology...Holly - The Ruler

Holly July 8 – August 4

Among the Celtic tree astrology signs, the Holly is one of regal status. Noble, and high-minded, those born during the Holly era easily take on positions of leadership and power. If you are a Holly sign you take on challenges easily, and you overcome obstacles with rare skill and tact. When you encounter setbacks, you simply redouble your efforts and remain ever vigilant to obtain your end goals. Very seldom are you defeated. This is why many people look up to you and follow you as their leader. You are competitive and ambitious even in the most casual settings. You can appear to be arrogant but in actuality you’re just very confident in your abilities. Truth be known, you are quite generous, kind and affectionate (once people get to know you). Highly intelligent, you skate through academics where others may struggle. Because many things come to you so easily, you may have a tendency to rest on your laurels. In other words, if not kept active, you may slip into an unhealthy and lazy lifestyle. Holly signs may look to Ash and Elder signs for balance and partnership.

If I Had A Hammer...

I know what you're thinking...what on earth is making her think of hammers? I suppose when the weather warms and summer is in full swing, it makes me think back to when I was young and there were many projects to be done. We had a farm and animals, and with that came many acres of fence. A hammer was a much needed tool. If you have a project this summer and will be using your building skills, keep these tips in mind:

Don't buy a hammer with a visible casting seam. It could fly apart as you work with it. Good hammer heads are all one smooth piece and won't shatter. Because a hammer has so many different uses it's important to choose a good quality one that will last, that is comfortable to work with, and that will be able to tackle any job you need to use it for.

If the handle on your wooden hammer comes loose, soak the entire tool in linseed oil for several hours to encourage the wood to swell -- and tighten the head.

Just like when you hold a tennis racket, the closer to the end of the handle you grip, the more power you will wield.

Wear goggles when you hammer, especially if you are working with masonry or hardened nails or tackling a project above your head or at eye level.

Have fun with your summer projects!

Chocolate Passion Bowl

I almost fainted when I saw this recipe (ok..a slight exaggeration but you get the picture)! I love both chocolate and raspberries so I will soon be whipping this up for a treat. I will substitute sugar free pudding and make the gluten free brownie recipe I have posted in the past and I'm sure it will turn out great!

Ingredients:
3 cups cold milk
2 pkg. (4-serving size each) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP French Vanilla Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
1 baked 9-inch square brownie layer, cooled, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 5-1/2 cups)
1 pt. (2 cups) raspberries

BEAT milk and dry pudding mixes in large bowl with wire whisk 2 min. or until blended. Gently stir in 1 cup of the whipped topping.

PLACE half of the brownies in 2-qt. serving bowl; top with layers of half each of the pudding mixture, remaining whipped topping and raspberries. Repeat all layers.

REFRIGERATE at least 1 hour. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

White Bean and Tomato Salad

If you are looking for a salad that's a little different give this one a try. It's also great for picnic fare!

Ingredients:
1 (15 ounce can) white beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1 cup (1/2 pound) tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/3 cup minced parsley
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 tsp. each basil, thyme, and oregano
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

Combine all ingredients; toss gently to mix. Chill until ready to serve. Serves 4.

Healthy Banana Bread

This slimmed down version of the classic uses unsweetened applesauce instead of butter. The amount of sugar is also decreased by adding a little honey and using more banana. No one will ever guess this bread is low in fat! I got this recipe out of the Taste Of Home magazine. If you haven't read it, buy yourself a copy! If you love to bake, you'll be happy you did!

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 egg white
2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 medium)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla or rum extract
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chopped pecans
Directions:
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar for 2 minutes or until crumbly. Beat in egg, then egg white, beating well after each addition. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy. Stir in the bananas, applesauce, honey and extract. Combine the flours, baking soda and salt; gradually add to banana mixture just until moistened.

Pour into a 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with nuts. Bake at 325° for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool. Yield: 1 loaf (10 slices).