The Modern Proverbs 31 Woman

Christian women, this may not be your picture of the Proverbs 31 Woman and I understand that.  I feel I am a Proverbs 31 woman and I can tell you that I have evolved.  At age 52 I feel I can speak to younger women and older women.  All I ask is that you listen with an open heart and do not judge.  Comments are moderated so be it may be awhile before your comment appears here.

The year is 2012 and I live in Southern California at the beach with my husband and dog.  John's sons are adult men who live on their own in Texas and do not have wives yet.  They are in their late 30's and I hope they find their perfect wife!

I recently joined a Proverbs 31 woman study and as the days go on I am just astonished at how literal these young moms are taking this passage and how much guilt they are laying on themselves for not accomplishing all that they think that THEY have to do.

Some thoughts...  today's married woman works outside the home or inside the home..  today's married woman has turned into a single mom and they have to be the dad in the family as well as the mom.  Today's married woman may be married to another woman!  Yes, I said it and it's a part of life that you can't ignore.

Proverbs 31 definitely speaks about her husband and I feel in my heart and understanding of the Bible that this is a man and woman relationship, not a woman and woman relationship.  The Proverbs 31 woman has step children and she's a product of divorce herself.

She has hang ups and issues and seeks God's guidance and goes to her husband with her issues but she also seeks the guidance of her girlfriends.  She has a "girls night out" on the town and her husband can take care of himself at home and handle the children while she enjoys herself.

She owns a business and makes more money than her husband.  She works outside of the home and he is the stay-at-home dad.  She and he share the chores of the home  because like me she may not physically be able to do the chores in the home.

She doesn't wear too much make up and think that she has to look like a model.  She's comfortable in shorts, pants or a dress and maybe she wears shorts to church!


He may wake up before her in the morning and allow her to "sleep in" while he gets the coffee going and makes the breakfast.

He cooks with her and sometimes for her and for the children.  She leaves him to do the home finances because she may have a spending problem and it's better for him to manage the money and she works from a budget.  They meal plan together because he has some thoughts about what he would like to eat and has input.

She cooks healthy food for her family and she may coupon but she is not a food hoarder.  She only buys what the family needs and will use and not go bad.   She doesn't make her kids fat by feeding them junk food and lots of candy because the candy and soda were on sale and she had coupons for it.  She and he help with the homework and don't assume that the child can do it by themself.

They do not spank their children.  They do not bring any harm to each other verbally or physically.  She has part in the decision making in decorating the home but he and the children can make those decisions too and they together can make the home a home.

She may have a job as a consultant and make money for herself for the things she wants to do.  Her children may have jobs and they give the money that they make into the keeping of the home.

I think by now you're starting to get the point here.  It's 2012 and there's no way that she's treating him like a "master."

Now it's your turn to comment...  thanks!

Omaha Steaks Giveaway!

Father's Day is just around the corner! Since it's barbecue season and we'd like to help you enjoy your Father's Day cookout even more, we're giving you this great giveaway! Get a chance to win 1 of two $100 gift certificates to Omaha Steaks! This giveaway is brought to you by Bay Area Mommy and some awesome bloggers. And the prize was made possible by American Family.
What's more, American Family is offering a new recipe ebook for barbecues! Download it to get 25 entries to the giveaway. PLUS an additional 25 bonus entries for it, giving you a total of 50 entries for just downloading!
Giveaway runs until June 14, 11:59pm EST. Open to US residents only. Must be 18 years or older to be eligible to win. Please read the Terms and Conditions of this giveaway at the very end of the Rafflecopter form. Good luck!

Saturday Night Mystery Coupon Envie Giveaway!

Saturday Night Mystery Coupon Envie (envelope) Giveaway!

This envelope is stuffed with one stamp on it with P&G, Red Plum and Smart Source coupons from the last three weeks worth of papers!  Some are duplicates!

Enjoy :o)

Rafflecopter here:

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What we would do without Social Networking?

This is the funniest thing I've seen yet on FaceBook!  So what do you think?  Too much time spent on the "social network" and not enough time spent with "real life" people and family and things to do?  

It's Friday night, and I'm watching the DVR of the shows I missed today while we were at the beach and making foods (yogurt pops tonight was totally fun and will be coming here this week!).  Spent the day working on my Wheatgrass Kit  (the grass is finally grown and I will blog about that too next week!) and lined up a blog for this week to post and then tonight I put some food for thought on my FaceBook fan page about Teen Mom and Pregnant and 16.  

But after this blog is done I'm off the computer and back watching tv and cuddling with my dog while my husband watches a history movie from NetFlix in the "man cave!"  

My sister and my 17 year old niece gave up FaceBook months ago.  They did it together because my sister just didn't like what she was seeing on FaceBook anymore for my niece's interactions with high school friends and they ditched the scene!

Could you go a day, a week, a month without your Social Networking?  I did it for three months because my computer died and I was so sick with my autoimmune diseases.  I actually read about 17 short books on my Kindle! I reconnected with my husband and our relationship grew better!  I quit my online Avon page that was filled with people who were there just for free stuff.  Life got so much better.  So now I regulate the time I spend on here.  I just have to!  How about you?

World's Ocean Day, 2012

 

The above picturea are of our ocean.   We live at the beach and it's clean and absolutely wonderful here in Oxnard, California.  The islands in the background are the Channel Islands and it's wonderful to go on a boat out to the islands and go whale watching.  Everything here is just so beautiful!

World Oceans Day is celebrated around the world every June 8th. Join in! Visit http://www.WorldOceansDay.org/

to download materials & find events near you!  On FaceBook you can join World Oceans Day.  See this incredible video that is less than one minute long. 

John and I recently took a week long vacation to Long Beach which is south of us and we stayed at a wonderful hotel and visited the amazing Aquarium of the Pacific and am going to share some amazing photos that I took while we were there.

I will be sharing more of our pictures from our vacation on another day.  But today we are honoring THE OCEAN!  What can you do to be involved?

It’s fun and easy!

• Check out their list of event ideas
• Plan your event and submit it to their event listing.
• Or find a planned event you like and attend!
• Spread the word about ocean conservation by “Wearing Blue and Telling Two.”

Why Should You Celebrate World Oceans Day?

The world’s ocean:

• Generates most of the oxygen we breathe
• Helps feed us
• Regulates our climate
• Cleans the water we drink
• Offers us a pharmacopoeia of potential medicines
• Provides limitless inspiration!

Now we can give back.

Take part in World Oceans Day events and activities this year and help protect our ocean for the future!

It’s up to each one of us to help ensure that our ocean is protected and conserved for future generations. World Oceans Day allows us to:

• Change perspective – encourage individuals to think about what the ocean means to them and what it has to offer all of us with hopes of conserving it for present and the future generations.
• Learn - discover the wealth of diverse and beautiful ocean creatures and habitats, how our daily actions affect them, and how we are all interconnected.
• Change our ways – we are all linked to, and through, the ocean! By taking care of your backyard, you are acting as a caretaker of our ocean. Making small modifications to your everyday habits will greatly benefit our blue planet.
• Celebrate - whether you live inland or on the coast we are all connected to the ocean; take the time to think about how the ocean affects you, and how you affect the ocean, and then organize or participate in activities that celebrate our world ocean.

So what are you going to do for World's Ocean Day 2012 or from now on regarding the ocean?

The Eyes Have it Contest and Giveaway

Welcome to THE EYES HAVE IT Contest and Giveaway!

Well the other day I introduced you to Eye Make Up: Color Blending.  And now I want to introduce an eye make up contest.  I will judge this one with the help of my husband.  But I will ask for the COMMENT section today for you to tell me if you would enter or share this with a friend to enter. Contest and giveaway end at 11:59pm ET/8:59pm PT Tuesday night.

The prizes are 1 winner of an Avon Glimmerstick and then a giveaway for 6 Avon Glimmersticks Eyeliner for the giveaway.   Yes, I said 6!  I want to really encourage you to use the look like the above picture.  But I'm mostly looking for the eyeliner use.  So refer to the page I wrote the other night, here, and then get practicing and you only need a picture of ONE of your eyes and you may enter as many times as you wish up to 5 times!  The contest starts NOW and ends on Wed. June 13th at 11pm ET.  Send your pictures to me at carolyncavies@yahoo.com and please mark them for The Eyes Have It Contest.  Thanks!   So anxious to see your eyes!

There's a VIDEO for eye shadow blending on my other blog entry.  AND here's some reviews of the GLIMMERSTICKS.  Click here please?

Please tell me in the comments if you or a friend that you will bring here will enter this contest.  Thanks!

To place an order with me at Avon, please go to:  Carolyn's Avon Page. 


And now the rafflecopter:

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This contest has nothing to do with FACEBOOK and they are not held accountable for anything in here.  Thanks! 

Travel Essentials Giveaway

 Are you planning to hit the road this summer? We've got you covered! We are bloggers, moms, wives, women and we know what it takes to have a succesful road trip!

Tips to make your summer travels go smoother!

• Ways a GPS can enhance your travel
• Planned my Vacation on a Budget
• Top 5 Apps for Traveling with Children
• Keeping your pet hydrated on a trip
• Hidden Hotel Fees to Watch For
• Save Money by using Redbox and Gas Buddy

    And of course, we know you need some basic essentials before you head out in the car or minivan.

What can you win?

Hop over here to see all the prizes you can win. (We've got travel games for kids, sprays and lotions, drink mixes,travel books, even some new earrings!) Then fill out the form below to get lots of chances to win! US winner only. Giveaway ends June 18 12:01 AM.

ps... I had to bow out of this event...  a technical problem. 

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Chocolate Smoothies

Learn how to make fresh smoothie recipes, including healthy vegetable, fruit, and a bit of the sweet tooth smoothies!

Smoothies make a healthy, nutritious snack or meal for any occasion; there is little you cannot do with a smoothie recipe. With ingredients from strawberries and bananas to kale and celery, smoothies could be considered the ultimate food, containing all of the body’s daily essential nutrients and fuel, preserving the whole foods concept, and helping you stay fit, healthy and strong. 

Once you have the right blender—and a few key bits of knowledge about food preparation—you are ready to start making your own smoothie recipes. But first, try some of the ingredients you see in this free smoothie video series. Our expert will give you some of those key tips to get started; then learn how to make a basic fresh fruit smoothie. Other recipes include a vegetable smoothie, a detox smoothie, an energy smoothie, an immune booster, smoothies for dessert and more.

Today we start with Chocolate Smoothies:

Let's start with a video for a Chocolate Chili Veggie Smoothie Recipe by clicking here!  She's great to watch and learn.


Chocolate is not the cause of weight gain and sugar highs and lows. The brutes giving chocolate a bad name is the highly refined sugar, milk, and chemicals mixed with the chocolate.
Why is it that you see chocolate toted for its high antioxidant properties, and yet many health experts say to stay away from it? How can we get the benefits of chocolate and stay away from harmful additives?

Chocolate Smoothie Ingredients

I propose for us to look at chocolate from a different prospective. What can give a chocolate smoothie recipe a creamy base?  Nuts, coconut, avocados, oatmeal, beans, and the list goes on!

I have used all of these in my chocolate smoothie recipes. Most of them taste just as good as a chocolate shake filled with ice cream and sugar. But I do have to admit that some of my experiments didn't taste so great. But how do we learn to be better if there are no failures?

What about replacing the refined sugars? My favorite way to sweeten chocolate smoothie recipes is to use dates soaked in water. They are extremely sweet and the flavor blends beautifully with chocolate. It also naturally thickens the smoothie. Plus, it contains healthy nutrients and fiber. Make sure that you remove the pit from the center, as they are as hard as rocks.

Stevia is also another great way to sweeten a smoothie. It contains no calories. Stevia is an all-natural sweetener made from leaves of the Stevia plant. Please, make sure not to put in too much. If you use too much, your smoothie will taste bitter. One to two packets easily sweetens a smoothie.
Another great way to sweeten up a chocolate smoothie recipe is to use frozen bananas. This also creates a creamy base that many people love!


Chocolate that you could indulge in without adding the extra pounds on your hips. Making chocolate with these healthy smoothie ingredients will actually be beneficial for you body!

First, you avoid the unnecessary addictive problems that come with regular chocolate.

Second, you feed your body nutrient dense chocolate that will leave you feeling satisfied and energized.

My #1 tip for making a tasty chocolate smoothie is to blend everything together before adding the frozen fruit and/or ice. That way you will be savoring the smooth texture instead of chewing smoothie ingredient chunks.

Now you know how to savor chocolate without the gut-wrenching guilt. Purchasing raw cocao is a great first step to creating healthy desserts for you, your family, and your friends.

To make your chocolate smoothie recipe even healthier toss in a handful of fresh spinach. Don’t worry... The flavor of the spinach gets covered up by the smoothie.

Here's why green smoothies are good for you:
 http://gotgreensrevolution.com/green-smoothie.html

Pick a chocolate smoothie recipe below and have fun experimenting!

COCONUT BASE

Chocolate Silk
1/4 cup coconut milk
3/4 cup pure water
5 dates, pitted and soaked in the water
1/4 avocado
1 tablespoon of raw cacao
10 ice cubes
Pour the milk and water into the blender with the dates, avocado, and cacao on top. Blend. Add ice and blend until completely smooth. Serves 1-2

NUT BASE

Chocolate Divine
1/3 cup cashew, raw
7 dates
1 tablespoon of raw cacao
1 cup water
10 ice cubes
Blend all ingredients except the ice cubes until smooth. Add the ice cubes and blend again until smooth. Very yummy! Serves 1

Pecan Delight
1/3 cup raw pecans
4-8 dates, soaked in the water (depending on your desire of sweetness)
1 packet of stevia
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon raw cacao
1 cup water
12 ice cubes
First, blend the pecans, dates, stevia, vanilla, cacao, and water. Then, add the ice and blend on high until smooth. Serves 1-2

BEAN BASE

Red Bean Smoothie
1/4 cup coconut milk powder
1 cup pure water
8 dates, pitted and soaked in the water
1/2 cup small red beans, cooked and rinsed
1 1/2 tablespoon of  raw cacao
1 tablespoon chia seeds

1 packet of stevia
8-10 ice cubes
Pour the milk powder and water into the blender with the dates, beans, chia seeds, stevia, and cacao on top. Blend. Add ice and blend until completely smooth.

OATMEAL BASE

Chocolate Oatmeal Smoothie
3 tablespoons of uncooked oatmeal
5 dates, pitted and soaked in the water
1/4 cup almonds
1 tablespoon of coconut powder
1 tablespoon of  raw cacao
1 packet stevia
1 1/4 cup water
10 ice cubes
Pour the water into the blender with the everything but the ice on top. Blend. Add ice and blend until completely smooth. Serves 1-2

SUGAR FREE CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIES

Chocolate Cashew Dream
1/4 cup cashews, raw
1/4 avocado, large
1 tablespoon of raw cacao
1/4 cup coconut milk powder
2 tsp stevia
1 cup water
11 ice cubes
Blend all ingredients except the ice until smooth. Then add the ice and blend again until smooth. Enjoy!

Chocolate Green Smoothie

Yummy Chocolate Cabbage Smoothie
1-2 cups cabbage
1/2 cup almonds, raw
7 dates, pitted
1/2 tsp stevia
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 tablespoon raw cacao
1 cup water
7 ice cubes
1 banana, frozen
Blend the first 7 ingredients until smooth. Add the frozen ingredients and blend again. Serves 1-2

Carob Smoothie

Almond Carob Smoothie
1/2 almonds, raw
6-8 dates, pitted
1 1/2 tablespoon carob, powder
1/4 tsp stevia
1 cup pure water
12 ice cubes
Pour the water into the blender with the almonds, dates, carob, stevia on top. Blend. Add ice and blend until completely smooth. Serves 1-2

If you need some places to purchase the raw cacao, carob, stevia, etc. online here are some places:

http://mountainroseherbs.com/
http://www.iherb.com
http://www.vitacost.com

I shop at all three of the above online stores for my needs. None of the links contain referrals because I'm not in this to make any money from anyone.  

How do you feel about these smoothies?  Much better than the kale ones?  Are you looking forward to fruit smoothies tomorrow?  What are your favorite fruits so I can have some ideas of what to post for you!

Tomorrow: Fruit smoothies!

Eye Make Up: Color Blending

As some of you know I'm sell make up for Avon and teach gals how to apply their make up.  Today we're talking about COLOR BLENDING.

Instructions

When to apply eye make up

1. • Apply eye makeup after a foundation or base has been placed on the skin. Makeup on the eyes will blend better when a small amount of liquid foundation is applied to the eyelids and the area under the eyebrow.
   • Brush on eye shadow with a loose brush rather than a foam applicator to start with a more natural look. Eye make up is easier to blend when you do not start your application with strong lines.
   • Apply the medium-colored eye shadow from a pre-packaged eye shadow trio to the eyelid. Highlight the area under the brow with the lightest color in the trio. Add the darkest color last, on the crease of the eyelid.
   • Use a clean finger to gently blend the dark color in the crease with the medium color on the eyelid. Wash your finger. Blend the dark color in the crease up and out into the highlight color.
   • Apply a thin line of eyeliner to the upper brow to emphasize the eyes. Use a cotton swab to blend the eyeliner into the underlying eye shadow.

The actual blending of the eye make up

1. • Blend eye makeup only after you've applied all the eye shadow shades you want to wear. Apply all three eye shadow colors if you're planning to wear highlighter, midtone and accent colors. For the best effect, the highlighter color should be your lightest eye shadow color.
   • Wait to apply eyeliner and mascara until after your eye shadow is blended; otherwise, you'll end up with a big mess to clean up.
   • Use the brush you used to apply your accent color to blend your eye makeup so that you don't get your darker accent color on the brush you use for your other two lighter eye shadow colors.
   • Buy a tapered blending brush for applying and blending eye makeup if your budget permits. You'll get a much better end result than if you use the small eye shadow brushes that accompany discount store makeup. Better yet, splurge on high-end eye makeup for the best application.
   • Move the makeup brush lightly across eyelids and under the eyebrows to blend eye shadow and remove any excess makeup.

Here's a video at youtube to help you. 


If you would like to purchase any Avon products from me, please visit here:  Carolyn, AVON REP


For more help: 
How to Apply Eye Makeup in 8 Steps

Just For Kids Giveaway - Over $250 In Prizes!

Welcome to the Just For Kids Giveaway! We’ll be giving away five gift certificates to some of our favorite children’s online retailers for a total of $275 worth of prizes.

Our sponsors are fabulous so be sure to visit each of their websites to see all of the awesome children’s products they have available!  Here are the prizes we’re giving away:

1. $50 gift certificate to Glow Baby
2. $75 gift certificate to Polka Dot Pond Shop
3. $50 gift certificate to Lilly James
4. $50 gift certificate to Bumblebee Toys
5. $50 gift certificate to Juley Jules

Five prizes means you have five chances to win, so be sure to do as many entries as you can! This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only and ends on June 18th at 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!

And now the RAFFLECOPTER!

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FREE Uncle Sam Cereal Food and Erewhon Cereal COUPONS

This giveaway is for FREE FOOD coupons!  This giveaway only lasts for one week because the expiration date on the coupon is 6/30/12 so be sure to sign up if you can actually use these coupons.  To sign up and not be able to use them is just a waste of free food.  Thank you for agreeing to those terms.

http://www.attunefoods.com/products/Uncle-Sam-Healthy-Breakfast

There are three sets of two coupons per winner!  So you will receive a coupon for your choice of the Uncle Sam cereal product and...

http://www.attunefoods.com/products/Erewhon-Gluten-Free

Your choice of the Erewhon Cereal Product coupon.  Your choice means you go to the Whole Foods or other grocery store that carries these products and you choose the flavor that you wish to have!

BEFORE you enter the giveaway be sure to read the TERMS and CONDITIONS... this is for the USA only.  You agree that you are able to go to a Whole Foods or other store that sells these products before you sign up for the giveaway.  Thanks!

And now the GIVEAWAY... only lasts ONE week, so enter soon!

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All about KALE smoothies

I started drinking KALE smoothies (and progressed up the line of them into more scrumptious and vitamin rich ones) in the span of two weeks!

One of the first things I noticed about my KALE smoothies is that they are very filling and with all the additions to the smoothie I am finding that I'm more and more in love with them each day.  I want you to know that my husband was quite reluctant to try one but if I add some chocolate to one of them, I am sure I am going to win him over as well!  

Do you like dark leafy greens?   It is hard to get the benefits from these kale if you never eat it!   Do you have a hard time finding a healthy kale recipe that you and your family will eat? I never ate kale until I started making green smoothies. Now I crave kale!

A couple years ago, I wouldn’t have even tried kale. Now, I prefer to drink a kale smoothie every morning for breakfast.  I used to only add a tablespoon of Green Foods Green Magama to my juice smoothies.  If I can crave greens, there is still hope for you! 

I have seen my skin glow, my weight drop, and my bowels become regular from drinking kale smoothies.

On Dr. Fuhrman’s nutrient dense chart, kale is at the top along with collards. In order for a food to be nutrient dense, it must contain a high amount of nutrients with low amount of calories.

A great leafy green to begin adding to your smoothies is spinach. Its flavor is easy to cover up with fruit. I can add quite a bit of beneficial spinach without the smoothie’s taste changing. Here is an excellent article about the benefits of SPINACH SMOOTHIES.

Kale’s flavor on the other hand is harder to cover up. Start making kale recipes with 1-4 leaves of kale. Then, add more leaves as you adjust to the flavor.

Two secrets to tame down kale’s flavor

#1 - Blanch and freeze the kale before blending. Not only you can get more leaves into your smoothie, you can also save a lot of money by buying kale in bulk and then freezing it.

#2 – Add a delicious berry green drink  (for instance Green Foods, Green Magma) to help cover the flavor.  Click here to order this product (and I get nothing from you doing this, this is what I do and suggest).

Kale Recipes

Beginner Blueberry Kale Smoothie

1 large ripe banana, peeled

2-4 kale leaves
1 scoop protein powder

1 cup blueberries, frozen

1 packet of stevia (optional) or agave nectar (not too much)

1 cup pure water

Pour the water and toss the banana and kale into the blender. Blend. Then add the blueberries and stevia. Blend again until smooth. Enjoy! 1-2 servings

Tropical Kale Smoothie

1 large ripe banana, peeled
1 scoop protein powder

10 kale leaves

1 cup pineapple, fresh

3 dates, pitted

1 cup mango, frozen

3 ice cubes

1 1/2 cup pure water

Pour the water and toss the banana, kale, pineapple, and dates into the blender. Blend. Then add the mango and ice. Blend again until smooth. Very Yummy! 1-2 servings

Purple Tropics

1 large ripe banana, peeled
1 scoop protein powder

2-4 large kale leaves

1/2 cup blueberries, freeze-dried

3/4 cup pineapple, fresh or canned

1 packet of stevia (optional) or agave nectar (not too much)

5 ice cubes

1 cup pure water

Pour the water and toss the banana, kale, blueberries, pineapple, and stevia into the blender. Blend. Then add ice. Blend again until smooth. Enjoy! 1-2 servings

Purple Kale Smoothie

If you have a hard time drinking green kale recipes, try a smoothie recipe with beets. You only need a little bit, but it can disguise your green smoothie!

1 large ripe banana, peeled

3-4 large kale leaves
1 scoop protein powder

1/4 medium beet (To turn the smoothie purple)

1 cup blueberries, frozen

1 packet of stevia (optional) or agave nectar (not too much)

1 1/2 cups pure water

5 ice cubes

Pour the water and toss the banana, kale, and beet into the blender. Blend. Then add the blueberries, stevia, and ice cubes. Blend again until smooth. Enjoy! 1-2 servings

Creamy Avocado Kale Smoothie

1 large ripe banana, peeled

4 large kale leaves
1 scoop protein powder

1/4-1/2 avocado flesh

3/4 cup blueberries, frozen

1/2 cup strawberries, frozen

1 packet of stevia (optional) or agave nectar (not too much)

1 1/2 cups pure water

Pour the water and toss the banana, kale, and avocado into the blender. Blend. Then add the blueberries, strawberries, and stevia. Blend again until smooth. Enjoy! 1-2 servings

Advanced Berry Kale Smoothie

1 large ripe bananas, peeled
1 scoop protein powder

6-12 kale leaves

1/2 cup strawberries, frozen

1 cup blueberries, frozen

1 packet of stevia (optional) or agave nectar (not too much)

1 1/2 cup pure water

Pour the water and toss the banana and kale into the blender. Blend. Then add the strawberries, blueberries, and stevia. Blend again until smooth. Enjoy! 1-2 servings

Peachy Kale Smoothie

1 large ripe banana, peeled
1 scoop protein powder

10 kale leaves

4 dates, pitted

3/4 cup pineapple, frozen

1/2 cup strawberries, frozen

3/4 cup peaches, frozen

1 cup pure water

Pour the water and toss the banana, kale, and dates into the blender. Blend. Then add the frozen fruit and blend again until smooth. 1-2 servings

Now please tell me if this disgusts you, intrigues you, teaches you something new, or made you want to try one as soon as you get your hands on some of the ingredients!  MAYBE you would like to share a SMOOTHIE recipe of your own in the comments?  Thanks for all your comments and input!

Tomorrow:  Chocolate Smoothies (yes I have plenty of recipes for them!)  Hubby will be happy! 

Random Acts of Kindness and Special Thoughts

Random Thoughts and Inspirations

FREE!

Just "BE"

Sounds good to me!

And finally...

Planned my vacation on a budget! And it still cost us over $500.00.

This is our beach...  Oxnard Beach, California and yes, totally beautiful and we live here every day and can see this beauty as much as we want.  But even we like to get away and see some other places that are around us.

So I planned out in great detail a vacation to Long Beach, CA.  We were visiting two places and eating at Denny's and staying at the Motel 6 (because they take dogs).  I had it down to under $200.00 for 4 days and 3 nights and that included our membership to the Aquarium of the Pacific!  

What we didn't plan was the rock that some random car hit and it cracked my front window. And the car that hit the front end of my car when John was in the drug store.  The driver never left a note.

This is just a little note to say that you can plan everything for your vacation down to the last dollar and still get unexpected events that will cost you more than your vacation!  I plan to blog about our wonderful vacation in the days to come.

Pearl Mountain Image Converter Review and Giveaway

Conversations with Carolyn shares their review and giveaway of the Pearl Mountain Image Converter.

Pearl Mountain Image Converter is a photo converter as well as batch image converter, which helps you convert images to other formats, resize, rotate, crop, add watermark, apply effects and add border to thousands of images at a time. As a blogger and photography hobbyist, this is tremendous for me because I am able to add a watermark to any of my pictures and re-size them to be the perfect size for anything I need. One of my favorite hobbies is taking pictures. 

 Pearl Mountain Image Converter allows me to convert thousands of files at once in batch mode. It's a huge time saver. Pearl Mountain Image Converter supports the most popular image formats: BMP, JPEG, TIFF, RAW, PNG, GIF, TGA, and PSD, and almost all image formats. You can re-size your image for any different use; email, the web, Facebook, photo prints and much more!

You can save operations that you usually use as profiles and bring convenience to you in the future.  Pearl Mountain Image Converter lets you add image and text watermark for Image Copyright Protection. As a beginning photographer I know that this is really great for me and for the intermediate and professional photographer as well.

Here are some more great features I get with this program:

• Convert thousands of files at once in batch mode.
• Supports the most popular image formats: BMP, JPEG, RAW, PNG, GIF, TGA, and many others
• Convert between many different image file formats.
• Resize image for any different use, such as for web, e-mail, photo printing,Facebook, Pinterest, mobile phone, ipod/ipad/iphone, etc.
• Add image and watermarks for Image Copyright Protection
• Adjust image brightness, contrast and saturation in batch to make your images look more special.
• Apply border to images.
• Crop photos, removing unwanted areas.

... and much more.

I was so happy to do this review because overall I really had a need for a program like this and I just wasn't able to learn all about Photo Shop at this time.

And now the GIVEAWAY (there are 4 full version license codes available for this giveaway and they will come to you in your email but don't give your email in the comments, only in the giveaway, you'll see what I mean.)  Thanks and best wishes!

Disclaimer:  As a Tomoson reviewer I was sent the full free version to own and review.  I was not compensated in any other way.  Any opinions in this post are my own.  Also, FaceBook has nothing to do with this review or any part of the giveaway.  They cannot be held responsible for anything.


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Coconutty Pancakes aka Puff Pancakes

 Coconutty Puff Pancakes

Ingredients

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/3 cup nuts

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 eggs

3/4 cup coconut milk

1/2 cup crushed pineapple

1 TBL coconut oil

ingredients are ready

ingredients are split by dry on left and wet on right

Mix together flour, coconut, nuts, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.  In a separate bowl, combine eggs, coconut milk, and pineapple.

Stir the dry ingredients into the wet. 

Heat the coconut oil in a skillet (or in our case on the Avon Puff Pancake Pan)

Spoon batter onto hot skillet making pancakes 3 inches in diameter.  We of course did them in this Puff Pancake Pan.

Cook until puffed and dry around the edges.  Turn and cook other side.

Server with syrup of your favorite topping.  Makes about 16 pancakes or the "puff cakes" that we made.  

I used the Fat Toad Farm Vanilla Bean Caramel on mine!  I am so in love with their Goat Farm Products.   Feel free to visit them and check out their products.  The caramel is incredible! 

If you would like to purchase an Avon Puff Pancake Pan with Tongs from me please contact me at carolyncavies@yahoo.com  Thank you!

How I pray for my readers

I recently celebrated my 1^st year blogiversary.  I was really excited because I actually completed one year of a project that I set out to do.  This may sound odd but it’s been so difficult with the autoimmune diseases that I really never know what day I’ll be able to blog and what day I won’t. 

Along with thinking about blogging I thought about praying.  That’s because I started another project on Oct. 31, 2011 and that is my Prayer Journal.  I took a composition book and started journaling my prayers (because I suffer from something that is called, “Fibro Fog” and it’s very difficult for me to pray in the same way that other people may pray.)  

I don’t close my eyes, bow my head and think through my prayers in my head.  Instead I write them to God.

What you may not realize is that I actually pray for YOU!  It’s true.  I ask each week that God speak to the people that I write to through my blogging.  I have no idea who is going to read which post, nor what they will think when reading it, nor do I know what they are thinking unless they reply to the blog entry with a comment.

So I will write to you what the first two things that I wrote in my prayer journal say.  This may/may not surprise you.

1.     I need to spend more time listening to others than I do talking.

2.     I need to not be critical of others even if I believe those things are true.

When I write my prayers I pray I just talk to God as if I were writing a letter to Him.  It works for me!  When I come across someone online who is asking for prayer, I just write it out to God and commit it to Him.   I try to never embarrass anyone by asking them more than they want to share with me and in the left-hand column I have the section marked as this “Answered.”  This way I am committed to praying for this person until I find out that they have come to a conclusion of what they were asking for. 

So you may wonder about those first two prayers that I wrote.  Well they have not yet been “answered.”  I’m still working on them today and every day.  The one person that knows me best is God and then is my husband, John.  He never reads this journal but he knows about it.  I decided that I needed to amp up what I am doing in prayer about my husband and bought a journal with thought provoking questions and verses and comments.  It’s called, “Closer to MyHusband.”  I’ll still pray for him in my Prayer Journal but I will do more of this in that journal and commit more of my prayer journal to praying for you!