Etsybloggers July 4th, 2011 Blog Carnival by Little Andalucia

Erika
blog: http://artfulrising.com
etsy shop: http://littleandalucia.etsy.com

*How do you celebrate July 4th? Any fun traditions or favorite foods?

We do not have any traditions except relaxing and enjoying a long weekend together.  As the holiday falls on a work night this year, it is not likely that we will see the festivities.  However, a long weekend of breathing and kicking back will be most welcome!

Here are some etsyBlogger Teammates creations for your celebration weekend:

Summer Sky by Beaded Tail

Beaded Dangle Earrings by Random Creative 

Strawberry Rose Ruffle Dress and Pant Set by Little Andalucia

RUFFLE DRESS by Splendid Little Stars

Kids not included!

Wednesday Weekend ~ Recipe of the Week

Blueberry Blue Cheese Salad

2 quarts mixed salad greens

1 large red tomato, cut into wedges

1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
½ cup red onion, thinly sliced 

1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles

1/4 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime or lemon juice

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup fresh blueberries, divided

1/4 cup plain yogurt

2 tablespoons olive
 

a few grinds of black pepper

In a medium bowl, mix together lemon juice, honey and salt. Mash ½ cup blueberries into the juice and honey mixture. Stir in the yogurt. Pepper and oil. Seasonings to taste.
Place the greens on a large platter. Arrange the blueberries, tomato wedges, pepper and onions. Evenly crumble the blue cheese over the salad. Drizzle the dressing, then sprinkle with the sliced almonds.

Tuesdays Top Tips ~ Going Green

Did you hear about the "No Child Left Inside" (NCLI) act and movement?  We were watching a news program Saturday morning where we learned of the NCLI.  Catching my attention, I pulled out and started my laptop for a search.  In a nutshell, this is what I have learned so far. 

The NCLI Coalition staff spent a day on Capital Hill recently.  "Our ultimate goal is to convince Congress to embed the NCLI Act into the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) which we expect Congress to move on this summer!"

This week, members of the MCLI traveled from as far as Hawaii, New Mexico, and Kentucky to educate their Members of Congress about the NCLI Act and evnironmental education's role in strengthening America's competitiveness in the global economy.

There were traning sessions by the National Wildlife Federation’s National Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C., with policy experts from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Earth Day Network, North American Association for Environmental Education, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, National Wildlife Federation and others.

The NCLI's website states that, "The inclusion of NCLI in ESEA will substantially strengthe Anerica's education systems by:

• Incentivizing states to develop State Environmental Literacy Plans to ensure that every student is prepared to understand the environmental challenges of the future;
• Funding professional development for teachers to deliver high quality environmental education and utilize the local environment as an extension of the classroom;
• Improving systems and critical thinking through environmental education which aids in boosting student achievement; and
• Encouraging teachers, administrators, and school leadership to make time and resources available for environmental education for all students.

More: US Department of Education  The Administration's proposal for improving No Child Left Behind (the Elementary and Secondary Education  Act).

What do you think about the NCLI?

It's time to find out ,,,

... who is this month's Featured EtsyBlogger!!

TAMDOLL

CONGRATULATIONS TAMMY!!!!!!!
"Tammy is a lovely and supportive member of our team. She has been a member of EtsyBloggers since Jan '09! She participates in team events, promotes her teammates on her blog, and can be found at our team locations too."

~Joey & Aleethea

Let us see some of my favorites from her Etsy Shop:  Tamdoll Silver Mountain Originals  

Sherbet Necklace - Soft Fabric Beads with Shell Pearls

Serenity Mermaid Pattern for Cloth Dolls

Tote Bag - Composition In Brown - Upcycled Wool Dress

To visit Tammy's blog:  http://tamdoll.blogspot.com
And her Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tamdoll

Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday Weekend ~ Recipe of the Week

Summer Tapioca Pudding

6-8 Servings - Make Tapioca according to the directionss, and allow to cool completely.
1 - Large Box Strawberry Jello - Prepare according to the directions and allow to set and cool completely.
1 - Can Crushed Pineapple, completely drained

Add all three of the above to a bowl and beat slowly with mixer until blended equally (still chunky). 

Lick bowl, spoon, spatula, and beaters (carefully removed from beater)!

Cool & Set Again, Serve, Enjoy!

On My Way To The Dentist ...

On my way to an appointment with the dentist this morning, I got to thinking about being a patient, and the art of having patience.  

Rotator Cuff Injury

As some of you know, following rotator cuff surgery, I am wearing a specially designed arm sling much like the one in this photograph. 

Cumbersome, and on my primary arm, I felt that driving was going to be an anxiety ridden, and scary undertaking.  Believing this to be true, in advance of knowing with certainty, cautiously I proceeded.  At the speed limit!

Driving in the slow lane.  Dead-still  at all stop signs, carefully over the speed bumps, it began to occur to me how others may have felt in the same or similar situation. 

With this experience came a renewed appreciation for the art of patience.

 1. the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

2. an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow driver.

3. quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to drive with patience. 

 

Have you been reminded of something similar lately?

Wednesday Weekend ~ Recipe of the Week

Recipe of the Week, in advance of your weekend

In honor of last weeks National Dessert Day June 10th, 2011 ...

Bad Ass Chocolate Cake from Beau Colin 

And this from Letter Me This

Personalized Recipe Card

This is much fun from 808 Candis Creations

Other Foodie National Holidays: 

•     June 23^rd - Kitchen Klutzes of America Day
•     July - Lasagna Awareness Month
• August 8^th - Sneak Some Zucchini On Your Neighbor's Porch Night
•     September 14^th - National Cream-Filled Donut Day
•     October 22^nd - National Nut Day & National Dessert Month
•     November National Peanut Butter Lovers' Month
•     December 18^th - National Suckling Pig Roast Day

Read, Bake, Eat, Enjoy!

Today Is Flag Day ~ Fly Your Flag!

Prior to Flag Day, June 14, 1923, neither the federal government nor the states had official guidelines governing the display of the United States’ flag. However on June 14, 1923, the National Flag Code was constructed by representatives of over 68 organizations.
The American flag consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton (referred to specifically as the “union”) bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars. The fifty stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the original thirteen colonies that rebelled against the British monarchy and became the first states in the Union.

American Flag Hanging On Wall

You can hang the flag vertically or horizontally, although the Union should always be in the upper left corner as you look at it.

American Flag Display Podium

When displaying the American flag near a podium, it should always be to the right of the speaker. Any other flags on display should be placed to the left.
Display US Flag With Flags Of Other Nations

Here is where it gets a little more interesting, as international law forbids one flag above another nation’s flag when grouped together.

Here is where it gets a little more interesting, as international law forbids one flag above another nation’s flag when grouped together.  You must display the US flag with flags of other nations on separate staffs of the same height and display the US flag with flags of other nations of the same size.

How To Fly American Flag With State Flags
The American flag must be at the center, and at the highest point of a group of state flags.
The order of precedence for flags generally is National flags (US first, then others in alphabetical order in English), State (host state first, then others in the order of admission) and territories (Washington DC, Puerto Rico, etc.), Military (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard), then other.

How To Suspend American Flag Across Street
The flag suspended across a street must hang vertically. It should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.

It is not just any old red, white and blue, it is American flag Dark Red (Pantone 193 C), White (Pantone safe), and Navy Blue (281 C).

Tuesdays Top Tips ~ Going Green

Do you brush you teeth and wash your face everyday?  Here is a suggestion for adding daily exfoliation at no extra cost.

When washing your face, use a wet wash cloth and your choice of cleanser.  To save electricity, rinse your wash cloth with cold water when you are finished and hang it to dry and use for your next face wash/exfoliation!

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Summer Sale - 4 Bright Stripe Washcloths from ReWorked Designs

Handmade Bright Summery Colors.  Make your face smile for only $6.00

Maybe this organic soap from Keep It Simple Naturals.

Nourishing FACIAL SOAP For ALL Skin Types Gentle Soothing Cleanser.  From Keep It Simple Naturals.  Sale priced $3.98

Save electricity, water, and $$$$$, while keeping your face young and happy!

P.S.  For ease of drying and reusing the cloths, I use a suction cup hook that is stuck on the mirror in my bathroom.  They are rotated out and laundered weekly.

Evening with Friends ...

... We arrived just after 4pm, and were all in the pool by 5.  82 degree's of warmth and floating, taking the pressures off of life and the old body did the trick, especially for my husband who is today on his 7th working day in a row.

After about in hour, it actually felt cold to get out of the pool and into Florida's sweltering weather.  Wrapped in a beach towel, I stole myself away and back into my street clothes, after that it was not too long before the four of us were in the kitchen and the game was on...

My husband chopped fresh herbs, and enjoyed creating steamed muscles for all of us to enjoy.  Garlic, butter, rosemary, thyme, parsley, white wine, lemon and such, as he steamed those babies delicious.  We lingered at the dinner table digesting the tasty morsels with homemade garlic bread, beer and wine.  I had the pleasure of introducing our friends to the garlic bread, toasted with fresh chopped garlic mixed into melted butter with rosemary, thyme, salt, and parsley.  Oooh la la!

About an hour later, it was back into the kitchen where the salad was prepared, first course dishes were washed, the kitchen was tidied, table reset, and conversations were struck as we continued to laugh and learn about one another. 

Shrimp, yellow squash, vadalia onion, and red pepper, skewered and cooked on the outside grill.  Earlier I had created a marinade for the shrimp to bath in, to include homemade italian salad dressing, soy, worchershire sauce, fresh chopped garlic, rosemary, and fresh squeezed lemon juice.

With a salad of romaine lettuce, cucumbers, red onion, parsley, dill and feta cheese, more of the garlic bread, and we were in taste bud heaven!

Today the memories, and looking forward to our next amature gourmet dining experience...

What have you eaten lately that made your taste buds dance?

Sunday Silence

Furry Furday!

I'm a lucky doggie, cause my mommy knows that I like to cuddle under the covers, close by.

Grandparents

Two who were instrumental for the teachings by example of real, honest, down to earth, loving step- grandparents throughout my lifetime.  Not possible to write about Nanna, or Grampy without the other.  They were never without the other, until he passed and then I know he was still very much with Nanna.  I learned so much from each individually, and together as husband and wife.

While Grampy had passed about 20 years earlier than Nanna, from Alzheimer's, Nanna carried on until 5 months before her 100th birthday.  Tenacity and just plain lack of expectation that she should go anywhere!

Nanna always kept Pepperidge Farm cake in her freezer, a can of whipped cream in the refrigerator, and colorful, pastel, mint candies in the dish beside her chair to share with us grand kids.  She who was the very first telephone operator in town, right out of their home.  She who at the age of five, contracted polio causing her to wear a brace on one leg since before we ever knew one another. 

Still hanging clothes on the line, singing and moving to her good friends accordion playing, and chasing after us kids who took advantage of the kindness and always gentle scolding.  "You kids are going to get belly aches if you don't stop eating those apples". 

When I was not allowed to wear long pants to school, Nanna let me hide a pair at her house where I would stop to and from school to change.  She was my friend and confident. 
I love you both Nanna and Grampy, you left behind many tiny legacies...