"Food" for thought......

I have been fascinated with food, nutrition, and the impact that they have on our health since I was a teen. It was started by my family and my curiosity grew into my early twenties when I became a vegetarian and practiced that eating style on and off until my mid-thirties. While I have been a meat-eater for many years now I still base my diet heavily in vegetables. I try to read and learn constantly about nutrition and just found some information in the October edition of Fitness magazine. I want to share it with you.
One of my interests has been organics. This started before anything "organic" ever appeared in a grocery store. Having grown vegetables "organically" for many years I always felt like it was not neccesary to buy all of our veggies and fruits organic. Some of our produce is bug resistant and prolific all on its own, so it did not make sense to me that commercial growers would spend money on using these chemicals when it was not needed.
Here is a list of produce that you just don't need to buy organic......(save your money for edibles like the list of produce that DOES need to be organic, plus eggs, milk and meat which are concentrated animal products!)
"Clean" produce: (from cleanest to riskiest) Onions (duh!), Avocado, Sweet Corn, Pineapple, Mangoes, Sweet Peas, Asparagus, Kiwi, Cabbage, Eggplant, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Grapefruit, Sweet potato, Honeydew melon
"Dirty" produce: (from dirtiest to cleanest) Celery, Peaches, Strawberries, Apples, Blueberries, Nectarines, Bell Peppers (you can't grow these guys without LOTS of fertilizer), Spinach, Kale, Cherries, Potatoes, Imported Grapes
This is by no means extensive and if you are interested I am sure there is lots more info out there.
Have an inspired day!
Toni

My Card for Two Happy Stampers Color Challenge

Well I am up late with a cold. You know that feeling....can't breathe through your nose no matter what you do.....blah!

So I am taking the opportunity to sit up and post my Two Happy Stampers Color Challenge card. The challenge was to use these colors in a card:

I had to swap out the green as I have not purchased the Pear Pizzaz, but I enjoyed the color combo anyway. I used Stampin' Up Tea Party Designer Paper for the Pretty In Pink and utilized both ink and cardstock for the Chocolate Chip. I would not have thought to use the Cherry Cobbler cardstock, but I think it was a great addition to the color palette. Ironically, I had just recieved my Cherry Cobbler card stock last week so I got to use it sooner that I probably would have!

The bird and birdcage stamps are from Unity's March 2010 Adventures in Happiness and the inside and outside sentments are from Papertrey Ink. I love to use Papertrey sentiments!

Enjoy and have an inspired day!

Toni

Hummers and other (emotionally) guzzling vehicles....

As I had recently posted about the constant entertainment streaming outside my studio window, I had to share this newspaper column that was written by Ramon Presson and was published in this weeks Willliamson Herald.

The editorial is quite amusing and, as most humor, it holds more than a thread of truth!

See it here. Enjoy!

Have an inspired day!

Toni

clean & simple Challenge Card ......

One of my goals for this year was to participate in more card sketch challenges in order to push my card creation to a more sophisticated level.....LOL! I don't know if that is what I have accomplished but I have participated in the Mojo Monday sketch a few times (sometimes I even get the cards done and don't get them posted - imagine that). Today I am posting my card to play in the current clean and simple blog sketch. I really like the clean style that their sketches inspire and would like to participate again. Here is my card....

A wonderful Sunday!....

You just never know what life will bring....Saturday afternoon our friend and neighbor came over to ask us if we would like to attend the Titan's football game on Sunday. We were hesistant as our annual True Blood Season Finale Party was the next day and plus I was supposed to work at Heart and Hands in the afternoon for a few hours, but it just sounded like fun. I found someone to work for me and worked hard the rest of the day to have everything done for the party.

Wow, it was worth it! We sat in a fantastic suite, the food and drinks were great! The day was one of those TOP TEN days of the year with crystal blue skies, not too hot and a light breeze! Perfect! Posted is a picture of the National Anthem presentation. Thanks so much Jerry and Kim for sharing the day with us!!

The party that evening was great with lots of good friends, the TB Finale and a surplus of food. True Blood was full of twists and it will be hard to wait until next June!! I made some little tags with vampire stamps and some quotes from the show this season and hung them on a black Halloween tree.....lots of other decorations but I forgot to take pictures!! Oh well....next time!

Have an inspired day!

Toni

My "Room with a View"....

This summer we had our daughter's bedroom and my studio painted and we switched the two rooms. Taylor loved it when she was home this summer because the new guest room is darker and was conducive to sleeping in...I love the switch because my studio is so bright!

But most of all I love my new view and my paper crafting window faces the large double window with this great view. The flowers are getting a little tired, but I have an endless parade of butterflies, Hummingbirds and Cardinals to make up for the fading flowers

I put up a Hummingbird feeder hoping they would find it before their fall migration and within hours I was rewarded with constant entertainment just a mere four feet from my chair! They are a wonderful and spectacular creation of nature!

Now will I be able to concentrate on my work......

Have an inspired day!

Toni

Ready for Fall....

I am rushing the seasons which is out of character for me! I am usually dreading cold weather, but this summer has been so long and hot that I am looking forward to cooler weather and the lovely falls colors that come with the season.

My flowers and gardens are so tired and I know that as soon as it cools off they will perk up a bit, but until then I have satisfied my yearning for the fall by creating this Thanksgiving Card.

Sooo....until the leaves change I will look at my card and maybe create a few more.

Toni

Witchy woman....

I love rock and roll.....just listen to my music that I have here on my blog.

Therefore, my first really serious painting could not have been more appropriate. My "electric guitar" woman was painted in a "Sips and Strokes" painting class yesterday. It was difficult and at one point I considered stopping, but after 4 hours my persistence paid off and here is my end result. Thanks to the instructor and my friend, Jenna.......I have a finished product and I learned a lot of technique!

Happy Tuesday...here is my Swap Card for August!

I have completed my swap card for August and was so pleased with it I wanted to share it with you. The card was totally inspired by "Beauty in Life" a card created by Snowchris and posted on the Splitcoaststampers website. My colors are very different but total credit goes to her on the layout! The stamps are from Unity Stamp Company. All of the ink and most of the paper is from Stampin' Up!

While I created the card I listened to a wonderful collection of music that was streaming on Maria Gurney's blog Gingham and Polka Dots. Not only does she have an inspiring music collection playing but she did the sketch for this weeks Mojo Monday sketch challenge. I like to use their sketches for inspiration and the first Monday of each month they hold a contest with their sketch challenge that offers an opportunity to win Verve stamps.

I hope to get back on here before the end of the week, but I am still trying to catch up from being gone so much this summer!

Ciao!

Grand Marais Garden Tour

On Saturday, June 26, 2010, from 10am to 4pm, the Grand Marais Garden Tour will feature 12 lovely flower and vegetable gardens in Grand Marais, MI on beautiful Grand Marais Bay in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

While the gardens are the focus, the tour offers so much more!

Included in the tour of gardens are some special features that Grand Marais is honored to share with this year's visitors. There are three stops on the tour that you won't find on other garden tours: The Pickle Barrel Historic Iris Display Garden, the Old Post Office Museum Rose Garden, and the Grand Marais Public School's Edible Garden. The Iris Garden features old varieties with some dating before 1935. The Rose Garden will feature more than 70 kinds of roses and the School Garden is a culmination of the work of students ages 5-18 where they experience "the (gardening) process and see where food comes from and how they are a part of that process".

An English Tea will be offered from Noon to 2 pm. This traditional "low" tea or afternoon tea will include a selection of teas, sandwiches and dessert breads at a cost of $7.00 per person. The tea will be served on the beautiful lawn of George and Marion Curtis and will be in memoriam of Marion. This event will be tent covered in case on inclement weather.

Two very special seminars will be held in conjunction with the garden tour. These seminars are an absolute "do not miss" opportunity for the avid gardener. Neil Moran, of Sault Ste. Marie, is a horticulture instructor and author of North Country Gardening: Simple Secrets to successful Northern Gardening. He will relate what he knows about growing flowers and vegetables in cold climates. Nancy McDonald of Grand Marais will present
The Daylily Explosion: Making sense of 50,000 Choices. Some kind of Daylily will fit into every garden and Nancy will help you make the right choices for your garden space.

As in past years you will be able to purchase plants donated by local gardeners at our plant sale, bid on innovative and unique items during our Silent Auction, and enjoy our delightful Music and Art on the Green.

This year our musicians in the gardens and the green space will include the 'Ski Band featuring Ira McDonald at the keyboard; Ann and Will Rowland, a well known Michigan duo; pianist Bob Williams; flutist Elizabeth Magyar; the Schlabach Family's Old Time Fiddle and Dulcimer Music; solo performer Nick Dongvillo presenting his talents on guitar, mandolin & vocals; duo Bill and Laura Baudoux on Guitar and Violin; and a local favorite, Al Young on guitar & vocals.

Admission is $10 per person. For more information or to reserve tickets, call (906) 494-2299.

Iris - the State Flower of this Beloved State - Tennessee

It is not often that I have expressed my pride in the state where I reside. I have admired the locations where I have lived. I have enjoyed many homes from as far north as Vermont to as far south as Fort Lauderdale and while there are things that I really miss from many of these locations I have never been more proud of being a resident than right here in Franklin, Tennessee.

We recently suffered what has been coined a 1,000 year flood. Devastating amounts of water poured into our cities and towns. While we were personally spared most of our friends and neighbors were touched in some way by the flood waters.

This week I created an Iris card and ironically my Variegated Iris bloomed for the first time. Pictured is the Iris and the card... both are dedicated to Tennessee. The Volunteer State that this stately flower represents. A beautiful state with just plain good people!

Etsy Greetings Team is having a 5 SPOT SALE on Etsy this Saturday, May 15. This talented collection of card makers is offering a $5.00 coupon for every $5 dollars spent in participating shops! These cards are the best greeting cards on the planet! You can find a list of the participating shops by clicking here. You can visit my shop here. You don't want to miss the opportunity for such a great deal on these cards! You know you are going to need them!!

Great Blog Giveaway

The lovely gift shop that my cards, hand sewn items, and lamps are available in is holding an amazing blog giveaway. Go to Heart and Hands blog for all of the ways to enter. The items are lovely and I have three cards and a jewelry travel bag in the giveaway. Heart and Hands is going to ship if the winner is not local and these items are very nice!!

Middle Tennessee Flooding

Over the weekend my hometown, Franklin, TN and the surrounding Nashville area have been devastated with horrible flooding. Our local river, the Harpeth, crested at 33 feet. The Cumberland, a very large river, that runs through Nashville, TN will crest somewhere around 63 feet. I am very proud of my city, region and state. They have handled this crisis with their normal bravery, efficiency, and compassion.

Here are a couple of pictures of Franklin. Please be thinking of us and send us your thoughts and prayers.

Rain, Rain go away....sure could use a little sunshine!

Okay, we have had enough! The sunny south has not been sunny this winter and I am sure that the sunshine is just around the corner. Spring is arriving a little late here in Middle Tennessee; but the daffodils are blooming, and the Bradford Pears have big buds so as soon as that big yellow orb in the sky pays a visit everything will POP!

I created this card with all of the above thoughts in mind. I just had to add a little bright yellow to see if I could make that big old sun jealous enough to show itself.....I will let you know if it works! Have an inspired day!

Happy St. Patty's Day Mojo Monday Contest Card

I have decided, once again, to participate in Mojo Monday's Blog sketch contest. I really enjoyed creating my card for the last one and it is a great way to motivate me to complete a project quickly! (I don't procrastinate, I just get side tracked!)

This week I have used the sketch to get a St. Patty's project done. I am pleased with how it turned out and will share my "recipe"....

Cardstock - Stampin' Up Taken with Teal

Paper - Scenic Route's Garden Grove and Surprise, Stampin' Up's Sweet Pea and K & Company Embossed

Stamps - Hero Arts Clear Stamps "March" set and Studio G Clear Stamps shamrocks

Ink - Studio G Pigment Ink Bright Green

Buttons - Favorite Findings

Ribbon - The Paper Studio Ribbon Scrap Pack

Thanks so much for looking and have an Inspired Day!

Still in a nostalgic frame of mind....

Another sweet memory of Valentine's Day was the yearly ritual of rummaging through the closets for the elusive shoe box. If you were in need of a shoe box any other time of the year it would be easy to find, but for some reason they seemed on the brink of extinction when it was just one week until St. Valentine's Day and your teacher had given you the annual directive to "bring in a shoe box" by a certain deadline.

After the shoe box was finally found, a lot of thought would go into what your shoe box would turn into......covered in aluminum foil or slathered in pink or red paper did not matter. It would become the vessel that would hold those pre-cut and printed little strings to your heart. You held your breath as it was time to open each one. What valentines did you recieve from your circle of friends? Which ones had candy attached and most importantly did you get a "special card" from that someone special?

This is the first time I have ever created a card for a challenge and for a card making contest. It is appropriate that it is created for a holiday that had so much to do with cards!

It has been created for the Mojomonday blogspot and now I will go attach my picture and link this blog by using "Mr. Winky's Magical Widget"!

Have an inspired day!

Nostalgic musing on a vintage chocolate box....

Do you remember the chocolate boxes from the sixties? I was not very old but I remember on Valentines Day for several years waiting with great anticipation for my father to get home from work.....I was waiting to see if he would have that "chocolate box" in his hand.

Of course, the way I remember it, he always did and for me it was not the anticipation of sharing the contents but is was the beauty of that box. Sometimes red and sometimes pink they just looked so....romantic. There were soft flowers and lace all wrapped around a box covered in shiny taffeta. Sometimes the boxes were heart shaped but the really beautiful ones might be rectangular or square. If they were extra special they would be adorned with faux pearls and lots of ribbon....regardless there was just something nice about him walking through the door with that box.

I have posted a card on Etsy today that was inspired by those boxes.

Have a great day!

Vamp Valentine....

Those who know me well are aware that I am infatuated with Vampires......books, movies, television. I love them all. I have created this Valentine card that only those who suffer from this same anomaly will understand (can you use same and anomaly in a sentence together?).

If you are a Charlaine Harris fan you will understand and appreciate this card. If you desire it you can purchase it from my Etsy store (see my link at the right).

Have a fun filled day!

Joy is not in things; it is in us.....

Happy new year.....(a little late). This is how I do things. I mull them over. I don't jump in with both feet. The water might be cold and I really dislike cold water. So finally here I am with my guidelines for the new year (again, this is how I do things - I am more successful with guidelines than goals or resolutions).

I have been hearing the phrase "fifty is the new thirty" or forty or whatever....anyway it made me think about how old I really feel and I decided that I don't feel any older than I did at thirty five so....."fifty is my new thirty five"!

In honor of that I have decided to celebrate the number 35.......

I will run 350 miles this year including 3 5K runs

I will perform 35 random acts of kindness (charity donations, volunteering, etc.)

I will produce $35 dollars worth of my products per day for a total of $175 per week and $9100 for the year

I will try 35 new healthy recipes in 2010

I will try to do 35 minutes of yoga a week

That should do it....whew!

I have posted a card that expresses how I feel about 2010 - Joy is definitely not in things and while I am not exactly a material girl I would like to remember that joy comes from how we feel inside, sharing time with others, and accomplishments that help us to feel fulfilled.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!