CSN Stores giveaway winner!

Happy Thursday all!

         Hope you are having a good one. I'm pretty busy today so just a short post to declare the winner of the $35 CSN stores gift certificate!

And the winner is....

quitecontrary1977!!! Congratulations. Check your inbox for my email!

I'll see you guys soon. Still dealing with a broken camera so I guess it's Blackberry photos for now:(
Chow!

Walnut/hazelnut picking!

Happy Tuesday all!

              Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Mine was busy but productive if you count buying a new fireplace (YAY!), going to Home Depot 3 times (don't ask!), working, grocery shopping at three locations,  going to a friend's place Friday night, having friends over on Saturday night, and all while avoiding chemistry like the plague, a productive time-well-spent 2 days. Phew that was a lot! Is it Friday yet? No? Dang!

Anywho, I wanted to share with you a little adventure a couple of weekends back that I had with my mom when she was here visiting. We went hazelnut and walnut picking!! In my neck of the woods nuts are pricey and so I thought why not get a little exercise and save some dough at the same time.

They use sheep to keep the grass down because they don't spray! Love that idea

A big hazelnut just fallen from the tree!

 A rooster having a grand 'ole time

It was all fun and games until this guy came around. He must have been the head honcho of the group as he stood his ground. He even stomped the ground a couple times and I got far away as I didn't want to be rammed!

 A hazelnut still in the tree before I nabbed it!

The fallen ones! They were everywhere, no slim pickings here!

I apparently forgot to take pictures of the walnuts we got too. There weren't as many around and they still were covered by the greenish shell which means that the walnut needs to be cleaned thoroughly before it actually looks like anything you would want to eat.

All in all, it was a good time! I loved picking the hazelnuts and walnuts in their natural environment, instead of from the bulk bins. If you have the opportunity to pick nuts in your area, you should do it! You'll save some money and maybe get to meet a curious sheep or two!

Sorry for the lack of photos. I'm having issues with my camera again and so the rest of my pictures are not accessible right now (if ever!). I was going to show you some amazing cookies I made yesterday but instead I'll direct you to the site where I got the recipe. Deal?

Okay so head on over to Katie's blog Making Food and Other Stuff. If you aren't already reading her blog, you should be! It's funny, it talks about fitness, it talks about baking, it talks about crafts, and even the occasional tornado makes an appearance. Yesterday she posted a cookie recipe I could not resist! They are called chocolate chips cookies with a little something extra. Sweet name, right?

So, I made them and they rocked!! Super yummy and fluffy, and a little bit chewy. Perfect cookie if you ask me. I made them vegan using egg replacer but you do whatever floats your boat! I love them, as does my taste tester! So if you have the baking itch (like me!) these cookies are a great place to start.

Don't forget to enter the CSN stores giveaway. The contest ends tomorrow at midnight!

Have a great rest of your day! I hope to be back soon with a casserole recipe and maybe a soup one too:)

Giveaway : $35 CSN Stores Gift Certificate

Happy Friday all!

                   Wahoo it's the weekend and what makes it better is that I have a giveaway for you!  If you are not familiar with CSN stores, they really have it all! Everything from a ottoman coffee table, bedding, pet supplies, and of course, cooking supplies! In fact they have 200 + stores for your shopping pleasure. Just check out these fun items!

CiCi Art Factory Wit & Wimsy Who Who Oil Canvas Print

Le Creuset 20-Quart Stock Pot in Cherry

Oh how I would love one of these!! Paderno World Cuisine Spiral veggie slicer

Or how about a cute clutch! I LOVE the colors of this Anuschka Half Moon Wristlet Clutch in Tribal Lily

CSN Stores is generously offering one lucky reader of Contagious Health a $35 gift certificate redeemable at any of their 200+ online stores!

Mandatory entry:

Head on over to CSN stores site and leave a comment telling me one thing you would love to have!!

Bonus Entries :

1. Follow this blog via google friend connect and leave me a comment telling me you have done so!

2. Post this giveaway on your blog and leave a link to your post (2 entries)

3. Tell me one thing you love about fall! 

In your comments please leave me some way to contact you. Either a link to your blog or an email address:)

This giveaway will end on Midnight Wednesday Oct.20/2010. The winner will be announced on Thursday Oct. 21/10. Open to US and Canadian readers only.

Good Luck!

It's a new day!

Happy Thursday everyone!

                            This is what I saw when I walked into the lab this morning.

What a stunning sunrise! I take this as a sign from the universe that everything is going to be "brighter" from now on:)

Thank you for all your prayers and well-wishes for Junior. I'm happy to report that he is doing much better. He is eating, drinking, and playing on his own now so I think the worst is over:) Yet, I'm fearful that he could go downhill again. I don't know why I have this negative thought in the back of my head. Maybe just in case he does go to kitty heaven I can handle it better? I don't know. If you can explain that one to me I'm all ears:)

 Junior playing with his big bro!

Beat...and soaking in some sun after a good play session.

I have some fun adventures to share with you before Junior was sick but I'll save them for later. Life has been pretty basic : feed  Junior, clean, feed junior, homework, feed junior, bed...oh yes, I did eat in between those tasks but nothing blog-worthy.

I hope to be back with a vengeance soon enough but this week really took a lot out of me emotionally. I have this problem and its called " I CARE TOO MUCH." I cried on Ryan's shoulder, over the phone to my mom and family, and even when writing to you on the blog. My grandma (who has Alzheimer's) even asked how my "baby" was. She saw him when I brought him home to the coast with me and now she asks every time I see her. So sweet:) My heart is definitely worn on my sleeve and I cannot help but give 100% to something/someone that needs my help. Call me weak, call me whatever you want but I think this quote sums it all....

'Tis better to have loved and lost

Than never to have loved at all. ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

Thank you for your patience as I'm trying to figure this all out!

Stay tuned as later this afternoon I have an amazing giveaway for you!!!

XOXO

Heavy Heart

Hello all,

    I am writing you today with a heavy heart. Junior is very ill and I'm devastated. It all started on Saturday afternoon with him just sleeping all the time and barely eating. Then Sunday it got worse and he was very wobbly when he walked (which he rarely did). I took him to the vet and told me the possible worst case scenario and yet he said he could be wrong. As the testing and overnight hospitalization was too much I opted for an IV drip with antibiotics. I noticed a change in him (for the better) when we got home. He started to walk more stable and he wanted food! He is still eating today and is less wobbly so I'm hopeful. He still sleeps a lot but I guess that's a good thing. I'm pretty upset and have been really down as I feel totally helpless. I know some people would just say "oh well, so is life" but I'm not one of those people. I need to do everything I can so that IF the time comes, I know I tried my best. Right now he needs lots of prayers and good vibes, and I know I can count on you guys for all that..and more:)

I'll keep you updated but I may not be around the 'sphere that much.

Thank you and love you guys!!

30 days of positive posting: An 11 year old's wisdom!

Happy Thursday everyone!

             How are you all doing? Only one more day until Thanksgiving weekend!! Not only do we get to eat yummy food, there's an extra day off..ahh bliss! We will be splitting our time between our families. I seriously do not like doing this. I have to do this with every holiday and for some reason it's usually a painful process. I know I'm lucky to have my families so close, it's just trying to give them the same "face time" can be difficult. Hopefully this year will be better..in fact, I know it will be! I'm going to try to just roll with it and do my best:)


Anywho, are we all cozying up to fall yet? I'm sure getting there:) I'm officially in love with squash and by the rate I'm cooking them, I'll be needing another trip to the farm :) Last night after reading Angela's blog I knew exactly what I was going to make for dinner. I used up the rest of the buttery nutty squash goodness from Monday' dinner and I'm growing deeper and deeper in love with it in every meal. Okay creepy, but we all have our food crushes, right? Moving on, dinner was umm umm good!

The sauce was pretty good but the sauce was missing something so I added in, get this - ketchup! It helped:)

I followed the recipe pretty closely but added in some raw kale for some green action! I also used fresh tomatoes in the sauce. That may be why I needed to adjust it a little. Ps the roasted squash tasted like french fries..so good!! They almost didn't make it in the bowl:)

Check out these cool looking tomatoes! Yes, the green ones are ripe!

Now for something pretty amazing. Have you guys heard of TED?

Here is the mission statement from their website:

Our mission: Spreading ideas.

We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we're building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other. This site, launched April 2007, is an ever-evolving work in progress, and you're an important part of it.

I love it!!

When the organization was originally started they were focused on bringing three worlds together-technology, entertainment, and design (Hence, TED). Now they have broadened their horizons. Jamie Oliver, Mark Bittman, and Michael Pollan, among many others, have taken the stage to talk about their passions and share them with the world.

TED has taken on a new spin and has created a TEDxNextGeneration featuring young minds with powerful ideas. I received an email today sharing one of these talks. It featured an 11 year old boy talking about becoming an organic farmer instead of a NFL player, the catastrophe that is factory farming, supporting your local farmer, and so much more.

There is all the negative talk about "kids these days" but you have to remember they are listening and mimicking actions from US. We need to be examples and teach them to respect this fragile earth of ours.

This little guy is a shining light and I think you will agree! Enjoy! Have a great rest of your Thursday. I'm having my mom over for dinner so stay tuned for some fall dinner goodness!!





Weekend adventures + 30 days of positive posting

Happy Tuesday!

 Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I returned to find quite the storm brewing around the blogosphere due to a certain Marie Claire article. All I'm going to say is the author seemed to have taken them for a ride BUT it has brought up some tough topics that may need to be addressed. If you want to read a great response that I stand behind, check out the post from Laury of The Fitness Dish.

Moving on, I thought I would share with you some tid-bits about my weekend.

It started off with the fun task of racking all the leaves in my backyard. I say "fun" because I actually like doing it! I love walking through the leaves in the fall and hearing that crunch ...ahh Fall you actually do make me happy:)

About half of these leaves are from my neighbor's tree that hangs over the fence..oh well..all the more for the compost:) Ps my grass is finally green! We had severe watering restrictions in the summer and so it was looking pretty dead but with all the rain we have been getting, it's back to life!

Crunch, crunch, crunch!! My compost is full and my little over-flow area is full and the trees aren't even half bare! I'll be getting my exercise that's for sure:)

On Saturday I headed out to my mom's place to pick up Junior:) He is so small and sweet and fun!

My mom pampered him well and there were toys all over the place for him:) He also just got a clean bill of health from the vet so I'm happy about that!!

After all the cuddling and playing, I reluctantly left him to play on him own and we headed out to my my happy place - Covert Farms.  If you want to see my adventures the other weekend check out this post. This time I had one mission- pack the car full of butternut squash!

This, my friends, is the squash patch in all it's glory! There were a bunch of different varieties growing here but a lot of it was butternut:)

Come to momma!!! LOL

I think I succeeded in my mission, hey? I'm not sure what those green squash are but I'm just excited to be stocked up for winter:) Yes, that is a cantaloupe! They still had a million of them and watermelons..it was hard to walk away:(

This creepy looking thing is a purple tomatillo!! I love the "veins" on it's shell.

tomatillo rows! These things just grow and grow! Funny thing is, my aunts didn't know what this plant was so last year they ripped it out of the ground. This year they left them in so I'm planning on raiding that soon:)
PS they still had strawberries and we picked some more...YUM! Strawberries in October..who knew!!

On Sunday right before my mom and I hit the road, we were able to meet up at my cousin's wife's baby shower. I hadn't seen baby Addison yet so that was really fun. She is so adorable!

Thankfully, it was a beautiful day and the drive was warm and sunny! Yet, it wasn't only humans who were enjoying the good weather. We saw this guy going for a stroll...

I actually turned around on the highway to go back to a side road where I knew I could get a better view. Don't worry it was safe:) I loved seeing this guy just going about his business! I never see wildlife so that was pretty cool.

The scenery is always breathtaking no matter how many times I travel that highway!

Junior was really good too! Only a few cries at the beginning then he slept...purr-fect!

We got home safe and sound which is always a blessing. I was anxious to get home to see how Nemo was going to react to his new brother. Well, it wasn't the warm welcome I was hoping for but with time I'm sure Nemo will get off his high horse LOL! Junior has taken quite well to his new surroundings and runs around and plays so that's good. On the first night he even slept under the covers between Ry and me:)

Last night (Just pretend it was part of the weekend:) I made an amazing dish from Kathy on  Happy.Healthy.Life called Harvest Sage Red Quinoa. Spicy fennel/bean puree. I had some fennel in my fridge that had better days and with my fresh butternut squash, I knew this recipe was going to be perfect.

Butternut squash, quinoa, fennel, bean puree...MMMmm

This was super good! A great compliment to the other ingredients.

It doesn't look pretty but this green salsa is my new favorite food! I added some of this to my dish and it was awesome!

This is the recipe I followed! I added a little water to get the process going and I didn't blend it up as I like it a bit chunky.

I really like Gabrielle Bernstein and her message! She has the site Herfuture.com and her vlogs are very powerful! One of her latest vlogs talked about the power of being positive and how detrimental bullying can be as was seen in the suicide of Tyler Clementi. Cyber bullying (and negativity towards our fellow human beings) is quite rampant these days and it needs to stop. Everyone has feelings including homosexuals, straights, bisexuals, lesbians, blacks, whites, asians, hispanics and those from every other sexual orientation,race, religion, and on and on! I have my beliefs but I do not judge others who think differently. Gabrielle has asked that we post a favorite quote, a favorite youtube clip, a favorite cookie recipe, WHATEVER it is that makes you happy and allows you to radiate positivity onto others for 30 days. It has already started but it's never too late to share the love!!!  Hope you will join me:)

Have a great rest of your day! I'm off to do some rebounding while watching Glee and catch up on some much-neglected chemistry homework. Chow for now!