BEAUTIFUL FALL TREES

Check out this listing 

for the

top 17 trees and shrubs for fall color.

CALCIUM FACTS

I read this article in the BHG May 2011 magazine regarding facts about calcium.  Women under 50 need 1,000 mg a day; older women need 1,200 mg a day.  Calcium is a critical building block for strong bones.

1. Low-fat dairy delivers more calcium.  
2. Milk isn't your only option. Calcium is also found in roasted almonds, green leafy vegetables and canned salmon.
3. Absorption depends on vitamin D.  Skin makes vitamin D in response to sunlight (about 30 minutes of unprotected exposure a week), or you can take a vitamin D supplement.
4. Big doses are best divided.  Portion out your daily quota in 2 - 3 mini doses.  Limit dosage to about 500 mg each time.
5. Dose and pill size aren't synonymous.  Check the label for the actual amount of calcium within each pill and adjust your dosage to the level.

ACORN BASKET FALL CENTERPIECE

Natural Fall Centerpiece

An old cutting board holds a basket covered in acorns in this quaint fall centerpiece. Berries, leaves, flowers, and fresh pears give the basket a tasty, eye-catching appearance.
Editor's Tip: For a touch of elegance, tie a gold or other bold-color ribbon 

FRITO CHILI PIE BY THE PIONEER WOMAN

Check out The Pioneer Woman's recipe for Frito Chili Pie.  If you haven't discovered her blog - it is a superb pictorial of her life and recipes.  Absolutely wonderful and she currently has a Saturday morning show on the Food Network.  Go Ree!

FELT FLASHCARD TUTORIAL by Sew Much Ado

Felt Flash Cards

by

Sew Much Ado



I came across this tutorial from Sew Much Ado for making these educational felt flash cards.  She uses grommets and a large ring to hold the flash cards together.  These felt flash cards should be long lasting, easy to clean, and you can take them anywhere.  I think these would be great for kids in pre-school through kindergarten.  Please check out her blog - she is very creative and provides easy instructions for her tutorials!

ETSYKIDS DESIGN CHALLENGE VOTING

Sweet Petunia Boutique's Entry

It's time to vote for your favorite item! Voting will be open through midnight EST, September 27th. This month, EtsyKids members were challenged to create an exciting new item based on a theme "Harvest Time".  Check out the creative entries at EtsyKids September Design Challenge .

FALL IS OFFICIALLY HERE

Today is the first day of fall.

CALLOWAY'S TIPS FOR LAWN AND LANDSCAPE RECOVERY

Recovery Advice 

From 

The Plant Master

Today is the last day of summer.  What a summer we have had in Texas - over 70 days of 100+ degree temperatures!  Check out Calloway's tips for lawn and landscape recovery.

ALZHEIMER'S MONTH

September is World Alzheimer's Month and today is Alzheimer's Action Day.  Alz. Org. website has lots of good information regarding this health issue.

KITCHEN COMPOST PAIL

Countertop Composter

This compact compost pail can fit anywhere in your kitchen. Throw kitchen scraps, such as vegetable and fruit peelings, cooked table scraps, eggshells, and stale bread, into the sturdy pail to produce nourishing fertilizer for your garden.

Why It’s Great: The pail is lined with a charcoal filter, which absorbs food odors. It creates the perfect starter compost for newly green homes.

Ceramic Compost Pail (also available in stainless steel)
$32
Available at Williams-Sonoma

My mother always had a covered plastic pail on the kitchen counter for this purpose.  This was something she always did and would use it to put in her flower gardens or to feed the pigs.  Her flower gardens were admired by many people.  At times travelers would stop and look at her beautiful roses and irises when they were in bloom.   My mother was being "green" before the term was even invented!

BEST OF BETTY CROCKER RECIPES

Bacon and Hash Brown Egg Bake

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

1 medium red bell pepper, chopped (3/4 cup)

1 package (8 oz.) sliced fresh mushrooms

2 tblsp. Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3/4 cup milk

12 eggs

1 package (2 lb) frozen hash browns, thawed

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (16 oz)

DIRECTIONS

1. In 12-inch skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Using slotted spoon. Remove from pan to small bowl. Cover and refrigerate. Drain drippings, reserving 1 tablespoon in pan. Add onion, bell pepper and mushrooms; cook 4 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Stir in mustard, salt and pepper. In large bowl, beat milk and eggs with wire whisk.
2. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Spread half of hash browns in baking dish. Spread onion mixture evenly on top. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the cheese. Spread remaining hash browns over top. Pour egg mixture on top. Cover; refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
3. Heat oven to 325°F. Uncover; bake 50 to 60 minutes or until thermometer inserted in center reads 160°F. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese and the bacon. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean, top is puffed and cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes.

Makes 12 servings.

DORIAN'S AND INTO THE GARDEN

Dorian's

Whenever my girlfriend and I go shopping in Fort Worth, we usually visit a few shops on Hulen. Dorian's, 2701 S. Hulen at Stonegate, is one of my favorite interior design shops.  I can usually find an unique accessory I can not live without!

Into The Garden

This is one of my favorite garden shops in Fort Worth.  It is located at 4600 Dexter Avenue off of Hulen and Camp Bowie Blvd.  Next time you have a free day stop by and see all their patio furniture and accessories for your outside patio and gardens.

HEARTS AND HOME GIVEAWAY

Hearts and Home's Giveaway

This week's giveaway is a $20.00 Joann's gift card. The gift card can be used in store or online. She is also including a Fashion Fusion magazine that has two 50% off coupons and  four 40% off coupons on the back cover.   Check out her instructions to enter the giveaway.

BLESSED RAIN

It's finally raining!  It's just a drizzle, but we are thankful for anything after having over 70 days of 100+ temperature.

BOO - TIFUL HALLOWEEN TREASURY COLLECTION

Mini Witch Hat

by

Two Little Bluebirds

Personalized Spider Web Shirt

by

That's Sew Cute

Hair Bow Tutorial

by

Birdsong Bows

Personalized Halloween Party Invitation

by

Your Blissful Day

Check out more boo-tiful 

Halloween creations

in my

EtsyKids Trick or Treat Treasury

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

A friend is one who knows you

and

loves you just the same. 

Elbert Hubbard

ETSYKIDS' AUTUMN 2011 SHOPPING GUIDE

EtsyKids' Autumn 2011 Shopping Guide

is now available for viewing.

  

This is the first time I entered two items:

  Designer Girl's Blanket 

and

Pirates Crayon Roll Up

This is a great way to start your Christmas shopping!

HERSHEY'S KITCHEN

Check out Hersey's Kitchen 

website

for lots of great recipes!

WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER

BULB PLANTING TIPS FROM BH&G

If you are planting bulbs this fall,

please check out Better Homes & Gardens

bulb planting tips.

CREATIONS USING ALEXANDER HENRY'S "LADY YANG" DESIGNER COTTON

I created a security blanket using Alexander Henry's designer cotton fabric called "Lady Yang".  It is a beautifully detailed oriental-themed cotton print with vividly colored peony blossoms and bamboo on a black background.  Here are a few other creations using this beautiful designer fabric.

Elegant Security Blanket

by

Snazzy Snugglies

Beautiful Decorator Pillow Cover

by
Lovnoni's Crafts & Gifts

Chic Little Girl's Dress
by
Adella Bella

Sophisticated Diaper or Tote Bag
by
Dahlia Handbags

I invite you to visit Etsy to see more beautiful creations.

SPECIAL DAY TODAY

VOTED BEST BROWNIE MIX BY BON APPETIT

1st Place Brown Mix

bon appetit's nutritionist Marissa Lippert pored over the package labels of store bought brownie mixes. They strongly believe that homemade brownies made from scratch are almost always better--and better for you--than store-bought versions. In a pinch, though, it's good to know how things stack up in the aisles of your local grocery store. I love Pillsbury products, but I was surprised that it was first chosen first over the more expensive brands, especially those companies that make great tasting chocolate candies.

LABOR DAY

Woke up to 65 degrees this morning.  

Wonderful weather in Texas.

LABOR DAY LEMONADE

Perfect Lemonade

Directions

Remove wide strips of zest from 2 lemons with a vegetable peeler (do not remove the pith). Make 2 cups simple syrup (recipe below), adding the lemon zest before heating. Let cool, then pour into an ice-filled pitcher. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 cups each fresh lemon juice and water, and some lemon slices.

Simple Syrup: To make 2 cups simple syrup, bring 1 1/2cups each sugar and water to a boil, stirring until dissolved. Let cool.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

For a lot of people, Labor Day means two things: a day off and the end of summer. But why is it called Labor Day? Labor Day is a day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women.  It has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States and Canada since 1894.  President Grover Cleveland signed a saw designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day nationwide.

BACKPACK WEIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS

Backpack Weight Recommendations

A loaded backpack shouldn't exceed 10% of a child's body weight, according to recommendations from the American Occupational Therapy Association Inc., a professional group that sponsors a National School Backpack Awareness Day each fall. That means, for instance, a 100-pound teen should only be hauling 10 pounds. In reality, the average child carries about 22% of his or her body weight, according to the American Chiropractic Association. That's more than twice the recommended amount.  As a retired high school teacher, I can attest to the fact that most students carry way more than 22% of their body weight.  I can only imagine the back problems this generation will have as they mature into adulthood.

CABBAGE ROSE QUILTING SHOP

Cabbage Rose Quilting Shop

First time for me to visit the Cabbage Rose Quilting Shop at 3000 Montgomery in Fort Worth.  What a wonderful selection of fabrics.  If you love sewing, this is one fabric shop that has a wide assortment of fabrics and the staff is very helpful.  I wish they had coupons so I could buy more!