tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10273477748466873262024-02-19T18:41:27.264-08:00Beauty, Bites & AdorationsWelcome to my world of Makeup, Food, Photography, and all the other things I adore! All photos are taken by me, unless otherwise stated.Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-21873826546785594172015-02-01T13:58:00.000-08:002015-02-01T21:48:37.995-08:00My Top Ten List of Adorations for 2014<div style="text-align: justify;">
The year 2014 has come and gone, but it was definitely a memorable one for me... new job, met a lot of lovely, diverse people, started a new routine of making green smoothies, watched my kids turn ten and thirteen, helped a family member get through an illness, watched a lot of great films, and read a lot of inspirational books. I have started 2015 on a positive note, by taking more chances, and not caring so much about what others think. I joined a running clinic that has made me fall in love with running for the first time in my life, and I will talk more about that in a future post.</div>
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With this being my first entry for 2015, I've put together a top ten list of a few of my favourite things from the past year. Maybe some of these items are also on your list? Without further ado, here they are...</div>
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<a href="https://www.fitbit.com/ca/one" target="_blank"><b>1. Fitbit One Wireless Activity and Sleep Tracker</b></a><br />
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I clip this little slim, portable guy everyday on to the waist of my pants, or in my pocket. It records my steps, calories burned, kms walked, stairs climbed, and hours of sleep. It resets every morning, and syncs wirelessly to the Fitbit app on my iPhone to quickly view the summary of the current day, previous day, or week. It also has a watch, so I can see what time it is throughout the day.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XJZNDRSyEFiALSoSAM6Va4MXd4G-c5Nyk_m0iP4dnFcFlqGOC7KkNNWAtN2pRI3MMstS7xbx58vah1pFgKhNeLLW-_38eon6HrhXGa1FU8_PrreRQQo5bM7l_UrWUEPpa7EXS4bA6srb/s1600/Fit+Bit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fitbit, Fitbit One, Activity Monitor" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XJZNDRSyEFiALSoSAM6Va4MXd4G-c5Nyk_m0iP4dnFcFlqGOC7KkNNWAtN2pRI3MMstS7xbx58vah1pFgKhNeLLW-_38eon6HrhXGa1FU8_PrreRQQo5bM7l_UrWUEPpa7EXS4bA6srb/s1600/Fit+Bit.jpg" height="400" title="Fitbit, Fitbit One, Activity Monitor" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fitbit One</td></tr>
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<b><a href="http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-ca/productdetail/eyes/pencils-liners/07873.html" target="_blank">2. Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeliner Trio in Nude</a></b><br />
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If you like, or have tried the cult favourite, <a href="http://www.urbandecay.com/24-7-glide-on-eye-pencil/122.html#start=2&cgid=1_500" target="_blank">Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On eyeliners</a>, you will love the PF Shimmer Strips eyeliners. These have super staying power, and they literally do not come off, even if you rub. I probably have the most oily lids in the universe with my Asian eyes, and nothing seemed to stay on the whole day until I tried these. In comparison, the UD eyeliners are $20 each at Sephora, whereas the PF ones come in a set of three for about $14 at Shoppers, Target, or Walmart. They are made in the US, and come in different sets that suit each eye colour, but my favourite one is Nude. It contains a true-black shade, a dark brown, bronzy shade with subtle shimmer, and a light bronze shade also with a bit of shimmer. These are twist-up style, so you don't need a sharpener, but if you do want a finer point, they do come with a built-in sharpener at the bottom.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LTaOMtXSlZW3Hdo_Y9v8ILouxHW_crBqqhPJ34UUIRKFPZXkAYTqZIl92oBFL5iVPrzLQUVGWQa3Kvm9JyrbOfRguUkRI2IqHBEBWqbr8NyoYgoXR-Ut7weKg7b9eJlzXI2KxKCkP92_/s1600/Physicians-Formula-Shimmer-Strips-Custom-Eye-Enhancing-Eyeliner-Trio-Nude-Eyes-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeliner Trio in Nude, eyeliner, best eyeliner" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LTaOMtXSlZW3Hdo_Y9v8ILouxHW_crBqqhPJ34UUIRKFPZXkAYTqZIl92oBFL5iVPrzLQUVGWQa3Kvm9JyrbOfRguUkRI2IqHBEBWqbr8NyoYgoXR-Ut7weKg7b9eJlzXI2KxKCkP92_/s1600/Physicians-Formula-Shimmer-Strips-Custom-Eye-Enhancing-Eyeliner-Trio-Nude-Eyes-1.jpg" height="640" title="Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeliner Trio in Nude, eyeliner, best eyeliner" width="475" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeliner Trio in Nude</td></tr>
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<b><a href="http://ca.burberry.com/burberry-body-tender-eau-de-toilette-85ml-p38733751" target="_blank">3. Burberry Body Tender Fragrance</a></b></div>
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There is a <i>Burberry Body</i> version that I find too strong and musky, but the <i>Burberry Body Tender </i>version is perfect. I love this perfume because it smells so fresh, without being too flowery or woodsy. It contains a combination of lemon, English roses, white jasmine, sandalwood, cashmeran, and amber. I find myself reaching for this perfume each morning, more than the other ones in my collection.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXDuXIGjIeTkt1zFmFwHKS8u_Dd2xkhEx3wp4Rqvsk3w4MDSX-huj6ALymTjMsQYnv_NsHgS7mBfTPssg3g-6vcXtsuRpYebiWjoE1j2WBNMWkdrGu5WgNq_lLHWh3HySsjM455oipasc/s1600/Burrberry+Body+Tender+Perfume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Burberry Body Tender, Burberry perfumes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXDuXIGjIeTkt1zFmFwHKS8u_Dd2xkhEx3wp4Rqvsk3w4MDSX-huj6ALymTjMsQYnv_NsHgS7mBfTPssg3g-6vcXtsuRpYebiWjoE1j2WBNMWkdrGu5WgNq_lLHWh3HySsjM455oipasc/s1600/Burrberry+Body+Tender+Perfume.jpg" height="475" title="Burberry Body Tender, Burberry perfumes" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burberry Body Tender Eau de Toilette</td></tr>
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<b><a href="http://www.kobo.com/koboaura#overview" target="_blank">4. Kobo Aura E-Reader and Sleepcover</a></b></div>
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I've been researching and looking at different E-Readers for about a year, and decided to get the Kobo Aura. I previously bought the Kindle Paperwhite, but found that the E-PUB format that my local library has, was not compatible with the Kindle, so I needed to download a third-party conversion software and convert the file, which was a major pain in the butt. The Kobo Aura is compatible with E-PUB, PDF, Adobe DRM, and RTF formats. It has a 6 inch display, and is so light and compact. It easily fits in my purse, and the battery charge lasts about a week. It has a soft glow light so I can read in the dark, and the screen is non-glare. Most e-books from my library have a three week loan period, and it automatically just comes off my device after the three weeks, unless I choose to renew the book. Below is a photo of my Kobo Aura, with the <a href="http://www.kobo.com/accessories/kobo-aura-sleepcover-purple.html" target="_blank">Kobo Aura Sleepcover</a>, in purple.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtCy756qRi4b0S33bRnneh2vLigKvqmdn1sJ79Y4LuOivKg-WvnVBRvApVEYtWiJZP8R6deVT5GP05lsNTeRSs6u2ztTKDpyh9g6R-vbtlGg75rbhWjDQ5Ep9_WndMytLOFSQcAAz1QwM/s1600/Kobo+Aura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kobo Aura E-Reader, Kobo Aura Sleepcover in purple" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtCy756qRi4b0S33bRnneh2vLigKvqmdn1sJ79Y4LuOivKg-WvnVBRvApVEYtWiJZP8R6deVT5GP05lsNTeRSs6u2ztTKDpyh9g6R-vbtlGg75rbhWjDQ5Ep9_WndMytLOFSQcAAz1QwM/s1600/Kobo+Aura.jpg" height="480" title="Kobo Aura E-Reader, Kobo Aura Sleepcover in purple" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kobo Aura E-Reader with Kobo Aura Sleepcover in purple</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Night-Road-Kristin-Hannah/dp/1469297345" target="_blank"><b>5. Book: <i>Night Road </i>by Kristin Hannah</b></a></div>
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This book first came out in 2012, but is my favourite one that I read in 2014. I remember staying up late at night reading this, as I couldn't put it down. It is filled with suspense, tragedy, friendship, hope, grief and forgiveness. I loved it from beginning to end, and can't wait to read more books by this author.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_CX39-I4H0DxiSDISNaTND3ISJl4abHuoby6JnGRdVMDuZ238f5dhY-dpIuMTQFKxYSztF0UiZQi3WsIA13aCoCteB_ivKOZTyf28-Z1dPcBZwvwERukQzuiPbonCiellP5zmxBeq_Zy/s1600/Night+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Night Road by Kristin Hannah, favourite books, fiction" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_CX39-I4H0DxiSDISNaTND3ISJl4abHuoby6JnGRdVMDuZ238f5dhY-dpIuMTQFKxYSztF0UiZQi3WsIA13aCoCteB_ivKOZTyf28-Z1dPcBZwvwERukQzuiPbonCiellP5zmxBeq_Zy/s1600/Night+Road.jpg" height="400" title="Night Road by Kristin Hannah, favourite books, fiction" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night Road by Kristin Hannah</td></tr>
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<b><a href="http://aritzia.com/en/product/brisco-shirt/48499002.html" target="_blank">6. TNA Brisco Flannel Shirt </a></b></div>
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Love, love, love this flannel shirt. I bought it from Aritzia in Canada on sale. It is fitted, but a little oversized and long, so that you can wear it with leggings or skinny jeans. It is so comfortable and warm, plus I am obsessed with the red/black buffalo check pattern! Needless to say, it has become my new favourite shirt.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQEbTWWleKIBk2kqz1BRZZpayDugQyyocRH2mbpgTrQtpTCKqoYXk_-5At5grmUcn-b3gwWPcvdwLNGHC9NqVLmct8mI_8HBxULzybPrwXw0pCyK43cZQBb2gmTGW-Ag5pH8nVNWE-7ve/s1600/TNA+Brisco+Mt.+Doug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="TNA Brisco, Buffalo Check, Aritzia, Buffalo Plaid, TNA" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQEbTWWleKIBk2kqz1BRZZpayDugQyyocRH2mbpgTrQtpTCKqoYXk_-5At5grmUcn-b3gwWPcvdwLNGHC9NqVLmct8mI_8HBxULzybPrwXw0pCyK43cZQBb2gmTGW-Ag5pH8nVNWE-7ve/s1600/TNA+Brisco+Mt.+Doug.jpg" height="640" title="TNA Brisco, Buffalo Check, Aritzia, Buffalo Plaid, TNA" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TNA Brisco Shirt in Buffalo Check from Aritzia</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.origins.com/product/3827/11250/Bath-Body-Hair/Star-Collection/Ginger/Ginger-Souffle/Whipped-body-cream/index.tmpl" target="_blank"><b>7. Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream</b></a></div>
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I like to slather this body cream on after my shower, especially in the winter, when my skin is so dry. Origins is my favourite natural skin-care company, and I use <a href="http://www.origins.com/product/3858/10350/Skincare/Daily-Essentials/Moisturizers/A-Perfect-World-SPF-25/Age-defense-moisturizer-with-White-Tea/index.tmpl" target="_blank">A Perfect World SPF 25 moisturizer</a> on my face every morning. The Ginger Souffle body cream has a citrusy, uplifting scent that always improves my mood when I put it on. It has a thick, whipped cream consistency that is non-greasy and long-lasting. For me, one tub lasts about a year (seriously!), and you can buy it at Sephora for about $38. It is made with natural ingredients, pure essential oils, and does not contain any parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances/dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs, or triclosan. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAxojbLVQjxDqt15F8qQywsNLt46UYK_BcRwh-FPCu6H8KlNRkIasjv3KkaCpl6-b00TI2UaenRynRQvI4xUtMSjdXm5DFeL6Mh1cNTGLwzYGSgDlwsFPSCaLKbQxA-Oe7Mc51cpIe9DJ/s1600/Ginger+Souffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream, body cream, Origins, ginger" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAxojbLVQjxDqt15F8qQywsNLt46UYK_BcRwh-FPCu6H8KlNRkIasjv3KkaCpl6-b00TI2UaenRynRQvI4xUtMSjdXm5DFeL6Mh1cNTGLwzYGSgDlwsFPSCaLKbQxA-Oe7Mc51cpIe9DJ/s1600/Ginger+Souffle.jpg" height="480" title="Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream, body cream, Origins, ginger" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream</td></tr>
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<b><a href="http://www.interstellar-movie.com/" target="_blank">8. Movie: <i>Interstellar</i></a></b></div>
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I am quite a movie buff, and saw a lot of them in 2014. My favourite film of the year is... drumroll please... <i>Interstellar, </i>directed by Christopher Nolan, and starring<i> </i>Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine. This movie was a space adventure, and felt like a roller coaster ride filled with action and emotions. It was everything that I thought <i>Gravity</i> was going to be. I am usually not a fan of Anne Hathaway, but decided to take a chance and give it a try. I am so glad that I did. And Matthew McConaughey... what can I say?!?!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUux4M-K5kn_FIHgML4PuX8WA1Qrj5bLHAzd9NlGAUpaqGG631HT-1HLNOvpsGDi6BDHjdYMg2QLQWusnckIMj4hX3YtIt60qR8aBdDeFNZRs40MO9dUdnqoH1SFOEmGcItvM-_5lV7dhS/s1600/interstellar-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Interstellar, best movies of 2014, Matthew McConaughey, Christopher Nolan, space movies, sci-fi" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUux4M-K5kn_FIHgML4PuX8WA1Qrj5bLHAzd9NlGAUpaqGG631HT-1HLNOvpsGDi6BDHjdYMg2QLQWusnckIMj4hX3YtIt60qR8aBdDeFNZRs40MO9dUdnqoH1SFOEmGcItvM-_5lV7dhS/s1600/interstellar-poster.jpg" height="480" title="Interstellar, best movies of 2014, Matthew McConaughey, Christopher Nolan, space movies, sci-fi" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interstellar movie</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fox-River-Womens-Strive-Socks/dp/B00IQF02VS" target="_blank"><b>9. Fox River AXT All-Weather Strive Socks</b></a></div>
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When my husband competed in his first Tough Mudder in 2014, he bought a pair of these socks for himself, and picked up a pair for me (he always surprises me with random gifts). I've been hooked ever since! I have since bought two more pairs of these from <a href="http://www.mec.ca/product/5026-116/fox-river-strive-quarter-socks-womens/?q=fox%2Briver%2Bsocks%2Bwomens" target="_blank">MEC</a> here in Canada. They keep my feet so warm in the winter, and I love wearing them with boots. They are made in the US, from 38% nylon, 30% Merino wood, 30% acrylic, and 2% spandex. The heel and toe are cushioned, so if feels super-comfy when I walk in them. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCvriBj-IrhDY4BSMCctZn6ukQ9rFEKr9_eXMgNtO6FE4FvIkGrMTZGk_pnjDe7lQv1lMffzM2xsDoud36chWCM8_F-Iz3b2A0SnDATPGHG7PmA438gso9Hnzw1JPpeK7XOROQW9oi1FF/s1600/Fox+River+Socks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fox River Outdoor Strive Merino Wool Socks, winter socks, comfy socks, MEC" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCvriBj-IrhDY4BSMCctZn6ukQ9rFEKr9_eXMgNtO6FE4FvIkGrMTZGk_pnjDe7lQv1lMffzM2xsDoud36chWCM8_F-Iz3b2A0SnDATPGHG7PmA438gso9Hnzw1JPpeK7XOROQW9oi1FF/s1600/Fox+River+Socks.jpg" height="640" title="Fox River Outdoor Strive Merino Wool Socks, winter socks, comfy socks, MEC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fox River Outdoor Strive Merino Wool Socks</td></tr>
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<b><a href="https://www.vitamix.com/shop/CIA-Professional-Series.aspx" target="_blank">10. Vitamix CIA Professional Series Blender</a></b></div>
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Last but not least, my beloved Vitamix is at the top of the list for 2014. If you remember my previous post found <a href="http://beautybitesadorations.blogspot.ca/2014/09/vitamix-blender-recipe-for-ultimate.html" target="_blank">here</a>, I raved about this machine, and I am proud to say that the love affair is still going strong. I make my delicious green smoothie each morning before work, and am proud of myself for keeping this up consistently. It has not decreased in quality or function at all, and I have not experienced any problems with it whatsoever. You can still use my discount code <b style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: underline;">06-010043</b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Josefin Sans;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> </span></span> when you purchase any item directly from <a href="http://vitamix.com/">Vitamix.com</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1q1VBBXjjIN60ZXxz5G0h0JezgagR7uzFsoDxuGwAPXzVb7xIYmcLblXnt6drvWLArJw4MufvDC-mZR8K1AkcNG7H8E0NguZcz7S8I8KswaLQS6OH3YRDbEUoODwMrXT_Shwf49gD-pJ9/s1600/IMG_2545+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vitamix CIA Professional Series Blender, Vitamix discount code, green smoothies" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1q1VBBXjjIN60ZXxz5G0h0JezgagR7uzFsoDxuGwAPXzVb7xIYmcLblXnt6drvWLArJw4MufvDC-mZR8K1AkcNG7H8E0NguZcz7S8I8KswaLQS6OH3YRDbEUoODwMrXT_Shwf49gD-pJ9/s1600/IMG_2545+-+Version+2.jpg" height="640" title="Vitamix CIA Professional Series Blender, Vitamix discount code, green smoothies" width="572" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vitamix CIA Professional Series Blender</td></tr>
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And there you have it. Are some of these things on your list? If not, I would love to see your favourite things! ~ Janice <span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span></div>
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Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-11375827483773995962014-10-29T16:08:00.000-07:002014-10-29T16:17:30.797-07:00Scarf-Ace: Eight Ways to Wear a Lululemon Vinyasa Scarf<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was in my local Lululemon store the other day, and saw that they had some new scarves at the front counter. The pretty pink/plum striped one caught my eye immediately. The sales person saw me looking at it, and started raving about how soft and versatile the scarf was. She then proceeded to give me a full demonstration on the different ways that the <a href="http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/women-headbands-and-hats/Vinyasa-Scarf-II?cc=11502&skuId=3565957&catId=women-headbands-and-hats" target="_blank">Vinyasa scarf</a> can be worn. I'm not usually an impulse buyer, but the scarf looked so damn good on her, that I bought one. I know... sucker, right?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyBPMBxS_QrvWVtIsq99O5Iq24lESZKTyJdbdLbW00hMneYHzWFk5VyLZY-9btQOVC2GRY0ZQqOOvVweYTp6OxIDiZBqc8bFGDvwzCEG3fZ0nnHaRsgbTPQJveTyRdFwClNQhOiOiQrk2/s1600/IMG_6310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="scarves, Lululemon Vinyasa scarf, Lululemon, Lululemon infinity scarf" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyBPMBxS_QrvWVtIsq99O5Iq24lESZKTyJdbdLbW00hMneYHzWFk5VyLZY-9btQOVC2GRY0ZQqOOvVweYTp6OxIDiZBqc8bFGDvwzCEG3fZ0nnHaRsgbTPQJveTyRdFwClNQhOiOiQrk2/s1600/IMG_6310.jpg" height="640" title="scarves, Lululemon Vinyasa scarf, Lululemon, Lululemon infinity scarf" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Vinyasa scarf is made from "Rulu", which is a stretchy, super-soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking fabric. When I was at the store, the colour choices were grey, black, grey/white striped, lilac/grey striped, and the pink/plum striped one that I have. The official colour name from the Lululemon website is "hyper stripe heathered bordeaux drama/bumble berry".<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: Verdana, Calibri, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;"> </span></span>I picked this colour because I thought it would add some vibrancy to the black, grey and brown shades of fall and winter. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT990DKZ1Gy62y7Yzp9UmWiJKwgr2wHnR9EPKtINir7-4-aEnwYeN78fNEcBpj7V76n_tdEmWbXujDhD7-74JvwNPpa6QaDMtllpJZcI0auvhI4hW_5lFo3GLb_LtL-36FUUza1x0V11o3/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="scarves, Lululemon Vinyasa scarf, Lululemon, Lululemon infinity scarf" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT990DKZ1Gy62y7Yzp9UmWiJKwgr2wHnR9EPKtINir7-4-aEnwYeN78fNEcBpj7V76n_tdEmWbXujDhD7-74JvwNPpa6QaDMtllpJZcI0auvhI4hW_5lFo3GLb_LtL-36FUUza1x0V11o3/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" height="480" title="scarves, Lululemon Vinyasa scarf, Lululemon, Lululemon infinity scarf" width="640" /></a></div>
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The underside of the striped pattern is a burgundy/plum heather colour. It's kind of like getting two scarves-in-one, as it's totally reversible. It is shaped like an infinity circle scarf, only the Vinyasa has snap buttons along one side. You can wear it with all the buttons done up, or half of them done up, or none at all. It's totally up to you on how you want to wear it. In the short time that I've had the scarf, I've had a lot of fun just playing around and experimenting. There is no right or wrong way to wear it, and I have a hard time duplicating the same look twice, as it's a little different each time. That's what I really love about the scarf.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzUzO7X0FqQ5IgJFfriy20Wjvk2IzlRkhgdC1rNF2YPs_0DZrcqJbTddOvsbb3XvXaEn4iPai27Ug8-YgJhtlaHjprw8HUjhBHXRAFMYtoNxnJ5EPLJuIy0vhBlLuRyRaWWfjB-d8UC1w/s1600/IMG_2591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="scarves, Lululemon Vinyasa scarf, Lululemon, Lululemon infinity scarf" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzUzO7X0FqQ5IgJFfriy20Wjvk2IzlRkhgdC1rNF2YPs_0DZrcqJbTddOvsbb3XvXaEn4iPai27Ug8-YgJhtlaHjprw8HUjhBHXRAFMYtoNxnJ5EPLJuIy0vhBlLuRyRaWWfjB-d8UC1w/s1600/IMG_2591.JPG" height="480" title="scarves, Lululemon Vinyasa scarf, Lululemon, Lululemon infinity scarf" width="640" /></a></div>
There are a lot of videos available on the web that show you different ways to wear the Vinyasa scarf. Two of my favourites are found <a href="http://vimeo.com/25065429" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY8ZtcLrpL0" target="_blank">here</a>. Be patient when trying to duplicate the styles shown in the videos. I was a little frustrated in the beginning, because mine never seemed to look the same as theirs. I got the hang of it after a few attempts however, and it's super-easy to put on now. I really do love that the scarf is so versatile, and can be worn year-round basically. In the spring and summer months, it can easily be worn with a tank top during the day; then at night when it's cooler, you can turn the scarf into a shawl, wrap, or even a shirt! I hope you have as much fun playing with your Vinyasa scarf as I am! ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUzJPE94G3RtqxqzC5OcfX7V0B2bOIMdZRPb15784Qim9amYLO27jAN_GqkwB1x9MqSfLS3zfU-sXi2TnDEWgir7JiEmODi27CqYoOyP5n_S4pBZuhNxBacEYHXH7lIIhTdLAEXtRKRmr/s1600/IMG_2572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="scarves, Lululemon Vinyasa scarf, Lululemon, Lululemon infinity scarf" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUzJPE94G3RtqxqzC5OcfX7V0B2bOIMdZRPb15784Qim9amYLO27jAN_GqkwB1x9MqSfLS3zfU-sXi2TnDEWgir7JiEmODi27CqYoOyP5n_S4pBZuhNxBacEYHXH7lIIhTdLAEXtRKRmr/s1600/IMG_2572.JPG" height="480" title="scarves, Lululemon Vinyasa scarf, Lululemon, Lululemon infinity scarf" width="640" /></a></div>
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Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-75925257238608493652014-09-06T18:49:00.001-07:002014-09-22T11:11:51.937-07:00Vitamix Blender - Recipe for the Ultimate Creamy Green Smoothie!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Even though I've read a ton of reviews, and have heard so many people say positive words about a Vitamix blender, the price has always prevented me from purchasing one for myself. I too used to be one of those people who thought, "Five hundred dollars for a blender... are you out of your f*@#ing mind?!?!" I thought that never in my lifetime, could I buy enough smoothies at places like Jugo Juice or Booster Juice to equal the price of a Vitamix. But then I got to thinking, and did a little math just for fun. We probably went to Jugo/Booster Juice at least once a week, more than that in the summer months. There are four of us in the family, and if we each got one, that would be about $24 each time. $24 x 52 weeks =$1456 a year! </div>
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To be honest, I didn't seriously think about getting a Vitamix until my co-worker raved about it (in my opinion, she's in the wrong profession and should be working for Vitamix!), and gave me a little taste of the smoothie that she made. It was green, delicious, smooth and so fresh... everything a smoothie should be. I was sold! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhjZi5BlpRzfipDFN9BVr_32Ou3Rch-fOqjn22_Iwl2gNtZSxjTzHi4GMhDGbGFX_uoIvbj_pA2jsOWtmbkHfZiZ_E86J-SAY3ZZ4RwFHorS3uAtM8So0g0QDyV6vzD4LyN3YsguvukHs/s1600/IMG_2545.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhjZi5BlpRzfipDFN9BVr_32Ou3Rch-fOqjn22_Iwl2gNtZSxjTzHi4GMhDGbGFX_uoIvbj_pA2jsOWtmbkHfZiZ_E86J-SAY3ZZ4RwFHorS3uAtM8So0g0QDyV6vzD4LyN3YsguvukHs/s1600/IMG_2545.jpg" height="640" title="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" width="571" /></a></div>
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So I bit the bullet, and bought my own Vitamix. It came with a 64 oz BPA-free container, huge recipe book and DVD. I treated it like a precious baby when I took it out of the packaging. As you can imagine, I was in love with the blender (is it possible to fall in love with a kitchen appliance?!) and could not wait to try it out. The first time I turned the power on, I jumped a little at the sheer magnitude of power that exuded from it. It put my old Kitchen Aid blender to shame. There really is no comparison between my old and new blender. The Kitchen Aid always left little chunks of frozen fruit, and the consistency of the smoothies was never right. They were always watery, and I had to constantly chew the pulp of the greens. The Vitamix is an absolute beast of a machine. It comes with a 7 year warranty, but it will last beyond that. My husband's friend said that he's had his Vitamix for over 20 years with no problems, and it's still going strong. Now my smoothies are always creamy, smooth and chunk-free!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZNzCMHWMR-QdQTQZPLex-sWMcNtjGDU6Uofrw5MzoUEHEKEzo4rtdfsRgmaNUlUJUALsefkagnwg-ZwOas_e_gg6DnICw375kKK1OLLPv92LFbOSYzA_2eRuOf537Z-1hwmT3v1ptPAb/s1600/IMG_2544.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZNzCMHWMR-QdQTQZPLex-sWMcNtjGDU6Uofrw5MzoUEHEKEzo4rtdfsRgmaNUlUJUALsefkagnwg-ZwOas_e_gg6DnICw375kKK1OLLPv92LFbOSYzA_2eRuOf537Z-1hwmT3v1ptPAb/s1600/IMG_2544.JPG" height="550" title="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've incorporated making a green smoothie as part of my morning routine now, and that is all I eat for breakfast, along with a cup of tea. I like mine a little on the thick side, so that it fills me up and sustains me until lunch time. This is what I've been making every morning for the past few weeks. It makes enough to fill two 500 ml sized mason jars, so my husband and I grab one each before we go out the door. It contains greens, frozen mangos, dates, lemon, ginger, and bananas. The recipe is at the bottom of this post. For the greens, I usually buy Earthbound Farm Organic brand. It comes in a big tub that contains a mixture of organic baby spinach, baby kale, and red/green chard. This container makes about 4 days worth of smoothies.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbdnUTPgqoEiXtNt5e5iGePF82SDhKfXb-LRbo0t72DHwU6FyZ6QYNA3daAbC4Satvjy2R8t4ONsR6xcjs1yITGRqMs-1oL_ld-oMByEdwuvy80Ka_v2HomZB96gMJwTkKNuzX9nMpC9y/s1600/IMG_2566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbdnUTPgqoEiXtNt5e5iGePF82SDhKfXb-LRbo0t72DHwU6FyZ6QYNA3daAbC4Satvjy2R8t4ONsR6xcjs1yITGRqMs-1oL_ld-oMByEdwuvy80Ka_v2HomZB96gMJwTkKNuzX9nMpC9y/s1600/IMG_2566.JPG" height="640" title="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tub of organic kale, spinach and chard makes 4 days worth of smoothies for me.</td></tr>
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I blend the greens with water for about 20 seconds before I add the other ingredients, as I find this enables me to not have to use the big black long stick (aka the tamper), that comes with the Vitamix. The mornings are crazy enough as is with two kids, so the less things I have to wash, the better! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyTSytBJ_9mZOuSj-1BzZhIkHt_d0uFPCu1X0SuSX9gnbgYvRr0d9rnbI57AjQCj9VXe4cVYUBJ9K5UEU7HlFnFxGrTZw6h3Dxl5f8nx_Yj5V3TvVq2S0U7FFtded9vlIAvruKJFuyOij/s1600/IMG_2546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyTSytBJ_9mZOuSj-1BzZhIkHt_d0uFPCu1X0SuSX9gnbgYvRr0d9rnbI57AjQCj9VXe4cVYUBJ9K5UEU7HlFnFxGrTZw6h3Dxl5f8nx_Yj5V3TvVq2S0U7FFtded9vlIAvruKJFuyOij/s1600/IMG_2546.jpg" height="640" title="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" width="465" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blend the greens with water for about 20 seconds first.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUTriw11iX3bTaRa527QYtcYYvh01PkspnvNKAVyaXr7qaZgSooPz1PKUDts-Vg38DWIHUb71zn1g6FV2blPtpGb5esS-rLL2ZAR_64NM0UaUjeCkaTVD2r8CTkcc812m8K4ovEu_8yXo/s1600/IMG_2551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUTriw11iX3bTaRa527QYtcYYvh01PkspnvNKAVyaXr7qaZgSooPz1PKUDts-Vg38DWIHUb71zn1g6FV2blPtpGb5esS-rLL2ZAR_64NM0UaUjeCkaTVD2r8CTkcc812m8K4ovEu_8yXo/s1600/IMG_2551.jpg" height="640" title="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" width="441" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the result after only 20 seconds of blending.</td></tr>
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Next, I add the rest of the ingredients, then blend again for about a minute. I love adding frozen fruit as opposed to fresh, because it makes the smoothie nice and chilled. I buy the big bag of organic frozen mangos at Costco, and it lasts for quite a while. I leave the variable/high switch on 'variable', start at speed 1, then gradually increase to speed 10 and blend for about a minute. Even with the blender at 10, it's not as loud as my old Kitchen Aid. Don't get me wrong - it's not whisper quiet, but it's definitely not as loud as I thought it would be. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihl_4v672eUbtjpZiVfJcVWRmgfOj6LaojVPRe6NfSoSGjZEvOU2Uc6NxikvNvQWMapGxZv_OpOhC-61u7cc0_GDekecqHGdXbP3ZIwNK1Fw6FJpC1naUg4di2fYCA8GTF2-oahjsYAxbz/s1600/IMG_2552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihl_4v672eUbtjpZiVfJcVWRmgfOj6LaojVPRe6NfSoSGjZEvOU2Uc6NxikvNvQWMapGxZv_OpOhC-61u7cc0_GDekecqHGdXbP3ZIwNK1Fw6FJpC1naUg4di2fYCA8GTF2-oahjsYAxbz/s1600/IMG_2552.jpg" height="640" title="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" width="441" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After all ingredients are added, blend for about 1 minute.</td></tr>
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The result is a creamy, delicious, thick, refreshing, vibrant green smoothie...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIjMbB5hbrkreMQ6uNhpAZmvt0OzjMQA5JPqVdNZ_4yB6FD5Ipx6_7ihVm4xYqkes-A_ztOamcfc9ImvNckq3OnJFtDePOHpyBSmm24dD4AaESiNGaVUNWc-NQCa3MOo4itQwtMGnhhCg/s1600/IMG_2553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIjMbB5hbrkreMQ6uNhpAZmvt0OzjMQA5JPqVdNZ_4yB6FD5Ipx6_7ihVm4xYqkes-A_ztOamcfc9ImvNckq3OnJFtDePOHpyBSmm24dD4AaESiNGaVUNWc-NQCa3MOo4itQwtMGnhhCg/s1600/IMG_2553.jpg" height="640" title="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" width="404" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodbye watery, pulpy, chunky smoothies; Hello creamy, smooth, yummy goodness!</td></tr>
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The finished product...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJafJdCryAbtexjyPUMwkslhNA0jC9CoMuFN8Qqttmb0xQPz8Kh5sO5pxQjVAXVz_o0j6SAFJacsBsCAk8If62f5-Ht4Tpth-rc05n2W9qqoVk7Yt1D04_hqXcznUehKooXokt1KltcnS0/s1600/IMG_2560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJafJdCryAbtexjyPUMwkslhNA0jC9CoMuFN8Qqttmb0xQPz8Kh5sO5pxQjVAXVz_o0j6SAFJacsBsCAk8If62f5-Ht4Tpth-rc05n2W9qqoVk7Yt1D04_hqXcznUehKooXokt1KltcnS0/s1600/IMG_2560.jpg" height="640" title="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie" width="449" /></a></div>
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The Vitamix has truly changed my life. I wake up excited to make my green smoothies. I have noticed increased energy levels, improvement in my skin and nails, and a positive boost in my mood. It definitely is an investment, but if you look at it from the perspective that it will last over 20 years, it is worth the high price in the beginning. I cannot say enough good things about my Vitamix. <br />
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I am so happy to be able to provide a discount code for you when purchasing any Vitamix blender or accessory via the <a href="http://vitamix.com/">Vitamix.com</a> website, or phoning their customer service line at 1-800-848-2649.</div>
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Here are the steps for getting the Free Shipping discount:</div>
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After you have added your item(s) to your shopping cart,</div>
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1) Enter the code <u>06-010043</u> in the "Promotion Code" box</div>
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2) Click "Apply", and the full shipping amount ($25 US/$35 Can.) will be deducted from your order.</div>
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Buying from Vitamix.com directly ensures that you will be getting an authentic, brand new product, backed by the full 7 year warranty. Happy Blending! ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPU5v6pWzpZldaVXXbXIU4QUG9aHoQuOP98pypbZQzkykGZaQGxBfb4jVurtdu6oiDVuO_LUewJxrIE__7cf8Hwc_PyI841ms8EKMRazMcXcx440mz4lcNnxBMJwKHomjkllN3TUUjMjlr/s1600/Vitamix+discount.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie discount code" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPU5v6pWzpZldaVXXbXIU4QUG9aHoQuOP98pypbZQzkykGZaQGxBfb4jVurtdu6oiDVuO_LUewJxrIE__7cf8Hwc_PyI841ms8EKMRazMcXcx440mz4lcNnxBMJwKHomjkllN3TUUjMjlr/s1600/Vitamix+discount.jpg" height="376" title="Vitamix Ultimate green smoothie discount code" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is the recipe for <b>The Ultimate Creamy Green Smoothie</b> (makes about 1 litre):<br />
<ul>
<li>12 oz water </li>
<li>2-3 large handfuls of kale, spinach, chard, or a combination of any greens</li>
<li>1 cup frozen mango</li>
<li>1/2 lemon or lime, peeled</li>
<li>1 large slice of fresh ginger, peeled</li>
<li>4 pitted dates</li>
<li>1 banana</li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
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<ol>
<li style="text-align: left;">Pour the water into the container, then add the greens.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Start on speed 1, then gradually increase to speed 10. Blend for 20 seconds.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Add the rest of the ingredients.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Again, start on speed 1, then gradually increase to speed 10. Blend for about 1 minute.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Enjoy, and feel good about all the healthy food you're putting in your body!</li>
</ol>
</div>
Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-26799728826402935682014-04-13T17:53:00.000-07:002014-04-13T21:02:53.894-07:00Pan-Fried Quinoa Cakes With Cheese<div style="text-align: justify;">
I tried Quinoa for the first time last year, and have slowly developed a liking to it with each new recipe I make. Pronounced "keen-wah", this superfood is often referred to as a grain, but is actually a seed from a vegetable that is related to swiss chard, spinach and beets. It's gluten-free, and high in protein, fibre, and calcium. I find myself making Quinoa in place of boring ol' rice a lot more these days. The one thing I suggest when making Quinoa, is to rinse it thoroughly with water in a fine-mesh colander before cooking. If you don't, the taste can be very bitter (learned that from the first few times making it... no wonder I didn't like it at first!) Sometimes I cook a huge amount, and store it in the fridge for use during the week. I enjoy it with avocados and chickpeas in a salad, or heat it up and use it as a side dish at dinner.</div>
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I just discovered a new Quinoa recipe that is so tasty, healthy and easy! Hope you give it a try, and let me know what you think! ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXAf8Xqv8yp8dvEquiN9_CUcUb_lzJQFpm1M-xHJ21eQh_nV5OScE77GMwtffkYmMU1bEiEyTWeuGuhyphenhyphen2uWZJDSeo94C7uWAgGWUOC-yti-GW3jkcUvsWxOPbm201o46yB5NqgMSthiy-/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pan-Fried Quinoa Cakes with Cheese/Sriracha sauce" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXAf8Xqv8yp8dvEquiN9_CUcUb_lzJQFpm1M-xHJ21eQh_nV5OScE77GMwtffkYmMU1bEiEyTWeuGuhyphenhyphen2uWZJDSeo94C7uWAgGWUOC-yti-GW3jkcUvsWxOPbm201o46yB5NqgMSthiy-/s1600/photo.JPG" height="426" title="Pan-Fried Quinoa Cakes with Cheese/Sriracha sauce" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pan-Fried Quinoa Cakes with Cheese... and Sriracha on the side!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Here is the recipe for <b>Pan-Fried Quinoa Cakes with Cheese</b> (makes about 24 cakes):</div>
</div>
<ul>
<li>4 cups <b>cooked</b> Quinoa </li>
<li>1/2 cup shredded parmesan or cheddar cheese (I used a mix of both kinds)</li>
<li>6 tablespoons flour</li>
<li>4 green onions, chopped</li>
<li>2 eggs, beaten</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon paprika</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon garlic powder</li>
<li>salt and pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>olive oil for pan-frying</li>
<li>Sriracha sauce (for some kick!)</li>
</ul>
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</div>
<ol>
<li style="text-align: left;">Place all ingredients except for the oil and Sriracha, in a large mixing bowl.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Stir until thoroughly mixed.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Form patties that are about the size of a cookie, and 1/2 inch thick.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Fry until golden brown on one side (about 5 minutes), then flip over and fry 5 minutes more.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Serve with Sriracha sauce, plain yoghurt, or tzatziki sauce.</li>
</ol>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WfS3Y6qCABsFx2hcnW5v1m8i4nqEljumz9OZTeuX4ExLODRiZwlM_tTKXYbW0VtpOe3NapmR82JwEKHS6xmDnhVWOvleSki0o5DncjdLeG6maMSLPgGVP3XZb3lfCCvzYS4Ot_i7vs_i/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pan-Fried Quinoa Cakes with Cheese/Sriracha sauce" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WfS3Y6qCABsFx2hcnW5v1m8i4nqEljumz9OZTeuX4ExLODRiZwlM_tTKXYbW0VtpOe3NapmR82JwEKHS6xmDnhVWOvleSki0o5DncjdLeG6maMSLPgGVP3XZb3lfCCvzYS4Ot_i7vs_i/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" title="Pan-Fried Quinoa Cakes with Cheese/Sriracha sauce" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Combine cooked Quinoa with all other ingredients</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhgs8Uk8tV9WOgWEjwWSE9NqbFxIsIuNvKx7Vu6McF9oSkoKN78w3Z_ZribmldAjV5EV0lPpqtmh4rg99S9qI0CeyX5Vo8uKheAUQEkomL6qaEo4m3I9huGkyR9V8ucmFsvLazj4DVGob/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pan-Fried Quinoa Cakes with Cheese/Sriracha sauce" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhgs8Uk8tV9WOgWEjwWSE9NqbFxIsIuNvKx7Vu6McF9oSkoKN78w3Z_ZribmldAjV5EV0lPpqtmh4rg99S9qI0CeyX5Vo8uKheAUQEkomL6qaEo4m3I9huGkyR9V8ucmFsvLazj4DVGob/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="640" title="Pan-Fried Quinoa Cakes with Cheese/Sriracha sauce" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pan-fry in olive oil over medium-high heat for 5 minutes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfO4E02x2G2Jd3tyPuqu6xXPKR5GLRNoxAHKOorCcQvKAZHNbRzB_OnnQST0SV_VtoVghuTt0Z4EL_Wh8BocMOsWkcozS0b4lBZSvZWB3J-Xz6pZcJ2WBN0hk75RQFBoesy4w-4hiZ4TDb/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pan-Fried Quinoa Cakes with Cheese/Sriracha sauce" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfO4E02x2G2Jd3tyPuqu6xXPKR5GLRNoxAHKOorCcQvKAZHNbRzB_OnnQST0SV_VtoVghuTt0Z4EL_Wh8BocMOsWkcozS0b4lBZSvZWB3J-Xz6pZcJ2WBN0hk75RQFBoesy4w-4hiZ4TDb/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="640" title="Pan-Fried Quinoa Cakes with Cheese/Sriracha sauce" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carefully flip over with a thin spatula, then fry for 5 minutes more</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-62425168095462978022014-02-13T14:16:00.001-08:002014-04-29T13:07:08.154-07:00Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light - Instant Photoshop in a Small Compact! <div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm very excited to share my newly-discovered beauty product with you! I'm sure you've heard of the Hourglass line of <a href="http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/">Ambient Lighting Powders</a>, since there has been a tremendous amount of hype in the blogosphere recently. I'm definitely not the first, nor will I be the last to review this amazing product. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLj_6jzCUN49fOU5fKZ9dfOEh40GdVintIdGn8bEtNAFW_J7WXycaw9VFhbWbCjI-TRpsQyTCSeUvsqFc0k90dKJaTm8PsAPPyX59RPzCGhwOBwdeVW2w65yP8quBCSUSXWYXK2Ts2DKq/s1600/IMG_2461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light, glowing skin, finishing powder, candlelit glow" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLj_6jzCUN49fOU5fKZ9dfOEh40GdVintIdGn8bEtNAFW_J7WXycaw9VFhbWbCjI-TRpsQyTCSeUvsqFc0k90dKJaTm8PsAPPyX59RPzCGhwOBwdeVW2w65yP8quBCSUSXWYXK2Ts2DKq/s1600/IMG_2461.jpg" height="640" title="Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light, glowing skin, finishing powder, candlelit glow" width="480" /></a></div>
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There are six different shades in the Ambient Lighting collection, ranging from a pale yellow colour, to a sun-kissed golden beige. Each powder works differently to capture, diffuse, and soften surrounding light to create a luminous glow to your skin. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo1KHW6rj3n7HFTU8T04IL4XIGEvnYrXcsgtQ9d2ZMRtl2kFV_hhO3OiD04j63w0KzXT9zfjMrsVEE2venD64lY4wlTMlqeDVLUPJTMj8diRuO0hSJjDVobaW44K_2J1jr7mSi3Tn36qM/s1600/IMG_2457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light, glowing skin, finishing powder, candlelit glow" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo1KHW6rj3n7HFTU8T04IL4XIGEvnYrXcsgtQ9d2ZMRtl2kFV_hhO3OiD04j63w0KzXT9zfjMrsVEE2venD64lY4wlTMlqeDVLUPJTMj8diRuO0hSJjDVobaW44K_2J1jr7mSi3Tn36qM/s1600/IMG_2457.jpg" height="454" title="Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light, glowing skin, finishing powder, candlelit glow" width="640" /></a></div>
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I chose the shade <a href="http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/">Luminous Light</a>, which according to Hourglass, is a "champagne pearl that creates a soft, incandescent candlelit glow - day or night." I was attracted to this one the most because the colour is so beautiful, and seems to have the most shimmer out of all of them. I am not a fan of the matte powdery look, and prefer a more luminous, dewy finish. There are no chunky bits of glitter whatsoever, so you don't have to worry about looking like a shiny disco ball (attractive...not!) Instead, your skin is left looking flawless, radiant and glowing - what's not to love?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0J4980-RieuGZw-yMskW7v-LyikFWcSJtjCKNXC7VhPGRvKtsFWjdCr8-EOKP6xhHpO7iWnKU4dXoMIErv9iLaCXkuzLIhbVP_WFU_7r-z5N1YLGi78pmCWvwyXWqypPd0o5QqUeg8XNx/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light, glowing skin, finishing powder, candlelit glow" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0J4980-RieuGZw-yMskW7v-LyikFWcSJtjCKNXC7VhPGRvKtsFWjdCr8-EOKP6xhHpO7iWnKU4dXoMIErv9iLaCXkuzLIhbVP_WFU_7r-z5N1YLGi78pmCWvwyXWqypPd0o5QqUeg8XNx/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" height="454" title="Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light, glowing skin, finishing powder, candlelit glow" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotofto8IwSaPGLTmTUph8oI-qIQpPOLJ0vlxTXepek5_4Hvee7yORWhevPUFHtKBQPok2d6xFblIrGcHWNedH43_-8RmS7ZpRXCf3CVYwqVp-eZ8wEL9VYLgapCzuoykR5gWHS-NuZ6ug/s1600/IMG_2469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light, glowing skin, finishing powder, candlelit glow" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotofto8IwSaPGLTmTUph8oI-qIQpPOLJ0vlxTXepek5_4Hvee7yORWhevPUFHtKBQPok2d6xFblIrGcHWNedH43_-8RmS7ZpRXCf3CVYwqVp-eZ8wEL9VYLgapCzuoykR5gWHS-NuZ6ug/s1600/IMG_2469.JPG" height="480" title="Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light, glowing skin, finishing powder, candlelit glow" width="640" /></a></div>
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The compact itself has a beautiful, bronzy, mirrored, chrome finish - very chic looking! These powders are also free of Parabens (harmful chemicals added to preserve the product), talc, fragrance, nano-particles, and gluten, so you can have peace of mind. I am extremely happy with Luminous Light. I use it as a finishing powder, and apply it all over my face using my <a href="http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/146/315/Products/Brushes/Face/150-Large-Powder-Brush/index.tmpl">MAC 150 brush</a>. It truly makes your face glow, as if you are under candlelight. Not over the top, but just very luminous and beautiful. The photo below is a swatch of it on my arm, but it does not do it justice. Please note that I've applied it very heavily, in order for it to show up on camera. Looks so much better (and subtle) in real life. You'll have to try it for yourself! ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd6HIkjn3wdytow2dXU_pFQGHubr8htJRITuU2Cu-l-mKJEOQbiQhMB_AM1s_mlLkw3Y8NlVpUxmoO06mkoX3V-ZE6Xue0MJwMesoCF2BcQTFQXtpYQwmxEkmPVcNoax5rPCiujuL6kdp/s1600/photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light, glowing skin, finishing powder, candlelit glow" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd6HIkjn3wdytow2dXU_pFQGHubr8htJRITuU2Cu-l-mKJEOQbiQhMB_AM1s_mlLkw3Y8NlVpUxmoO06mkoX3V-ZE6Xue0MJwMesoCF2BcQTFQXtpYQwmxEkmPVcNoax5rPCiujuL6kdp/s1600/photo+2.jpg" height="400" title="Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light, glowing skin, finishing powder, candlelit glow" width="362" /></a></div>
Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-34681666010828086042014-01-27T12:47:00.000-08:002014-01-27T14:29:30.289-08:00Three Ingredient Banana Chocolate Chip Bites<div style="text-align: justify;">
Okay, it doesn't get any easier than this one! This recipe has become a favourite in my household of late, and I find myself making these twice a week because they disappear so fast. This has made my life so much easier when it comes to packing school lunches. I make a big batch, and quickly toss in three or four of these in their lunch bags for their snacks.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've seen a lot of variations to this recipe, and you can definitely tailor it to however you like. The three basic ingredients are <b>oats</b>, <b>bananas</b>, and <b>chocolate chips</b>. I use Rogers Porridge Oats, because it has bran and flaxseed added in, but you could just as easily use Quick Oats. I photographed my daughter while she made these and she had a great time, so make sure you get the kids involved. ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUv-K5iaRiNf03Zv2epGb497wpGPEZMOENUu8YlcOagTs-ZF9HH_-yJT1HuQkm3HVmU7efVcl9hVj-F7ZW914aTQLTgN3jga9WUk1H5f1HZiUcqBBDG-2h7lMqDb2SeC_n4UiiTrF9JH0/s1600/IMG_2365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="food, three ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip bites, kids' recipes, school snacks, baking, cookies, healthy cookies, bananas," border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUv-K5iaRiNf03Zv2epGb497wpGPEZMOENUu8YlcOagTs-ZF9HH_-yJT1HuQkm3HVmU7efVcl9hVj-F7ZW914aTQLTgN3jga9WUk1H5f1HZiUcqBBDG-2h7lMqDb2SeC_n4UiiTrF9JH0/s1600/IMG_2365.JPG" height="500" title="food, three ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip bites, kids' recipes, school snacks, baking, cookies, healthy cookies, bananas" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3 ingredients: Oats, Bananas, Chocolate Chips</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Step 1</b> - Mash the bananas in a big bowl...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsa8uMhYbTLf56NifGFsd61p28ENNKzdbuSQbUrQ_QUAGYyNBVHtPKhnaEflc1_MiNV2qtt5PJDp2dqNNFmQTVIKL_li3Bm3eTLKTMpJ21Y8E2xipAYt1KTdqT_6koNFJJQFROHYH1nMlI/s1600/IMG_2367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="food, three ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip bites, kids' recipes, school snacks, baking, cookies, healthy cookies, bananas" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsa8uMhYbTLf56NifGFsd61p28ENNKzdbuSQbUrQ_QUAGYyNBVHtPKhnaEflc1_MiNV2qtt5PJDp2dqNNFmQTVIKL_li3Bm3eTLKTMpJ21Y8E2xipAYt1KTdqT_6koNFJJQFROHYH1nMlI/s1600/IMG_2367.JPG" height="480" title="food, three ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip bites, kids' recipes, school snacks, baking, cookies, healthy cookies, bananas" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mash, mash, mash away!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Step 2</b> - Add oats to the bananas. For extra fiber and health benefits, you could add in some flax, chia or hemp seeds, and bran. I had some leftover chia seeds in the fridge, so I added those in.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcLHxvaC2Qof-7M6PPTKPXUo6rtvTa8lHfFzBo3eBH4PCIIvmchLM0obmKSrWuAX-GBeMaGP3TxIZlD9u_teQYysXurKKRI2evbPyNQpOAcaoUBiZP_FgbTE4yBIMdVxWNQZEXveX18xx/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="food, three ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip bites, kids' recipes, school snacks, baking, cookies, healthy cookies, bananas" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcLHxvaC2Qof-7M6PPTKPXUo6rtvTa8lHfFzBo3eBH4PCIIvmchLM0obmKSrWuAX-GBeMaGP3TxIZlD9u_teQYysXurKKRI2evbPyNQpOAcaoUBiZP_FgbTE4yBIMdVxWNQZEXveX18xx/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" height="480" title="food, three ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip bites, kids' recipes, school snacks, baking, cookies, healthy cookies, bananas" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 3</b> - Add in chocolate chips. I used Hershey's semi-sweet, but you could make it really healthy by substituting with dark chocolate, dried fruit, carob chips, or shredded coconut. I use chocolate chips, only because my kids are more likely to eat them. Anything tastes better with chocolate chips, right?!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24Ov60o_0kvX1WyBb-Q7Hgj57UbvYRHJVlWO3aHP5wLcdt-xHgxI05ay_hUL2ZqrngsOuflxTM_LEpNpCD7g3cVt0O9kaai4X8aiLmiu16tIE4eyIPO7YGCJHGWBm9z48sCgKjzTipSh1/s1600/IMG_2376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="food, three ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip bites, kids' recipes, school snacks, baking, cookies, healthy cookies, bananas" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24Ov60o_0kvX1WyBb-Q7Hgj57UbvYRHJVlWO3aHP5wLcdt-xHgxI05ay_hUL2ZqrngsOuflxTM_LEpNpCD7g3cVt0O9kaai4X8aiLmiu16tIE4eyIPO7YGCJHGWBm9z48sCgKjzTipSh1/s1600/IMG_2376.JPG" height="480" title="food, three ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip bites, kids' recipes, school snacks, baking, cookies, healthy cookies, bananas" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 4</b> - Mix together with spatula until combined...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGDIKE1dfCjNWWCulB4v7HuVb3wWwhB9sl5XPv_ZW78CMkPcVWqvMoYSgpf8boBUPDwOTvBhlB5Mje9fu5359Q0MvttNIItj0GWEOHbmYoILr9s0ntRqGvtCUpeP5A-hniWZ54I2ENgAP/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGDIKE1dfCjNWWCulB4v7HuVb3wWwhB9sl5XPv_ZW78CMkPcVWqvMoYSgpf8boBUPDwOTvBhlB5Mje9fu5359Q0MvttNIItj0GWEOHbmYoILr9s0ntRqGvtCUpeP5A-hniWZ54I2ENgAP/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 5</b> - Roll into one inch balls, and place on parchment-lined baking pan...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4I0HVvJOO8x0I5-zAgsYVRtObN-4kmGiTixu1XR_VCHY8mScew7apOh4Hq4f3asaqeQ9SPmDU9v1Y6A3tSRFTxyneMT-d-bJGWVUUpT-nkwZlQdbNXRRKwaI0npk8aViUGCw-zuwJ72s/s1600/IMG_2391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="food, three ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip bites, kids' recipes, school snacks, baking, cookies, healthy cookies, bananas" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4I0HVvJOO8x0I5-zAgsYVRtObN-4kmGiTixu1XR_VCHY8mScew7apOh4Hq4f3asaqeQ9SPmDU9v1Y6A3tSRFTxyneMT-d-bJGWVUUpT-nkwZlQdbNXRRKwaI0npk8aViUGCw-zuwJ72s/s1600/IMG_2391.JPG" height="480" title="food, three ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip bites, kids' recipes, school snacks, baking, cookies, healthy cookies, bananas" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 6</b> - Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15 minutes, and here is the finished product...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXe2ZiDVr7hiYQr2uHb4bPhb4fxpFL4Pp9-IhML9bkr7CBbS6V00YzIvpWzfQDm7CPwDhTdn7Z7uHdRAG1kxMO_kvY4PvUJbvHGb7zFujz0b7-SDrtTOWz_sGuTzFKI83T3CP0EQbU01LZ/s1600/IMG_2394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="food, three ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip bites, kids' recipes, school snacks, baking, cookies, healthy cookies, bananas" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXe2ZiDVr7hiYQr2uHb4bPhb4fxpFL4Pp9-IhML9bkr7CBbS6V00YzIvpWzfQDm7CPwDhTdn7Z7uHdRAG1kxMO_kvY4PvUJbvHGb7zFujz0b7-SDrtTOWz_sGuTzFKI83T3CP0EQbU01LZ/s1600/IMG_2394.JPG" height="466" title="food, three ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient recipes, 3 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip bites, kids' recipes, school snacks, baking, cookies, healthy cookies, bananas" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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Here is the recipe (makes about 2 dozen):</div>
<ul>
<li>4 large, ripe bananas</li>
<li>2 cups uncooked quick oats </li>
<li>1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)</li>
<li>Add-ins (optional): bran, flax/chia/hemp seeds, dried fruit, nuts, shredded coconut</li>
</ul>
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<ol>
<li style="text-align: left;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Mash the bananas in a big bowl.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Add oats to the bowl and mix well.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Add chocolate chips and mix until combined.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Roll into one inch balls, and place on parchment-lined baking pan.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Bake for 15 minutes.</li>
</ol>
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Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-69112719035907230842014-01-23T18:09:00.003-08:002016-08-07T14:36:10.099-07:00Hanky Panky - The Most Beautiful, Comfy Undies In The World!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now that I've got your undivided attention from the words "Hanky Panky", I had better explain what I'm referring to before continuing. <a href="http://www.hankypanky.com/" target="_blank">Hanky Panky</a> is a lingerie company based in New York, that has been around since 1977. Their products are made and shipped out of the good ol' USA. I can't recall exactly when or how I discovered this company, but all I know is, I've been a loyal fan of the <a href="http://www.hankypanky.com/Signature-Lace-Low-Rise-Thong" target="_blank">Low-Rise Thong</a> for at least six years now. Yes, I said the "T" word! I can hear the gasps and shrieks of astonishment and skepticism now... "How can you wear a thong - you're a Mom for God's sakes!" or "I can't wear thongs... they give me a wedgie." My mind used to conjure up those exact thoughts too - that is, until I tried these bad boys on. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUuWR6xrTokIMZhYf7pLcHRyLgAKtorGz_JP0u2VEgqrD46vWtTeTOKNLn9ksJtWQEM8vycGwh4dOnBFyw1Ajcx_6dHdEkpj6qnQbnLTBpNTsaLYYc_blEm9XWL87941aDqpnZdlA6Sxd/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hanky Panky, Hanky Panky low-rise thongs, thongs" border="0" height="415" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUuWR6xrTokIMZhYf7pLcHRyLgAKtorGz_JP0u2VEgqrD46vWtTeTOKNLn9ksJtWQEM8vycGwh4dOnBFyw1Ajcx_6dHdEkpj6qnQbnLTBpNTsaLYYc_blEm9XWL87941aDqpnZdlA6Sxd/s1600/photo+1.JPG" title="Hanky Panky, Hanky Panky low-rise thongs, thongs" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect Eye Candy for a dull and rainy day!</td></tr>
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Let's delve into some of the reasons why I am so in love with these, shall we? First off, the most important thing: comfort. They are made with the softest lace imaginable, and I'm not lying when I say that I can't even feel them when they're on. It's not the cheap, scratchy kind of lace that rips and falls apart after a few washings. I've also found that they do not stretch out. Ever. Oh, and ladies, because they are lace and fit snugly, there is no VPL (visible panty line). Yay!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IEPuVnWvBhLZrNc3kCdd8V7U4QYlBM5-wCIKsnCnJED2HpXit-mTYuQpyc8eHb47xJduEFDhyr50afc4LcWUGAuG2n7tVpP3ifc3NuzaC2pXnh8Y-UOE2Q0hu7IX1mFUtQAjdC5zNzFL/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hanky Panky, Hanky Panky low-rise thongs, thongs" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IEPuVnWvBhLZrNc3kCdd8V7U4QYlBM5-wCIKsnCnJED2HpXit-mTYuQpyc8eHb47xJduEFDhyr50afc4LcWUGAuG2n7tVpP3ifc3NuzaC2pXnh8Y-UOE2Q0hu7IX1mFUtQAjdC5zNzFL/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" title="Hanky Panky, Hanky Panky low-rise thongs, thongs" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How do you like my attempt at doing something "artsy" with a thong?!</td></tr>
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Secondly, they are instant pick-me-ups when I'm having a bad day, or feel a little blah. Let's face it, us Moms sometimes need all the help we can get. Now that my kids are a little older and more independent, it's way more of a smoother ride. I remember the good ol' days of having zero sleep, dried milk and spit-up on my shirt, my hair a mess, and being in sweats all day. Makeup or a shower? What's that? Or, even now, with kids running around screaming, and spilt milk on the floor, and runny noses to deal with, we need little things along the way to cheer us up. For some, it may be going out and buying a new lipstick. For others, it may be going for a walk around the block, while some may enjoy having a nice, hot bath. Those are all great things, but nothing makes you feel sexier, or more beautiful than putting on a pair of hot-pink Hanky Pankies. Trust me, my husband can attest to this!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmLq321nG7Z76FEAkDYYBu4G7s_vDI6zhBUDcN7_FiGlpVLrUsocd1j61Zf-noWYh_MWFZZd7l3GUTbvXtX2xF5MiekmRIvX6vQS_F_U7RzclbM23YaoxmnGP4GAuVfIHkL5cblDPXvf3/s1600/IMG_2400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hanky Panky, Hanky Panky low-rise thongs, thongs" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmLq321nG7Z76FEAkDYYBu4G7s_vDI6zhBUDcN7_FiGlpVLrUsocd1j61Zf-noWYh_MWFZZd7l3GUTbvXtX2xF5MiekmRIvX6vQS_F_U7RzclbM23YaoxmnGP4GAuVfIHkL5cblDPXvf3/s1600/IMG_2400.JPG" title="Hanky Panky, Hanky Panky low-rise thongs, thongs" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super-soft lace! You can tell that it's really well-made.</td></tr>
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Which me brings me to my third reason for this lovefest - the huge range of colours that they come in. </div>
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Who wants to wear boring beige, white and black, when you can choose from colours like Atomic Pink, Bali Blue, Electric Orchid, Key Lime Pie, or Passion Fruit?! I recently discovered a beautiful lingerie store called <a href="http://knickerslingerie.com/" target="_blank">Knickers Lingerie Boutique</a> that carries Hanky Panky. They had on display a few of the pretty colours available. Needless to say, I will definitely be back!</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70hUlIaf8-XJ1c9c4RcFgR4FvR44uNDTuSPZaYT1aQGIQesSDJ3B-cBJMJkB_GsXujffYRQmQhYkUhLDZ34wI6ru2qmVWzJOKIROnlJNlCaBc9ykCKjXTiJUpXIKjzEfjmW1G5k6hnEbY/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hanky Panky, Hanky Panky low-rise thongs, Knickers Lingerie Boutique, thongs, lingerie" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70hUlIaf8-XJ1c9c4RcFgR4FvR44uNDTuSPZaYT1aQGIQesSDJ3B-cBJMJkB_GsXujffYRQmQhYkUhLDZ34wI6ru2qmVWzJOKIROnlJNlCaBc9ykCKjXTiJUpXIKjzEfjmW1G5k6hnEbY/s1600/photo+2.JPG" title="Hanky Panky, Hanky Panky low-rise thongs, Knickers Lingerie Boutique, thongs, lingerie" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanky Panky display at <a href="http://knickerslingerie.com/" target="_blank">Knickers Lingerie Boutique</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWJz_z99YsefEv4qBURR3zD_s3KSi04H56KMpj7N-lj8D-d-C3plg_2VDuf1BAE_3NEO4cEGdHICrj_mvvw11-NKO9xNGsqK0kBh-akSAR9y5AfdwZvUV0e9jL_edCMrzA-ZXYaH4AiGM/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hanky Panky, Hanky Panky low-rise thongs, Knickers Lingerie Boutique, thongs, lingerie" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWJz_z99YsefEv4qBURR3zD_s3KSi04H56KMpj7N-lj8D-d-C3plg_2VDuf1BAE_3NEO4cEGdHICrj_mvvw11-NKO9xNGsqK0kBh-akSAR9y5AfdwZvUV0e9jL_edCMrzA-ZXYaH4AiGM/s1600/photo.JPG" title="Hanky Panky, Hanky Panky low-rise thongs, Knickers Lingerie Boutique, thongs, lingerie" width="578" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful packaging from <a href="http://knickerslingerie.com/" target="_blank">Knickers Lingerie Boutique</a></td></tr>
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Okay, now for the bad news, like the down part of a movie that you know is always coming... the price for one pair is $20. I know, pretty steep, considering that you can probably get four or five pairs of <b>similar-looking</b> undies elsewhere. I have yet to find some that are of the same quality of lace as these ones though. If you know of such a thing existing, please email me! I would love to try them. Also, It's not like I buy twenty pairs at one time! I pick one up here and there, and over time, you will find yourself with quite a collection. You will not regret spending the extra money for them, as they last a long, long time. Not only that, the way that they make you feel when you wear them, you can't put a price on. <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤ </span>Remember... you are worth it, and you deserve it! ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span></div>
Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-33155784863279409552014-01-16T16:44:00.002-08:002014-01-24T13:09:35.163-08:00My Mom's Potato Rice Cake Recipe (Lo Bak Go)<div style="text-align: justify;">
Happy New Year! I really have been neglecting my blog the last few months, but feel inspired to start up again, so I hope to post more regularly from now on. </div>
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Seeing that it's close to Chinese New Year (January 31st), I would like to share with you a recipe of my Mom's called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnip_cake" target="_blank">Lo Bak Go</a> (which translates to Lo Bak= Daikon Radish, Go= Cake). It is served quite frequently in Chinese restaurants during Dim Sum lunch, and is also called Turnip or Radish Cake. In this case, I am substituting the daikon radish for potatoes, hence the name Potato Rice Cake. I have been eating this dish since I was a little girl, and have always wanted to make it, so I asked my Mom if I could watch and photograph her doing it. This recipe holds a very special place in my heart, as my Mom is getting on in life, but I'll always have this forever to remember her by! I enjoy a piece of the cake dipped in a little bit of soy sauce and hot sauce. I will post the recipe at the bottom of this post. I hope you'll give it a try! ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHH28jcaQtTRrW8yzEHt6tCK0BpLNSv42cqLE4z09b51z6INkaV_f9-7GWiyvxQ2FDXaNzmMtfJaP9W_1N0ouh2mhkY_ggWlplwdUtQ6AHzCJa161hU1t45G9yVa560BKpvWPqvqcSBmBV/s1600/rice+cake+finished.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lo Bak Go, Chinese rice cake" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHH28jcaQtTRrW8yzEHt6tCK0BpLNSv42cqLE4z09b51z6INkaV_f9-7GWiyvxQ2FDXaNzmMtfJaP9W_1N0ouh2mhkY_ggWlplwdUtQ6AHzCJa161hU1t45G9yVa560BKpvWPqvqcSBmBV/s1600/rice+cake+finished.JPG" height="640" title="Lo Bak Go, Chinese rice cake" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lo Bak Go - Chinese Potato Rice Cake</td></tr>
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The first step in the recipe is to prepare the filling, which is by far the best part of the cake. It is the tiny pieces of salty, savoury, hearty, meaty goodness! It consists of finely chopping together Chinese sausage (Lap Cheng), Chinese mushrooms, dried shrimp, salted turnip, and green onions. You can find most of these ingredients in Asian food stores, or Chinatown. You could use cubed ham, chicken breast, or even firm tofu in place of Chinese sausage. Because let's face it, they are not the healthiest, which probably explains why they taste so damn good! After finely chopping the ingredients, stir fry them in a bit of canola oil and salt until tender. This step can be done a day or two ahead. Just cool and store in the fridge until you are ready to make the cake.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TLIIvRHAkm-neagIdcdh9CDZBx0e2TfPttZIfLD2j9fc7MnlphJcBMFDmnyJsq7oAwBK8xd8McjEaTvlfyTBWnnuxmmx05i_S6yqd-dtpQfwf4NtiPengNPIJZsg-Rpxk58OZzVOkPny/s1600/IMG_2336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TLIIvRHAkm-neagIdcdh9CDZBx0e2TfPttZIfLD2j9fc7MnlphJcBMFDmnyJsq7oAwBK8xd8McjEaTvlfyTBWnnuxmmx05i_S6yqd-dtpQfwf4NtiPengNPIJZsg-Rpxk58OZzVOkPny/s1600/IMG_2336.JPG" height="513" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The filling: Chinese sausage, Chinese mushrooms, dried shrimp, salted turnip, green onions</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxlt06FvFcGUxRgZl9go_8sgKVBTEHvM9TInCYrKrg6S_VJAzk4dhMp35oYxFNJaxx9_9G6ESZko4dXDWt4LWTXjDZ5WIHMuxgbt5cTQei6b8Xy5BjftAnqu5sjuHheMzAJQZQIADvt8J/s1600/IMG_2335.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxlt06FvFcGUxRgZl9go_8sgKVBTEHvM9TInCYrKrg6S_VJAzk4dhMp35oYxFNJaxx9_9G6ESZko4dXDWt4LWTXjDZ5WIHMuxgbt5cTQei6b8Xy5BjftAnqu5sjuHheMzAJQZQIADvt8J/s1600/IMG_2335.JPG" height="640" width="436" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoWixfCG656ZgRPL1OpVWTr42zQn8_Tz1LMy5A__yM9UvfiE-u0ARzrdC_81gi0546oRELGslGkyUH7Lf_yyBmat7qOqvDO5kHzeVbAqXtRnpEqltiomB9szz89kOypfVhJfetV0YrGu4/s1600/Lap-Cheong-credit-FotoosVanRobin-935x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoWixfCG656ZgRPL1OpVWTr42zQn8_Tz1LMy5A__yM9UvfiE-u0ARzrdC_81gi0546oRELGslGkyUH7Lf_yyBmat7qOqvDO5kHzeVbAqXtRnpEqltiomB9szz89kOypfVhJfetV0YrGu4/s1600/Lap-Cheong-credit-FotoosVanRobin-935x500.jpg" height="280" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese sausage (Lap Cheng)</td></tr>
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So on the actual day of making the Rice Cake, the steps involved are as follows: </div>
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Peel and chop the potatoes, make the rice liquid or batter for the cake, add the filling, then steam the rice cake. First, peel and chop the potatoes into 1 cm cubes. We used russet potatoes, but any kind will do.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEGwSFXii6hyE8CsDTOeoAOQVxHl84ynGt4TBLe1bxIjt94ZbYqzqM-LH-wPPz7r32GLlpVCclRfd5_Q4_11ABrnX4DVbJVOggH8l-PD-dRKgVihBOI2z5f2UzfFjpTsQYyiJ9oOVPgkQ/s1600/IMG_2329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEGwSFXii6hyE8CsDTOeoAOQVxHl84ynGt4TBLe1bxIjt94ZbYqzqM-LH-wPPz7r32GLlpVCclRfd5_Q4_11ABrnX4DVbJVOggH8l-PD-dRKgVihBOI2z5f2UzfFjpTsQYyiJ9oOVPgkQ/s1600/IMG_2329.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next, make the rice liquid or batter, using Rice Flour. We used two 400 gram bags to make five pie-plate sized Rice Cakes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-BGzycsMwmTPVhOQ3l0cQXPjg7hw2W8OHcEREM-oKbNeWs8QWBSZsb9x76bt9UO1cqhqNIzvB5Mvla_OFUHu4e3Oalw-Yve1f8qgwdSbhrmFc_4_52uag4UhP0A85Yo7rETMEWPxF8Pb/s1600/IMG_2330.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-BGzycsMwmTPVhOQ3l0cQXPjg7hw2W8OHcEREM-oKbNeWs8QWBSZsb9x76bt9UO1cqhqNIzvB5Mvla_OFUHu4e3Oalw-Yve1f8qgwdSbhrmFc_4_52uag4UhP0A85Yo7rETMEWPxF8Pb/s1600/IMG_2330.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Mix the flour with some water that has been boiled and cooled, add 2 tsp. of tapioca starch, then knead with hands until it becomes dough-like.<br />
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Add enough water to the dough until it is similar to the consistency of homogenized milk. Again, make sure you use water that has been boiled and cooled, as opposed to tap water. This makes the texture of the finished cake more smooth. We needed to use about eight cups of water to get the right consistency. Stir with a ladle between each cup of water. You'll be able to tell it's ready when the back of the ladle is completely coated with the white liquid.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthCGfSVJfN-4FizbZiAHjVDJMYooGYrGbB3PuZjgtI7YS2-OhC3prUgoYZO_z24FqjrOO8dfKWLi16y0Ni2OtMXdk0S3j2zaMAxPmtEHzWdXToCjau8Rmq7z0LY9URw8zZ_DyvPQSY39D/s1600/IMG_2349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthCGfSVJfN-4FizbZiAHjVDJMYooGYrGbB3PuZjgtI7YS2-OhC3prUgoYZO_z24FqjrOO8dfKWLi16y0Ni2OtMXdk0S3j2zaMAxPmtEHzWdXToCjau8Rmq7z0LY9URw8zZ_DyvPQSY39D/s1600/IMG_2349.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Ok, here comes the fun part...now it is time to steam the Potato Rice Cake! Using the ladle, fill a pie pan or deep dish with the rice liquid, until it is about 1/3 full. Sprinkle the potatoes first, then the meat filling all over the surface. Be generous with this, as this is what makes the cake taste so yummy! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtvlKxoB2fO7g4rZ9wGlZG2jUigc0n0DQiqJ3brbHuObocZGmf7BaR9qY2hmyBJWvrZX6nh2BpT3TdJU8XZKUJRnmj_bBQkWygWyTV9JzOdIeG7kiNc9BZoYYbWE3o9HNAoNHVzhMZ0dX/s1600/IMG_2353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtvlKxoB2fO7g4rZ9wGlZG2jUigc0n0DQiqJ3brbHuObocZGmf7BaR9qY2hmyBJWvrZX6nh2BpT3TdJU8XZKUJRnmj_bBQkWygWyTV9JzOdIeG7kiNc9BZoYYbWE3o9HNAoNHVzhMZ0dX/s1600/IMG_2353.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next, ladle more of the liquid on top of the filling until the plate is about 2/3 full. You should still be able to see some of, but not all of the filling.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1_yYU3QOD7EwrzH0ktEE27aqCgDKS-Ra3G1r0Ftqe1zHBtGowvcUiP0jTES9Z9vsLod-oAJleEs-sxbNlMlNqoviIcBG-IhBBn3Zj2DO0Uzwnmkri5kXhfj0JX0tKwEIPQrBBfExvTs9/s1600/IMG_2355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1_yYU3QOD7EwrzH0ktEE27aqCgDKS-Ra3G1r0Ftqe1zHBtGowvcUiP0jTES9Z9vsLod-oAJleEs-sxbNlMlNqoviIcBG-IhBBn3Zj2DO0Uzwnmkri5kXhfj0JX0tKwEIPQrBBfExvTs9/s1600/IMG_2355.JPG" height="502" width="640" /></a></div>
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Place the pan or dish in a steamer, and cook for about 40 minutes total. After 35 minutes of cooking time, sprinkle some chopped green onion on top to add some colour. If you don't have a steamer, you can make your own steamer by using a large wok filled with about an inch of water, place a small round rack or inverted plate in the wok, then place the pan or deep dish on top of the rack. Simmer for the same amount of time, and you will get the same result, which will look like this:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUCKsBRRhtXJ3y-vx1ywIKgLmsWnITAyMwS55pEmGwCEj8Gh4-BTdVQ6ymzVg6KlnvEKdcGMqPdrVLnDOadx2L6MFgW3JFbXFeRUHxoVXNlnJMaBZrQqXjSLhwuZ5KRiMG6b6yUZxerC8/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lo Bak Go, Turnip Cake, Potato Rice Cake" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUCKsBRRhtXJ3y-vx1ywIKgLmsWnITAyMwS55pEmGwCEj8Gh4-BTdVQ6ymzVg6KlnvEKdcGMqPdrVLnDOadx2L6MFgW3JFbXFeRUHxoVXNlnJMaBZrQqXjSLhwuZ5KRiMG6b6yUZxerC8/s1600/photo.JPG" height="640" title="Lo Bak Go, Turnip Cake, Potato Rice Cake" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYujdMUPN0j-B1FRQAIB2emjsd3FzV4nAyvObJhuoN7ki4K-3jXEt1iw0TBHYvo3dq6U_QQ3SVVqqS34tbcx-aMQVQlp2-_ZD7WME3CkTIp76e63aCd1FhNGS5t_V1zIBsG28rgZ0b1k3C/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lo Bak Go, Lo Baak Gou, Radish Cake, Rice Cake" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYujdMUPN0j-B1FRQAIB2emjsd3FzV4nAyvObJhuoN7ki4K-3jXEt1iw0TBHYvo3dq6U_QQ3SVVqqS34tbcx-aMQVQlp2-_ZD7WME3CkTIp76e63aCd1FhNGS5t_V1zIBsG28rgZ0b1k3C/s1600/photo.JPG" height="524" title="Lo Bak Go, Lo Baak Gou, Radish Cake, Rice Cake" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pan-fried leftovers the next day!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Here is the recipe for Potato Rice Cake, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnip_cake" target="_blank">Lo Bak Go</a>, in case you wanted to make it yourself. My Mom used 2 bags of rice flour to make 5 pie pans of cake.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">For the <u>filling</u>, which can be prepared the day before:</span></div>
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<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">8 dried Chinese (Shiitake) mushrooms, soaked in water for 30 minutes</li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">3 Chinese sausages (Lap Cheng)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">1 cup dried shrimp, soaked in water for 30 minutes</li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">2 pieces salted turnip, soaked in water for 10 minutes</li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">4 green onion stalks, chopped </li>
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<ol style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Drain and squeeze out the excess water from the mushrooms, shrimp and turnip.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Finely chop all ingredients.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Heat 1 tbsp. of oil in a hot pan.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Add a pinch of salt and stir fry everything together for about 5 minutes.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Cool and set aside. Refrigerate if not making until the next day.</li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Rest of the ingredients:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></div>
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<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">4 large, or 6 medium russet potatoes, peeled</li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">12 cups boiled, then cooled water</li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">2 bags rice flour (red bag) *Note: do <u>not</u> use the Glutinous rice flour (green bag)* </li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">2 tsp. tapioca starch</li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">2 shallots, chopped </li>
</ul>
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<ol style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Cube potatoes into 1 cm. squares.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Heat 1 tbsp. of oil in a hot pan, and saute shallots for 2 minutes.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Add potatoes and pan-fry for about 10 minutes. This gives the potatoes extra flavour. Set aside.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Start on the rice flour liquid by pouring the bags of flour into a large bowl.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Add 2-1/2 cups of the boiled water to the bowl, and mix together with your hands.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Add tapioca starch.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Knead with your hands until it becomes like dough.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Add the rest of the water in, one cup at a time, stirring with a ladle between cups. It should resemble homogenized milk.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">You can tell it is ready, when you dip your ladle in the bowl, and the liquid forms a white coating on the back of the ladle.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Using the ladle, spoon the liquid into one of the pie pans until it is 1/3 full.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Sprinkle potatoes, then the meat filling all over the surface of the liquid.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Ladle more of the liquid on top, filling the pan to 2/3 full. You should be able to still see some of the filling, so don't cover completely!</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Cover and steam over boiling water for about 35 minutes.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Sprinkle some chopped green onions on top, then cover and steam for 5 minutes more.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Carefully remove the pan from the steamer. Cool slightly, then cut the rice cake into pieces.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Serve with soy sauce and hot sauce. I like to use <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sriracha_sauce" target="_blank">Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce</a>. Enjoy!</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">Any leftovers that are stored in the fridge can be pan-fried in oil until a crispy crust is formed (see photo above). This tastes even better, and it's usually how Dim Sum restaurants serve it. </li>
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Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-46041868741454366292013-08-26T20:31:00.000-07:002014-12-03T12:57:36.815-08:00Chicken Thighs with Wide Buttered Noodles, Fennel and Grapes<div style="text-align: justify;">
I love food that is simple and flavourful with minimal ingredients. I have found the most tasty, yet elegant chicken recipe! You can easily serve this to your family as a weeknight dinner, or it would be perfect for a formal or holiday dinner as well. It is Tyler Florence's "Chicken Thighs with Wide Buttered Noodles, Fennel and Grapes", from his cookbook entitled <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tylers-Ultimate-Brilliant-Simple-Food/dp/1400052386" target="_blank">Tyler's Ultimate</a></i>. </div>
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The combination of the crispy chicken, fennel bulbs, butter and parsley is to die for. I have made this dish many times for my family and it's definitely a favourite, even with the picky eaters!</div>
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I took photos of the actual recipe from the book, and posted them at the bottom of this post. Try making this for yourself, and let me know what you think! I'm sure you'll be adding it to your list of favourite recipes too! ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVPWyDF3ETQ92U2n856xhk16UgvNDCzv8ctagF6NBQsVOnS1FUxl5B5vqoPmRWeY1Olgkg112NBe6edMVRPTFJPabkfFf25rtKngTCBmT6BWHdedeokMrReSxbFkp1kYMuhWBQyDfdSyC/s1600/Chicken&Fennel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tyler Florence Chicken Thighs with Wide Buttered Noodles, Fennel and Grapes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVPWyDF3ETQ92U2n856xhk16UgvNDCzv8ctagF6NBQsVOnS1FUxl5B5vqoPmRWeY1Olgkg112NBe6edMVRPTFJPabkfFf25rtKngTCBmT6BWHdedeokMrReSxbFkp1kYMuhWBQyDfdSyC/s640/Chicken&Fennel.JPG" height="480" title="Tyler Florence Chicken Thighs with Wide Buttered Noodles, Fennel and Grapes" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My version of Tyler Florence's Chicken Thighs with Wide Buttered Noodles, Fennel and Grapes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMEo9S6cdqJJuRa629zXpdE_ymC8OtARnFqJBdYXqMmFnwAi74BUnjvxM7tkS2gUChKvYNFj6x80kSLKSd24fCCZdPU_OQcGbj9M9QM_mHNoCspk6nUcjN-_vOm5qM56JS2CWzAT4ZFL3/s1600/IMG_6626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMEo9S6cdqJJuRa629zXpdE_ymC8OtARnFqJBdYXqMmFnwAi74BUnjvxM7tkS2gUChKvYNFj6x80kSLKSd24fCCZdPU_OQcGbj9M9QM_mHNoCspk6nUcjN-_vOm5qM56JS2CWzAT4ZFL3/s1600/IMG_6626.jpg" height="640" width="367" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJ7DM1Q6NDO20lczueGO3US5qJ3kdN3NugMLBYrnMKn7hCFskzjF4ww6-a9dMSs2OSbqyyJLkba7cmt_RzfVCmL_1qDtYcAkPedbfyVoWBq7DX0MXYRnsVEjWXrM0uO-qRQM_qFJDWfBK/s1600/IMG_6628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJ7DM1Q6NDO20lczueGO3US5qJ3kdN3NugMLBYrnMKn7hCFskzjF4ww6-a9dMSs2OSbqyyJLkba7cmt_RzfVCmL_1qDtYcAkPedbfyVoWBq7DX0MXYRnsVEjWXrM0uO-qRQM_qFJDWfBK/s1600/IMG_6628.jpg" height="640" width="354" /></a></div>
Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-82930509434773930342013-08-04T12:10:00.001-07:002014-01-24T13:10:07.235-08:00Look What I Found On Top Of My Lychee!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ever since I was a child, I have enjoyed eating lychee fruit. You peel the brown outer shell and eat the sweet juicy white fruit that is inside, discarding the pit in the center. </div>
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The other day, I bought a bag of lychees and look what I discovered! The inner child in me shrieked with delight as I saw what looked like a tiny snail on top of a lychee! It wasn't a real snail of course, but I had to do a double-take nevertheless!</div>
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Ah yes...it's the little things in life that give me the most joy! ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzstM3ZyyMnuht5cItejuRG7Ko1O5HwWg009fnB3QhyfrqPXka8JIzDbHIa2SvmbOCyJtADgql9o9XIom6iAVY2j6mmigUL63-VA9oWSKnj6GiTrybMIi40HtH0OjujhrTqYo6PCLWsvsR/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="lychee fruit, snails, photography, food art, food photography, Chinese food, fruit" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzstM3ZyyMnuht5cItejuRG7Ko1O5HwWg009fnB3QhyfrqPXka8JIzDbHIa2SvmbOCyJtADgql9o9XIom6iAVY2j6mmigUL63-VA9oWSKnj6GiTrybMIi40HtH0OjujhrTqYo6PCLWsvsR/s640/photo.jpg" height="640" title="lychee fruit, snails, photography, food art, food photography, Chinese food, fruit" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "snail" on top of my lychee!</td></tr>
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Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-10629219120464436942013-07-10T19:54:00.000-07:002014-01-24T13:10:23.082-08:00My Sexy Summer Salmon Avocado Zucchini Anchovy Salad!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Do you ever go to a restaurant and get annoyed when someone orders a salad, but he/she prefers the dressing on the side? Well... I'm one of those annoying people! Don't get me wrong... I used to love dressing on my salad, the more the better! But that all changed once I got married. My husband used to order his salad without any dressing, and I used to think he was nuts! I thought, how could anyone possibly have a salad with no dressing! </div>
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I would like to share with you a very simple Salmon Salad recipe with you that is insanely easy to make. I made it for dinner tonight, in fact. It was absolutely delicious, and I cannot wait to make it again!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPu4WUzaw0x1XMQd0yGpDG6ESsmGt9ojGwfJvESa2k9dhLfRli-0qG_ioXTQJZOCXzLR4FCLa4UuGuWX054Af1G-JOr53lbX1AqLJMUd5v5BW1iWh8MkbKjPbxB7fQIp4tnUQhFpeyT9O/s1600/IMG_2172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Easy salmon avocado anchovy zucchini salad recipe" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPu4WUzaw0x1XMQd0yGpDG6ESsmGt9ojGwfJvESa2k9dhLfRli-0qG_ioXTQJZOCXzLR4FCLa4UuGuWX054Af1G-JOr53lbX1AqLJMUd5v5BW1iWh8MkbKjPbxB7fQIp4tnUQhFpeyT9O/s640/IMG_2172.JPG" height="520" title="Easy salmon avocado anchovy zucchini salad recipe" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy Salmon, Avocado, Anchovy, Zucchini Salad</td></tr>
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Here are the ingredients:<br />
<ul>
<li>1 bag of mixed greens of your choice</li>
<li>1 fillet of salmon (my fish market had fresh salmon burgers today, so I used that instead)</li>
<li>1 avocado, cubed</li>
<li>1 can of anchovies in olive oil</li>
<li>1 zucchini, sliced </li>
<li>olive oil</li>
<li>salt and pepper to taste </li>
</ul>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Pan fry the salmon in a little bit of olive oil until brown and cooked, then cut into chunks.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Grill or pan fry the zucchini until brown and tender.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Assemble the salad greens in a big bowl.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Add the salmon, zucchini, avocado and anchovies.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Drizzle with olive oil.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Season with salt and pepper.</li>
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And that's it! I hope you enjoy this salad as much as I do. Let me know what you think, and please feel free to comment with variations or suggestions! Happy eating! ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0Zk0IcW87rP4tYidQFjhUQw95tgE_5EGYbIawrXz-Fd9RIeyCHmJtV3BKDz3ubmk2FRRQPt-YdEAuwfhKeqF2sGRZ3THVOcf58trSiomZtmmfVYKZ5Vo6U15U95MSNJKrGWJspuLJAmv/s1600/IMG_2181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Summer salmon avocado zucchini anchovy salad recipe, so easy to make." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0Zk0IcW87rP4tYidQFjhUQw95tgE_5EGYbIawrXz-Fd9RIeyCHmJtV3BKDz3ubmk2FRRQPt-YdEAuwfhKeqF2sGRZ3THVOcf58trSiomZtmmfVYKZ5Vo6U15U95MSNJKrGWJspuLJAmv/s640/IMG_2181.JPG" height="480" title="Summer salmon avocado zucchini anchovy salad recipe, so easy to make." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This salad is insanely easy to make!</td></tr>
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Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-25273187910999783492013-07-02T10:40:00.001-07:002014-01-22T11:19:38.535-08:00Dior Amber Diamond - Instantly Liven Up Your Face & Make It Glow!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Let me first just say that I am obsessed with Dior Amber Diamond! I never understood highlighting, or why people even did it. But now I get it! It's purpose is to bring light to certain areas of the face, and make those parts stand out more and add some dimension. I like to brush it lightly above my cheekbones, all along the brow bone, down the bridge of my nose and on my cupid's bow.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qjQeFQPB7dv6fr26L10Rttzvime1UrVBVrFFkd8utaxsLau26JZ-cjSvuPoK3TnDIGHHEqnzEH3QxdKRykS7vt_IeTBAuFTZfbbwLt9Omi2j1xtzfKyZl66VihyphenhyphenpfkVZnqe8pCl0_MTy/s1600/IMG_2124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dior Amber Diamond - Beautiful Shimmer Bronze Glow Highlighter" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qjQeFQPB7dv6fr26L10Rttzvime1UrVBVrFFkd8utaxsLau26JZ-cjSvuPoK3TnDIGHHEqnzEH3QxdKRykS7vt_IeTBAuFTZfbbwLt9Omi2j1xtzfKyZl66VihyphenhyphenpfkVZnqe8pCl0_MTy/s640/IMG_2124.JPG" height="640" title="Dior Amber Diamond - Beautiful Shimmery Bronze Glow Highlighter" width="609" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dior Amber Diamond - Beautiful, bronzy glow!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.dior.com/beauty/int/en/makeup/face/powder/ultra-shimmering-all-over-face-powder/py0719200-cpowders.html" target="_blank">Dior Amber Diamond</a> is a gorgeous compact consisting of five shades ranging from an off-white colour to a deep copper tan shade. You can use each colour individually, or sweep your brush along all five and create a beautiful bronze shimmering glow (which is what I usually do). Let me emphasize that it is shimmery, not glittery. There are no large chunks of glitter whatsoever. The powder is so finely milled and silky smooth... it feels like pure luxury when you put it on. It also comes in a shade called Pink Diamond, which is more cool toned and pink in colour, but I find the warm golden Amber Diamond is more of a fit for my NC-35 Asian complexion. I like to use my <a href="http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/146/826/Products/Brushes/Face/109-Small-Contour-Brush/index.tmpl" target="_blank">MAC 109 brush</a> to apply to the areas mentioned above, or you can also use the <a href="http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/146/304/Products/Brushes/Face/129-PowderBlush-Brush/index.tmpl" target="_blank">MAC 129 brush</a> to apply a light dusting to your whole face and neck to make it glow and look so beautiful and healthy! ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZm-uWlyeb5OF5QAaTGxxTijDmvD8imsmAftiWC2kmEhoru20bgzrd6n_ewwoIwGniDdEzjxqYoTt6b8R7eg7_rxSFp2pQmBfeu-Vuqe0l0bheSAC7C-6D-VM9-OUiufSfKBWAhRFFnX5/s1600/IMG_2121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dior Amber Diamond Packaging - Beautiful Shimmery Bronze Glow Highlighter" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZm-uWlyeb5OF5QAaTGxxTijDmvD8imsmAftiWC2kmEhoru20bgzrd6n_ewwoIwGniDdEzjxqYoTt6b8R7eg7_rxSFp2pQmBfeu-Vuqe0l0bheSAC7C-6D-VM9-OUiufSfKBWAhRFFnX5/s640/IMG_2121.JPG" height="528" title="Dior Amber Diamond Packaging - Beautiful Shimmery Bronze Glow Highlighter" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packaging for Dior Amber Diamond</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizViYnYEmBbHJoh4aH6T33lwXprhx4djSdY6D9qGzZty5XtYGUMGHou21ym-3MswH3vtBhEWy5aTf6wh5ivx5va2ZV45PuaGhzjzvSjqJpGToUx9oW89Ypq7rtstyPHMNrrFe2sdL_gvTy/s1600/IMG_2126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dior Amber Diamond - Beautiful Shimmery Bronze Glow Highlighter" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizViYnYEmBbHJoh4aH6T33lwXprhx4djSdY6D9qGzZty5XtYGUMGHou21ym-3MswH3vtBhEWy5aTf6wh5ivx5va2ZV45PuaGhzjzvSjqJpGToUx9oW89Ypq7rtstyPHMNrrFe2sdL_gvTy/s640/IMG_2126.JPG" height="510" title="Dior Amber Diamond - Beautiful Shimmery Bronze Glow Highlighter" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dior Amber Diamond - Finely Milled and Silky Smooth Highlighter</td></tr>
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Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-61594356820179116132013-06-26T17:22:00.000-07:002014-01-22T11:21:45.720-08:00My MAC Brush Collection - #109, 129, 168, 219, 239<div style="text-align: justify;">
Over the last couple of years, I've started a MAC brush collection, and have slowly added to it one by one. Currently, I have a total of five MAC brushes. That doesn't seem like a lot to some people, but I find that these are enough to get me ready every day. Even though I have a drawer-full of other brands of brushes, I keep coming back to my MAC ones, and have decided that they are the only ones that are good enough to be used on my face. Should I consider myself a MAC snob now?</div>
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Since each brush retails on average for $50 Canadian, I consider each one I buy an investment. My heart races, palms get sweaty, and I have a general feeling of euphoria and giddiness each time I pick one up. I take care of my brushes, and wash them in mild brush cleaner once a week. Because of this, all my brushes look and feel the same as the day I bought them.</div>
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These are the brushes in my collection currently...<br />
#109 - Small Contour Brush<br />
#129 - Powder/Blush Brush<br />
#168 - Large Angled Contour Brush<br />
#219 - Pencil Brush<br />
#239 - Eye Shader Brush<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWPDE3MlEbFo-rfCQ5BYbfWpFcbMp3VuyeqRoDUc82TlatOknTJ9r4E9hsnBy33EK-KXDoMhAfwyZXB_f-u-s4uaJ3glw9Mlp6Je75v8oDpGHzNYhN7Ij04asnwh5s47clH3z7sLx2ytm/s1600/IMG_2143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="My Mac makeup brush collection and how I use them." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWPDE3MlEbFo-rfCQ5BYbfWpFcbMp3VuyeqRoDUc82TlatOknTJ9r4E9hsnBy33EK-KXDoMhAfwyZXB_f-u-s4uaJ3glw9Mlp6Je75v8oDpGHzNYhN7Ij04asnwh5s47clH3z7sLx2ytm/s640/IMG_2143.JPG" height="510" title="Mac makeup brushes 109, 129, 168, 219, 239" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From top to bottom: MAC 109, 129, 168, 219 and 239<br />
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#109 - I use mostly for highlighting with my beloved <a href="http://www.dior.com/beauty/int/en/make_up_and_cosmetics_by_christian_dior_lipstick_m/face/powder/ultra-shimmering-all-over-face-powder/py0719200-cpowders.html" target="_blank">Dior Amber Diamond</a> above my cheekbones, around the brow line, and down the center of my nose. The brush is super soft and is made with natural fibers. I love this brush because it's small enough that it doesn't deposit the shimmer powder all over your face so you look like a disco ball. It places the powder only in the areas where you want it to, and makes your face look glowing and radiant.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1m-xDa2KDMxfXdOWYOgLBsxmwXGxKwMW2uDlKWxzLnA5uO0EToFTA_JzEVNRVP_zf9XzoDR0FnvGz15_qCafxsEdtPDFjYzsfNaw37T8nbS7_pA9ExdF5wPyFVEcyjO-xMYkFzQEx_yJz/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mac 109 small contour brush is great for applying highlighter like Dior Amber Diamond." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1m-xDa2KDMxfXdOWYOgLBsxmwXGxKwMW2uDlKWxzLnA5uO0EToFTA_JzEVNRVP_zf9XzoDR0FnvGz15_qCafxsEdtPDFjYzsfNaw37T8nbS7_pA9ExdF5wPyFVEcyjO-xMYkFzQEx_yJz/s640/109.JPG" height="264" title="Mac 109 small contour brush for applying highlighter like Dior Amber Diamond" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MAC 109 - Small Contour Brush</td></tr>
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#129 - I love using this brush to contour my face with. It's about twice the size as the 109, and is so soft and fluffy. Even though the 109 is called the 'contour' brush and is marketed for that purpose, I actually prefer the 129 for contouring, because it provides a more natural and blended application rather than a harsh bronze line (which you do not want!). My favourite bronzer at the moment is <a href="http://www.thebalm.com/bahama-mama.html" target="_blank">theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer</a> - say that fast ten times!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwfEDZWF1KX1WEl-l00qVEjtBlqF9s-gK2TEOnI0NW-Y5vdve56Tawb-8mlQqJfw2T7RcctjW7TzPXeWWAY3DvpOoq5Bl51sQyQ87TMYI5zZsp3qU7IeIwEL23Ia5-VaTq2nAq1gVsER_/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mac 129 Powder Blush Brush used to apply bronzer like theBalm Bahama Mama" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwfEDZWF1KX1WEl-l00qVEjtBlqF9s-gK2TEOnI0NW-Y5vdve56Tawb-8mlQqJfw2T7RcctjW7TzPXeWWAY3DvpOoq5Bl51sQyQ87TMYI5zZsp3qU7IeIwEL23Ia5-VaTq2nAq1gVsER_/s640/129.JPG" height="257" title="Mac 129 Powder Blush Brush used to apply bronzer like theBalm Bahama Mama" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MAC 129 - Powder/Blush Brush</td></tr>
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#168 - This is the softest brush out of the five. Not sure if it has to do with the white hairs, but I LOVE the feel of it against my face. The diagonal angle of the bristles makes it easy to apply my blush precisely where I want it. It picks up product extremely well, and I only need to dip the brush lightly into my <a href="http://www.thebalm.com/fratboy.html" target="_blank">theBalm Frat Boy</a> blush for it to be pigmented enough. If I had to pick only one brush to keep, this would definitely be the one!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfEm29eesRMhmVw3_CeFCTa1KdjEU_l6AqiknOl4TANpNAETtQA8HdG_JIFnnc_H7g5B_aROOPFEBKBkTR-kjh0A9Bki_O6ufoENXfd8OQo8AiP8ITfOsFX5kFI1_texY9JedfFqFplPX/s1600/168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mac 168 Large Angled Contour Brush used for applying blush theBalm Frat Boy" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfEm29eesRMhmVw3_CeFCTa1KdjEU_l6AqiknOl4TANpNAETtQA8HdG_JIFnnc_H7g5B_aROOPFEBKBkTR-kjh0A9Bki_O6ufoENXfd8OQo8AiP8ITfOsFX5kFI1_texY9JedfFqFplPX/s640/168.JPG" height="243" title="Mac 168 Large Angled Contour Brush used for applying blush theBalm Frat Boy" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MAC 168 - Large Angled Contour Brush</td></tr>
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#219 - This brush is fantastic for lining my eyes with eyeshadow when I don't want to use an eyeliner. It provides a softer, more smokey-smudged look that I prefer sometimes. I love using <a href="http://www.urbandecay.com/Naked-2-Palette-by-Urban-Decay/282,default,pd.html" target="_blank">Busted from the Urban Decay Naked 2</a> palette for this. It's also great for applying highlighter to the inner corners of the eye. This brightens the face and creates the illusion of the eyes being wider apart. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXK5QT5eqbivvAI-y1o7KNQw4wth5D0o9C2lrFCKXEYq9ePuFL6AsgoV044J1jUscNON5VlKjIW1A-m8x2B77yyrfHV2Ne6uX-XuYP1E1kohdWERdiuiwD47bBHwmdTN4GxUoZgp10M0v/s1600/219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mac 219 Pencil Brush great for eyeliner and highlighting eyes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXK5QT5eqbivvAI-y1o7KNQw4wth5D0o9C2lrFCKXEYq9ePuFL6AsgoV044J1jUscNON5VlKjIW1A-m8x2B77yyrfHV2Ne6uX-XuYP1E1kohdWERdiuiwD47bBHwmdTN4GxUoZgp10M0v/s640/219.JPG" height="188" title="Mac 219 Pencil Brush used for eyeliner" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MAC 219 - Pencil Brush</td></tr>
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#239 - This is my go-to brush for applying eyeshadow. It's the perfect size for applying powder from crease to lash line. The flat shape of the brush makes it easy to pick up the product. The bristles are extremely soft, and not at all irritating for my sensitive eyes. My favourite eyeshadows to use are in the <a href="http://www.urbandecay.com/Naked-2-Palette-by-Urban-Decay/282,default,pd.html" target="_blank">Urban Decay Naked 2</a> palette. Even though I have a gazillion number of eyeshadows to choose from, I find myself reaching for this palette constantly.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHl8ld0BCyscKAeDCE1hy-pU8eQLP3ED8q5loUGvc_I768pkzDLvqzjAD1ORwaF_Ct-CV1tC5nHpuGfBOBKhXuM3IIJP4kuoxfmScJAcGO9fyO53BdjXpaC4_5DopD788mwpg3hyzIpvW/s1600/239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mac 239 Holy Grail eyeshadow brush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHl8ld0BCyscKAeDCE1hy-pU8eQLP3ED8q5loUGvc_I768pkzDLvqzjAD1ORwaF_Ct-CV1tC5nHpuGfBOBKhXuM3IIJP4kuoxfmScJAcGO9fyO53BdjXpaC4_5DopD788mwpg3hyzIpvW/s640/239.JPG" height="172" title="Mac 239 Eye Shader Brush great for eyeshadow" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MAC 239 - Eye Shader Brush</td></tr>
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So there you have it...My MAC brush collection thus far! Hope this helps you out when researching which brushes to buy for yourself. Please let me know which brushes you have, why you love them, and which ones I should get in the future! Thanks for reading my blog, and feel free to post a comment! Bye for now! ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span></div>
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Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027347774846687326.post-89519090090497012572013-06-25T13:03:00.001-07:002014-01-22T11:20:20.278-08:00My First Blog Post!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I can't tell you how excited I am to officially write my very first blog post! Being a newbie to the blog world, I find it can be overwhelming at times with all the options available in creating a blog. Please bare with me as I learn the ropes, and discover all the creative and exciting ways I will be able to improve my blog.</div>
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A little bit about me... Let me first just say that I am a wife and Mom of two kids living in Canada. When I first decided to start a blog, I began by throwing around different ideas for the subject matter and content for it. My interests range from music to movies, from reading to writing, from tennis to Bikram Yoga. Then I narrowed in on three things that I really had a passion for, three things that I am constantly Googling and researching. The three things I came up with were Makeup, Food, and Photography.<br />
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Growing up, I was always interested in playing with makeup ever since I can remember. I was limited though, as the only makeup my Mom ever wore, and still wears, is lipstick. I remember always sneaking in her room to try on the bubble gum pink shade that she had on her table. In high school, I started experimenting with eyeshadow. My favourite look was putting very pigmented, frosted smokey lavender eyeshadow over my entire (yes, entire!) lid from brow bone to lash line! Nowadays my tastes in makeup are a bit more subtle, shall we say. Being a Mom, finding the time to put on makeup can be a bit challenging sometimes, but I never leave the house without at least some kind of product on my lips.</div>
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Fast forward to today... these days, I always do my research before buying a cosmetic item. With great outlets such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Makeupalley and the millions of beauty blogs out there, I am able to make an informed decision before I spend money on any beauty product. Sometimes I find myself asking, "Did I really need to spend $35 on a lipstick?" I think about it for a minute, then answer with an enthusiastic "Yes!" It's so important to take time for yourself, and do the things that make you happy and give you pleasure. I believe that a happy Mom = happy kids, and am lucky that I have a husband who recognizes this and encourages me regularly to take time out for just me. He'll take the kids out so I can have the house to myself to read or take a bath in peace, or suggest that I go out to dinner with friends, or go get my nails done, or sit in the hot tub at the pool.</div>
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Ever since the birth of my two kids, I have developed a great passion for cooking. Not only do I love trying new recipes of all kinds of cuisine, but I also enjoy going out for a meal and appreciating beautifully plated works of art. My favourite foods tend to lean towards Japanese, Thai and Indian, but I also love a bbq steak, or a taco from TacoTime.<br />
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Which brings me to my third passion in life - photography! I love documenting elements of everyday life, whether it be a gorgeous plate of salad, to my kids playing on the monkey bars, to a friend's wedding, to my dog getting a haircut, to Mickey Mouse at Disneyland, and the list goes on and on. I believe that I have a good eye for presentation, and making things look pretty.<br />
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Please join me in my journey as I discover new makeup products, mind-blowing tasty eats, beautiful images, and anything else to add to my list of adorations. </div>
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Here's to Eyeliners, Eats & Exposure! ~Janice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">❤</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhil0M6a9D29kwwRNppW17nh3K0dH-_3hiPMLNj9RCxS2ngsuwCLOhT6az2EaGg3gp6sKhommnGxZJBStY49YrCDcXBJKEDna_2f5bJUFXh3Q74LSHfsIK4uOw-lFU5_fSLtYs_L_BYYpp/s1600/IMG_2160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="makeup photography wallpaper favourite products" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhil0M6a9D29kwwRNppW17nh3K0dH-_3hiPMLNj9RCxS2ngsuwCLOhT6az2EaGg3gp6sKhommnGxZJBStY49YrCDcXBJKEDna_2f5bJUFXh3Q74LSHfsIK4uOw-lFU5_fSLtYs_L_BYYpp/s640/IMG_2160.JPG" height="504" title="My favourite makeup products wallpaper" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing around with photographing a few of my favourite makeup products</td></tr>
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Janice ❤http://www.blogger.com/profile/15720395141974026282noreply@blogger.com0