Oceana

If you would like your Holiday gift to continue to give after the wrapping has been recycled and we roll into a new year please consider checking out Oceana's "Adopt A Creature" program.

Oceana campaigns to protect and restore the world's oceans. Recently they held an Ocean Heroes contest and found an inspiring story of volunteering from 12-year-old North Carolina resident Casey Sokolovic. Casey volunteers for a local sea turtle rescue center and, as part of her rescue efforts; she baked thousands of cookies in the shape of Sea Turtles, and rose over $3,000 in bake sales.

With Casey’s efforts in mind, Oceana has found a way to provide shoppers an alternative way of giving while supporting their work and restoring marine life. Through www.Oceana.org/adopt shoppers can virtually adopt 10 different creatures and receive ocean-themed cookie cutters, or plush toys. The cookie kit also includes a very yummy sugar cookie recipe that has my daughters seal-of-yumminess approval. It was terrific fun to watch my daughters and their friends have fun in the kitchen making the dough and cutting out shapes of dolphins, penguins, and octopus. The most fun was in the eating of course!

Please visit Oceana’s website www.Oceana.org/adopt to learn more about this wonderful gift giving opportunity. It is a beautiful, informative site. You can learn more on how to donate to a worthy cause, help someone become the virtual parent of an ocean animal, and create fun family time in the kitchen.

Busy People's Fast & Frugal Cookbook

It's no surprise to anyone that really knows me that I am not the cook in our family. When I met my future husband, his love of cooking, and his wonderful ability with food, made him the clear winner in the kitchen wars.

Now we’re married with 2 children, and he still does a majority of the dinners. There are times when I feel guilty, but he tells me that cooking is enjoyable for him, a great way to relax after work. For me cooking is work! I don't know why, but I just get so anxious. I love to eat, but putting items together just isn't where my strength lies. (Appreciating fine meals? No problem!)

I have tried various cookbooks to help me get over my anxiety and was recently given the opportunity to read "Busy People's Fast & Frugal Cookbook" by Dawn Hall. The oldest of seven children Dawn learned early on how to be frugal. Her life story is intriguing and very touching. You feel that she has written this cookbook to help us all eat healthy on a very tight budget. (I don’t know about you but that’s where my families at right now!) I feel the recipes are completely do-able and her little pep talks before each recipe help me lose the anxiety and become excited to cook.

If cooking doesn’t take you to your happy place, but you would like it to be fun and delicious, please pick-up a copy of "Busy People's Fast & Frugal Cookbook" by Dawn Hall. She will help you, and your family, eat healthy on a budget.

Brandi Carlile - In Concert

The stage is set with guitars, a bass, keyboard, cello and drums. Willow branches cast shadows on flowing red gauze which makes for a dramatic backdrop. As the lights go down the band walks on stage but, they don't arrive at their musical instruments. Instead they circle one microphone and begin singing in the most perfect, haunting harmony. Your heart pounds and your spirit soars. This is Brandi Carlile and now you are officially a fan.



Together with her band mates (twins Tim and Phil Hanseroth, cellist Josh Neumann and Allison Miller on drums) Brandi takes you on a fantastic ride of feel-good rhythms and emotional lyrics. She is completely engaging and makes you feel like you are at an intimate showcase, even though you are in a concert hall. She blows you away with her powerful voice, moving from a quiet solo “That Year” to the passionate, rockin’ tune “Dreams”. She generously showcases her band mate’s talents, which endears my feelings toward her as a performer all the more.

This show was terrific.

I'm so glad I can push a button on my MP3 player and listen to her latest cd release "Give Up The Ghost". That will have to tide me over… until she visits us again.

http://www.brandicarlile.com/


(**** Thanks so much One2One Network! ****)

Family Fun Football For The Wii

With the fall weather upon us my family has been spending more time indoors. What can be difficult is the transformation of all that outside-running-around-energy into "indoor voices" and curbing the desire to not play ball in the house.

When the rain is falling, and the idea of tossing a football around in the cold, wet, weather doesn’t sound like fun, we’re so glad we’ve found Family Fun Football for the Wii. This latest game by Tecmo puts you in charge of your own team. The graphics are family friendly and you choose the level of difficulty (which for me would be Rookie, because I’m still trying to understand the game of Football itself!).

My kids had fun choosing which stadium to play in, which mascot would best represent their fighting spirit, and which play would work best to score a touchdown. But their most favorite time came when they could play a Minigame. There are 7 fun games, in addition to a regular football game, where you can race against another team to catch the most footballs, test your aim with a kicking contest, or their favorite, the Super Back. This game has players piling on you while your player tries to make it to the other end of the field. There’s shaking of the Wii Remote and moving the Nunchuk up and down and lots of screaming of “Go! Go! Go-o-o-o!!!” Good times, good times.

I’m always happy when I find a game that my family can play together and one that will get us off the couch. Perhaps Family Fun Football for the Wii is supposed to be played while you sit, but not for us. This is football! Now I’m craving some wings.


**Family Fun Football for the Wii is rated E for Everyone (Comic Mischief)**

Joshua Bell "At Home With Friends" & A Giveaway

We listen to all kinds of music in our house. When it's dinner time I usually go for some jazz, something smooth. On some nights it's Classical music. I have found a cd that mixes these two vibes in one, Joshua Bell's "At Home With Friends". And, with thanks to the One2One Network, I can share this cd with one lucky winner.

The gorgeous, rich sounds that arise from Joshua's violin are so moving, at times sad, sometimes sensual. Every song creates emotion that has you tranported to a wonderful memory or to someplace you'd rather be.

"At Home With Friends" is inspired by Joshua Bell's fondess for hosting informal musicales in his Manhattan home. From the list of artists that have joined him on this cd, oh how I wish I could be invited to those parties! We have Sting, Josh Groban, Chris Botti just to name a few.

**Giveaway Closed. Lucky Winner Tracie at "From Tracie". Congratulations!**

I listen to "At Home With Friends" almost everyday. I enjoy it that much. I believe you will too! Would you like a chance to win a copy for yourself? Here's what you do...

* Leave a comment letting me know you would like to win (1 Entry)

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