Ah, The Joy of Candles (Review and Giveaway!)

I have been thinking lately of the simple pleasures in life. Those little things that just make us smile. What is a simple pleasure for you these days? (It could be a bath or a walk....music or lighting a candle!)

Ah ha. Let's think about candles for a minute, shall we?

When I think of candles, I think about a wonderful smell and soothing candle light! And lately I have been indulging myself in candle light while writing on the computer at night....and it really makes a difference in not only how I feel but my house just smells fantastic!!!
I have used many many candles, but just in the last month I think I found one of my favorites. It's Great Lakes Soybean Candles and they are fabulous!!!

I had the pleasure of meeting (through email) Cheri, the owner of Great Lakes Soybean Candles and she is such a wonderful person...so full of information and has such a passion for her candle making business. It's a rarity that you find someone who not only works alone, but also puts everything she has into what she does. Cheri says, "MY GOAL IN 9 YEARS OF CANDLE MAKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO PRODUCE A HIGH QUALITY PRODUCT AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE." And she does just that!

Cheri makes ALL of her candles with premium pure kosher soy wax, scent, and cotton wicks. And in this day, it's so refreshing to hear that her products are good for you, your children and your household.
Not only that...but everything she uses to make her candles comes from the USA!! Awesome!

Cheri was nice enough to send me a sample of her products! (And when I say sample, I mean candles, tea lights, burners and soap!)
My absolute favorite item was the 8oz. Jar Candle. I mean, check out the pictures above and below...how cute is this candle? It comes in a mason jar and looks so friendly and comforting. (I have memories of my grandma's peaches and homemade jam in these kinds of jars.)

When you visit Great Lakes Soybean Candles, you will see that Cheri has almost 150 different scents to choose from. (Yes, you heard me right....almost 150! WOW!)
Some of my favorites are Banana Nut, Blackberry Sage, Champagne, Green Tea, and the one I'm sampling now... Lavender and Eucalyptus! (Lucky Me!) This one has burned for hours and hours and is still full. And the scent...well, let's just say that when I opened the box to take the products out, it was pure heaven!
Cheri sells her candles through her store, direct phone orders for fund raisers, (yes, she is nice enough to work with schools, colleges, daycare centers and churches so that they can make a profit from her candles as well!) but mainly on her etsy page. Click HERE to check out her amazing products.

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Now on to the goodies my dear friends. Cheri and Great Lakes Soybean Candles was nice enough to offer one of my readers an 8 oz. Apple Blossom Jar Candle. Yay! How nice is that?

(So, What are the rules you say?)

Well, to enter this wonderful giveaway you first have to visit Great Lakes Soybean Candles and tell me which product and scent is your favorite. Voila, how easy right?

Now for additional entries....(Please leave a separate comment for each entry)

*You can follow me. (And current followers count as well!)
*You can subscribe to this blog.
*You can follow me on Twitter, BrnEyedGal... and Tweet this giveaway. (Please include your Twitter ID and URL of your post too!)
*Post about this giveaway for two additional entries. (Please leave two comments that you did this as well as the URL of your post! Thanks.)

Leave me an email address so I can contact you if you are the winner. US entries only. This contest will run until June 21, 2009 and picked with random generator. I will notify the winner the next day.... GOOD LUCK!

Till Next Time,
Danielle

Wordful/Wordless Wednesday...Yup, He's an Artist!

Oh, How I love to get these adorable pictures from my son. He did this one at school with paints in his classroom.
I think we have an artist on our hands ladies!!! What do you think?
(Oh, And I'm not just saying that because he is my child, LOL)



I just want to add that I got this lovely award from Carma @ Carma Sez. She is just awesome, so so funny, and her blog is one I visit on a daily basis! I can't help it, I'm hooked! Thank you Carma! :)

(Hey...Please scroll down to check out the other posts I wrote as well. I've been really busy!)

Hometown SWAP

I participated in a great blog SWAP organized by Shannon @ Welcome to The Nuthouse. We were supposed to send our SWAP buddy goodies from our home state...boy, this was just so much fun.
I was so excited to get my package from McBee @ McBee's World. She is from New Mexico and I have ALWAYS wanted to go visit.

I got a really great postcard, Red Chili Powder, 2 Jars of Salsa from Albuquerque, 2 Cucharas Candy Spoons, and the prettiest Virgin Mary Bracelet.
Here are closer pics of the bracelet and the candy spoons....both so cool!


She also sent me the nicest note telling me all about the "goodies" from New Mexico....so sweet!

Thanks again McBee! (BTW...the candy spoons are already gone, my son and husband are candy bandits, LOL)

Awards, Awards, and Wait....More Awards!

I received this absolutely adorable award from The Redhead Riter and also from Dawn at Two Pretty Little Skirts (Isn't that just the cutest name for a blog!!!). I cannot tell you how much I appreciate them thinking of me, it was just so nice! You have to check out their blogs as well...they are creative, fun, and both just a fun place to kick back with a drink and read!
Thanks Ladies!!! ;)

Now for the rules...
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you...
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post their links.
7. Leave a comment for 7 nominated blogs too.
I'm not sure how interesting it is, but here are my 7 things.....

Hmmmm, lets see now.
1. I am a scrapbooking fanatic...I LOVE all things crafty like; making cards, stickers, ribbons, etc.
2. I have a crazy funny laugh...And If you get me laughing hard enough, I have to set my head down on the table! (Crazy I know.)
3. I LOVE country music. I never used to, but as I age I happen to be drawn to just the fun of it...
4. I am a huge Benecio Del Toro fan. I have seen all of his movies, just find him incredibly sexy, and his Bday happens to be on the same day as mine...how cool is that? LOL
5. I have a really close relationship with my Mother. WE are more like best friends as the years go by...and without her, life would not be as special!!!
6. I suffer from horrible anxiety and panic....
7. I'm an extremely emotional person...and I cry and the drop of a hat!!! (My Mother is the same way, go figure!)


I'm passing this one to....
Bunny @ The Paris House
Deb @ Life with Birk
Carma @ Carma Sez
Tami @ Diary of A Mad Woman
Mimi @ Frump's Findings
Cat @ 4 Nuts in a Nutshell
Daisy @ Daisy Pink Cupcake
(Just as a side note...you do not have to follow the rules for any of my awards...I give them to you because you deserve them and for no other reason!)





If one awesome award wasn't enough...I also got these two from Jenjen @ Gotta Love Mom. She is such a sweet gal; fun, thoughtful, and always uplifting...even though she is going through some hard stuff with family. Thank you Jenjen, you are such a great person and I'm so glad to have you as my blogging buddy!!!
I'd like to pass these on to....
Jennifer @ It's a Beauty Filled Life
Carey @ Life in the Carpool Lane
Kristin and Megan @ BonBon Rose
Momma Snail @ The Snail's Trail
Alicia @ More Than Words
Veronica Lee @ Of MICE and raMEN

Thank you all for inspiring me...You all are a real bunch of great gals and fantastic bloggers!
(You do not have to post about these awards....I give them because you deserve them and for no other reason!)
I'm losing brain power ladies...so if I missed you on this one, I'll get ya the next time!
Till Next Time.....

Change, Inspiration, Simplify

How many of us are in need of a totally new makeover for the home? I mean, how long has it been since we rearranged the furniture, painted a room, or bought a new duvet for our bedroom?


(Pictures courtesy of Pottery Barn)


I think many of us have way too much going on in our lives today. We are wives, moms, friends, cooks, maids, and the list goes on and on and on.

Well, I'm going to be first and stand up to say..."I NEED A CHANGE!"... "YES, I WANT A CHANGE!"
There are several projects that I need to complete, and many projects that have been in the works for two years or more. (OMG...Did I just admit that?)

So here is my plan. I am going to list all of the projects that I want completed throughout the summer months on my blog. Not only as a daily reminder, but also a motivator to actually keep track of what I've done and what is a work in progress.

And that's not even the best part!!! (What is you say?) Well, I am going to do before and after pics of these completed projects in weekly or monthly posts, depending on how big the project or the time involved.

Wow....it has been a long time since I have actually been excited to dig in and get my hands dirty in household projects! But it's time to complete them and simplify my life!!!
(If you feel motivated as well, by all means do the same thing!)

"Out of clutter, find Simplicity.
From discord, find Harmony.
In the middle of difficulty lies Opportunity."
ALBERT EINSTEIN

Friends

"May there always be work for your hands to do, may your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane, may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."
- Irish Blessing

I think out of any possible gift we can receive in our lives, friends have to be at the top of the list.
Thank God for my blogging buddies! (Whether your old or new, this means you!! LOL)

Free Photos Angels Fairies Mermaids Gothic Photos Glitter Graphics
http://www.free-foto-animation-digital-images.blogspot.com/

LEMON FRESH

Did I tell you? Do you know? I am in love with lemons! (Yes, you heard it here first.) I Love all things Lemon: lemon pie, lemonade, lemon potpourri, lemon candy...(lemon starbursts, lemon heads, lemon jolly ranchers), lemon yogurt, lemon pound cake, lemon scented cleaner, lemon dish soap, lemon candles, lemon hand wash (I am addicted to bath and body works lemon hand soap, mmmmm), lemon marinades, lemon vinaigrette, lemon trees, lemon leaves, lemon drops.... I just *heart* lemons!!!
So...I found some lemon yummies that looked fabulous and I wanted to pass them along to y'all! (If you try any of the recipe's, please let me know how they turned out okay?) Enjoy the LEMON Goodness!!!



Lemon Iced Tea

Ingredients:
2 lemons
4 cups boiling water
6 ginger tea bags
Ice cubes
Honey or sugar to taste

Directions:
With vegetable peeler, peel each lemon in a continuous spiral, carefully removing only the top layer-not the bitter white of the lemon. In large pitcher, pour boiling water over the tea bags and lemon peel. Cover and steep 10 minutes. Remove tea bags and chill with peel still steeping in a covered container.

To serve, remove peel and pour over ice cubes in tall glasses. Sweeten to taste with honey. Makes 4 (8-ounce) servings.
(Recipe from SheKnows.com)

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Raspberry Lemon Pie


Ingredients:
1 (10-oz.) package frozen red raspberries in syrup, thawed
1 T. cornstarch
3 egg yolks
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 (6-oz.) packaged graham cracker crumb pie crust
Whipped Topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In small saucepan, combine raspberries and cornstarch; cook and stir until thickened and clear. In medium bowl, beat egg yolks; stir in sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice. Pour into crust; bake 8 minutes. Spoon raspberry mixture evenly over top. Chill 4 hours or until set. Spread with whipped topping and serve.
(Recipe and picture from Thimbleanna.com)

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Salmon with Lemon, Capers, and Rosemary
(Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis, Food Network)

Ingredients
4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
8 lemon slices (about 2 lemons)
1/4 cup lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1/2 cup Marsala wine (or white wine)
4 teaspoons capers
4 pieces of aluminum foil
Directions
Brush top and bottom of salmon fillets with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and rosemary. Place each piece of seasoned salmon on a piece of foil large enough to fold over and seal. Top the each piece of salmon with 2 lemon slices, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of wine, and 1 teaspoon of capers. Wrap up salmon tightly in the foil packets.

Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Place the foil packets on the hot grill and cook for 10 minutes for a 1-inch thick piece of salmon. Serve in the foil packets.

What are you in *heart* with? Care to comment? Any great recipes with that item? drinks? Please feel free to share! :)