tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85651767285192667882024-03-13T22:28:33.323-07:00Sweet Roots {Infusions of Herbal Living}Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04052364363031585433noreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-6346923169108099592020-04-04T16:13:00.000-07:002020-04-04T16:13:03.326-07:00We are Just DandyHi sweet readers! It's been a long time. If you didn't know, I had been blogging at a different site on and off. That is currently in the (re)works so I'll share when it's ready. However, something else is ready that I'd love to pass on to you:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Life has been tough lately. But we can do this! We will persevere and endure like our friend the dandelion. We are strong and hardy! </span><span class="_5mfr" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 1px;"><span class="_6qdm" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tb/2/16/1f4aa.png"); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 16px;">💪</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">We can find our sunny spots amidst the darkness and not just grow but bloom! </span><span class="_5mfr" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 1px;"><span class="_6qdm" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tfe/2/16/1f31e.png"); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 16px;">🌞</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Let's be Just Dandy and carry on! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); font-size: 14px;">I drew one of my favorite "wild edibles" as a reminder during these hard times. Currently, this design is available on t-shirts printed by Atomic Threads!</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">They are available for a limited time only through this link </span><a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="origin" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fprintitforward.itemorder.com%2Fproduct%2F13920356%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3REU6Uf44AqbNqZ2tIQeWGJwn2-HYRQFuqaveV0LVpQ4cV0S8O7hxr1m4&h=AT3F_5JUHQitgSP_AKKsCds5jgFbRL5pmBdAyo64cPrlcf9Qr-3dchpO11PZFr_ZT0R0ZlG-BNpykg5t94T5cSnoqt1xpsBAhut2yqVbibjQzZKl3OsrjQu_bqMqLQNz8eojW4mfr4mbCbJSrhqaU7JLJbK0kl2p9HM7aU3s0rMeax6OP08drTyPc597PhC0NTc9XmJ6BM2WGYXhmI6HWkiz7_jaYWqT2OAwZWORNbpQPOuGAk4D-yY4A_M5cUys7WFaVflB_pn5JrEGdei33NC9JfuCEhPoKYTUAYs2rzS-rjNL7f7NDlT1ivMYAkVMpZKRSw-dUm3BwDrmcz6_R8j0F7s7mK9fqzo5S2z1JCKX9nBb5VIEUTGeGGG9dQnQBKQvSWSuZqYJGIBC8lfj_GdR6dySt3j6zCy4B7FACUvo7JEngNBKzWiLMDcRT-cvyjQ56sPznaZvj3Ez1LhghJ7QKQSu5-48aW6RpNjIA7jKVkhxMQ4tBQbH0RgK7yOBJyXVee6AnC2u8-rEsXjRAkguUcLIhSoXACp7GEb4zkSY1fkUvR27nS-g_UyfhsZ2R12cLUHdok4OZobCtEUYAe3fKgCHHxIpigS-RtURGEM" href="https://printitforward.itemorder.com/product/13920356?fbclid=IwAR3REU6Uf44AqbNqZ2tIQeWGJwn2-HYRQFuqaveV0LVpQ4cV0S8O7hxr1m4" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://printitforward.itemorder.com/product/13920356</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Every purchase on Atomic Threads helps small businesses! If you buy my shirt, you will support both the printer and Apothecary Mary (moi). There are more small businesses on there so please check them all out and find a small business to support!</span><br />
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I look forward to future posts and hearing about how you are persevering in these hard times. Blessings to you all sweet readers! Have a lovely weekend. </div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-79314521603800853052016-09-08T17:26:00.000-07:002016-09-08T17:26:02.129-07:00Raw Basil Honey Ice Cream (vegan)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Green. Bright. Herbaceous with a delicious hint of licorice. Derived from the Greek word for king, Basil definitely rules the roost in summer. A perfect way to wrap up and say goodbye to summer! Best enjoyed fresh, this herb is my dinner's (or any meal for that matter) constant companion.<br />
For instance, try my <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2014/05/blueberry-basil-smoothie.html" target="_blank">Blueberry Basil Smoothie</a>.<br />
<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2013/07/cold-garbanzo-bean-and-rice-pesto-salad.html" target="_blank">Pesto Rice and Garbanzo Salad</a><br />
<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2012/08/nettle-basil-pesto-pasta-nectarines.html" target="_blank">Nettle Basil Pesto</a><br />
<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-best-way-to-eat-heirloom-tomatoes.html" target="_blank">Best Way to Eat Heirloom Tomatoes </a><br />
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Basil is an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. The zesty flavor signifies a bounty of antioxidants and the bright color a warehouse of nutrients. Incorporating fresh basil in your diet certainly treats your body to the royal treatment.<br />
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I dreamed up this ice cream long ago... my sister tells me I concoct the weirdest flavor combos yet my ideas produce some tasty treats. So here's another weird yet tasty one for the book...<br />
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<b>Basil Honey Ice Cream</b><br />
1 1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked for 4 hours or overnight<br />
1 1/2 cup almond or coconut milk, unsweetened<br />
2 cups packed basil<br />
Splash of lemon juice<br />
5 TB raw local honey<br />
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Blend all ingredients in high speed blender. Freeze according to your ice cream machine maker.<br />
This can also be made granita -style if you don't have ice cream machine.<br />
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To enjoy a delicious sundae, pair with dairy-free vanilla and strawberry ice cream. Top with blackberries, blueberries and extra basil. Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-12130941268639341642016-09-07T21:51:00.000-07:002016-09-08T08:50:33.847-07:00Read through the Gospels by Christmas (my plan for homeschooling our kindergartner)Today I am going to talk about our plan to read through the Gospels by Christmas, right now we are reading through Matthew in the month of September. We're already a week in to September so I hesitated to write and publish this post but if you desire, this can still be implemented. I was blessed by my daughter this morning through our bible reading (keep reading for the story). Ultimately I want you, sweet reader, to share in the blessing that comes from reading the bible with your family.<br />
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I struggled with the idea of homeschool at first. There were many obstacles but ultimately I asked myself this one question, "Why homeschool our children?" There were many answers. More pros on my list than cons. One of them being I could better nurture a heart for Jesus from home. I think the first 7 years of a child's life are important. I attended a homeschool conference this summer that stressed the first seven to eight years of a child's life are major character building years. According to the book <a href="http://amzn.to/2cH1XRX" target="_blank">Birth Order</a> by Linda Blair, she states that a person's character is usually planted by the age 7 (I'm paraphrasing from memory). It struck me that I had two years to really lay a good foundation for my daughter's future. I wanted to do the best that I could and we decided I couldn't necessarily do that if she went to school. This was our family's decision for this year. Homeschool works best for us now. This is <i>not</i> a post about why <i>you</i> should homeschool - each family is different and I applaud each and every one of you supporting your child's education through public school or private school or alternative methods. This blog post is one reason <i>why and how we</i> are homeschooling. My ultimate goal for homeschooling this year is to lay a strong foundation that points back to our creator, that draws everyone in our family closer to Jesus and to each other. A foundation from which a healthy, nurtured character and destiny can grow. To do that, I had to change my perspective. I'm not just teaching a pupil, I'm discipling a priestess and a warrior princess (1 Peter 2:9). I started to view my children as new Christians. And interestingly enough, I remembered that a new Christian should start reading with the Gospels. Embarrassingly, I've never read the gospels in entirety from beginning to end, let alone the bible. To quote a famous motivational phrase, there is no better time to start than now. And what better people to read it with but my own two children?<br />
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For more character building resources, check out my blog post <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2016/02/resources-our-homeschool-uses-for.html" target="_blank">Character Trait Study Resources</a>.<br />
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Reading the Gospels has become a part of our homeschool routine. To read the gospels by Christmas, we are reading a chapter a day. All of Matthew in September. Mark in October. Luke in November. And John in December. This gives a few days for make-up (especially in October since there are only 16 chapters in Mark).<br />
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The Charlotte Mason Method with oral (then written narration) inspired my idea on how we would accomplish reading a chapter with my toddler and kindergartner (without much fuss or interruption) and yet seek learning opportunities. You could say I'm using it as a curriculum (here is where I'd insert a winky face if I was texting this to you). I bought primary composition journals <a href="http://amzn.to/2bV0OF8" target="_blank">(similar to these ones</a>). My plan is for my daughter to create something inspired by the chapter of the day (I usually challenge her with something). For example, the other day, she drew food and salt to put on her food as we read Matthew 5 (inspired by Matthew 5:13). Another example, when we read Matthew 1, the lineage of Jesus, I asked my daughter to draw her family. After she draws (more options later on in post) I ask her to describe her picture. I write down her oral narration and we read it together (then I have her write one to three of the words in her notebook and eventually my plan is for her to write whole sentences). Originally, I started having her write whole sentences but didn't feel that worked for us - the time was consumed with practicing writing and less conversing/understanding. We will continue to work up to the point of writing whole sentences but for now, we are focusing on writing a couple different words. We sound them out and we practice proper writing skills.<br />
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Instead of drawing challenges, sculpting with playdough and building with <a href="http://amzn.to/2ceV08j" target="_blank">tegu</a> can be alternative ways for the kids to listen quietly (don't try legos while you read if you want to keep your sanity). They can still create something that coincides with the chapter that day. Afterwards, there is still an opportunity for oral narration. Doing something with their hands can help create a time for children to listen, especially with toddlers.<br />
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This is not our homeschool plan in entirety. If there is an interest in that, I'd be willing to expound our whole plan. However, this has given me ideas. When we read Matthew 5 (about salt), we reviewed how salt makes our body thirsty (science) and led to a greater conversation about living water. She also drew letters and numbers in a salt tray (salt poured in shallow tupperware). We talked about where salt comes from (geography) and different kinds of salt. When we talked about treasure (Matthew 7), she asked if there were still pirates (history). We called up relatives who had been in the navy and coast guard and asked if they had met any pirates... Do you get the idea?<br />
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A word of encouragement and advice (preaching to myself here), there is no need to race. I have found that God provides each day with learning opportunities (as evidenced above). It's amazing how they coincide with our passage reading (almost as if I planned it, thank you Jesus!). Look for those opportunities. Don't race through to finish. Be open to conversation and moments of pause. God will bless those moments with understanding.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mxR9-K0A2v0/V9CsXRhpX6I/AAAAAAAABXk/SyiTUSUIEkcD7aV3bwKEj2JVwh8ppxybgCEw/s1600/Plan%2Bto%2Bread%2Bthe%2Bgospels%2Bin%2Bour%2Bhomeschool%2Bkindergartner%2Btoddler%2Bbible%2Bstudy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mxR9-K0A2v0/V9CsXRhpX6I/AAAAAAAABXk/SyiTUSUIEkcD7aV3bwKEj2JVwh8ppxybgCEw/s1600/Plan%2Bto%2Bread%2Bthe%2Bgospels%2Bin%2Bour%2Bhomeschool%2Bkindergartner%2Btoddler%2Bbible%2Bstudy.jpg" /></a><br />
And now for the story of my daughter's blessing...<br />
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Today, we read Matthew 7. We chose playdough instead of drawing and unfortunately, we were experiencing a hard time sharing between the toddler and kindergartner so verse 12 about the Golden Rule was perfect timing. It become an opportunity to stop and discuss it together. Would we prefer others would share their playdough? Would we prefer to be treated with respect and not take the playdough that is already in their hands? Then we moved on. Reading vs 15-20 about trees was also fitting because we are using the month of September to learn about trees. We discussed that people are like trees (Psalm 1:3). Good fruits are like good actions and good words. Inwardly, I was thinking to myself does my "fruit" point back to my maker? Is it good? Am I truly bearing good fruit?<br />
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My daughter turned to me and said, "Like this morning, when you helped me share, Mom. That was a good fruit."<br />
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I was a little startled. There may have been tears (tears of joy, of course). Bless her heart for saying that! I know my words sometimes appear like unripe apples and my actions like bite-y lemons but it was nice to hear from my own daughter that she sees her momma's fruit and it is good! What an opportunity reading the gospels for us to grow together!<br />
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May your fruit be good, sweet reader! And may you be encouraged!<br />
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*I'd love for anyone to join us! Let me know below!!!Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-1458607335098602602016-08-26T13:48:00.001-07:002016-08-26T14:41:41.971-07:00Watermelon Lavender Strawberry Smoothie<div dir="ltr">
Want to do something new and interesting with all those herbs growing this summer? An herbal smoothie is a great way to use fresh herbs. It ought to be <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2016/05/10-reasons-to-have-herb-garden.html" target="_blank">the eleventh reason to have an herb garden</a>. And it's easy to change the smoothie based on what is readily available and fresh.</div>
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The herbal star of this show is Lavender. Lavender can help alleviate any sort of tension including headaches, muscle pain, and nervous tension. It can help lower elevated blood pressure and promote healthy circulation. It's soothing and a wonderful tonic herb. Perfect to add to your medicinal kitchen cabinet! Also easy to grow or purchase at <a href="https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/#AID=128987&BID=4098" target="_blank">Mountain Rose Herbs</a>.<br />
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Lavender is one of my favorite herbs. She is indeed a queen of herbs. Poised with wisdom and gentle correction, she is robed in royal purple and healing perfume. Lavender is certainly a force to be reckoned with in the herb kingdom, potent yet balancing. </div>
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...or perhaps I read too much fantasy (currently reading <a href="http://amzn.to/2boZWbx" target="_blank">A Natural History of Dragons</a>).</div>
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Lavender has also made it's debut in other recipes here on Sweet Roots. Check out the <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2012/09/fig-and-lavender-almond-muffins.html" target="_blank">Fig and Lavender Almond muffins</a> (paleo friendly)! Baking with lavender mellows it's medicinal tang, making it sweeter. Or try this four-ingredient <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2012/05/mothers-day-recipes-lavender-fig-muesli.html" target="_blank">Lavender Fig Muesli</a> (vegan and raw) for an easy recipe. </div>
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In the summer, I thrive off smoothies. Great nutrient-dense treat or snack for the kids! Or with some seed crackers and fresh veggies, it makes a light dinner. This recipe has been one of my favorites. The kids love the color too!</div>
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My motto this summer:</div>
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<b>Watermelon Lavender Strawberry Smoothie</b></div>
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2 cups watermelon chunks<br />
1 cup coconut water or non-dairy milk*<br />
1 cup heaping frozen organic strawberries<br />
1 TB chia seeds (keeps everything together or ground flax)<br />
1 spoonful honey</div>
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Buds from 1 sprig lavender (you can add more if you prefer but this goes far)</div>
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*Using non-dairy milk will produce a creamier smoothie. We like both ways. The above and the very first picture in this blog post is using coconut water (hence the redder hue) and the remaining pictures are using almond milk, making it lighter in color.</div>
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Blend in vita-mix and enjoy!</div>
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Now, I noticed I post a lot of treat and smoothie recipes. Would you, my sweet reader, be interested in a savory recipe using lavender? And what do you like to use lavender for?</div>
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And if you're interested in other herbal smoothie recipes, try the following:</div>
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<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2014/05/blueberry-basil-smoothie.html" target="_blank">Blueberry Basil Smoothie</a></div>
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<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2012/07/chamomile-cantaloupe-smoothie.html" target="_blank">Chamomile Cantaloupe Smoothie</a></div>
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<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2015/02/week-of-love-golden-smoothie.html" target="_blank">Golden Turmeric Smoothie</a></div>
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<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2015/08/just-peachy-lemon-balm-smoothie.html" target="_blank">Just Peachy Lemon Balm Smoothie</a></div>
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<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2016/07/beet-ginger-slushie-natural-energy.html" target="_blank">Beet and Ginger Slushie</a><br />
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Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-22974522842190421392016-07-25T15:03:00.000-07:002016-07-25T15:03:27.440-07:00Beet & Ginger Slushie (a natural energy booster + replenisher)<br />
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Stay up-beet this summer, my sweet readers! Rehydrate with this coconut water-based smoothie. Ginger adds extra pizazz while boosting energy. Coconut water replenishes electrolytes but the star of the show is the beets...</div>
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Beets and their greens are a bounty of vitamins and minerals, including folate, Vitamin C, potassium and manganese. Beets are a wonderful tonic for the liver. They are also a great source of energy due to their higher natural sugar content (beet sugar is slowly released into your system so no sugar-highs here). There are so many benefits to eating beets! And don't throw out their greens! Beet greens are a great source of calcium and have more iron than spinach. Throw beet greens in soups or smoothies for extra nutrients. </div>
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Waste not and your waist will thank you!</div>
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Also, the kids seem to enjoy this one. Evidence of my toddler sipping on some below (while I was still photographing - love these eager kids!):</div>
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<strong>Beet & Ginger Slushie </strong>(makes 1-2 servings)</div>
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1 steamed beet, peeled & cooled<br />
1 raw beet green<br />
1 cup coconut water<br />
Handful ice<br />
1-2 small pieces of ginger, squeezed through garlic mincer or chunk of crystallized ginger *optional<br />
Spoonful of honey or a couple drops stevia *optional</div>
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*My kids prefer either with crystallized ginger or completely without.<br />
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Blend in blender and enjoy!<br />
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Fun fact: Did you know the ox-eye daisies I used in my pictures are edible? Their leaves taste like arugula! I hope to do a post later this summer about a few edible weeds. For now, read about it in <a href="http://amzn.to/2a0oO4f" target="_blank">Wild Edibles</a> and as always, be wise foragers.</div>
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Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-28384822811255817492016-07-06T14:03:00.000-07:002016-07-06T14:03:02.927-07:00Red, White & Blue Fireworks Popsicles<div dir="ltr">
A cold, icy popsicle is a great remedy to beat the heat. We enjoyed these pretty pops on the 4th of July!</div>
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This recipe is vegan and relatively low on sugar. The fresh vanilla bean seeds add so much sweet flavor, sugar isn't needed. A few dates or a couple spoonfuls maple syrup will suffice.</div>
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I hope you had a lovely 4th of July! God bless America! And all those who fight for our freedom!</div>
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<strong>Red, White & Blue Fireworks Popsicles</strong><br />
1 can coconut milk<br />
4 dates<br />
Seeds from 1/2 vanilla <u>bean</u></div>
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Blueberries<br /> Raspberries</div>
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Blend first three ingredients in a blender. Drop small handfuls of raspberries and blueberries in a popsicle mold then fill with milk mixture. Freeze at least four hours! Enjoy, sweet readers!</div>
Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-24806643133802462392016-06-30T15:54:00.002-07:002016-06-30T15:54:41.994-07:00Kalamata Olive Fig Tapenade SpreadIt's thyme for some summer dips! And I'm not talking skinny-dipping! Summer is all about the dips, spreads, tapenades! When the heat rolls around, I skimp on turning on the oven and whip up something to dip! <br />
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Now when you say chips and dip, it might not sound like the healthiest item. However a nutritious dip paired with wholesome crackers and plenty of fresh veggies can equate to a delicious, light and healthy meal.<br />
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We like <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2015/03/pizza-hummus.html" target="_blank">pizza hummus</a>, <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2012/06/creamy-vegan-spinach-artichoke-dip.html" target="_blank">creamy vegan spinach artichoke dip</a>, <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2012/03/vegan-gluten-free-namaste-cheesy.html" target="_blank">roasted red pepper hummus</a>, <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2013/02/cauliflower-buffalo-pizza-with-homemade.html" target="_blank">vegan tofu ranch spread</a>, and even <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2012/05/polenta-fries-and-hibiscus-ketchup.html" target="_blank">hibiscus ketchup</a> (all recipes here on Sweet Roots). Today, we are going to explore a wonderful concoction bursting with flavor and great texture: Kalamata Olive Fig Tapenade Spread. (I say tapenade, my husband says spread so I went with both).<br />
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My daughter loves to go pick the herbs we need for dinner. There's a little thyme in this recipe but you're welcome to add more if a stronger flavor is desired!<br />
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Speaking of herb gardens... how is your garden, sweet reader? Did you plant anything particularly exciting? What's your favorite item to grow? I'm excited for my Echinacea. It took two summers to bloom but it's lovely and quite intriguing. The petals unfurl and then push the almost spiky orb-like center upwards. A gigantic, yellow butterfly visited the Echinacea this morning while I sat at the window, reading my bible study. In our <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2016/02/resources-our-homeschool-uses-for.html" target="_blank">character studies</a>, the butterfly represents patience. Certainly, a character quality that is being refined in me. In my many earthly roles - wife, mother, sister, friend, blogger, photographer, etc. - I've found that everything is better if done on God's time and that requires patience. In the moment, it's hard to remember and easy to try to "fix things." However, Romans 8:28 reminds us "that in all things God works for the good of those who love him." When you're struggling for patience, remember God is King and He will work it all out in the end. When you're struggling for patience, have hope and trust that God will fulfill his promises. When you're struggling for patience, know that our help comes not from something man could conceive but the one that conceived man, the God that put the oceans into motion, that made our bodies out of dust. How great and glorious is HE! <br />
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It seems almost miniscule to go on talking about food but I wouldn't want you to leave this post without the recipe. And no matter how little, God can use it to glorify him too. Plus, it's delicious and a great spread on multigrain chips, BLTs, toast, crackers, carrots or any fresh veggies, grilled chicken and strangely radishes.<br />
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<strong>Kalamata Olive Fig Tapenade Spread</strong><br />
1 cup heaping Kalamata olives, drained<br />
1 cup packed dried figs (used organic Calimyrna figs from Made in Nature)<br />
Sprig of fresh lemon thyme, leaves removed from stalk (just use leaves)<br />
3 TB olive oil<br />
*optional 1/2 cup walnuts for additional protein<br />
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1. Blend everything in food processor (or high-speed blender on low) until desired consistency is reached. We like ours a little chunky!<br />
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And you might want to double this recipe! It goes quick!<br />
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Enjoy, sweet readers!<br />
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As always, I'm excited to share anything I'm devouring in literary form. Here is what I am reading currently:<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Exile-Rachel-Starr-Thomson/dp/0988061376/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1467321896&sr=8-1-fkmr1&linkCode=li2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=28967bc15fa6aad6d5816acd38f5cf4d" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0988061376&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=li2&o=1&a=0988061376" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Esther-Its-Tough-Being-Woman/dp/1415865965/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467321993&sr=1-1&keywords=esther+beth+moore&linkCode=li2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=982499d2b8e8a46062c68cfdd98a022f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1415865965&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=li2&o=1&a=1415865965" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Art-Awareness-Second-Observation-Transform/dp/1605540862/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467322041&sr=1-1&keywords=art+of+awareness&linkCode=li2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=74b3eccbd12fad6065419639c86104ce" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1605540862&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=li2&o=1&a=1605540862" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><br />
and to my children:<br />
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<a dp="" href="http://amzn.%20%3ca%20href=/" ny-questions-marie-louise-gay="" ref="as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1467323260&sr=8-1&keywords=any+questions&linkCode=li2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=bc5861f8fc93f1971e1986ce2a28934c" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" www.amazon.com=""><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1554983827&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /> (A favorite library book)</a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Green-Ember-S-D-Smith/dp/B00QZ6BYNA/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1467323219&sr=8-1&keywords=green+ember&linkCode=li2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=ca1b6893876be8ce1f8c8b39fdeab65b" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00QZ6BYNA&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=li2&o=1&a=B00QZ6BYNA" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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And what I have in my amazon cart:<br />
This delicious <a href="http://amzn.to/29c0AH7" target="_blank">Tanka Fund Jerky</a> (pack of 12) is free of hormones and nitrates. Under $6 (>$0.50 a piece) makes this portable snack a steal! And the flavor <a href="http://amzn.to/29808cK" target="_blank">Turkey Buffalo Cranberry</a> is enjoyed by all in our house. It's been great for camping, kids day camps, and errand days. <br />
This <a href="http://amzn.to/29eKhKj" target="_blank">Witch Hazel distillate</a> is fragrance free and alcohol free. It cleans up breakouts and is soothing to bug bites. A must for our summer herbalist shelves! I buy this every couple months as a toner and it's one of the few items I buy repeatedly.<br />
(This post contains affiliate links).Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-58883448113569019152016-06-12T22:30:00.000-07:002016-06-12T23:39:35.205-07:00Moms Meet Kabrita Review<div dir="ltr">
A lactation consultant once told me this analogy if breastmilk protein is the size of a baseball then goats milk is the size of a basketball then cow milk protein (casein) is the size of an exer-flex ball. Which do you think is the easiest to digest?</div>
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The smallest, right? Then the next smallest: goat. With this knowledge, we discover introducing goats milk first (before cows) when weaning can actually be beneficial for sensitive tummies. In general, goats milk is easier to digest than cow milk. However, cow milk drinkers may find the taste strange. Good quality goat milk can be delicious and refreshing.</div>
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In an effort to wean my 18 month old son, we started introducing raw goats milk into his diet. Then when Moms Meet offered for bloggers to review <a href="http://www.kabritausa.com/" target="_blank">Kabrita</a>, I jumped at the chance! </div>
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My daughter was easy to wean (and enjoyed eating) but my son enjoyed his "mommy mil". It was a soothing, quiet ritual for him where we got one-on-one time together. He wasn't interested in eating solids at first. I was scared he wasn't getting what he needed (of course, us moms never worry, right?). In an effort to include extra nutrients, we tried a few things but stuck with goat milk (and fruit+veggie nutrient dense smoothies). It was hard at first. Weaning is no small feat so if you're having difficulty I want you to know you are not alone! Now he can go a couple weeks without having goat milk and enjoys eating. But in the moment, it was a challenge. It put my mind at ease that the goats milk was giving him extra nutrients and he was digesting it well! </div>
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One day a package of goat milk formula and yogurt pouches showed up at my door.</div>
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My son thoroughly enjoyed the yogurt pouches. They were very flavorful but in a real, delicious way - not artificial tasting at all which means a lot to this momma. The sugar content was a little higher than I desire but I felt okay if I split the feeding. Of course, he wanted to eat the whole thing in the moment he was eating it. There was usually 3 grams of protein which I appreciated. </div>
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The formula was also good. Fairly fresh taste for formula and not overtly goaty. However, I was disappointed that lactose (different than milk protein) from cows was added. In fact, it was the number one ingredient. When I researched on their website it said that lactose in goat, cow or breast milk is molecularly the same. This information was new to me. I wondered if it is possible to make formula without lactose then? Interesting thoughts to ponder.</div>
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We will definitely be buying more Kabrita yogurt pouches as treats and special snacks. Or they would be perfect for camping or road trips! </div>
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If you're interested in feeding your children goat milk products, definitely check out <a href="http://www.kabritausa.com/" target="_blank">Kabrita</a>! </div>
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I received these products from <a href="http://www.greenmomsmeet.com/" target="_blank">Moms Meet </a>in exchange for an honest review.</div>
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All this being said, I did not feed any of this to my daughter. She has an intolerance to casein in cow milk. There website said anyone with cow milk protein allergy should avoid their products and although she hasn't been diagnosed with CMPA,I didn't want to expose her to any discomfort.</div>
Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-13570352541731958802016-05-20T07:00:00.000-07:002016-05-20T08:20:17.552-07:0010 Reasons to have an Herb Garden<div dir="ltr">
Instead of a full-out vegetable garden this year, I chose to focus on my raspberries and herb garden (plus taming my backyard which, besides some weeding, hasn't started). I love growing my own food. Particularly, I've found a passion for the gentle yet vivacious leaves we call herbs. So today I'm going to encourage you with 10 reasons to have an herb garden. <br />
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<strong>10 REASONS TO HAVE AN HERB GARDEN:</strong><br />
1. It's <strike>cheap</strike> frugal!<br />
The other week I bought two containers of fresh basil from the grocery store. They each cost $4. That's $8 a week. $32 a month. Over $128 for my major basil-buying season (atleast 4 months).<br />
Seeds and good quality dirt can cost me less than $10, meaning I saved over $100 this year if I cease buying and start growing. (And if you don't want to start from seed, you can still get several basil seedlings for $10).</div>
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2. It's right out the back door!</div>
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I don't always consider where the food I buy in the grocery store comes from but in this instance, I definitely know my food origins.<br />
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3. It's self-sustaining! <br />
Growing, cultivating and preserving our own food is a way to remain independent. If the shit hits the fan, at least I have my herb garden. <br />
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On a second thought, you know how garlic keeps away vampires? Maybe sage keeps away zombies? One can hope!</div>
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4. Kids like herbs too!<br />
My kids aren't major salad eaters. In fact, a year ago, my five year old went through a phase where she wouldn't touch them. But they will eat basil and<u> tons</u> of it straight from the plant. For them, it is the satisfaction of picking it and popping it right in their mouth.</div>
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Also, kids love to garden! Planting and sustaining their own herbs can be a great summertime activity/lesson in life.</div>
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5. It's healthy!<br />
Major powerhouses of antioxidants. Herbs are superfoods! They are chockfull of vitamins and minerals. They are anti-inflammatory and full of powerful greenness (that's the scientific term, of course).</div>
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A local family shared with me how drinking my<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2014/05/blueberry-basil-smoothie.html"> Blueberry Basil Smoothie</a> every morning had helped the father with chronic pain. My recipe for <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2012/07/chamomile-cantaloupe-smoothie.html">Chamomile Cantaloupe Smoothie</a> is another fruit + herb concoction.<br />
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6. It's convenient!</div>
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The ease of having to go nowhere to have your own bounty of fresh herbs is more than appealing. It's downright amazing. No extra trips to the store for the sage that recipe for the baked butternut squash needed. You can just walk out your back door (or front door or maybe you have a nice kitchen windowsill).</div>
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7. It's fairly easy!</div>
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Usually growing a small garden of kitchen herbs takes very little effort. Recipe for success looks something like:</div>
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GOOD DIRT + WATER + SUNSHINE = HEALTHY, GROWING HERBS</div>
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Maybe it's their antibacterial properties or stronger taste but I've also found that bugs (the mean garden-plant snatching ones) aren't taken to herbs as they are to other plants. <br />
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Borrow some books from the local library about gardening if you are nervous. Here is a stash I found at mine last year:</div>
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Or here are some specifically herbal gardening books ( I love Rosemary Gladstar's books): </div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Homegrown-Herbs-Complete-Growing-Enjoying/dp/1603427031/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1463722395&sr=8-1&keywords=growing+herbs&linkCode=li2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=a4adbbf70f2291f03d79f35afbcb9166" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1603427031&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=li2&o=1&a=1603427031" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Your-Backyard-Herb-Garden-Gardeners/dp/0875969941/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1463722395&sr=8-2&keywords=growing+herbs&linkCode=li2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=3353e5d80a6ed143c7814611bb1cb48b" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0875969941&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=li2&o=1&a=0875969941" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Gladstars-Medicinal-Herbs-Beginners/dp/1612120059/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1463722395&sr=8-7&keywords=growing+herbs&linkCode=li2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=137b02f2b5f5cb69982b4672b994efb0" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1612120059&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=li2&o=1&a=1612120059" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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8. It's yummy!<br />
It's all about the tastebuds! The above recipe for success can go a long way for the delicious factor! Seriously, the taste of homegrown herbs (even dried in winter) is far better than storebought. They are fresher and will last longer (with better flavor).<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-87hnWjZx4-8/Vz6vvDU-yhI/AAAAAAAABLo/UMt3R3cZ6s4CB1XPMVaVl5sB6NxmatKpwCLcB/s1600/Taste%2Bthe%2Bdifference%2Bin%2Bhomegrown%2Bherbs%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBAnducci%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-87hnWjZx4-8/Vz6vvDU-yhI/AAAAAAAABLo/UMt3R3cZ6s4CB1XPMVaVl5sB6NxmatKpwCLcB/s1600/Taste%2Bthe%2Bdifference%2Bin%2Bhomegrown%2Bherbs%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBAnducci%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
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9. It can make you an herbalist (or herbalista)!<br />
I like the autonomous-ness of making my own herbal remedies - makes me feel like an old time apothecary. It can be as simple as a sage honey cough syrup or PMS-relief tea. If you are interested in herbal remedies, I suggest these books to start:<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Herbal-Healing-Children-Demetria-Clark-ebook/dp/B0057CQLUE/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&keywords=demetria%20clark&qid=1463723286&ref_=sr_1_4&s=books&sr=1-4&linkCode=li2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=9f512ae9001aca23e1d998c927e812c0" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0057CQLUE&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=li2&o=1&a=B0057CQLUE" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Herbal-Healing-Women-Rosemary-Gladstar/dp/0671767674/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=876ab210ad267a59235a4bbd0750bda2" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0671767674&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=li2&o=1&a=0671767674" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Gladstars-Herbal-Recipes-Vibrant/dp/1603420789/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=b9bb69906f9d114b098032196305b030" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1603420789&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=li2&o=1&a=1603420789" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grow-Your-Own-Drugs-Remedies/dp/1606521071/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463723992&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=grown+your+own+drugs&linkCode=li2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=435392ed17205cc0aa4b77ad0873a083" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1606521071&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=li2&o=1&a=1606521071" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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10. Because it's downright ___________ (fill in the blank)!<br />
Let me help you - It's downright <u>amazing</u>!<br />
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Are you still reading this? Or are you out working on your herb garden?<br />
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I was racking my creative mommy brain, trying to come up with yet another reason (it'll probably come to me two weeks after I publish this post while I'm folding laundry or driving) because I said ten reasons and only having nine seems somehow incomplete. But let me ask you, do we really need another reason? If you have the means and the time, having an herb garden is going to benefit you and those around you!<br />
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It's tasty. It's fun. It's a lesson in life!<br />
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"Come forth in the light of things, let nature be your teacher."<br />
-William Wordsworth<br />
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And I was inspired to write my own little ditty...<br />
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An Ode to Herbs:<br />
It's great in a salad.<br />
It's great with a ballad.<br />
It's great on noodles.<br />
It's certainly frugal.<br />
I love it with strawberries.<br />
But some like it in Bloody Mary's.<br />
Basil, Sage, Thyme<br />
or Rosemary sublime...<br />
Oh wonderful herb<br />
How very superb!<br />
<br />
And if you're in the market for trustworthy, quality dried herbs, hop on over to Mountain Rose Herbs and give them a gander.<br />
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<a border="0" href="https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/?AID=128987&BID=4098" target="_blank"><img alt="Mountain Rose Herbs. A Herbs, Health & Harmony Com" border="0" src="http://mountainroseblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/1-720x300.jpg" height="266" width="640" /></a></center>
Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-81979210540583635422016-05-19T22:09:00.000-07:002016-05-19T22:09:10.502-07:00Easy 2 Ingredient Dandelion Honey (freezer) taffy<div dir="ltr">
(Whoops! I accidentally posted this while I was<strike> writing </strike> laying out thoughts on my phone so I apologize if you received a barely-written, random crazy person note about honey taffy in your inbox. Now here is the real thing.)</div>
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We love freezer taffy - essentially what we call honey poured on frozen food. One of my favorite treats in summer is a half cup of frozen blueberries over a scoop of coconut cream (just cream not ice cream) with a drizzle of honey. Something wonderful happens to the honey on contact with frozen foods - it hardens (solid matter - science can happen in the kitchen!). And this hardened honey becomes the texture of taffy. </div>
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And it is good.</div>
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For homeschool, we were learning about dandelions in our spring unit. We used this post from <a href="http://www.proverbialhomemaker.com/spring-dandelion-mini-unit-pre-k-k.html">Proverbial Homemaker</a> as a base/foundation for the study. If you're interested in a plant study, check out Little House Grand's <a href="http://www.littlehousegrand.com/plant-unit-study/">plant unity study</a> and borrow <a href="http://amzn.to/1VcMSW0">Dandelions: Stars in the Grass </a>from your library. We watched a time lapse of a Dandelion on Youtube. And I made a word search all about Dandelions. My daughter really likes word searches (she is five and she randomly discovered them one day) and I've found that after we read our books about a subject, doing a word search together can be a fun way to review letters, material and start phonics. The <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_DE4rAWoWu6Vlo5VHc5YUVtbkE">Dandelion Word Search</a> is here (and free) if you'd like to use this at home!</div>
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Because I'm all about herbal and <a href="http://amzn.to/27Gbyey">Wild Edibles</a>, I liked the idea of making something from our dandelions... but the ease of a project and the amounts of mess were (and are) big factors. So instead of baking cookies or making fried dandelion fritters (although I'd really like to try this), I thought "Why not use my honey taffy idea and make a nutritious candy?"</div>
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My daughter was all for it. She loves to help cook and the scavenging for dandelions added to the excitement! Here is my littlest scavenger frolicking through the fields:</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QcuaZm0ERN8/Vz6Y1gAVmRI/AAAAAAAABKo/babRH-mZd4I0Aj5h16lCLJHyDYB3AKTFwCLcB/s1600/Dandelion%2BHoney%2Beasy%2Bfreezer%2BTaffy%2Bfrolic%2Bin%2Bfields.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QcuaZm0ERN8/Vz6Y1gAVmRI/AAAAAAAABKo/babRH-mZd4I0Aj5h16lCLJHyDYB3AKTFwCLcB/s1600/Dandelion%2BHoney%2Beasy%2Bfreezer%2BTaffy%2Bfrolic%2Bin%2Bfields.jpg" /></a></div>
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And here is my daughter's hands plucking out all the flowers:<br />
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So before we finish, let's review some important notes. Please be safe scavenger/wise foragers! Don't pick food from the roadside. Don't pick where land is sprayed. And if you don't know, don't pick! You can check out more information about foraging in this book <a href="http://amzn.to/27Gbyey">Wild Edibles</a>.<br />
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For the recipe, all you need is non-sprayed dandelion flower heads and some local raw honey. Grease (we used coconut oil) your mold. Hold the bottom of the Dandelion head and pull all the flowers out (each yellow petal is actually a flower - one Dandelion head holds hundreds of flowers!). Stick these in your greased mold and then pour honey over them (you can use a chopstick to stir the flowers in each section). Freeze for at least two hours (we had a hard time waiting that long - it can be a lesson in self control)! Take out and devour <strike>enjoy</strike> right away!</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BxsEZOW7XlY/Vz6Y01sD20I/AAAAAAAABKc/E1EB28T4sSc8RKvxdPjgzFs8BsHdOGP1wCKgB/s1600/Dandelion%2BHoney%2Beasy%2Bfreezer%2BTaffy%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BxsEZOW7XlY/Vz6Y01sD20I/AAAAAAAABKc/E1EB28T4sSc8RKvxdPjgzFs8BsHdOGP1wCKgB/s1600/Dandelion%2BHoney%2Beasy%2Bfreezer%2BTaffy%2B4.jpg" /></a></div>
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And here is the <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_DE4rAWoWu6Vlo5VHc5YUVtbkE">Dandelion Word Search</a> if you missed it earlier. We've found them to be a fun way to review letters, phonics, and learning material with our five year old!</div>
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Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-73435810766720359372016-03-14T17:09:00.001-07:002016-03-14T17:11:25.185-07:00Avocado Mango Ice Cream (healthy green treat for St. Patrick's day)<div dir="ltr">
St. Patrick's Day is this week and what better way to celebrate than by eating all things (naturally) green? In this post, I'm going to share with you one of our favorite (and simpliest) desserts - Avocado Mango Ice Cream! It's delicious and oh so nutritious - that's a lyric in a new song I'm writing. I'm kidding about the song but I'm serious about this treat. Full of healthy fats yet refreshing! Light yet satisfying! This recipe is perfect for Spring! And a great way to participate in all things green on St. Patrick's day.</div>
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It's fun to drizzle with honey (which hardens into a chewy, taffy-like topping on contact with the cold ice cream) or top with fresh fruit.</div>
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You'll need a high-speed blender (food processor will work but will take longer) to make this in less than 3 minutes.</div>
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Here my little one is showcasing it before he takes a big bite. Love my little helpers!</div>
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<strong>Avocado Mango Ice Cream (vegan, paleo)</strong></div>
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2 cups frozen organic mango<br />
1 ripe avocado (room temp or refridgerated)<br />
2-4 TB coconut milk</div>
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Tiny splash lemon juice helps bring out sweetness</div>
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Blend all ingredients until completely incorporated. Enjoy, my sweet readers!<br />
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My instagram phone pictures shows I topped it with fresh blueberries. It is a pretty dessert!</div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--JnZIFvPnCk/VudNMS6p1lI/AAAAAAAABE0/tKx2gui5qk0/s1600/IMG_20160314_162854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--JnZIFvPnCk/VudNMS6p1lI/AAAAAAAABE0/tKx2gui5qk0/s320/IMG_20160314_162854.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Other green food ideas are:</div>
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<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2012/03/egg-in-clover.html">Egg in a Clover</a></div>
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<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2014/03/happy-saint-patricks-day-with-2.html">2 Ingredients Green Ice Cream</a> (this goes great with chocolate) </div>
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<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2013/02/week-of-love-roasted-asparagus-and-red.html">Potato Asparagus Soup</a></div>
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<span id="goog_1627836100"></span><a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2015/03/shamrock-shake-with-peppermint-herb-aka.html">Shamrock Shake with Peppermint Herb</a></div>
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<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2013/04/celebrate-earth-day-with-raw-dirt-brown.html">Greener than Grass Smoothie</a></div>
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I hope you enjoy this tasty ice cream! Do you like to make healthy desserts? What's your go-to recipe? I'd love to hear from you!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2WQuGCDK0yc/VudQRoAkvOI/AAAAAAAABFY/wfdJtrbXx3ARo80qEW90CJbrIAQ6hXzQg/s1600/Avocado%2BMango%2BIce%2BCream%2BGreen%2BHealthy%2BTreat%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2WQuGCDK0yc/VudQRoAkvOI/AAAAAAAABFY/wfdJtrbXx3ARo80qEW90CJbrIAQ6hXzQg/s1600/Avocado%2BMango%2BIce%2BCream%2BGreen%2BHealthy%2BTreat%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-10842239427943433502016-02-16T14:45:00.001-08:002016-02-16T14:45:46.245-08:00Sweet Potato Fridge Fudge (vegan, paleo, gluten free, dairy free)<div dir="ltr">
We made this to celebrate Valentine's Day. An easy treat to make ahead of time that kids and parents can both enjoy.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MJdfAclRPbA/VsOlw7GoPqI/AAAAAAAABCs/y3u-lYWUYbw/s1600/Sweet%2BPotato%2BFudge%2B2%2B%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci%2Bvegan%2Bgluten%2Bfree%2Bpaleo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MJdfAclRPbA/VsOlw7GoPqI/AAAAAAAABCs/y3u-lYWUYbw/s1600/Sweet%2BPotato%2BFudge%2B2%2B%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci%2Bvegan%2Bgluten%2Bfree%2Bpaleo.jpg" /></a></div>
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On a dark chocolate scale, this would be more of a "milk" chocolate fudge. Because chocolate is a stimulant and my children are wildly affected by it, I kept the cacao powder to a minimum. Feel free to add another 1/4 cup cacao powder if you want darker (just be wary your kids may jump off the walls).</div>
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This is very similar to my <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2014/11/sweet-potato-frosting_22.html">sweet potato frosting</a> and <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2015/10/harvest-inspired-sweet-potato-and.html">sweet potato pudding</a> recipes. Can you tell I like to use vegetables in our dessert? Sweet potatoes have an affinity for that.</div>
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This is a very soft fudge but feel free to keep in freezer for harder fudge (or use raw cacao butter instead of extra virgin coconut oil).</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aDAonl7CulM/VsOlxhWvgAI/AAAAAAAABC0/jaYJUHZJh1M/s1600/Sweet%2BPotato%2BFudge%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aDAonl7CulM/VsOlxhWvgAI/AAAAAAAABC0/jaYJUHZJh1M/s1600/Sweet%2BPotato%2BFudge%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci.jpg" /></a></div>
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<strong>Sweet Potato Fridge Fudge</strong></div>
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2 sweet potatoes, cooked and still <u>warm</u><br />
1/2 cup maple syrup<br />
1/2 cup raw cacao powder <br />
Pinch of salt<br />
6 Tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil<br />
1 tsp lucuma powder (optional)</div>
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1. Blend in your blender until thoroughly mixed.</div>
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2. Pour in a lined 8x8 baking dish.</div>
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3. Put in fridge (or freezer) until frozen.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9yHomwjFVQ/VsOlxCsEn_I/AAAAAAAABCw/kfRwqIk4qeE/s1600/Sweet%2BPotato%2BFudge%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci%2Bvegan%2Bgluten%2Bfree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9yHomwjFVQ/VsOlxCsEn_I/AAAAAAAABCw/kfRwqIk4qeE/s1600/Sweet%2BPotato%2BFudge%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci%2Bvegan%2Bgluten%2Bfree.jpg" /></a><br />
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Looking for other sweet potato recipes that are savory?</div>
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Try:</div>
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<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2015/11/baked-sweet-potato-with-broccoli-and.html">Baked Sweet Potato with Broccoli and Cashew Cheese Sauce</a></div>
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<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2013/12/sweet-potato-fennel-soup.html">Sweet Potato Fennel Soup</a></div>
Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-74378936710736272072016-02-15T15:05:00.001-08:002016-02-15T15:07:32.259-08:00Welcome Succulents and Serenity Workshop attendeesHi there! <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MIyV5EDUqEs/VsJVFcUSMXI/AAAAAAAABCA/K7tA0XOWOo8/s1600/Welcome%2Ball%2BSucculents%2Band%2BSerenity%2BWorkshop%2BAttendees%2Bby%2BMary%2BBAnducci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MIyV5EDUqEs/VsJVFcUSMXI/AAAAAAAABCA/K7tA0XOWOo8/s1600/Welcome%2Ball%2BSucculents%2Band%2BSerenity%2BWorkshop%2BAttendees%2Bby%2BMary%2BBAnducci.jpg" /></a></div>
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I'm pleased to have met you and I enjoyed my time with you all! I hope you left the workshop with a little bit more understanding and confidence in using essential oils. Let me know if you have any questions.You'll be receiving an email soon from Alisa with the Serenity Spray ratio.<br />
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Meanwhile, I'm glad you stopped by! Take a look around!
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<a href="https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/#AID=128987">Mountain Rose Herbs</a> is where I buy most of my essential oils and herbs.<br />
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<a border="0" href="https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/?AID=128987&BID=15253" target="_blank"><img alt="Organic Essential Oils" border="0" src="http://mountainroseblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/6-250x250.jpg" /></a></center>
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I'm looking forward to our next workshop! Leave a comment if there is anything you'd like to see in the future!</div>
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Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-22179124724771086862016-02-10T23:38:00.000-08:002016-02-10T23:49:36.279-08:00Love is Patient Butterfly Character Trait Homeschool Unit Study<div dir="ltr">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gsev0sw_VpM/Vrw58UtgXPI/AAAAAAAABBE/YhPI0Ojvtw4/s1600/Love%2Bis%2BPatient%2BButterfly%2BCharacter%2BTrait%2Bunit%2BStudy%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci%2Bfor%2BSweet%2BRoots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gsev0sw_VpM/Vrw58UtgXPI/AAAAAAAABBE/YhPI0Ojvtw4/s1600/Love%2Bis%2BPatient%2BButterfly%2BCharacter%2BTrait%2Bunit%2BStudy%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci%2Bfor%2BSweet%2BRoots.jpg" /></a></div>
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I based this homeschool study on the first character trait of Love in 1 Corinthians 13: Patience. Look up the passage. In fact, I challenge you to read 1 Corinthians 13 with your family for Valentine's Day (check out my<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2016/02/1-corinthians-13-love-is-wreath.html"> 1 Corinthians 13 Valentine's day wreath</a> for a pretty decoration idea). If Valentine's day is about love, then it's especially important for my children to understand what real love is and 1 Corinthians 13 nicely lays it out for us. </div>
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It's interesting the more we study character traits, the more homeschooling has been refining my character as well as my children's! My patience is definitely something I could tinker for the better! What about yours? </div>
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Originally, my sister inspired me to include <a href="http://characterfirsteducation.com/c/curriculum.php">Character First Education</a> in our homeschooling. It's where you learn about an animal and a character trait that ties in with that animal. Here is a post about the<a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2016/02/resources-our-homeschool-uses-for.html"> resources</a> we use for our character trait study. Plus until Sunday evening, you can still leave a comment on that <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2016/02/resources-our-homeschool-uses-for.html">blog post</a> to win this character trait book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0967994101/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0967994101&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=WOMPHBX54VTALPQW" rel="nofollow">Achieving True Success: How to Build Character As a Family</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0967994101" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />! </div>
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<a href="http://characterfirsteducation.com/c/curriculum.php">Character First Education</a> provides some free resources on their website that have been helpful and you can include that in this homeschool study as well.<br />
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To kick off our Love is Patient Butterfly Character study, we read 1 Corinthians 13 (and made this <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2016/02/1-corinthians-13-love-is-wreath.html">wreath</a>). We read this book about butterflies: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0898127688/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0898127688&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=JIFQ4PWJDKBBIIDH" rel="nofollow">Grow with Me: Butterfly</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0898127688" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> that we picked up at the library. We talked about how caterpillars have to patiently grow in their chrysalis until they become butterflies and how waiting can make things better (i.e. food to cool off so it doesn't burn our tongue).
Also how showing patience with our friends, family, and siblings shows them love. So if we truly love our neighbor, we must embrace patience!<br />
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Because my daughter is part kinesthetic learner, we <strong>role-played</strong> each stage of the butterfly. We rolled up like an egg, inched around on the ground like a caterpillar, stood very still like a chrysalis, then opened and fluttered our wings like a butterfly. (A great introduction to life cycles)<br />
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We then did a word search that I made with most of the vocabulary used in the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0898127688/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0898127688&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=JIFQ4PWJDKBBIIDH" rel="nofollow">Grow with Me: Butterfly</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0898127688" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />. You can print that word search here (for free!): <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_DE4rAWoWu6Vmw5c1V0cDQwMDQ/view?usp=sharing">Butterfly Word Search</a><br />
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To have some bonding time, I created a copy and trace coloring page for young kids and a "Mommy Meditation" page on 1 Corinthians 13 (also great for bigger kids who can read). The Mommy Meditation is a way you can lead by example! Get your color on and face-time with your children all while focusing on the word of God!<br />
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_DE4rAWoWu6bWJvVDE1MER1bVU/view?usp=sharing">This Love is Patient Butterfly Trace, Copy and Color Butterfly Page</a> (for young kids): write your name, copy and trace Love is Patient (after reading 1 Corinthians 13), and then color in your butterfly.<br />
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For <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_DE4rAWoWu6eXpsVzNqWEFCb1k/view?usp=sharing">the Mommy Meditation page</a>: color as you like! I also suggest highlighting the word LOVE, then underlining in one color (I used gold) what love is, and underlining in another color (I used red to signify "stop") what love isn't.<br />
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Here is Big Blue Eyes and I after we colored our pages!</div>
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<img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NLpkV3rLnaM/VruyTm1JvBI/AAAAAAAABAk/RdKuCxV3yzE/s200/IMG_20160209_122927.jpg" width="200" /> </div>
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Love this girl! And learning together!</div>
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We also read page 70 "Monarch Miracle" in the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0824955560/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0824955560&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=IE4Z4QAI2XAXKLIO" rel="nofollow">My Big Book of 5-minute Devotions</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0824955560" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
and page 54 "Patience vs Restlessness" in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0967994101/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0967994101&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=C5SE7YGS3JP422HK" rel="nofollow">Achieving True Success: How to Build Character As a Family</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0967994101" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
(you can still win this book - <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2016/02/resources-our-homeschool-uses-for.html">details here</a>).</div>
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Here is an outline of our unit study and resources below.</div>
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<strong>Language Arts</strong></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_DE4rAWoWu6bWJvVDE1MER1bVU/view?usp=sharing">Love is Patient Butterfly Color and Copy</a></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_DE4rAWoWu6Vmw5c1V0cDQwMDQ/view?usp=sharing">Butterfly Word Search</a></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_DE4rAWoWu6eXpsVzNqWEFCb1k/view?usp=sharing">Mommy Meditation Page</a></div>
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<strong>Science</strong></div>
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<a href="http://buggyandbuddy.com/butterfly-life-cycle-craft/">Butterfly Life Cycle Craft</a> from Buggy and Buddy</div>
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<a href="http://laurahildebrand.blogspot.com/2012/08/our-butterfly-popped.html">Life Cycle of a Butterfly</a> pasta activity from the Hildebrands</div>
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Comparing Types of Butterflies (or make a Venn diagram with 2 different types of butterflies)</div>
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<strong>Art</strong></div>
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Painting B Butterflies: A lesson in Symmetry (I'll post this tomorrow)</div>
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<a href="http://characterfirsteducation.com/c/curriculum-detail/1848093">Character First's Education Beautiful Butterfly Activity</a></div>
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<strong>Math</strong></div>
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(I'll update this with a blog post tomorrow as well)</div>
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<strong>Resources</strong></div>
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<a href="http://characterfirsteducation.com/c/curriculum-detail/1848093">Character First Education for Patience</a> page includes a poem, nature story, and song along with a few activity pages and a story of George Washington Carver. Check them out for some more free resources.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0824955560/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0824955560&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=IE4Z4QAI2XAXKLIO" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0824955560&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0824955560" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0898127688/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0898127688&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=JIFQ4PWJDKBBIIDH" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0898127688&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0898127688" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0967994101/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0967994101&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=655VKUPPJEX73KUD" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0967994101&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0967994101" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890516170/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890516170&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=7H3X2WREI7GOOUWT" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0890516170&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890516170" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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And a bible!
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(Purchasing through the book links above can monetarily help/fund support Sweet Roots! I'm thankful to be an amazon affiliate!)<br />
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Please comment below if you decide to partake! I'd love to hear your thoughts and any other butterfly-related activities! <br />
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Thanks again, my dear readers!Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-89057826087274142712016-02-07T13:05:00.003-08:002016-02-07T13:05:39.416-08:00Souping Kindle book on sale for $0.99My Mom sent me the info that this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016B1QT56/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B016B1QT56&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=WMHRHG536DQD53AY" rel="nofollow">Souping</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B016B1QT56" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
cookbook by Alison Velazquez was for sale on kindle for $0.99. I love the idea of juicing but am more prone to souping which the book explains is "the idea of integrating fresh, nutrient-dense soups into your daily diet to provide additional nutrition and hydration." The book has the soups divided by season and several suggested groupings of soups to complete different sorts of cleanse.<br />
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The book has a great range of blender soups. I'm looking forward to making the Beet, Orange & Basil Soup, Red Pepper Romesco Soup, and Watermelon Aloe Mint Soup. Who wants to go <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016B1QT56/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B016B1QT56&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=WMHRHG536DQD53AY" rel="nofollow">Souping</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B016B1QT56" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
with me?<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016B1QT56/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B016B1QT56&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=MYLG5GIYUK3BTKO7" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B016B1QT56&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" height="200" width="167" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B016B1QT56" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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Thanks Mom!</div>
Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-30971239336519781842016-02-05T14:00:00.003-08:002016-02-05T14:05:03.410-08:001 Corinthians 13 "Love is..." Wreath (Homeschooling craft and Valentine's Decoration) Big Blue Eyes is all about decorating the house lately. She wants the house to look <em>pretty</em> (wait, so it doesn't already?). When I told her I came up with a decoration idea for Valentine's Day, she was thrilled. And it involved washi tape - one of our favorite crafting tools.<br />
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I think it does pretty up the house a bit! What do you think?<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDlr-1wSbpI/VrUWETNACxI/AAAAAAAABAE/-gUX_4BuOek/s1600/Love%2Bis%2B1%2BCorinthians%2B13%2BValentines%2BDay%2BWreath%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDlr-1wSbpI/VrUWETNACxI/AAAAAAAABAE/-gUX_4BuOek/s1600/Love%2Bis%2B1%2BCorinthians%2B13%2BValentines%2BDay%2BWreath%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">{<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/286541595020237383/">Pin this</a>}</span></div>
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Before beginning this, we read 1 Corinthians 13 and discussed the definition of love according the bible. What it looks like to our friends and family.<br />
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Originally I thought ribbon and hot glue gun but that wasn't 5-year-old-friendly. Back to the drawing board (I mean, craft table)... and I thought of an alternative - washi tape! <br />
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We were both pleased with the end result! A sweet, little decoration just in time for Valentine's Day!<br />
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After reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J1UEACY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00J1UEACY&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=HIYGTCZ3WGCFB33Z" rel="nofollow">Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00J1UEACY" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />, I've been attempting to use what we have on hand. This forces us to be more creative! Originally, I had a different idea for our Valentine's decoration but this turned out great (and also taught both of us an important lesson, God provides!).<br />
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<strong>1 Corinthians 13 Valentine's Day Wreath</strong><br />
What you'll need:<br />
Wire hanger<br />
Pliers<br />
Washi tape (alternatively you can use ribbon and glue gun)<br />
Ribbon<br />
Letter Stickers (we used felt stickers)<br />
Cardstock<br />
Mini clothespins<br />
Paper + Printer (for the cut-out hearts)<br />
Scissors<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFzOKGF7s14/VrUWE-LNpKI/AAAAAAAABAU/mCPRQim3pv4/s1600/Love%2Bis%2B1%2BCorinthians%2B13%2BValentines%2BDay%2BWreath%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFzOKGF7s14/VrUWE-LNpKI/AAAAAAAABAU/mCPRQim3pv4/s1600/Love%2Bis%2B1%2BCorinthians%2B13%2BValentines%2BDay%2BWreath%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">{<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/286541595020237384/">Pin this</a>}</span></div>
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1. Form your wire hanger into a heart. Pull down on bottom til a "V" forms then curve the upper pieces. Twirl the hanger head with pliers into a curlyque to hang (and it looks less like a clothes hanger that way).<br />
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2. With washi tape, cover the whole heart. (For the straight bottom sides, we laid out washi tape length-wise and laid hanger on top of it then folded it around the metal). For the curves, we wound the tape around.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CAtmU4OV1hs/VrUWEOx95BI/AAAAAAAABAU/0Wont752PDs/s1600/Love%2Bis%2B1%2BCorinthians%2B13%2BValentines%2BDay%2BWreath%2Band%2Bwinding%2Bthe%2Bwashi%2Btape%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CAtmU4OV1hs/VrUWEOx95BI/AAAAAAAABAU/0Wont752PDs/s400/Love%2Bis%2B1%2BCorinthians%2B13%2BValentines%2BDay%2BWreath%2Band%2Bwinding%2Bthe%2Bwashi%2Btape%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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3. Cut out triangles from cardstock (need about 3" triangles). We used pink cardstock. Punch holes out of the top of the cardstock. Put stickers on banner then string ribbon through, tying it to the top sides of the heart.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pVs7-cgtVEg/VrUWFXxyJKI/AAAAAAAABAU/dClff0nnyt4/s1600/Love%2Bis%2B1%2BCorinthians%2B13%2BValentines%2BDay%2BWreath%2Btying%2Bribbon%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pVs7-cgtVEg/VrUWFXxyJKI/AAAAAAAABAU/dClff0nnyt4/s400/Love%2Bis%2B1%2BCorinthians%2B13%2BValentines%2BDay%2BWreath%2Btying%2Bribbon%2Bby%2BMary%2BBanducci.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
4. Print out these free <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_DE4rAWoWu6LXRjOFFUUFllYjQ/view?usp=sharing">paper hearts</a> I created available <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_DE4rAWoWu6LXRjOFFUUFllYjQ/view?usp=sharing">here</a>. Cut outside the red hearts to leave the border. <br />
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5. Read 1 Corinthians 13 and as you read, hang up each "description of love" with your mini clothespins.<br />
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6. Hang the Wreath and enjoy!<br />
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<br />Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-47746280629638149172016-02-03T12:05:00.003-08:002016-02-03T12:05:50.925-08:00Secret Garden Coloring Calendar 75% off - Great for homeschooling and quiet time<div dir="ltr">
I was thrilled to see <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1449478409/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1449478409&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=QMWMSXLQ3HLCNQG6" rel="nofollow">this coloring calendar</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1449478409" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
on sale for $3.74 (75%)! Yes, it is a month late but late is better than never! I had forgotten to buy a calendar for our bonus room and thought this would be perfect for some Mommy - daughter time. Plus, it adds an opportunity to talk about months, weeks, and days. Because homeschooling can be fun!</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1449478409/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1449478409&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=QMWMSXLQ3HLCNQG6" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1449478409&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a></div>
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We like to color with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=gel%20pens&linkCode=ur2&tag=sweroo-20&url=search-alias%3Daps&linkId=U6BTKQZ7PAZ5ZMAI" target="_blank">gel pens</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />. They look pretty. And it seems the best while we have a one year old because he can't as easily eat them or draw on himself as he can with crayons and markers. </div>
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Looking forward to coloring each month and building our knowledge about time with Big Blue Eyes!</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1449478409" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5ZZOXZnuu98/VrJaAqrMChI/AAAAAAAAA_w/K2d3L1Stf1I/s1600/IMG_20160203_084442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="266" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5ZZOXZnuu98/VrJaAqrMChI/AAAAAAAAA_w/K2d3L1Stf1I/s400/IMG_20160203_084442.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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Question of the Day: Adult coloring has become a trend - for good reasons (art therapy anyone?). Are you joining the trend? And if so, what have you been coloring? </div>
Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-22733528854653465552016-02-01T13:58:00.000-08:002016-03-16T12:48:23.946-07:00Resources our Homeschool uses for Character Trait Study + Book Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vgAiYisOYqQ/Vq_Tm8sodWI/AAAAAAAAA_c/ULBnfjjZZkk/s1600/Character%2BTrait%2BStudy%2BResources%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBAnducci%2Bfor%2BSweet%2Broots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vgAiYisOYqQ/Vq_Tm8sodWI/AAAAAAAAA_c/ULBnfjjZZkk/s1600/Character%2BTrait%2BStudy%2BResources%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBAnducci%2Bfor%2BSweet%2Broots.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">{<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/286541595020214816/">Pin this</a>}</span></div>
My sister turned me on to <a href="http://characterfirsteducation.com/c/curriculum.php">Character First Education</a>. You can read her post here <a href="http://www.sdahomeschools.org/character-curriculum/">Character Curriculum</a> and how they organize their character learning into binders. <a href="http://characterfirsteducation.com/c/curriculum.php">Character First</a> Education has free resources for each animal - a song, poem, and nature story. We enjoy all the free downloads offered for each trait, particularly the family connection.<br />
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In addition to Character First's <a href="http://characterfirsteducation.com/c/curriculum.php">free curriculum resources</a>, I've found these other resources below to be extremely helpful. I wanted to share them with you before I jump into our Week of Love because the Homeschool Study will be focusing on one particular character trait.<br />
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Primarily, I believe this is important:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0967994101/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0967994101&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=J4CWSE23SST6T3JP" rel="nofollow">Achieving True Success: How to Build Character As a Family</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0967994101" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
(<strong>WIN THIS</strong>!!)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0967994101/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0967994101&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=J4CWSE23SST6T3JP" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0967994101&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0967994101" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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My sister bought this for me and I'm enthralled. It's a great resource and we'll be using it for years to come. It's just one page for each character trait - a little blurb about each animal, what each trait looks like in the home, "I will ___" statements to better understand how to implement the trait, and a Hero of Character where an actual person who has demonstrated that trait is featured. <br />
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Eventually, I would like to buy this book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0916888193/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0916888193&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=PDNX3WPBAZQH7IKD" rel="nofollow">The Power for True Success: How to Build Character in Your Life</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0916888193" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />. From my understanding, it comes from a Christian viewpoint.<br />
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Also,<strong> leave a comment below</strong> on what character trait you would like to work on first for a chance to win a used copy of this book! Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sweetrootinfusions/">Sweet Roots on facebook</a> and leave a comment there for an extra chance (each) to win! (must enter before Feb 14th at 11:59 pm PST for chance to win).<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0824955560/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0824955560&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=YPFRIRFN3CPAL2IG" rel="nofollow">My Big Book of 5-minute Devotions</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0824955560" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0824955560/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0824955560&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=YPFRIRFN3CPAL2IG" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0824955560&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0824955560" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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We often revert back to this devotional for additional learning if the animal is featured or if I can find another animal with a similar trait. For example, we read "Fleecy Fighters: (p 36) about rams and anger when we talked about self control (Character First Education uses Black Bears as the animal for self-control).<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890516170/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890516170&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=UA3I5QEUOAGQ777Q" rel="nofollow">World of Animals</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890516170" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890516170/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890516170&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=UA3I5QEUOAGQ777Q" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0890516170&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890516170" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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An animal encyclopedia perfect for learning more about each animal. Each time we introduce a character trait, we look up the animal in this encyclopedia.<br />
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For us, I've also found that Character Trait Studies involve numerous trips to the library for resource books on each animal and searching youtube for short documentaries. Learning together (pair up with another family or homeschool group) is always advantageous. <br />
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I'll update this as I find other helpful resources we enjoy. For now, these three books have laid out a major foundation for our homeschool. We learn about God's creatures, real-life Heroes, and most importantly we learn character traits that will help my children (and myself) be better people.<br />
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Question of the Day: What are you learning with your family right now?<br />
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<strong>UPDATE:</strong><br />
We found these incredible in-depth books by Buddy & Kay Davis. They are more in-depth on individual animals than the World of Animals above (but only speak of 30 animals in each book vs the encyclopedia has everything and is very inclusive).<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890514577/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890514577&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=VE6JK6KJ45LFANP4"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0890514577&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890514577" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890514585/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890514585&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=NVRQOPVODDSCTQH3"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0890514585&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890514585" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890514569/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890514569&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=BPBLYMH6K3OQRQDV"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0890514569&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890514569" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890514577/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890514577&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=VE6JK6KJ45LFANP4">Breathtaking Birds (Marvels of Creation)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890514577" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890514585/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890514585&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=NVRQOPVODDSCTQH3">Sensational Sea Creatures (Marvels of Creation)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890514585" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890514569/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890514569&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=BPBLYMH6K3OQRQDV">Magnificent Mammals (Marvels of Creation)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890514569" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-7703561822193165222016-01-30T12:12:00.003-08:002016-01-30T12:20:58.760-08:00Banana Bread Chia Donuts (gluten-free, vegan)<div dir="ltr">
Mornings are precious to me. The brightness of the angled sunshine gently tiptoeing into your window at first. Then the sun's shyness melts away and it promenades through your curtains, through the crack in your doors. I think if the sun were a dancer, she'd start as a ballerina then twirl into a silent tap dancer in the morning, ecstatically drumming out the glory of the light, rousing you from slumber with gentle, quick tiptoes and soft gestures then ending her announcement with a wild, proud finish.</div>
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Mornings are when I try to read my bible. My little boy wakes with me and I read him the bible while he toddles around. My daughter comes down and we have a good morning hug then we start breakfast (if you can tell that is my favorite meal of the day) and then we wake Daddy.</div>
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That is my ideal morning, anyways. Not that it always happens. I'll admit sometimes Mom wakes on the wrong side of the bed or I sleep in because I was up late editing or dealing with a teething toddler.<br />
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But doesn't it sound simply glorious? If only, I could start every morning this way.<br />
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Speaking of my little boy - Monkey Toes - he loves these donuts! He ate two and a half this morning! Normally, he's been a little bit more my pickier eater so I was super pleased.</div>
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I wanted to make Angela 's Chia donuts from her latest <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1583335277/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1583335277&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=VBO527EY2YJDCV7F" rel="nofollow">The Oh She Glows Cookbook</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1583335277" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
but I had a plethora of overripe bananas. Banana bread donuts it is! Complete with simple coconut butter frosting. They are a denser, moister donut. Full of banana flavor and crunch from chia seeds. They are really simply (and healthily) decadent dipped in berry sauce. But if you're on a time crunch, you can add 1/2 cup frozen blueberries to the batter (they will need to cook around 6 minutes longer).</div>
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These are not like normal donuts, of course. Expect a moist center yet crunchy with the addition of chia seeds. Banana bread-esque just in donut form. These pack wonderfully after they've cooled. A great and economically-wise alternative to power bar snacks. I think I'll try to find a bigger donut pan (or make them in my muffin pan) to freeze for future.</div>
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And thank you to my friend Alisa who dropped her donut pan off at my house after my silly post on facebook. You're a dear!</div>
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<strong>Banana Bread Chia Donuts</strong></div>
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1/4 + 2 TB cup chia seeds<br />
1 cup oats<br />
3 bananas (enough for at least 3/4 cups), overly ripe<br />
Vanilla Stevia 15-20 drops *<br />
1/2 tsp cinnamon<br />
1/4 tsp sea salt<br />
1 1/2 tsp baking powder <br />
1/2 cup coconut milk<br />
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1/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional<br />
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*If you don't have vanilla stevia, you can substitute half of the coconut milk with maple syrup. I used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E8WIAS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000E8WIAS&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=PW2DSG6GUWTP4WPO" rel="nofollow">Sweet Leaf Vanilla Crème</a>.<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000E8WIAS" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
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1. Mash your ripe bananas in a bowl. <br />
2. Add the coconut milk, cinnamon, vanilla stevia drops, sea salt, and baking powder. Mix well.<br />
3. Add chia seeds and oats, stirring well.<br />
4. Preheat oven to 300 degrees while you oil donut pan (like this fellow <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E8WIAS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000E8WIAS&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=PW2DSG6GUWTP4WPO" rel="nofollow">Wilton Nonstick donut pan</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000E8WIAS" height="1" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0px;" width="1" />) with coconut oil. Place batter in donut oils. This will fill about 8 holes so either fill a 6 donut pan and use a ramekin for the remainder or bake another batch.<br />
5. Bake at 300 degrees for 20-25 minutes (extra if you added frozen blueberries as mentioned in text). Let cool for 5-8 minutes and then enjoy!<br />
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To make coconut frosting, mix equal parts coconut butter and coconut cream with a couple drops vanilla stevia. Alternatively, you can use Daiya cream cheese for a vegan topping.<br />
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And for berry sauce, I just add 2 cups frozen berries to a pan with 1/2 cup water (or herbal tea for interesting twist), and couple drops stevia or a large dollop of honey at the end. Let water boil then mix on low for 15 minutes.</div>
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Enjoy, my sweet readers!</div>
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And btw, I'm looking forward to next week! We start our Week of Love! A weeklong journey celebrating Valentines and love. This year, we have some homeschooling fun and a DIY Galentine's spa day! I'm looking forward to sharing it all with you!</div>
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Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-67913999566094195612015-12-10T14:42:00.001-08:002015-12-10T14:44:29.852-08:00Christmas Lights Decor Art ActivityAfter we attended our weekly swim lesson, we dressed in our warmest pajamas and hopped in our car for a Christmas Light display adventure. I had made popcorn (with just a little salt and dill) and we brought cups of So Delicious coconut milk eggnog and mint chocolate (mixed with mostly coconut milk because we didn't need the sugar that late).<br />
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We drove downtown, oohing and ahing over all the lights and colors. We then drove through a couple neighborhoods, trying to spy more. It became a little bit of a scavenger hunt at the end.<br />
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My five year old kept exclaiming, "I'm so excited. Wow! There's one! There's one!"<br />
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At the end of the night, her and I were laughing and exclaiming loudly, "WOW!" whenever we saw more lights then bursting into giggles. The bigger the display, the bigger the Wow!<br />
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All in all, it was a fun time. Relatively inexpensive (we made our own snacks and drinks) good, family-bonding time.<br />
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This morning, I woke up thinking "How can I carry this into our school/craft time?" <br />
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So, this is my answer. Black paper. Washi tape (she used this for the roads). Gel pens. Christmas stickers leftover from last year. <br />
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I left the activity pretty open. I told her she could create and decorate her own house or a neighborhood. She chose a neighborhood. <br />
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An easy Christmas craft!<br />
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Also through December 14th, I highlighted <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2015/12/rare-25-off-book-coupon-on-amazon-again.html">some books</a> because Amazon is having a rare 25% off coupon. <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2015/12/rare-25-off-book-coupon-on-amazon-again.html">Details here</a>.<br />
<br />Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-46405978186214881142015-12-10T14:08:00.001-08:002015-12-10T14:08:34.554-08:00Rare 25% off Book Coupon on Amazon (AGAIN!) through December 14th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm digging all these amazon coupon codes for books. Keep it coming, Amazon!</div>
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For this book deal, use promo code 25OFFBOOK for 25% off one book shipped and sold by Amazon (up to $10 discount) through December 14th, 2015.<br />
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Since I highlighted some children and mom books the last post, I thought I'd highlight a few books for the men in our lives.<br />
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<strong>For the Connoisseur:</strong> <br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307889203/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307889203&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=WE2FP3YJ4LTZ3QDE" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0307889203&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307889203" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1454916885/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1454916885&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=NAY7QFRD66ZVAFY6" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1454916885&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1454916885" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0544520602/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0544520602&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=M2SRA74AFXU4K4HV" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0544520602&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0544520602" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607746352/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1607746352&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=EXNB4HQIL7G7MEP7" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1607746352&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1607746352" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1943706034/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1943706034&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=EUHEGTIKQOAIIRTU" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1943706034&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1943706034" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307889203/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307889203&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=WE2FP3YJ4LTZ3QDE" rel="nofollow">Brooklyn Brew Shop's Beer Making Book: 52 Seasonal Recipes for Small Batches</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307889203" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1454916885/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1454916885&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=NAY7QFRD66ZVAFY6" rel="nofollow">American Whiskey, Bourbon & Rye: A Guide to the Nation's Favorite Spirit</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1454916885" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0544520602/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0544520602&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=M2SRA74AFXU4K4HV" rel="nofollow">The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Whiskey Know-It-All: Know Your Booze Before You Choose</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0544520602" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607746352/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1607746352&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=EXNB4HQIL7G7MEP7" rel="nofollow">The Comic Book Story of Beer: The World's Favorite Beverage from 7000 BC to Today's Craft Brewing Revolution</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1607746352" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1943706034/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1943706034&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=EUHEGTIKQOAIIRTU" rel="nofollow">Cigar Boys: Stories from the Ashes</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1943706034" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<strong>For the fun Dad:</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IPSCOSU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IPSCOSU&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=J7G5UQY47AYWQ2N2" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00IPSCOSU&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00IPSCOSU" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592405525/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592405525&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=T3VC3ZMNDXGAROTO" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1592405525&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1592405525" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FL3YLHE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FL3YLHE&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=YCAUEA5SC6CC7FH7" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00FL3YLHE&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FL3YLHE" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1452128308/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1452128308&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=WSMFKARCUODABJRL" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1452128308&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1452128308" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IPSCOSU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IPSCOSU&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=J7G5UQY47AYWQ2N2" rel="nofollow">Dad's Book of Awesome Science Experiments: From Boiling Ice and Exploding Soap to Erupting Volcanoes and Launching Rockets, 30 Inventive Experiments to Excite the Whole Family! (Dads Book of Awesome)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00IPSCOSU" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592405525/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592405525&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=T3VC3ZMNDXGAROTO" rel="nofollow">Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1592405525" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FL3YLHE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FL3YLHE&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=YCAUEA5SC6CC7FH7" rel="nofollow">Maker Dad: Lunch Box Guitars, Antigravity Jars, and 22 Other Incredibly Cool Father-Daughter DIY Projects</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FL3YLHE" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1452128308/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1452128308&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=WSMFKARCUODABJRL" rel="nofollow">Goodnight Darth Vader</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1452128308" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Also, I never got around to using the last promo code. I loved the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553448218/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0553448218&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=MYIBM2VR7SS75UYG" rel="nofollow">Q&A a Day for Moms: A 5-Year Journal</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0553448218" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
but then I found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804186405/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0804186405&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=SJ4BUFDCW52CQRCE" rel="nofollow">Q&A a Day for Creatives</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0804186405" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
and I was torn! I think the Creatives would be fun for a family of 4 to fill out together, instead of four years. One year and each person fills out a square. I'm totally digging that idea since my family is a unit of four. It looks awesome:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804186405/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0804186405&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=SJ4BUFDCW52CQRCE" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0804186405&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0804186405" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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Also, they have this book for couples. A great idea for newlyweds!
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0770436684/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0770436684&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=Z5JCN4XGJCDDN2QN" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0770436684&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0770436684" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0770436684/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0770436684&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=Z5JCN4XGJCDDN2QN" rel="nofollow">Our Q&A a Day: 3-Year Journal for 2 People</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0770436684" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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This is also a great time to buy a cookbook for your kitchen or the chef in your life. Here are a few bestsellers on my wish list:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1570619557/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1570619557&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=VAXUQCMEOPGT2376" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1570619557&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1570619557" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1628600853/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1628600853&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=R77WGAIHNDHMZESJ" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1628600853&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1628600853" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/162860042X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=162860042X&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=QMFJ4EYR5UWN724P" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=162860042X&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=162860042X" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1570619557/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1570619557&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=VAXUQCMEOPGT2376" rel="nofollow">Gluten-Free & Vegan for the Whole Family: Nutritious Plant-Based Meals and Snacks Everyone Will Love</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1570619557" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1628600853/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1628600853&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=R77WGAIHNDHMZESJ" rel="nofollow">Easy Paleo Meals: 150 Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Family Favorites</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1628600853" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/162860042X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=162860042X&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=QMFJ4EYR5UWN724P" rel="nofollow">Danielle Walker's Against All Grain: Meals Made Simple: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Paleo Recipes to Make Anytime</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=162860042X" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Also, here are a few great books for the kids in your life: I love the science aspect of the first few. The crafty books are also a must for Christmas!<br />
Remember to use promo code 25OFFBOOK for 25% off one book.<br />
<strong>Kid Book ideas:</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0276428404/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0276428404&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=HNQV2TPN73K7YYEM" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0276428404&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0276428404" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592539254/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592539254&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=GLMG7D6WROUUGHF6" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1592539254&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1592539254" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471044563/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0471044563&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=WKWSOYQ6KJLK7ELM" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0471044563&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0471044563" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592537650/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592537650&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=VWQHHLNC2ZOSZ432" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1592537650&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1592537650" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159174802X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=159174802X&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=PH3C6CPSNJMS7UQ2" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=159174802X&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=159174802X" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1603425314/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1603425314&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=WFRU2QOJQ7DKDIAB" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1603425314&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1603425314" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612122310/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612122310&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=A6QGX5WFRV6TELZS" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1612122310&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1612122310" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0276428404/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0276428404&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=HNQV2TPN73K7YYEM" rel="nofollow">The Sky at Night: Your Guide to the Heavens - A Complete Interactive Kit</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0276428404" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592539254/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592539254&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=GLMG7D6WROUUGHF6" rel="nofollow">Kitchen Science Lab for Kids: 52 Family Friendly Experiments from Around the House (Hands-On Family)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1592539254" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471044563/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0471044563&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=WKWSOYQ6KJLK7ELM" rel="nofollow">Science in Seconds for Kids: Over 100 Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0471044563" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592537650/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592537650&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=VWQHHLNC2ZOSZ432" rel="nofollow">Art Lab for Kids</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1592537650" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159174802X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=159174802X&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=PH3C6CPSNJMS7UQ2" rel="nofollow">Klutz Fairies: Petal People You Make Yourself Craft Kit</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=159174802X" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1603425314/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1603425314&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=WFRU2QOJQ7DKDIAB" rel="nofollow">The Nature Connection: An Outdoor Workbook for Kids, Families, and Classrooms</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1603425314" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612122310/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612122310&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=A6QGX5WFRV6TELZS" rel="nofollow">Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1612122310" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-32564963552744620002015-11-25T22:53:00.001-08:002015-11-25T22:59:40.431-08:00Rare 30% off any 1 Book on Amazon promo code<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-53jfQkOGaUA/Vlak7E0uGhI/AAAAAAAAA5E/daW_fRum66w/s1600/Rare%2B30%2Bpercent%2Boff%2Bat%2Bamazon%2Bbooks%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBAnducci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-53jfQkOGaUA/Vlak7E0uGhI/AAAAAAAAA5E/daW_fRum66w/s1600/Rare%2B30%2Bpercent%2Boff%2Bat%2Bamazon%2Bbooks%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBAnducci.jpg" /></a></div>
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I'm excited to see this again! As it rarely ever happens - I think last time was a year ago! And just in time for the holidays!<br />
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Books are always - let me repeat - ALWAYS make <strike>good</strike> GREAT gifts!<br />
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And with promo code HOLIDAY30, any one book sold and shipped from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/books-used-books-textbooks/b/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&node=283155&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=2H4L7UTDSJM6TYLQ" target="_blank">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> will be 30% off. This promo code lasts through November 29th.<br />
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So go look at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/books-used-books-textbooks/b/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&node=283155&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=2H4L7UTDSJM6TYLQ" target="_blank">Amazon Books</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />! And please click through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/books-used-books-textbooks/b/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&node=283155&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=2H4L7UTDSJM6TYLQ" target="_blank">my referral links</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> to help support Sweet Roots!<br />
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Not sure what to use it on? Here are a few pairings for children's gifts:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890516170/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890516170&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=K7THY2MKHXW5WPWL" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0890516170&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890516170" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
AND <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756638992/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0756638992&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=D7HTKI4RZEBAZZZK" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0756638992&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0756638992" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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So if you buy this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890516170/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890516170&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=R64JSA2VACWQYY5Q" rel="nofollow">World of Animals</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890516170" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
encyclopedia (we love ours!) and this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756638992/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0756638992&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=D7HTKI4RZEBAZZZK" rel="nofollow">Animals Sticker Encyclopedia</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0756638992" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
Activity Book, you'll pay $23.18. Perfect gift for the animal lover in your home!
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This is what I will be doing with my coupon code. Since we already have the animal encyclopedia, I wanted to buy the science book and put it together with a science kit for an easy educational gift.
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890516189/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890516189&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=SA4UWH6N5IV6NTDC" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0890516189&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890516189" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
AND <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BURAP2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000BURAP2&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=CBIUXTJXORQALDOD" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000BURAP2&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000BURAP2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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This <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0890516189/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0890516189&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=SA4UWH6N5IV6NTDC" rel="nofollow">World of Science</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0890516189" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
encyclopedia is perfect to go with this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BURAP2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000BURAP2&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=PE7PVFM45SL66VDH" rel="nofollow">Scientific Explorer My First Mind Blowing Science Kit</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000BURAP2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
and with promo code HOLIDAY30, it ends up being $28.86 for both items. Another great educational gift!
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Of course, you can also use this opportunity to get something for yourself!<br />
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Here are a few items on my wish list! What books are on your wish list?<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1449470718/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1449470718&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=WJMW3KUUPRU3GKM6" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1449470718&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1449470718" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1624141218/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1624141218&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=MROO3VTBSMUAD2AN" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1624141218&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1624141218" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400205859/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1400205859&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=FJ52SKQMPYL6ZJLL" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1400205859&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1400205859" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1583335277/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1583335277&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=5SOS27IIE2IMPM34" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1583335277&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1583335277" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1519165285/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1519165285&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=4BHB45OPNWWCLXBC" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1519165285&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1519165285" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007Y30722/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007Y30722&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=EFXWBGQS5MQIN5LM" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B007Y30722&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B007Y30722" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1519165285" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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AND FOR THE STAR WARS FANS:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/145210655X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=145210655X&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=X6OHY3RR5I2WBGI6" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=145210655X&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=145210655X" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1452118698/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1452118698&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=QOZONJH7TGHJU6CL" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1452118698&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1452118698" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1452138109/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1452138109&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=7C5VAU6DEWIYKVWF" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1452138109&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1452138109" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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AND FOR THE HARRY POTTER FANS:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1338030000/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1338030000&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=DRNQMJXEZS2EXDN3" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1338030000&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1338030000" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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AND FOR THE HONY FANS<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250058902/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1250058902&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=YGR2WKGWMRPY3NPM" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1250058902&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sweroo-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1250058902" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250058902/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1250058902&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=YGR2WKGWMRPY3NPM" rel="nofollow">Humans of New York: Stories</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1250058902" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
is originally $29.99 but is currently on sale for $17.64 and with promo code HOLIDAY30, it will be $12.35 (almost 60% savings!)!
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Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-54335696865505006662015-11-10T07:30:00.000-08:002015-11-10T07:30:01.200-08:00Baked Sweet Potato with Broccoli and Cashew Ceese Sauce (vegan, healthier twist on classic baked potato)<div dir="ltr">
A classic favorite with a nutritious (and vegan) spin.</div>
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Fall is always rich with color - the changing leaves, the Autumn sunsets, and the seemingly endless supply of squash and sweet potatoes.</div>
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Seriously, what's a prettier orange than the inside of a steamed sweet potato? If there is, I haven't seen it. This kind of vibrancy demonstrates a range of nutrients.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UCgm1CIqSoQ/VkEasu3IMnI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/d0ps0nJ4NCA/s1600/Baked%2BSweet%2BPotato%2Bwith%2BSteamed%2BBroccoli%2Band%2BVegan%2BCheese%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBAnducci%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UCgm1CIqSoQ/VkEasu3IMnI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/d0ps0nJ4NCA/s1600/Baked%2BSweet%2BPotato%2Bwith%2BSteamed%2BBroccoli%2Band%2BVegan%2BCheese%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBAnducci%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PbuiuFSnA0I/VkEan39hOkI/AAAAAAAAA3M/nzza150lEL8/s1600/Baked%2BSweet%2BPotato%2Bwith%2BSteamed%2BBroccoli%2Band%2BVegan%2BCheese%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBAnducci.jpg" /></div>
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I wrote a haiku in demonstration:</div>
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<u>Sweet Potatoes</u></div>
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Sweet potatoes orange<br /> Broccoli green (vegan) cheese covered<br /> I like comfort food.</div>
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...so it's not perfect but I never claimed to be a poet.</div>
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One evening (more like every evening) I needed something that was less than 30 minutes to make. Quick. Nutritious. Effortless.</div>
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... so I microwaved my sweet potatoes. *gasp* call out the nutrional police!<br />
But it did only take 16ish minutes to make this. I'd much rather have this quick food than fast food.</div>
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<strong>Baked Sweet Potato with Steamed Broccoli and Cheese Sauce</strong></div>
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Sweet Potatoes</div>
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Broccoli</div>
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Cashew Cheese Sauce, recipe below</div>
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Bake the sweet potatoes at 400 for an hour or until cooked. Alternatively, you can also use your slow cooker or microwave to cook the sweet potatoes.</div>
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Steam the broccoli. </div>
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Meanwhile, make cheese sauce.</div>
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</div>
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<strong>Cashew Cheese Sauce</strong></div>
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1/2 cup cashews</div>
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2 cups broth</div>
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1/4 cup nutritional yeast</div>
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3 TB amino acids (sub coconut aminos and punch of salt for paleo version)</div>
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2 large carrots</div>
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1 TB chia seeds</div>
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Pinch of oregano</div>
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Pinch of nutmeg, optional</div>
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1. Heat the broth over the stove.</div>
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2. Blend all ingredients in blender.</div>
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3. Pour over baked sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EHETrR0jLKI/VkEanXTdSwI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/l8e3B1T2x98/s1600/Baked%2BSweet%2BPotato%2Bwith%2BSteamed%2BBroccoli%2Band%2BVegan%2BCheese%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBAnducci%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EHETrR0jLKI/VkEanXTdSwI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/l8e3B1T2x98/s1600/Baked%2BSweet%2BPotato%2Bwith%2BSteamed%2BBroccoli%2Band%2BVegan%2BCheese%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBAnducci%2B3.jpg" /></a></div>
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Do you like my plate? We went to a local pottery painting place! It was very fun and I love getting to eat off something we helped create!</div>
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Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-29757380929695699492015-11-09T13:41:00.002-08:002015-11-09T13:41:22.152-08:00DIY Foaming Hand Soap (Easy and Money-saving)<div dir="ltr">
Have you ever seen how much good quality hand soap costs? We have all bought it but have you really looked at the cost? A necessary evil, no?</div>
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I was determined not to buy hand soap again. I reused foaming hand soap bottles until finally, I fell upon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FBP2XT0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FBP2XT0&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=K272TNSGKNSL5ME3" rel="nofollow">these great bottles</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FBP2XT0" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
(thank you, InterDesign!). The trick is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FBP2XT0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FBP2XT0&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=K272TNSGKNSL5ME3" rel="nofollow">the bottle</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FBP2XT0" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
here. These special bottles ensure that you never have to buy hand soap again. They come in chrome, white, nickel, black and bronze (pictured below). </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nys2QelTsWI/VkELu_1sb6I/AAAAAAAAA24/mV04oSnQKOE/s1600/Make%2Byour%2Bown%2Bfoaming%2Bhand%2Bsoap%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBanducci%2Bfor%2BSweet%2BRoots%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nys2QelTsWI/VkELu_1sb6I/AAAAAAAAA24/mV04oSnQKOE/s1600/Make%2Byour%2Bown%2Bfoaming%2Bhand%2Bsoap%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBanducci%2Bfor%2BSweet%2BRoots%2B4.jpg" /></a></div>
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This is like DIY foaming hand soap for <strike>dummies</strike> super savvy thrifters. The bottle has two lines on it. First to fill with soap and then to fill with distilled or filtered water. Essential oils (I prefer citrus, tea tree and clove) are a great addition and are naturally antibacterial. </div>
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All you need:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FBP2XT0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FBP2XT0&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=K272TNSGKNSL5ME3" rel="nofollow">A Foaming Hand Soap Bottle</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FBP2XT0" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
(found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FBP2XT0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FBP2XT0&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=K272TNSGKNSL5ME3" rel="nofollow">here</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FBP2XT0" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
)</div>
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Dr. Bronners Castile Soap (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AOZ78A/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001AOZ78A&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=43HLEB2FVOHR6ACF" rel="nofollow">citrus</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001AOZ78A" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
is nice for bathroom and kitchen)</div>
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Distilled or Filtered Water</div>
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Essential Oils (optional)<br />
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Fill the first line with castile soap. Fill to second line with water. Shake gently. And use!<br />
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The result is a great foaming hand soap without a lot of waste.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DfdUlLBn8U0/VkELuu1SAXI/AAAAAAAAA20/Z53FcNMJLDg/s1600/Make%2Byour%2Bown%2Bfoaming%2Bhand%2Bsoap%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBanducci%2Bfor%2BSweet%2BRoots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DfdUlLBn8U0/VkELuu1SAXI/AAAAAAAAA20/Z53FcNMJLDg/s1600/Make%2Byour%2Bown%2Bfoaming%2Bhand%2Bsoap%2Bby%2BMAry%2BBanducci%2Bfor%2BSweet%2BRoots.jpg" /></a></div>
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Move over triclosan! Make room for Essential Oils! According to Sophie Uliano in her book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061575569/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061575569&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=TXKZNZT2JO6RDQQ3" rel="nofollow">Gorgeously Green</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061575569" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
, triclosan, the chemical used in most antibacterial products, is carcinogenic and can weaken your immune system. It also can cause birth defects and fertility issues (p 21). Lavender, Tea Tree, and Lemongrass are all effective antibacterials. I buy <a href="http://edge.affiliateshop.com/public/AIDLink?AID=128987&Redirect=/catalog/aromatherapy/essential-oils">Mountain Rose Herbs essential oils</a>.
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<a border="0" href="https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/?AID=128987&BID=8038" target="_blank"><img alt="Mountain Rose Herbs" border="0" src="http://mountainroseblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/1-300x100.jpg" /></a></div>
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Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565176728519266788.post-55395169658103291342015-10-28T21:57:00.001-07:002015-10-28T21:58:48.767-07:00Harvest inspired Sweet Potato and Chocolate Pudding Parfait (vegan, gluten-free)Perfect for Halloween! <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l9zwW4Myb74/VjGhWfbqKFI/AAAAAAAAA00/76zYO46atcw/s1600/Harvest%2Borange%2Band%2Bchocolate%2Bpudding%2Bby%2BMAry%2Bbanducci%2Bvegan%2Bhalloween%2Btreat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l9zwW4Myb74/VjGhWfbqKFI/AAAAAAAAA00/76zYO46atcw/s1600/Harvest%2Borange%2Band%2Bchocolate%2Bpudding%2Bby%2BMAry%2Bbanducci%2Bvegan%2Bhalloween%2Btreat.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zQvUzn4LE4U/VjGhV-GwC2I/AAAAAAAAA0w/9I3zBNQkq0o/s1600/Harvest%2Borange%2Band%2Bchocolate%2Bpudding%2Bby%2BMAry%2Bbanducci%2Bvegan%2Bhalloween%2Btreat%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zQvUzn4LE4U/VjGhV-GwC2I/AAAAAAAAA0w/9I3zBNQkq0o/s1600/Harvest%2Borange%2Band%2Bchocolate%2Bpudding%2Bby%2BMAry%2Bbanducci%2Bvegan%2Bhalloween%2Btreat%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Vegan and refined sugar free! Full of good fats and beta carotene! What else can you expect from a dessert? Plus, it makes for such a pretty presentation.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vW90l9loNHs/VjGhUIL7YmI/AAAAAAAAA0c/vEW9ZFMvuP8/s1600/Harvest%2Borange%2Band%2Bchocolate%2Bpudding%2Bby%2BMAry%2Bbanducci%2Bvegan%2Bhalloween%2Btreat%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vW90l9loNHs/VjGhUIL7YmI/AAAAAAAAA0c/vEW9ZFMvuP8/s1600/Harvest%2Borange%2Band%2Bchocolate%2Bpudding%2Bby%2BMAry%2Bbanducci%2Bvegan%2Bhalloween%2Btreat%2B4.jpg" /></a></div>
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Oh, did I mention the main ingredients are a vegetable and a fruit (because avocados are technically fruits)? That's right. The orange layer is made from sweet potatoes (very similar to my <a href="http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/2014/11/sweet-potato-frosting_22.html">Sweet Potato Frosting</a>) and the chocolate layer is made from avocados.<br />
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To make this, you'll need a food processor or high-speed blender ( I used <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=vitamix&linkCode=ur2&tag=sweroo-20&url=search-alias%3Daps&linkId=VQHN3QDYSMZ3V2IH" target="_blank">my trusty Vitamix</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />).<br />
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<strong>Sweet Potato and Chocolate Pudding Parfait</strong><br />
<strong>Orange Sweet Potato Pudding</strong><br />
1 cup coconut milk, unsweetened (I used So Delicious brand)<br />
2 sweet potatoes, steamed and still warm<br />
2 tsp arrowroot starch<br />
1/4 cup maple syrup (or 1/2 cup and omit vanilla stevia)<br />
1/4 cup coconut oil<br />
10-15 drops <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E8WIAS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000E8WIAS&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=TZP3KDQFPRRUBZBL" rel="nofollow">Vanilla Creme Stevia</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000E8WIAS" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
(I used Sweet Leaf brand)<br />
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<strong>Chocolate Avocado Pudding</strong><br />
3 avocados<br />
1/2 cup coconut milk<br />
3 TB maple syrup<br />
10-15 drops <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E8WIAS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000E8WIAS&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=TZP3KDQFPRRUBZBL" rel="nofollow">Vanilla Creme Stevia</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000E8WIAS" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Pinch of Salt<br />
6 TB raw cacao powder (I used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E5E0Y2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001E5E0Y2&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=42WVRNUKBVOVBGMC" rel="nofollow">Navitas Naturals Organic Cacao Powder</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001E5E0Y2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
)<br />
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Blend all ingredients in blender. Start small with the stevia and add more drops as you go. Refrigerate separately since the sweet potato layer will be warm.<br />
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Also, for a darker chocolate layer, you can add more cacao powder but we enjoyed this as is - a milkier chocolate.<br />
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ENJOY!<br />
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I really like the Navitas brand. It's a lighter, realer tasting cacao than what you normally buy in the grocery store. You can purchase <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E5E0Y2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001E5E0Y2&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20&linkId=42WVRNUKBVOVBGMC" rel="nofollow">Navitas Naturals Organic Cacao Powder</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sweroo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001E5E0Y2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
here. There is even a 25% off coupon to clip on Amazon!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9tUjwDmC-7Y/VjGhTYn8SKI/AAAAAAAAA0U/jfPcLYLLUJQ/s1600/Harvest%2Bchocolate%2Bfor%2Bpudding%2Bwith%2Bnavitas%2Braw%2Bcacao%2Bby%2BMAry%2Bbanducci%2Bvegan%2Bhalloween%2Btreat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9tUjwDmC-7Y/VjGhTYn8SKI/AAAAAAAAA0U/jfPcLYLLUJQ/s1600/Harvest%2Bchocolate%2Bfor%2Bpudding%2Bwith%2Bnavitas%2Braw%2Bcacao%2Bby%2BMAry%2Bbanducci%2Bvegan%2Bhalloween%2Btreat.jpg" /></a></div>
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Are you dressing up for Halloween? And what's your costume? </div>
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<br />Mary Banduccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08848697718750217858noreply@blogger.com3