Take Time To Celebrate!!

Happy New Year all!  As a thank you for all of your kind words and support, I am offering 25% off at my Wave of Life Surf Studio Store all weekend~ simply enter the coupon code NEWYEAR at checkout!  Thank you & hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!

This would be a great time to get some Valentines shopping out of the way!  A nice beer cozie for him or a pretty soap with a hidden heart for her :) :

The Power (And Payoff) Of Patience

I love plants, trees, and gardening.  I especially love bonsai and have a great collection of tropical plants~ they are all in containers, by the way.  They all have a story & a meaning behind them.  For example, my over 5 foot papaya tree was grown from seeds my husband & I bought when we were in Hawaii~ it was during this trip that we got engaged.

About 18 years ago, I took a couple of key lime seeds when in the Caribbean visiting with my mother.  The key lime came from a key lime tree that was a housewarming gift to my mother.  The couple who gave my mother the key lime tree have long since passed away.  Anyway, I managed to get one of the seeds to germinate and grow.  I took special care of that little plant & watched it grow slowly over nearly 2 decades.    I did tons of research & knew that around the 7th year, the tree should fruit.  It never did.  I still loved that tree as it had a lot of meaning to me.  I figured at least the leaves smelled great when crushed.  (When it was smaller, I had to leave the plant up high or I would find my boston terror (yes, terror!) chewing laconically on one of the zesty leaves.  At least it gave him good breath for once!

Anyway, for the first time this summer, I found a flower.  Just one.  It was tiny, white, & beautiful, & sadly fell off only a couple of days later.  Suddenly, over the last few weeks, the tree has begun blooming again.  I kept looking and hoping. My husband called me over today to look at the tree.  It is nearly 5 feet tall and has long sharp thorns.  There were three blooms out on the plant & several more ready to open.  Somehow, there at the bottom of the plant, we had missed the little key lime that has been steadily growing.  It has been 18 years and I can't tell you how happy I am to see that beautiful green fruit.  So much has changed over this time, I am hardly the same person, it seems.  Yet, through all of those changes, there has always been that key lime, slowly growing, getting stronger, and finally in full bloom and bearing fruit.  I love it.

Blog Hopping Thursday :)

If you have time, I would LOVE it if you voted for me today :)  Just click on the Fence button & your vote is automatically tallied!  Thank you!!!!

T

Showing Some Etsy Love :)

Clogged Sink & General Drain Care DIY

We learned this one from a plumber.  He told us that for a clogged drain, rather than spending $$$ on Liquid Drano & the like, there is a cheaper, easier way.  All you need to do is poor bleach into your clogged sink (the amount you pour depends on how stubborn the clog is, generally use about 6-8 cups worth) then follow this with a pot of near boiling to boiling pot of water.  Repeat as necessary.

We were also told that to keep drains clean, odor free, and prevent future clogging, to do this about once every 6 months.  I recently had a bad clog in our bathroom sink & this worked after only 2 "doses" of bleach & boiling water.  I like the idea of doing this as opposed to using something full of who know what kind of nasty chemicals!!

One Click & You are Done :)

I would LOVE your vote today~ you can vote daily :)  Thank you, thank you!!!!


T

Handmade Surf Soap In Island Escape

The latest in the Surf Soap series~ Island Escape has a great coconut scent.. think palm trees and cocktails on the beach!  This soap also has a high quality red resin heart inside, waiting to be uncovered. To view all the currently listed soaps in the Surf Soap series,  CLICK HERE :)

One Fine Day Treasury List

This Is What Happens When...

Your baby daughter refuses to take a nap... the poor thing did not even make it to dessert!

The Noreaster Storm~ 3 minute versiomn

Glad I went out when I did~ it has gotten REALLY bad out!

The beach in blizzard conditions~ the short version

The Noreaster, Dec 26th, short version... the beach in December blizzard conditions!!

Take Time To Have A Very Merry Christmas!!!

Enjoy your day!

Surf Soap With A Surprise

As promised, the Surf Soap Surprise is here.  I will be adding a couple of new Surf Soaps available for purchase each week.  This is the first in the series called Orange Love~ with a seafoam green  treasure heart inside waiting to be uncovered :)

We Have Created A New Page!

We have Created the Surfer Friends and Followers Page:

Are you a blogger who is looking for more followers & friends?  We all know about blog hops, but I thought starting a virtual surfer community would be fun.  If you are willing to follow back people who leave you a comment on your blog, then leave a comment here and I will grab your button & post it on this page.  Please come back often and visit the Surfer Friends and Followers page to check out blogs that are looking to support each other :)

We have joined Bloglovin!!

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Take Time To Express Yourself Today

Surf Soap In Ocean Dreams

We have listed the 2nd Surf Soap in the Surf Soap Series.  I am excited to say that we have some very special soaps coming out soon that will make great gifts, especially for Valentines Day.  These Surf Soaps will be more than meets the eye...  I hope to have the 1st of those listed tomorrow :)

The Girl Who Played With Fire Treasury List

Inspired by the book series~ I am just getting ready to read The Girl Who Played With Fire~ To view the full collection,  CLICK HERE

New Beer Cozy Listings

A couple of new beer cozy listings including a new mustard yellow color... 

Book Review

Wow, am I glad this is the book I chose after my spell away from reading.  Lisbeth Salander is an unforgettable character.  Her flaws make her believable and it is nice to get to know a character with such depth.  The small hints to her past leave me wondering what happened in her life to shape her into the person in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.  The story had more twists and turns than the Pennsylvania backroads I grew up around.  An intelligent, well written story  loaded with intrigue and suspense.  I highly recommend it.  Be forewarned though, once you hit about page 73, you will have a very difficult time putting this book back down until you reach the end.

I am so grateful I already have the 2nd book in the series, The Girl Who Played With Fire as I am hooked!

Take Time To Have Some FUN This Weekend!!

When Life Gives You Lemons Treasury List

To view the full list of lemon goodies,  CLICK HERE

Take Time For Yourself Today

Photo by Jody MacDonald

Catch the Wave~ Saturday Blog Hop

Surf Soap in Fresh Coffee Scrub

We are (finally!) launching our popular Surf Soap Series online.  The first one to go onto the online shop in Fresh Coffee Scrub.

What better way to wake up in the morning than with handmade coffee scrub soap! All natural ingredients. This extra moisturizing bar contains coffee grinds to provide natural, gentle exfoliation while you wash and is a great way to keep your skin fresh and polished. Also contains shea butter, heavy cream, and olive oil to keep your skin soft and beautiful. Also a great bar of soap to use in the kitchen. The fresh coffee scent will remove cooking odors such as onion & garlic from your hands. Vegan soap.  To purchase our soap, CLICK HERE :)

Little Christmas Tree Crystals by SarasCreations

I am not big on wearing holiday themed jewelry, but these pretty little earring have me changing my mind! They are dainty, festive, and such a great emerald green.  To view more creations from SarasCreations, CLICK HERE :)

Take Time To Stay Hydrated!

Thursday Blog Hops!!

The Sweetest Chow Mix Ever

Kona loves kids :)

Some Great Wednesday Hops!!!

Perfect Meal For A COLD day!! ~ Surfer's Chili Delight!

Since most of us are living in an arctic freeze this week, I thought I would post a great comfort food/ meal.  This makes a yummy, stick to your ribs meal!  It is a classic chili topped with mashed potatoes.  It is amazing.  I made this for the 1st time last week & actually had the leftovers the next morning for breakfast. (I know, I'm weird!)  Here it goes for my Surfer's Chili Delight:

Mashed Potato Topping:
Take about 2 and a half pounds of baking potatoes, quarter them (don't peel- lots of good nutrients and flavor in the skin!), and put them in a pot of cold water.  Bring to a rolling boil until fully cooked- about 15 minutes.  Drain and place back in pot.  Add about 2 cups of milk (depending on how creamy you want), one container of sour cream (about 2 cups), sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.  Mash with a masher. Take extra sharp cheddar cheese- about 1 cup's worth, and break up pieces on top of mashed potatoes.  Fold into mashed potatoes, then set aside.

Chili:
Heat up a cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium heat.  Add enough extra virgin olive oil to thinly cover bottom of pan- about 2 tablespoons.  Brown 2 and a half pounds of extra lean ground beef.
Add the following once browned:

3-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 medium to large finely chopped yellow onion
1 large can of red kidney beans (about 2-3 cups worth)
4 tablespoons of chili powder
4 tablespoons of cumin
2 tablespoons of paprika
1 tablespoons of red pepper (cayenne pepper)
1/2 Bottle of Guinness Extra Stout Beer (or any good, flavorful beer- no light beer here!! I think the Guinness Extra Stout add the best flavor!)

Feel free to adjust these ingredients to your own personal taste- I find these amount give a really nice flavor to the chili without making it too hot.. add more red pepper if you want a hotter chili.

Allow chili to slow cook for an hour to allow flavors to blend- the longer the better!  Keep it on low.

When you are ready to serve,  set your oven to broil.  Place chili in single serving crock pots to near top. Pile on a nice mound of your mashed potatoes.  Place in the lower rack of the oven for 3- 4 minutes to heat up & melt cheese in mashed potatoes.  Put on a higher rack for the last minute to brown the potatoes.  Serve and enjoy!!!!

A Thought for the Day..

If at first you don't succeed,
skydiving is not for you. 
(I hope this made you smile!)

Happy Tuesday!!

Join some great Tuesday hops:

  

New Beer Cozy Listed

I finally listed another beer bottle cozy with a Guinness Extra Stout pendant charm attached.  The yarn is in a great Eagles Football Green color.  Of course, Guinness Extra Stout is my favorite beer!  To view this item at my shop,   CLICK HERE :)