tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84777920656017258922024-03-06T01:34:37.197-05:00Weiner TalesProud mom to four weiners with lots of tales to tell!Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.comBlogger860125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-33268912539850372232016-03-01T06:00:00.000-05:002016-03-01T06:00:17.564-05:00Vote Jed BartlettIf you're in a number of states - today is "<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/super-tuesday-2016-everything-you-need-to-know-219849" target="_blank">Super Tuesday</a>". While I won't get all political on you - I will ask that you do your part and let your voice be heard by voting. It's not only a right; it's a duty. <span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">(Yes, you can expect this pep talk again in November...)</span><br />
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As a registered Independent, I'm carefully weighing my options before I walk into my polling precinct today and wish I could say with absolute certainty how I'm going to vote when I get there. The candidate I actually liked is gone.<br />
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In the meantime - I'm really wishing we could elect our favorite TV President. In my case, it would be Jed Bartlett from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_West_Wing" target="_blank">The West Wing</a>. I could...OK, I do... watch The West Wing over and over again, and wish that I had as much confidence in any of our real life candidates as I do in that this character would do a better job.<br />
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Who's your favorite TV President?<br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-18670252012807774302016-02-02T07:00:00.000-05:002016-02-02T07:00:02.571-05:00Tuesdays at the Table - Lemon SquaresHappy Tuesday everyone! Sorry for the lack of blog posts last week. A nasty cold has been circulating around the office (and my family) and I finally fell victim. It was bad enough that I called in sick to work twice last week...and that <i>never</i> happens!<br />
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Anyhow, lemon is one of my favorite flavors! These lemon squares are very easy and a crowd-pleaser. Or maybe they just make a girl with a cold feel good!<br />
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<b><u>Lemon Squares</u></b><br />
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2 sticks butter, softened<br />
2 cups sugar<br />
2 1/4 cups flour<br />
4 eggs<br />
1/4 tsp salt<br />
juice of two lemons (about 1/3 cup)<br />
zest of two lemons<br />
powdered sugar to decorate<br />
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In a large bowl, cream together butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 cups flour and salt. Press into a greased and floured 9x13 baking dish. Bake for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees, until the edges start to turn golden brown.<br />
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In a large bowl, combing the remaining flour and sugar. Whisk in your eggs, followed by the lemon juice and lemon zest. Pour your lemon mixture over the baked crust. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees, then allow to cool in the pan.<br />
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Dust with powdered sugar and slice into 24 bars.<br />
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What's cooking in your kitchen?<br />
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<b><u>Garlic Pull Apart Rolls</u></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1 tube refrigerated biscuits</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">3 Tbsp. butter, melted</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">½ tsp garlic powder</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1 cup shredded mozzarella</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Cut biscuits into fourths, and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter, garlic powder, parsley, and mozzarella, and mix with your hands, coating all of the biscuit pieces. Place the pieces in a muffin tin, three pieces per tin (you’ll have two extra — just use them in whichever tin you want). Bake for 15 minutes. Best served fresh out of the oven!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What's cooking in your kitchen?</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #191919; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; orphans: 4; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">smash cake</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: "merriweather"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><i style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #191919; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; orphans: 4; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">n.</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: "merriweather"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;"> a celebratory cake intended to be destroyed, especially by a child. </span><span style="background: rgb(255 , 255 , 255); border: 0px; font-family: "merriweather"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(source: <a href="http://www.waywordradio.org/double-tongued-dictionary/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225e9b; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Double-Tongued Dictionary</a>)</span></blockquote>
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Growing up, my mom made my brother and I each a tiny cake to smush into for our first birthdays. I still have the pictures my dad took as I demolished my cake in the midst of my birthday party. The looks on the friends and family around me are almost as priceless as the look on my face at the texture and taste of yellow cake with chocolate frosting!<br />
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These days, professionally documenting a cake smash is all the rage! More often than not, it's done a few weeks before a first birthday and the pictures are either shown by mom/dad on social media on the birthday - or used for the birthday party invitation. <br />
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Sunday's photo shoot was for an absolutely adorable little girl, I'll call CC. (Don't get me wrong, mom and dad were REALLY nice - but little CC was just the sweetest little thing!)<br />
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Prep: White backdrop and pink & green party decorations</div>
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Looking adorable in her party dress!</div>
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It took a little convincing - but she finally DOVE into her cake!</div>
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I can't show you pictures of the final product (yet). Kristin is <i>good</i>, but needs a little more time to work her magic AND let Claire's parents see the pictures first. Instead, here are a few other recent cake smashes! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5MotRnrgnmcx_bJZHBIovjegSZk7vkBaCkLiw8pX7M5o64hdwkRO_z0gBA1-1e4lhTwPrO2B2PxS5eTnYcJud5RphJkjjSNU68SLGTu8BNj51JmKIajgqpFK5YGp64RUJWmEv6jCq1O9/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-01-25+at+12.31.15+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5MotRnrgnmcx_bJZHBIovjegSZk7vkBaCkLiw8pX7M5o64hdwkRO_z0gBA1-1e4lhTwPrO2B2PxS5eTnYcJud5RphJkjjSNU68SLGTu8BNj51JmKIajgqpFK5YGp64RUJWmEv6jCq1O9/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-01-25+at+12.31.15+PM.png" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktcOh5-EUqQSwcMZH2HyUZ_HGHw35nJt8zyeUPzSjjuLaRtF53r_HOcegHhnR6NJxKzYQ8wX0pXbLPaYXchd1TkgjDXd3ZRmWLXaBNDSRlhpxoVGK47KQtc-q3aAITknCq-ftYWi7pfFq/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-01-25+at+12.30.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktcOh5-EUqQSwcMZH2HyUZ_HGHw35nJt8zyeUPzSjjuLaRtF53r_HOcegHhnR6NJxKzYQ8wX0pXbLPaYXchd1TkgjDXd3ZRmWLXaBNDSRlhpxoVGK47KQtc-q3aAITknCq-ftYWi7pfFq/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-01-25+at+12.30.17+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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What are your thoughts on cake smash sessions? Did you do it for your kids?<br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-33579664898885089142016-01-21T14:21:00.001-05:002016-01-21T14:21:48.457-05:00Five Reasons I Won't Adopt to You<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; widows: 1;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; widows: 1;">Being in rescue is emotional. It's full of highs - pulling a dog from a kill shelter moments before being put to sleep, saving a pregnant dog and watching them realize they can birth their pups in peace...and then <b>NEVER</b> be pregnant again, seeing the joy on the face of an adoptive family when we've found them the right match; and full of lows - fighting to get a dog healthy and it just doesn't succeed, watching a dog go through heartworm treatment and get sick and having to say "no" sometimes when we just don't have the resources to take even more dogs.</span><br />
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As any adoption coordinator will tell you, having to say "no" to an applicant is difficult. And most of the time - we do it after trying to prompt better responses, reeducating an adopter, and well...just about anything we can think of to turn an applicant into the type of person that would do well with not just one of our dogs - but <i>any</i> dog.</div>
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<b>But the fact remains - there are reasons that I just won't adopt to people.</b></div>
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<li>If your yard is unfenced and you REFUSE to keep a dog leashed - I will not be adopting to you. Dachshunds are scent hounds and will tune you out to follow their nose in pursuit of a squirrel, their pee-mail and that can get them into trouble. I won't even tell you the heartbreaking stories of dogs who accidentally got out of their fenced yards never to be seen again. Or worse... You purposely let your dogs run? Um...<b>NO</b>.</li>
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<li>You don't see the need for heartworm preventative. This is a nasty, nasty condition that could be prevented by a tablet (or topical solution) that costs about $20 a month. If you won't invest $20 into your dog's health - I'm not confident you'll spend the money to treat them for other ailments, or God forbid, heartworm disease when they catch it from lack of preventative care. You won't be getting one of our dogs.</li>
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<li>You won't consent to a home visit. We aren't trying to invade your privacy or judge your housekeeping...trust me! We just need to know that our dog is going into a home that is (reasonably) clean and safe. Visiting you in person helps us get a grasp on what dog will do well with your lifestyle and environment. <i>When you say "no"...you make me say "no" back.</i></li>
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<li>If your references can't say something nice about you. I take references checks very seriously. We check with your existing vet (if you have animals) and personal references. These are individuals <b>YOU</b> are giving us to talk to. When they think you won't be a good pet parent, or even scarier - tell us about the last dog you surrendered, we can't hand over one of our dogs. <i>We just can't.</i></li>
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<li>Two words - <b>outside dogs</b>. If you have dogs that spend their entire lives outside without adequate access to shelter - you are not going to be adopting from us. This signifies to me that a dog is merely a possession to you. To me, to my rescue, dogs are <i>family</i>. <i>They deserve the love, the affection, the comforts, you would afford any other family member. </i> The lives our dogs led before coming into rescue is often a mystery to us - and we do our best to ensure the happy, healthy lives of our dogs moving forward. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Note: Please know I'm not casting judgement on hunting/herding dogs. While I'm not a huge fan of dogs specific to hunting, I understand the theory. I know that these dogs have a "job", have safe, climate controlled kennels and are generally brought into a family environment at the end of the season.)</span></i></li>
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-57448066176742801552016-01-15T07:30:00.000-05:002016-01-15T07:30:06.284-05:00Five on FridayHappy Friday! It's been a while since the last time I've participated in one of <a href="http://alizadventures.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">April</a>'s link-ups. I can't wait to swing by and see all your posts!<br />
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I was so surprised to hear that Alan Rickman passed away. Like so many of you, I <i>loved</i> him as Severus Snape. I will always think of him in that role, along with Harry in Love Actually, Metatron in Dogma, Hans Gruber in Die Hard...and so many others. <br />
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="6" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAfmRv4F9cm/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">It's new computer day at work! The screen is MASSIVE. #work #mac #tech #newtechnology</a></div>
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A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on <time datetime="2016-01-13T21:07:10+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 13, 2016 at 1:07pm PST</time></div>
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We got new iMacs at work this week. I'm still getting used to it, but am LOVING the 27 inch screen, wireless mouse & keyboard, and the display on this thing is phenomenal! A terabyte of storage is pretty awesome too.<br />
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Everyone has been talking about Making a Murderer. I think it might be time to binge watch it this weekend!<br />
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On a whim, my cousin Kristin and I decided to "knit the weather" this year. Above is an example of how the temperature breakdown works and suggested colors. I decided to play with the colors a bit. I'll do a full post on it this weekend to show off how cold (but pretty) the Boston area in 2016! I should mention that I haven't actually started knitting yet...but do have a great spreadsheet of the temperature going. Wish me luck!<br />
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="6" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAfmRv4F9cm/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">It's new computer day at work! The screen is MASSIVE. #work #mac #tech #newtechnology</a></div>
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A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on <time datetime="2016-01-13T21:07:10+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 13, 2016 at 1:07pm PST</time></div>
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Paisley has developed a love affair with my scarves lately. Probably because the cold weather has FINALLY arrived around here. I think it might be time to buy her her own little scarf.<br />
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What do you all have planned for your long weekend?<br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-87709549972300980512016-01-14T07:00:00.000-05:002016-01-14T07:00:10.697-05:00For the Dogs - My "Favorites" ListI am crazy about dogs. But you all know that...and (thankfully) most of you appreciate that part of me!<br />
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I tend to buy most of my dogtastic items from Amazon. It's easy to price shop, you know what you're getting...and hey, I already have Amazon Prime! So, free shipping!<br />
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Here are a few of my current favorite items:<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1UQiiOP" target="_blank">Nylabone Liquid Tartar Remover</a><br />
This might not be the most fun place to start, but dachshunds have <i>bad</i> teeth. Really. As in "a trip to the dentist every year or so" bad. I don't know if you've tried to brush your dogs teeth before, but some are less willing to participate than others. If I can keep the tartar off their teeth by mixing in a little additive to their water, I'm all for it!<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1UQj2TU" target="_blank">Outward Hound Slow Feeder Bowl</a><br />
Mealtime can be like the Wild West in my house. Yes, each of the dogs has their designated place to sit and wait for breakfast and dinner. But are they quiet about it?! Heck, no! And two of them try to inhale their food instead of chewing! I absolutely love slow feed bowls. It keeps them interested and slows down the rate that they can get food in their mouths. If you have a deep chested dog - you know that eating fast can cause bloat; something that scares me. Just the prospect of saving myself and my dogs that kind of medical emergency is worth the bowls!<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1UQksOg" target="_blank">Jakks Plubber Dog Toys</a><br />
These things are all the rage in my household. Plush + rubber = plubber. My herd are not aggressive chewers, but are known to take down a stuffy when they put their mind to it, so I prefer not to give them too many toys with stuffing. Beckett is partial to this mallard! It's medium rubber inside and covered in a nice plush on the outside. Added bonus - when they throw the toys at each other (what, your dogs don't do that?!) you're less likely to bruise if you get in the way!<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1UQlh9T" target="_blank">Earthbath Tea Tree Hot Spot & Itch Relief Spray</a><br />
It doesn't happen often, but Beckett will get a hot spot from time to time. My parent's spaniel is plagued by them. It's her body's reaction to being stressed whenever they go on vacation. This spray is all natural, smells good (kinda minty), and has helped poor Carmella so much. A few spritzes take the itch away for her and it's enough to get her body healing. I know a few people that use it between baths for all their dogs - it has oatmeal, vitamin E, aloe vera and teatree oil, so I bet the dogs love it!<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1RO4tAZ" target="_blank">Burt's Bees Oatmeal Dog Shampoo</a><br />
Little secret...I don't like the scent of most dog shampoos, and some of them bother my asthma. This shampoo doesn't smell much, rinses out quickly and I trust the brand. The herd likes it too. I mean, as much as they can for being anti-bath. Ha! (P.S. I <i>might</i> be holding a giveaway this dog shampoo next week...)<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1RO7SzT" target="_blank">Poochie Bells</a><br />
You're probably going to think this is nuts...but my dogs are bell trained when they want to go out. It started for our family about 15 years ago when my mom put bells on the door for Christmas. The dogs started hitting them when they wanted to go out, and the bells stayed at the end of the holiday season. It was an easy system for the older dogs to teach the young dogs and they picked it up quickly! Think it would work for you?<br />
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What are your favorite products? Anything the dogs and I <b>NEED</b> to try?<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: xx-small;">I am an Amazon affiliate, If you *happen* to make a purchase of any of the linked products, I won't get rich. But I just might be able to buy the pups a new bag of cookies...</span>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-57990538452259851892016-01-12T07:00:00.000-05:002016-01-12T07:00:09.606-05:00Tuesdays at the Table - Coffee CakeAs all my cubicle-mates will tell you, I have a dangerous addition to coffee cake muffins. <i>Seriously</i>. Want my day to start on the wrong foot? Be the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru team member that hands me a chocolate chip muffin instead of coffee cake. <br />
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So this week I'm sharing my favorite coffee cake recipe. Thanks to those of you linking up and sharing your recipes! I love you for it. <3 br="" nbsp="">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><u>Coffee Cake</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Topping:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3/4 cup brown sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/4 cup butter, room temperature</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 teaspoon cinnamon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cake:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 egg, beaten</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3/4 cup sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 cup melted butter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/3 cup milk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In small mixing bowl, combine topping ingredients. Blend with fork until crumbly. Set aside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In a medium bowl, combine together beaten egg, sugar and melted butter. Add milk and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt, mixing well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pour batter into a greased and floured 9-inch layer-cake pan. Sprinkle topping crumb mixture evenly over batter. Bake at 375° for 25 to 30 minutes, when a toothpick will come out clean. Partially cool in pan on wire rack. Cut coffee cake into squares while still warm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What's cooking in your kitchen?</span></div>
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-61794725706490893232016-01-07T19:13:00.000-05:002016-01-08T11:04:46.371-05:00Product Review: Chomps Snack SticksLike me, I'm sure you noticed the deluge of posts, tweets, Facebook statuses and Instagram pictures coming from your friends (or maybe you too!) that have decided to make a dietary change as part of their new year. Whole30 seems to be the most frequent diet chosen. I haven't tried it myself...but I can see the draw!<br />
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I was recently offered the opportunity to receive and review <a href="http://www.gochomps.com/" target="_blank">Chomps Snack Sticks</a>. Given that tastebuds vary, I decided to bring a few friends and my dad along for the ride! When I opened my sample package of Chomps Snack Sticks, one of the first things I noticed was that it was Whole30 approved. <br />
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What Are Chomps All About!?</h1>
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Chomps Snack Sticks are new healthy snacks that recently hit the market and has quickly become quite popular in the Gluten Free, Paleo and Crossfit communities. We use only the best 100% Grass-Fed Beef and the sticks are cured naturally. Chomps are free of synthetic nitrates, nitrites and MSG. They're shelf stable for a whole year and the only natural preservative used is celery juice!</div>
I'll be honest - beef sticks wouldn't be my first choice when looking for a snack. But the more I read about these little morsels, the more interested I became. They are 100% grass fed beef, nitrate and nitrite free, have no MSG, are 9g of lean protein per serving and use celery juice as their preservative!<br />
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On to the taste test!<br />
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First we tried the <a href="http://www.gochomps.com/collections/all/products/5ct-original-flavor-chomps" target="_blank">Original</a> flavor. I noticed right away that they didn't have the greasy feeling of other beef sticks that are commercially available. We all (Jeanne, Rachel, dad and myself) agreed that they taste good! The spices come across well, and they're a little smokey. They are a bit softer than you might expect...think slightly firmer than a hot dog.<br />
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Next was the <a href="http://www.gochomps.com/collections/all/products/5ct-hoppin-jalapeno-flavor-chomps" target="_blank">Hoppin' Jalapeno</a>. This was by far the favorite! You can see the little bits of jalapeno in each beef stick, and the flavor is spicy without being overwhelming. They're just <i>good</i>!<br />
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Last was the <a href="http://www.gochomps.com/collections/all/products/5ct-crankin-cran-chomps-paleo-snacks" target="_blank">Crankin' Cran</a>. I admit, I didn't look at the full ingredient list before tasting and was expecting something slightly sweet. At first, that's what you get too...but this flavor has habanero pepper in it. The flavor of those peppers builds, and builds, and builds. Unless you LOVE hot food, I wouldn't recommend this flavor. The cranberry flavor is a good pairing with the beef, and wish it was more balanced with the habaneros.<br />
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All in all - I think that Chomps Snack Sticks are something that I'd recommend to my friends who are looking for a tasty snack that is Whole30 and Paleo friendly. <br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">All opinions are my own (and my lovely friends & dad); this review is powered by <a href="http://www.brandbacker.com/" target="_blank">BrandBacker</a>.</span><br />
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Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-10329435588591880132016-01-05T07:30:00.000-05:002016-01-05T07:30:01.110-05:00Tuesdays at the Table - Jalapeno PoppersHappy New Year! As we transition away from the holidays, some of us are trying to get a bit healthier...but football games still mean finger foods.<br />
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Jalapeno poppers are one of my favorites! Here is a slightly healthier version that still tastes as delicious as the "naughty" version. (My favorite full fat version of jalapeno poppers can be found <a href="http://www.weinertales.com/2011/01/tuesdays-at-table-crispy-chorizo.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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<u><b>Jalapeno Poppers</b></u><br />
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10 jalapeno peppers<br />
1 cup Greek yogurt (low-fat or fat free cream cheese can be substituted if you don't like yogurt)<br />
1 cup cheddar cheese (grate your own for better melting)<br />
1/8 teaspoon salt<br />
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper<br />
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder<br />
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, finely minced (I don't like cilantro, so I use italian parsley)<br />
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (plain, wheat, gluten free, panko...your choice)<br />
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Slice jalapenos vertically, removing the seeds and membrane.<br />
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In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, salt, pepper, cheese and cumin. Fill your jalapenos with the mixture.<br />
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Coat the top of your jalapenos with breadcrumbs, then bake at 350 for approximately 25 minutes (until the jalapenos get bubbly). Serve warm!<br />
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What's cooking in your kitchen?<br />
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-10127548943370376412016-01-04T07:00:00.000-05:002016-01-04T07:00:14.333-05:00Recent Reads Happy New Year! I owe you all book reviews...some all the way back from my trip to England and some from my recent residency at Barnes & Noble!<br />
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I'm setting a goal to read fifty books this year. Before I was so involved in rescue, that goal would have been substantially larger. But I need to find a balance between carrying my end of the rescue bargain and a little "me" time. Fifty books sounded reasonable. :-) Any recommendations?!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250045142/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1250045142&linkCode=as2&tag=weintale-20&linkId=RGHKATHEANCUO5HI" target="_blank">The Other Story by Tatiana DeRosnay</a></div>
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<b>Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Nicolas Duhamel was twenty-four years old, he stumbled upon a troubling secret about his family, a secret that was carefully concealed. In shock, Nicolas embarked on a journey to uncover the truth that took him from the Basque coast to St. Petersburg-but the answers wouldn't come easily.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the process of digging into his past, something else happened. Nicolas began writing a novel that was met with phenomenal success, skyrocketing him to literary fame whether he was ready for it or not-and convincing him that he had put his family's history firmly behind him. But now, years later, Nicolas must reexamine everything he thought he knew, as he learns that, however deeply buried, the secrets of the past always find a way out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Page-turning, layered and beautifully written, THE OTHER STORY is a reflection on identity, the process of being a writer and the repercussions of generations-old decisions as they echo into the present and shape the future.</span> </span></div>
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<b>What I think...</b> Kudos to the editor who wrote the summary and book jacket. They make this book sound <i>good</i>. I've read another of Tatiana DeRosnay's books and was expecting something of that caliper. Sadly, she has utterly and completely missed the mark. There is no discernible story line and the ending feels like she just got tired of writing. The only likable character is one that we don't actually meet - instead we get snippets of her through memories. I love you all...so don't bother with this one.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/145166642X?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=145166642X&linkCode=xm2&tag=weintale-20" target="_blank">The Summer of Good Intentions by Wendy Francis</a></div>
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<b>Summary:</b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cape Cod summers are supposed to remain reassuringly the same, but everything falls apart when three sisters and their families come together for their annual summer vacation—and they are carrying more secrets than suitcases.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Maggie is the oldest. She feels responsible for managing the summer house and making sure everything is as it always has been. But she’s hurt that her parents’ recent divorce has destroyed the family’s comfortable summer routines, and her own kids seem to be growing up at high speed. Is it too late to have another baby?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Jess is the middle sister. She loves her job but isn’t as passionate about her marriage. She’s not sure she can find the courage to tell Maggie what she’s done—much less talk to her husband about it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Virgie is the youngest, her dad’s favorite. She’s always been the career girl, but now there’s a man in her life. Her television job on the west coast is beyond stressful, and it’s taking its toll on her—emotionally and physically. She’s counting on this vacation to erase the symptoms she’s not talking about.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The Herington girls are together again, with their husbands and kids, for another summer in the family’s old Cape Cod house. When their mother, Gloria, announces she’s coming for an unscheduled visit—with her new boyfriend—no one is more surprised than their father, Arthur, who has not quite gotten over his divorce. Still, everyone manages to navigate the challenges of living grown-up lives in close quarters, until an accident reveals a new secret that brings everyone together in heartbreak…and then healing.</span></span><br />
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<b>What I think...</b> I loved this book! Written from the perspective of three adult sisters, all of whom have their own problems and family roles, it carries you through the highs and lows of one summer at the family beach house. Wendy Francis does a great job leading you in one direction, only to take an unexpected turn. The book is well written and you can identify with each of the sisters. As a local girl (the book takes place on the South Shore/Cape Cod), it made me happy that she stayed true to many of the things you encounter here.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307744809?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0307744809&linkCode=xm2&tag=weintale-20" target="_blank">Some Luck by Jane Smiley</a></div>
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<b>Summary:</b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On their farm in Denby, Iowa, Rosanna and Walter Langdon abide by time-honored values that they pass on to their five wildly different yet equally remarkable children: Frank, the brilliant, stubborn first-born; Joe, whose love of animals makes him the natural heir to his family's land; Lillian, an angelic child who enters a fairy-tale marriage with a man only she will fully know; Henry, the bookworm who's not afraid to be different; and Claire, who earns the highest place in her father's heart. Moving from post-World War I America through the early 1950s, Some Luck gives us an intimate look at this family's triumphs and tragedies, zooming in on the realities of farm life, while casting-as the children grow up and scatter to New York, California, and everywhere in between-a panoramic eye on the monumental changes that marked the first half of the twentieth century. Rich with humor and wisdom, twists and surprises, Some Luck takes us through deeply emotional cycles of births and deaths, passions, and betrayals, displaying Smiley's dazzling virtuosity, compassion, and understanding of human nature and the nature of history, never discounting the role of fate and chance. This potent conjuring of many lives across generations is a stunning tour de force.</span></span><br />
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<b>What I think...</b> Unbeknownst to me, I happened to pick up the first book in a trilogy. Some Luck carries you from 1920 to 1953 and starts in Iowa. I knew it was going to be character-heavy when I saw a family tree at the beginning, but after the first hudle of characters, Jane Smiley introduces at a pace that it's easy to keep track of who's who. However, it is a LONG book. Each chapter is one year in the family's life - which has an equal measure of joy and tragedy, and brings the family through drought, WWII and other historically accurate events. Here's a little oddity... when a new child is born, Jane Smiley writes from their perspective right away. "Knowing" the thoughts of a baby is a little disconcerting! However, now that I took the time to get invested in the family, I know I need to see it through and read the other two books.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0425263134?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0425263134&linkCode=xm2&tag=weintale-20" target="_blank">The Repeat Year by Andrea Lochen</a></div>
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<b>Summary:</b> <i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone has days, weeks, even months they wish they could do over—but what about an entire year? After living through the worst twelve months of her life, intensive care nurse Olive Watson is given a second chance to relive her past and attempt to discover where she went wrong…</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">After a year of hardships, including a messy breakup with her longtime boyfriend Phil, the prospect of her mother’s remarriage, and heartbreaking patient losses at the hospital, Olive is ready to start fresh. But when she wakes up in her ex-boyfriend’s bed on New Year’s Day 2011</span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">—</i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">a day she has already lived</span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">—</i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Olive’s world is turned upside down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shouldering a year of memories that no one else can recall, even Olive begins to question herself—until she discovers that she is not alone. Upon crossing paths with Sherry Witan, an experienced “repeater,” Olive learns that she has the chance to rewrite her future. Given the opportunity of a lifetime, Olive has to decide what she really wants. Should she make different choices, or accept her life as she knows it, flaws and all?</span></div>
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<b>What I think...</b> I'm intrigued by time travel in books. I have a few issues with things Olive skipped over while doing her repeat year, but overall I enjoyed the book. Olive does her best to turn a bad year into a good one!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0425261395?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0425261395&linkCode=xm2&tag=weintale-20" target="_blank">Undressing Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos</a></div>
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<b>Summary:</b> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">Taking it off in the name of history…</span></span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">Thirty-five-year-old American social media master Vanessa Roberts lives her thoroughly modern life with aplomb. So when her elderly Jane Austen–centric aunt needs her to take on the public relations for Julian Chancellor, a very private man from England who’s written a book called </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">My Year as Mr. Darcy</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">, Vanessa agrees. But she’s not “excessively diverted,” as Jane Austen would say.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">Hardbound books, teacups, and quill pens fly in the face of her e-reader, coffee, and smartphone…</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">…Until she sees Julian take his tight breeches off for his Undressing Mr. Darcy show, an educational “striptease” down to his drawers to promote his book and help save his crumbling estate. The public relations expert suddenly realizes things have gotten…personal. But can this old-fashioned man claim her heart without so much as a GPS? It will take three festivals filled with Austen fans, a trip to England, an old frenemy, and a flirtatious pirate re-enactor to find out…</span></span><br />
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<b>What I think...</b> I really enjoyed this book! I'll admit, I'm an Austen fan. And who doesn't want their own Mr. Darcy to sweep them off their feet? Vanessa makes for a great anti-heroine, or so she thinks. I loved learning more about each character in the book, and learned a few things about Jane Austen too! This was an easy read that subtly reminds people not to judge to quickly, to get through arguments with old friends and that what you need is sometimes right in front of you.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062188364?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0062188364&linkCode=xm2&tag=weintale-20" target="_blank">Vanity Fare by Megan Caldwell</a></div>
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<b>Summary:</b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A charming novel about a 40-year-old Brooklyn mother, recently divorced, who starts writing copy for a bakery, discovers a knack for food-related literary puns, and becomes entangled in a love triangle.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">Molly Hagan is overwhelmed.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">Her husband left her for a younger, blonder woman, her six year-old son is questioning her authority, and now, so is she. In order to pay her Brooklyn rent and keep her son supplied with Pokemon and Legos-not to mention food and clothing-she has to get a job. Fast.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">So when an old friend offers Molly a copywriting position at a new bakery, finding romance is just about the last thing on her mind. But the sexy British pastry chef who's heading up the bakery has other thoughts. And so does Molly when she meets the chef's intimidating business partner-who also happens to have a secret that might prevent Molly from getting her own Happily Ever After.</span></span><br />
<b>What I think...</b> While this isn't one of my "top ten" books, it was a solid book. Vanity Fare has a believable story filled with a main character that you <i>want</i> to find a happy ending, some great food puns and a touch of Pride and Prejudice. Combining books and a bakery is on my "if I won the lottery" wish list, so this book was a winner!<br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Still an Amazon Associate, peeps. But you all know I won't recommend anything I don't believe in...and you can read from my review that I'm only </span><i style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">really</i><span style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"> recommending three of today's six books.</span>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-33395755968390560482015-12-30T07:00:00.000-05:002015-12-30T19:03:00.084-05:00Sunsets for AmandaHave you ever seen a story unfold and it just feels surreal? That's how I feel about Amanda. She isn't one of my best friends, but I've known her for four years. There have been laughs over birthday parties, shopping, mexican food and wine expos; comments on Facebook statuses and pictures. She was, I believe, the soul sister to someone I hold near and dear.<br />
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Amanda was a nurse. A mom. A daughter. A sister. A friend to many. A lover of sunrises, Disney and running. Amanda was chosen to represent her prominent Boston hospital in April's Boston Marathon.<br />
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By now, you've noticed that I'm speaking of Amanda in the past tense. <br />
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Two days before Christmas, Amanda was out for a run and was hit by a car. Despite the news stories online with fuzzy details - I won't speculate as what precipitated someone hitting Amanda and then striking a telephone pole so hard that it broke.<br />
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It goes without saying that she fought to stay...she would never choose to leave her little boy. But her injuries were just too much to overcome.<br />
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Five days after getting hit, Amanda passed away. But not before making one last gift to humanity; she was an organ donor. While I will miss hearing of her adventures; seeing her beautiful sunrise pictures from the vantage point of her hospital; seeing her name pass across my Facebook or Instagram feed, I know that she will live on through those organ donations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkkgXTZPGxQbFKnVO60VSZrbGxG7q8OWAw1Wiqs8YDLgJ_a806vJXuzKQiSvwh651WxInq3O8CXIWPnGrSbGuivpkHZVlLTwPpmB2vnlOrmTUt0-pXOrQldSuBHR_JbjqnYDKaXlLulwd/s1600/224526_10153716065070516_1574485398457687337_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkkgXTZPGxQbFKnVO60VSZrbGxG7q8OWAw1Wiqs8YDLgJ_a806vJXuzKQiSvwh651WxInq3O8CXIWPnGrSbGuivpkHZVlLTwPpmB2vnlOrmTUt0-pXOrQldSuBHR_JbjqnYDKaXlLulwd/s320/224526_10153716065070516_1574485398457687337_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">One of Amanda's very best friends captioned this image. Amanda would understand the sad joy so many of us feel in her being the Oprah of organ donation.</span></td></tr>
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The sun has set on the life of a woman who loved sunrises so very much. Hug your friends and family. Tell them exactly how much they mean to you. And maybe, watch a few sunrises and think of Amanda.<br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a><br />
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P.S. I've had a few people ask...so you can donate to Amanda's Boston Marathon fundraiser <a href="https://www.crowdrise.com/bidmcboston2016/fundraiser/amandarussellrn" target="_blank">HERE</a> or the GoFundMe account for her son and assorted needs <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/cfgv4ecs" target="_blank">HERE</a>.Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-25867380868272485442015-12-29T06:00:00.000-05:002015-12-29T06:00:01.885-05:00While I Was Gone...I won't bore you all with the doldrums of what happened in my life over the past 19 days. (You're welcome!)<br />
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Instead, I'll share just a few highlights...<br />
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My handsome Beckett turned 10!!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/_fIQj6l9U4/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Happy birthday Beckett! You are vocal and stubborn and can be a bit of a loner. But you are one of the sweetest, most affectionate dogs I've ever met. You had Grammy convinced I needed you before you even had me convinced! I love you a bushel and a Beck....oh, um peck! #dachshund #dachshundsofinstagram #instadachshund #weeklyfluff #longhaireddachshund #instacute #beckett #birthdayboy</a></div>
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A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on <time datetime="2015-12-19T20:13:28+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Dec 19, 2015 at 12:13pm PST</time></div>
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If you weren't on my Christmas card list - you missed out on this cuteness!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhsXSARaGG9wt5mZQTNmCqxFBMaa3FndNqwqcyQehkxTxFh2TfhO8n1ZA75MHySIK0_DgSne82il_ff6WxP7DgvRBszGTHkXxiSt2LQfObTI14Gr5GtD9otC6iG03_ERgqNmOnmrJPIYm/s1600/Christmas+2015+outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhsXSARaGG9wt5mZQTNmCqxFBMaa3FndNqwqcyQehkxTxFh2TfhO8n1ZA75MHySIK0_DgSne82il_ff6WxP7DgvRBszGTHkXxiSt2LQfObTI14Gr5GtD9otC6iG03_ERgqNmOnmrJPIYm/s320/Christmas+2015+outside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkG1igdcSAcU5Dnb1oSQcIl-NReSZ27l11bH2yaPne-qspPscaqYm5t8WicpK3pnS7EBQ9KHjK10BhSK1ALk8i0zT9hwV1gq41VmPJbvaCNc-S2-6RmeACRX154XnRzuB7nQL4_ScRX9U/s1600/Christmas+2015+inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkG1igdcSAcU5Dnb1oSQcIl-NReSZ27l11bH2yaPne-qspPscaqYm5t8WicpK3pnS7EBQ9KHjK10BhSK1ALk8i0zT9hwV1gq41VmPJbvaCNc-S2-6RmeACRX154XnRzuB7nQL4_ScRX9U/s320/Christmas+2015+inside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I read three books while gift-wrapping at Barnes & Noble for <a href="http://www.littlepawsdr.org/" target="_blank">Little Paws Dachshund Rescue</a>. Reviews coming soon...but this one is my favorite of the three, I think.<br />
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I took part in an dog cookie swap, and as you can see - Paisley thought our swap partner makes some GOOD cookies! I think I might want to try a dog cookie (or human cookie) swap in February. Would anyone be interested? Maybe want to co-host with me?<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/_ktEmCF9Zd/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">She's a little piglet...but she's MY piglet! She LOVES the treats @ourdoghouse made! #baccookieswap2015 #christmas #badassclub #rescuedogsrock #paisley #dachshund #dachshundsofinstagram #instadachshund #weeklyfluff #longhaireddachshund</a></div>
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A video posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on <time datetime="2015-12-22T00:11:21+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Dec 21, 2015 at 4:11pm PST</time></div>
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Now. What have I missed in your life?!<br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a><br />
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P.S. I've missed you all, so I think their will be giveaway coming soon!Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-69510978516070492462015-12-28T17:51:00.000-05:002015-12-28T17:51:02.064-05:00Oops...So sorry for the unintentional break everyone! With a dozen dates at Barnes & Noble - it almost felt like I lived there.<br />
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I hope everyone had an <b>AMAZING</b> Christmas! Back to our regularly scheduled program... I promise!<br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-8137264828235359682015-12-09T07:00:00.000-05:002015-12-09T07:00:14.739-05:00Santa Freaks Dogs Out...Last Saturday I had the pleasure to be the photographer (and I use that term very, very loosely) at Petco for pictures with Santa.<br />
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The first thing I learned is that my dogs aren't the only ones who see Santa and <i>freak</i> out! About half of the dogs that came in had some sort of reaction to our Santa. It ranged from suspicion to intimidation to anxiety to one who had a fairly aggressive reaction. Santa did, in fact, get bit once. Thankfully, it didn't break the skin.<br />
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Beyond that, my biggest hurdle was getting the parents to stand behind me to get the pups to look in my direction. Dogs take direction better than people... Despite that, I did get a few pictures that I was pretty happy with.<br />
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Here are a few of my favorites!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOKuEely3bPAvrZaFSKbc0D-05yGcomliMf9mspKH1lYbdmntQ2iDynO4R_Kh9asoBhg8dW_Vb-YcQLlwcv8kwJH6zZrgO1BcUGr-Jjvrg5LYqrGZknuG0pZYILWBVjyUl-n-znjP5DYI/s1600/Petco1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOKuEely3bPAvrZaFSKbc0D-05yGcomliMf9mspKH1lYbdmntQ2iDynO4R_Kh9asoBhg8dW_Vb-YcQLlwcv8kwJH6zZrgO1BcUGr-Jjvrg5LYqrGZknuG0pZYILWBVjyUl-n-znjP5DYI/s400/Petco1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Two of the sweetest pups, ever!</div>
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She promptly took a nap after this picture...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu7K83DBjUnHV6OC07xuFHuoQvthiy11lY1Dv5UVfW5RTNUhQ3prAeZIz-tR0HC5WnklwCl5O48OyuJuDZi7xaD1dPpEmYUy3DMqPEwjATZrK3-bM2cEtYGyYf_d4EZqUORv7cCLiCzwq/s1600/Petco3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu7K83DBjUnHV6OC07xuFHuoQvthiy11lY1Dv5UVfW5RTNUhQ3prAeZIz-tR0HC5WnklwCl5O48OyuJuDZi7xaD1dPpEmYUy3DMqPEwjATZrK3-bM2cEtYGyYf_d4EZqUORv7cCLiCzwq/s400/Petco3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yes, this little one does have a mohawk with vegetable-based dye!</div>
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This sweet boy is SEVENTEEN years old! I may have teared up while talking to his family about how special he is to them. </div>
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Want to be on my Christmas card list? Click <b><a href="http://goo.gl/forms/ZyRcxc4O0j" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>!Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-72720204936551072872015-12-07T13:42:00.000-05:002015-12-07T13:42:10.788-05:00Barnes & Noble Residency...I mentioned it in my last post. At the moment, it feels like I live at Barnes & Noble! I jokingly call it my "B&N Residency Program".<br />
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Nationwide, Barnes & Noble has a number of charity initiatives and one of them is their <a href="http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/our_company/sponsorship/sponsorship_local/donations_local.html" target="_blank">gift-wrapping program</a>. Every year, the store manager or community manager at each location work with local charities in order to bring in volunteers for gift-wrapping. This allows each charity some "face time" with a fairly captive (and usually generous) audience. <br />
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A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on <time datetime="2015-11-28T15:29:06+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Nov 28, 2015 at 7:29am PST</time></div>
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Sure, it means that you have to be dedicated to showing up for your assigned shifts and it would be best if you at least <i>quasi enjoy</i> gift-wrapping! B&N is kind enough to provide the signage, overhead announcements, and wrapping paper. That means each charity is giving of their time and perhaps a little marketing material to pass off to the folks visiting your table. While their primary focus is literacy (for obvious reasons), the staff has a wonderful appreciation for animal related charities.<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/-5AJcVl9fa/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Coffee, reading and rescue.... Not a bad way to spend my evening! @littlepawsdr #charitygiftwrapping #littlepawsdr #rescuedogsrock #christmas #shopping #bringmeallthecoffee</a></div>
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A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on <time datetime="2015-12-05T00:51:27+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Dec 4, 2015 at 4:51pm PST</time></div>
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This year, the community manager at "my" store in Hingham, MA was...well, generous, with the dates he gave me. Between Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas week, I'll be at B&N a dozen times - three of those shifts being open to close! I'm so appreciative of B&N, as well as the generosity of the shoppers who make donations (trust me...not everyone does, even after I've wrapped quite a few oddly shaped gifts for them); it helps bring in more awareness of Little Paws Dachshund Rescue!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/-9Rif9l9bL/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">I'm back at Barnes and Noble for #charitygiftwrapping! Accepting visitors and all offers of caffeine! @littlepawsdr #christmas #shopping #bringmeallthecoffee #begenerous</a></div>
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A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on <time datetime="2015-12-06T16:40:23+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Dec 6, 2015 at 8:40am PST</time></div>
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I also have to say that I love the baristas at my store. They keep me caffeinated! If you happen to live near me - or know someone who does - I could use a wrapping buddy!<br />
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P.S. The book you can see on a few of my Instagram pictures (Some Luck by Jane Smiley) is wonderful. I'll be reviewing it soon!<br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-59681552729428118222015-12-04T07:00:00.000-05:002015-12-04T07:00:10.243-05:00They're Like Herding Cats...<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPh8BcOKSF8_JNrFaZfu1pwCDIWHXJZtwir5Wqm4b65cxTovRIhTL3kDn9rXpcczGcAiQvNxxf5OHWPoz0D62nNRTbalwdLBuzX8rgNhtvMcSpC2e_u3QDCI-1cJjdEaH1GFnoFNAHGHB/s1600/HappiestSeasonofAll.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPh8BcOKSF8_JNrFaZfu1pwCDIWHXJZtwir5Wqm4b65cxTovRIhTL3kDn9rXpcczGcAiQvNxxf5OHWPoz0D62nNRTbalwdLBuzX8rgNhtvMcSpC2e_u3QDCI-1cJjdEaH1GFnoFNAHGHB/s400/HappiestSeasonofAll.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Christmas is the happiest time of year. Right?! Sometimes I need a little reminder.<br />
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I should have taken Christmas card pictures of my darling herd 'o dachshunds over Thanksgiving weekend. But I was lax, and starting my Barnes & Noble "residency program" (more info on that soon), and well...distracted.<br />
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So Tuesday night I tried to get the pups to all look in the same direction at the same time. Which, no matter how sweet they are - is like herding cats. Brady wanted to play chase, Beckett wanted belly rubs, Paisley refused to look at the camera and Meadow kept turning and facing in the wrong direction.<br />
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I know, you're probably asking why I <u>had</u> to get my Christmas cards done Tuesday night. Well, this crazy lady doesn't use those pretty plug and play Shutterfly/Tiny Prints/Minted templates. She designs her own cards...and the Vistaprint 60% off sale ended at midnight. Motivation, thine name is SALE!<br />
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I won't show you all my Christmas card yet. Instead, here are a few outtakes. Sorry if you already saw them on Instagram!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/-y6r3Nl9Ys/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">I refuse to look directly at you, mumma! #paisley #dachshund #dachshundsofinstagram #instadachshund #weeklyfluff #longhaireddachshund #instacute #ibettergetcookiesforthis</a></div>
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A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on <time datetime="2015-12-02T16:08:17+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Dec 2, 2015 at 8:08am PST</time></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/-y7nVBF9aj/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Being a model is EXHAUSTING! #beckett #dachshund #dachshundsofinstagram #instadachshund #weeklyfluff #longhaireddachshund #instacute</a></div>
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A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on <time datetime="2015-12-02T16:16:24+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Dec 2, 2015 at 8:16am PST</time></div>
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Want to be on my Christmas card list? Fill out this handy form. :-)<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1RaOBFnSBdEfFXB_fu6pILU9-3dliF9TKf8WruaPBHZM/viewform?embedded=true#start=embed" width="550">Loading...</iframe>
<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-75402133559659629282015-12-01T06:00:00.000-05:002015-12-01T06:00:08.602-05:00Tuesdays at the Table - Dragon's Breath DipHappy December! The last few months seem to be flying by even faster than normal. I can't believe that Christmas is a few short weeks away! <br />
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Did you all enjoy your Thanksgiving? Find any awesome sales over the weekend?<br />
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This week I'm sharing one of my more potent recipes. It tastes delicious. But I wouldn't recommend it for parties where you might encounter mistletoe. Kissing someone with garlic breathe just isn't fun!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYpwybMoqJMzu0CkOcXdHagYang0XTS2OOMgzSMK9smIN24AWJSXDPE6ojNcZPITcjTp5IJtNLvkdbaiEnXOrkMNJNg_rk2GnvZtsSqA9itDVVd4zB0su3jVCYo6YCk4OqFcxHa6Zize8/s1600/Tuesday+at+the+Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYpwybMoqJMzu0CkOcXdHagYang0XTS2OOMgzSMK9smIN24AWJSXDPE6ojNcZPITcjTp5IJtNLvkdbaiEnXOrkMNJNg_rk2GnvZtsSqA9itDVVd4zB0su3jVCYo6YCk4OqFcxHa6Zize8/s320/Tuesday+at+the+Table.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><u>Dragon's Breath Dip</u></strong><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">2 heads garlic</span><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">1 tablespoon olive oil</span><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">8 oz. Brie cheese</span><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">1 (3-oz.) small pkg. cream cheese, softened</span><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Dash or two of fresh cracked pepper</span><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut top 1/2" off the top of the garlic heads and remove some of the loose papery skin, leaving the heads intact. Place each on a piece of aluminum foil, drizzle each with the olive oil, and wrap tightly. Bake at 350 degrees 50-60 minutes, until the garlic is very soft and begins to brown. Cool until easy to handle and squeeze each head to remove the soft roasted cloves. </span><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">In a food processor, process Brie cheese and cream cheese with the salt, pepper, and garlic cloves. Refrigerate several hours to blend flavors. Serve with melba toast, crackers, crustini or the like.</span><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">What's cooking in your kitchen?</span></span><br />
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As this month draws to a close, I have hope. Sometimes it's easy to feel cynical and occasionally even a bit helpless to the way life seems to be going. It's been a trying year, that has brought tears of sadness and frustration. But I have hope!<br />
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Hope that:<br />
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<ul>
<li>I am enough. A good enough sister, dog-mom, daughter, friend, co-worker and rescuer.</li>
<li>Some day, my Prince will come...</li>
<li>Sooner or later, I'll figure out what I want to be "when I grow up"!</li>
<li>I find the courage to write a book some day.</li>
<li>I keep loving blogging as much as I do now. Views and comments aren't particularly high right now, but I love it nonetheless.</li>
<li>All the trials and tribulations of this year mean that 2016 will be much easier.</li>
<li>My rescue continues to grow and flourish.</li>
<li>That a new blog design and moving to Wordpress are in my near-ish future. :-)</li>
</ul>
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What are you all hoping for?<br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-17359874408746567062015-11-27T19:06:00.001-05:002015-11-27T19:06:25.561-05:00Thirty Days of Thankful - Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hLQFn3Tjs4cc8-7I7nmIr0j3t0DYmzgLl3kKtxLpgbwBzQ5OTGfF2ddDFyjgqZiWpSY3dpLwiyEbgSDpNPxqmPrblsvTZcTu2aSLyRLAik_J72nd6cXaoCkSRKkmxPo777zbYdE84cpa/s1600/family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hLQFn3Tjs4cc8-7I7nmIr0j3t0DYmzgLl3kKtxLpgbwBzQ5OTGfF2ddDFyjgqZiWpSY3dpLwiyEbgSDpNPxqmPrblsvTZcTu2aSLyRLAik_J72nd6cXaoCkSRKkmxPo777zbYdE84cpa/s400/family.jpg" width="368" /></a></div>
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One of the things I'm most thankful for is family. They are the people who encourage me, make me laugh, support my crazy addiction to rescue, and occasionally, give me the reality check that I need.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeihvdkDD7zOJfpqstdkMGfmStGJFEkmTx_6OgrJjMWFJLtfXM6O4rCb4jUlfsvxRvtmolh165NPC06nOoKGmI3LO2R7IlwVFHype0Kd__OE5Hc7WRPbyT1B2LTJqRsHy_oG7rKAGMooUg/s1600/friends+are+like+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeihvdkDD7zOJfpqstdkMGfmStGJFEkmTx_6OgrJjMWFJLtfXM6O4rCb4jUlfsvxRvtmolh165NPC06nOoKGmI3LO2R7IlwVFHype0Kd__OE5Hc7WRPbyT1B2LTJqRsHy_oG7rKAGMooUg/s400/friends+are+like+family.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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While I have some wonderful genetically related family, I view family not only those people but also the friends that I've chosen to be my family. Some of the folks that I count as family I haven't met in person - and maybe I never will. But I know that if I'm having a bad day, that they are no further than a comment, Facebook message or email away. And I can't thank them enough for that!<br />
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This group of people from blogging, rescue, selling Jamberry, work or being related to me are amazing and I hope they know how much I love them. <3 p=""><br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a></3>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-5667533651897330212015-11-26T17:08:00.000-05:002015-11-26T17:08:26.678-05:00Thirty Day of Thankful - Thanksgiving Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQp12tmwqZszhjjuT-wj0OmJvkcYtwAU_2b06ol9Y8oh5StXwTRltD714JpW9f8_4_WDofGNMn3IO0SjAhT65Js_a4CM1xZWgIhLRjoJF8oQCtf7yAL5aGC7f4oNPzjWuDPAXvk0phiAB/s1600/LPDR+thanksgiving+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQp12tmwqZszhjjuT-wj0OmJvkcYtwAU_2b06ol9Y8oh5StXwTRltD714JpW9f8_4_WDofGNMn3IO0SjAhT65Js_a4CM1xZWgIhLRjoJF8oQCtf7yAL5aGC7f4oNPzjWuDPAXvk0phiAB/s400/LPDR+thanksgiving+2014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm sure you're all ready of the end of my month of thanks...<br />
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I'll keep it brief, I know we all have things to do. Today, I'm thankful for Thanksgiving Day itself. It's a labor intensive day for those of us cooking - but it's done out of love and out of thanks for everything around us in the past year. <br />
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I'm thankful for the police, firefighters, nurses, doctors and other first responders who have to rotate through working on holiday. I'm thankful that it's illegal in MA to open for Black Friday before midnight - all of you who go shopping immediately after Thanksgiving dinner are crazy! I love ya...but you're crazy!<br />
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I'm thankful for being forced to cook some foods that are only prepared on holiday. As much as they aren't my favorites, it keeps family traditions alive. I'm thankful that even though I have to work tomorrow, it's likely to be a quiet day where I can sneak in a few projects of my own (shh...don't tell anyone!).<br />
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What are you thankful for this year? Anything you've been surprised to see on my list so far...or shocked I've left off? A few more days of things I'm thankful for and you we can move firmly into December!<br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-11753683031668301872015-11-25T16:52:00.000-05:002015-11-25T20:12:20.913-05:00Thirty Days of Thankful - KnittingBy now, you've all figured out that I'm a creative type of person who, despite being painfully shy, likes to express myself. What better way to do it than in a form that is totally reusable?!<br />
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I was lucky enough to learn to knit under the tutelage of my mom, aunt and grandmother. My cousin Kristin and I learned early; I'm going to say somewhere around kindergarten age. While we all had projects going most of the time, it's the holidays where we were all together and knitting that are most meaningful to me. Over the years, our particular knitting specialties ebbed and flowed... mom and my grandmother (until alzheimers took away her ability to knit) love the large less intricate projects, while Kristin and I seem to excel with the smaller, very detailed work.<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/9J-Huil9cN/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Found a nice variegated yarn at the #cromer yarn shop (stop in and say hi to Lola the spaniel!) and think someone will get this beauty when it's done. Who needs a scarf?! #knitting #leafpattern #uk #vacation #ilovetoknit</a></div>
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A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on <time datetime="2015-10-22T21:58:03+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 22, 2015 at 2:58pm PDT</time></div>
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While I was on vacation last month in England I started this project. Life has been a bit busy, but I'm hoping to get some quality knitting time this weekend so I can either give it to a friend - or maybe one of you - for Christmas!<br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-23165727946063203742015-11-24T07:00:00.000-05:002015-11-24T07:00:06.125-05:00Tuesdays at the Table - Turkey Enchilada Casserole & Thirty Days of Thankful - ThanksgivingThanksgiving just might be my favorite holiday. I love that fall is firmly in place with its cold, crisp air. The holiday is one of family and friends, without the added stress of gift exchanges and the worry I have that I've somehow picked out a gift that is less than perfect. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxudY572PQwJyr2QK2WQDaIBfcqzwgNjgNBLy1TYiGfL5SQ2bML7BRexVVkQbL8ge6T-wqJU3ZSLpDfYHR9BM3FEZRjcRLg9g8J3DLtwl_-hL8kvoSXz-LqV7-Ssm8KFzktsNagyP5Vz5Z/s1600/Thanksweiner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxudY572PQwJyr2QK2WQDaIBfcqzwgNjgNBLy1TYiGfL5SQ2bML7BRexVVkQbL8ge6T-wqJU3ZSLpDfYHR9BM3FEZRjcRLg9g8J3DLtwl_-hL8kvoSXz-LqV7-Ssm8KFzktsNagyP5Vz5Z/s320/Thanksweiner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Don't get me wrong - I LOVE me some Christmas! But I like having a "practice" holiday first! This year I am looking forward to a fairly quiet day that is filled with food and love. I have to work on Black Friday, but it will be a quiet day (hopefully) and I'll finish my Christmas shopping that evening.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYpwybMoqJMzu0CkOcXdHagYang0XTS2OOMgzSMK9smIN24AWJSXDPE6ojNcZPITcjTp5IJtNLvkdbaiEnXOrkMNJNg_rk2GnvZtsSqA9itDVVd4zB0su3jVCYo6YCk4OqFcxHa6Zize8/s1600/Tuesday+at+the+Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYpwybMoqJMzu0CkOcXdHagYang0XTS2OOMgzSMK9smIN24AWJSXDPE6ojNcZPITcjTp5IJtNLvkdbaiEnXOrkMNJNg_rk2GnvZtsSqA9itDVVd4zB0su3jVCYo6YCk4OqFcxHa6Zize8/s320/Tuesday+at+the+Table.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This week I'm reposting one of my favorite casserole recipes. It makes great use of all the extra turkey!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 20.8px;"><u>Turkey Enchilada Casserole</u></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">1 1/2 to 2 cups of cooked turkey, diced</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">1 package flour tortillas</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">1 jar (16 oz) salsa verde</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">2 cups Monterey Jack cheese</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">3 tablespoons (approximately) vegetable oil</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Mix diced turkey and about 3/4 (12 oz) of the salsa verde in a bowl and set aside.</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Heat tortillas in the oil, one at a time for about 10 seconds. Drain on paper towels.</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">In casserole dish, place a layer of tortillas. Top with ½ of turkey mixture and ½ of black beans. Place another layer of tortillas topped with turkey mixture and beans. Top with tortillas. Place the last 4 oz of salsa verde on top of tortillas. Top casserole with cheese.</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Serve with sour cream and guacamole (optional).</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><br style="line-height: 20.8px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">What's cooking in your kitchen?</span></span><br />
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-86154801085576847522015-11-23T22:04:00.000-05:002015-11-23T22:04:43.220-05:00Thirty Days of Thankful - Travel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpM7LSYyYaEcmAlV5eHNa7mB7-ZQqfNrBES2tgqY4LqxF7li2Qss5pdpnNaLt1dAe5bI4HPoHsw88D3bS633bjAlIqqNdvAZtOZrv4RGDYcd3W6Og9p4jVpHfbp4bsZ_hpzBBy12ErFZW/s1600/wanderlust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpM7LSYyYaEcmAlV5eHNa7mB7-ZQqfNrBES2tgqY4LqxF7li2Qss5pdpnNaLt1dAe5bI4HPoHsw88D3bS633bjAlIqqNdvAZtOZrv4RGDYcd3W6Og9p4jVpHfbp4bsZ_hpzBBy12ErFZW/s400/wanderlust.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Am so grateful for travel and a family that has a bit of wanderlust as well. Because my parents loved to travel, and because we had lots of out of state family, I was a roadtrip kid.<br />
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I thought everyone got put in their grandparents RV and drove from Massachusetts to New Mexico or California and back. Or that that all the kids had been to both Disneyland and Disney World, and some of the other larger theme parks before they hit kindergarten. <br />
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Let's also take a minute and talk about the fact that my parents put me on a plane ALONE at almost 5 years old from Boston to San Diego and no one thought twice about it. It was a different, safer world...but I felt like such a grown-up flying all by myself! (Yes, I flew back to Boston on my own too.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnzvyfWEa7_pvAzmzgoqX-qhIdFNHRNi6ORg1Yg1hrr2Hm_lTMcANGErM6X05I6Iy3747c3nXZDlNitk5DQDa5AqOjXJsVsX-K6h0UUzgbXt1xIUV-E1tareQ8hGmQwV9xX94YZkHN3xU/s1600/we+travel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnzvyfWEa7_pvAzmzgoqX-qhIdFNHRNi6ORg1Yg1hrr2Hm_lTMcANGErM6X05I6Iy3747c3nXZDlNitk5DQDa5AqOjXJsVsX-K6h0UUzgbXt1xIUV-E1tareQ8hGmQwV9xX94YZkHN3xU/s400/we+travel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I find travel so joyous and energizing - sometimes even more so than the time spent at the actual destination. I LOVE TO FLY! While I still have more countries I want to explore, I feel so blessed to have visited Canada, Mexico, England, Scotland, Wales, France and Belgium. (And I feel like I'm missing a country or two...)<br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477792065601725892.post-33247459546366016862015-11-22T13:51:00.002-05:002015-11-22T13:51:53.802-05:00Thirty Days of Thankful - Challenges<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZmyTA0LBDTTYoXH9QAkaAOxKfHHJ8GCl6-KOq_46CpdlSiMFM4_YBImpp3zSUP-sdvpyOzBMyeoPrifvTK3gne15FlfatN4U_O1yObnQDhFY-I_GeUE7RzdOxJzsRdnMAQg3lPKdvB6F/s1600/its+not+easy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZmyTA0LBDTTYoXH9QAkaAOxKfHHJ8GCl6-KOq_46CpdlSiMFM4_YBImpp3zSUP-sdvpyOzBMyeoPrifvTK3gne15FlfatN4U_O1yObnQDhFY-I_GeUE7RzdOxJzsRdnMAQg3lPKdvB6F/s400/its+not+easy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have given a lot of thought to this particular one... It's easy to see challenges as a reason to give up, or to hide and hope it just goes away. I can't imagine that any of us have gotten this far in life without making it through at least a few challenges.<br />
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The past few years have been particularly challenging for me. Life has taken a few turns I never quite expected. I could detail the hurdles the past few years have thrown in my path, but that's not the point... I'm thankful for them. They have taught me perseverance, determination, to take more joy in the simple things and I appreciate the people that have had my back even more than ever.<br />
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<a href="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/?action=view&current=sig.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/aprildurham23/Nicole%20F%20New/sig.png" /></a>Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832214861973170475noreply@blogger.com3