Review: ecostore Auto Dish Powder and Front Loader Laundry Powder

I cannot stress enough how much I use eco friendly products. Yes they do cost a bit more but I feel it is money well spent when you consider the damage all the nasty chemicals used in many commercial products does to the environment.

I was very excited to try a couple of  products from ecostore usa. I chose the Auto Dish Powder since I now have a dishwasher after almost 10 years of washing dishes by hand.  Dishwashers are more water efficient - at least new ones are - than washing dishes yourself. My second choice was the Laundry Powder 'cause well, I do laundry. Who doesn't? And if someone wants to come do mine - well have at it!



Auto Dish Powder



I have been using the Auto Dish Powder for a month now and I have to say I love it! You don't need to add much to the machine - just a tablespoon so the jug lasts a long while. My dishes come out sparkling clean without streaks. My dishwasher is brand new and has all manner of water/energy efficient stuff built into it. I have not had one night where I have had a problem with anything I have put in the dishwasher and I am not the world's greatest rinser.  Don't tell anyone that, OK?

Here is some information from the company:

Auto Dish Powder is a high performance blend of simple mineral salts, citrus and Coconut oils.


Ingredients

* Palm and coconut based non-ionic surfactants


* Silicates and carbonates including sodium meta silicate (simple mineral salts)


* Citrates and natural citrus oil


* Cellulose (plant based)


* Fatty acid derivative

I have also used the Front Loader Laundry Powder for the same length of time. It has seen towels, whites, colors and the mess my husband makes of his work in the garden clothes.  Everything has come out clean and bright. I have no complaints.

Here is some information from the company:

Ecostore USA’s high performance Laundry Powder consists of simple mineral salts and plant-based ingredients, giving it the ability to attack even the most heavily soiled fabrics. Its fresh, natural lemon fragrance will not harm or irritate the skin. This is a safe and healthy alternative for you and our planet. (35.3 ounces)



Ingredients

* Palm and coconut based non-ionic and anionic surfactants


* Silicates and carbonates (simple mineral salts)


* Citrates (from citrus)


* Cellulose (plant based)


* Sodium percarbonate (oxygen producing whitener)


* Natural Lemon Verbena Oil

ecostore USA has a line of products ranging from baby care to bath and body to pet care.  They are committed to providing products that are safe for you, your family and the environment:
 
The team at ecoSTORE USA loves making a difference in people’s lives. ecoSTORE USA does not compromise on performance, so customers can be assured of the efficacy of the products - they truly work. We offer more than 100 products, each one meeting the most stringent environmental and sustainability standards. The guiding principle of every formulation is and will always be that the end product must not only be good for the user, but good for the planet.
 
I know I was very happy with the two products I tried. I am sure I will be back for more.
You can find ecostore USA on Facebook and Twitter.
 
Disclosure:  I received products from ecostore USA gratis. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by my receipt of the free products. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Coming Soon! CSN Stores Review

As you all know I have been building the yurt and we moved in this summer. It has been so much fun to finally get into the house after three long years of building. As I constantly moan, it's not finished but at least I am in something bigger than the trailer!

I am having so much fun decorating and getting my rooms all set up and CSNStores.com has been a big help to me! I have gotten the mirror and other accessories for my bathroom and some great things for my kitchen. They really do have just about everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink. heh

Right now I am looking at some dining chairs to compliment my new dining room set. Our set came with four but it would be nice to be able to seat six people for dinner. Not that we have that much company but every so often you have more than two people, you know?

Wildon Home Morro Bay Taupe Parson Chair

These are nice because they could double as chairs in the living room while not in use at the table. They are neutral enough to go anywhere...



Stakmore True Mission Wood Folding Chair




These are fantastic because they fold up! They are very close in color to my set and when not in use they can be easily stored in the closet -not that the closet is FINISHED or anything but that is another story all together. heh


Decisions, decisions. Either choice is a good one.
That's CSN for you - so many good choices and great prices too!

Disclosure:  This is a post in advance of a review for a product yet to be chosen. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Book Review: Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn

From the Publisher's Website:

Providing an escape from reality, the award-winning author transports us to the colorful land of India. Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, newlyweds Lady Julia and her detective husband Nicholas Brisbane begin to uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs, and twisted legacies while on a quest to prevent a tragedy.

At the urging of Julia’s eccentric family, she and Nicholas visit newly widowed Jane Cavendish, an old friend, on the Cavendish family’s tea plantation. Jane is consumed with the impending birth of her child – while trying to uncover the truth about her husband’s death. If he was murdered for his estate, Jane and her unborn child could be next. For the Brisbanes, the honeymoon has ended, but the adventure is just beginning as a bewildering mystery unfolds. The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary. 

About the Author:

In her old Colonial-style home in charming Williamsburg, Virginia surrounded by the painted peony pink walls of her study, Deanna constructs an inspirational collage for each book she writes. For Silent in the Grave, the first Lady Julia Grey novel, Deanna won the 2008 RITA® Award for “Novel with Strong Romantic Elements.”  The series has been nominated for several other awards, including an Agatha, a Daphne du Maurier, a Last Laugh, and two Dilys Winns. A former teacher and student with an emphasis on Shakespearean studies, Deanna dabbled in English and history but always reverted back to her renowned taste.  “I noted that my favorite novels were all historical, British, and witty. They all had a mystery at the heart and a touch of romance.”   

My Opinion:

This book was a delight! Written in a cadence all its own it takes you back to a time long past. I now want to read the previous novel and "meet" Lady Julia Grey Brisbane from her inception. In this tale, written with a delightful wit and attention to period detail we find Lady Julia at the end of her honeymoon feeling a touch out of sorts. Perhaps even a bit bored! Just then her persnickety sister and brother arrive with a crisis - a dear friend has lost her husband and there are fears he was murdered.

Of course they must go and solve this mystery. So it's off to India. But Lady Julia's husband feels duped by a certain lack of total information from her sister so he remains in Calcutta while the others trek inland. Far inland.  To a tea plantantion deep in country where despite the heat and the location all are expected to dress for dinner and eat a full English style meal. Such formality does not mesh well with its surroundings.

The character development is detailed and delightful I really felt like I got to know these people even without having read the first book in the series. The mystery is a good one and not evident - at least it wasn't to me - right from the start. It took time to build and to discover. The ending sets the stage for the next novel. The interaction between the main characters is playful and fun while keeping to the time period.

I truly enjoyed the writing style and the story told in this book and will look forward to more adventures with Lady Julia and very eccentric family.

Dark Road to Darjeeling is available at Amazon.com














Disclosure:  I received a gratis copy of Dark Road to Darjeeling. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free book. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Blog Tour, Book Review and Giveaway: Simply Irresitible by Jill Shalvis

From the Publisher's Website:

Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover.

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author JILL SHALVIS lives in a small town in the Sierras also run by quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books are, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website at JillShalvis.com for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountain adventures.

My Opinion:

This was a very light read. Almost too light. I breezed right through it will really little care for the plot or characters. I don't know that I can put my fingers on why this book wasn't for me but it just wasn't. I didn't care for any of the three sisters; they seemed to be all one note characters. The hero while conflicted in some ways was almost too good in others. The plot was very contrived and the author has a real thing for chests both male and female.

Simply Irresitible is available at Amazon.com














That being said I do have three copies to give away thanks to The Hachette Book Group.
How do you win? It's easy!
But first some rules:

US and Canada only
No PO Boxes

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

I have changed my url to www.brokenteepee.com so there are some rule changes. These will be in effect for a little while to encourage everyone to make the changes on their blogs. I really do appreciate the effort involved. Thank you!

1. Follow my blog publicly. If you already follow, just say so. And thank you.
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway(one per day) - @BrokenTeepee and @ForeverRomance are giving away 3 copies of Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis @http://tinyurl.com/2bbqrxk #giveaway

3. Change the link you have for me on your blogroll to my new url: www.brokenteepee.com - this is worth two entries so comment two times
4. Switch my blog button for the one you currently have on your site - this is worth two entries so leave two comments (it has the new code for my new url)
6. Follow @JillShalvis on Twitter
7. Like Jill Shalvis on Facebook


SEE THE EXTRA ENTRIES PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER.

All entries need to be in by 9PM MDT on October 12th when I will go to Random.org to choose the winners. They will have 48hrs to respond or I will choose new winners.

Good luck everyone.

Disclosure:  I received a gratis copy of Simply Irresistible. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free book. I received no monetary compensation for this post. 

Yoplait Greek Yogurt Helps to Nourish Your Inner Goddess with Tasty Recipes

 If you will recall, I reviewed Yoplait's new Greek yogurt and gave two thumbs up! It was deliciously thick and rich with a nice tart taste. Now Maria Menounos is teaming up with Yoplait to show you ways to nourish your inner goddess with this delightful product - read on:

YOPLAIT^® GREEK YOGURT NOURISHES GODDESSES EVERYWHERE … FROM YOUR TOWN TO TINSELTOWN

Yoplait Joins Forces with Actress, TV Host Maria Menounos to Share Tips on How to Feel Great, Look Good and Live Well

Now with more fruit and packed with two times the protein of the leading yogurt, Yoplait Greek^® yogurt is one delicious way women can nourish their inner goddess. Hollywood’s own Greek goddess, actress and TV host Maria Menounos, has teamed up with Yoplait Greek to share her tips on how to look and feel red-carpet ready, every day. Together, Menounos and Yoplait Greek will celebrate today’s modern goddess, through the exclusive Yoplait Greek Nourish Your Inner Goddess Retreat at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.

Hosted by Menounos, the Yoplait Greek Nourish Your Inner Goddess Retreat will provide a day of relaxation for the high-profile guests invited. Guests will enjoy delicious Yoplait Greek recipes, manicures/pedicures, massages and fashion, beauty and health-related giveaways; all things dedicated to helping women feel great, look good and live well.

Yoplait Greek is available in four tasty flavors: Honey Vanilla and Plain, and now Strawberry and Blueberry with more fruit. The yogurt has a unique thick and creamy texture, and each 6 oz. cup contains at least 11 grams of protein and zero grams of fat, making it a perfect choice for an anytime treat. In addition, Yoplait is the only yogurt with vitamins A and D in every cup. 

Delectable Dishes, Now with Real Fruit

Yoplait Greek yogurt can also add something special to dishes and snacks - from smoothies, to dinners and desserts. Sweet and savory, protein-packed recipes made with Yoplait Greek include an easy strawberry-banana smoothie, white chicken chili and dark chocolate mousse. All of these tasty recipes take fewer than 20 minutes from start to finish, and can be found at http://yoplaitgreek.com/recipes.aspx.

“We’re delighted to offer new Yoplait Greek yogurt, now with more fruit,” said Betsy Storey, associate marketing manager for Yoplait Greek. “Whether for a snack or used in a recipe at mealtime, the delicious goodness and creamy texture found in every cup of Yoplait Greek helps women feel like a goddess inside and out.”

Yoplait Greek is available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $1.19 per 6 oz. cup. This September and October, the yogurt lids will turn pink as part of Yoplait’s Save Lids to Save Lives campaign in support of the fight against breast cancer. For every pink lid saved and sent in by December 31, 2010, Yoplait with donate 10 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, up to $1.6 million with a guaranteed minimum donation of $500,000. During the past 12 years, Yoplait has donated more than $25 million to the breast cancer cause.

Like all other Yoplait products, Yoplait Greek is made with milk from cows not treated with rBST. For more information on Yoplait Greek and upcoming tips from Maria Menounos, visit www.yoplaitgreek.com and www.facebook.com/yoplait.

Here are two tasty recipes utilizing Yoplait Greek Yogurt. I love Tzatziki sauce and make it myself all the time. It is a fantastic accompaniment to many dishes and delicious as a dip with vegetables. And who doesn't love chocolate mousse?

Dark Chocolate Mousse

Prep Time: 15 min
Start to Finish: 15 min

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups skim milk
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1 box (4-serving size) chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix
1 container (6 oz) Yoplait® Greek Fat Free honey vanilla yogurt
1 1/2 cups frozen (thawed) reduced-fat whipped topping
  1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries

1. In small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup milk and chocolate chips. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended.

2. In medium bowl, combine 1 1/4 cups milk and pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk for 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture is well blended and thickened; stir in yogurt.

3 Blend melted chocolate into pudding mixture; fold in whipped topping. Spoon into individual dessert dishes. Top each serving with additional whipped topping and raspberries. Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving time. Store covered in refrigerator.

Greek Turkey Burgers With Tzatziki Sauce

Prep Time: 20 min

Start to Finish: 20 min

Ingredients

Tzatziki Sauce:

1 container (6 oz) Yoplait© Greek Fat Free plain yogurt

1/4 cup chopped cucumber

2 tablespoons chopped red onion

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill weed or1 teaspoon dried dill

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Burgers:

1 lb lean ground turkey

1 cup crumbled feta cheese (4 oz)

1/3 cup chopped red onion

1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried dill weed

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

4 whole wheat burger buns, split

1 medium tomato, thinly sliced

1. In small bowl, mix 1/2 cup yogurt and remaining sauce ingredients; refrigerate until serving.

2. Heat gas or charcoal grill. In medium bowl, mix all burger ingredients and remaining yogurt. Shape mixture into 4 patties, about 1/2 inch thick.

3. Place patties on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 8 to 10 minutes, turning after 5 minutes, until thermometer inserted in center of patties reads 160°F. Place burgers in buns with tomato slices and sauce.

How-To Broil patties with tops about 6 inches from heat 4 minutes; turn patties. Cook 6 to 8 minutes longer or until meat thermometer inserted in center of patties reads 160°F.

Substitution Finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese can be substituted for the feta cheese.

Now you can be set with a delicious, healthy lunch menu.
So get out there and cook!

Disclosure: I have provided this information to my readers because I thought it was interesting. I have received no compensation monetary or otherwise for this post.

New Earrings

Believe it or not I have listed two new pairs of earrings in my shop!
I know!

They were made weeks apart and ironically are both in what has become my "signature style."

The first pair features turquoise in two colors; a beautiful robin's egg blue and a gorgeous grass green.

Color Mix

The second pair have deep blue iolite cubes topped by emerald green chrome diopside and a freshwater pearl swinging off to the side. These are on leverbacks.

Aurora

You can click on the photos to go right to the listing at Broken Teepee Designs.
While there check out the rest of the pieces in the shop. Several are on sale.
The holidays are coming so why not start your shopping early!?

Lots of Winners!

OK - it was a busy week and I have lots of winners to announce!

First up the 3 lucky winners of Sin Undone by Larissa Ione from The Hachette Book Group

The lucky comments are:

Here are your random numbers:

100
2
45

Timestamp: 2010-09-25 19:48:47 UTC

and the winners are:

Zestywonderland
elaing8
CarolL

Yay!

Next up the Organic Washcloths from The Turkish Towel Company

The lucky comment is:

Here are your random numbers:

187

Timestamp: 2010-09-25 19:56:24 UTC

and the winner is:

Darlene Independent Watkins Associate ID# 320480

Woo hoo!


Oooh, now for the Pillsbury Sweet Moments Prize Pack thanks to My Blog Spark

The lucky comment is:

Here are your random numbers:

220

Timestamp: 2010-09-25 20:02:39 UTC

and the winner is:

Ellie!

Yum!

And last but certainly not least the delightful book, Mr. Darcy's Little Sister courtesy of Sourcebooks.

The lucky comments are:

Here are your random numbers:

9
51

Timestamp: 2010-09-25 20:07:57 UTC

and the winners are:

Susan M Heim
Dina

Yippee!

I will send emails to all of the lucky winners and they will have 48hrs to respond. If they don't I will pick new winners.

Thank you very much to everyone who entered. Remember if you did not win you can still purchase all of these wonderful items:

Sin Undone is available at Amazon.com
Organic Washcloths and much more can be found at The Turkish Towel Company
Pillsbury Sweet Moments can be found at your local grocery store
Mr. Darcy's Little Sister is available at Amazon.com

Review: American Standard Semi-Professional Pekoe Faucet

When we were planning the kitchen in the yurt we knew it was going to be one of the most important rooms in the place. I love to cook and I spend a LOT of time canning and freezing the bounty from our garden.
Doing all of that processing in the teeny, tiny trailer kitchen was truly wearing on me.

I swore that I would not go one more season in the trailer.
I think it's why we got into the yurt this summer. The hubby knew I would go off the deep end.

I LOVE my new kitchen. It's big, it's colorful, everything has a place and I have plenty of counter to do what needs doing. I have a huge double stainless steel sink. As an aside this is one place we saved a nice chunk of change; we went to recycle store and bought a sink that had been pulled from either an old house or a kitchen remodel. It's stainless steel! A little scrubbing and the thing looked brand new again. It cost $45 for a huge double sink!

But back to what I am going to review today, my spiffy American Standard Semi-Professional Pekoe Faucet. As soon as I saw it I was in love. There was no other faucet for me. I'm not one of those girls that can have a relationship with more than one faucet at a time....

So I brought my love and it's price tag to my hubby. I'm not going to lie, this is not the world's cheapest faucet. But for all the work I do in my kitchen I did not want a cheap faucet. I wanted a workhorse. And a workhorse I got.

A workhorse with style.

Isn't it pretty?

Hubby installed it quite easily as American Standard has their patented "quick connect" system that makes said installations simple. In fact I was going to video it but he went up to the yurt and came down 15 minutes later and said it was done. I was all - Oh, I wanted to tape it and he was all, Oh, I'm not going to uninstall it. So there you are. It was that fast.

At first I was a bit bummed about the sprayer being plastic. I thought I paid all this money and the sprayer is PLASTIC?! But then hubby figured out this is so I can hold said sprayer while the hot water is on and not burn my little fingers. He is so smart. It's why I keep him around. Well, that and other reasons I won't go into on a family blog.

There is a button on the front of the sprayer that quickly and easily changes from stream to spray. The faucet comes out of it's holder and I can move it around wherever I need to in both of my sinks.

I am beyond thrilled with my Pekoe!
It looks good and it works like a dream.

Disclosure:  I paid for this faucet myself.

The Comforts of Fall - Review and Giveaway: Stay Dry with KIWI

The hubby is an outdoors kind of guy.
He likes to hike.
He likes to backpack.
He likes to hike and backpack for days on end.
He even hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

I am not.
I like to hike to the ice cream shop.

Needless to say our erm, hobbies diverge.
But that doesn't mean I don't like to see him comfortable when he goes off on his crazy adventures.
Enter KIWI and there wonderful line for keeping things dry.

First is KIWI Camp Dry Fabric Protector - Now I didn't have a chance to try this one since our weather has been so lousy the hubby didn't have a chance to go on any manner of overnight trip. It has been raining for over a week. Ugh. Here is the info on this really cool product:

When you’re outdoors and far away from home, it’s nearly impossible to run back for a quick change of clothes. Protect yourself the minute you set foot outside by spraying KIWI Camp Dry Fabric Protector on all of your synthetic, nylon and Gore-Tex fabrics. From hats and coats to fleeces, pants and gloves, this fabric protector is the perfect solution for repelling water, dirt and stains, and will keep you warm and dry all day long.

Then came the KIWI Camp Dry Heavy Duty Water Repellent - the hubby did spray this on his hiking boots and he was pleased with the results.  Here is the info on this product:  

When it rains, it pours. Enlist the ultimate protection with KIWI Camp Dry Heavy Duty Water Repellent. The silicone content instantly bonds to materials, creating an extremely tough water barrier, ensuring the greatest water protection. It’s a saving grace to outdoor enthusiasts looking to protect their maps, backpacks and even their umbrellas!

The third tool in this KIWI kit is the Boot Protector - I used this on my hiking boots. YES I HAVE HIKING BOOTS. Sheesh. I am not a total lazy bones. I will learn how well it works the next time I hike to the ice cream store. It was easy to apply.  Here is the information on this product: 

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Whether going for a hike, hunting or fishing, it’s important to protect your shoes from the elements. KIWI’s unique silicone formula bonds to leather and other man made shoe and boot materials to create an extremely tough water barrier, while still allowing materials to breathe. It’s also the perfect solution for those who work outdoor

Now if KIWI would invent a spray I could use to waterproof the goats all would be well in my world.

But I do have good news! One lucky reader is going to win a Stay Dry Pack from KIWI - no goats included. 

How do you win? It's easy!
But first some rules:

US only
No PO boxes

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Go to KIWI and tell me another product you would like to try. Be sure to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

I have changed my url to www.brokenteepee.com so there are some rule changes. These will be in effect for a little while to encourage everyone to make the changes on their blogs. I really do appreciate the effort involved. Thank you!

1. Follow my blog publicly. If you already follow, just say so. And thank you.
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway(one per day) - @BrokenTeepee and @KIWICampDry are helping you stay dry this camping and hiking season #giveaway

3. Follow @KiWICampDry on Twitter
4. Like KIWI on Facebook
5. Change the link you have for me on your blogroll to my new url: www.brokenteepee.com - this is worth two entries so comment two times
6. Switch my blog button for the one you currently have on your site - this is worth two entries so leave two comments (it has the new code for my new url)

SEE THE EXTRA ENTRIES PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER.

All entries need to be in by 9PM MDT on October 7th when I will go to Random.org to choose the winner. He/she will have 48hrs to respond or I will choose a new winner.

Good luck everyone.

Disclosure:  I received KIWI Camp Dry products gratis. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free products.  I received no monetary compensation for this post. 

Tales and Tails or the Lack Thereof

The sun came out today.
It was glorious.
And I was inside.
Dealing with the rest of the plums, a boatload of tomatoes and making a cheese.
*sigh*

But now I have plum jelly, plum sauce, plum sorbet, plum juice for many, many sorbets in the future and plum pulp to go into plum, pear, applesauce when (and if the way things are looking this year) I get some apples and pears.

My dehydrator is full of tomatoes and I made a batch of my zucchini/tomato sauce to can. I have a post planned all about that. It should show up soon.

I made a cheddar cheese today. It's my favorite. The cheeses this year are looking to be better than last year's. I hope so. I have everything in place now to make nice cheese. Keep you fingers crossed.

Now to the lack of tail.
I was looking out the window at this years chickens and I saw this poor guy...

I guess he's low man in the chicken house.
They've pulled his tail feathers out!
He looks so funny.
Poor thing!

With Glidden You Get Color

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Glidden. All opinions are 100% mine.



I am sure that if you have been reading this blog for any length of time that you know that I like bold colors. I chose very vibrant colors for the yurt. I picked them from the little cards in the store because I have an ability to translate those little blocks into the whole room in my head.  I know that most people cannot do this so  Glidden can help.

That's right! They offer the cutest little testers so you can bring home several colors to try out. They also have a selection of Top 10 Color Palettes created by color experts to help you choose colors that co-ordinate seemlessly. You don't have to worry if that blue you adore is going to clash with the red you love.  You can also bring home large paint chip samples so you can see exactly how the color will look in your lighting, not the store's. You will find two additional, complimentary colors on the back. Convenient, huh?  So why not start on that room re-do you have been dreaming about for years?

If I hadn't just painted (with more painting in my future as soon as the hubby finishes the sheetrocking in the hallway and craft room) I might just consider this myself. But I am very happy with my bright, bold colors.  But I follow @Glidden_Paint on Twitter to keep up with fun ideas about paint and color.

Yurtgress - The Bathroom

Exciting times in the yurt!
I now have a bathroom door.
Wow.
Life is good.

I also have had my shower curtain up for a bit which made us able to take showers in the yurt rather than in the trailer. This is very nice because in the trailer there was only a 10 gallon hot water heater. Showers sucked.

The shower curtain is 100% cotton and I fell in love with it when I saw it.

The green color is just about the same color that the craft room will be painted.
I couldn't believe how close the match was.

There is an inner liner that's canvas.
It's the little things, you know?

Book Review: Juliet by Anne Fortier

From the Publisher's Website:

When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy, she is told it will lead her to an old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a winding and perilous journey into the history of her ancestor Giulietta, whose legendary love for a young man named Romeo rocked the foundations of medieval Siena. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families involved in Shakespeare’s unforgettable blood feud, she begins to realize that the notorious curse—“A plague on both your houses!”—is still at work, and that she is the next target. It seems that the only one who can save Julie from her fate is Romeo—but where is he?

About the Author:

Anne Fortier grew up in Denmark and emigrated to the United States in 2002 to work in film. She co-produced the Emmy-winning documentary Fire and Ice: The Winter War of Finland and Russia and holds a Ph.D. in the History of Ideas from Aarhus University in Denmark. The story of Juliet was inspired by Anne Fortier’s mother, who always considered Verona her true home … until she discovered Siena.You can visit Anne Fortier’s website at www.julietbook.com.










My Opinion:

Romeo and Juliet is one of the saddest and most romantic tales there is. And I have never read it. I just could never get my head around Shakespeare. Oh well. We all know the story, don't we. In this modern retelling Julie Jacobs finds out she is descended from Guilietta Tolomei - the real Juliette around whom the legend was written.

Julie's mother and father had died under mysterious circumstances in Italy when Julie and her twin sister Janet were toddlers. Their Aunt Rose came and whisked them away to safety. They knew very little about their parents. Her Aunt Rose dies and suddenly Julie's world is turned upside down.

Following her Aunt's death Julie finds out she is not inheriting half of her estate with her twin sister. THAT relationship is not good. She and her sister have always been at loggerheads. When a letter from her dead aunt encourages her to go to Italy in search of something her mother left behind she is not sure. Umberto, her aunt's long time butler/house help gives her the push she needs to go in search of her past.

And what a past she finds. Julie finds  that it was not Verona but Sienna where the two star crossed lovers burned so brightly yet briefly. She also learns that there is a curse on her family and that to eradicate it she must find her Romeo.

I really enjoyed this book. It is almost two books - the tale of modern day Julie and then the backstory of Romeo and Guilietta from 1340. The chapters go back and forth, It was fascinating to see how Ms. Fortier bound the two stories together with the ancient Romeo and Juliet and the modern pair. There was romance, intrigue, suspense and comedy. What more could one ask for in a book. I find myself still thinking about it even though I finished it days ago.

The only character I had any problems with at all was Janet - she just seemed a bit one note. But I suppose she was needed to drive plot.  All in all though it was a thoroughly enjoyable novel and one I will read again.

Juliet is available at Amazon.com
















Disclosure:  I received a gratis copy of Juliet from Pump up Your Books.  Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free book. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Nature's Beauty

It has been raining.
All week.
The goats are not happy.
The cats are not happy.
The chickens are not happy.
I am not happy.

Then I came out to go into the trailer to use the computer. It has not moved into the yurt yet.
It was raining.
Surprise, surprise.
But looking to the mountains to the north I saw this...

It was one of the most vibrant rainbows I have every seen. And it had the faint double on top. I guess there is SOME good in all that rain....

TiVo Premiere and the New Fall Season

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of TiVo. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't have a TiVo but I do have a DVR.
That doesn't mean I know how to work the blasted thing. When I wanted something recorded I hand it to my hubby. Isn't that what they are for?
heh
But now after having read about the new TiVO Premiere I am wanting to make a change. With the new Fall TV upon us and many of my favorite shows in conflict with one another it would be great to have a machine that could tape all my old favorites and the new shows I want to watch. (Note the word "tape." It shows hold old I am.)

Well, maybe all I need do is Enter to Win! That's right! TiVo is having a contest to giveaway one of its new TiVo Slides. This would solve my DVR envy wouldn't it?

I have already gone and "liked" TiVo's Facebook Fan Page. That way I can keep up on all the latest news. It would be really cool to win. Then maybe I wouldn't have to bug the hubby so much.

I'm looking forward to all my favorites coming back. The reruns were getting old and I'm ready for some new shows too. Woo hoo for the new fall season!

Plum Tired

Why am I plum tired you ask?
Well, 'cause yesterday we were given the opportunity to go plum picking.
And pick plums we did!

Boxes and boxes and boxes of plums.
So far there is plum sauce and plum jelly.
Plus lots of plum juice to go in the freezer for future batches of sorbet.

But there still seem to be boxes and boxes and boxes of plums.
I think they are procreating when I am not looking.
I may never run out of plums.
Help me!

The Comforts of Fall - Review and Giveaway: Emile Henry Flame Top Pizza Stone

One of my favorite things to do is cook and when the weather turns cooler I cook all the more.
I love to experiment and pizza is a wonderful blank slate for any creative cook.
I was always complaining to the hubby that there was no good pizza here in Montana so he said, "make some"

OK - so I started experimenting. And I have come up with a recipe that the two of us love and is really quite tasty and almost like the pizza we bought in New Jersey. We decided there must be something in the water back thert to make the pizza so good.

One of the most important ingredients to good pizza is a pizza stone. It crisps up the crust just right. You put it in the oven and get it HOT so that when the pizza hits the stone the dough is cooking immediately.

I had a pizza stone but I wasn't really happy with it. It put out a strange odor whenever I heated it. I was very happy when I was given the opportunity to review Emile Henry's new Flame Top Pizza Stone. I have several pieces from Emile Henry and I LOVE them. The quality is excellent and even better - they are super easy to clean.

My pizza stone arrived and I was ready to put it to the test.
Mmmmm, pizza.

I rolled out my dough - I use a dough made with my beloved white whole wheat flour. I topped it with some of my goat's milk chevre mixed with some pesto.

Then comes the secret ingredient (ssshhhhhh) rehydrated tomatoes. I can't tell you how many of these I dehydrate every year but the flavor in these babies is just so intense.

They go on top of the chevre and pesto.

On this pizza I decided to add some roasted eggplant. The eggplants have been very tasty this year.

The hubby always wants anchovies. Ick.
I do not let them touch MY side of the pizza. heh

Then some fresh mozzarella

Then some of my goat's milk parmesean.

It went into a 450* oven. The pizza stone had been in there heating with the oven so it was nice and hot. The pizza hit with a lovely sizzle.
When it came out it looked like this....

It was yummy!
The crust was perfectly crispy just like I wanted it to be.
The Emile Henry Flame Top Pizza Stone was super easy to clean. Even though I chose to hand wash mine it can actually go in the dishwasher! How's that for easy clean up?!

What is also cool is this stone can be used on the stove top and the grill top as well. Talk about versatile. Now all I have to do is get a grill. heh

Here is some information direct from the site:

The Pizza Stone is made of all natural materials and is manufactured using Emile Henry's proprietary Flame® technology. The Pizza Stone can withstand high oven temperatures. The glaze is micro-crazed contributing to crispy well-baked crusts, just like a pizza oven. If the Pizza Stone is used on the stovetop, heat slowly and place on the largest burner. You can cut directly on the glazed pizza stone without damaging or scratching the surface. The Pizza Stone is easy to clean with soap and water and is dishwasher safe.


Designed for use: In ovens - conventional and convection; and can also be used under the broiler. On grills - gas, charcoal and natural wood. The Pizza Stone turns a grill into an outdoor pizza oven.





Now for the exciting news! I have a Flame Top Pizza Stone for one lucky reader!
How do you win? It's easy!
But first some rules:

US and Canada only
No PO Boxes

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Go to the Emile Henry site and tell me another piece you would like to own. Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

EXTRA ENTRIES:

I have changed my url to www.brokenteepee.com so there are some rule changes. These will be in effect for a little while to encourage everyone to make the changes on their blogs. I really do appreciate the effort involved. Thank you!

1. Follow my blog publicly. If you already follow, just say so. And thank you.
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway(one per day) - @BrokenTeepee and @EquipMyKitchen are giving away a Flame Top Pizza Stone@http://tinyurl.com/2evmtk8 #giveaway

3. Follow @EquipMyKitchen on Twitter
4. Like Emile Henry on Facebook
5. Subscribe to the Emile Henry YouTube Channel
6. Change the link you have for me on your blogroll to my new url: www.brokenteepee.com - this is worth two entries so comment two times
7. Switch my blog button for the one you currently have on your site - this is worth two entries so leave two comments (it has the new code for my new url)

SEE THE EXTRA ENTRIES PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER.

All entries must be in by 9PM MDT on October 3rd when I will go to Random.org to choose the winner. He/she will have 48hrs to respond or I will choose a new winner.

Good luck everyone.

Disclosure:  I received a pizza stone gratis. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free pizza stone. I received no monetary compensation for this post. 

Review and Giveaway: Tropical Traditions Organic Rolled Oats

I loves me some oatmeal.
It's one of my favorite things to eat and not just for breakfast.
It warms me up and fills me up.

But oats are not just for breakfast!
They can do dessert too.
Now I could have made cookies but I had a big box of peaches and I wanted pie.

So pie it would be.
I decided to make a different kind of crust.
I was so involved in my experimenting my picture taking took a back seat.
But you'll get the idea.

I took some of the GORGEOUS organic oats from Tropical Traditions along with some brown sugar, cinnamon, white whole wheat flour and salt and tossed it all in my food processor.

I ground it up and put it in a bowl with some melted butter.
I then put this mixture into my pie pan and baked it at 350* for about 10 minutes.

I had my bowl of peaches.

Aren't they luscious?
I added some sugar, a pinch of salt and some flour.
I cooked this on top of the stove until it thickened a bit.

I put the peach mixture into the baked crust and topped it with some more of the crust mixture into which I had cut some butter.

Mmmmm.

I baked it for oh, about 40 minutes.

Ta-da!

It was really pretty yummy. More like a crisp than a pie but with the oat stuff on the top and bottom it was quite good and it's all gone.

Thanks to Tropical Traditions one lucky reader will get to win their own 5lb bag of organic oats!
That way you can experiment too! A great place to start is on the Tropical Traditions free coconut recipes site. Search OATS and you find a wide array of great recipes.

How do you win? It's easy!
But first some rules:

US and Canada only
No PO boxes

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Sign up for the Tropical Traditions newsletter. Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.


EXTRA ENTRIES:

I have changed my url to www.brokenteepee.com so there are some rule changes. These will be in effect for a little while to encourage everyone to make the changes on their blogs. I really do appreciate the effort involved. Thank you!

1. Follow my blog publicly. If you already follow, just say so. And thank you.
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway(one per day) - @BrokenTeepee and @TropTraditions are giving away Organic Rolled Oats @http://tinyurl.com/2d7dmcp #giveaway

3. Change the link you have for me on your blogroll to my new url: www.brokenteepee.com - this is worth two entries so comment two times
4. Switch my blog button for the one you currently have on your site - this is worth two entries so leave two comments (it has the new code for my new url)
6. Follow @TropTraditions on Twitter
7. Like Tropical Traditions on Facebook

SEE THE EXTRA ENTRIES PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER.

All entries need to be in by 9PM MDT on October 2nd when I will go to Random.org to choose the winner. He/she will have 48hrs to respond or I will choose a new winner.

Good luck everyone.

Disclosure: I received a gratis bag of organic rolled oats. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free oats. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

 

Review: BEARPAW Tama Boot

I make no bones about the fact that I get cold. And I stay cold.
I am cold when most people are warm.
I guess I have a weird metablolism.

Whatever.

My feet are especially cold.
I am always asking the hubby to buy me socks.
And boots, warm boots.
He has done so but he's a man, you know. He bought tough, serviceable boots.
I love 'em, don't get me wrong. They are FANTASTIC in the snow and they are as warm as can be.
But they have NO style what so ever.

None.

And I want some style.
Even though I am a goat farmer it doesn't mean that on the few times I get off the farm I don't want to look nice.

Enter BEARPAW.
Talk about style! Not only do they have stylin' winter boots which I am going to talk about in a minute, they have stylin' summer shoes and the coolest rainboots I have ever seen.

But I am going to tell you about my spiffy new pair of BEARPAW Tama Boots.

I cannot begin to tell you how long I have wanted a pair of boots like these.

They are very, very comfortable to walk in.

They are incredibly stylish and timeless in that style.
And, most importantly of all they are WARM.

That's because of the oh so soft rabbit fur on the outside and the still soft wool lining on the inside.
My feet are happy.
It's good to have happy feet.
The rubber soles on the bottom are nice and thick so I don't feel the cold Montana ground under my feet.

Don't my feet look happy? And warm?

The only thing that causes me any problem at all happens to be my favorite part of the boot...

The cute little pom poms!
The cats can't resist them.
They think they are cat toys.
*sigh*

I have to hide my boots.

If you are looking for a warm, stylish, incredibly well made pair of boots for a very good price I would head over to BEARPAW and check out their shop by size and then buy a pair. I am lovin'
my new boots and know they are going to give me years of warm feet. Not to mention a certain amount of joy to my cats.
*sigh*

You can find BEARPAW on Facebook where you can keep up with all of their fun.
You can follow BEARPAW's tweets on Twitter

Disclosure:  I received a pair of Tama boots gratis. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free boots. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Giveaway Winners: ATGStores.com, Olivia's Croutons and BLOGMANIA

Before I get to the three big giveaway announcements today I would like to welcome all my new followers from BLOGMANIA! I'm glad you are here and I hope you decide to stick around. You will find great reviews and giveaways (there is a review and giveaway coming Monday from Emile Henry - a fantastic maker of Flame Top Ceramic Cookware) plus stories from my life on a small goat farm in Montana.

Now on to the giveaway winners! First up is the $50 Gift Card to ATGStores.com

The lucky comment is:

178

and the winner is:

Emily B

Congratulations! Some shopping is in your future!

Next up is the winner for the delicious Olivia's Croutons.

The lucky comment is:

36

and the winner is:

Cera

Yum!

And finally BLOGMANIA! It was a big one. 1200 entries!

The lucky comment is:

1100

and the winner is:

vhubler!!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered all of the giveaways. Remember! If you did not win you can still purchase all of these fantastic products including my jewelry and Pricilla's soap. heh

Blog Tour and Book Review: The Black Madonna by Davis Bunn

From the Publisher's Website:

Art historian Storm Syrrell and rugged treasure hunter Harry Bennett travel to Russia to search for and investigate another historic art treasure with significant contemporary implications: The Black Madonna.

And as before, their efforts to shed light on the mystery surrounding the murder of Storm's grandfather, Sean Syrrell, and the contents of his frayed leather journal, puts their own lives in grave danger.

About the Author:

 Born and raised in North Carolina, Davis left for Europe at age twenty. There he first completed graduate studies in economics and finance, then began a business career that took him to over forty countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Davis came to faith at age 28, while living in Germany and running an international business advisory group. He started writing two weeks later. Since that moment, writing has remained both a passion and a calling.

Davis wrote for nine years and completed seven books before his first was accepted for publication. During that time, he continued to work full-time in his business career, travelling to two and sometimes three countries every week. His first published book, The Presence, was released in 1990 and became a national bestseller.

My Opinion:

This was a fun book! With a story that builds slowly I found myself wanting to race to the end to find out how it would finish. The characters are fun and only slightly unbelievable  - some of the things they pull off are a touch extreme but that is the delight in an adventure/spy/thrill novel. The only jarring note came towards the end - and I do have to admit to it ruining the flow for me - when the good guys scaled a mountain pass with our heroine. She had no climbing experience that I could discern and no indication of being in exceptional shape. Unless I was just reading so fast I missed it....

Other than that this was a fun read with a twisty, page turning tale.

The Black Madonna is available at Amazon.com














Disclosure:  I received a gratis copy of The Black Madonna from Glass Road PR. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free book. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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