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Watermelon Strawberry Aqua Fresca

Linette Gerlach — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:40:50 +0000

I promised you one more berry recipe before the end of Berry Month. This recipe will pair perfectly with the Skewered Shrimp and Blackberries with Sesame Ginger Marinade recipe I posted earlier.

This Watermelon Strawberry Aqua Fresca recipe is a non alcoholic, and nutritious recipe courtesy of Driscoll’s Berries. It contains two of my favorite summer foods, watermelon and strawberries. Yum!

Both watermelon and strawberries are loaded with antioxidants and vitamins. A one-cup serving of strawberries can provide up to 93% of the suggested daily supply of Vitamin C, is high in fiber, and contains 20% of your recommended daily allowance of Folic Acid. Oh, and they also have iron, and calcium.

Watermelon Strawberry Aqua Fresca

Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes Makes: 6 Servings

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (6 oz) Driscoll’s Strawberries, hulled and chilled
2 cups watermelon cubes, chilled
1/3 cup lime juice
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar

Instructions:

Blend strawberries, watermelon and lime juice until smooth. Add sugar to taste.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Pour over ice if desired.
Insert a lime wedge and strawberry on a cocktail pick for garnish.

Nutrition Facts: Calories: 74; Protein: 1.25g; Saturated Fats: 0.03g; Fat: 0.44g; Carbohydrates: 18.76g; Fiber: 2.51g; Sodium: 2mg

Lighten Up: lighten up this recipe by using sugar substitute in place of the sugar.

Driscoll’s also gave me these tips for adding berries into a healthy lifestyle:

Portable, palate pleasing and packed with nutrition, berries are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Simply put, eating fresh berries is a smart thing to do.

The pigments that give berries their red, blue, yellow, black and purple colors are packed with antioxidants. Antioxidants protect our cells from oxidative damage and inflammation, and they have been linked to heart and brain health, supporting a healthy immune system and protection against certain cancers.

Toss colorful berries into your leafy green salads or get creative and make a simple vinaigrette dressing with puréed berries to add visual distinction and extra antioxidant power to your meal.

Berries show up on almost every list of “Super Foods” recommended by nutritionists to improve the quality of our lives. Combine berries with other nutrition stars such as salmon, spinach, flaxseed, olive oil, beans and tomatoes.

Berries are a classic smoothie ingredient and with good reason – brilliant color, great flavor and nutrition. Combine them with other fruits and veggies to achieve a power drink that delivers multiple servings of fruits and vegetables, yet is still “berry-licious.”

Berries blended with yogurt, banana, spinach (yes, spinach!), flaxseed oil and the juice of your choice is a refreshing, heart-healthy pick-me-up. Did you know if you toss frozen berries straight from your freezer into the blender you don’t need to add ice?

On the go? Grab a container of tasty blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries for your next hike, picnic or errand-running afternoon.

I have watermelon, strawberries, and lime in my fridge right now, so I may have to give this recipe a try.

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Watermelon Strawberry Aqua Fresca

History Becomes Real at Minute Man Park

Peggy Rowland — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:46:55 +0000

Earlier this week, I wrote about Authors Ridge at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, MA. But if you’re not into literary destinations, you might prefer the nearby Minute Man National Historic Park instead. It’s a great place for anyone to visit and reflect on the beginnings of America.

The park is especially loved by history buffs. In addition, Minute Man is a wonderful place to take children who have studied the Revolutionary War. Plus, if you’re staying in Boston, you can get to the park via a short train ride.

North Bridge, inside the park, is a place where the history books truly come alive. It’s the site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War and “the shot heard around the world” on April 19, 1775.

The park is made up of 900 acres along Battle Road, between Lexington and Concord. Visitors can walk the five-mile Battle Road Trail and see reenactments of colonial life. Two main points along the trail are the Paul Revere Capture Site and the Hartwell Tavern Historical Area, which features an authentic period home that was used as a farm and tavern.

However, to me, the highlight is North Bridge. I wasn’t expecting to see the solemn Grave of the British Soldiers, where two British soldiers who died during the North Bridge fight found their final resting spot. There’s also a Minute Man Statue that represents a generic farmer who leaves his field to take up arms to defend his land and fight for freedom. The North Bridge spans the Concord River and was restored again in 2005. The original bridge was removed in 1778.

For more information on visiting hours, which vary by season, visit nps.gov.

(Image via flickr/yonsu )

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History Becomes Real at Minute Man Park

Creating “Diagonal Rays” w/ Patterned Paper

Christine Gooding — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:13:15 +0000

Here’s a tutorial I found on how to create diagonal rays using patterned paper. I chose StarOfMay’s video tutorial as she explains what to do in a simple way where it is easy to understand and easier to follow!

The end result is so nice! She used various patterned paper, a bit of stamping, embellishing with ribbon. Such a gorgeous card!

**STICKY: Check out Bliss Tree’s Arts & Craft’s latest Giveaway: Win 1 of Rand McNally’s Pin Your Journey Maps!

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Creating “Diagonal Rays” w/ Patterned Paper

GIVEAWAY: Win 1 of ‘Pin Your Journey’ Maps

Christine Gooding — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:55:01 +0000

Enter to win one of Rand McNally’s New Pin Your Journeys Maps!

Image: Rand McNally

Relive your past trips or plan for the next one with the Pin Your Journeys family of wall maps from Rand McNally. These pinable foamcore maps are professionally finished in an elegant wood frame and are ready to hang anywhere in your home or office. Each map includes a personalizable title bar as well as 50 push pins to help mark destinations, or to attach your trip photos and memorabilia. The Pin Your Journeys Wall Maps are great for scrapbookers and make the perfect “memory map” for your wall!

WHAT YOU CAN WIN:
1 Pin Your Journeys Blue Ocean World Wall Map
1 Pin Your Journeys Blue Ocean US Wall Map
1 Pin Your Journeys Antique World Wall Map
1 Pin Your Journeys Antique US Wall Map

*maps retail between $80 – $95.

HOW YOU CAN JOIN:
Visit this link between July 19, 2009 and July 30, 2009 to sign up for Rand McNally’s email list. After completing the form, add a comment to this post stating that you signed up. Four winners will be chosen at random on August 3, 2009 and will be announced on this blog. Prizes will be sent to all winners within 10 business days after they have been notified.

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GIVEAWAY: Win 1 of ‘Pin Your Journey’ Maps

FDA Says Darvocet, Darvon May Stay

Marijke Durning, RN — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:29:10 +0000

After debate as to whether medications like Darvocet and Darvon (which contain propoxyphene) should stay on the market, available to U.S. consumers, the FDA has decided to leave them available by prescription, as before. The only changes to be made are that the manufacturers are to add a boxed warning, which warns users of the potential side effects and complications from using the medications.

Interestingly, countries in the European Union will be banning these medications and they have already been banned in the United Kingdom.

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Image courtesy PhotoXpress.com

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FDA Says Darvocet, Darvon May Stay

July 4th Activities

Katelyn Thomas — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:21:43 +0000

July 4th is one of my favorite holidays. We’re outside, the weather is great, everyone is having fun…What’s not to like? However, between cookouts, fireworks and egg/spoon races, we don’t always take the time to talk about why we’re celebrating. This year, I thought it would be fun to add a few 4th of July activities that help kids understand why we have Independence Day.

Photo: SXC

Read a story about a child who was in the Revolutionary War. Although it isn’t strictly historically accurate, Paul Revere’s Ride is a great choice.
Put on a play. The story of Betsy Ross or the tale of Patrick Henry are both good options.

Have a trivia contest. Does George Washington really wear wooden teeth? Give the winner a case of iced tea.

Do you have any July 4th activities your family enjoys?

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July 4th Activities

Quilting Cartoons?

Chloe Findlay-Harder — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:04:26 +0000

When you say the word “cartoon” most people think of the funnies in the paper, but there are different kinds of cartoons – just for fiber artists!

Cartoons are a paper drawing or guideline that weavers and fiber artists use to guide their work. You can go for a detailed, scale drawing or just a rough sketch.

In this case, I’m using a cartoon to help my decision making about the number of squares in a baby quilt.

I shared a few different fabric picks in my fabric post yesterday and I’ve decided that I’m going to use the cloud print and yellows as the framework for my quilt. I’m going to use the other colors are random accents.

My first sketch was for a 36″ X 38″ quilt with 4″ squares:

I think that’s just a little too busy, so let’s try moving up to 6″ squares:

Much better!

Cartoons allow you to plan and change without ever cutting your fabric. I’d much rather spend half an hour playing with my sketchbook, than two hours cutting fabric to find out that I’m not happy with the result.

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Quilting Cartoons?

New Guidelines for Bleeding Disorders

Peggy Rowland — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:57:09 +0000

About 25% of women with heavy menstruation may have an undiagnosed bleeding disorder, says researchers from Duke University Medical Center.

An international expert consortium recently outlined the signs that may indicate the presence of a bleeding disorder in women:

• Heavy blood loss during menstruation
• Family history of bleeding disorder
• Notable bruising without injury
• Minor wound bleeding that lasts more than five minutes
• Prolonged or excessive bleeding following dental extraction
• Unexpected surgical bleeding
• Hemorrhaging that requires blood transfusion
• Postpartum hemorrhaging, especially if occurs more than 24 hours after delivery.

(The recommendations are published online and will appear in the July issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Women with blood clotting disorders often don’t receive a diagnosis for many years. Andra James, MD, a Duke obstetrician, says that in extreme cases bleeding disorders have led to women bleeding to death during childbirth, menstruation and surgical procedures.

If you suspect you have a bleeding disorder, see your doctor for laboratory tests and treatment. Researchers warn that a family history of heavy menstrual cycles could just mean that your relatives had an undiagnosed bleeding disorder. Read more about the bleeding disorders study at Duke.

(Image via stock.xchng)

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New Guidelines for Bleeding Disorders

10 Father’s Day Gifts for Dog Lovers

Peggy Rowland — Fri, 29 May 2009 02:45:34 +0000

The golden rule in choosing a doggie-related gift for Dad is to make sure the gift is for Dad, not the dog. I hope you enjoy checking out the 10 interesting options below!

1. Dog Lover Bottle Cap Magnets

2. Modern Dog Clocks

3. “Bad Dog” Tumblers

4. Personalized Dog Lover Art Plaque

5. Doggie Leather Key Chains made by Japanese Artisans

6. Magnetic Dog Chalkboard

7. Personalized Cuff Links with His Dog Photos

8. MONOPOLY: The Dog Artlist Collection

9. Meow Woof Cufflinks

10. Dog Dad Organic Cotton Tee

Would your Dad love any of these gifts?

(Images via Sundog Co. and Etsy/licgifts)

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