If you haven't already you can enter my March sponsor giveaway here.
Happy Good Friday and happy Easter to all of you. Wishing you a great weekend with friends and family.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Happy Birthday Grapes
If you haven't already you can enter my March sponsor giveaway here.
Happy Good Friday and happy Easter to all of you. Wishing you a great weekend with friends and family.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The Bloglovin Collective - Blog Hop
There are many out there in Blogland like it, but this is THE Bloglovin' hop you do not want to miss.
YOUR HOST:
Bre @ Peacoats & Plaid
CO-HOSTS:
Lacey @ Sunny + Turquoise
Nicole @ Treasure Tromp
Lauren @ Simply Southern, Simply Lauren
Alyssa @ Impractical Composition
Laura @ Walking in Memphis in High Heels
Christine @ Mavy May
**Co-hosting slots are filled until May 9th**
Send me an email at peacoatsnplaid(at)gmail(dot)com if you want to get on the list
Enter my March sponsor Giveaway
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
March Sponsor Giveaway
Soooo this is my very first sponsor giveaway!!!! I also reached 500 followers this month and I wanted to thank you all. I have 7 seven lovely ladies that are giving away some great things for one of you lucky readers. You can enter below. Good Luck!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Today I'm linking up with;
because Shanna Said So
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Green Ways to Clean
Vinegar
Uses: I am a vinegar nut! I use white vinegar in the laundry, to clean fruits and veggies, to sanitize my fridge shelves and my wooden cutting boards, and to get hard water deposits off the heating coil in the dishwasher. You can use it for practically everything from cleaning mirrors to getting dirt and pesticides off your strawberries. Apple cider vinegar is also good for burning fat, easing sore feet, and helping with stubborn calluses on your heels.
Why it works: Vinegar is highly acidic. This means that, when applied to something of a base nature, it will neutralize (in other words, level out the pH to 7). It’s important to remember that vinegar is acidic because it will react with basic products like baking soda (which creates carbon dioxide bubbles). The high acid properties of vinegar also make it antibacterial.
This is why it works so well at cleaning your wooden cutting boards. It’ll kill any germs from raw meat, but unlike soap, it won’t leave a residue in the wood. Both properties work to get your laundry good and clean. It’ll kill any germs crawling in the fabric, and it will also lift out body oil, and neutralize the fabric. You can sub vinegar for your fabric softener, and it will work better at getting your fabrics to a natural softness without any leftover residue, and despite protests about the vinegar smell, it does let the scent of your detergent shine through; you won't smell like salad dressing.
Baking Soda
Uses: Baking soda can be turned into a gentle, abrasive paste by simply adding water. This mixture can do anything! It’s great for removing stains on your teeth. It’s gentle enough to scrub away the dead skin on your face and tough enough to handle stubborn, baked on grease. You can give yourself a microdermabrasion facial and clean your cook top all with one product.
It’s odor absorbent, so you can store it in your fridge to keep the garlic smell from attacking your butter, or you can sprinkle some in the bottom of your trash can to keep old food from stinking up your home. It’s also fantastic for lifting pet smells from your carpet. All you have to do is sprinkle it around, let it sit for 15 minutes, and vacuum it right up.
Why it works: Baking soda is a basic chemical with a crystalline structure. When heated to 140 degrees (F), it decomposes. What this means is dies in a bubble of gas, which is why it helps to add fluff to baked goods. As we’ve already mentioned, the crystalline nature of baking soda makes it abrasive. Because it is a fine powder, it is gentle enough to scrub out stains without scratching surfaces. It’s odor absorbent power comes from its ability to neutralize acids, like the lactic acid of spoiling milk, and because of where it sits on the pH scale, it also has the power to balance highly basic chemicals (like those in spoiling meat).
Hydrogen Peroxide
Uses: Hydrogen Peroxide is commonly used for cleaning up cuts and preventing infections. You can also use it in detox baths, whitening teeth, disinfecting kitchen surfaces, and brightening colored laundry. There are many different solutions of different concentrations. You can mix it up with dish soap too, to create a powerful stain remover that works on those stubborn deodorant armpit stains.
Why it works: It is very basic, which makes it highly reactive and a strong oxidizer. Because of this, in high concentrations, it can be used as a bleaching agent. Peroxide blondes use the chemical to lighten their hair. Most Hydrogen Peroxide comes in a low 3 to 8% concentration, though for disinfectant purposes, it is available in 30%. It’s especially good because its reactive properties make it antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal.
Handy Home Cleaning Solutions
For Germ Free Counters - Put white vinegar in one spray bottle, and hydrogen peroxide in a separate spray bottle. First spray the counters down with vinegar and wipe it off. This will kill most of the bacterial. Spray again with the hydrogen peroxide to kill any viruses, bacteria, or fungi leftover and also to remove any stains. Wipe away with a white towel (something that won’t be bleached). You have a surface clean enough to eat off of!
For Hard Water Deposits on Dishwasher Coils - Make a paste of baking soda and water to apply to the coils. Soak a towel in vinegar and wrap the towel around the coils. The chemical reaction will shock the deposits so they easily crumble off. Follow with a hot water rinse, and you’ll have a clean dishwasher. An added bonus: it will also neutralize odors in your dishwasher.
For Perpetually Stinky Bath Towels - Let the towels first soak in hot water with ½ cup of white vinegar. This will loosen up grime, kill bacteria and mildew, and pull up stubborn body oils. Then run through a warm wash with baking soda. The baking soda will destroy any odors still left in the towel’s fibers and neutralize the towel’s pH.
For Yellow Armpit Stains - Create a paste of dish soap and baking soda. Scrub it in with a nail brush. The dish soap busts up the greasy part and the baking soda will scrub up the stuck in deodorant bits and neutralize the odors. After you’d adequately scrubbed it in, let it set for half an hour. Then pour on hydrogen peroxide to lift up any yellow color. Wash as usual. For super stubborn armpit stains, you may repeat this process until they’re good as new.
Stop in tomorrow for my first sponsor giveaway! There are some pretty great things up for grabs.
Happy Tuesday!
Today I'm linking up with:
The Life Of a Not So Ordinary Wife
Monday, March 25, 2013
Guest Post
Hi everyone - so happy to be guest posting on Christine's blog today! My name is Jackie and I blog over at Jackie Jade. I started my blog to keep me motivated to update and decorate our 1940s home, but I also post inspiration photos for home decor and fashion, as well as a million photos of my two pugs, recipes and about my life generally.
As Christine and I have being vegetarians in common, I wanted to share an easy veggie friendly recipe with you all. You can read about my vegetarian "story" in my post here.
This is a great way to make an easy meal which is somewhat healthy. You can add whatever you like to the ramen mix. I used sriracha, peanut butter, lime and veggies (turnip, green onion and carrots).
So easy and delish! There are so many other ways to personalize this "dish." Adding tofu (or meat) would be a great way to add some protein too. I posted some other "recipes" over here.
Hope that you'll come visit me at my blog Jackie Jade and say hello!!
Thank you Jackie!! I love finding new easy vegetarian meals!!
Today I'm Linking up with:
Peacoats and Plaid
Northern Belle Diaries
Covered in Grace
The Things We Find Inside
As Christine and I have being vegetarians in common, I wanted to share an easy veggie friendly recipe with you all. You can read about my vegetarian "story" in my post here.
Spiced Up Ramen Noodles
This is a great way to make an easy meal which is somewhat healthy. You can add whatever you like to the ramen mix. I used sriracha, peanut butter, lime and veggies (turnip, green onion and carrots).
Just make your choice of ramen noodles accoding to the package. Then add about half a teaspoon of sriracha, peanut butter and your veggies. I added a squeeze of lime and the green onions right before eating. The mix of peanut butter and spicy is so good!
Hope that you'll come visit me at my blog Jackie Jade and say hello!!
Thank you Jackie!! I love finding new easy vegetarian meals!!
Today I'm Linking up with:
Peacoats and Plaid
Northern Belle Diaries
Covered in Grace
The Things We Find Inside
Friday, March 22, 2013
5 Ways I'm Going Green
In my last post I posted some ways to be more green and reduce energy usage. I also told you I set a new goal to be more aware of my usage and waste so today I want to share some of those goals with you. Some of these things already do be not to the extenet I should.
1. Get a green bin. For those of you that don't know what a green bin is, it's a little bin that they come around and pick up just like your recycling but its for organic household waste. I'm not really sure way I have never had one but I made the call and it's on it's way.
2. Bring cloth bags shopping. I do have about 5 reusable bags in the trunk of my car but 9 times out of 10 forget them there. I'm going to move them to the back seat as well as get one that folds up nice and small so there is always one in my pruse.
3. Buy less packaging. For example buy bluk when I can or when buying produce take the fruit or veg without the bag.
4. Shop locally grown. Shop at the framers market. Another thing I don't do enough. The farmers market is open every Saturday morning here and I will be making more of an effort to get there.
5. Recycle more. I do recycle a lot but I've been getting lazy about it. For exmaple when an entire bottle of salad dressing or container of cream cheese goes bad I'll just chuck it in the garabge instead of taking the time to empty it and rinse it out so it can be recycled. No more being lazy.
Don't forget Eath Hour is tomorrow Sat Mar 23/13 8:30pm-9:30pm. Do you have any special thing you do for earth hour?
Have a good weekend!
Happy Friday!!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Oh How Pinteresting - Go Green
I thought since Earth Hour and Earth Day are coming up it would be a great time to post tips on how to be more green or environmentally friendly. I recently set a new goal to be more aware of what I am using, what I am throwing and what I am buying.
What sort of green things do you do?
Happy Wednesday!!
Today I'm linking up with:
The Vintage Apple
Because Shanna Said So
Me and the Moon
What Jean Likes
What sort of green things do you do?
Happy Wednesday!!
Today I'm linking up with:
The Vintage Apple
Because Shanna Said So
Me and the Moon
What Jean Likes
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Nutritional Yeast
Nutritional yeast is something I discovered when I was trying out a vegan diet. I couldn't believe I had never heard of it before, especially since is has so many great benefits. I came across this article by Lynn Maleh and thought it was the perfect one to share. Have you heard of or tried nutritional yeast before?
6 key benefits of eating Nutritional Yeast – The complete protein for herbivores
If you’ve committed to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, you’ve probably heard of nutritional yeast, affectionately referred to as “nooch” by its many loyal followers. So if you’ve been wondering what all the hype is about, below is a quick overview of what nutritional yeast is, 6 of its key benefits, and how to incorporate this superfood into your healthy diet.
What is nutritional yeast?
Nutritional yeast is inactive yeast (no leavening) derived from cane and beet molasses. B vitamins are pumped into the yeast through healthy bacteria, before being dried in flake or powder form. While “nutritional yeast” may not invoke the same kind of mouthwatering response as “mango curry” or “chocolate mousse,” this vitamin-packed supplement has a tasty cheesy/nutty flavor, great in a wide variety of recipes. Just remember, nutritional yeast cannot be considered “raw,” as it undergoes pasteurization.
What are the benefits of nutritional yeast?
1. Nutritional Density. At just 80 calories per serving, with no gluten, dairy, sugar, or cholesterol, nutritional yeast ensures you get the most bang for your calorie buck. Don’t forget that each spoonful is packed with protein, B-complex vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
2. Protein Power. As a vegan or vegetarian, it can be difficult to meet your nine essential amino acid needs. Nutritional yeast is among the very few meat-free foods that encompasses all nine – tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, valine, and histidine. As you may remember from chemistry class, amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and protein is essential for building and repairing muscle and tissue, producing blood cells, and regulating nutrient transport throughout your body.
3. Skip that cup of coffee! Nutritional yeast offers the entire range of B-complex vitamins, which improve energy and mood throughout the day. Fight fatigue, depression, stress, and high cholesterol with the B-vitamins in a single serving of nutritional yeast!
4. Immunity Boosting. Beta-glucan, found in nutritional yeast, is another powerhouse ingredient. This non-digestible complex sugar promotes a healthy immune system by attacking cellular debris and pathogens. It releases immune supporting cytokines, which provide antioxidant support. The high content of zinc in nutritional yeast is also excellent for regulating cell production in the immune system, as well as contributing to improved skin, weight loss, better bone health, and naturally reducing prostate cancer cell growth.
5. Natural Detoxification. While California avocados are known as incredible glutathione sources, their contents of glutathione are only a fraction of nutritional yeast’s. Glutathione aids in natural detoxification, protecting cells from nasty free-radicals.
6. Age Gracefully. If you’re health isn’t enough of a reason for you to invest in nutritional yeast, then maybe your vanity is. Nutritional yeast provides anti-aging nucleotides, the building blocks of genetic-defining DNA and RNA. According to Dr. Benjamin Frank, author of Nucleic Acid Therapy in Aging and Degenerative Disease and Dr. Frank’s No Aging Diet: Eat and Grow Younger, diets rich in DNA and RNA supporting foods improve skin health and appearance, vision, memory, hair loss, arthritis, and heart disease. In addition to nutritional yeast, you can get these great anti-aging benefits from seafood, mushrooms, radishes, onions, and asparagus.
Where can I buy nutritional yeast?
Nutritional yeast is available in most health food stores. I buy mine in bulk from Whole Foods; ask a store clerk to help you locate it in the store. You can also buy nutritional yeast online; I’ve read great reviews of Bob’s Red Mill’s nutritional yeast.
What do I do with nutritional yeast?
I usually like to use nutritional yeast like I would parmesan cheese. It’s great sprinkled on popcorn, baked potatoes, poultry, seafood, bread dough, soups, salads, and pasta dishes, and it provides a pleasantly cheese-like flavor. There are plenty of great recipes for using nutritional yeast, particularly as bases for vegan “cheese” sauces (mac and cheese anyone?) or grilled “uncheese” sandwiches. You can even make a brick of your own homemade vegan cheese.
If you’re a vegan or vegetarian looking to supplement those B vitamins or a content carnivore hoping to add some nutrition to your diet, be sure to check out nutritional yeast at your local health food store. Explore the possibilities, and be sure to share your recipes!
Lynn Maleh is an LA-based writer, who contributes to a variety of foodie and environmental blogs. She supports local, sustainable, and ethical eating movements.
Happy Tuesday!
Today I'm linking up with:
Monday, March 18, 2013
Life Lately
It's been so nice out we've been going on lots of walks :)
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Cheers to Green beer and green shots.
My favourite! A&W has the best breakfast sandwiches. I didn't even know they served breakfast until I started dating my husband and now I am addicted.
Waylon :)
The snow is starting to melt so he stinks into it when he walks on it and he absolutely hates it, poor guy.
I found this banana and peanut butter ice-cream recipe and well making it I accidentally discovered bananas with peanut butter drizzled onto are amazing frozen.
What have you been up to? DId you celebrate St. Patty's Day?
Happy Monday!
Today I'm linking up with:
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
11 Health Benefits of Cinnamon
I've been debating wether or not to start a series of post on health and fitness. Each week posting something different that fits into this category. I do a lot of reading on health and fitness online and I find a lot of great articles that I would love to share here, such as this one today. Do you think this would be something you would be interested in seeing here?
11 Benefits of Cinnamon
Article from: Organic Authority
Written by Andrea Manitsas
On a side note: I'm always a little hesitant when I use other peoples articles. I always state that the information is written by someone else and give the site and links back to it.
What so you think? Is it wrong or is it ok?
Does it gain them a little more traffic or does it take away?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this you can leave me a comment or email me at mavymaydesigns@gmail.com.
Happy Tuesday!!
11 Benefits of Cinnamon
Article from: Organic Authority
Written by Andrea Manitsas
Once upon a time, cinnamon was more valuable than gold. And while these days I'm betting most of us would rather get our hands on 24 karats over 24 ounces - a bar over a stick - this bark-cum-spice has just as much bite as it does bark. The potential health benefits attributable to cinnamon could be stated as nothing short of astonishing.
It's possible we're just brushing the surface here, for Chinese medicine and Ayurveda have long revered cinnamon as a superpower used to treat things such as colds, indigestion and cramps and also believed to improve energy, vitality and circulation. The following are ten health benefits associated with this beloved spice that studies have suggested:
- 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower your bad cholesterol (or LDL).
- Cinnamon may help treat Type 2 Diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels and increasing the amount of insulin production in the body.
- Cinnamon has antifungal properties, and it's been said that candida cannot live in a cinnamon environment.
- Cinnamon can reduce the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
- Cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.
- Honey and Cinnamon combined has been found to relieve arthritis pain.
- When added to food, cinnamon inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.
- Just smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.
- Cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.
- Cinnamon has been found to be an effective natural remedy for eliminating headaches and migraine relief.
- Cinnamon can also help stablize blood sugar (which is great for weight loss). A couple of dashes in your morning tea or cereal is all it takes!
Now, this said, we are absolutely not advocating you start guzzling the cinnamon - as it has been found to be toxic in large doses. We are, however, wholeheartedly encouraging a little pinch (or stick) here and there in places you might otherwise have overlooked (in your tea or coffee, added to savory dishes, etc.) - if not for your overall health, for its undeniably enchanting aroma and flavor. And while we have all fell victim to the irresistible smells wafting through an otherwise bleak airport experience, this does not make Cinnabon a free for all. We're just saying...
So what do you think? Would you like to see a health and fitness series here?
What so you think? Is it wrong or is it ok?
Does it gain them a little more traffic or does it take away?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this you can leave me a comment or email me at mavymaydesigns@gmail.com.
Happy Tuesday!!
Monday, March 11, 2013
Another Giveaway
I am a part of another giveaway this month hosted by Tara at Penniless Socialite. There are TEN fabulous prizes to be won. You can enter below or head over to Penniless Socialite to check out the prizes and enter there.
Good Luck!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Today I'm linking up with
Peacoats and Plaid
The Things We Find Inside
Good Luck!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Today I'm linking up with
Peacoats and Plaid
The Things We Find Inside
Friday, March 8, 2013
Friday Five - Lake House
As you may know I have been a little bit obsessed with the beach and summer the last little while so when I saw this post today I knew I wanted to make lake houses a part of my Friday five. It is my dream to one day own a lake house or cottage as we call them here. Nothing is better then taking off for the weekend to a place way out in the middle of no where and just relaxing surrounded by nature *sigh*
I hope you have an awesome weekend!!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Oh How Pinteresting - Food
These are some of my recent food pins, they look so yummy I had to share. I can't wait to try all of them especially the first one the nutella hot chocolate from Jenn's post today.
Happy Hump Day!!
I'm linking up with:
The Vintage Apple
This Gal Cooks
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Sponsor Call
Interested in sponsoring Mavy May designs for the month of March? There are still a few spots left, if you want to grab one up head over to my sponsor page or grab a spot below. If you are interested in swapping I would love to swap although it is not required. All spots small sports are swap or free of charge, just use the code provided on my sponsor page.
I do ask that all sponsor be a follower of Mavy May Designs
Monday, March 4, 2013
Monday Monday
Today I am participating in a giveaway over at one of my favourite blogs Glossy Blonde. There are tons of awesome prizes to win and one winner takes all. Head over to Glossy Blonde and check it out or just enter below. Good luck!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, March 1, 2013
Friday Five
1. Part of my tattoo. My cat Grapes snorkeling / 2. Reese
3. Free Your Mind... I want love to move to the beach.
4. Snowman, kind of. Steve and I built this little guy. / 5. Pink Denim. Out of season but who cares :)
Happy Friday!!
Today I'm linking up with:
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