friday links

Happy Friday!

We have only 61 days till Spring! I'm excited. No more 90 days, no more 80 days.

My therapy till spring & summer arrive. (dennis, ma)

boats are all in (sandwich, ma)

lobster traps (sandwich, ma)

That color....

Soon these will be bare feet.....

Around the Web:

one-ingredient cheddar crackers
how to release disappointment & thrive
homemade snickers bars!
why you need prebiotics
IHOPS's new menu gets you to spend more
how to remove gallstones naturally
immune boosting pho recipe
why you need to cut ties if your friendships aren't benefiting you
the holidays are over, why am I so blue?
peanut butter frosted brownies
rehabbed ramen
amazing footage of how falcons catch their prey (mildly graphic)
beige cells key to healthy fat (what makes subcutaneous obesity relatively healthy)
the scott expedition: a 1,800-mile (2,900km), four-month return journey from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back on foot following Scott’s route.
coffee myth-busting: cup of joe may help memory
woman goes to gym every day for 100 days (good for her! go girl!)
what I learned from six months of GMO-research
DIY candy buttons (just like you had as a kid)
cross fit coach severs spine in event
14 things you didn't know about alton brown
7 keys to establishing a confident impression
how to make your own breakfast sausage
the british library photostream
the science of the best cc cookies (truly well broken down)
6 ways sesame street taught me to be a decent human
brief history of 63 years of extreme weather
light of the night (gorgeous video of day/night sky)
10 places unhappy people search for happiness
celery and it's root soup
the devil's pool (great video, inspirational too)
vegetarian snacks for the supper bowl
10 things you didn't know about girl scout cookies
altering the community of gut bacteria promotes health
cat heaven furniture & walkways
color coded labels for health foods (brilliant!)
oatmeal-butterscotch cookies
truth about bullies & how to deal with them
gillian anderson fans? she's writing a new trilogy 
white chocolate blondies
women can have it all in Iceland
grapefruit ricotta cookies
buffalo quinoa bites
what is the "buffalo hump"?
how do you define yourself? inspirational talk from lizzie velasquez
10 more facts about the benefits of drinking coffee (I love more!)
be active to reduce chronic diseases
transformation of an 8x10 tool shed into a livable home
curried chickpea salad
the mystery house in north carolina

Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links

Happy Friday!

Please read this.
I know a lot of you are not seeing my posts on Facebook.
All you have to do is comment AND like one of my posts and this will ensure that you keep seeing my posts.


Have you tried this? Caramel macchiato for the poor man!


Hilarious!  Have you seen his website? howtobeadad.com


That's right!  We're over the hump! Half over!  Spring is coming baby!


Been pretty and quiet around here on cape cod.



One of my friends has her second book out.
Mystery on Pine Lake: Cooper & Packrat, by Tamra Wight
And it's really cute, really good; perfect for kids who love to read, explore and have a wonderful active imagination. So many adults (myself included) have fallen in love with Cooper:
"....Cooper thought living at a campground would be cool. But ever since his parents bought the lakeside campground, he’s had more chores and less time to explore. And as if babysitting his little sister and cleaning the bathrooms weren't bad enough, his ex-friend Roy has chosen him as this summer’s bullying target. Cooper’s only bright spot this summer is his new friend, Packrat, a guy who carries the world in his coat pockets and leaves his troubles behind. But trouble has come to the Wilder Family Campground and Pine Lake, where a family of loons is building a nest...."

Congrats Tamra! xoxo!

Around the web:

6 secret weapons in the battle of unhealthy habits
3 core anxieties & how to calm them
the joy of cooking with samin (LOVE her!)
DIY coconut milk!
I finally faced my high school bullies--over a decade later on Facebook
annie hall vs. anhedonia (out there somewhere a vintage, digressive, hilarious Woody Allen masterpiece made in the late ’70s??)
artificial bone marrow created
food firm trims trillions of calories from packaged snacks
computer algorithm can tell if your book will sell or not
the "trout pout" is over!  YES!
velveeta shortage!  LOL
best beef broccoli
great line up of vegetable soups
DIY frosted cheerios
are you a birding fan?  You might like this site warblercalls.com
review of the new M&M red velvet
can my choice of workout have an impact on lifespan?
quick & easy faux pho
the story of 7-Up soda
conan visits american girl store
what 'text replies' really mean
salty honey pie
norman rockwell's recipe for his favorite oatmeal cookies
your brain can only handle a limited number of close friends
what your starbucks order says about you
how to make the perfect chocolate sauce
tar heel pie (yes please)
history of the chocolate chip cookie
scientists finds benefit to meditation
chocolate mint bites (bookmarked!)
spicy, cheesy gochujang spaghetti
cilantro-lime cucumber salad
excellent, easy recipe for hummus
your sarcastic horrorscope for 2014
10 free articles by hunter thompson
I love that there are such good good people in the world (god bless!)
25 completely absurd jobs!
dogs' pooping secrets revealed!  LOL!
tiny masterpieces: art in match boxes
the real truth about carbs (hmmm?)
DIY agave sugar body scrubs
photographs of nyc diners of the 1990's
snowboarder shaun white is just amazing
simone de beauvoir would have been 106 today
dietary prevention of age-related macular degeneration
untouched paris apartment discovered 70 years later (wonderful find!)
ironic & surprising effects of weight stigma
the red crab migration on christmas island
least you forget how cray cray dennis rodman is
and lastly,
still gives me the shivers,
makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up,
ever want to know what it's like to win the world series with the red sox?
Big Papi!!

Have a wonderful weekend.

friday links

Happy Friday!

How was Christmas?  I'm exhausted; I'm ready for a long winters nap.

Early morning fog at Nauset Beach, Wellfleet, MA
So so so soothing; I love this place.

The view from where I take the photos isn't too shabby either.


I discovered this dangerous combo on Christmas eve.


That's right--tis the season for yoga pants all day.


Let's remember this saying for 2014.


Around the web:

this cake, oh this salted caramel ding dong cake has me in a tizzy
ham & gruyere thumbprint cookies
mike's hot honey--well doesn't that sound perfect for fried chicken
cape cod life magazine photo contest 
magnetic flat pack furniture?
this common problem can destroy your willpower
when you're at the end of your rope: 7 tips to help
thundershirt for cats review
candy cane cupcakes!
berries & all their wondrous protective properties
14 excellent sources of clean protein
alexander mcqueen made rugs? (pricey rugs too)
inside the notebooks of authors, artists & visionaries
balloon lamp (I would love one)
google has an online art gallery in the works?
how to manage the chill of winter (let me know if it works LOL)
the broken link: women trusting women
how to store a cake: of almost all sizes
writer bukowski-themed bars are really taking off
I am in love with this bow ear warmer
no-bake protein cookies
5 health foods that are over-rated
god or satan desk signs
how do I substitute coconut oil for butter in baking?
does sleep sweep the brain?
photographer captures people's insecurities on camera
cheesemonger (I love that word) approves a few cheese items at grocery store
best panini recipes of 2013
richard branson's top 10 business tips
'miserable men', an instagram account that captures the sad side of shopping
pantone color of the year is.....(lol)
harvard university snow of past & present
how to write a novel synopsis: 5 tips
homemade mustard (love this)
the weirdest books ever published (I can't stop laughing at this)
24 people that decide "what's cool" in America
10 proven ways to relax (really now?)
in case you needed another fashion blog to bookmark....
(take 5 mins for this...it's worth it) this place


Have a wonderful weekend.

friday links

Happy Friday!

Are we still eating?
I am!
I managed to keep eating well after 10pm.
I did good right?
My last meal at 10pm was a slice of my gooey Nutella stuffed chocolate chips bars, which I
PROMISE to post the end of next week.

Coming up Tuesday, we have an interview with Greg Henry of Sippity Sup to talk about his TWO cookbooks: Savory Pies and Savory Cocktails.
And Greg has decided to donate THREE cookbooks for the giveaway!
Come back on Tuesday to read all about it.

My "crunchy" pumpkin bread bundt.
And by crunchy I mean 'sugar & nut coated crunch!'
When I posted this on Instagram, you all wanted the recipe NOW.
Easy peasy.
Take one Trader Joe's pumpkin bread mix; make as per box directions; grease up a bundt pan;
pour in half the bread batter; sprinkle on chopped walnuts or pecans in middle; pour on rest of bread batter; then top with more nuts AND coarse sugar (I used Sugar in The Raw).
Bake a little less time than what box directions say as bundt bakes up faster.

The light from the sunrises and sunsets on cape cod have been magical.

I was sent a copy of the cookbook Good Stock: Life on a Low Simmer by Sanford D'Amato.
And I do love a good cookbook that has a story to go along with it; not just recipes, but a lifetime of cooking/learning and teaching stories. "....Sanford D'Amato, the restaurant D'Amato opened in 1989 and sold to his longtime chef de cuisine in December 2012, has been one of the highest-rated restaurants in America over the past 20 years, earning accolades from Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Esquire, Wine Spectator, Zagat Guide, and the James Beard Foundation. D'Amato has cooked for the Dalai Lama and the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, and was one of 12 chefs chosen by Julia Child herself to cook for her 80th birthday celebration. The story of Sanford and Sandy D'Amato is in part the story of America's embrace of fine dining and its acceptance of chefs as master craftsmen....."
So if you weren't able to visit his restaurant, now you can partake in his personal recipes with Good Stock: Life on a Low Simmer


Tarte fine aux pommes (Apple Tart) pg. 231

Ginger Snap Cannoli w/ dried cherry mascarpone cream pg. 349

Steak au Poivre pg. 239

Around the Web:

just put the f**king turkey in the oven
how can you look more "photogenic" in photos
nordic diet an alternative to Mediterranean diet?
researchers find drug that could halt kidney failure
stocking stuffers: I want them ALL!
clean your arteries with pomegranate? (true or false?)
DIY adjust your outside motion detectors (very helpful!)
little drummer girl--her talent is unbelievable (last 30 seconds she KILLS it)
eat more potassium
apple pie (paleo, gluten, grain free)
ryan gosling coloring book is here
rainbow pencils (I'll take some)
who's into this tinybook stuff?
meals for good skin
honeybee's can be trained to detect cancer
temporary tattoo's: brilliant
TRUE GMO dangers; stuff the media will never cover
3 productivity tips for small business owners
11 secrets to choosing the right perfume
DIY snowy gingerbread village in a jar (love!)
what to eat when you're broke
sweet potato-ginger cookie
9 whole foods for healthy, gorgeous hair
cheesecake pan for 2 (want!)
10 inflammatory foods to avoid like the plague
DIY bone broth (the good for you kind)
the divine: now online
how to fill the emptiness in your life
DIY: anchor a towel rack permanently
how to photograph snowflakes +incredible photos
WONDERFUL summary of what is insulin
why squinting helps you see better
overrated health supplements
creamy slowcooker chicken soup
fancy & gorgeous cakes to whip up when you're short on time (bookmarked!)
happy & sad Jack after his wisdom teeth removal
holiday cookie contest with craftsy!
8 helpful tips for your next Skype job interview
10 tips India teaches the world about living well
how to choose gratitude over stress
saturated fat isn't as bad as we once thought? Hmmm
healthy peanut butter recipes
magnesium for migraines?
healthier pumpkin pie smoothies
pressure cooker veal osso bucco

Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links + giveaway!

Happy Friday!

I have some wonderful shots of seals.
These seals know that the fishermen clean out their boats after loading the days catch, and they wait, patiently for the chum scraps to come out the end of the boat.
If you look closely, there is a smart seal, that sits right next to the water shoot and catches all the chum.
Greedy (but smart) little guy.


The seagull sitting on the back kills me!

Looking at me for treats.

See the one right under the water shoot?  He knows what he's doing.

Photos taken in chatham, ma.


Being a huge tea lover, Harmless Harvest 100% Raw Tea recently sent me a nice care package of their new raw tea
to try. Have you tried these? Wow are they good. Just 100% raw, clean, healthy tea.
No crap, no fillers, no aftertaste--just honest to goodness tasty tea.
True all natural flavors of: raw honey-lemon, raw peppermint, and unsweetened.
What is raw tea?  Picked fresh tea leaves, never dehydrated, and then blended into chilled water.  Kept cold, kept fresh.  Where are they?  They can be found in almost all Whole Foods Markets located next to their raw coconut water.
Follow Harmless Harvest on Facebook to see where they are holding tasting samples at your local Whole Foods Markets.

Cookbook Giveaway!

The Simply Raw Kitchen by Natasha Kyssa is donating a book to giveaway!

You might remember me talking about the abundance of creativity that I found looking through this cookbook.  I was so amazed at how one can get so creative with raw foods!
From The Simply Raw Cookbook:
"....The road to good health through proper diet and nutrition can lead down many paths; you may ask yourself, should I go vegan? Follow a gluten-free regimen? Should I eat raw or cooked foods? Natasha Kyssa offers all that and more in this inspiring collection of mostly raw, whole-foods recipes that will improve your health, no matter what your age. Natasha is a former international fashion model who transformed her unhealthy lifestyle by turning to raw foods almost twenty-five years ago; she is now a raw foods consultant and restaurateur who also runs marathons in her spare time. Natasha promotes a balanced, flexible diet designed for individual constitutions and based on fresh plant foods—gluten-free, toxin-free, and simply delicious. Her regimen also takes into consideration older folks and others who cannot tolerate an all-raw diet by including cooked foods. It's a cookbook and lifestyle guide to be shared between generations, much like Natasha and her mother, who contributes vegan versions of central European classics like borscht, mushroom goulash, cabbage rolls, and lovage dumplings. Other recipes include raw soups, cakes, and puddings, as well as a raw Pad Thai and spaghetti bolognese."

To enter the giveaway:
*leave ONE comment telling us what your favorite raw food dish
*please have a valid email in your comment and/or signature line
*anonymous comments will be deleted
*drawing held 11/8/2013

Around the web:

If you have a dog I hope you've heard about the tainted jerky treats?
Does salt consumption cause high blood pressure?
On a single breath of air, Stig Severinsen sets a new official Guinness World Record by swimming 250 feet (76.2m) below the ice in a frozen lake in East Greenland
Melanin Pigmentation in salmon fillets: causes, risk factors
Hilarious! I do miss LA at times. Here is: "Shalloween"
The ultimate vegan burger
How to promote your baking business on twitter
I do love cinnamon--check out these cinnamon shortbread bars
Oh how I love this idea: finger spoons!
Some of the best international slow cooker recipes I've come across in a while
DIY pickled eggplant
12 chemicals that are screwing up your hormones
DIY homemade caramel apples (easy too!)
My favorite pudding: banana. Nick shows us how easy it is to make at home
THIS mexican caesar salad has me drooling
The incredible shrinking plane seat (unreal!)
A simple test may catch early pancreatic cancer
Are you into knitting? Here are some cute animal hat patterns
Banana cream pie rice krispie treats
Chai infused butternut squash soup
Edible chocolate shot glasses! LOVE this.
Compound in broccoli may offer protection against radiation sickness
How to remove a tree stump painlessly (let me know if this works! I have a lot of tree stumps after
hurricane sandy)
Chili-garlic tater tots
5 foods for vibrant hair
DIY kale chips...in the microwave!
Pumpkin-pecan scones with browned butter glaze
Red Sox Koji Uehara's son comments on Dad's winning
Oh the many wonders of ginger root. Love to read about this!
Salted caramel pretzels
Scentee makes your smart phone smell like cinnamon roll when you get a text (would you buy it?)
Starbucks to open first "Zen like" tea house
David Lebovitz makes mac & cheese 
All natural chocolate nut bark
Did the Earth's water come from very early asteroid strike?
Do you have kids?  Have you had one of these days? Holy Moly!
Dark & Stormy caramel corn
Little food history on the "snack cake"
Red Flannel Hash
DIY Snicker Bar! (bookmarked & printed!)
7-layer candy bar dip (LOL!)

Massachusetts Residents: 
help sign the repeal the automatic gas tax TankTheGasTax.org
Do you know that there is going to be an automatic annual increase in the gas tax? How can that be?
This summer the legislature passed into law a linking of the gas tax to the Consumer Price Index!  That means as inflation rises so does the Massachusetts gas tax.  It is the gas tax to infinity and beyond.
Worse yet, it is taxation without representation.  Legislators never have to vote again to raise our taxes, but our taxes will go up! What if the CPI goes down?  You will still be paying 24 cents per gallon! The legislature capped the minimum you will pay, but they did not cap the maximum we will all pay at the pump.
This tax increase is directly aimed at the working poor and middle class.  It will not only increase the cost of commuting to work, but it will also hike up the costs of food and clothing.
Remember, 24 cents is just the state’s gas tax.  It doesn’t include the federal gas tax.
How do we end this taxation without representation?
We pass a ballot question in November 2014.  The first step in the process is collecting 100,000 signatures.  Will you help us? We need people to collect signatures and to sign our petitions.
tankthegastax.org 

Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links

Happy Friday!

We're still having a lot of rain, fog, and humidity here on cape cod.
Sun, she is a rare visitor these days.

chatham lighthouse in the fog

harwichport, ma

harwichport, ma

harwichport, ma

My hydrangeas love all this rain and humidity. That color is just stunning.

Check to see if your local Whole Foods is having a sale on organic blackberries.
The crop, this year, tastes just like candy--so sweet and juicy.
I was supposed to make a pie, but ended up eating 3 cartons. So good.

Every morning I see this little guy working at 8am and goes till about 11 or 12pm.
Busy little bee.

Emack & Bolios on the cape (Orleans) has finally opened for the season.
PB-Oreo my favorite.

Are you a peanut butter lover?
You need to check out Averie's newest book: Peanut Butter Comfort.

Remember these? Is this good luck?

When the sun does finally come out, it sure is spectacular (cape cod national seashore).


Harwichport, ma.

Bank Street beach, Harwichport, ma

East Dennis beaches where I could spend hours just exploring....



From around the web:

top three ways to combat belly fat
have you had Berger Cookies?
wonderful info on the benefits of blueberries
cherry pie shortbread bars
perfect for hot summer mornings: DIY chai concentrate
a great way to kick up banana bread: cinnamon-graham banana bread
4 superfoods to help cure your digestive issues
man hogties burglar and leaves him for police (everyday superman)
gooey biscoff-chocolate chip cake bars
paleo & gluten free pizza: gourmet thin crust pizza
irish creme fudgesicles that are vegan!
what's the real deal on all natural hot dogs?
remember the whippet cookies? great recipe
how do the new jelly donut pancakes from IHOP taste?
from scratch: parmesan baked beans
why is eric ripert wearing gold paint?
funfetti ice cream sundaes
DIY mexican street corn!
would you like a lasagna grilled cheese?  I would.
this vintage paris map is on my wishlist
can you change your life in 2 seconds? hmm
statue of colin firth rises from the lake?
the ultimate cupcake! vanilla-bacon cupcakes w/ pork belly-caramel
DIY: how to turn a mason jar into a rotating cake stand (brilliant!)
hands down the best cookie decorating yet: cookie jar cookies
cherry-lemon shortbread cookies
paleo: blueberry breakfast cookies
latest chocolate chip cookie obsession? canal house cookies
reboot with joe is becoming popular (juicing with joe)
review of Lindt Chocolate's new flavor: wasabi
natural ways to keep bugs at bay for the summer
easiest pina colada popsicles you can make at home
deprogramming chronic pain messages. hmm (what do you think?)
9 ways to strength train outside the gym
DIY: junk & crap free birthday party for kids (excellent ideas)
make healthy flavored water at home
six unconventional ways to find self-guidance
like cabins? you'll love these links
wonderful ideas: 10 favorite headboard storage ideas
love this cake server!
all-in-one sink-urinal: to make sure men wash their hands! lol
5 hard-to-find summer fruits? 
newest food craze? cake-stuffed fruits

Have a wonderful weekend!