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Saturday, September 13, 2014

Warby Parker Fall Collection Eyeglass Frames


**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links

Your personal style is reflected in your fashion. But unlike a jacket or what shoes you wear, your eyeglasses reflect your entire person—every day, every outfit, every situation. You are not like everyone else, so why would you want to wear the same as them? You wouldn't. Instead you prefer eyewear that is unique and full of personality, just like you. Introducting the Warby Parker Fall Collection.

With nine new frame shapes and two new colors, this season's collection is filled with exciting new options for bold, creative personalities. For the adventurous, there are three clever styles in crystal. For the polished professionals, there are three updated, hardworking acetate frames with titanium temples. And for the folks that really mean business, there are a handful of designs in angular silhouettes. There are two new hues: Striped Pacific and Petal Tortoise. One brings in the blues of the sea, while the other adds a painterly mix of soft pinks and earthy browns. All frames are ready to be shipped to your door for you to try on with the Warby Parker Home Try-On program and all frames purchased precipitate another pair to be donated to someone in need. The Warby Parker Fall Collection is now available in retail stores and online, and starts at just $95 a pair.  Progressive lenses starting at $295 a pair.

Have a great week.
Debi

Natural Shave Soap

Natural Shave Soap Recipe from Adorned From Above


 Welcome to Blast From The Past Saturday.  Every Saturday I will be posting a previously published post, in order to take my weekends off.
Debi 

===Originally posted May 16, 2012===

This recipe goes along with the Pre-Shave Oil that I posted May 4, 2012 .  I originally made my son the shave cream that I have made from the Frugal Granola Blog, and that shave cream is great.  I decided that I would try to make shave soap and put it in a mug since he uses a brush to put his shaving cream on his face.  My son, Vince, has been kind enough to show us how great this shave soap works.

Pre Shave Oil from Adorned From Above
Pre-Shave Oil
I looked through many recipes and didn't really find anything that I thought would work, so I decided to experiment.  I knew that I did not want to used glycerin soap, since it does not seem to lather as well in shaving cream, it seems to get gummy ( I found that out the hard way making Jillee's Shave Cream).  So I decided that I was going to use Dr. Bonner's Baby-Mild Pure Castille Soap.  I also wanted to use Coconut Oil since it works well on his face.  I also added some essential oils.  When I write the recipe below, I will give the measurements

Next I tried to melt the soap and the coconut oil on the stove.  That did not work at all.  So I took it out of the pot and put it in the mug to heat in the microwave.  Now here is the tricky part.  You can only put it in the microwave for about 20 seconds at a time.  You must keep a close eye on it, because as I found out, it will boil over and make a huge mess.  It will not look smooth and great in the mug, but it works great, as you will see in the pictures.

Natural Shave Soap Recipe

1 bar Dr. Bonner's Unscented Baby-Mild Pure Castille Soap grated
2 TB coconut butter
2 TB distilled water
5 drops tea tree oil
5 drops bergamot essential oil
3 drops lemon essential oil

Put the soap, coconut oil, and distilled water into a double boiler to start  to heat and melt as best as you can.  It seems to form a ball, and not melt well, which is okay.  Once it is semi soft, take off of the heat, and add the tea tree, the bergamot, and the lemon essential oil mix with a spoon.

Then put into the mug that you are going to use it in.  Then put it in the microwave for about 20 seconds at a time.  Take it out and stir, then put back in.  It will probably take a minute at most.  Push down from the sides of the mug and smooth out in the bottom of the mug, as best as you can.

Let it cool down, and it is ready to use.

Here are pictures of how well this Natural Shave Soap works.

Natural Shave Soap Recipe from Adorned From Above
Applying Natural Shave Soap

Natural Shave Soap Recipe from Adorned From Above
Finishing Applying Natural Shave Soap

Natural Shave Soap Recipe from Adorned From Above
Shaving


Natural Shave Soap Recipe from Adorned From Above
Clean Shaven Face
I would love to hear your ideas on this Natural Shave Soap.  Tell me what you think, and what you think can be done better.

Have fun and enjoy,
Debi

Friday, September 12, 2014

Spice Syrup a Retro Recipe

spice syrup recipe from The Settlement Cookbook

Today, I am sharing a recipe for Spice Syrup from the Settlement Cookbook.  When I saw this recipe, I thought it would be great to use in fall recipes for drinks and other things.  I had never made a syrup before and this is a very simple recipe.  I was also how surprised at how good it came out.  I thought that it would just be good in hot spiced cider, but after tasting it I realized it would be great in tea, over baked apples, and even on pancakes, french toast, or waffles.  It sounds strange but it tasted almost like candy when I tasted it.  Give it a try, it will definitely spice up your fall.

spice syrup recipe from The Settlement Cookbook

Spice Syrup

Ingredients:

4 cups water
2 lbs sugar
1 TB whole cloves
1 TB whole allspice
6 cinnamon sticks

Directions:

Put the spices in a bag or tea balls.  I used 2 medium tea balls.  I just put the cinnamon sticks into the pan, you could put them in a bag or cheesecloth to keep your syrup cleaner, but I kind of like the rustic feel to this syrup.  

Put water, sugar in a pan and bring to a boil.

Let boil for 5 minutes or until clear.

Next, reduce heat, and add the spices and continue cooking until the syrup has a nice flavor.   Approximately 30 to 45 minutes.  It took mine about 45 minutes.  Mine is pretty thick like a real maple syrup.

After it has finished cooking you will pour into a bottle to use as needed.  I also used some mason jars.  I am going to give some away as gifts to family members.

Store in the refrigerator.

spice syrup recipe from The Settlement Cookbook

Next week, I will share a few ways to use this spice syrup for some great fall drinks.

I always love hearing from you.  Tell me how you would use this spice syrup.

Have a great weekend.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Apple Spice Dump Cake

apple spice dump cake from Adorned From Above

I worked on several Dump Cake recipes a few weeks ago and this Apple Spice Dump Cake is a winner.  It was really delicious and very simple.  I made several that just didn't taste very good.  I tried the kind where you mix the cake mix with sprite or flavored sparkling water, Yuck!  At least I didn't love the taste of them.  I think you need to mix the cake mix and sprite, otherwise it was powdery.  It didn't just mix itself while it cooked.  So I made two of these and still didn't like what I came out with.  they didn't get the depth of flavor that you get when I mix the cake batter in other ways.  So now this is probably my 6th or 7th dump cake, and as you can see, I have this is only the second recipe that I have posted (last week I posted Blackberry Cobbler Dump Cake).  So it has hit and miss when I have tried making them.  Everyone still loves them, they are just not amazingly, delicious, and only the most delicious recipes end up on Adorned From Above.  There are a lot of misses that you do not see.  Anyway, on to this Apple Spice Dump Cake recipe.

apple spice dump cake from Adorned From Above

Apple Spice Dump Cake

Ingredients:

2 21 oz cans apple pie filling
1 15 oz package spice cake mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 x 13 casserole dish with non stick cooking spray.

Spread apple pie filling in bottom of the casserole dish.

Mix cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil until smooth about 2 minutes.

Spread cake mix over the pie filling.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Pull out of the oven and cool for 15 minutes.

Serves 10 to 12

I hope that you like this recipe and I always love hearing from you.  What is your favorite dump cake recipe?  I am up for trying anything.

Have a great week.
Debi
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Sale on Craftsy Food and Cake Decorating Classes

Up to 50% Off On Food and Cake Decorating Classes
(sponsored post, but all opinions are my own)


I love the craftsy classes, and I know you will also.  Once I tried them, I was hooked.  I was just taking the Donut Making Class on Saturday, and I am getting ready to take the French Pastry Shop Classics, by Colette Christian  and Secrets of Gluten-Free Baking (w/ Richard Coppedge, Jr.) classes.  I have already signed up for them, I just need take them.  Maybe, later this week.


Craftsy Cake Decorating Class


Best-selling Craftsy classes are on sale for one week only! Save up to 50% off on Food and Cake Decorating classes taught by some of the world's best instructors. Once you purchase a class, it's yours to enjoy forever. Every class comes with a money-back satisfaction guarantee!



This sale is through September 15, 2014

I hope that you'll give them a try.

Have a great week.
Debi

Rigatoni Bolognese Stoup

rigatoni Bolognese stoup / a thick Italian soup

I made this great Rigatoni Bolognese Stoup for dinner last Saturday and was really pleased with how it came out.  We snapped into fall pretty quickly last week.  It was 96 degrees out on Tuesday and it dropped down to a high of 67 on Friday, so that really put me in the mood for a warm hearty meal over the weekend.  I had this in the back of my head to make over the last week after my mom told me about a recipe for lasagne soup.  Since my sweet hubby is allergic to cheese I knew I wanted to try a recipe out of a my Bolognese sauce.   I also love very thick stew like soups or as Rachel Ray calls them Stoups.  I was going to make spaghetti stoup, but I wanted something heartier that would really hang onto the pasta, and rigatoni fit the bill.  So this is how this Rigatoni Bolognese Stoup came to life.

rigatoni Bolognese stoup / a thick Italian soup / garlic bread on top

Rigatoni Bolognese Stoup

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 lb bulk sweet Italian sausage
1 1/2 lbs Sweet Italian Sausage links, sliced into 1 inch slices
2 cans 28 oz crushed tomatoes
1 28 oz can tomato puree
2 15 oz cans tomato sauce
2 3.8 oz cans sliced black olives
1 8 oz packaged sliced mushrooms, cleaned
2 cups diced onions
5 cloves garlic
2 TB Olive Oil
2 TB chopped parsley
3 TB Italian seasonings
1 tsp ground oregano 
1 1/2 tsp basil
2 tsp baking soda
3 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
4 TB sugar
2 to 4 cups beef broth
8 oz Rigatoni, cooked

Garlic Bread Ingredients

6 to 8 slices french bread
1/2 cup butter
2 tsp minced garlic
1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Put the olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven.  Turn heat to medium to heat oil, then add the onions.

Cook onions until translucent, and then add the garlic and continue cooking for another 2 to 3 minutes.

Next add your ground beef, bulk italian sausage, and sliced sausage cook until browned.

At the same time as you are browning the meats add the parsley, italian seasonings, oregano, and basil.

Once ground meats are browned, drain fat from pan.

Next add your crushed tomatoes, tomato puree, and tomato sauce.

Heat until bubbling and then turn heat down to simmer.

Next add the baking soda and sugar.  Stir well.  It will bubble and get foamy.  The baking soda removes some of the acid from the sauce, which helps with heartburn.

Continue simmering for 3 to 4 hours.

You can then take out 1/2 of the sauce to set aside for another meal.  I will be using the other half in a chicken recipe.  You can either freeze it or use it in the next few days.

Now to make it into stoup is pretty easy.

You will add 2 to 4 cups of beef broth.  I only added 2 cups, because I like mine very thick, but add the broth to reach your desired thickness.

Continue cooking until boiling.

Next add the the cooked rigatoni and cook for a few more minutes

You will next mix the butter and garlic and spread it over your bread slices.  Top with Parmesan cheese and put under the broiler for 2 minutes or until golden brown.

Put one slice of garlic toast on top of stoup and serve.

Serves 6 to 8 servings

I hope you like my Rigatoni Bolognese Stoup.  It's such a hearty meal and the garlic toast on top is really delicious.

Have a wonderful week.
Debi
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Monday, September 8, 2014

Dear God Note 6

Dear God note 6 verse Matthew 7:1 judge not let ye be judged
Judge not, lest you be judged
Matthew 7:1

When I was visiting my mom in California, I was able to spend time with a friend.  While we were at lunch we were talking about something (I can't remember what right now), but what came up was people judging other people.  I find that sometimes I can be judgmental.  I try very hard not to, and I am learning slowly to pray for a person rather then judging the person.  What I would like to happen is to immediately pray for that person to know God with all their heart.

She said something that really stuck with me about judging.  She said when we judge we are trying, convicting, and then judging a person without all of the facts.  The only one who knows the whole story and is entitled to judge, is God.  I want to make sure I'm clear with everyone, this is not about a court trial, but what goes on in our everyday lives and in our hearts.  I want God to use me to pray for other people when the urge to judge comes up.  Help me to pray for them to find God and know God's will for their lives.  I want my initial response to be prayer, not judgement.

I have shared a few verses below that I hope you'll like.
Have a blessed week.
Debi

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 
Luke 6:37

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Romans 14:13