Mason Jar Strawberry Shortcake

Mason Jar Dessert: Layered Strawberry Shortcake
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MASON JARS- SLICED STRAWBERRIES- GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST- COOL WHIP, OR REDI WHIP IF SERVING IMMEDIATELY- PUDDING (Vanilla)- POUND CAKE AND ANGEL FOOD CAKE MIXED TOGETHER AND BROKEN INTO BITS. LAYER IN THE JAR AS DESIRED... so easy!

Pound Cake and Angel Food Cake mixed together

Graham Cracker Crust Topping

Lids were placed to save them for later eating

Zen Fable and Beautiful Dahlia

I heard this Zen fable years ago and came across it again this Sunday morning.
It's a wise fable about judgement. Photographing this Dahlia in my garden today created a symbolic reminder to judge less and enjoy more, judge less and love more. Gardening quiets the mind and nourishes the soul.
 Zen Fable:
There was once a wise old farmer who owned a prize horse. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came over to offer their condolences. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "Maybe," was all the farmer replied. A few days later the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "Maybe," replied the old man again. The following day, the farmer’s son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg. Once again, the neighbors offered their sympathy, saying "How awful." "Maybe," answered the farmer one more time. The day after that, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son of the farmer had a broken leg, they passed him by. The neighbors once again congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “What good fortune,” they said. The farmer replied yet again, “Maybe.”

Blooming Cactus

FLOWERING CACTUS THIS MORNING

These cactus blooms only last one single day. Seeing four blooms on my cactus this week and getting a photo was a moment of gratitude! The blooms have a light honeysuckle scent and the white petals are silky soft. Beautiful.

Omelettes Baked in Muffin Tins

I found this idea on Pinterest  and repinned it to my "That's Clever" board. Create your favorite omelette and bake them in muffin tins. Pour the mixture into greased muffin cups and bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes depending on size of muffin pan. Place them in baggies and store in the fridge, enjoy them all week long. These came out great and I look forward to easy on the go breakfasts this week. Using egg whites that come in the cartons works well too.

Ingredients: Broccoli, Mushroom, Onion Omelettes- some cheese and garlic too

Shredded Broccoli 

Mushrooms into the mix...

I sauteed onion, garlic, mushroom and broccoli prior to adding the eggs

A little Parmesan and Cheddar cheese

Into the Oven they go- YUMMY!

There are many recipes online 

BE KIND

The best part of life is not just surviving, but thriving with passion and compassion and humor and style and generosity and kindness.

- Author Maya Angelou 

so many ways to be kind...

 A little inspiration today as we mourn the sad events of the Boston Marathon and the Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion.

After a week of trauma in the news I was uplifted to find so many resources for kindness, especially the quote by Mr. Rogers that I heard for the first time:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me,

 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." 

1) The Be Kind People Project
2) Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
3) Wiki How: How to be Kind
4) To Be Kind Facebook Page
5) Quotes about Kindness

* Thank you Chula and Bella *

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Ocean Theme Landscaping Gallery of Photos

Ocean Themed Landscaping, Drought Tolerant and Water Wise. I use all types of mediums to create a water wise landscaping with an ocean theme and peaceful oasis effect.

Ideas: Nautical items, Antique pieces, Driftwood, Seashells, Japanese Glass Floats, Rope, Cement Sea Figures, Glass Mulch, Moonstones, Aloe, Succulents, Cactus, Palms, Euphorbias, Sand, Antique Coke bottles, etc. The list is endless! 

Pinterest Photo Gallery Link

Succulents for Retaining Walls and Borders

Succulents are the quintessential plant for borders or retaining walls as they require very little water. Similar to cactus, succulents are able to store water and planting them in cactus mix helps create the perfect soil environment for easy drainage. Group them closely together and mix in rocks for better growth and showy display. Photos below: front yard planter/retaining wall.

 more succulent photos- "see more"...

Succulent of the Day: Echeveria

"Fire and Ice" Echeveria

This is such a beautiful succulent. The sun shines through the thin leaves and the reddish border around the edges creates a dramatic and colorful outline. What a winner. Drought tolerant and easy to grow.

Follow this link for more detailed information

Pinterest Succulent Photos

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DIY: ICE MOLDS WITH CANDLES, FRUIT, FLOWERS, HERBS

DIY: Ice Molds with Candles

Here is a great link for small Ice Spheres that can be infused with fruit, flowers, or herbs. This is a great way to add flavor to a pitcher of water while adding a nice splash of color and decoration. These can be fun for a kids party too with plastic zoo animals or toys in the ice molds.

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Being Inspired

The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give it away.

-by David Viscott

Hawaiian Palm Trees in Oahu

It feels good to come across a quote, a new inspiration that creates a fresh way to look at love and beauty. We can always count on growing in love and being inspired for a lifetime because love has no limits. Love is always expanding and has the possibility for vast creative expression. This is how I view hope, an awareness of the possibility for growth regardless of how the circumstances seem at the moment. I have often read that finding our gifts comes from doing what we love and that sounds simple enough. 

Enjoy your beautiful day