A Giveaway for Coffee Lovers Everywhere

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I hope you're having a blast with your loved ones. We sure are. We're currently preparing to get snowed in under another Cape Cod storm, but Tan is watching the kids for us to get out for awhile! (Wish her luck, cause it's only noon and we've already sugared them up significantly!)
 

Sorry for my absence lately, but being with family means less time for photography and blogging. But it means more time making memories... leisurely mornings drinking coffee, big dinners around tables full of your favorite faces...

And time for multiple trips to your favorite coffee shop. 

And a chance for you to win some freebies from MY favorite coffee shop!

Who wants a mug and a pound of coffee?

Soul Full Cup coffee shop in Corning, NY has generously donated two bundles for me to give away! I've been holding onto two pounds of coffee and two beautiful orange mugs to give to y'all and now I'm finally forcing my butt to sit in front of the computer long enough to launch it!

My Dad basically forced me to love coffee because he wanted his kids to drink it with him... it's such a comforting social drink.

So the smell of coffee, bacon, and eggs in the morning will forever remind me of my Dad.

And Soul Full Cup will also remind me of him, as that's where he introduced me to caramel lattes. Many a father-daughter date was had at Soul Full over the years I lived in Corning.

I remember studying there through my time at Corning Community College. And meeting up with friends. Going on dates with My Love. Sipping lattes and reading good books.

There are other great coffee shops in Corning that have a piece of my heart. But Soul Full will always be my favorite. I use my orange coffee mug on an almost daily basis.

So I want to give you a chance to enjoy the bright colors and amazing flavors of Soul Full!

Enter below to win!

I'll be randomly drawing two lucky winners on Wednesday night (EST) to be the happy recipients of a pound of coffee and an orange Soul Full mug!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Soul Full Cup is has a fabulous selection of coffee available on their website if you don't happen to be in the Corning area. Check them out here!

 

Amazon suggestions {affiliate links}

French Press

Single serve French Press

Coffee grinder

How a "Watch" Strengthened My Resolve to be Present... Plus a Giveaway for You

Look what I found!

It looks like a watch, it feels like a watch, but it's NOT a watch.

It's a reminder to slow down. 

And a very important reminder it is...

You don't have to worry about batteries, daylight savings, time zones, or alarms.

It really helps me remember to worry less. period.

It may not minimize or eliminate all time-related worry, but it does remind you that sometimes, the best answer to the question "what time is it?" is "now."

I found this company on instagram (@stealtimeback) and I fell in love with the product and the message.

You can browse their website here to find out more about the "now" movement, check out their shop full of cool now bracelets, and read their awesome blog... full of inspiration and gentle reminders to enjoy this beautiful life that we have a tendency to FLY through at frantic pace.

I've mentioned before that I have always had a problem with perfectionism, being a type-A personality, and having too strict a schedule.

Being a mother has taught me more and more that it's important to free yourself from that self-imposed bondage to the clock.

Here's the blog post where I talk about how freeing it was to lose my watch in Barcelona three years ago. I haven't owned a "real" watch since. And it's been very good for me to be watch-free.

Then here's the post where I talk about my struggle with being obsessed with what's next... too driven, taking on too much, and constantly re-learning to let go and slow down.

You can't make time for what's important unless you're willing to recognize that your time is a precious, finite commodity. You have to say no to some things. And that's really hard for me. I talk about it in depth here. 

This picture that Ana took of me in Amsterdam will always hold a special place in my heart because it illustrates how I'm feeling as I'm working through all these life lessons. The world still runs all around me. But I'm learning how to be still. (that blog post is here)

At German class this week, Jenny taught us how to talk about New Year's Resolutions and she asked us if we had any. In German, I fumbled for the words to say I don't really have any resolutions... except then I changed my mind and said I am continuing last year's resolution to slow down.

Slow down. 
Be here now. Enjoy. Observe. Don't rush.

It amazes me how much more content I am when I'm really focusing on right now.

After I found Steal Time Back, I reached out to them and asked for two bracelets... one for me to proudly wear and one for one of my lucky readers! They graciously and generously responded right away!

So I'm giving away one bracelet... here's where you enter to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One thing I didn't anticipate about this bracelet was how often I would look at it. I guess since it looks and feels so much like a watch, my busy brain still thinks it's a watch!

So even after three years of being watch-free, I'll catch myself wondering what time it is and I'll get the precious reminder that it's NOW whenever I look at my wrist!

It's also a great conversation starter... I've had lots of people notice that my watch isn't a watch and it's started some really interesting talks with friends and even strangers.

So please enter the giveaway and share this post with friends! 

Check out the Time Bandit's website and consider these products as a great little gift for yourself. Or a unique gift for someone else! Let's all join the club and make 2015 a year where we are present in the NOW.

I'll leave you with this great quote:

"There will be more of life to experience tomorrow. And the next day, and the next day.

And I don't have to be running after it all the time. 

Breathe, rest, practice the idea of enough... Full life is lived when the whole system works together, when rest and home and peace live hand in hand with taste and sparkle and go." (Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet)  (emphasis mine)

Giveaway | Get Your Tickets to Grace Studio's Nutcracker Ballet

This one's for my local readers... who wants free tickets to the Nutcracker?

I have SIX tickets to give away for the upcoming Nutcracker Ballet by the dancers at Grace Studio! 

The show is Thursday, December 18th at 6:30pm at the Haus des Bürgers in Ramstein-Miesenbach.

And it's going to be fabulous. I can't wait to see it!

I will be giving away three sets of the tickets. They are expecting to sell out completely! So don't miss out on your chance to enjoy some Christmas magic by some extremely talented dancers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So please enter to win by supporting myself or Grace Studio!

Talk to me in the comments and spread the word about this great upcoming show!

Cookbook Review & Giveaway | The Real Food Journey Book

I came across this cookbook at the perfect time. I was really struggling with finding even the slightest bit of inspiration in the kitchen. I wasn't doing normal meal planning, and we weren't eating well as a result. 

To top it off, I was loading myself with guilt and stress that we weren't eating well.

It's not that I didn't have plenty of ideas (side eye to Pinterest and the 15 cookbooks I own) it's that I lacked inspiration to put those ideas into action! We all want to eat (and feed our families) real, healthy food. But it's not always easy, so sometimes we just give up a little. Am I right?

Trina Holden is spreading a real food message that is very freeing because she reminds us that eating healthy is a journey, not a target to hit.

She quotes a beloved naturopath who gently reminded her that "Stressing about what you eat is as bad as eating a candy bar." What a brilliant concept to grasp... especially for a type-A, control freak person like yours truly.

Stress is so bad for our bodies.

And this book is all about educating yourself and making changes without stressing!

One of my favorite quotes from Trina's book is that "learning to cook smarter, not harder, will help you avoid burnout and enjoy the journey."

Burnout - check. I was all over that. 

Being in a really busy season was leaving me running for the hills at the mention of dinner. Or bristling whenever Jesse opened the fridge looking for something, anything, to eat. Trina calls this time "survival mode" and emphasizes that you need to focus on the bare bones of what keep you and your family healthy.

I loved the way she emphasized cutting yourself slack during the different seasons of your life. 

It's hard for me to admit that there are times when I'm in survival mode, and my motivation in the kitchen takes a big hit.

When she got to that part about the seasons, I felt like a big sister was sitting me down and looking me in the eyes and kindly reminding me to stop feeling bad that there's boxed mac n cheese in my pantry. Sometimes life happens and you really need that mac n cheese!

And it's not just about not judging where you're at in your own real food journey, but about extending that same grace to others! No judging here! She breaks down the baby steps and makes it so easy to learn and apply.

She explains the basics of traditional eating (like why full fats are best and why you should soak your grains) and she does it succinctly enough for even the busiest among us to make time for. Which is great if you don't feel up for a 650+ page "textbook" cookbook like Nourishing Traditions {affiliate link} ... though both Trina and I would highly recommend you read it at some point! ;o) 

I can think of ten recipes (at least!) that make this cookbook worth every bit of the $10 it costs... Oven-baked pancake, chocolate peanut butter muffins, herbed seasoning salt, homemade ranch mix, easy homemade gravy, chicken and rice soup, fermented lemonade, sloppy joes, soaked cornbread, and sweet & sour meatballs! 

And if you don't believe me that it's an awesome book, just ask my family! Jesse made specific comments after I read it - he could tell there was a huge boost in my desire to try new things and start doing the good old things again. (Like bulk preparation to make my life easier, simple but effective meal plans, and weekly homemade chicken stock.) 

But here's the main reason I want you to buy it:

The best part of Trina's cookbook are her kind words of encouragement that meet you exactly where you are in your real food journey. 

Everyone needs an occasional pat on the back that reminds us we're doing the best we can for our families with the knowledge we have. 

And Trina comes alongside you as a non-judgemental teacher and friend.

So who can benefit from this book? 

Absolutely everyone!

Trina's kindly donated a free copy of the book for another giveaway! Just enter to win (as many times as you like) and spread the news!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you can't wait for the giveaway to end and you just have to have your copy now, you can get the book by following this link:

Your Real Food Journey Book: a Gentle Guide to Steady Progress

Keep it in mind for friends and family for the holidays, too!

Thank you Trina, for adding some encouragement to my cookbook collection. In a real-food world full of judgement and "you should be doing THIS," your words are a breath of fresh air to this crunchy Momma. And I am LOVING all your great recipes!

Giveaway | Nourish Your Skin with Natural Products from Raisin' Acres Farm

I'm so excited today!

I am absolutely in love with this company and I get to share some of their goodies with you!

Dry-skin season is upon us! Lily's eczema is already flaring up. And with all I have on my plate right now, making natural lotions and potions for her is pretty low on the priority list.

Outsourcing to the rescue! 

Sherri Stickler of Raisin' Acres Farm makes these fabulous soaps, lotions, and balms out of goats' milk and all natural/organic ingredients.

You can find their website here.

On top of these fabulous products that you can feel good about putting on your skin (and the skin of your loved ones) she also blogs about her wealth of knowledge.

You have to check her out! Raisin' Acres Farm Blog

This woman is boss on all things crunchy. Reading her blog is like pulling up a chair in her kitchen and grilling her with questions about natural remedies, gardening, essential oils, fermenting, immune support, and cooking... while you sip a cup of warm chai and get a good laugh, too!

Raisin' Acres Farm sent me some samples and she also donated THREE sets of goodies that I get to pass on to you, my faithful readers!

My favorite product so far is the soap. We wash our hands so often (or, rather, I try to encourage us to wash our hands so often) that it really drys out the skin in winter.

This goat milk soap is so gentle and soft! 

The scents are fantastic... my favorite is the lavender/patchouli.

I also really like the rose cream, which I use all over for Lily. And I've been using the Momma's Medicine on her especially dry patches, with great results.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So here's the giveaway! Use rafflecoptor to either "like" the donor's page, my page, follow me on twitter, or tweet a message about the giveaway! 

It's that easy!

At the end of the giveaway I'll select three winners to be the lucky recipients of NOT ONLY a goody box of one of the Raisin' Acres Farm bundles, but ALSO a few Happy Hippos from Germany... they are pretty much the best little candy ever! You will die and go to Nutella Heaven. (Unless you have a nut allergy... then please. Don't consume!)

But seriously, enter to win! Enter multiple times! Tell your friends to enter!

Let's support Raisin' Acres Farm AND keep our skin soft and paraben-free this winter!