California Fashion to Resort Wear-Fresh Produce

Recently I have been noticing many advertisements for the Fresh Produce clothing line.  Now that Spring is here the bright colors of their clothes is a breath of fresh air! 

When I was approached by the company to write a review I was really excited. There are so many beautiful pieces to choose from!

Since I live in the Pacific Northwest I decided that I should choose something with long sleeves.  I wanted to be able to start wearing it as soon as  possible! This was not an easy task, there were so many great choices!

I finally selected the Oxford Shirt and I love the color Sunrise. There are numerous colors to choose from. You will have your choice of what seems like all the colors of the rainbow, including white and black too!


Fresh Produce is primarily Made in the U.S.A. and now ships to over 200 countries, "so women outside of the U.S. can enjoy the colorful styles too!"

From California Fashion to Resort Wear you will find what you need for both women and children.

Fresh Produce can be found in Nordstrom and over 500 specialty boutiques and resort retailers around the globe.

The package arrived today and I was struck with the quality of the fabric, color and craftsmanship.  I am glad that I chose a size Medium because they do run large.

We have been waiting for the sun to shine to be able to take a picture of me wearing the blouse. Living in Seattle can be a challenge to find that perfect day! Despite the rain we finally made it out!

It is so comfortable and I can't wait until it gets warmer to be able to wear it with my white Capri pants!

Today April 1st Fresh Produce is having a 25% One Day Sale on their website. I will be shopping for more of these great clothes!

Don't forget to check out Find Fresh Produce Clothing on Facebook and on Twitter too!

Related Articles

• Say No To "Mom" Clothes! (thefashionablebambino.com)
• Fresh Produce Clothing Review (eightymphmom.com)
• Holiday Gift Guide-Fresh Produce Review (tatertwins.com)
• Summer Clothing From Fresh Produce (lifemusiclaughter.blogspot.com)

Disclaimer: I received the blouse from the company in order to write this review.  I did not receive any monetary compensation. The views and opinions about this product are purely my own. 

Seattle Ice Storm Took Us By Surprise

It snows occasionally here in the Pacific Northwest and Seattle, but normally it melts very quickly and the rains begin. I personally prefer the snow over the dreary rains, but Mother Nature decides what and when!

On January 18, 2012 we were outside with the kids and grand-kids building snowmen and a snow fort! Around a foot of snow had fallen and the girls who are just 2 and 4 were having so much fun. Snow angels, snow balls, carrots for the snowmen's noses, sleds and mittens were scattered around our yard.  

After we built the snow fort and everyone left we lost power. Losing power in our home means no water or phones/internet too. We found some dry wood and started up the wood stove, made some dinner and went to bed.

Then the ice storm hit. We could hear the trees breaking apart and dropping their heavy snow-laden branches. We looked out the window and some of the branches had fallen into the ground like spears. We could hear the trees falling all around us. We packed up the blankets and moved away from the windows and "slept" in the middle of the living room.

Image via Wikipedia

By morning the trees that were left were twisted and frozen in place where they stood when the storm hit.

Their branches were covered in thick ice, which at times looked like beautiful jeweled Christmas bulbs.

Branches, tree tops and trees were splintered off and were sprinkled all over the property.

The power lines were down across our driveway and into the pasture.  Our poor horse was so frightened she stayed in the barn all day.

We were trapped in our home until Sunday when the power company finally came and pulled the power lines away.

We used the melting snow from the roof to water our animals and the snow on the ground to keep our perishables cold.  The power and water remained off until Thursday January 26th.

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After all was said and done we were even called "Snow Wimps" by the L.A. Times! Joshua Trujillo from the Seattlepi has some great photos of the storm for you to check out too.

We survived of course, played scrabble and cribbage and read a few books by gas lanterns. Camping is fun, but I think just a couple of days of it is enough for me!

Related articles

• Response to the snow letters (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Twin winter storms slamming Pacific Northwest - CNN (edition.cnn.com)
• A day made for sleds and snowmen (heraldnet.com)
• Ice storm warning: stay home if you can (beaconhill.seattle.wa.us)
• PHOTOS: Ice storm hits Seattle area (seattlepi.com)
• Washington Ice Storm - 19 January 2012 (efhphotography.wordpress.com)

To be happy, one must find one's bliss!-Gloria Vanderbilt

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During the month of December I have joined the Reverb 2011 Project.  Some of my posts will require much courage as I will be answering as truthfully as I can, brutally honest, reaching deep within my soul.  Something that I have been refusing to do for years.

17. Bliss

ImagineGolf

What are three things that make you feel the most blissed out? What can you do in 2012 to invite more of that into your life?

“Now a soft kiss - Aye, by that kiss, I vow an endless bliss.” 

― John Keats 

Relaxing on the ocean gives me great feelings of Bliss! The warm breeze, watching the seagulls and birds flying in the beautiful blue sky, hearing the waves hit the shore and the hot white sand between my toes are a few of the things that create peace within me. 

Where we currently reside there are no warm white sandy beaches!  The Pacific Northwest is beautiful but their beaches are lacking in that department! Therefore in 2012 there would need to be either more traveling to the Caribbean or maybe a move to a beautiful tropical island! Being loved and spending time with my family also creates feelings of Bliss and Joy in my soul. 

18. Ordinary Sparkling Moments

Image via Wikipedia

Reflect on the ordinary moments that bring you joy (e.g., the tea pot whistling, the sun setting). What moments would you like to relish in the coming year?

The first thing we do in the morning is have a couple of cups of coffee. Despite my Latin background, I never drank coffee before I married my husband.  The day just feels odd if we haven't done our java ritual!


When it is sunny and warm here in Seattle, we love to sit outside and drink our coffee. Sitting between the hummingbirds and butterflies fluttering around the flowers adds that perfect ambiance to our morning!


To be able to relish more of these moments it is looking as if maybe we should make that big move. As I write this, I am beginning to see a common thread! Will we actually make the move we are always talking about? Only time will tell...

19. Joy

Photo Credit Adriana Negron

What does a joyful life look like for you?

Overall a joyful life is one filled with gratitude.  I always love to say, "The best gift in life is when you recognize all the blessings that surround you!" 

When you are able to be grateful and recognize all these blessings as soon as you open your eyes in the morning, your day can only get better from that moment on!

For me to be surrounded by a husband that truly loves me, the blessings of my children and grandchildren help create a joyful life! Again with my theme, living near the ocean on the Caribbean, is the dream location I would love to be spending my joyful life!

20. Community

Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2011? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2012? (Author: Cali Harris)

These are a few online communities which I love.  My goal is to be more active in some in the upcoming year.

Related articles

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• Reverb11 - better late than never! (therevandtheboys.wordpress.com)
• Sunday Morning Bliss (hummingbirdand10th.wordpress.com)

A Christmas Town in the Cascade Mountains

No matter what time of year you visit, Leavenworth is one of the prettiest towns in Washington!


However, if you can make it to Leavenworth in December you will not be disappointed!


We have been able to visit this beautiful "Bavarian" Town several times since we have been living here in Washington State.


The Christmas Lighting Ceremony is one not to be missed. Check out all the wonderful activities just waiting for you in this little Christmas Town!

How to Get to Leavenworth

A fun way to get to Leavenworth for the Christmas Lighting Ceremony is on the Snow Train from Alki Tours.  The tour runs on December 3 or 10 or 17, 2011.

By Car or Train
From Seattle to Leavenworth
From Portland, OR to Leavenworth
From Spokane to Leavenworth
From Vancouver, BC to Leavenworth
Via Amtrak

Some of the Fun Activities




If you would like to stay in Leavenworth, we recommend visiting the Sleeping Lady- A Mountain Resort. We have stayed there several times and wouldn't stay anywhere else. Your stay includes a wonderful breakfast and dinner. 

A Day in Leavenworth With the Family

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The X Factor USA with LeRoy Bell!

Enter LeRoy's Website

I am a Simon Cowell fan, so of course I began watching The X Factor when it first started airing.  As a 50 something grandmother and mother of 5, I loved that there was no upper age limit unlike American Idol. 

One of the contestants is LeRoy Bell.  He is the oldest member of the current contestants trying to win the Grand Prize, which is a $5,000,000 recording contract! Does he look 60? Uhmm... No!! 

View of Mt. Rainier near our home in Washington!

When I first heard him sing it was amazing! Then I realized that he was also from the Seattle area too!  So quickly he became our number one favorite in our home! 

Visit his website to read more about him! 

Nicole Talking About LeRoy

Who is your favorite?  Don't forget to vote!

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• LeRoy Bell singled out in 'X Factor' lip syncing coverage (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
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Martha Stewart said You Can't, but I Found a Way!

Washed and ready to be pared, cored and cut!

As a native of Florida and the Caribbean I didn't know much about growing apples! However, when we moved to Seattle it bothered me that most of the apples from our trees were being wasted or given to our horse and Labradors as a snack.  I would pick the apples I needed for my pie, but what about all the rest?

A few years ago I was watching Martha Stewart and one of the audience members asked her if  you could freeze the apples for pies and desserts.  Martha said no, however, I knew better.  After years of seeing them go to waste, I decided to see what would happen if I froze them already seasoned ready for each pie.  Here is what I do using my mom's Perfect Apple Pie recipe!

Recipe Card Maker

Get your freezer bags dated and ready to either mix directly in each bag or in a bowl. Mix the sugar, flour, spices and salt.

Mix those seasonings either in each bag or bowl!

Mix enough for each pie separately.

Pare, core, and cut 6-8 tart apples for each freezer bag. There are several types of coring tools on the market, like the one you see pictured here.

Apples seasoned and ready for the freezer!

The apples do not need to be defrosted prior to being placed in the pie crust.  Just take the bag out of the freezer and pour the contents into your crust of choice and bake!  The apples have been as tasty year-round as when they were freshly picked in the Fall!

Enjoy!