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Paige’s World’s Best Pasta Salad

26 Feb

Pasta Salad

Period. The end.  Since I was a child I have always loved and adored a delicious pasta salad.  In my youth, I became an expert at making different variations of one of my favorite any-time snacks; so much so that when girlfriends would come over, they would always ask me to make said pasta.  So… after years of experimenting and perfecting, I am sharing it with you!!

This pasta salad recipe is a stand-alone recipe, but please note that I have used just about every kind of veggie in the fridge to create a version of this recipe.  So that means, if it includes something you don’t like, omit it (with a few caveats which I’ll make note of) and if you want to add something else, by all means do!

by DaisyChic via ETSY

by DaisyChic via ETSY

Ingredients:

Veggies: ALL RAW

The veggies I am mentioning are my favorites, and the ones I always include when making this recipe.  However, if you have extra squash or zucchini, you can always add them as well.

  • Cherry Tomatoes: halved if large, whole if small (use however many you want! I usually use a whole pint for 1 box of pasta, but I do love a tomato)! In the summer, mine includes heirloom tomaters as well! Yum!
  • Chopped Carrots (I have even used the ones already shredded in the bag in the produce section before, so easy!)
  • Broccoli ~1-2 heads: chopped into florets, if you are trying to make this lower carb, I’d go for 2 heads!
  • ½Yellow or Orange Bell Pepper: Chopped (MUST)
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes: chopped, I do about a cup for one box of pasta (makes sure to get the ones that ARE NOT in the oil!)
  • 1-2 Cloves of Fresh RAW Garlic: minced (MUST!)
  • Raw Cauliflower: Chopped (optional)
  • Fresh Basil (optional)
  • Fresh Black Kalmata Olives (optional)

Extras:

  • Pinenuts: Just enough to sprinkle (optional)
  • 4 Sticks of Pepper jack or fresh Mozzarella Cheese: Chopped (I find the sticks are easy to chop into little cubes and add a buttery richness)
  • Salt and Pepper: to taste
  • A pinch of Sugar (MUST)
  • Olive Oil (MUST)
  • A good Balsamic Vinegar (I have used other kinds before, depending on the style of salad, but balsamic is the best!) (MUST)
  • 1 Box of Pasta: cooked Al Dente, according to packaged directions, rinsed and drained with cold water after cooking.  (I prefer Bowtie)
  • Meat (salami, summer sausage, or diced chicken) (Optional, I usually make this vegetarian)

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Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, big enough to hold all veggies and extras, chop and mix prepared tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, bell pepper, sun dried tomatoes, garlic and cauliflower (if using).
  2. Season mixture from Step 1 with salt and pepper and a quick glug of balsamic, just enough to coat.
  3. After pasta is cooked and rinsed so there is no heat left, toss with a few glugs of olive oil to lightly coat.  Put pasta in with veggie mixture and toss to combine.
  4. After mixture is fairly evenly distributed.  Add salt and pepper to taste, toss in a pinch of sugar, cheese, olives, and a little extra olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste.  Mix. Do not be too heavy handed with the vinegar, since much of it settles to the bottom and just needs to be redistributed. (I store this in a Tupperware so I can give it a good shake as it settles)
  5. Add fresh basil if using at the end!

Tips:

As you can see there are no EXACT measurements for this recipe, which can be hard if you’re not a great cook.  Trust me though, just put as much veggies as you want in this recipe! The more the better! You really can’t mess it up unless you add too much garlic or sauce! Use your little tongue to decide how much is just right! LESS IS MORE!

Also, the 1-2 cloves of garlic goes A LONG WAY, but it’s the secret to this recipe, so don’t skip it!

The next day, you might need to add a touch more vinegar, so taste before you add!

This is so great for large crowds! And it can be put together in less than 20 minutes! I prep the veggies while the pasta is cooking.  I’ve used it for parties, work events, and baby showers and always have people asking for the recipe! Enjoy!

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“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

21 Feb
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Etsy by DaisyChic

Hello my fabulous Glitterati… Long time no BLOG! I know, you can’t believe it, after nearly 2 weeks of web silence… I think I am back.  I’m pretty sure I’ve decided for this post, I might get a little more personal, and share with you what I’ve learned in these last two weeks… because yes, it is certainly surprising what you can learn in two weeks when life manages to throw you a few curve balls… Sometimes, even in spite of all your best efforts, it’s hard to find your happiness DARN IT!

About a year and a half ago, I lost one of the best friends of my life, very suddenly.  And I am telling you this because this week, I’ve thought about my dear friend Christine quite a bit and was reminded of some of the best lessons we learned together in our 10-year friendship…  To start, I remember talking to Christine once about some of the struggles we have endured in our lives, and how now and then, no matter how much work is done to heal; emotionally, through therapy, or just via the wonderful nature of time and growth, sometimes these struggles of our youths or those of our lives can suddenly and without warning come right back to rear their ugly little heads.

I remember describing it to Christine, one day when she was nursing some of her own ‘stuff’, as a deep wound that has been mended and even though the pain is gone and the skin is smooth something large or small happens in life, and almost if by magic the wound is reopened and you have to deal with it.  This is just part of life, and it’s good to be aware of those spots in our lives so we can remember two things: 1) Time will heal most things, including re-opened wounds (thank the Lord!) and 2) “Be kind; Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle (Plato).”

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These last 2 weeks have been hard for me, some of my oldest and newest wounds were reopened, and I just wasn’t prepared.  And, life being… well, life, my husband was also having a difficult two weeks too.  If any of you are married to your best friend like I am, this means you take on your spouse’s burden too, and vise versa… The good news is, generally, we can lean on each other, another lesson I learned from my friend Christine “We can’t all collapse at the same time, we need to fall apart at different times so we can slap each other out of it!” Of course, sometimes this just doesn’t happen, and the people we normally lean into are struggling too… Which can make things much more difficult.

Next, an ugly situation arose… A person who I use to call friend, committed what in my eyes is an “Unforgivable Curse” (I may be watching too much Harry Potter).  After standing up for what I felt was right in an uncomfortable situation (and to be fair this person thought they were doing the same thing as well) this … ehem, friend, basically slandered my FULL name on The Facebook. I was so saddened and mortified… But I learned a few things from this that I want to share with you all, I think they are things you already know, but I realized I hadn’t really ever thought about them… 1) DO NOT EVER POST SOMEONE’S NAME IN A PUBLIC FORUM SO THAT YOU CAN FEEL VALIDATED, no matter how wronged you may feel.  It’s just not right, and that is all I have to say about that.  2) If one of your friends doesn’t follow rule number #1 and slanders a friend, or a person in a public forum, think about what I am about to say.  Most likely, you do not know both sides of the story, so commenting in a negative manor, or ‘liking’ said post, doesn’t really do anything positive for the poster, even if you feel that you are helping.  How would you feel if the rolls were reversed? 3) Stand up for yourself! It’s not ok to give in to people who bully you!!  This is what was so sad about this post, I felt as if this person didn’t get what they wanted, to so they decided to potentially harm me emotionally, or even professionally.

Winston Churchill once said “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” While I don’t think one should go about making enemies, and you must always ask yourself how an enemy was created and take responsibility on your end if you did wrong in YOUR EYES; it’s taken me a long time to be ok with having them.  You just can’t please everyone all of the time and still have a life that is fulfilling FOR YOU.  And trust me here, no one but you is accountable for the life you live and the happiness you obtain therein.  I read something along these lines in a commencement speech once, which unfortunately I cannot find, but these words really put my heart at ease, simply because it’s the TRUTH!  It’s OK to be disliked by some people; sometimes it’s just a byproduct of standing up for yourself, or standing strong for something you believe in. (However, it’s not an excuse to be a jerk 🙂 )

At the end of these weeks, both my hubby and me were just feeling drained, or what my beloved Lucy from ‘I Love Lucy’ would say “BLAHHHHHH”. The two of us had a full-blown case of the Blahs. I might even use the word depressed… Yep, I know, this beacon of happiness got VERY BLUE, and I knew it, but I couldn’t get out of it… So I put some plans in action!!

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First, I took stock of what I had; one of the things that literally touched me into tears was that some people had stood up for me in the afore mentioned post.  Really, people didn’t have to, they really didn’t… I mean these were brave people to speak out against this, and when I saw it, I was so uplifted.  And that was step one; Next, I decided I needed a break, and so, even though I hated to do it because I LOVE my clients, and of course it’s how I pay my bills, I decided to take a day off.  I cannot tell you how an impromptu day off can lift the spirits…  It did so in the same way I always say a good night’s sleep or a nice hot shower does.  Finally, my hubby and I decided to not watch anything on T.V. that would jostle our delicate senses… So we watched Harry Potter… full of childlike fantasy and magic, it took our minds right off the daily stresses and helped lighten the mood.

Just to round it out, here is the biggest secret for getting out of the blues, and it’s something you already know, something I already knew, and something I talked in depth about with my dear friend days before she passed.  The secret is to let go of what you cannot control.  And what dear friends can you control? Not a thing. NOT A THING.  This IS easier said than done, and really it can’t be forced, you have to go through the range of emotions, even if you have it in your head and know it to be true, you have to arrive at the place of letting-go before the burden of a bad day or a week can suddenly and swiftly take flight from your being.

So here I am, sharing this with you, in case any of you are having a hard time or will and hopefully these words will bring you comfort.  It’s going to be ok. I promise. It really is, things tend to end up in the rights. Take care of yourself. Be gentle with yourself and your support. Ask for help, even if it’s just an ear, or someone to make you dinner… It’s ok if someone doesn’t like you. You’ll live, and they’ll live. Sometimes it can be fixed, and sometimes it just can’t, and that’s ok too. You’re going to be ok.

Happy Thursday Everyone!

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Happiness Tip: Live Your Happiness OUT LOUD ~ Fake it Till You Make it!

3 Feb

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by DAZYCHIC via Etsy

Well my dearest friends, I really do think we live in a funny little world.

I have found that days or weeks could go by without ever hearing anyone say anything truly spectacular about their everyday lives.

I mean, I cannot tell you how often I ask people “How have you been” and hear in response a regurgitation of all the awful things that happen or have happened to them in the last year, month, day, or hour… The thing is, and I’ve said this before, I think we live in a society that loves to hear the crappy stuff. Now that’s a bold and spikey statement to swallow… You’re thinking right now, “That’s not true, I love to hear positive things” but let me elaborate…

From a young age I was taught not to be boastful or a braggart; not to be conceited or over-confident in myself or in the life I live…Meanwhile, in the same breath, I was told to have self-confidence and self-esteem, to be both happy and positive as well as grateful for all the things that I have… But here’s the question: How can we do and be all those things if all we hear around us is negative? Or put simply: How can we focus on the positive if all we talk about is the negative?

And now, a story: Once I met a woman who I asked very casually, as I do most people I meet, “How are you?” … To my utter and complete surprise, this seemingly normal gal beamed right back at me “I am sooo good!”

WOW!!! I was so taken aback that I instantly smiled and let her know how rare it was to get such a radiant and cheerful answer like hers back. She proceeded to tell me why she was so good… She hadn’t won the lotto or married her perfect mate… nor did she have the job of her dreams… but she was happy with the day, with the sun and some free time, and yes, her husband who she loved and her small child who she was happy to be away from at the moment… This proclamation really got me thinking about ME. How do I respond when people ask me about ME?

Not long ago, I had fallen victim to the daily ‘bitch-session” with some of my close friends. We didn’t talk about the happy or wonderful things in our lives, only about the rotten things. I would leave the conversations feeling low and dull, not at all happy and uplifted… Not how I felt when I left the conversation with the cheerful stranger mentioned before (who I never saw again but clearly changed my thinking pattern! Thanks stranger!!!!)… With these friends, I rarely brought the good stuff up because I didn’t think anyone wanted to hear it… Think about it, when someone says how in love they are or how happy they are, often we say some smart-ass comment about a genuine and truly positive feeling (I even do this!). We don’t mean to do it; we’ve just been programmed that way!

From that moment on, I vowed to really think about how I was going to answer that question when asked, and how I would speak about a life I really do love (in spite of some really crappy things that can, and do, and will happen).

DISCLAIMER: I’m not suggesting that you lie here people. You’re allowed to have crappy days, or a broken heart, PMS, or just run of the mill bad luck! I’m not implying that you should become a pre-programed Stepford wife! If something’s wrong, and you have friends that you trust who can support you and you can lean into, then tell them; I want to know, I want to help if I can. But DO NOT LET THESE THINGS CONSUME YOU OR YOUR RELATIONSHIPS!!!! You have to make the choice yourself, your peers won’t do that for you, your spouse can’t even do it for you. If you are the somebody who only dishes the negative, trust me, you are doing your relationships AND yourself a disservice.

This week try to Live Your Happiness OUT LOUD, Live Your Life out loud. I’m going to do the same thing! If you’re stuck in the habit of sharing only the crappy parts, sharing the good stuff will feel like bragging at first, it won’t come easy, but FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT (something I learned from my dear friend Christine). That is, just TRY to be MORE positive. Positivity is infectious AND it grows exponentially once shared, especially with people you love and adore. Trust me on this (or you can just be miserable); I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum!

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Happiness Tip: If it FEELS Unhealthy, it Probably IS!

22 Jan

 

 

 

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve EVER received was given to me while I was going through one of the most difficult times in my life.  It was simple and yet MIND-BLOWING:  IF IT FEELS TOXIC, IT PROBABLY IS. This was an epiphany to me! Of course! How could I have not seen it before, I just kept trying to fix things that just were not fixable; and people, these thing DO exist in the world.  It IS ok to let some people and things go.

I had spent so much time thinking and beating myself up… ‘what am I doing wrong’ ‘how could I have saved this friendship, moment, day, etc… (fill in the blank)’; sometimes relationships are just plan UNHEALTHY.  It’s not your fault souly or theirs, but if it can’t be fixed (and I mean by a good dose of communication and work from both ends), it IS ok to let it go.

This piece of advice is guiding me through the next phase of my life, both in my relationships AND in life choices.  When I am making a decision, I find myself really checking in with ME and asking ‘Does this feel like a HEALTHY choice?’ Whether it’s with food or if I’m pushing myself towards one more social event that might take me right over the deep end, I’m trying to make better decisions which really does lead to less stress and MORE HAPPINESS!  Life has been so much better since I let the unhealthy parts go and have begun to apply this simple philosophy to my life.

Thanks Dani for this gem, you probably had no idea you changed my life.

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Happiness is a CHOICE

18 Jan

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I’m pretty certain, on most days that happiness is a choice. Today is Friday, so for most of us that’s reason to be enough to be happy… But what if you work on Saturday? How can you achieve the same level of happiness all day that the rest of the weekend lovers have?

I say, really, CHOOSE happiness today. No matter what!

For me, it’s the knowledge that I am having dinner after work with a dear friend AND get to see so many people AT work that I adore AND actually, my co-workers make me laugh!!

Find your happiness today no matter how small it is!
Happy weekend Y’all!

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Flu BE~GONE: Ginger/Lemongrass Soup

17 Jan

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Get-Better-Soon ~or~ Never-Get-Sick

Lemongrass/Ginger Soup Recipe

So, I am seeing so many of you are sick L. This makes me sad, especially since AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT!  I am going to give you my go to recipe for getting over that flu quick, or trying to ward it away from your homestead.  I will say that I got the idea for this recipe from a dear friend and client, but hers is probably much better and involves a lot more time as she makes her stock from scratch, but I say again, when you’re sick AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT! 

This is so simple to make, that I have literally dragged my near-lifeless zombie-fied body to the kitchen and created a bubbling cauldron of healing goodness.  I ALWAYS have the ingredients on hand in the winter and I believe you should too! It’s even delicious with a  BLT or Grilled Cheese!

Here’s what you need!

  • Ginger, peeled and smashed, cut into 2ish inch cubes (I use a lot or a little depending on how serious I am, more is better! Sometimes you can even use the immersion blender at the end if you want it in the soup… but the soup isn’t as yummy then, ginger is NO JOKE!)
  • Lemongrass (2 sticks, I rinse them, take off the outermost layer after cutting into 2.5 inch pieces)
  • ½ White Onion, chopped
  • 1-3 Cloves of smashed or chopped Garlic (depending on what you can take!)
  • 2-4Tblsp of white vinegar
  • Juice of one Lime
  • 1 Carton of Chicken Stock 32 OZ
  • 2Tblsp of one of my FAVORITE ingredients, Better Than Bouillon (BTB) CHICKEN *
  • 1 Can of White Meat Chicken, rinsed (I know, canned chicken, but actually it’s not bad and when you are sick it’s perfect. Just rinse it first… or throw last nights chicken breast in)
  • 1 Serrano Pepper (Optional, I literally just cut the tips off and float it in the broth for the tiniest bit of heat)
  • Oil for pan
  • Cut Spaghetti Noodles, as few or as much as you want, I caution not to use too much.

Directions:

  1. Prep your ingredients, you’re sick! Just rough chop all that crap up! Put those bad boys on the cutting board and put your pot on the stove at Medium with just a little twist of olive oil to coat.
  2. Drop the white onion in and let it cook, about 1 minute, coating in the fat, add garlic and cook one more minute.  I like to keep everything in this fresh and white.
  3. Add chicken stock and 2Tblsp of BTB, sir until dissolved.
  4. Drop in Lemongrass and Ginger, bring to a boil; then, reduce to simmer.
    1. (Drop in option pepper here too if you want a little heat)
    2. Add rinsed chicken as well as salt if needed and pepper if you want, and desired amount of vinegar and a hand full of noodles.
    3. Let simmer for 10 minutes to an hour, remove ginger and lemongrass or if you’re too exhausted eat around it… Sometimes I need the soup right then and there, and it’s perfect! You don’t have to let it simmer forever!

This seems involved, but once I developed it, I can make it in a snap and my hubby swears it’s a cure-all!

*Note: Better Than Bouillon is something I have in all three flavors at all times in my kitchen: beef, chicken, and veggie. They make it in a variety of styles including gluten free and organic.  I can’t tell you how often I add it to a soup or sauce, or even as a little something salty and warm in the evening if I’m craving it! Enjoy!

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Happiness Tip: Do One Thing Everyday for YOU!

14 Jan

Source: by9.tumblr.com via Paige on Pinterest

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Happiness Tip ☺

Many of you may already do this, but don’t take the time to actually think about it…

Do one thing for you and only you every single day. Let it be a moment that makes you smile to yourself and feel gratitude for the moment. You don’t have to tell anyone about it and it can be your secret; or, how about you brag about it! I think our society lends itself much easier to the negativities of the day rather than the small happiness’s that are so abundant! Doing things for yourself can often feel selfish or look selfish to others, so says our society, but I say you’ll be much happier if you do!

Now, a story…
Once, I was a Starbucks JUNKIE! Sometimes my hubby and I would lay tired in bed and dream of the next mornings Starbucks run (Who am I kidding, we still do). Literally, we talk about our excitement for the next morning’s coffee before drifting off to bed!!

After much thought and consideration, and one really nice espresso machine given to us for our wedding, I decided to do a little research into how to make the perfect morning iced espresso for myself. I started with cheaper Safeway roasts but after speaking to many coffee enthusiasts, mainly from Europe (my supreme belief is that Europe contains all my foodie lusts)… I decided to invest, once every 3 weeks, in the coffee of my dreams… To some, it’s not the most expensive, but to me $15 is a lot to spend on a can of coffee… But my Starbucks drinks were quickly becoming much more expensive at around $4 a pop! I made a quirky little coffee nook with the sugar carefully placed in the cutest little bowl and I even have a special jug for my creamer with the fanciest little cups to pour my espresso in… Frivolous, yes, but oh so marvelous for ME!

Each dawning, no matter how painful getting out of bed might seem, my first thought of the morning is not what I have to do, but that moment… My moment. Alone with something special I have given myself… slightly extravagant and all mine.

This week, you should try this. Think of something that can be yours, your moment and gift to yourself every single day that you can enjoy. Maybe yours is a trip to Starbucks or reading 10 minutes of Perez Hilton in the morning. Allow yourself that and while you’re doing it, smile!! Cheesy, yes, but I’m telling you it works!!!!!

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Be Thankful Be Happy.

11 Jan

Be Thankful Be Happy.

Hi Guys! Here I am finally in the BLOG-O-SPHERE! I just wanted to get my first little intro blog out to let you know the ‘whys’ and ‘what’s’ of my newest little venture and 2 year resolution come true. So here goes…

Why:
Why should I write a blog, and why should you read it?

Well…simply put, I LOVE LIFE! I am in constant awe in almost equal measure of both the people and things (art, nature, music, literature, let’s be honest here fashion and beauty too), simple or grand that miraculously find their little ‘ole ways smack dab into the middle of my charmed little life!

Now, I’m not old-and-wise like I hope to be at the end, and I’m not charmed for any other reason except I’ve deemed my own-self so, but I do think I have some pretty good insight gained through a myriad of experience, readings, and the incredible one-on-one discussions with my extraordinary friends, family, clients and co-workers that occur in my life just about every single day (hmmm… that felt like a really long sentence). You know exactly who you are and don’t be surprised if something we talked about ends up in this blog, identities changed of course and with tasteful recounting (don’t worry though, your secrets are off limits!) ☺.

Life can be monotonous. It really can be. Life. Can. Be. MONOTONOUS! When I was little I remember my high school counselor asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up… Back then I answered very dramatically “I want to be an actress, I know you’ve heard it before, but I’m really going to be one.” Many years later with the recognition that I have horrible stage fright and generally come across as humorous in almost any rendition I undertake, I have realized that what I want to be when I grow up, what I want to be NOW, is HAPPY…

Happy you say? Oh so easy!!!! Ha! No way Jose! It really isn’t! Happiness, like most great things in life takes work. I’ll say that again, IT TAKES WORK TO BE HAPPY! Sure the Average Joe has good days and bad days (or maybe you’re the fabled happiness unicorn who is always happy, even on a rainy Monday), but what I am talking about is living happily the majority of the time regardless of circumstance; income, job, relationships, or TIME… And this type of happiness takes work!! Although I am not a black belt in this arena, I’ve come pretty far and would like to share, on a fairly regular basis, my ideas about being happy! I hope that sounds marvelous to you! (Disclaimer: If you’re already happy, this might make you even happier!!!)

What:
What types of things will you find here?

The answer to this is both simple and a bit complex, in a word: EVERYTHING!

I’ve already said I am going to share my pit stops on the road to happiness, some of them you may like and some you might find pretty outlandish… But, I think most of you will find a little inspiration here. I think a secret back road to happiness is inspiration! For the most part, I don’t have tons of time to execute major projects so most of what I will be sharing here will quick and simple thoughts, adventures, stories, projects, recipes, and findings… because nothing makes me happier than beginning a new book or ending one, growing something from a seed, learning a new beauty trick, finding a quote that speaks to exactly how I am feeling today, or just adding a little glitter to something☺.

Blog’s coming soon:
-Masks Every Woman Must Own
-Window Sprouts
-Book Recommendations
-World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
-How To Make Your Own Butter
-Winter Skin Remedies
-Chapped Lip Cures

Thanks for being part of it all!

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