Good morning friends.

Well, at least I’m trying to make it a good one… It’s been chaotic already. Hope you have a great day and don’t forget to enter the earrings giveaway on my PnP Facebook page.

I started a new page called Sunkissed Creations. I’m making and selling custom jewelry, so come check it out! Hope you like it!

See you later!

So with that being said… here’s some great info from Jenny Daniels on how to go “green” at home:

“Quick Tips for a Greener Room

The word “green” gets bandied around a lot lately. Barring establishing a windmill farm in the kid’s sandbox or clothing the whole family in hemp, it’s pretty easy to feel left out of the movement. However small changes do add up to big rewards, so the next time you start to redecorate consider making effort to go the greener. Eco-friendly choices often make economical sense as well. Making environmentally friendly choices can green up your wallet as well as the planet.

Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans circulate air in the room so that you may opt out of air conditioning, or at least utilize it less. They are a low energy source of climate control in your house, and simple to install to boot. Gone are the days of unattractive bulky monstrosities, sleek modern designs are available with West Elm coupons.

Garden as Decor

Plants naturally filter the air. Incorporate plant life in your decor. Increase your greenness by planting herbs in small wall hanging pots. Not only are you creating beautiful, living wall decoration, you also reduce your carbon footprint by eliminating the need to purchase herbs at the grocery store that have to shipped on big, gas guzzling trucks. Fresh mint in your mojitos is a great way to impress the neighbors too.

Paint

Sure they don’t make paint with lead any more, but there are still all sorts of nasty toxic chemicals in the cerulean blue you want to slather on your wall. Look for water-based options with low to zero VOCs.  There are also no-VOC collagen options available. Ultimately choosing a more eco-friendly paint is safer for your family, and also leaves less of an imprint on the globe.

Lightbulbs

Replace incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescents or LEDs.  Not only do these types of lightbulbs utilize less energy, they also have longer lifespans creating less waste. Initially these new kinds of lightbulbs produced unattractive light, making them poor choices for living spaces and decorating. However new versions are less harsh and more functional. NerdWallet’s coupon listings have great deals on lighting.

Sustainable Flooring

Both bamboo and cork provide great natural alternatives to vinyl or traditional hardwoods. Bamboo and cork are durable and sustainable materials.  They also happen to be highly attractive and unique choices that set the tone of a room

Recycle!

Don’t just fill up the blue recycling bin.  Genuine recycling means use what you have to create a new look. Paint older furniture to give it a fresh face or choose an elegant slipcover for the ratty old couch. Look for gently used items at antique and resale shops versus. If you absolutely must part with old furniture, consider passing them on to a college student, posting on Freecycle, or hosting a rummage sale. Don’t ever throw old furniture away to sit in a landfill, there is a better use for it somewhere.

With a few quick edits, refresh your room and make it friendlier to the environment. Ultimately take time to be aware of the materials you are using and the impact of your remodel on the world around you. Try to make as little impact on the earth as possible, but feel free much impact as you like with your color choices!”

Thanks so much for the wonderful “green” info Jenny!

Have a great weekend all!

I’m still waiting to get a surgery date for the double mastectomy that I must have this month.

We are finally getting settled into our new house, but we are also 3 hours away from family and friends. It’s a bit stressful, but I love the area we are in. I hope I can recover from the surgery peacefully here.

Anyways, in honor of breast cancer awareness, Custom Weaves is letting me host a giveaway for one of their awesome Survivor Bracelets.

The bracelet can be done in any color off their color chart. The winner will need to just give Custom Weaves a size, color, and mailing address. (US addresses only)

WIN IT!

To enter:

1.) Like Custom Weaves on Facebook

2.) Like Pattycakesnpancakes on Facebook

Leave a comment below stating you “liked” both pages.

A winner will be chosen on 5/19/13 @ 3pm EST.

GOOD LUCK!

Again, my mind is numb. Blank almost. I can’t find any more words right now… but this isn’t permanent. It’s just an obstacle that I, and my family will overcome.  I’m a fighter and cancer will not win. I’m going to FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!

The screening is for April 23rd @ 7:30pm at AMC Westshore.

Click the link below to print your passes…

https://www.gofobo.com/rsvp/promotion/bebba7bcccf2e7a950e40d5d8bcb93e3

This is an advance screening to the film so seating is not guaranteed. It’s best to arrive early since seating is first come, first serve.

Anyways…

Rrecently, I was sent a bag of rice from a company called Lundberg.  They sent me their Olde World Pilaf rice blend to facilitate this review.

Lundberg has been selling the Olde World Pilaf for over 20 years in 25lb bags and bulk bins but they just released it in a consumer friendly 1lb package. The Olde World Pilaf is a unique blend of whole grain brown rice, Wehani rice, and Black Japonica rice. It also has black-eyed peas, brown lentils, red lentils, green split peas, and yellow split peas. The rice has a healthy dose of whole grains, protein, and fiber.

Here’s some info from their website…

“Lundberg Family Farms^® is a family-owned and operated business that is committed to producing the finest quality rice and rice products for your family. Since 1937, the Lundberg family has been growing healthy, great tasting rice while respecting and sustaining the earth.

Today, the third generation carries on the family heritage by using eco-positive farming methods that produce wholesome, healthful rice, rice cakes, rice chips and risottos while improving and protecting the environment for generations to come.

Our headquarters is located at 5311 Midway in Richvale, California.”

Click here to check out more of their gluten free products.

The rice and bean blend was a great side dish to my shrimp dinner. It had great texture and a nuttiness to it.

I added a can of black beans to top off the rice and some fried lemon zest for a garnish.

Of course, like all other beans and rice dishes, you have to add seasonings for flavor. That’s the thing about beans and rice, they don’t taste like anything until you add your own flavors. But I really like that the rice blend contained a bunch of beans and lentils for added fiber and they brought the rice to another dimension.

I’m excited to try more of the Lundberg products.

Hope you have a great day!

See you later!

Disclaimer

Which to me means… only 2 more days until Tyler is 2 years old!

I was spoiled when I was a growing up.

Ppphhhhhhhh who am I kidding?

I’m definitely still spoiled and now I’ve got my own toddler to go overboard with. He will be 2 on Sunday and let me just say… he will have a butt load of quite a few gifts to open.

Not to mention, many days of celebration. No, a birthday is not just one day in our house. It’s more like a week-long party.

Most of you know that I’ve had almost 2 weeks of giveaways on the PnP Facebook page to get the party started, but for those of you who aren’t yet aware, here’s some of the fabulous items being given away.

There’s more to come, so go to my Facebook page and enter!! Don’t forget to check out the vendors too! They rock and I couldn’t have done this without them! <3

I’ll be spending my Friday wrapping gifts and baking Mickey Mouse inspired cupcakes!

Have a sweet day!!

Sambazon products are USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Ecocert Fair Trade, vegan and gluten-free. They make a healthy, delicious snack or light meal replacement.

They are super fruity and tasty and I’ve used them as meal replacements for on the go breakfasts when I running out the door with Tyler.

There is an exciting national event that Sambazon is sponsoring on Saturday, April 6.

It is the first-ever National Açaí Bowl Day, and more than 300 juice and smoothie bars in 30-plus states are participating by offering açaí bowls at half price. Additionally, National Açaí Bowl Day will be celebrated at Sambazon’s two Açaí Café locations in Southern California.

“I can vividly remember experiencing my first açaí bowl in Brazil, and how after one bite I was hooked,” said Ryan Black, CEO and Co-Founder of Sambazon. “Since that first bowl, we’ve made it our mission to share this Amazon Superfood with the world in a way that matters, and adds value to everyone involved. National Açaí Bowl Day is an invitation to experience the healthy, organic flavors of Brazil that inspired the Sambazon founding mission.”

“Popularized on the beaches of Brazil and the cafes of Rio, a traditional açaí bowl is a thick-blended smoothie of frozen açaí berries poured into a bowl and topped with fresh fruit plus granola. Packed with antioxidants, healthy omegas and nutrition from real whole-food ingredients, these bowls energize bodies and souls.

Sambazon’s first National Açaí Bowl Day is being celebrated in more than 30 states, from Hawaii to New York, with plans to make the national day an annual event. A full list of participating juice shops and retailers can be found on Sambazon’s website.

Sambazon offers a diverse portfolio of delicious and sustainably-made fresh juices, smoothies, sorbets and frozen smoothie packs. All of the company’s products are USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Ecocert Fair Trade, vegan, and gluten-free. Sambazon is widely available in natural health food stores, grocers and juice bars throughout North America. For more information and delicious recipe ideas, visit www.sambazon.com.”

“Founded in 2000, Sambazon is the pioneer of organic Amazon Superfoods™, providing fresh juices, smoothies, energy drinks and frozen products made from delicious blends of Brazilian fruits and botanicals like açaí, acerola and guarana. A socially and environmentally conscious company that uses organic food and beverages as vehicles for positive change, Sambazon is committed to sharing superfood wellness with the world in a way that consciously supports people and planet. The company’s Fair Trade partnership helps to protect the Amazon rainforest and benefits more than 10,000 family farmers, while bringing consumers the next level in superfood nutrition. All Sambazon products are USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan, gluten-free and made with Ecocert Fair Trade ingredients. To energize your soul, visit www.sambazon.com.”

WIN IT!

One lucky reader will win three vouchers for Sambazon products and a wooden bowl & a wooden spoon.

1.) Leave any comment below.

2.) Like Sambazon on Facebook (leave a comment below for this entry as well)

3.) Like Pattycakesnpancakes on Facebook (leave a comment below for this entry as well)

So… 3 separate chances to win!

A winner will be chosen by random on 4/11/13 @ 12pm EST.

GOOD LUCK!

Disclaimer

“The Stein & Vine is a neighborhood craft beer and wine bar located in Brandon, FL at the corner of Kings & Bloomingdale Ave. We maintain a nice selection of craft beers and wines from all over the world. Only the best will do when it comes to the menu full of delicious dishes like “Pig Wings” or the “33 1/3″ which is one third bacon. Just one taste and you’ll never want to leave. So stop soon and don’t forget to bring your taste buds!”

Since I’m sticking with my gluten-free lifestyle, I chose a cider to sip on. It was so really refreshing and delicious, but too sweet for more than one so I ordered white wine after I downed the cider. Todd had a few different selections of beer. Check out some of their draft selections here.

The Stein & Wine is not your ordinary pub, they have a very interesting menu with things like Loaded Chili (topped with bacon, onions, jalapenos, sour cream, and a fried egg),

and Pig Wings served with your choice of sauce (Sriracha Ranch, Habanero BBQ, Latin Lime, Teriyaki Chili, or Buffalo).

Check out their “always changing” menu here and to keep up to date with their drafts and soup of the day, like them on Facebook here.

After we hung out at the bar and chatted with the bartenders, I challenged Todd to a few rounds of darts, which I lost.

If you are in the Brandon area looking for something to do, check out The Stein & Vine.

Have a great night!

I plan on making cupcakes for a small family get together and I’ll be decorating them with what else but a Mickey Mouse theme. I’ll post pictures of the finished project… IF they turn out.

Anyways, back to baking…

For the past few weeks of my new gluten-free lifestyle, I’ve been researching about different flours and I read about rice flour. I bought a bag of brown rice flour to try since I’ve already baked with coconut flour. I still have some experimenting to do with the textures and flavors of different flours, but I’ve heard that brown rice flour is perfect for making shortbread, so why not cupcakes? And since I’m the only one in the house who jumped on the gluten-free band wagon, I made a small batch for my hands only. Well, my hands and Tyler’s hands. The batter, as you can see, was quite delicious, so I was pretty excited to taste the outcome.

This gluten-free recipe, surely, did not disappoint.  Scrum-a-yummy-umptios!

GLUTEN-FREE CUPCAKES

1/2 cup coconut butter, softened
1/2 cup Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup brown rice flour                                                                                                                  1 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake pan with 8 cupcake papers. Mix together the butter and the sugar with a cake mixer on high until combined. Mix in the eggs, one at a time. Then add the flour a little at a time until the batter is soft and creamy. Fill the cupcake liners with a scoop of the batter (about the size of an ice cream scoop). Bake for about 15 minutes. Let cool and then frost with your favorite gluten-free frosting.

Enjoy!

Don’t forget to check out the giveaways on the Pattycakesnpancakes Facebook page.