This 'n That

Well, Spring has sprung! Yesterday we reached a high of +13C and it marked the third time I've donned an official spring jacket :) When I was running errands, I noticed that we've essentially lost 95% of our snow; a couple of buckets worth are all that remain in my front and back yard. I was feeling so good (I get positively giddy on beautiful spring days) that I purchased this bonsai plant! The trunk reminds me of sweet potatoes.

As you may have guessed by my new header pic, I recently discovered Photobucket! Why hasn't anyone told me about this amazing site before? I'm pretty excited about the collage feature and plan to change things up on a fairly regular basis now. Prepare yourself for a virtual onslaught of collages of every possible description. Above are some pics from a few of my personal all-time favourite posts. Do you remember any of these? I suspect there's a couple of long-time followers who might!  

In American Idol news, one of my idols, Stevie Nicks, mentored the contestants this week. Her advice was spot on and you sure can tell she is a big promoter of up and coming talent. So talented herself, mysterious and beautiful - I think she is amazing! What's even more incredible, is that she turns 64 in May... Wow - looking good :)

Emma's quite interested in my new plant... maybe a little too interested,

I plan to keep my eye on her!

Now that warmer weather has (finally!) arrived, I will be posting only once a week (on Tuesdays) for the next number of months - probably until fall. This is not a hard and fast rule, and if something comes up that I simply must share with you, I'll pop it up, but for the most part I hope to stick to my self-imposed schedule. I'll still be visiting my favourite blogs, maybe not every day, but I'll catch up on any posts I've missed when I do :)

Have a great weekend and see you all on Tuesday!

"Get Real, Barbie"

The Scary Reality of a Real-Life Barbie Doll!

I stumbled across an interesting article the other day in The Huffington Post. This larger than life Barbie was built by Galia Slayen in an effort to raise awareness amongst her highschool peers about eating disorders and body image issues.

"Get Real, Barbie" statistics:

• If Barbie were an actual women, she would be 5'9" tall, have a 39" bust, an 18" waist, 33" hips and a size 3 shoe.
• Barbie calls this a "full figure" and likes her weight at 110 lbs.
• At 5'9" tall and weighing 110 lbs, Barbie would have a BMI of 16.24 and fit the weight criteria for anorexia. She likely would not menstruate.
• If Barbie was a real woman, she'd have to walk on all fours due to her proportions.
• Slumber Party Barbie was introduced in 1965 and came with a bathroom scale permanently set at 110 lbs with a book entitled "How to Lose Weight" with directions inside stating simply "Don't eat."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A great big Thanks to Elisabeth from Food and Thrift Finds for the beautiful Lenox candy dish

I received in the mail on Tuesday. I was the lucky winner of the giveaway she held a few weeks ago.

It's really lovely, in mint condition and the creamy finish is pearlized.)

Thanks again, Elisabeth!! I'm certain I will treasure this candy dish for many years.

Also, here's the cute box it was snugly tucked into.

Say Cheese, Emma!

A Flea and a Fly

A flea and a fly in a flue

Were imprisoned, so what could they do?

Said the fly, "let us flee!"

"Let us fly!" said the flea.

So they flew through a flaw in the flue.

--Ogden Nash

JJ Hubby flew to Thunder Bay this morning on business, and while he was in the Toronto airport, he spotted a...... flea circus! I told him this was definitely blog-worthy :) Love the details - especially the high dive platform! 

I'm guessing the fleas were in the midst of a costume change.... ?

Yuck!

This is what's happening in my backyard...

How's your day going?

The Sweet Smell of Memory

Another day, another reason to celebrate; it's Fragrance Day!

Hahaha - We've all met this guy :)

What's your favourite scent? 

Oddly enough, one of mine is almond extract. Growing up, there was a corner store two blocks away from my home that I would visit just to drink in the overpowering smell of almonds that permeated it. I don't know what the reason was behind their signature scent, but it's indelibly inked on my memory. 

Speaking of corner stores, do you remember when there was one on just about every corner? Within a four block radius of my home there were six. I don't know about you, but I really miss them, especially in the spring/summer/fall months. Some of my fondest memories include walking to the corner store on a blistering hot afternoon for a freezie or an early evening stroll for a chocolate bar. Every establishment was unique; the proprietors lived at the back of the building (you could often sneak a quick glance into their home if the door was ajar...) and they carried everything: fishing tackle, pickled eggs, nylons, tacky gifts, penny candy, army knives, comic books - you name it. Some of it was dusty and dated (even by '70's standards), but somehow this just added to the overall ambience and appeal!

Tag, You're It!

The above painting is the creation of my friend Jinnaya. 

I wonder what that cat is up to... no good, I suspect!

Do you really want or need to know any more about me? 

Lol, I didn't think so, but I was tagged last week by Diane at Always Crave Cute, so here we go:

1. What is your favorite plant or flower and why?

I have many favourites, one being the Viola because they each have their own 'face.'

When you get a bunch of them together, they look like gossipy busybodies!

2. Approximately how many books do you have in your house? That's a good question, I've never actually counted. I used to purge every few years, but don't anymore, preferring to hoard them instead.

3. Do you like to shop better online or at a physical store? I don't enjoy shopping, (thrifting doesn't fall under my definition of shopping) so if I know exactly what I want, then online for sure.

4. Are you the kind of person that likes to make lists or do you just wing it? Lists.

5. If you have a pet, do you let it sleep on your bed? Yes - she demands it!

6. Do you prefer to cook or would you rather order in, or pick up something prepared at the store? On a day to day basis I much prefer home cooking, but always enjoy 'fine dining' when the opportunity presents itself.

7. Do you have a favorite Holiday? Halloween, hands down.

8. Do you like traditional or modern art and furnishings? Traditional.

9. Who is your favourite artist or musician? Neil Young.

10. Do you remember what your favourite childhood book was?

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.

11. What was the best piece of advice you ever received? "This too shall pass." My mother always said this to me growing up - and I remind myself of it when life gets overwhelming.

Now, I'm supposed to come up with eleven questions of my own and tag eleven of you. I prefer instead to put out the invitation to anyone who wants to play along...

1. Tell me about your nighttime attire - silk nightie, pj's, paint splattered t-shirt & track-pants or au naturale?

2. What is your current favourite tv show?

3. Bathe or shower?

4. Morning-person or night-owl?

5. What is that one snack that you'll hide (hoard ;) from the rest of your family for yourself?

6. If you could choose one super power, what would it be?

7. Do you chew your nails or clip them?

8. Who do you consider to be the most influential person of the 20/21st century?

9. What would you invent if you had the know-how?

10. Which sense would you give up if you had to: vision or hearing?

11. What was your favourite cereal as a child?

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

"May the luck of the Irish 

Lead to happiest heights 

And the highway you travel 

Be lined with green lights. 

Wherever you go and whatever you do, 

May the luck of the Irish be there with you."

'Food' For Thought...

Some of the foods corn (or it's derivatives) may be found in:

cold cuts

cream

ice cream

yogurt

canned soup

processed cheese

nuts

candy

anything baked or fried

raisins

puddings

condiments

Not only in America - it's the same all over the world. Skip ahead 3:10 - 5:00

Have a great day, lol!

All Roads Lead Home

With the internet and social networking completely infiltrating our lives, it's truly become a small world after all. Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that everyone is on average approximately six steps away from any other person on Earth; a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made, on average, to connect any two people in six steps or fewer.

Kevin Bacon once claimed that he had worked with everyone in Hollywood, 

and the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game was born; much to his chagrin.

This post came as a result of a little game I play all the time when surfing the net. Quite often, when I end up on a new blog either through following a link sent to me or one I follow while on a website, I try to get myself home - ie: back to Jane's Jewels (staying only within the trail of the 'followers'). Way more often than not,  I do - and in a surprisingly few number of moves! The blogging community is very inter-connected and I end up on your blogs (& then back to mine) through the most (seemingly) unlikeliest of routes. 

Have you ever played this game? Have you also been surprised by how small the internet actually is?

Fairy Soup

I bought a Garden Fairy on Friday! 

Till spring arrives, I've assigned her the task of chasing off all the dust bunnies.

When she gets hungry, I have the perfect dish for her...

Cauliflower and Red Lentil Soup :)

We eat a LOT of soup in this house - here's one I put together on Thursday evening. I make this quite often because it's very nutritious, fast, easy and I almost always have these ingredients on hand. 

2-3 teaspoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 celery stalks, sliced

2 carrots, sliced

1-2 cloves garlic, minced (I use 2)

1 red jalapeno, seeded and minced (I use red pepper flakes - about 1/2 tsp)

4 cups cauliflower florets (break these apart as small as you can)

1/2 cup dry whole red lentils, sorted and rinsed

1 small bay leaf

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (I use 1 tsp)

1/2 tsp curry powder

pinch of allspice

6 cups vegetable broth (I often use 1/2 veg & 1/2 chicken)

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk (the cherry on top, but optional - good with or without)

Saute onion, celery and carrot until very lightly browned. Add garlic, pepper (jalapeno or flakes) and spices; saute until fragrant. Add lentils, bay leaf and broth; cover and simmer about 25-30 minutes. Add cauliflower, cover, simmer until tender. Remove bay leaf. Stir in coconut milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

I suggest doubling (or even tripling) this recipe as it doesn't make a whole lot; the pot will be empty before you know it and you'll be wanting MORE!

Sunday School

It's Still Daryl Hall Day!

Daryl is still very active in the music scene - this is an excerpt from his monthly free live performance webcast, 'Live from Daryl's House' shot in his home, where he jams with everyone from older artists 

to new upcoming talent.

A Delicious Decision!

You know what's nice about having your own blog? You call the shots! I had a post all ready for today - some boring recipe for a Red Lentil and Cauliflower soup that I made on Thursday evening, but then I got on YouTube... and one thing led to another... and now I've decided to declare it Daryl Hall Day - all day!! At 65, he's still way more delicious than my soup could ever hope to be. I even tagged a new label in his honor - moving forward, you'll find him under 'yummy,' lol!!

The Future Technology

Your Friday funny!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Birthday Caroline :)

My daughter is 25 today!

Where have the years gone?

This was taken at her high school grad in 2005.

xxoo

A Terrific Tuesday

We're melting!! It's +2C and our roads and sidewalks are basically huge puddles :) I sure am thankful I didn't wash my car yesterday. Friday's forecast is for a high of +8 -- I hope this means spring is on it's way. The brave little plant above is actually a few leaves of a small evergreen plant in my backyard (I have a number of them interspersed amongst some of my trees) - I think he looks like Punxsutawney Phil poking his head out - and I don't see a shadow...!

These are my latest Goodwill acquisitions - I purchased the pair for $1. 

I've been looking for a pretty scoop for my bath salts for a while... and now I also have a spare.
Oh how I ♥ my local thrift stores :)

I don't expect that brussels sprouts are necessarily on everyone's list of favourite vegetables... at least they weren't on mine until I tried out this fantastic recipe last fall - - I've basically been eating them non-stop ever since! When Tracy shared a very yummy-looking roasted cauliflower recipe the week before last, (which I haven't had an opportunity to try out yet, but definitely have full plans of doing so very soon) I was reminded I've been meaning to share this jewel with you for months.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees (I use my toaster oven for this one).

Line a sided roasting pan with parchment paper.

The important thing to know when purchasing brussels sprouts is to choose the tiny ones.

Rinse sprouts, cut off ends, put into a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, until nicely coated.

Sprinkle with sea salt - personally, I generously sprinkle. 

Turn onto roasting pan and place in oven for 20 - 25 minutes. Stir again 1/2 way through cooking time. You'll know they are done when they are tender, browned and any leaves that have dropped off

are very crispy. These are even good cold - if there are any left over. Enjoy!

I've just noticed this post today is all-green! I hope you won't be green-with-envy (hehe) when I tell you that I just won this authentic Lenox candy dish over at Elisabeth's blog Food and Thrift Finds, which she found at her local Goodwill...! 

Thanks Elisabeth, I can't wait to receive it :)

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Isn't he gorgeous!

Happy Monday :) I hope your weekend was an enjoyable one.

Did you know it's Multiple Personality Day?

In honour of today, here's a Props segment from the very funny 'Whose Line Is It Anyways?'

Have a great day - whoever you are!

The Astounding World of the Future!

Here's your Sunday chuckle!!

1957 Vision of the Year 2000

Continuing yesterday's theme, we move even further into the future.

1950 as Envisioned in 1925

"Doc, we better back up. We don't have enough road to get up to 88.
Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." 

~ Back to the Future ~

I stumbled across this a few weeks ago in my travels. 

Expand it for a closer look. I think it's fascinating!