New Year, New Starts are Possible

I'm stepping out into a new venture

this year.

I've been wanting to give it a try for awhile

 but just wasn't sure if that was

the direction I should head.

Now seems like the time.

This is my business card idea:)

I will see where it leads me!

Locovore Challenge Day #7

I'm done!

I did it!

I was a locovore for a week:)

Breakfast

 Lunch...It's actually pretty amazing to have
a fast food place that is known for its'
local food and ingredients.

 Sunday Supper...always easy and simple

 What I learned this week

-I don't think being a complete locovore is
for me, but being a partial one ie: eating
what is in season and shopping at local
farms and stores is fine.
-I really missed odd things that I didn't know
I really even cared about, like Cheetos or coffee creamer!
-I felt great while on this challenge, but a person has
to be careful not to eat TOO many veggies, or the tummy
protests!
-Because I am GF, I have to eat with an eye on ingredients
anyway so that part was a given for me
-I really like to support local businesses, whether for food
or otherwise
-I think God just has such a creative eye to come
up with all the colors and tastes of fresh
fruits and veggies:)

Score for Day 7
95%

Locovore Challenge Day #6

Counting down to the last day

of my Locovore Challenge!

Breakfast

 Lunch

 Dinner...Rockys Pizza...
Does that count? It's local!


What I learned
-I miss chocolate and popcorn!
-I'm ready for easier meals
-It takes creativity to do food Blogging!!!

Score Day 6
85%

Locovore Challenge Day #5

I was truly back on track today!

Breakfast

 Lunch

 Dinner (OUT!)

The food at this place was DELISH!

I was able to choose from a wide variety of 

things because fresh local foods tend

to be more GF friendly.

What I learned

-have you noticed how vivid the colors

of all the foods are?!

-it's worth the extra time to eat a lunch

like I had today

-Eating out can be really great if you 

choose the right place

Score Day 5

95%

Locovore Challenge Day #4

Still out of town for most of this day...so 

I had to make do.

Breakfast was eaten at a local 

(to where I was staying)

coffee shop where they roast their 

own free trade coffee 

and the muffin was baked at the local bakery

that serves GF.

The rest of the day was spent traveling
by car...not a great idea when trying to eat
local!

What I learned
-my stomach feels better on local food
-it's not worth getting stressed about to skip a day
-it's just a personal challenge!

Score Day 4
25%

Locovore Challenge Day #3

My "Eating Local" plans for this week 

got kind of thrown for a loop

as I had to go out

of town on business for 2 days...

So I began day 3 just fine with a local
Breakfast

 Lunch was on the run in the car on my way over
Mt. Hood!

Dinner...not local...:(

What I learned
-if not locally produced then organic
-if not organic then family farm
-if not family farm then local business
-if not local business then fair trade
-if all else fails DO NOT eat at McD's!

Score Day 3
50%

Locovore Challenge Day #2

Breakfast

 Lunch

 Dinner requires it's own post!

What I learned today...
-it's very expensive to eat local foods!
-it requires a lot of driving
-it takes longer to make

Score for Day 2
85%

Locovore Challenge Day #1

 Breakfast

 Lunch

Dinner

What I learned today...

-it takes a lot of time and planning

to eat this way!

-I'm glad Tillamook is only 92 miles from my house!

-It's going to be hard to find seasonings and

flavorings that fit the criteria

-foods that are not processed don't taste 

as flavorful (yet) and will require some getting used to:)

SCORE for Day 1

75 %

Locovore Challenge

I have become very interested lately in the idea of 

eating more locally grown food...

mostly because of my belief that much of 

what we eat is so full of chemicals and

changed so dramatically that we are 

getting cancer at a more rapid rate then ever before, 

and it just plain tastes better!!!

So I set myself a personal challenge...

try to live as a locovore for 1 week.

I picked the easiest possible month, August...

and will go from Monday to Sunday of this week.

What is a locovore?

"You eat only foods available within a 100

mile radius of your home"

How to be a locovore:

1. Know your reasons for eating local foods

(see above)

2. Decide how strict you will be

(I will try, but with a gluten free diet, 

some grains etc. may not be grown locally)

3. Shop local Farmers Markets

4. Visit produce stands

5. Ask where food is from

6. Read labels

(I do that anyway to stay GF)

7. Distinguish between local and organic

(they are not one and the same)

8. Know the best seasons for various foods

9. Grow your own

( a little late in the year for that!)

10. Examine the source of your grains, dairy, meat and eggs

11. Minimize processed food

I am very excited about this challenge and will

post each day on my progress:)

Uncovered Ruby Challenge

One of my favorite stores in Battleground is

Uncovered Ruby.

Over at http://uncoveredruby.blogspot.com 

 they are putting on a challenge to see how the items

we purchase there are being put to use.

Here is my photo shoot of a future event in the works.

I purchased the clipboard chalkboard at a 

 A Vintage Gathering

and the red "apple" basket 

and red "shreds" at the store last week.

If you haven't been there I would highly recommend a

visit (it's on Main street!) 

and to attend a Vintage Gathering this 

spring and summer.

Scrappiest Sketch #108

Here's the newest sketch over at The Scrappiest

with a chance to win a kit from Birds of a Feather.

And here's my version!

(photos by Sharla Stenersen Photography)

The Sweet Peach Crop Shop Feb Sketch

 Here's a new sketch from Sweet Peach Crop Shop
and my version!

"Love Unexpected"

This weeks photo challenge at Musings of a Creative Life

is titled "Love Unexpected".

I find it hard to explain the deep and intense

love I have for the Bible, but the one

thing I know is that it was completely unexpected 

to have it become a consuming passion.

Of course the Author is the One

who is called "The Word became flesh",

so it is really Him who I love,

and that too was unexpected!

"Loved Deeply"

Over @ Musings of a Creative Life

 there is a photo challenge on

 for every Friday in February

called "All Four Love".

This Friday the theme is

"Loved Deeply"

I love the back of Brielle's neck, 

because it is one of the most kissable,

 tender parts on her sweet little body,

and with her soft curls

and pink bow she is irresistible!

Just Another Day and 52 More Challenges #19

For this page I combined 2 challenges:

Over at Scrapbooks Etc. the challenge

was to "Scrap an Ordinary Day" and

in the book "52 More Scrapbooking Challenges"

by Elizabeth Kartchner

the #19 challenge is to incorporate

10 or more photos on a layout.

The scripture seemed to fit in with the challenge

and each photo had a point of time in my day.

Also by doing some photos very straight

and some crooked shows how days are...

you can plan, but things can go askew at any moment!