Gateways to Joy

download placemats here {Please let me know if there are any slight color variations with these prints. I was having trouble with Adobe Reader this morning and I think I accidentally pushed RGB color which is for online printing only.} Pretty in paper.  Yep.  I love beautiful paper and stationery, and it is my dream to one day have my own line of beautiful paper products. I don't know if you all are aware of this or not, but paper placemats have become very popular. I remember seeing them a couple of years ago, not very impressed by them.  But they have grown on me and I have even done a few designs for my family just to try them out. I always get rid of them after one use, unless I laminate them.  I like using recycle paper or of course beautiful heavy weight paper. When laminating your placemats {if that's what you chose to do} use a product that is food safe. CUSTOM ORDERS We take custom orders.  Have a favorite design,  scripture vers...

    I  believe in purposefully emphasizing plant based food in my diet and the diet of my family.  One way I do that is by choosing a spectrum of color for our diets daily...this can become monotonous if I'm not careful.  I'll share with you as we progress into these post how I handle that. The important thing that I try to remember is to be sure to get the variety of color in my diet daily by eating fresh fruit and vegetables. Eat them raw.  Eat them steamed.  The Benefits: Kale is helpful in lowering cholesterol when cooked by steaming.  Raw is effective, too, but not as effective for that particular benefit.  The fiber in this green beauty are good at binding together with bile acids in the digestive tract.  It has been said that the Isothiocyana (ITC's) are have benefits in lowering at least five different kinds of cancer such as bladder, breast, colon, ovary, and prostate. I'm not a doctor so I don't know, but I can sa...

Okay ladies, here's the deal: Whole Foods has their own brand 365 Everyday Value, and for the most part it is inexpensive, yet still quality.  I say that because I don't care for "some" of the 365 shampoos and conditioners, but that's another story.  I haven't come across a "food" item that I don't care for.  Anyways, 365 Everyday Value products are free of hydrogenated fats, high frutose corn syrup and artificial color , flavors, preservatives and sweetners...so they really are inexpensive—yet quality. So here's some of the things you need to have on hand or get ready to purchase for your holiday baking.  And they are. BAKING AISLE flour cane sugar vanilla extract cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg chocolate chips nuts pumpkin puree REFRIGERATED FOODS butter whipped cream FROZEN FOODS ice cream frozen fruit For about 50 bucks you can have your pantry, fridge and freezer good and stocked with these 365 Eveyday Value holiday ba...

Check this out ladies:  According to a Natural Marketing Institute 2009 poll (I read this in my Whole Foods "the whole deal" newsletter) 92% of Whole Foods Market shoppers buy locally produced items to support their local community.  Remember my post on Community Supported Agriculture ?  69% to support the environment, and 61% to support their health. I'm sort of surprised by the number one reason and the last reason.  Anyhoo, those of you who know me know that I heart Whole Foods, organic and natural foods .  Moving on ... Here are 5 money-saving tips for baking Get Quality at a value  with 365 everyday value natural and organic baking supplies (flour, sugar, butter, vanilla, etc).  Better ingredients equals better baking y'all and 365 products affords us that. Bake in big batches of course that's easy for me to say being the mother of 7, but it's true.  Sometimes it's advantageous to buy in bulk.  A...

Food news ... Did you know that ... Blackberries contain natural antioxidants that help protect us against numerous diseases including cancer.  These black beauties also contain ellagic acid, a chemical known for its ability to prevent sun damage; it's also said to have restorative effects on previously damaged skin. one cup of blackberries provides more than 30 percent of our daily fiber needs and about 36 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin k—which promotes calcium absorption. Blueberries have more antioxidant than any other native fruit?  The antioxidants in the blue beauties may help lower the build up of bad cholesterol in our bodies, thus decreasing risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. One serving of blueberries provides about a quarter of our daily need for vitamin c, and about 14 percent of the recommended daily in take of fiber. In several studies blueberries have been shown to reverse brain degeneration caused by aging.  So its bee...

Did you know that ... Blackberries contain natural antioxidants that help protect us against numerous diseases including cancer? These black beauties also contain ellagic acid , a chemical known for its ability to prevent sun damage; it's also said to have restorative effects on previously damaged skin. one cup of blackberries provides more than 30 percent of our daily fiber needs and about 36 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin k—which promotes calcium absorption. Blueberries have more antioxidant than any other native fruit ? The antioxidants in the berries may help lower the build up of bad cholesterol in our bodies, thus decreasing risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. One serving of blueberries provides about a quarter of our daily need for vitamin c, and about 14 percent of the recommended daily in take of fiber. In several studies blueberries have been shown to reverse brain degeneration caused by aging. So its been said that they may even ...