Food Feature

Simple Breakfast - Fruit on the bottom Yogurt Cups

Layer 1/2 cup of plain, whole-milk yogurt (greek is my fave), with a spoonful of Stonewall Kitchens blueberry jam, a handful of blueberries, a drizzle of honey, and a few walnuts. It is delicious and good for you!  

Thinking Green

Boston Fashion Week began last Friday and will run through September 30. This is the first year there will be a prominent place for events under a large white tent in the heart of Back Bay. "The Tent" is located near The Shops at Prudential and the Mandarin Oriental.  Thanks to these two major sponsors there will be runway shows under "The Tent" throughout the week. Vitamin Water also a sponsor,  received a nod of recognition from creative students at Artists for Humanity.  The students created a dress of Vitamin Water bottles and labels. This fabulous upcycled masterpiece is on display in a Mandarin Oriental window for the duration of Boston Fashion Week. 

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Linear by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasure

In todays post I will be sharing a "proud Mama" moment.  My son Evan is entering his Junior year at Massachusetts College of Art & Design in Boston as a Fashion Design Student. He worked hard all summer in his free time designing several clothing lines under the umbrella of Evan Michael Industry. The above photo is a piece from one collection he created in May (photographed in August by Evan in Maine). The photo below is from the Gucci Spring 2012 Collection shown for the first time last Friday, 9/23 during the kick-off runway show to Milan's Fashion Week. All I can say is you have great creative vision son and I'm so proud of you!

Monday Musings

It seems like so much of what is sold here in the states is made overseas. I am hopeful that will change in the near future. With the economy as it is I think it would be great if more energy was spent creating jobs here in the USA. I found this video ironic because the product produced is one frequently used, essential product made here in the USA and shipped to China and other Asian countries.

Reflections

Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present 

inaccessible.  Maya Angelou

Saturday Simplify

Spend the afternoon.  You can't take it with you.  ~ Annie Dillard

photo by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Food Feature

Fall White Peach Crisp

• 4 c of fresh white peaches
• 1/3 c white sugar

Topping:

• 1 c rolled oats
• 1/2 c brown sugar
• 1/4 c flour
• 1/2 tsp cinammon
• 1/4 c melted butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Toss the sliced peaches with the white sugar and place in a 2-quart baking dish. Combine the oats, brown sugar, flour, butter, cinnamon, salt, and mix together with a fork and place mixture over peaches. Bake for 35 minutes, or until the top is well browned. Best served just warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Thinking Green

I want to order this new product, Chem-Free, from Gaiam. It is a chem-free alternative for keeping our toilets clean. The idea is that the special "mineral magnets" kill the bacteria on contact and prevent mineral stains, mildew and fungus buildup. This sounds great to me!  If you are interested in purchasing click on this Gaiam link. 

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

photo by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasure

The Artists Closet

I have had a supply shop on Etsy - The Artists Closet,  for the last 3 years and am now trying to be more focused in my jewelry designs. With that said, I would like to share with you today my clearance sale in The Artists Closet. If you use the code "TSCblog" at checkout, you will receive an additional 10% off. There are some great buys in the Destash/Clearance section and with the Holidays coming you might want to get creating! Click on the TSC caption below the above banner to be taken to my supply shop!

Monday Musings - Say Something Nice

Love this idea! Would be a great way for all cities to "encourage one another". Check it out:

Reflections

Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding - Albert Einstein

Saturday Simplify

Food Feature

As we know the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City claimed the lives of 2,752 people, including 343 members of the FDNY. Of these 343 FDNY members, Engine 40, Ladder 35 from the upper west side of Manhattan was one of the firehouses hardest hit in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the Towers. Two trucks carrying 13 men set out from their firehouse but only one fireman returned. With the ten year anniversary, a group of firefighters from the West Covina Fire Department in LA, California started a website called Company Chow. The website is where firefighters can share their recipes with other firefighters with the ultimate goal of creating a cookbook. The proceeds for the cookbook will go to the Fire Family Foundation. This foundation is a charity whose purpose is to help firefighters and their families who are in need. It also provides assistance to fire victims. Company Chow is requesting recipes from other firefighters around the USA. If you are a firefighter, you can submit the recipe at www.companychow.com. They ask you include your name and department, along with an email address. What a great way to "never forget" and for these firefighters to honor all their fallen comrades.

FDNY Engine 40, Tower Ladder 35

Peace One Day 2012

Peace One Day is about community committed to observing a global truce on Peace Day which is Wednesday September 21,2012. The following clip by filmmaker Jeremy Gilley tells the story of the purpose of Peace One Day. It should be a universally shared goal.  You can find out more and register your commitment for Peace Day 2012 at www.peaceoneday.org 
You can also visit this link for Peace One Day tee shirts - all proceeds from the tee shirts will be donated to Peace One Day.

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Random by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasure

Remember Me by Twilight Eyes Studio

The origin of the yellow ribbon is unclear. Some have thought it had Puritan roots but as it turns out it is actually more a folk symbol. Regardless of its origins in our present society, it symbolizes memorializing or awaiting the return of a loved one. This week I thought it was apropos to feature this symbol. Twilight Eyes Studio has created a simply designed bracelet entitled Remember Me. It is a beautiful way of honoring or remembering a loved one. This piece is also carried in the Smithsonian "Price of Freedom" shop. Click on the caption below the photo to be taken to their shop on Etsy. Twilight studios would like to offer any readers of this blog post free shipping on any purchase from the "Remember Me" collection. Visit her shop on Etsy and covo her sharing that you saw the feature here on The Seasonal Cottage and she will reimburse your shipping via paypal. 

Monday Musings - A Place of Peace

"...all of us want justice, all of us want security but not at the cost of our humanity..." Andrea LeBlanc
A widow's perspective on the events of 9/11:

Reflections

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love.”   Washington Irving

This is a photo Chin Sok Wells and his two-year-old son Clayton,as he wipes tears from his eyes as he kneels at the grave of his sister, U.S. Army Specialist Chin Sun Pak, during a wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks at Arlington National Cemetery.

Saturday Simplify

This is the Zen approach: nothing is there to be done. There is nothing to do. One has just to be. Have a rest and be ordinary and be natural.  Osho

Friday Food Feature

This recipe is a personal favorite and so very easy to make!

Spicy Black Bean Salad

• 1 Jar Stonewall Kitchen Spicy Corn Relish
• 1-15 ounce can Black beans, rinsed and drained
• 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
• 1 Avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
• 3/4 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered
• 2 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped
Place all ingredients including SK spicy corn relish in a serving bowl.
Toss and serve at room temperature. Recipe via Stonewall Kitchens.

Thinking Green

A little "green" humor! 

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

photo by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasures

Labor Day has come and gone. Maine has very distinctive temperature fluctuations this time of year and it now feels like summer is passing.  With that said I am featuring some artistic pieces found on Etsy that reflect upon this theme. Click on the link below each item to be taken to the artists shop.

Summers end by Cawilco

The End of Summer by Diem Design Photography

Autumn Leaves Hold Summer Rainbows by Blue Otter Art

Haybale in Countryside by Heart Farm

Summer's End by IKandy Art

Monday Musings

September by John Updike

The breezes taste

Of apple peel.

The air is full

of smells to feel-

Ripe fruit, old footballs,

Burning brush,

New books, erasers,

Chalk, and such.

The bee, his hive, 

Well-honeyed hum, 

And Mother cuts

Chrysanthemums.

Like plates washed clean

With suds, the days

Are polished with 

A morning haze.

Summer’s End – 36 x 48 – Acrylic on Wood

Reflections

If each of us would only sweep our own doorstep, the whole World would be clean.  ~ Mother Teresa

Saturday Simplify

Smile, breathe and go slowly.  ~Thich Nhat Hanh

eclectic candles and candle holders design by organize.com

Friday Food Feature

Did you know that Pluot's are a fruit which are the result of crossbreeding plums and apricots. I tried one for the first time last week and it was so sweet and delicious!

Thinking Green

Help eliminate lunchtime trash in school. This year purchase a reusable lunch bag for your family members. There are a variety of choices at most department stores, here are a few from Target for all age groups:

You can even get a free lunch bag from Annie's Homegrown. Annie’s along with Honest Kids, Seventh Generation, and Stoneyfield is offering a Free "Kids Konserve" Lunch Bag. To get your free lunch bag you will need to purchase one of each of the following products:

• Annie’s Homegrown (any item)
• Seventh Generation (disinfectant spray or wipes)
• Honest Kids Organic (8 pk carton or one 64 oz. bottle)
• Stoneyfield YoKids (organic yogurt 6 pk or squeezers)

All you have to do is send your proofs of purchase along with this completed mail in form and receive your free Kids Konserve Lunch Bag. For more details visit Annie’s.