CSN Stores Winner

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The winner of the $60 CSN Stores Gift Card is:

Barbara.Montyj of Jalapeno Mama's Place.

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Congratulations Barbara!

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Thanks to everyone who entered. 

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The weather finally warmed up a bit here this weekend.  My Mom & I made our annual trip to the greenhouses on Friday and stocked up on all of our plants. 

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A few pictures from the greenhouses:

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I'm heading outside to finish my planting!

Guest Posting Today @ Remodelaholic!

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I'm guest posting today over at Remodelaholic.  Head on over there and check out a new project that I made!  You can see my guest post right here.

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A big thank you to Cassity for having me as her guest blogger today.  This guest posting stuff is fun!

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If you are stopping over from Remodelaholic today, thanks for having a look at my blog - I hope you like what you see!  I have a CSN Stores Giveaway going on right now.  You can enter right here.

Cleaning Green

There is still time to enter my CSN Stores $60.00 gift card giveaway!  Enter the giveaway here.
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This was intended to be a post for Earth Day but time slipped away and here we are a week into May already!
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For the last several years I have tried to use only green cleaning products.  I don't know about you, but the thought of all those chemicals from regular cleaning products in my home does not make me happy.  There's just no way it's healthy to breathe in all those nasty chemicals on a regular basis.
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Here are my favorite, go-to products:
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1.  Murphy Oil Soap.  Murphy Oil Soap is a water based product made with 98% naturally-derived ingredients and has been around for over 100 years.  I love this product for my wood floors.  I also use Murphy's to clean my kitchen cabinets and other wood cabinetry.

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2.  Method Wood For Good.  What's not to like about a product called Wood For Good?  This is a no wax product that's great on all wood.  I use it on my dining room table and other wood furniture.  I find that a little goes a long way so one bottle usually lasts a while.  Also available in a larger refill bottle - so when you run out, save the spray bottle and buy the refill.  All Method products can be found at Target.

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3. Method Daily Granite Polish.  This is probably my favorite cleaning product.  I use this every few days on my granite counters.  Here's what method says about Daily Granite:  "Granite is cool. literally. lay your face against a slab of the stuff, and you'll feel like you're sleeping on the other side of the pillow. in Antarctica. but before you go laying head to counter for a noontime nap, use this granite + marble cleaner to buff your resting place to a beautiful, ick-free shine." I love reading their labels - they always make me smile.  A larger refill bottle is also available.

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4.  Bon Ami Polishing Cleanser.  This is my go-to product for cleaning both my stainless steel and porcelain sinks.  Bon Ami is a gentle cleanser that will not scratch and contains no chlorine, perfume, or dyes.  Bon Ami has been around for over 120 years!  I also like that it is inexpensive - I think it is around $2.00 a bottle.

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5.  Shaklee Scour Off Heavy-Duty Paste.  Great product for big messes.  Especially good for cleaning your oven - inside and out.

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6.  Shaklee Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate.  I love this product.  It can be used on any washable surface, inside or out.  A little goes a long way, so it lasts a good while.  Dilute a little and keep in spray bottle to use on glass, windows, mirrors, and pretty much any other surface.

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7.  Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid.  I use this anytime I have dishes to hand wash.  It's free of phosphates and the bottle contains 90% post-consumer recycled plastic.

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8.  Method All Purpose Pink Grapefruit Surface Cleaner.  Another all-purpose cleaner.  I keep this one in my bathroom.  Here's how Method describes this cleaner:  "Why kill when you clean? our heaven-scented all surface spray cleans the heck out of dirt without having to hire hit men like harsh chemicals to get rid of it. the naturally derived formula is safe on most surfaces in your home — tile, marble, sealed wood, metal, and most importantly, you. it's biodegradable so you can clean your home without flushing super toxic chemicals down the drain into our rivers, lakes and oceans. we're against that. dirty doesn't have to flow downstream."  What's not to like?

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9.  Method Laundry Detergent Peony Blossom.  I've always been a pretty tried-and-true Tide girl but I think my Tide has finally found it's match.  I've been using this for a month or so and have been really happy.  I really like the pump bottle - no need to measure into another cup - just four pumps into your machine and you're good to go.

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10.  Seventh Generation Free and Clear Dishwasher Detergent.  Phosphate and Chlorine-Free automatic dishwasher powder gets your dishes sparkling clean. Free & clear of perfumes and dyes.

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11.  Method Daily Shower Spray.  My favorite shower cleaner.  I keep this in the shower and spray every time I get out.  You know how some tile cleaners (i.e. Tilex) are so toxic you feel like you should be wearing a mask when you use them?  You won't feel that way with this cleaner and it really works!  I love Method's description:  "We're all for singing in the shower. maybe even serenading the shower itself…especially when it's free of chemical residue and nasty toxins. and we love when it smells like spa. mmm, spa. with our daily shower spray, you'll never have to scrub, wipe or rinse your shower again. just spray a fine mist on all wet surfaces after each shower and we'll take care of the rest. you just sing, shower, spray…sing some more, if you want. (for best results, start with a clean shower.)."  A larger refill is also available.

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What are your favorite green cleaners?
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CSN Stores Giveaway!

Another giveaway!
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Just before I left for Arizona I was contacted by CSN Stores about doing a giveaway.  Of course I said yes! 
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One reader will receive a $60.00 gift certificate to CSN Stores!
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I'll be honest - I had never heard of CSN Stores until I started seeing all these great giveaways on different blogs (I'm STILL waiting to win one!).  But now I am a huge fan.  They offer so many different products.  Everything from these amazing wall sconces, to All-Clad Cookware (I love All-Clad), to outdoor chaise lounges.  Check out all of their products right here.
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To Enter:
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- First entry: Leave a comment. Please include your email address if it is not in your profile.
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- Second entry: Become a follower and leave a second comment.  Or, if you already are a follower, just leave another comment letting me know.

- Third entry: Post about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter, and leave a third comment including the link.
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A winner will be selected at random on Sunday, May 16.
Please note that giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada.
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And, because I can't post without a photo, here are a few photos of my peony plants that I took this morning.  The plants are loaded with blooms.  I planted these lovelies a few years ago.  This is only the second year that they have bloomed and I couldn't be more excited.  And guess what?  CSN Stores has a huge selection of vases.  I really like this one.
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I've linked up to Trendy Treehouse Marketing Mondays Blog Hop.

{5.16.10: Comments are now closed and a winner has been selected}

AZ Recap. . .

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Well, it was another great trip to Arizona.  The main reason for the trip was that my brother (he's 9!) made his First Holy Communion and Confirmation.  I am his Godmother and now my sister is his confirmation sponsor.

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On Saturday it was 90 degrees out.  You might think that we spent the day by the pool?  Nope - my brother decided he wanted to go ice skating. . .

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Three generations. . .

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My Grandpa (He's 89), World's Cutest Brother, and my Dad

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My brother spent some time reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.  He loves those books!

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My brother & I before his Fist Communion. . .

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On Monday we went to see the Suns beat Portland in one of the play-off games. . .

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The plants my sister & I planted back in January are doing well. . .

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My Dad & I got in a round of golf. . .

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I love the interesting shapes of desert plants. . .

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And this is a view that I never get tired of. . .

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A Winner & the Desert. . .

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Congratulations to 'At One With Him' who won my Amy Butler apron giveaway!

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Comment #26 was the winner as selected by random.org.  Thank you everone for all of your comments.  My fist giveaway was fun and I hope to do more!

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me, World's Cutest Brother, Baby Sister.

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I'm out in Arizona this week.  My brother made his First Holy Communion and Confirmation yesterday.  He looks super excited in the picture above, doesn't he? 

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I hope everyone has a great week. . .See you in May!

Weekend Kitchen: Caesar Potato Salad with Sugar Snap Peas

*If you would like to enter my Amy Butler apron giveaway please click here!
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I've had this recipe ripped out from Bon Appetit magazine for a while now and finally made it last weekend.  I'm glad I did. . .I really like it!

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Ingredients:

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- 1 1/2 pounds unpeeled assorted fingerling potatoes or baby potatoes (such as white-skinned, red-skinned, and purple), cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices

- 8 ounces trimmed sugar snap peas
- 1 bunch radishes, trimmed, sliced
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, pressed
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
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First, start by prepping the veggies.
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Boil potatoes until almost finished (about 10 minutes).  Add sugar snap peas and boil for about a minute longer.

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Drain and let veggies cool.  Add radishes and onions.
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Next, prepare dressing.
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In small bowl whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and garlic clove.  Whisk in Parmesan.

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I thought this potato salad was delicious.  I definitely will be bringing this on picnic lunches to the beach this summer!

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Original recipe is from Bon Appetit.

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- I've linked this up to Tuesday Tastes @ Crazy Daisy.