Love for Malacia Babies - Etsy Angels' Charity of the Month!

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This month, starting on July 15th, the Etsy Angels will be raising money for LFMB. LFMB has done so much already for so many families and they need our help! Make a purchase from any of the stores listed below and a portion of their total sales will be donated directly to LFMB to help them do what they do best....support parents with children that have Malacia.

Can you possibly imagine having a baby and knowing something is wrong and no one seems to know what? That is sometimes what it is like when you have a baby with Malacia. Malacia is described as: "Airways carry air from the nose to the lungs. Some children are born with airways that are too soft. Soft airways do not hold their shape, and air does not flow through as well as it should. There are three places where airways can be soft: the voice box, the windpipe, and the breathing tubes. A person may have softening in one, two or three parts of the airway. This softening is called Malacia."

From the founder of LFMB, LeeAnna, "Almost 2 years ago we created a support group on Facebook, while we were living in the hospital with our youngest son. The group has been such a great support for over 200 people. With the support group we have reached 3 different country's and just about every state in the United States. With so little support found elsewhere we decided to take it a step further. In March of 2011 "Love For Malacia Babies" received their EIN and prepared to file for non profit status. LFMB will one day be able to help families who have Malacia babies. There are so many things we would love to be able to do."

Shop with the Angel's below and help us help them! Happy Shopping!

www.loveformalaciababies.org/

Sewinggranny - sewinggranny.etsy.com

Ozarknana - ozarknana.etsy.com

BeadedTail - beadedtail.etsy.com

MamaJody54 - mamajody54.etsy.com

AJStuff - ajstuff.etsy.com

Beadz N Stonez Jewelry Supplies -beadznstonezsupplies.etsy.com

Crochetbymsa - crochetbymsa.etsy.com

Ooh Leela! - isabelafelix.etsy.com

Craftsbychris - craftsbychris.etsy.com

Wildlifer78 - wildlifer78.etsy.com

SilkCreekGallery - silkcreekgallery.etsy.com

Maranda - maranda.etsy.com

H & J Star Creations - Handjstarcreations.etsy.com

Jewelry Designs By CBL & CO. on ArtFire - Jewelry Designs by CBL and Company

Jewelry Bargain Boutique on ArtFire - Jewelry Bargain Boutique

My Mini Mocs - MyMiniMocs.etsy.com

Starwaves - www.starwaves.etsy.com

You can also visit our Charity Forum Chat Thread on Etsy to find out more and to chat with us, and to see how our efforts are progressing throughout the month!

♥
Amanda

Kashi vs. Kellogg's Mini Wheats

So...this seems to be an odd topic for a blog post huh?

I LOVE the Strawberry Frosted Mini Wheats by Kellogg's but I was certain that they were not the healthiest choice b/c of all the sugar "frosting"! They are especially good with fresh sliced strawberries or even fresh blueberries.

I found these Cinnamon Harvest mini wheats by Kashi (I LOVE Kashi products) and they are DIVINE! They actually remind me of those Quaker Cinnamon Oatmeal Squares which I too love!
However, after scanning the nutrition information (I currently have both at home right now), there is LITTLE difference. You can actually eat 4 more 'biscuits' of Kashi as the serving size is 28 biscuits to the 24 biscuits of Kellogg's. Oh, and you get a little more protein from the Kashi. The calories and fat and sodium, etc., were all comparable.

So...with this being said...I no longer feel 'guilty' eating the frosted mini wheats...I could be eating something worse like Lucky Charms...I do love those though!!

Have you done any recent product comparisons?? I'd love to hear about them :)

Happy Monday :)
♥
Amanda

~♥ Friday Spotlight ♥~

Fleur de Lis Creamy Peachy Freshwater Pearls Necklace

I LOVE this topaz rhinestone Fleur de Lis pendant! This gorgeous pendant dangles from pretty creamy peach freshwater pearls. Pearls have been accented with "Purple haze" Swarovski crystals and Bali silver daisy spacers. Necklace has been finished with a sterling silver toggle clasp.
Necklace measures almost 20 inches. Pendant dangles about 2 inches.

You can find this necklace (link will take you to my primary site) and many other pieces of artisan jewelry handmade by ME on my Etsy and ArtFire online venue sites!

**MENTION THIS BLOG POST FOR 15% off your ENTIRE purchase!!

♥
Amanda

Orange DREAM ♥

Perfect for any SUMMER Day!

I know...Yesterday I posted about exercising and running. Today I post a picture of a DELICIOUS Orange Torte I made for Father's Day. So light and fluffy, and creamy. You can totally make this reduced fat/sugar :)

Been WAY too Long...Bare with Me!

Yes, Yes, Yes...I know...I've not had a blog post since like February 1, 2011! WHAT is wrong with me!!! Where have I been!

I think I burned out b/c my blog was entitled "Chloe Boutique- Handmade artisan jewelry from the Bayou" and that limited my blog posts to things revolving around jewelry, online selling Venues, other artists, etc. So, I've decided to change my blog title to encompass everything important in my life... This includes, but NOT LIMITED TO, my handmade artisan jewelry, other artisans, my running life and inspirations/goals, travel tips/advice/experiences, friends, FOOD including my favorites and recipes, etc.

So...my first post will be just a lackadaisical one...about THIS & THAT!


♥ I've been back into running and exercising, hardcore. I started my new "regime" on January 2. I tend to get burned out by doing the same thing OVER AND OVER or just allowing my brain to talk my body out of it. I have found it's MUCH easier (and rewarding) to do my workouts during lunch. This has just become part of my normal work day...and I stick to it b/c it's during my lunch...and I'm not cutting into "ME" time after work which is used for cooking dinner, doing a few house chores, and spending time with Hubby and Chloe.

Though I wish it were a touch more (ok, a lot more), I've logged 223 miles since January 2. My workouts during lunch are limited because of time. I can only run about 3-3.25 miles during lunch. So, I typically run 2 days a week, and then do some other type of cardio for a short time (elliptical, stair stepper) and also incorporate some weight lifting the other 2 days (I work 4 10-hour days). During the "cooler" months (this is funny being that I live in Louisiana and "cooler" often refers to temps below 90 degrees) I can get in some good LONG runs outside on weekends. I just can't (I am NOT trying to be pessimistic...just realistic) run outside during the summer here! However, during the summer, I'm still confined to the dreaded treadmill. My "long" weekend runs are usually only 4-5 miles during the summer...on the treadmill.


♥ So...my current goal? I'll be running my FIRST Half Marathon on Saturday, December 3 -- ST. JUDE! Yes, this seems pretty far off, but with it already being halfway through July, December will be here in a blink. Though I'm not officially training for the 1/2 right now, I'm in great shape b/c I continue to run 6-12 miles a week (that doesn't sound so good now that I "see" it written). I'll begin my real training as soon as it "cools", or at least by mid September...whichever happens first! LOL!!!

How rewarding, though, will it be to know you ran FOR THE CHILDREN of St. Jude? I'm stoked :)
I'm currently fundraising through for our local Team who will go as a group and run...Team Jake. Please visit my personal page for more information about Team Jake, and to make a donation to St. Jude on my behalf ;) It's greatly appreciated!
http://www.mystjudeheroes.org/amandad78

Ok, that's enough for now. I'll be back!!

♥
Amanda