Our Blog
Beautiful Art!
by Claudia Acosta on 02/01/11
Happy Febuary!!!
February is here, and some of our hearts flutter thinking of Valentines Day and Spring being around the corner, especially this winter that has been so cold and we look for any way to warm up. Here's to warming up soon!
For me creating new products, cooking, enjoying a good meal with my loved ones, hiking through the woods, and admiring beautiful Art warms up my heart, not only in these cold days but all year round!
I love stepping into galleries and admiring the work of people that have chosen to craft beautiful items for us to enjoy. When I restock our Suds and More boutique at The Cotton Company in
One of her beautiful and thoughtful collections is the Keepsake Impressions custom fingerprint jewelry. She literally takes an impression of your loved ones fingerprint and creates a 99% pure silver keepsake, on the reverse side she masters a beautiful artful motif, and creates a one of a kind piece of art! What a unique and beautiful way to create a family keepsake.
The following are pictures of some of her gorgeous glass pendants, take a look at the detail and colors chosen... 
Although it helps to show and describe her Art, nothing beats seeing it in person at her gallery... if you are not close by, please visit her facebook page and websites, and meet this wonderful talented woman that through her art helps to warm up our hearts and brighten our world!
Sweet Nothing tags! ~ these are very cute, and can be customized with any saying you want!
www.serendipitiesstudio.com
www.keepsakeimpressions.net
www.shantelrich.zenfolio.com
Wishing you a beautiful Month!
Gypsy World Cafe
by Claudia Acosta on 01/19/11
Yes it is 2011, and time flies faster than I can tell...I have not written in this blog for quite some time, and I sure miss it specially since there are soo many good things to share. We at White Pear are constatly trying to improve and come up with new scents and or recipes for our bath and body line, and sometimes it feels like we are chefs as we experiment in our worshop searching for that perfect combination that will be ready to be introduced to you. While experimenting we add and subtract ingredients until we find the combination that works, then we have our immediate family and friends try it until it is approved by most of them, and only then it is available to you...The process is fascinating, exciting, and yes sometimes even frustrating, none the less it is fun, and greatly rewarding when you write to us to let us know how much you enjoy our products or keep voting by buying. We thank you for your continued support, we really appreciate it!
As much as we like the product experimenting process, we enjoy even more the art of eating, we are both very "epicuriously curious" if there is such a term, and we loooove to taste all types of new flavors and new food combinations, I even have my experiment nights where I will take foods that I have never combined before and try to make a dish out of it...most times it is a success (I think), and it is fun to go through the process....but other times I prefer to go in search of people that are experts in their field, so I can also experiment with their recipes. This brings me to introduce to you my good friend Denise; she writes a wonderful blog (Gypsy World Cafe) with delicious recipes where she uses well known and/or unknown spices to make up extraordinary dishes. I admire and appreciate the time she spends in blending and experimenting before she shares them with us...not only does she take the time to perfect them, but she also educates us on the spices she uses and teases us to experiment with her...
I will share one of her recipes with you, but please do not stop here, visit her blog and enjoy every minute of it!
Until the next ime...wishing you all a 2011 filled with beautiful new experiences and lots of success!
Gypsy World Spice Cafe Recipe - Herb Focaccia with Onions 
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 packet instant yeast
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/4 cups warm water
2 tablespoon olive oil, divided
3 teaspoons Corsican Herb Blend, divided
1 large onion, halved and sliced thinly
ground black pepper
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, 2 teaspoons of the Corsican Herb Blend, yeast, salt and sugar. Stir to combine.
- Attach your mixing bowl to your mixer and place on low-speed.
- While the mixer is mixing, slowly add the warm water and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
- Mix to combine ingredients then increase the speed to medium-high.
- Mix until the dough is smooth. This takes about 5-7 minutes depending on your mixer.
- Remove dough from mixing bowl and shape into a ball.
- Spray another bowl lightly with cooking spray.
- Place the dough ball into the bowl and turn to coat.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm location to rise (double in size – about 1 hour).
- While the dough is rising, saute your onions in 1 tablespoon of olive oil for about 30 minutes (until golden and soft). Season onions with 1 teaspoon of Corsican Herb Blend and salt/pepper to taste.
- Set onions aside to cool.
- When dough has finished rising, shape dough into a rectangle on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
- Lightly brush with olive oil. Loosely cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 30 minutes.
- Remove plastic wrap from dough. Use fingers to press dough down (giving a dimpling effect).
- Top the dough with the sautéed onions. Season with pepper to taste.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Transfer to a cooling rack and drizzle with olive oil.
- Cut up and serve warm or at room temperature.
http://gypsyworldspicecafe.com
Shop Local It Matters
by Claudia Acosta on 10/16/10
Why Buy Locally Owned?
There are many well-documented benefits to our communities and to each of us to choosing local, independently owned businesses. We realize it is not always possible to buy what you need locally and so merely ask you to Think Local FIRST!
Top Ten reasons to Think Local - Buy Local - Be Local
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Buy Local -- Support yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms -- continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community.(Click here to see summaries of a variety of economic impact studies; these include case studies showing that locally-owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base.)
- Support community groups: Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses.
- Keep our community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun -- all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. Our tourism businesses also benefit. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust
- Reduce environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
- Create more good jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our community, provide the most jobs to residents.
- Get better service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers.
- Invest in community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.
- Put your taxes to good use: Local businesses in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.
- Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy: A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.
- Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses
Jazz Up Shower Routine With Bath Accessories
by Claudia Acosta on 10/09/10
Does the idea of taking a bath make you think that you need to spend some boring time in the shower; you probably try to find ways of avoiding any contact with the shower because it is so boring. And at the end of the shower you just feel as if you’ve wasted your time and feel none the better.
Are you bored with your shower routine? Do you feel like the old washcloth has had its day? There are lots of products out there that can help you spice up your bath and body set to make your shower or bath a more productive and cleansing experience. Don’t let yourself get stuck in a bathing rut- mix things up and pamper yourself with a few new bath and body accessories.
Even if you have a bath and body set that you love, there is still so much more you can do to make every shower or bath you take a pleasant experience. All bath and body accessories are not made equal, and let’s face it, washcloths have their limits. To really maximize the time you spend in the shower, grab a few alternative body scrubbers- you’ll feel the difference. Because just taking a shower is not the point, but feeling fresh and revitalized is really what is required. By just adding a few simple things to your bath, you can change your bathing experience forever. You no longer need to feel limited to just a soap and a bath brush. Our suggestions help you expand your experience which as an end result will help you feel energetic, and energized.
Luffa shower sponges are a great bath and body purchase. Available in most department and bath and body shops, as well as on the internet, these natural sponges serve as excellent body scrubs. You can get either a coarse luffa, with a rougher surface great for a thorough rub-down, or a softer luffa, perfect for gentle cleansing and sensitive skin. It also does a great job of stimulating your skin cells as well as removing dry skin.
Another excellent addition to your tub team is a body brush with a long handle. They come with bristles of variety strengths, from very hard to silky soft, so pick one suited to your preferences. With a long, ergonomic handle, these body brushes help you reach every difficult-to-reach spot, so that you can step out of your bath feeling sparkly clean, every time. And while you’re looking around, don’t leave your feet out on the fun. Pick up a pumice stone to reclaim your feet from your calluses. Unsightly calluses sometimes feel like they’re impossible to get rid of, making your feet vulnerable to cracking. But with a good coarse pumice stone, they’ll be gone within a few days. Just let your feet soak in warm water as you take a bath or shower, and then work the calluses off with the stone. You’ll be amazed at the results! Just make sure to moisturize your feet afterwards, to avoid dryness.
Once you’ve decided what new products to invite into your shower, you’ll need a place to put them. A mesh shower organizer is the perfect compliment, holding all of your bath and body accessories in one convenient place, easily hung over your curtain rod. What could be better? As I mentioned earlier that the sky is the limit.
posted by http://www.nextbigspace.net/
BENEFITS OF BODY SCRUBS
by Claudia Acosta on 08/03/10
Here's a gentle reminder on how body scrubs can improve our skin's look and condition:
* They are effective skin exfoliators
* They eliminate impurities and dead skin cells that clog the skin
* They enhance the penetration of products applied subsequently
* The skin acquires an even-toned appearance ( it smoothes the skin and minimizes pores)
* They even skin coloring
* They Restore the skin's radiance and luminosity
* They moisturizes and soften
As an added benefit they massage and promote healthier skin by increasing circulation. Best of all they come in deliciously enticing aromas that make us feel great!
So what are you waiting for? ~ Time to exfoliate!!!
Strawberries & Apple cider vinegar..great for your face!
by Claudia Acosta on 07/25/10
I Just love finding natural beauty secrets... here are two wonderful ones for your face...I hope you enjoy them, and let me know how they turned out!
Strawberry juice has gentle astringent and bleaching properties and is best used as a light cleanser for those who do not wear makeup. It can also serve as a tooth cleanser and whitener -
its very refreshing and helps eliminate onion and garlic breath.Ingredients:
4 very ripe, medium-sized strawberries, sliced and green stems removed
1 drop peppermint or lavender essential oil (optional)
In a small bowl, thoroughly mash the strawberries with a fork (or use a mortar and pestle). Press the resulting pulp through a mesh strainer or squeeze through cheesecloth or nylon stocking and catch the juice in a small condiment bowl. Add the essential oil (if desired) and stir to blend.Apply juice to face, neck, and decollete with a saturated cotton square (avoiding eye area), and massage with fingertips for about 1 minute. Rinse with cool water.
Follow with astringent or toner.
Did you know that apple cider vinegar is a wonderful astringent that will help combat the alkaline residue that soap or other cleansers can leave behind?
When your skin maintains the correct pH balance, it has a much better chance of fighting off dryness and infections.
Astringent Ingredients:
2 cups distilled water
1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar
10 drops favorite essential oil (not fragrance oil): try lemon, lavender or geranium
Mix water & vinegar & essential oils, shake well to blend.
Using a cotton cleansing pad or cotton ball, apply approximately 1 teaspoon to the face.
No refrigeration is required, but for maximum freshness and potency, use within 1 year.
beauty secrets written by Shannon Thompson
Baking soda - 30 handy tips
by Claudia Acosta on 07/25/10
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Fantastic article by green living tips...very healthy and inexpensive solutions to many things---hope you enjoy! |
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| By Green Living Tips | Published 09/26/2007 | pets , home , garden , cleaning | |
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30 baking soda tips
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My original article on baking soda being an earth friendly household chemical replacement was mainly about what the substance is and how it's made. I also briefly touched on a few useful tips in how the substance can be used, but in this article, I've jotted down a stack of baking soda tips - some of these I've tried myself, others I'm yet to give a whirl.
Special note: always spot test any home concoctions first before going all out. That doesn't just apply to baking soda, but any tips provided on GreenLivingTips.com - or any other site for that matter :). Kitchen - A bowl of baking soda in your fridge will help remove excess moisture and absorb odors. - Sprinkle some in your veggies crisper and cover with a cloth or paper towel for crisper veggies that last longer. - Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge for cleaning out your refrigerator and benchtops without scratching. - Dissolve a couple of tablespoons of baking soda in water in a microwave safe bowl, then bring to the boil in your microwave. Allow to sit for a minute or two, then you should easily be able to wipe out any baked on stains, plus your oven will microwave will smell fresher too. - Sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of rubbish bags will help to control odors as you add trash. - To give your dishwasher a good clean, run it through a cycle and use baking soda instead of detergent. - Baking soda can be thrown on stove fires to extinguish the flames. The carbon dioxide generated when the powder burns starves the fire of oxygen. - Wash chemicals and pesticides off fruits and vegetables in a pot filled with water and 3 - 4 tablespoons of baking soda added. On a somewhat related note, here's something interesting I came across. Baking soda is sometimes used when boiling vegetables to preserve their color. That practice is not recommended as it destroys the vitamin C content of vegetables. General home
- Anywhere that moisture is a problem, such as cupboards under sinks, place a bowl of baking soda to help control humidity. You'll need to occasionally stir the powder for maximum effective life. - Crayon or texta marks on walls? Try applying baking soda/water paste on an old toothbrush and lightly brush the affected area. - Water stains on wooden floors can be removed with a sponge dampened in a solution of baking soda dissolved in water. - Sprinkle some baking soda into your vacuum bag to help reduce musty/pet smells being spread throughout your house when vacuuming. - Sprinkle baking soda on rugs and carpets before vacuuming as a deodorising treatment. Most carpet powders you buy are baking soda based! Just a brief note on this - not recommended for areas that are very humid as the baking soda may stay in the carpet. - Mops can really stink out areas where they are stored. If your mop is getting on the nose, don't throw it out, try soaking it in a mixture of 4 tablespoons baking soda and a gallon of water for a while. - Stains on porcelain sinks, toilets and plastics can be removed by applying a layer of baking soda and then using a damp sponge . I found this to work particularly well on a water stain in a sink that couldn't be shifted otherwise without the use of heavy duty chemicals and scratching the surface. Plumbing - As an alternative to caustic soda for clearing blocked drains, throw a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a couple of jugs of boiling water. - Baking soda can deter ants - pour a solid line in areas of activity and they won't cross it. - Mix a tablespoon of baking soda, a teaspoon of (earth friendly) dish detergentent and a gallon of water to make a spray for treating roses against black spot fungus. Laundry - Work a baking soda and water paste onto stains prior to washing to help remove them from the fabric - Half a cup of baking soda added to a full load of washing will help brighten your wash and remove odors. Workshop/auto - Mix a paste of baking soda and vinegar and apply with a pot scourer to remove light rusting - A baking-soda/water paste applied to chrome surfaces, allowed to dry then buffed off will leave chrome shining! - Baking soda applied to fresh grease and oil spills on your garage floor will draw away the oil, which can then be scraped off. Pets - Baking soda lightly sprinkled and mixed into cat litter will help control odor. - Eliminate odor after you've cleaned up pet accidents by sprinkling over the dampened area with baking soda; allow to dry and then vacuum. Personal - Whoofy shoes getting you down? Get a couple of old socks, fill up the toe secitions with baking soda, place into the offending shoes and leave overnight to help remove odors. - A thick paste of baking soda and water applied to bug bites can provide relief. - A half teaspoon of baking soda mixed into a glass of water can act as mouthwash. - Sprinkle baking soda onto regular toothpaste to create a whitening toothpaste Miscellaneous - To clean jewelry, use a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, apply the mixture the piece, allow to sit for a couple of minutes, rinse off and then polish with a soft cloth. - Sprinkle your Christmas tree with baking soda to mimick snow - a much more environmentally friendly alternative to some of those chemical snow sprays! With so many uses you'll likely use a lot and buying baking soda in small boxes probably won't be too economical. Have a chat to your local baker who may be able to supply you with larger quantities or try contacting a bakery supplies company as some sell direct to the public. You can also save money on baking soda by re-using it. For example, once it has served its purpose as a fridge deodoriser you can put it down your sink to help keep your drains clear. Phew, that's quite a list of baking soda tips - it's such a versatile substance and certainly a greener way to get many jobs around the house done. My list is by no means exhaustive and I'm sure I've missed a bundle of ideas and applications! Please add your own tips below! |
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Cool Mint Drink - Recipe
by Claudia Acosta on 06/10/10
Cool Mint Drink - so delicious...
Ingredients:
(makes 2 glasses)
Method:
Blend all ingredients in a liquidiser on maximum speed for about 30 seconds.
Strain into two long glasses, place 2 ices cubes into each flass and fill with soda water.
Garnish with mint sprigs and lemon.
