Tasty Tuesday: Grandma Tillie’s Cole Slaw

Today’s Tasty Tuesday is about an amazing product I round at the Brick Farmer’s Market a few weeks ago.  I LOVE cole slaw but since I’m not able to have dairy and eggs, I haven’t been able to find the perfect one.  I was offered a sample while strolling one Saturday morning.  OMG!  It was amazing.  The perfect blend of ingredients. Their mission is a world of longer, heart healthier lives. They take pride in their product!

Here are some facts about them:

• Just 6 Ingredients.
• Better Taste, Better Quality!
• No Mayonnaise!
• Great For The Calorie Conscious! Only 50 Calories Per Serving!
• Long Shelf Life!
• At Grandma Tillie’s We Stand By Our Product!!
• Our Packaging Is Tamper Resistant, Safe And Secure To Arrive Cold!
• 10% of the purchase price of each container will go to Tackle Kids Cancer

Here are the nutritional facts.  I absolutely LOVE putting it on my salad – no need for dressing.

Here is the story behind the product straight from their website.  ……..Grandma Tillie was born in Warsaw, Poland on a potato farm. She was one of four siblings. After the family traveled to America, to Ellis Island, Tillie began her educational studies, and by the time she was ten years of age, she had mastered the English language. Her  entire life she helped out her parents in terms of financial support, as when she sought full time employment, to help her bed-ridden Mother.

Tillie’s rule in life gave her an understanding of the value of family ties and to cherish life instead of focusing on problems. She enjoyed dances in her town of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and spending time at Coney Island and the Jersey shore.

Tillie met my Sicilian Grandfather while working in a cigar factory in Newark, New Jersey, who she later married.

The downside is they will no longer be at the farmer’s market in Brick….BUT you can call to place orders or find out where you can pick some up. Their number is 908-330-5717.  Check at their Facebook page too:

Packing lunch, this makes a great side for any sandwich or add it to your salad.  Need a NEW lunch box??? Try Thirty One’s Lunch Break Thermal (one of my favorites).  It is the stylish way to take your lunch to work or wherever you and your family go. Great for school, the pool, sporting events, day trips, flights and dozens of other places. Extended handles allow you to tote this cooler bag over your shoulder so you can stay hands-free. An interior thermal lining keeps your food cool or warm, while an exterior pocket gives you a useful place to put your cell phone, keys or wallet. Makes a great gift for teachers, neighbors, friends and anyone else who loves to lunch!

Have a blessed day!

No-frills Date Ideas

Is this how you picture date night?

Is this what your date night actually looks like?

Kids, work, stress, health issues and just plain LIFE can sometimes get in the way, right? Every couple that I talk to tell me that date night is important but especially for a frazzled parent even if they struggle to fit it in.

It was easy pre-baby (or kids) days, right.  Now, it isn’t easy or even possible to go anywhere or do anything planned, sometimes you just have to have things ready for a moment’s notice to take advantage of the situation.  Date night can sometimes be “date lunch”.  Maybe it is some “afternoon delight” – just spending some time together while the kids are at school or at a play date.  The key is learning how to make the most of those down times and that doesn’t mean squeezing in more errands.

Check your calendar – schedule your date just like everything else.  When we write it, it will happen.  Here are some ideas for day or night that can actually coexist with parenting.

#1 – Lunch or Dinner at an Ethnic Restaurant that Neither of You Have Tried

Step out of your comfort zone, eat with your hands or sit on the floor, depending on the norms of that particular culture. Does spending money on food you have never tried scare you?  Have a lunch date.  Prices tend to be lower and with the kids busy at school or play dates or activities, no cost for a baby sitter.  Who knows you may like it and want to go back for dinner.

#2 Have A Picnic On the Beach or at the Lake

Picnics on sunny days are always a good idea, but even better when there’s a body of water close by. Being close to the water is not only calm and refreshing to your senses, but you can even go in for a dip afterwards if you want.  Is it a rainy day? You can always have an indoor picnic – remember the fun you used to have as a kid doing this?

#3 Play Tourist 

When we think of sightseeing, we think of fancy getaways, majestic natural wonders, and cultural sites in faraway lands. But the truth is, we may be missing out on some pretty awesome local landmarks.  “We Can See Them Anytime”, right?  The truth is that we seldom do and sometimes never get to them. Google local tourist spots and plan a day trip to experience them in your area.

#4 Go to a Local Comedy Club or Open Mike Night

There are lots of amateur comedians or artists that try out their skills on local stages.  They are usually nervous and unsure BUT they have a dream. Chances are that they are pretty good but lack confidence.  Your encouragement can put a smile on their face. This idea is also fun as a double date or maybe even a family night with your older kids.

#5 Volunteer at a local Charitable Organization 

Performing random acts of kindness for others can be a strong bonding experience. Spending a day helping others receive a meal, or assisting with building a home for the less fortunate will bring your own blessings into stark relief. Take pictures with the people you helped or with the other volunteers to show your kids. This is also a great family project.

#5 Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Have some cake, cupcakes, or anything that satisfies your sweet tooth at a bakery close by. After you’re done, take a relaxing stroll back home.

What are your favorite date ideas for couples and parents of children who need a day/night out?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day! For some today is an extra day off. For others it is spending time with family and friends kicking off the summer season…Today is really about remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Those who gave their lives so that we might live in freedom. It is about celebrating the lives of those who dedicated themselves to serving our country and who never returned home to their families.

As the sun rises on Memorial Day, STOP and say a prayer asking for the safety of our men and women near and far who serve this country. Say a prayer for the families who have an empty seat at their barbecues.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Giving Back in 2016 – Chemo Comfort Bags

When I began my journey with Thirty One in 2011, my goal was to help others.  Sometimes it was a fundraising project, or a donation to an event or giving to those who were in need.  It didn’t matter whether it was a small goal or a HUGE goal, I wanted to help.  As a result, I have been able to donate to various causes that are near and dear to my heart.

No, I am not telling you all of this to toot my own horn. I NEVER do any of these projects without the help of my AMAZING customers, hostesses, family and friends. Individuals who believe in the cause, or just want to help. Okay, can you guess where this is leading…. YOU GOT IT!

At the request of my customers but also at the nudging from a few friends concerning the need – I am looking for sponsors for Chemo Comfort Bags…

The $35 sponsorship will pay for the actual bag and I will use 100% of my commission to fill them with a variety of things like a blanket/scarf, notepad, pen, bottle of water, lotion, warm socks, chap stick and crossword puzzle book.  Donations will be distributed to local cancer care centers to bring a smile to the face of those who are fighting this dreadful disease.

Last year, we delivered 31 bags to Ocean Medical Center in Brick.  This year by January 20th, my goal is 50.  I know this is a HUGE jump but I am confident that we are up for the challenge.  The bags will arrive in the beginning of February so that I can stuff them and deliver them around Valentine’s Day.

So, who is with me? For $35 you can bring a smile to someone who is fighting the cancer battle. This project is near and dear to my heart. It is a tribute to my Weston angels – Edythe, Elsie and Pop-pop – who all had cancer.

You can sponsor a bag in memory of someone, in honor of someone or just anonymously. Payments can be made via check or through Paypal at hopesgiftcloset@@comcast.net as a friend/family.  I can also accept credit card payments directly.

Won’t you help to make a difference today?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

The Power of One Word From You

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body – Proverbs 16:24 ESV

I was wandering around the tourist area of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Shelves with tacky little statues, snow globes with leaning towers, and $10 T-shirts crowed small booths for tourists.

Shifty men with cases of “genuine fake” watches swarmed like bees. Rolex, Cartier, and Infinity—all for fifty bucks or less. Flashing fake gold and flaunting fake brands; their swift feet were ready to run if the authorities were to show up.

“No thank you, no thank you, no thank you,” I sang as I swam through the men hocking their wares.

Then I spotted her. She sat on a bench with colorful scarves for purchase draped over her arm. A blue, yellow and red headdress wound around her head, and a purple full-length dress hung loosely from her shoulders. The bright colors shone against the backdrop of polished mahogany skin.

Tired eyes.

Tired feet.

Tired life.

What appeared to be her “handler” shared the bench with her. I walked over and bent low to look her in the eyes. “You are so beautiful,” I said.

“Deese?” she questioned as she held up the scarves for examination.

“No, not the scarves,” I replied. “YOU are beautiful!” I waved my hand from the top of her head to the hem of her dress and back up again. “YOU, all of you!”

She turned to the indifferent man beside her for translation. When she understood, her face lit up like morning and her ivory teeth flashed like a slice of sun. She simply nodded as if to say, “Thank you.”

I walked back over to the group I was traveling with, and in a few moments I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was the woman. Without words, she handed me a bracelet, one I’m thinking she had made herself.

It wasn’t anything fancy—just little white lettered cubes with alternating black beads strung together with elastic. But I wonder what it cost her to give it to a tourist.

I didn’t offer to pay for the gift. That would have taken away her pleasure in giving it. I did hand her a few coins for allowing me to take her picture.

I showed her the image of herself in my camera. “Beautiful,” I said once again. She smiled with a nod. Walked back to the bench. And handed the coins to the man.

Tears filled my eyes.

I don’t know what this woman’s life is like. I pray my assumptions are wrong. But I do know this: For one brief moment in her monotonous day of pedaling scarves, she felt lovely…because someone stopped and noticed her.

Oh how easy it is—this speaking a word of encouragement—this speaking words of life.

As you go about your day, look for opportunities to say a kind word. I promise, you won’t have to look very far.

Thank you to Girlfriends in God for today’s post.  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!