Discoveries of 2010.

"You learn something every day if you pay attention."
~Ray LeBlond

On the Caribbean Sea.
(Photo from my mom's cruise in January 2011)

Every year my friend Amber has a Girls Night party celebrating the things we have learned and discovered in the past year. (Yes, this is the same Amber who only a few short months ago was in the hospital in a coma. Miracles do happen.) The idea is to come up with a Top Ten list of things you have recently learned or discovered such as: new beauty products, new websites, recipes, stores, books, gadgets, cleaning supplies, etc. We put together lists and print out enough to give one to each guest. And what is a party without some food? No worries. We all make and bring our favorite recipe from the last year. It always ends up that we have the perfect amount of main courses, sides, desserts, bread, etc. The recipe is included on your list, so that everyone gets a copy of it.

This year was special year because we all have learned so much in the last year. Our thoughts shared were rather poignant because they all included major learning experiences from almost losing Amber. I'm so grateful she's still around and that she chose to come back. I haven't written much about the thoughts that have been swirling around in my mind since last October when Amber came home, about what I learned each and every day she was in the hospital and from the overall experience, but I will sometime soon. I've struggled with how to put it all into words. Suffice it to say, I've learned that life is a blessing, God is good, and we are deeply, deeply loved by Him. But more on that later.

For now, here is my list of discoveries from 2010. (And in case you want to look back, here are my previous lists: Discoveries of 2009 and Discoveries of 2008)

Emery’s Discoveries of 2010

1. Roasted Almonds w/Bragg™ Aminos from Whole Foods – I've always loved roasted almonds because it brings out the natural flavor of the nut, but these almonds are a special treat. They are infused with Bragg Liquid Aminos (soy proteins from soybeans, purified water)non hydranate canola oil.
2. Dried Blueberries – I've always enjoyed dried cranberries tossed into a salad, but Costco's Kirkland brand of dried blueberries was a new discovery this year. Tossing a few on a bowl of cheerios (my favorite) adds a healthy kick.
3. Rolo Pretzel Delights – Need an easy treat for any party or activity? These Rolo Pretzel Delights are the answer. Set Rolos on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper. Pop in the oven at 300°F for exactly two minutes. Pull them out and immediately begin pressing a small pretzel on top of each softened Rolo, until the chocolate begins to come through the holes of the pretzel. Let sit on the counter for an hour or speed up the hardening process by placing the cookie sheet in the fridge.
4. The Knife Matters – There is nothing like one of these great big Chinese choppers for chopping vegetables or meat. No kitchen should be without this tool. (Also, if you give this to your husband, he will happily help you in the kitchen. Haaaaa-yah! Just watch out for your fingers.)
5. Finger Puppets – Primary kids love finger puppets. You can also keep a couple in your purse and share them with tired kids at church or your own kids while you are waiting in line, in the car, or at the doctor. Instant theater.
6. Pinterest – Pinterest is a social catalog service. Think of it as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can post collections of things you love, and "follow" collections created by people with great taste. It's a great place to keep ideas for Christmas gifts, or birthday party themes, or wedding ideas organized. Or simply use it to archive all the pretty, fun things you find online. Find my pinboards at www.pinterest.com/eclaires
7. Groupon.com, LivingSocial.com, CityDeals.com – If you haven't checked out these sites and signed up for their daily deals, you are missing you. All deals are at least 50% of the regular price and definitely worth it!
8. Monopoly Deal – Definitely better than the board game, Monopoly Deal is a fast-paced, totally addictive card game that you can play in minutes! Deal and steal your way to success - just collect 3 property sets to win. Sounds easy... but beware the dreaded Debt Collectors and Deal Breakers, which can flip your fortunes in the play of a card! Fast-dealing, card-stealing fun for family and friends! fast-paced, too! Play with as few as two players.
9. “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” – One of the greatest of our hymns, which was inexplicably deleted in the 1985 version of our Mormon hymn book, is "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."  Mack Wilberg's arrangement of this hymn as sung by the combined BYU choirs in 1994 will bring tears to your eyes, and fill your soul with the spirit.
10. Spray Bottles – I detest being hot. I simply cannot function when I am hot and feel overheated. Bring along a spray bottle on any hike, to a parade, to an outdoor picnic to keep cooled off. Such a simple idea that will make a world of difference.

One of my new favorite recipes this year comes from my mother’s cousin, Robin.

Robin’s Yankee Cranberry Cake

This cake is chock full of cranberries and reminds me of a really tasty blueberry muffin, with more fruit than cake. Even if you think you don’t like cranberries, try this. It’s simple and fabulous. The butter sauce really makes the cake.

1/2 teaspoon butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

1 cup flour

1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups fresh cranberries (if you double the recipe, you can use a whole (small) bag of fresh cranberries.)

Mix ingredients together and fold in cranberries last. Bake in a 9x9" pan for 1/2 hour at 350 degrees. Cut in squares and serve warm with butter sauce spooned over each piece.

Butter Sauce:

1 cube of butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup cream

A dash of vanilla

Melt butter and sugar in a small sauce pan until sugar dissolves in the butter. Add cream and vanilla and heat through.

2010 sure was a great year. Here’s to a happy 2011 with lots of new discoveries!

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Discoveries of 2009.

Here's my list of discoveries or rediscoveries from 2009 from Amber's party. Remember last year?

Emery’s Discoveries of 2009

1. Skype – Skype is a communication tool, which includes features such as: instant messaging, video conferencing, and telephone calling. You can transfer files directly, as well as share your computer desktop, meaning you can essentially show the other person via video conferencing, everything that you see on your computer screen. Computer-to-computer calls are free. Yes, I said free. Instant messaging is free. Video is free. The video conferencing is the best. With a few hiccups here and there, based on your Internet speed, it really is a great way to keep in touch and truly feel like you're just sitting next to the person on the other end. So, have you started thinking about all the people you wish you could see more often? Do you live far away from family and you just want to see them or they want to see you... or see your babies? Just download the software at www.skype.com. It's easy to get started and quite user-friendly once you get going. Just make sure you have a webcam.
2. Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs – These snack packs hit the spot perfectly when your sweet tooth's got a craving. They don't have trans-fat or partially hydrogenated oils, so for pre-packaged snacks, they're pretty good!
3. Tylenol Cold and Sinus – In 2009, I endured six weeks of the worst combination of colds, bronchitis, sinus infection, and the flu that I've ever had in my life. I learned that Tylenol Cold and Sinus works wonders.
4. Ziploc – snack size bags – Trying to keep your portion sizes under control? Use Ziploc snack size bags, exclusively, for all snacks. All you need at any snack or meal, for that matter, can fit into a Ziploc snack size bag.
5. Long Gloves – No, I didn't just discover gloves this year, but I did discover that the key to a good pair of gloves is length. Try wearing gloves that keep you warm, well beyond your wrist.
6. Utah Book of Lists – Looking for a job? The Book of Lists is a fabulous resource for the biggest and best businesses in Utah.
7. Giving Blood – Did you know that every donation of blood could save up to three lives? The need is constant. The gratification is instant. Give blood.™ And it takes less than an hour. Find the Red Cross near you and donate today!
8. Safety Pins – I've learned that safety pins always come in handy! You should always have a stash in your purse, your car, and your drawer at work. Often, I come across a need that a safety pin will fix. The need may not be your own, and if it's someone else in need, they will thank you 100 times over and openly praise your resourcefulness. Be prepared.
9. See's Butterscotch Lollipops – Just taste one. Say no more.
10. Traveling Candles – Traveling is fun, we'd all agree, but staying in a stuffy hotel room is the pits. Bring a traveling candle in a tin and your room will smell like home in minutes.

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Discoveries of 2008.

Friday night, I went to a party hosted by my friend Amber. It was a Girls Night with the theme of "What I Learned in 2008." We were asked to bring a favorite dish discovered in 2008 along with the recipe to share with everyone. Next we were to bring a top ten list of what we discovered in 2008 (with copies to hand out to everyone). Possible thoughts included: favorite new book, cool websites, additional recipes, make-up, great buys, favorite music, cooking secrets, trip ideas, diet plans, favorite toilet paper, parenting secrets, or any nugget of knowledge we felt worthy to pass along. The last thing we brought was a little gift basket to give away. The basket consisted of items listed on our top ten list.

I was so excited anticipating this party. What a fun idea! I loved sharing what I've learned and I learned lots of new things, some of which I've already checked out. Very fun, it was!

And I know you're all just dying to know what my top ten list looked like, so here you go:

eclaires's Discoveries of 2008

1. bareMinerals makeup by Bare Escentuals – With bareMinerals, your search for the perfect foundation is over; you’ll never go back to your old stuff again! Made from 100% pure bareMinerals it’s free of preservatives, oil, fragrance, talc and other skin irritants. I have fallen in love with the look of beautifully bare skin.

2. L'Oréal Telescopic® Clean Definition Mascara – I'll admit, I was very skeptical considering the No Clump Brush™ is so thin and long, with few bristles. But I found that the thin brush allows you to easily coat the lashes without weighing them down, resulting in a very natural look. The sparsely placed bristles allow for a combing effect, keeping lashes separated and clump free. And it perfectly lengthens my lashes (up to 60% they say). So I'm sold. Dare I say, I've found a new favorite? I know... hard to believe, but I think it's true.

3. www.Coupons.com – I have become a coupon clipper. Okay, I always have been, but this year I discovered online coupons. And they generally have stuff that I actually buy! Don’t go to the grocery store with checking here first.

4. Curves – The Women’s Only Health Club and Fitness Center with Aerobic and Strength Training Workout. This was actually a discovery of 2007, but worthy to share. No more worrying about people looking you up and down at the gym. Go to Curves and get a great workout in 30 minutes without the uncomfortable “meat market” feel of other co-ed gyms. And you’ll see results!

5. All things Google – I can’t live without my Google calendar, gmail, Blogger, and my iGoogle homepage brings those all together. My life has been made much easier and more fun!

6. www.Pandora.com – Internet Radio. Listen anywhere you have an internet connection and speakers. No commercials. Pick the genres and artists you like. Find out about new artists and songs you haven’t heard before.

7. Winter Squash – Butternut, Spaghetti, Acorn, etc. Delicious! Top puréed cooked winter squash with cinnamon and maple syrup. Steam cubes of winter squash and onion wedges in oven with a little bit of olive oil. Top "strings" of spaghetti squash with pasta sauce. Add cubes of winter squash to your favorite vegetable soup recipe. Slice strips of butternut squash and bake to make Squash Snacks. There are endless ideas for these nutrient-filled vegetables.

8. Salt Lake Choral Artists – I have found my niche once again. I love choral singing and discovered SLCA this summer. I auditioned and am now a member. Salt Lake Choral Artists is one of America’s premier community choirs, delighting audiences with outstanding choral performances for many years. The choir focuses on classical, contemporary, and culturally diverse music and emphasizes collaborations with other performing groups from the community. As Artistic Director and Conductor, Dr. Brady Allred has applied his wealth of choral conducting experience, remarkable range of musical talent, and exceptional leadership to bring the Salt Lake Choral Artists to a higher level of artistic excellence. His skills have generated new enthusiasm among choir members, serious interest from the media, and the attention of donors who recognize the importance of promoting top-quality performing arts in this community.

9. Calcium Chews – One a day increases your daily intake of Calcium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin K and satisfies your sweet tooth. Costco’s Kirkland Brand tastes the best and are sugar-free!

10. Smart Balance Natural Peanut Butter – Peanut butter with no hydrogenated oils, thus no trans fat, no added refined sugar, and 1000mg of Omega-3s per serving. You can’t pass that up! Plus it tastes great! Check out their butter spread products as well.