Sunday, September 30, 2012

Red Panda Network/ Orchard School Fundraiser

*****UPDATE!*****

The Fundraiser has been moved to next week, Wed Oct 10 - Fri Oct 13 @ 3pm- 5pm and Sat Oct. 14 @ 7am- 3pm.  Order your pies now!


Come one, come all and join me at this week's Fundraiser for both the Orchard School and the Red Panda Network!

Location:
The Orchard School
360 Passaic Ave
West Caldwell, NJ 07006 

Time:
Wed- Fri @ 3pm- 5pm
Sat @ 7am- 3pm

Homemade goodie baskets on sale for $25, pumpkin pies for $12 and a whole slew of garage sale goodies. 

Free guinea pigs for anyone who wants!


The Red Panda, or “firefox,” is often referred to as the “lesser panda” in deference to the better-known giant panda. Others prefer “first panda” – Western scientists described it 50 years earlier, and gave pandas their name. Few people outside its native habitat have even heard of the red panda, let alone seen one.


THE RED PANDA NETWORK is advocating for the creation of the PIS Red Panda Protected Forest, the world’s first Red Panda Reserve. Our mission is to ensure the survival of the red panda and its habitat for future generations to study, experience, and enjoy, is being put into action.

Why is this area so important?In 1999, a group of Himalayan conservation experts identified this area, called the Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung corridor, or PIT corridor, as the highest conservation priority for the vanishing Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf Forest–the cloud forest of he Himalayas.
This area is comprised of one continuous ridgeline, with India to its Eastern side and Nepal at its West. On the Indian side is Singhalila National Park, where the forest and its numerous endangered species are protected. The Nepalese side of the ridge is a different story. Rampant, haphazard development has claimed large portions of prime red panda habitat. Red pandas travel from the eastern side to the western side of the ridge unaware of the political lines drawn by humans. They are caught and killed by local herding dogs and their habitat is cut down for grazing and agriculture.
The Red Panda Network is committed to creating the world’s first red panda reserve here, where approximately 25% of Nepal’s Red Panda population is found. With your support, we can preserve this magnificent region, allowing both humans and red pandas to thrive.

Check out this ADORABLE video of the red pandas playing in the snow.  If you don't love them after watching, you must have a heart of stone.



For more about the Red Panda, check out the RPN's website:
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Friday, September 21, 2012

Kaleidoscope Photography


Over the past, oh five or so years, dear hubby and I have been running literally "to the hills" to escape life and enjoy the wonders of Upstate NY in the Catskill Mountains. For those of you looking for a great place to escape and is only 2 hours from NYC, check out The Emerson Resort and Spa.


Hillary Clinton had the good taste to stay there a week before we went on one of our sojourns!

 









The Emerson has an adult-only Inn where the rooms are filled with luxurious silks, your own gas fireplace and Asian/Indian inspired decor. There is also a much cheaper Lodge option which is both kid and pet friendly. This is a wonderful jumping off point for either skiing, fishing, boating, rafting, hiking, or just taking in the spa and all amenities. I can't say enough about this place. There is also some amazing eats in this area- email me for info!


Anyway, now that I got my love of the Emerson off of my chest, one really really neat feature at the Emerson (well, almost off my chest) is the world's largest kaleidoscope! They made a silo on the property into a giant kaleidoscope that you can lay on your back in a darkened room and enjoy with 4 different themed kaleidoshows (TM) to music.





When you are done enjoying and are ready to purchase your own spiffy new kaleidoscope, they have the Kaleidostore in the next room over full of hand made kaleidoscopes, anywhere from $10-$10,000, and the best part- you can play with them all! From oil to water to stained glass to feathers, you can play with them all.

I am now a kaleidoscope collector and with my spiffy new camera, I have decided to start filming some of these awesome beauties and sharing with my followers.  Here's my first attempt at taking live video of one of my fav kaleidoscopes- it has beads in oil so there is constant movement.  Enjoy!



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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Homemade Buffalo Chipotle Popcorn


What did the baby corn say to the mama corn? Where's popcorn? *snicker*

This weekend was the very first time since being an eyeglasses owner that I lost my own glasses.  They just vanished out of nowhere.  I started thinking, well maybe I put them somewhere weird, like the fridge or the dryer.  Nope.  Then the furniture moving began.  Nope.  Checking the car ended in tears. The restaurants all think I'm crazy now.  I started to wonder if since this is the first week I had the windows open in while, maybe some cat burglar came in through the glass door and stole my glasses just to mess with me.  Um, probably not.

Finally, I gave in and bought three (yes THREE) pairs of glasses.  To be fair, one is a pair of sunglasses (which I'm totally stoked about because they are polarized lenses!!) and another pair of regular glasses were given free.  So really I'm not crazy... right?


Now I can watch movies again!  But what's a Summer flick without popcorn?  I can eat a whole bowl of popcorn on my own- however the spicier I make it, the more dear hubby eats which means less calories on my hips.  Here's my secret Buffalo Chipotle popcorn recipe for all those movie and popcorn lovers out there:

Ingredients:

1/3 cup unpopped popcorn kernels
1 tsp coconut oil
2 Tbsp melted Olivio or butter or margarine or I can't Believe it's Not Butter, etc (30 secs in the micro should do it)
1 Tbsp Tobasco sauce
4-5 shakes of my favorite Chipotle seasoning mix

Directions

  1. Heat popcorn popper and put coconut oil in popper.
  2. When fully heated and oil is melted, put in kernels and let fully pop.
  3. While popping the corn, melt the butter.
  4. Mix tobasco into melted butter.
  5. When popcorn is ready, shake the Chipotle seasoning on popcorn and shake the bowl to coat popcorn evenly.
  6. Pour butter tobasco mixture over popcorn and shake to mix.

Pick your favorite movie and sit back with your snuggly buddy and a big bowl of Buffalo Chipotle popcorn!
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